All In The Same Day...

Well, we've been waiting for our pre-approval since we turned in our LOI (letter of intent) to Grand Rapids about 3 weeks ago. We found out this morning that our PA had arrived at Bethany on July 17th (we just weren't notified). This was excellent news... so imagine our surprise when an hour later our social worker called to tell us that our official LOA (letter of approval) came TODAY! We are officially LOA! This is a tremendous step forward, and one that we certainly didn't expect to come this quickly. This process is in full fast forward mode, which seems strange, since we spent the last 2 1/2 years in a virtual holding pattern. The speed of this is certainly overwhelming, as it may now only be 4-8 weeks until we actually travel to China. We feel overjoyed, yet unprepared - (which I guess is normal). We have much to get ready, and little time for it. But God is faithful - He has known the timeframe of this from the very beginning. Hang on Raina... we're coming sooner than we thought.

Fujian Province

Raina comes from the Fujian Province, which is located on the southeastern coast of China. Below are some interesting facts about her homeland.

"Fujian is about 46,000 square miles in area (about the size of England), and much of it covered by subtropical vegetation. To the north, west and south mountains form its border, while to the east the province looks some 100 miles across the straits to Taiwan. Fujian's coastline is twisted and complex. Only extending about 310 miles as the crow flies, the coastline in fact meanders in and out and around covering over 1,800 miles, and there are about 1,000 islands off its shores. Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Xiamen are the most important harbors in the province. The proximity to Taiwan has exerted a powerful influence on Fujian.

The Fujian province is divided into eight municipalities: Fuzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Putian, Sanming, Nanping, and Longyan, plus Ningde administrative prefecture. Fuzhou is the provincial capital.

Fujian's climate is subtropical maritime, with hot and sticky summers, cool and pleasant autumns and winters. Plentiful rainfall and the backdrop of hills and mountains have produced rivers short and swift. The province is rich in natural resources. More than 100 types of minerals are mined, including tungsten, iron, aluminium and copper. About 40 percent of the province is covered in forest.

Fujian or Min cooking is one of eight 'notable styles' in Chinese cuisine. As Fujian is a coastal province, emphasis is on fish and shellfish, frequently flavored with rice or grain wine.

Fujianese people are said to epitomize Chinese entrepreneurial skills. This is evident in the busy city markets and in the business empires built all over Southeast Asia by Fujian emigrants. The province is the ancestral home of about one-third of the world's overseas Chinese (approximately 20 million) - a direct consequence of its coastal position and long seafaring tradition."

Goodbye To Final Paperwork!

This morning, Laura dropped off the final paperwork for our acceptance of Raina's referral. It now heads to Grand Rapids for their seal of approval - then on to the CCAA. China should receive it within a week. We then expect little-to-no snags, and our prayer is for a speedy process from here on out. The waiting game continues, but this time... we can see the light, that is coming, for the heart that holds on...

Here She Is...

Well, here she is. 2 and 1/2 years of waiting, highs and lows like we've never known before, have brought us to now. We have accepted the referral of our precious Raina. She is almost 2 years old, and hopefully by the end of this year, she will be home with us. A new chapter in a very long book has begun... or maybe it's just a whole new book. Certainly untold joys and untold challenges lie ahead, but this one thing we know... we are confident that before time began, God planned for us to know this little girl. Our lives and hers... on separate courses... intersecting in a single moment. Parallel lives joined by the sovereignty of the One who knows what's best for all of us.

What's In A Name?

Raina, of Spanish origin, pronounced RAY'-nah... meaning "peaceful, queen". Just thought you might be interested.

Changes

Well, it's been over 6 months since I've updated the blog. I must admit that these past 6 months have been filled with a whole lot of nothing. And it's been somewhat painful and depressing to have absolutely zero to report. It's hard to blog about nothing... I'm not Seinfeld. But, at the same time, something quiet has been stirring in us. Something good. God has had an amazing way of drawing us closer to where we believe He wants us to go. Last August, we filled out our Special Needs paperwork with Bethany, and then promptly waited for an immediate call. As the days fell off the calendar, we felt our time was nearing. As the weeks fell off the calendar, we became more discouraged. As the months fell off the calendar... yeah, you get the picture. Yet, all the while, we could sense that the Lord was doing a work within our hearts - within our lives. He has been preparing us for changes. What those changes are, we still don't know yet. But one thing is certain... He will be glorified. Through whatever means He deems necessary, He will definitely be praised. And if there's one thing the adoption process has taught us, it's that we are NEVER in control of it. The waiting is excruciating. And just when I think He's taken me to my limits, He surprises me with even more. So we were moved to revisit our paperwork. Now, I won't lie and say that we're not ready to be done with this. That we don't want the blessing that we've been so eagerly looking forward to. But EVERY delay, EVERY path, EVERY tunnel, EVERY turn, EVERY detour has been secretly leading us towards Raina. See, we don't believe that there are a bunch of Rainas out there... that she could be just one of many. We have come to believe that there is only ONE Raina. And every "what if", or "could've been" just wasn't her. She waits too. For the ONE family that she's been created for. We stand in confidence on this truth. God has ultimately led us to open our hearts up even further than we could have imagined. This won't be easy. But who ever said it would be? I've always been of the opinion that when you get lost going somewhere, there's always gotta be another way. But sometimes, there's only ONE way to get to where you need to go. And you gotta take THAT next exit... the one that says "Changes". It may be a place that you're not sure you wanna go... but it's the ONLY way there is. HE knows - I've just gotta let Him drive.

One Year

Well, today marks one year to the day that we were logged-in to China's adoption program. One year of ups... one year of downs... one year of anticipation... one year of heartache. Wow, I can remember looking at the date - 9/4/2007 - with much excitement. And then we waited. And waited. And waited. I don't think that I'll ever be able to explain in human words what this year has been like for us. Only those who have waited for their own adoption journey could possibly understand. And yet, for some reason, we've come to believe that Raina is born, and she has had an unquestionably harder year. One of very little ups... a great many downs... very little hope... and much heartache. But, little does she know that her mom and dad wait here in Chicagoland, USA - desperately clinging to the Hope that she has yet to experience. Hold on little girl... for just a little longer.