The last time

Yesterday, December 27th, Eli celebrated his birthday at the orphanage for the LAST TIME!  My heart breaks that we could not be there to celebrate with him.  But, I take great comfort knowing that it is his last birthday away from us.  His last birthday in China.  His last birthday without a brother and sister begging to play with his new toys.  His last birthday without a mommy and daddy to kiss him first thing that morning and tell him "We are SO glad you were born!"  I also take comfort knowing that he got to have a birthday party.  Our wonderful agency provides us with a contact in China that will send care packages to our little ones while they wait for us and one of those options is a birthday party for Eli and his friends and caregivers at the orphanage.  We should be getting pictures soon and I am checking my email hourly in search of them.  I am also checking my email hourly or even more frequently than that, hoping for some information on our travel approval and plans.  Again, I take comfort knowing that God's got this and His timing is perfect and we will be there to get Eli and bring him home at just the right time...but it is HARD to wait!!!

Over the next few weeks, Eli will be experiencing a lot of lasts, although he probably has no idea that he is.  I pray that God is preparing his heart for all of the firsts he has coming his way too.  His first time to be loved unconditionally in this world.  His first time to be kissed good night.  His first time to eat a McDonald's happy meal.  His first time to be comforted by his mommy or daddy when he gets a boo boo.  His first time to have a family...mommy, daddy, brother, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and more.  All of whom have been praying for him and can't wait to meet him!  Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

Overwhelmed!

The only word that comes remotely close to how I have been feeling this week is overwhelmed!  Last week was one of those weeks in the adoption process where I felt incredibly deflated.  Our paperwork had been slowed down, just by a few days, but enough to pretty much remove the chance of us traveling in 2013.  And, so I was upset knowing that might impact TJ's vacation time in 2014 and Trip and Mady's ability to travel with us without being withdrawn from school.  I know (and I truly believe) that God's timing is perfect, but I fight against that when His timing and my timing do not line up.  And, let's be honest, most of the time, they do not.  But, all of the time, HIS timing is best!  

Which brings me to this week!  What a week!  God has taken my sadness and anger away and replaced it with an overwhelming joy and appreciation for all He is doing in the life of our family.  And, so many of you have been a part of that!  On Tuesday, I received an email from Promise 686.  This is the ministry that awarded us a $4000 matching grant to help pay for our remaining adoption expenses.  So, as most of you know, the deal was this...we raise $4000, they match that and we get a total of $8000 toward our remaining expenses.  Well...we FAR surpassed this goal!  We raised over $6,000, so with the matching $4,000, we raised over $10,000!!!!  What wonderful, selfless, giving friends and family we are surrounded by!  The even more amazing thing about this amount we raised is that our remaining agency fees and in country expenses are estimated to be about $10,500-$11,500, so we will be covered!  God IS SO GOOD!   

And, then, today we received an update on Eli.  The last medical information we have on him is from when he was a baby.  And, we only have 2 pictures and a short video.  We have been aching for an update.  Today we got his measurements, a precious description of him and a new pic!  He looks so good!  And, here is the description (keep in mind it is translated from Chinese):

He is such a smart boy. He can remember so many children songs. He can count up to 20. He is very active. And he is a full boy. He likes to help other children on wheelchair on the way to school. He also likes to help to comfort younger children when they feel upset. 

Is it weird that I feel such pride to be his momma even though I have nothing to do with the sweet boy he is today!  I just can't wait to meet him!  This is the photo we got today.

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!!  There is no way I can ever tell each of you how much your love and support means to us.  It is overwhelming!  Please keep praying with us that God will prepare his heart to be loved by us and prepare our family to become a 5 man team in HIS perfect timing!!