Signed, sealed, and delivered!

I spent most of Tuesday checking and re-checking out the front window to see if there was a FedEx truck in front of our house yet.  Our LOA (letter of Approval) was sent overnight from our agency on Monday.  Each time I heard a loud engine outside, I ran for the window!  Finally, around 2:30 p.m., that beautiful white truck pulled up to the curb and I grabbed the camera and ran for the door.

I definitely scared the poor delivery man!  He was walking up the driveway when I came flying out of the house and eagerly asked if I could take his picture.  His response was guarded.  I'm pretty sure his thought was, "why is this crazy lady asking for a picture of me?"  He casually turned me down and blamed it on some "trouble" they have been having with that lately.  I thanked him anyway and watched as he started to walk back to his truck.  He suddenly turned back and asked, "what is that anyway?"  I told him (with tears building in my eyes) it was the approval letter for us to adopt our daughter.  He half smiled and said, "Oh, okay, I'll do it!"  Then he posed so sweetly for this picture!

As I came inside and shut the door, the emotions overwhelmed me!  I couldn't hold back the tears as I looked at this official document I was holding.  This one piece of paper represents months (almost 11 months) of paperwork, fingerprinting, waiting, evaluations, home study meetings, prayer, more waiting, emails, and applications.  It's a pretty important piece of paper!  It won't be long now until John and I will board a plane and fly across the Pacific Ocean to meet our new little girl!  We are told to expect to travel in as little as 8 weeks from now!

As I write this update, Emsley is probably deep asleep (it is 2 a.m. in China).  She has no idea the celebration that is taking place in our hearts right now.  She is so deeply loved and I pray that one day she will understand how precious she is and how much she is loved.

LOA is on the way!!!

We have spent the last couple of months waiting....and waiting....and waiting to hear news from China regarding our dossier that was mailed back in July.  This is the longest part of the adoption process and the hardest.  We have filled the time by watching training videos about attachment and bonding, reading books about adoption, planning how to fit one more bed in a small bedroom, and just trying to get ready to bring our daughter home.

Yesterday morning our wait was cut short by a phone call from our agency.  We were told that China has reviewed our documents and approved everything!  Our Letter of Approval (LOA) is on its way from China as I write this!

In just a few days a very unfortunate person in a FedEx truck will pull up to our house holding our LOA!  I will try my hardest not to tackle them on the front lawn but there will definitely be squeals of excitement and a few pictures taken!  Once we calm down, we will sign the LOA and send it on to our agency.  There are a few more items of paperwork and official steps to complete but we have been given the estimate of 8 to 10 weeks until we board the plane and go to meet our daughter!

This week has also been a HUGE week as far as fundraising goes.  We have been receiving donations from many friends and family for Emsley's puzzle.  We are so grateful to all the people who have "purchased" puzzle pieces to help us bring Emsley home.  We have felt such support and love from our family and friends.  It is a beautiful thing to see people coming together to help change the life of a little girl half a world away!  There are still 623 puzzle pieces waiting for names of people who would like to help bring Emsley home.  Information on Emsley's Puzzle Fundraiser is on the previous blog post.

This week we also received a few very generous donations toward our travel expenses.  We are getting close to being fully funded for this adoption!  Praise to our God who called us to this adoption knowing EXACTLY what was (or wasn't) in our bank account!  We have been reminded over and over that when God calls you to do something, he will make a way!  We have a goal of $33,000 to cover all the adoption expenses and travel and as of today, $27,024 has been raised, donated, and saved!  We are getting so close!!

This was the first picture we saw of
Emsley back in January

This is one of the most recent
pics we received in May

It has taken 11 months to get to this point.  The wait has been LONG!  We first saw Emsley's face in January and found out she would be ours in March.  We are finally nearing the day we will meet our little girl whom we have prayed for and prepared for.  There is so much I want to know about her.  What will it feel like to finally have her in my arms and be able to whisper "ngo oi nei" (I love you) in her ear?  What will she think of this crazy family that she is joining?  What makes her laugh?  What does her voice sound like?  Does she still have the sense of humor and playfulness that was mentioned by the orphanage staff?  We look forward to the day when we will be able to start to answer some of these questions!

We have a lot to get done in the coming weeks before we leave for China.  There are numerous details to work out and a room to prepare.  Our prayer during these weeks is that God would do a great work in our hearts and in Emsley's heart.  We pray that God will prepare Emsley's heart for the dramatic change that will soon take place in her life.  We pray for protection for her as her whole world is suddenly turned upside down.  We also pray that God would continue to help us see things from Emsley's perspective so that we are able to give the care, comfort, and understanding she will desperately need.  We pray for wisdom to know what to do to best help all of our children adjust to our new family.  We ask that you would pray these things along with us.

Our God is faithful and he is good!  We are over-the-moon excited to bring Emsley home and we are trusting God to go before us and prepare the way.  "Don't be afraid, because I am with you.  I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west." - Isaiah 43:5