WE GOT NEW MEASUREMENTS AND PICS!

So I normally don't write on here 2 days in a row, but I had to let you know that we got new pics and measurements yesterday!!!  

I was in San Marcos shopping and taking a "mental health day" when Leah my adoption coordinator called and said she received new information.  It was so great to see new pictures of her and to know exactly how big she is right now.  Everything we had was 7-8 months old and that wasn't helping me.  Of course I was standing in the Gap Outlet when they called and had to walk next door to the BabyGap and buy her something.  It was really fun.  

I am still not allowed to post the pics to a public domain until we receive our next approval.  She was sitting in all of them so I have to assume that she is still not walking.  I hear that this is not abnormal for orphans who have grown up in an institution.  

There are pictures where her hands are placed on an object in a good position suggesting that she has good passive motion, however in the picture where they are not placed on something, they are just dropped down and turned in a little.  This suggests that she cannot actively extend them.  I just want to hurry up and get her here to get her checked out and treated.   

Her hair is still very short and she was not smiling in any of the pics.  These are both normal too.  They keep their hair short I believe to control for lice and there are very few referral photos out there where kids are smiling.  I love looking at the blogs of families who have brought their children home just to see the transformation on their faces from referral to home.  It is  a real blessing.  Oh how I can't wait for that day. 

Please keep praying.   

In my post yesterday I mentioned how I was moving into resolve to make the most of my time with  just the 4 of us.  Well, we had an interruption with those new pictures.  Scratch that resolve and now I just want to go and get her TODAY.  

Thanks for your prayers

Ginny

The Emotional Stages of Adoption

I wonder if anyone has ever documented the emotional stages of waiting for adoption. I know there are stages for grief or having a new baby, and now I am pretty sure there are stages for adoption waits. Similar to grief (except that this is positive in the end and I don't want to misrepresent it) my emotions seem to be all of the place.

There are some days that I feel completely overwhelmed by the current wait or what could be if the wait is much longer than what we expect. Other days I feel resolved to do everything I can for her before she get here to make sure it is all ready for her arrival. Every now and then I want to pretend that the adoption isn't real so I don't have to deal with the fact that we are still waiting. Today, I feel this overwhelming need to cling to our family unit the way it is now knowing that it is about to change dramatically. I think this is a normal emotion whenever you bring a new person into your family, but nonetheless it is new to me this week and so my next resolve will be to make the most of the time we have left as just the 4 of us. I am hoping this stage brings my heart one step closer to being prepared for Ruthie's arrival.

Our adoption coordinator sent this to us this week and it has been a real encourager.
“I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.”
Psalm 27:13-14

God Knows What We Need and His Timing is Always Perfect

Since I don't believe in coincidence, I have a neat story for you from my day.

Several weeks ago, I was in Texarkana where I lost the key to our Friendswood PT clinic.  I had to put my dad's house key on my key ring and all I could figure was that it must have come off then.  I combed my car for it, but had no luck in locating it.  

Well today was the first time that I had to work in that particular clinic since losing the key, which I completely forgot about.  On the way to work I was praying for Ruthie and telling God all the reasons I thought He should process this thing on my timetable.  I arrived at the dark, locked clinic and suddenly had my prayer interrupted by the memory that I didn't have the key.  Resolved to have to wait until the secretary got there, I turned off my car and dropped my hand into my console--->  onto a key.   You can imagine how shocked I was at the irony of that moment.  I have looked in that console 50 times since losing that key and have never seen it.  Then it hit me, 

God knows exactly what I need and His timing is always perfect.  

I believe that God allowed me to lose that key so He could use it as an object lesson to remind me of His Faithfulness right now at a time when I so desperately need to remember that He has a plan for Ruthie's life and for my life and it is indeed perfect.  

Where is my head?

Do you every do things where you look back and think, "ok I am not a drinker, so what is my excuse?" I had one of those moments a few minutes ago. Let me explain.

It seems like in everything I do lately, I have Ruthie on my brain. Everywhere I take my boys, I wonder what it will be like to go back there with 3 kids next time and will she enjoy it?Everytime I see an Asian child, doesn't matter if she is Chinese, Korean, or even Vietnamese, I try and picture her as Ruthie and wonder what that will feel like some day.

Well, I write another blog other than this one (www.heritagewomen.blogspot.com) and when I was updating it the other day on an outreach that our women's ministy is doing, my brain was so on Ruthie that I posted that entry to this blog. So if you looked at this blog and wondered why I was writing about hurricane destroyed San Leon, it was not because I had too much to drink, but because I have Ruthieitis and it is now affecting my ability to function in everyday tasks.

My incredible husband and kids are being really patient with me right now. Thank you for joining the circle of people extending grace to the crazy woman.

One more thing- I am posting a weekly prayer request for Ruthie in the right column here. I covet your prayers.

Ginny

Dear Ruthie,

I have spent the last 2 days at home with your sick brother.  This has given me more time to think about you and pray for God's will and insight.  He is teaching me things about adoption that I never pondered when I started this process to get you.  You see, adoption is not just something God created to help out people in need, but it is at the center of His character and at the foundation of our relationship with Him.  

When Christ created me, He predestined me to be adopted as His child through faith in Him. (Eph 1:5 He predestined us for adoption to himself through Jesus the Messiah, according to the pleasure of his will).  In this same way, He knew when He created you that He would make this reality more clear to me through your adoption.  When Jack and Sam were born, the reality of Christ's unfailing love for His children became ever more real to me as I loved them immediately and unconditionally.  I am amazed as He teaches me more about His character now through you.   

Ruthie, 20 years ago I sat in my cousin Greg's bedroom and watched a documentary on international orphans and felt God's call on my heart to make a difference in this area.  I am overwhelmed today at the the thought that in that moment God knew everything about you, what He would be teaching me today, and the moment that we would finally meet.  I believe that God did not choose you by chance, but that instead He has great plans for your life.  I feel so blessed to be a part of your journey and wait with anticipation today for that day when I can bring you home. 

Love, Mom

Thank You Jesus

We received our PA today. This is the pre-approval and is what has been taking unusually long for us. We are praying that the next 2 approvals come more quickly. Thank you for your prayers. We are rejoicing today at being one step closer to bringing Ruthie home.

Finding Comfort in Him

I was convicted this weekend that instead of turning to Christ during this difficult wait, I have been focusing on everything else to help me get through this time. I have been working more hours, focusing on this San Leon outreach, writing papers for my class that aren't due until May, you get the picture. I knew that it wouldn't do me any good to focus on Ruthie because it hurts too much and I can't change that, but I have missed the blessings and lessons that come with focusing on my Father. As I confessed this yesterday, I told Him that I just don't know what to say or where to start and He led me to this.

Romans 8:26-28
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

How great to know that when we do not know what to do or how to pray that we don't have to just go and keep ourselves busy, but we can rest in Christ and know that the Spirit will help us and intercede on our behalf.

I struggle with how to pray because I trust that God already knew on the day that He created Ruthie exactly when she would enter our family, so who am I to pray that is sooner? So then what is this wait for? Well, I think it has to be for Him to teach us something and conform us into His image. I find peace today knowing that my comfort comes from the one who has also waited on an adoption when He waited for us to be adopted as his children through Christ.

Somewhat of an Update

We still don't have our PA, but I received an email from my adoption coordinator today that they have seen delays in PAs before that have not delayed the overall travel date.  We are really hoping this is the case.  I am not sure what God is trying to teach us through this delay, but I hope to learn soon so we can move on. :)  Thank you for your prayers.  

On a happier note, we found out this week that some ministry friends of ours from our Baylor days also adopted a child from China through our agency.  When I went to their blog, I saw that they had an adoption commitment ceremony at their church where they as a family made commitments to this newest member.  I really think I want to do something like that the Sunday night after we get back from China.  That just seems like it could be a really special time for us a family and I would love for our extended family and friends to be able to come and celebrate with us.  Some friends at church had mentioned planning a "sip and see" so we might have that right after the ceremony.  I would love anyones input on how we might make this extra special for Ruthie.  Clearly, I will video it since she probably won't remember it.