Random update

Sorry I kinda disappeared for the past week and a half. I guess I was too busy living life to blog about it. So here are some updates on vairous topics of our life in a fairly random order.

Thanksgiving My parents and brother came to visit for the weekend. This meant I cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner myself for the first time. On Friday we had our family Christmas gift exchange since we won't all be together in December. It was worth doing it early to be able to see people open their gifts in person.

China Adoption Program The rumors are predicting only a handful of days' referrals this month. Sending prayers to all those waiting familys and hoping this news doesn't send anyone over the brink.

When will be be matched? No news from our agency. We are praying that we will be matched with the right child and the right time. (And praying that we will have patience to wait for that). I try never to pray for patience because God always seems to send me a situation to test my patience. But since the situation is already here, I guess I'd better pray.

GraceFlock We're heading off tomorrow to another concert and workshop.

Third Fridays: Southside! Watch for more info on a place on the South side of Atlanta where families thinking about adopting, are in the process of adopting or who already have adopted a child from China could go to connect with one another. If you're on the south side of Atlanta, save the date: January 18, 2008.

Sorry to be so totally random, but I was afraid if I didn't get all these thoughts out of my head and onto the page, they'd be lost forever.

Monday Meditations

I've missed posting Monday Meditations the last few weeks, but I wanted to be sure I hit it this week.

Praise:

1. Shelby is home with her family and making the transition to life in the US.

2. Ricky will soon meet his forever family.

3. I'm nearly done with my Christmas shopping.

Prayer:

1. Our agency received a list of over 40 children to be matched with prospective parents. Pray for those in the Waiting Child Department as they work to make the best matches.

2. We seek patience and peace as we wait to learn if our child is on that list.

3. Traveling mercies for our family traveling to our home for Thanksgiving.

4. My friend who's recovering from Leukemia is in the hospital with an infection.

November is National Adoption Awareness month and National Adoption Day is November 17, 2007. Our thoughts turn to those touched by adoption - all sides of the triad.

Veteran's Day, 2007

Thank you to all who serve or who have ever served. You are true heros.

15 Months

Can you believe it's been 15 months since our dossier was logged in by the CCAA in China?

Referrals are arriving!

The CCAA has matched families who were logged in through December 8, 2005. Congratulations to all those who will get that precious call this week.

A good, tough read

I just finished reading The Kite Runner. I found myself compelled yet repelled at the same time. The story was well-told, resulting in several late nights reading when I couldn't put it down. It's a book that leaves you a different person than you were before you read it, so in my book that's good literature. Thanks, Irene for lending me this book and insisting that I read it!

It's the first Friday of November and you know what that means! Traveling to North Metro Church to see our fellow travelers on this adoption journey. If you can get there, I highly recommend going.

We'll be missing Donna and CJ and the boys. Saying a prayer for them as they are in China to meet Shelby!

Don't forget to check in on Tracy and Adam and Shawn and Steph who are also in China right now.

Away from a mama's heart...

One of my regular reads is the Love Without Boundaries blog. Love Without Boundaries is a wonderful organization that does so much for China's orphans.

Today's post, Dinner with the kids, details the LWB rep's dinner with the older children from one of China's orphanages. They sang to her a song which includes the line "Away from a mama's heart, where will you find happiness?" It breaks my heart to think of orphans anywhere growing up without the happiness of a forever family.

On this day, our child is away from mama's heart. And Mama's heart is full of love for that child. Saying a prayer for our little one wherever he or she is, and praying that our hearts will be united soon.