This should be the week

     Earlier today Matt was praying for a meal and he told the Lord that we trust & REST in His timing for us getting Maggie. I told Matt later that I am not resting in that. That I can't even describe how much I lack rest in this timing. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN WE WILL FLY OUT... FEB 23RD OR MARCH 1ST.
     This "last hour" has been the toughest wait on this journey. The entire journey is filled with waiting. Waiting for the homestudy to be finished, then I800A approval, then dossier, etc. But this wait, finding out when we get to actually check our bags that have been packed for weeks, and put feet to this journey, that wait has been beyond hard.
     I check e-mail constantly. Looking for that e-mail that says "travel approval." You would think the hope would leave, but it doesn't. Hope is a great thing, but in this circumstance it is also tiring. As crazy as that sounds.
      However, as I was lying in bed tonight watching a movie, the Lord placed a thought in my head that made my heart happy. This week that we are walking into should be the week that we find out what date our God has had etched in stone from the beginning. This is the week that His 'gotcha' day will be revealed to us! And, as only God can, He spoke a peace into my heart. Will we meet our sweet Maggie Mei on February 27th or March 5th?
     I know I am hoping for Feb. 27th. But my prayer is the Jesus would give me the faith to rest in what He has authored.

I cheated this morning...

     I was given a shower the other night for our sweet Maggie. There I was given a box of "blessings" for Maggie/us. I was told that I was to save them for the plane. Well, that's where I cheated. I read them this morning...and I am glad I did.
     When I get up in the morning and come downstairs I always grab my coffee and check my e-mail before sitting down to spend time with God. Well, this A.M. I also checked Facebook because a friend of mine is in China now, getting her son! Her post was about the first day with this little 5yo and how hard it has been for his world to change.
     I realized that I have been praying a lot for MY heart to be steadied when we get Maggie b/c of the very real possibility that Maggie will not like us. She won't understand. And, don't get me wrong, I don't think I shouldn't pray for that, but I want my focus to be Maggie's heart!
     So, that is where God used the "blessings" for my heart. There are four that caught my heart; made me pause. I thought I would share...

MAY GOD'S FACE SHINE UPON MAGGIE MEI AND HER NEW HOME!
     This one touched me b/c that is one of the verses my mom quotes - Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."  I think I just found a life verse for Maggie.

FOR GOD KNOWS THE PLANS HE HAS FOR YOU, MAGGIE, PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU; PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE. JER. 29:11
     I grew up with this verse too, but to see Maggie's name in there...we will be teaching her that truth.

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD - AND YOU ARE A REASON I BELIEVE IT!
     Wow. The way our God has used this journey to touch so many is amazing!

PRAYING MANY BLESSINGS OVER YOUR LIFE SWEET MAGGIE. MAY YOUR FAITH BE AS STRONG AS YOUR PARENTS.
     Another wow. Our faith is a GIFT from God. It is HIS doing, His working. That humbles me. All glory to God! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this journey!

The excitement is rising...

    The week started off kind of slow, until Wednesday. I was asked to join Matt at the staff prayer meeting at Forest Hill. At the end they called us up and told us that in leu of a baby shower, they took up a collection for Maggie's upcoming medical costs. We were given $1,900! Wow!!! God is taking care of us even before she is home! We are feeling overwhelmed by the kindness of our faith family, and extremely spoiled by the love of our God!
     Then on Thursday our "Article 5" was picked up! (The "Article 5" is the American Consulate's OK of Maggie's Visa. The A/C is in Guangzhou). That's when we really started to get excited b/c the Article 5 is then forwarded to it's last stop - the agency of our in-China travel guides!
     Then on Thursday night I was given a "toddler" shower! So much fun! And once again, we were spoiled by the generosity of so many friends!

     As many of you know, we have been praying to leave on Thursday, Feb. 16th; our next choice being Thursday, Feb. 23rd.
     Matt sent a request to our agency coordinator, explaining to her that he has a trip to Haiti at the end of March and would love to leave for China ASAP so he can be home for 3 solid weeks upon returning home from China, before leaving for 10 days. She thinks Feb. 16th might be cutting it too close and that the 23rd is more likely. We will take either, obviously, but we are still praying for the 16th. We are so anxious to leave!
     Natalie keeps saying that she is tired of waiting for her sister. : ) And Jaydn has shared that he too is a little nervous about us leaving, because we have never been gone together for that long. Prayers for them are appreciated!
     Hopefully my next post will be telling you we got "Travel Approval"!!!

Hoping, Hoping, Hoping

     Well, the celebration of the Chinese New Year should be over for those who work on the last step of this part of the journey. Had the CNY not closed many things down in China, our Article 5 (American Consulate's OK with Maggie's Visa) would have been picked up on Wed. Jan. 25th. We are now hoping that it is picked up tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 29th.
     We are still praying that we can leave Thursday, Feb. 16th. Begging for no later than Thursday, Feb. 23rd. Either way, that is less than 27 days away!!
     Maggie is now packed. Our suitcases are filled with everything but clothes. The will is being updated, 2011 taxes are being turned in this week, bills are being set to "auto pay", I could go on and on but you are probably bored already! Ha!
     This Thursday is a big day. In the afternoon we have a couple people coming to our house from Forest Hill to get our journey on video. And then at night my friends from Forest Hill Playschool are throwing me a shower! What an enormous blessing!

     These pics are of Maggie celebrating the Chinese New Year with her friends in the orphanage!

"What are you giving me woman?"

(Maggie is sitting to the right of the woman in blue)

I LOVE this one...she is the one crying.

Matt & I wonder if she is bothered by the singing.

Natalie thinks she is being squished.

Jaydn thinks they won't let her have cake. 

You have to love the outfit. Cute polka-dot coat, camo pants.

     I often tell my friend Jaclyn, "I am not good at this waiting stuff." My God hears me say that a ton. I'm not sure what I would be like without Jesus' sweet spirit. 

Strength in the W-A-I-T

     Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. The words of that song (Everlasting God) fill my mind and heart at this point of the journey. They remind me that my God is not anxious like I am; He holds my strength. And that is something I am grateful for as I sift through the frustrations of waiting.  
     We are on the 2nd to LAST step before travel! Our "Article 5" (the American consulate's OK of Maggie's visa) will be picked up next week, in China, and forwarded to the travel group we will work with while in China. Once our paperwork is with that group we will find out when we can travel. However, that can take up to 4 wks! 
     Next week is Chinese New Year so everything shuts down in China. So, there is that delay as well. HOWEVER, strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord's timing. I just have to continually ask God to remind my heart that He is not phased or moved by the CNY.

     We received these pics last week! Isn't she gorgeous? She will be 22mo tomorrow, the 20th! Every time I go down the baking isle at a grocery I think of making her a cake for her 2nd birthday on March 20th! I am so excited!

     I have been praying for her heart a lot lately. She has no idea we are coming to take her from all she has known. I have been praying comfort over her; that she would find comfort with Matt & I...and her giggle. I can't wait to hear her giggle! 

     We are praying to be able to leave Thursday, Feb. 16th. Our China rep doesn't think that will happen. I'm still praying it; sometimes begging. My good friend Breeanne said, "welcome to the 3rd trimester!" She is so right! You get to the 3rd trimester and are done. That's where both Matt and I are. Stick a fork in us...we are done with the waiting. Bring on the strength Jesus! Bring on your Maggie, that YOU have given to our hearts and family!

Different day, different me.

     For those who read my post yesterday, today my heart is in a better place. I still would like to get Maggie today, but I don't feel like 'gotcha-day" is so far off.
     I often tell God that I would love to see how it is that He changes a heart and/or a mind-set. Does he reach down and touch a person? Does he just speak and it happens?
     In my devos this morning I read through Psalm 46. Verse 6b says "he lifts his voice, the earth melts." What a great thing to ponder...the power He has to give to me through His spirit. Sign me up!!

It's the last hour...

     You know when you have been on a trip and are returning home, how the last hour always seems to take the longest? Well, that is where the state of my heart is today; in that last hour. We are on the last leg of this adoption journey for Maggie, and my days are absolutely dragging.
     Matt says it is flying for him b/c he has so much to do before hand. But, me? I feel like time is standing still. And, not knowing the exact day that we get to fly out is killing me.
     Pray for Godspeed people, pray for Godspeed. Please and thank you.