Tuesday, January 1, 2013

WAITING ON LOA!!
Yes we know who our daughter is and we are waiting on official letter of approval!  She is beautiful and perfect and we can't wait to meet her! As soon as we have LOA I will post her pictures.  I can tell you that she will turn 2 in May and we expect to be traveling to China between April and June. 

We did not get "the call" like most adoptive parents receive from their agencies.  When we started our process, I had several people tell me we should look at waiting child lists from various sites.  I never did simply because I had a sense of peace about our daughter and I knew we would find her at just the right time.  To all of my friends out there you know this is not my typical personality.  I'm a planner and I like to be in control and take action to make things happen! Don't get me wrong-I was very anxious to move the process along and find our girl so we could get this show on the road! God has given me peace throughout this process to be patient (again, not my strong suit), and to listen to Him.  I read recently that "coincidences are just tiny miracles that occur every day".  I don't believe in coincidences.  I do believe that God speaks to all of us and guides us...if we will be still and listen. So that is what I have been trying to do.  I also listened to some words from my very wise younger cousin, Angel.  As you know, there are so many twists and turns and decisions to be made when adopting.  One day I was struggling with one of these decisions, and she simply said "Jen, you can not mess this up."  What??? She said "God has already chosen your daughter for you and nothing you do will change that.  Any decision made and any road taken will lead you to her." Wow.  I used to babysit her and now she is a beautiful adult woman telling me exactly what I needed to hear that day!  That being said, here is how we found our girl...

In November, after the fog started to lift a little, I realized the list had come out twice and we had not received a referral.  Since we were LID in September, I knew we should expect the phone call at any time.  All of the families I have known to adopt from China have started the process and been back home with their child in 12-16 months total.  Up until now, I had not asked my agency any questions about our expected wait time for a referral.  So, one morning I just decided to email and ask how much longer they thought we would be waiting. They told me to expect it to take another 6-12 months before a referral! What? Eric quickly informed me that we would be old by then! Haha! Now here's where the normal Jen stepped in-we are sponsoring a child from Pearl River Outreach and I have been following the PRO blog.  I remembered that a few weeks prior, Diana had posted on the blog a contact person and email in case anyone wanted to inquire about adopting any of the PRO kids. I emailed the agency that afternoon and by the time I got home from carpool, I was viewing their waiting child list!  I kept going back to one little girl they were calling "May".  There was just something about her! By 4:30 the next day, we had her entire file to review.  I knew she was meant to be our girl!  There were a few steps we had to take before I could let people know since we were having to switch agencies and get a new pre-approval/LID from China.  We have our pre-approval from China and we are just waiting on LOA!  I expect it to be another 3-6 weeks.  Looking back at all of the details surrounding these few days and weeks prior, it is so obvious that God was leading us to this precious girl waiting to be ours. 

The last several months have been an emotional roller coaster for me-I can't remember a time that my emotions were so raw. Adoption opens a part of your heart you didn't even know existed. With this journey, and the death of my sweet nephew, I am on the verge of tears any given day. But with the tears, whether of joy or sadness, have come many beautiful moments. I am so happy to be living this life God has given me-even in my heartache. I feel privileged that He has called me and my family to adopt and to give this sweet child a home. I pray that she becomes an example of orphans and it leads many others to adopt a child.  



If you are in process and have ANY questions please feel free to send me a message.  I have no complaints about our first agency and I would use them again-but my daughter was with another agency!  I am so thankful to the ladies I have met thru blogging and my friend Jen Coco (A Place Called Home).  All of these ladies were so helpful in the week we had to make a decison about "May".  God has placed a wonderful group of adoptive moms in my life that have been such a blessing to me and are so great at helping me thru the days I am full of fear and "what if's".  God placed them in my life to lead us to our daughter.  It is because of these women that I started following Pearl River Outreach!
Very soon I am going to catch up on my blog and post what's been happening.  I felt this post needed to be first! Hopefully after that, I will be posting updates that are getting us closer to China and our baby girl! I can't wait to share pictures!

15 comments:

  1. I keep telling myself to be patient she will soon be here! But it's so hard to wait. Knowing my niece is waiting for us and we are waiting for her. But kind of like a due date waiting for her to be "born" into our family in a special way.

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    1. She is so very blessed to have you as her aunt! I love you!

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  2. Jen, thank you for sharing your story with us. And more than that, thank you for sharing your emotions with us. I know everything will continue to go well for you and I can't wait to hear more and more good news!!

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  3. Oh those raw emotions I remember so well. I look back on the past 2 years of waiting and receiving Janie and it is all raw. What I do know is this is exactly as God would have it, there is no better place to know Him well as we can when those raw emotions are flying around inside us.
    I am so happy for your family and can't wait to see new pics of your angel. What a year this will be for your family!!!!! so exciting!!!! Hopefully I will visit my sister soon and meet the 2 Jenn's:)

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    1. Yes!! You and Jen D need to come see the Melissa Jen's soon! :)

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    2. Paige I bet this is just the beginning of my raw emotions! I hope you will be visiting us Jen's every time you come see your sister!!

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  4. Sweet! I'm so happy for you and know that I pray for your family every day in the loss of your nephew.

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    1. Thank you Misty! It's been a crazy three months. Heartbroken and full of excitement for our baby girl all at once.

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  5. I am so happy to be going through this roller coaster of emotions with you!! I love looking back now at all the details surrounding finding May, and I stand amazed once again at His plan! I already love this little girl so much and can't wait to squeeze those sweet cheeks! Love you!

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  6. Congratulations!!!!!Here is hoping for a quick LOA. We do need to have one big ol family renioun. LOL Love this Crazy bloggy adoption world. I was hoping to get up to see your friend Jennifer in February. :) We live near The Woodlands South of yall. :)

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    1. She lives two doors up the hill. :)). I hope to see you too!!

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  7. Hi Jennifer, Maureen Osborne here (you left a comment on my blog a while back). I think I know someone who may have pictures of your daughter. Don't mean to be vague, but didn't want to post too muc hhere. email me if you can at mosborne@carolina.rr.com.

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