Not Today

I guess today wasn't the day. We didn't get our LOA. Praying that we will get it soon...

LOA's Coming In...

Posted on our agency's yahoo group is that three families have received their LOA's this afternoon. Their dates are much after ours, so I do still have hope for getting ours today, even though the last one was posted over 30 minutes ago... Other agencies are also receiving LOA's today. Hoping and praying that ours will still come today!!!
We need our girl to come home! Day 120 today...

Chayah's Journey Home

I made this video to tell the story of first, Sarah, and now, also the story of Chayah.
Today is day 115, praying we get our LOA soon so we can bring our girl home!

3 years, 8 months, 17 days

It has been 3 years, 8 months, and 17 days since my dad took the above picture of a little girl at an orphanage in February 2005. She was among a group of toddlers eating her lunch in the hallway. She was only two and a half. She must have noticed the group of strange looking foreigners come in with boxes of fruit and cameras around their necks.

It has been 1 year, 10 months, 15 days since that two and a half year old, at this point four and a half, saw this strange foreigner again, this time he was back with his family and they were there to adopt her friend. It was December 2006.
She watched silently as her friend was swarmed with attention. She knew her friend now had a family. What she didn't know was that she was noticed too...

We have looked at Chayah's picture for a very long time now. We have loved her and prayed for her, even when we had no idea she would become our daughter and sister. It's beginning to seem like an eternity and in fact, I guess it really is. We have "known" this little girl for 3, almost 4 years! We have "known" her as our daughter and sister for over 10 months...
This referral picture was taken when she was 4 years old, she is now 6.

It has been 10 months, 5 days since we sent out our LOI
310 days.
114 days since we were LID.
We are hopeful to hear of our LOA soon, please pray with us that it will be there on Monday.
Day 116.
We have waited a long time...holding her picture,
and she has too...

3 years, 8 months, 17 days... thats:

1355 days

193 weeks

32,520 hours

1,951,200 minutes

117,072,000 seconds
MUCH too long. We need our little girl! And our little girl needs her family!

Encouragement

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day."

Habakkuk 2:3

Emily, my friend and a fellow member of our first adoption travel group in 06, shared this verse with me this evening. It is so perfect for this wait! Tomorrow will be day 109, I never thought that we would have to wait this long. But, this verse reminds me that it WILL come! I just have to remember that God is in control of this wait and He will bring us our LOA at the right time. Emily and her family will be leaving for China in just 4 days to bring home precious Kate Mei! Thank you, Emily, for sharing this verse with me and I cannot wait to follow your journey to bring home Kate!

Day 99

and counting...

Honestly, I never thought that we would have to wait this long for our LOA (Letter of Acceptance). Today is day 99 of our wait. Since it is getting later, I do not think there is any way we could get it today. And then comes the weekend, which of course, we cannot get LOA on. Monday would be our next chance, except that it is Columbus Day and schools are closed, so I am assuming that our agency would be closed as well. That leaves Tuesday, October 14, to be our next chance to receive LOA which will be day 103 of our wait. I have been hoping that Chayah could be home for Thanksgiving, but now even that is not looking too hopeful, although I am still hoping for it!!! Hopefully we will receive our LOA soon and can bring Chayah home ASAP! I want my mei mei and this wait is getting really, really hard.

New Pictures of Chayah!

We sent a care package to Chayah a few weeks ago and we just received these four new pictures!
Chayah with her care package. (above)

Chayah holding the picture of her Daddy and Mommy! So sweet!

Looks like she loves her Dora doll! :) I love this picture!!

Showing her new Dora stick-on earrings. ;)

Awww!!! I am so in love with this girl!!! I absolutely adore these new pictures! She is just gorgeous and I want her home now!! Today is Day 90 and we haven't heard anything yet. Praying that she will be home for Thanksgiving!