Long Shot

The adoption agency that Juliana is listed with has a password protected photo album of all the children that are available to their clients for adoption.  I have the password, and check the photo album several times a day, holding my breath each time until I see Juliana's smiling face.

Our agency consultant makes a weekly call to Juliana’s adoption agency, and every time she receives the same news.  She is told that “a family is seriously considering bringing her home”.  Today I wrote our “Letter Of Intent” to adopt Juliana.  Why, you might ask when another family is probably going to bring her home?  I felt like God was urging me to write the request, and have it ready just in case we get the opportunity to lock her file.

It’s a long shot at this point...but it always has been, so nothing has changed! 

Secrets

A piece of me died this mornng. One family broke the silence, and the emails have begun to come in about the horrible treatment and conditions of the orphanage where our daughter is waiting for us.  I always assumed that our daughter might sit in wet diapers much longer than she should, or that she would spend most of her days in her crib without hugs or kisses.  But things are not always what they may seem, and the "model orphanage" that our daughter is living in has some very dark secrets.  Secrets that adopted children are now telling their parents.  As hard as these stories are for us to stomach, knowledge is power and we are desperate to know what our daughter is going through so that we can help her once she comes home.

If ever you have thought about adoption, now is the time to stop thinking and start acting. There are 147 million orphans in the world who are counting on us to do something about this atrocity.

Care Package

Sometime today Nianshu should receive the care package that we sent to her!  Angela, from “Lady Bugs and Love” gave me two blanket choices, and I picked the purple fuzzy one.  Angela printed out 10 photos of our family that I emailed to her, and she attached labels to them so that the orphanage can show Nianshu our pictures and help her to become familiar with our faces and names. 

I am excited to think that Nianshu will see her family
for the very first time today.

New Pictures of Nianshu

I received an email today from Angela with “Lady Bugs and Love”.  She heard back from the Shanghai CWI, and they sent her three photos of Nianshu.  Nianshu has just gotten her head shaved.  I really hate this, but realize that they shave the children’s heads in order to cut down on the spread of lice.  Uggghhhhh.

The only thing an adoptive family has to cling onto while we wait are the small glimpses into our child’s life as they wait upon us to bring them home.  The sadness in Nianshu’s eyes breaks my heart.  I cannot wait to see her little face light up when she smiles.

Enjoy a glimpse of our little beauty!

Mommy and Papa are coming for you sweet girl...we can't wait to see a big smile spread across your face.

Joyful Juliana

Be still my heart.  Juliana’s adoption agency received an update on her with new photos on 

September 12th....MY BIRTHDAY!

Juliana is pure beauty and joy.  The longing in my heart to be her mommy has definitely grown.  *SIGH*

Look at those kissable sweet cheeks!

Voila!

I love the death grip on her arm...totally something I would do!

You are so loved baby girl...more than you will ever know!

True Love

Today our agency consultant called the other adoption agency to inquire for us about Juliana.  Our consultant was told that several families are currently reviewing Juliana’s file, and that she was confident one of them was seriously considering adding Juliana to their family. 

I know agencies do not want to pressure families into making a decision, but I think the only family for Juliana is a family ready and willing to accept whatever God's will is for this precious child.  Jacques and I are both fully aware that by the time we bring Juliana home it may be too late for surgery (if her lungs are affected).  We both feel so strongly that we want to show this little girl what it is meant to be loved by a family, and reassure her that Jesus loves her and will make her whole again someday! 

BUT..we also know that our Heavenly Father is the Father of miracles and can lay his healing hands on precious Juliana.

Ultimately, Jacques and I desperately want Juliana to have a family.  If another family decides to bring her home we will be sad for us but thrilled for them and Juliana. 

I truly love this little girl, and only want what is best for her.

The Gift of Life

Today is my 33rd birthday!  We decided to send a care package to Nianshu today to let her know that she has a family, and that we love her so much.  We used a service called “Lady Bugs and Love”.  I am excited to hear from the woman, Angela, who will put together our care package and send it to Nianshu at the orphanage.

As usual, Jacques and the girls spoiled me rotten on my birthday.  But the best part of my day came when I opened up my very last present from Jacques.  Jacques loves giving gifts, and he always saves the best gift for last.  I slowly unwrapped the present, and opened the box to find a card inside.  When I opened the card, Jacques wrote that he wanted to “Double our pleasure and double our fun” by bringing home Juliana too.  Jacques has been on board all along to bring home Juliana, but this was his way of saying that he gave me his 100% support to pull out all of the stops and start fighting to bring Juliana home. 

I guess you can say that Jacques gave me the gift of life for my birthday! 

USCIS

We just received confirmation that our USCIS application/petition has been received and routed to the National Benefit Center for processing.