TA for Thanksgiving

The second to last part of our adoption waiting is over!  On Monday we received the best news that we would be traveling to get our son very soon!  The wait to receive our travel approval was one of the longest periods of waiting that we have been through, but now that it's here, we are in GO mode trying to get everything done in our home and everything packed to bring to China...wew!  

I have been blessed with meeting so many amazing people who have helped with the process each step of the way. Some of the connections and friendships made were through blogging and I can't thank the Lord enough for those people in our lives. They have answered numerous questions, given suggestions, encouraged us and prayed for us through this entire journey!! Some have even recently given me packing lists that are absolutely perfect for making sure we have everything we need! The Lord has greatly blessed us!

The most exciting part of traveling is that I will be able to look directly into those big, brown eyes, kiss those chubby cheeks, hold that cuddly boy and whisper sweet prayers of love and thanks into his ear.  It's been almost 5 months since we saw that tiny 1 year old boy in a picture and knew he was ours.  It's been almost five months since we were blessed with a son and almost five months since we became a Mama and Baba.  Amazing!

The wait is hard and times unbearable to think about your child not having your arms to hug him and comfort him.  To pick him up when he is sad, to kiss booboos and to whisper "I love you" in his ear.  I had to be very careful not to get discouraged and let my mind wonder.  I relied 110% on Jesus to intervene and take fear from me.  I trusted the Lord to protect Eli and placed him in our Redeemers hands...without that hope I don't know what I would have done.  It's not a walk I would have wanted to do alone, thank you Jesus!

We are so excited for our trip and are now getting packed and ready to go.  We have tons of friends, family and neighbors praying for us, covering us with the Word and staying at our house while we are away (huge blessing!).  We ask you keep  in prayer  :

• We are protected at all times by the Blood of Jesus
• That all our flights are on time, protected and we have traveling mercies
• That we are free from illness, disease and infirmity the whole time there and coming home
• That all our appointments will go smoothly without any difficulties
• That Eli will be filled with joy and peace as he transitions into our family
• That Eli will bond and attach quickly by the power of the Lord
• That AJ and I have the mind of Christ and are given
  wisdom to help Eli, provide for him and keep him safe
• That we will all return home healthy, happy and filled with the joy of the Lord

It is a such an amazing time for us and our family!  We feel blessed to have shared the journey this far and for you all to experience the next part of our journey to get Eli!  We only have a short time left of being of family of 2 before there are 3!!!!  For that we are THANKFUL! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

God is GOOD and we are BLESSED!

And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes Me.

Matthew 18:5