Why? How? Adopting again...

About 2 years ago, when we were in the middle of paper chasing to bring Levi home, God started speaking to me about adopting a 13-year-old girl from China. I shared my feelings with Lance, my mom and a couple online friends. Even though He had laid it very heavy on my heart, I knew it was something that was not going to happen anytime soon. We hadn’t even brought Levi home yet after all. I did become drawn to these aging out kids on many different agency lists, advocacy websites and yahoo groups…and sadly I had seen a lot of them go from an “Urgent” to “Aged Out” statusL You see, in China, once a child turns 14-years old they are no longer able to be adopted. There chance for having a family is forever gone. I can’t even imagine living with that “orphan” status for your entire life. We all need someone to love us unconditionally. We brought Levi home and even though Lance and I BOTH felt like “We are DONE!” at times…the Holy Spirit would often whisper to me about my 13-year old daughter. I had many conversations with God explaining that “YES, I hear you BUT you need to start speaking to my husband”. I can’t do this alone. Levi’s one-year anniversary came and went…the Holy Spirit started to tell me “it is almost time”. In January Lance took a mission trip the Dominican Republic. He returned on January 27^th forever changed by this experience and a special 14-year old boy he met there named Roger. It would be impossible to bring this teenage boy home but there were others that we could make a difference in their lives. The Holy Spirit was working in him and Lance opened the door with…”I am thinking maybe we should adopt again.” The minute he spoke those words a certain little girl popped into my mind. Keep in mind, I had seen pictures of hundreds of teenage children waiting for their families to quickly find them…so why this child? Only God knows…He chose her to be our daughter and for me to be her mom. I showed Lance her picture and we started to pray. I knew the answer very quickly…it was honestly like the Holy Spirit was screaming at me. He told me her name and that the girls should come to China with us to get her. I was an indescribable feeling…I was SO sure. I think the fact that I was in the middle of the Daniel Fast had something to do with hearing Him so clearly. It was honestly AMAZING!!! Now…I just needed Him to make Lance sure. I needed Lance to also be 100% in on this decision. The 2^nd week in February Lance had a business trip to San Francisco, California. Before catching his flight home on his last day there, he decided to take a walk through Chinatown and spend some time in prayer. He said he walked, prayed and cried…not knowing exactly why. He emailed me pictures from his phone and I longed to be there with him but I knew God was…the Holy Spirit was at work in him. He returned home and on Valentine’s Day Lance sent me this text…” Let’s do it! She needs a home and we have the means. God commands it! Love ya!” I don’t know about you but I think that was the most romantic Valentine’s Day gift I could have ever received. I love Lance for so many reasons but mostly for loving our God as much as I do and for obeying Him even when it is not the easy thing to do. WOW…I am blessed!!! I emailed the adoption agency from my phone, while on the treadmill at the YMCA, which was were I was when I received his the text…LOL! We started the initial paperwork to get pre-approval the next day. Our paperwork was translated and sent to China from our agency on February 23^rd and we heard back from China on February 29^th…just 6 days laterJ They agreed to let us adopt Bai Jia Jing ( aka Lia Jing Perry). The road to bring our adopted children home is never an easy one but one SO worth it in the end. We know that this is God’s will and our calling, our mission. Thank you Lord!!!

Art Show Pics...

Levi and Lilyan both had art projects chosen to be in the annual Tri Kappa Art Show at Warsaw Community High School last Saturday. Lilyan was excited to learn that two of her projects were chosen. She LOVES art:) Levi also had a projected selected to be in the show. I am proud of them!!!

Levi's project...

Lilyan's watercolor...

Lilyan drew her boots...

Happy Birthday Lia!!!

To know you have a child and not be able to celebrate her birthday with her...is hard:( I have SO many questions that I would like to have answered...some I may get the answers to someday, some I probably never will. I wonder if she knows when her birth date even is? Will someone celebrate with her? Does anyone care that this is possibly the 13th one she is having without a Mom and Dad? Does she like cake? Has she ever received a birthday present? I have NO idea. I DO know that this year...someone will be thinking about her and praying for her on her birthday. I know that someone will be celebrating her...even if we are not together. I am sending her a birthday gift but it will not be delivered to the orphanage until April 2nd, so I hope she isn't sad on her birthday...thinking we don't care;( A lady, that is in China now adopting 2 beautiful little girls, has a special connection to my girl. Her name is Stefani and she actually got to meet my girl back in 2004 when Lia was only 5 years old. Stefani was visiting the orphanage after adopting a baby girl there. She saw Lia asked if she and her group of friends were registered for adoption. The staff told her "No, who would want them?" Stefani assured her that of coarse someone would want them. And pleaded with the vice director to please get their paperwork ready. Over the next several years Stefani had seen these girls show up on lists and come HOME to families...all except Lia. Until now!!! It breaks my heart that she has waited SO very long for a family. I plan to make it up to her BIG time!!! :) Stefani was thrilled to be able to take a package to China for me and I am thankful to her for all that she has done for my daughter...without Stefani, Lia may have been an orphan forever. I know that Lia's life has not been easy and this road may not be an easy one but I plan to LOVE her now, always and forever!!! Happy Birthday Lia!!! This is your last one without a family of your own.

Lia's birthday stuff...including pictures and a letter:)

My pretty girl...

With some other kiddos who also have parents waiting to bring them home...

Thanks again for the pictures Lori!!!

Summer...is that you?!

Just a few days ago my blog post was "Spring...is that you?!" and now we are having VERY Summer like weather. Well...that was a quick Spring wasn't it;) It has been in the 80's the last few days and according to the 10 day forecast...it is here to stay for a while. It is been really nice and the kids are especially enjoying it. They were asking to go swimming already...but the pool doesn't open until the end of May. They opted to get the sprinkler out for now. Their favorite it to stick it under the trampoline and jump while getting wet:) It has been so nice to have the windows open. We actually slept with our sliding glass door in our bedroom open the last two nights. It felt GREAT and I slept GREAT!!! Lance and I have also been enjoying spending some time out on the back deck, walks around the neighborhood and jogs outside instead of on the treadmill. Lance and I are running in the Indianapolis Mini-marathon the first Saturday in May so we are in the middle of training for that. It sure will be nice to get some more wonderful running days outside and hopefully an equally gorgeous race day:) Oh are we getting spoiled awfully early here in Northern Indiana. I sure hope this beautiful weather is here for good.

Lorelle and Levi on the trampoline...

And running through the sprinkler...

My wet little cutie pie....

Liam playing with the hose...

Seriously...CAN'T BELIEVE IT IS STILL THE MIDDLE OF MARCH!!!

Spring...is that you?!

What a GORGEOUS day!!! Lance, my friend Regina and I spend most of the afternoon sitting on our back deck. We watched the kids play football and jump on the trampoline. The sun felt wonderful:) It was very exciting to get a little glimpse of Spring today...YES!!!