Friday, August 31, 2012
Here we go!
We are starting the first leg of our journey! After 3 hours of sleep too! Packing is tougher than I imagined. But... Ready or not, we are on our way! Keep us in your prayers. :)
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Counting down the days!
Only a few days until we travel to go meet and bring home our little Lena! I cannot believe it is time! I have so many emotions and thoughts swirling around in my heart and my head that it's hard to put it all in to words. We just want to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this journey. I pray that it will continue, as this journey is actually just getting ready to begin!
Lately, the majority of my time has been preparing my work caseload to hand over to another therapist. I am taking a leave for quite a while to be with Lena and my family and focus on their needs. I am so excited about the opportunity to do this and not be busy with the outside demands of my work. Don't get me wrong, I truly love my work and the children I am able to help with their communication. I am just so excited about this stage of motherhood in my life! I pray that it will work out financially for our family for me to be able to stay home for a while and just be "Mommy."
I also have been spending many hours organizing and preparing for our trip and for our little girl to come home. Part of this has been creating a master schedule for my boys who will stay home during our trip. I am so thankful for everyone who is pitching in to help out with them while we are away. This is very hard for me to know that I will not be here for them and help them with their daily needs and activities. I know, however, that they are being cared for by people who love them (this makes ALL the difference!) I have peace knowing this. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Last week, our church friends gave us an amazing shower for Lena. We were blessed with so many gifts to help us prepare for her! It means so much to us that we have family, friends, and a church family who are supporting us throughout this.
Please continue to pray for us: for our safety, for the boys at home, for Lena's adjustment, for our peace and patience, for Lena to "know" us as her family, and for our family to reach a "new normal" without much difficulty.
When we return, we may be isolated for a while as Lena bonds with us and our family. We want her to feel safe and secure and know us as her caregivers and parents. We have know idea how she will adjust or what she will be feeling and dealing with. We do know that it will be very difficult for her and she will need to take time to grieve and not be overwhelmed in her transition. Please understand that this will not an easy process for her or for our family, but we know that it is the path our family is to take and that we will be blessed beyond measure. Our focus will solely be on her and her adjustment and our family for a while. We ask for your prayers, support, understanding, and love during this process. I know that every situation is different, but we are trying to go into this with our eyes wide open and not with an "everything will be rosy" view of what life will be like for the next several months or even years.
We are so excited and eager to begin this stage of life and see how God will work in it and through it all! Most of all, we are so thrilled to bring a little girl, without a family, from the other side of the world into our family... forever!
Please take time to read a truth-telling blog entry about the first year after adopting. It may help you see what the adoption journey is like, or could be like.
http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2012/08/21/the-truth-about-adoption-one-year-later
Blessings...
Laura
Lately, the majority of my time has been preparing my work caseload to hand over to another therapist. I am taking a leave for quite a while to be with Lena and my family and focus on their needs. I am so excited about the opportunity to do this and not be busy with the outside demands of my work. Don't get me wrong, I truly love my work and the children I am able to help with their communication. I am just so excited about this stage of motherhood in my life! I pray that it will work out financially for our family for me to be able to stay home for a while and just be "Mommy."
I also have been spending many hours organizing and preparing for our trip and for our little girl to come home. Part of this has been creating a master schedule for my boys who will stay home during our trip. I am so thankful for everyone who is pitching in to help out with them while we are away. This is very hard for me to know that I will not be here for them and help them with their daily needs and activities. I know, however, that they are being cared for by people who love them (this makes ALL the difference!) I have peace knowing this. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Last week, our church friends gave us an amazing shower for Lena. We were blessed with so many gifts to help us prepare for her! It means so much to us that we have family, friends, and a church family who are supporting us throughout this.
Please continue to pray for us: for our safety, for the boys at home, for Lena's adjustment, for our peace and patience, for Lena to "know" us as her family, and for our family to reach a "new normal" without much difficulty.
When we return, we may be isolated for a while as Lena bonds with us and our family. We want her to feel safe and secure and know us as her caregivers and parents. We have know idea how she will adjust or what she will be feeling and dealing with. We do know that it will be very difficult for her and she will need to take time to grieve and not be overwhelmed in her transition. Please understand that this will not an easy process for her or for our family, but we know that it is the path our family is to take and that we will be blessed beyond measure. Our focus will solely be on her and her adjustment and our family for a while. We ask for your prayers, support, understanding, and love during this process. I know that every situation is different, but we are trying to go into this with our eyes wide open and not with an "everything will be rosy" view of what life will be like for the next several months or even years.
We are so excited and eager to begin this stage of life and see how God will work in it and through it all! Most of all, we are so thrilled to bring a little girl, without a family, from the other side of the world into our family... forever!
Please take time to read a truth-telling blog entry about the first year after adopting. It may help you see what the adoption journey is like, or could be like.
http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2012/08/21/the-truth-about-adoption-one-year-later
Blessings...
Laura
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
We're going to China!!
Today we received our Travel Approval from China to go get our little Lena! That means we're leaving in 3 1/2 weeks for China! Wow, I've got a lot to do! I cannot believe we are in the home stretch. It seemed like such an impossible task when we were considering taking this leap of faith just a year ago. However, with God all things are possible! "One step at a time" is what I kept telling myself as I persevered through the paper-chase that seemed to be such a daunting a task, with no end in sight. Then, a little over 4 months ago we saw our daughter for the first time. It is such a strange experience to know in your heart of hearts that a child you've never met is actually your daughter. It's amazing, the love we already have for her! Thank you to everyone who is supporting us in this journey to Lena: for letters of recommendation, for support through our puzzle fundraiser, for our wonderful notaries, for a generous supply of clothes for her, for the use of a crib / bed, for offers to help with the boys while we are gone, and for prayers, kindness, and encouragement along the way. All these things mean so much to us. We have truly been blessed and are so grateful. Please continue to pray: for Lena, for her adjustment to her family, for our safe travel and our time in China to go well, for Seth and Kyle as they are home without us for 2 weeks, and for our family to adjust to our "new normal" without a hitch. Most of all, please pray for Lena as she will certainly be confused and will be grieving her losses. Pray that she will be comforted by the love she feels from our family and will bond with us in time. Pray that she will "know" us and feel comfortable, loved, and safe with us. Please pray earnestly and expectantly for these requests. Giving God all the glory and praise!
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