God is good all the time!
What a month this has been. When the referrals came in at the first part of August, it was very disappointing that the cutoff date was 11/21/05. Remember, our LID was 11/22/05. That was followed by a weekend where some disturbing realizations came to light. We had heard rumors that some adoption agencies do not travel during the month of October because of a big trade fair in China. We knew we would be expecting our referral the first of September which normally would mean we'd travel in October. I e-mailed our family coordinator and she let me know that, sure enough, America World does not travel the last 2 weeks in October. This meant that our group would most likely travel the first of November.
We also found out that weekend that the performance dates for the Ulysses High School musical are November 9 & 10. Jeremy had leads in the musical the last 2 years and it was pretty much a given that he would have a lead role this year, too. That meant we were faced with a tough decision; Jeremy would miss the musical to go to China or we would have to postpone our travel. Both of these options were impossible to me and it made for a very difficult couple of days. We decided to let the boys audition for the musical and we began to pray that God would just work things out according to His plan.
All of this combined to put a real damper on the expectation of our referral. I also had learned over the months not to count on receiving our referral until I knew it was on the way!
Auditions for "Oklahoma" took place last week. Jeremy was given the lead role of "Curly" and Kyle was given the role of "Slim". After having used elementary and junior high kids last year, the director decided he wanted to continue that practice. So, Logan made the cast, also!
We were all at peace with waiting until the end of November or beginning of December to travel to China to meet our Makenna.
Then on Tuesday, September 4, we received "the call". I couldn't believe it when we were told that Makenna wasn't even 7 months old yet. What a wonderful surprise! So even if we don't travel until December, she will only be 10 months old. We will still be able to share her first Christmas and her first Birthday!
And here is the most incredible thing. We have believed from the start of this process that God had a particular child that He planned before even time began to be a part of this family. Children are not eligible for International Adoption in China until they are at least 6 months old. That means if we had received our referral even one month earlier, it would not have been for this particular child! What a blessing to know that this incredibly long and difficult wait had a purpose! God's timing is always perfect and always has a purpose, but we don't always get the opportunity to know what that purpose is.
We are head over heels in love with this beautiful baby! And we are so thankful for God's faithfulness during this process. We know He will continue to uphold and strengthen us as we wait to meet our precious Makenna! And we know He is holding her in the palm of His hand!
To Him be all the glory, honor and praise!
We also found out that weekend that the performance dates for the Ulysses High School musical are November 9 & 10. Jeremy had leads in the musical the last 2 years and it was pretty much a given that he would have a lead role this year, too. That meant we were faced with a tough decision; Jeremy would miss the musical to go to China or we would have to postpone our travel. Both of these options were impossible to me and it made for a very difficult couple of days. We decided to let the boys audition for the musical and we began to pray that God would just work things out according to His plan.
All of this combined to put a real damper on the expectation of our referral. I also had learned over the months not to count on receiving our referral until I knew it was on the way!
Auditions for "Oklahoma" took place last week. Jeremy was given the lead role of "Curly" and Kyle was given the role of "Slim". After having used elementary and junior high kids last year, the director decided he wanted to continue that practice. So, Logan made the cast, also!
We were all at peace with waiting until the end of November or beginning of December to travel to China to meet our Makenna.
Then on Tuesday, September 4, we received "the call". I couldn't believe it when we were told that Makenna wasn't even 7 months old yet. What a wonderful surprise! So even if we don't travel until December, she will only be 10 months old. We will still be able to share her first Christmas and her first Birthday!
And here is the most incredible thing. We have believed from the start of this process that God had a particular child that He planned before even time began to be a part of this family. Children are not eligible for International Adoption in China until they are at least 6 months old. That means if we had received our referral even one month earlier, it would not have been for this particular child! What a blessing to know that this incredibly long and difficult wait had a purpose! God's timing is always perfect and always has a purpose, but we don't always get the opportunity to know what that purpose is.
We are head over heels in love with this beautiful baby! And we are so thankful for God's faithfulness during this process. We know He will continue to uphold and strengthen us as we wait to meet our precious Makenna! And we know He is holding her in the palm of His hand!
To Him be all the glory, honor and praise!
posted by Robin Pelton at 11:30 AM
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