Happy 7 months!

Anna is 7 months old today.... When she turns 8 months old, she'll be here, in this house, WITH us! I still can't believe that she is going to be HERE.... very soon. In my head and heart, I know that she's ours and it is just matter of time until we get her.... her room is done, we have clothes hanging in her closet, diapers ready to go, baby bottles, crib, co-sleeper, stroller, hair bows, car seat, I've even made her first doctor's appt, filled out the form and payment for re-adoption, signed up for Kindermusik together (starting the monday after we return!)... yet, even after all the "plans", it's still so hard for me to comprehend that I will get to hold her.... I'll get to hear what she sounds like, I'll get to know what her likes and dislikes are... she'll get to know ME. It is all too good to comprehend fully. I can't thank God enough for such a wonderful miracle. We are so grateful. We'll be there very soon, Anna Li Grace!!

We have UPDATES!!!

Our last update before we go and get our sweet, sweet Miss Anna :)

Look at her little face... she looks like she's struggling... the mean nannies put her on her belly and she can't get up :)

Ok, this is better...Looks like she's checking something out... waaaay over there

Don't you just love her little fuzzy, fuzzy hair? The shirt she's wearing is another one we've sent her :) She's too cute... I want to squeeze her little cheeks!

She is now 15lbs, 24.6" tall, and head circumference is 41.6cm

We have a date!!!

We received a call today from our agency that we have an appt to meet Anna on 9/22!!!
That was a little later than I had initially hoped, but I really do think it would end up being perfect! This way, our boys will get into the "groove" of school, the weather will be so much more bearable in both Okinawa and Taiwan. Also, the hotel rates go WAY down in Okinawa in Sept. All in all, I am so excited to be traveling in the early fall. I still can't believe that in a little over a month, we'll have Anna in our arms! I can't wait!!! Now, I frantically search hotel rates, airfares, etc.. Oh... we also will not have a guide of any sort...although, we CAN pay something like $150 a day for a guide that our agency is in contact with there. Thankfully, my classmate from Okinawa now lives in Taiwan and she might be able to come visit us and maybe help us navigate the city if we need help.

SHE IS OURS!!!!

I was packing for our trip today to the coast, when I randomly decided to check email.... it was noon, I had LONG given up on the idea that I would find out anything today... then among some junk email was an email from our agency with the subject line.... "COURT PROCEDURE IS FINISHED".... I found this email on my phone, and sometimes it takes a while for my phone to actually download the message, so I quickly ran to our computer all the while jumping, and signed on our email and the lady from our agency wrote that the orphanage received the final piece of paper, which, I believe is the final decree, and that they are trying to figure out travel date for us. They are now working on getting Anna's medical record and passport to AIT (American Institute in Taiwan... basically, the consulate). I wrote right away to ask when they thought we would know more details of travel date and she wrote back to tell me that maybe sometimes next week!!

So, we could be traveling to Taiwan very soon!!! We are now at the beach in Netarts, Oregon... I wanted so badly just to stay home and work on "stuff" around the house to get ready for Anna!! She is going to be ours very soon!!!

Update

Usually at the end of the month, our agency sends us an updated photo and some information about Anna, but July 30th and 31st came and went without any updates... finally I emailed our agency yesterday and they said that the orphanage is short on staff and they will not be sending updates. They did reassure us that they think our court passed and that it is a matter of time until we hear something. They think we'll hear something the month of August.

So, again, not the most exciting update, but it's an update, non-the-less. I am sad to not see any updated photos.. it was the only thing that helped ease the pain of this wait.... but, just yesterday, as i was reading my bible in the morning, these scriptures stuck out ..

"Though the sheep pens are sheepless,(though our house is girl-less) and the cattle barns are empty,(and the nursery is empty)I'm singing a joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Saviour God. Counting on God's RULE to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm King of the mountain. Habakkuk 3:17-19 (MSG)
(My words in the parentheses)

Here's another one...

Jesus said, "You're tied down to the mundane; I'm in touch with what is beyond your horizons. You live in terms of what you see and touch. I'm living on other terms.
John 8:23-24

I have become pre-occupied with the "mundane".... God sees what is WAY beyond. As important as bringing Anna home is, it is not the ONLY thing God is doing and I want to see BEYOND what I see right now in front of me so that I can move forward with confidence that God, who orchestrates everything, has this all planned out.

THANK YOU, Kelly B!

Last week, I received this BEAUTIFUL bib from Kelly B. from our China adoption (ladybug) online group!

It was a big surprise and I absolutely love the bib!

Thank you, Kelly B! You are so thoughtful!