journey of a blessed family

I had certainly hoped and prayed to have great news to share from China by today, but unfortunately we're at the 180 day mark and still have not received that blessed letter. [That's 6 months waiting for a letter that normally takes 2 or 3] China confirmed over a month ago that our file was finished with review and they would be sending the letter we're waiting for....and then they confirmed again last week that "preparations for our letter had begun and we MAY receive it SOON"...but, alas, nothing yet.

Yes, we're certainly disappointed and it's been a little difficult to get into the Christmas spirit this year because we fully believed all year that we would have our son home long before Christmas and yet we'll be celebrating it again without him....But don't fear, we are okay!

I've been trying to fight being really depressed about the whole situation and wanting to just curl up and pull the covers over my head...I've felt kind of bad about being sad--like I'm not being strong enough or something. But, God sent me a timely message a few days ago. Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." Right after I said, "You got that right!!"...I realized, yes, I've definitely been heart-sick, but I guess it's nothing to be ashamed of...God acknowledged it right there in His word...I don't have to pretend it's not real or feel guilty because I've somehow failed. When something that you've been longing for, praying for, hoping for doesn't happen it makes you sad--even sick! What I do have to realize and cling to is that our hope, our longing, is deferred....delayed, not destroyed or abandoned. IT WILL COME (eventually) and when it does--CELEBRATION!!

We truly appreciate your prayers as we continue to wait and hold on to that HOPE...and we can't wait to be jumping for joy and shouting in celebration that our news has arrived!! It has to be soon--really!!

The pictures above are some from the past month or so...The kids enjoying counting down to Christmas with their Advent Calendars (last piece of chocolate was TODAY); a picture of my 'expecting' ornament (I already have three 'pregnant' ornaments on the tree from the years that I was expecting to give birth...this year's expectation is a little different but is now also commemorated by an ornament)...the boys playing basketball and some holiday poses---I sent a Christmas package with a camera to China this week, so hopefully I'll have some new pics of G to post soon....Enjoy the glimpses of what's going on in our family!

Praying you all have a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2009! Love, D