Thursday, June 28, 2007

Referral!!!!


We received our referral on June 28th. Our Letter of Intent was sent to China on 7/5/07.

Here is the info we have about Charlotte:
DOB: 6/25/2006 (She just celebrated her 1st birthday)

Once we have the appropriate paperwork done we will post her picture. She is a CUTIE!!!
She is in the Guangdong Province of China and has been in the Yang Chun Social Welfare institute since she was abandoned at 2 days old. Her file says she is closest to her caregiver and likes to bury her head in your chest when being held (how sweet!) She does have a special need as she was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate. She will need surgery for both once we return from China. We have already met with our pediatrian and he feels that other that the lip/palate she is very healthy. We have also sent her info on to a craniofacial specialist to review so that we can be ready to move forward when we return. Again I will post her picture soon, but for now know that we are so excited that God has chosen us to be the parents of such a special little girl.
In Him,
Jay, Carla and Ethan






Monday, June 25, 2007

So Far....Jay's Reflections

Dear Friends,
What a journey this has been so far. As God prepares us for the time when Charlotte joins our family, I wanted to take an opportunity to reflect on where we are so far. My what a journey it has been! Carla and I were talking recently about how resolved we've felt lately. Through this long process we have truly realized that God’s timing is perfect. He does things for the sole purpose of bringing glory to Himself, and what a celebration it will be when He tells us to go get Charlotte! Every day we become a little more at peace with God’s perfect will for us (even though we are still anxious, especially when we hear about the possibility new referrals!). Many of you know that Carla and I lead worship at our church, Messiah UMC in Chesapeake. God always puts songs in my path that speak directly to my heart. Lately the song He has blessed me with is “Bring the Rain” by MercyMe. In the last few years, as God has brought us along in this journey through infertility, IVF, and now the miracle of adoption, it is clear to me that God is truly using our lives to bring glory to Him.
Praise God for the journey.
Jay

Bring the Rain - MercyMe
I can count a million times people asking me how
I Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me, can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You?
Maybe since my life was changed, long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord, my only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray…Bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You, Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray…