So many have asked and wondered how the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) determines what baby we get. Actually, it is some process! First, our dossier went through the review room over a year ago. From there it goes to the matching room which will remain there until they get to our log-in date of July 14, 2006. Currently, the next referral batch is for February 2006 (slowwwwwly getting there) ;-).
It's very peculiar, I think, how the matchers match families and babies. First they look for something that stands out: a matching birthday, a baby who looks a lot like a parent --any blonde-haired chinese babies?:-), a baby who likes music and a parent who teaches music, sometimes they match by bone structure of the baby's face and the parent's faces, which is why they need a picture of our passport photos, and some use chinese astrology. Once they've matched they then start to look at things like age of child requested; however, the age of child is not a priority for them because they feel they are matching families and not filling orders.
Now with that all said, I know that the baby we get is ultimately up to God. In fact, He already knows who she is. Her mommy, daddy, and brother all have brown eyes so we will have that in common ;-). As I've said many times, we already love Kylie so much. We praise God for impressing upon our hearts to adopt her.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:13-16)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Sweetness of God's Word
Has everyone been enjoying watching the Olympics? We've been watching about an hour or so of it at night. Obviously, with the Olympics being in Beijing all we can think about is our little girl over there in one of China's provinces. How we think and pray for you through out each day, Kylie!!
As I think about prayer and praying God's Word over my children, I'm reminded of the sweetness of God's Word. Psalm 119:103 says, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth." Something really sweet happened the other night that Brad and I will never forget. We try (notice I didn't say every night) to do a family devotion after dinner, which has turned out to be such cherished moments. Karsten and I usually have our morning Bible time together, but the times when his daddy is with us is even better. We were sitting in the living room and Karsten was on his daddy's lap. We had just finished our devotion and then each of us took turns praying. What Karsten said was unforgettable. He said, "thank you God for my mommy and daddy teaching me the Bible." I'm not saying that in a bragging way because I sin everyday and will never be perfect here on earth. However, that was very encouraging and reminded me that when we sow in the Spirit we'll reap in the Spirit. One of my prayers is for Karsten and Kylie to live pure and holy lives and have a passion for Jesus Christ. Even if you have infants, read the Bible to them. Or better yet if a baby is in your womb. We can keep our way pure by living according to God's Word (Psalm 119:9). We need the sweetness of God's Word so others can know Jesus.
Love & blessings~
Jennifer
As I think about prayer and praying God's Word over my children, I'm reminded of the sweetness of God's Word. Psalm 119:103 says, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth." Something really sweet happened the other night that Brad and I will never forget. We try (notice I didn't say every night) to do a family devotion after dinner, which has turned out to be such cherished moments. Karsten and I usually have our morning Bible time together, but the times when his daddy is with us is even better. We were sitting in the living room and Karsten was on his daddy's lap. We had just finished our devotion and then each of us took turns praying. What Karsten said was unforgettable. He said, "thank you God for my mommy and daddy teaching me the Bible." I'm not saying that in a bragging way because I sin everyday and will never be perfect here on earth. However, that was very encouraging and reminded me that when we sow in the Spirit we'll reap in the Spirit. One of my prayers is for Karsten and Kylie to live pure and holy lives and have a passion for Jesus Christ. Even if you have infants, read the Bible to them. Or better yet if a baby is in your womb. We can keep our way pure by living according to God's Word (Psalm 119:9). We need the sweetness of God's Word so others can know Jesus.
Love & blessings~
Jennifer
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The God of All Comfort
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the suffering of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
As I reflect upon the last 4 1/2 years, these verses have given me new meaning. Losing a child is one of the worst things a parent can go through. I remember at the beginning there were many mornings when Brad and I did not even want to get out of bed. Still to this day, Kyler is who I think about when I fall asleep and I think about him when I wake up. Grief is such a strange thing. Brad, Karsten and I will always grieve over him, but the pain has lessened somewhat. I don't feel guilty anymore for laughing nor do I still cry everyday, but when the tears do come they really fall hard.
God said that we shouldn't be surprised when trials come our way. They are going to come in this life, it's a fact. I know of at least 9 families, 8 of them have lost babies and 1 was a 5 year old just in the past year. They are the Piper's, Kenderdine's, Hasenbalg's, Smith's, Skagg's, Marks', Sponberg's, Larsen's and Chapman's. I do know that all these families are grounded in their faith and they hold on to hope. The verses I listed above mean that through the suffering we endure we can help comfort others who are going through a similar situation. Oh how I pray for these families and ones around the world everyday who are suffering but may have no hope. That's the difference. We who have trusted Christ as our Lord and Savior have the hope and promise of eternal life with Him. The hope of being reunited with our loved ones, the hope of not having to be separated from our children anymore, we have this hope as an anchor.
God has a purpose for each thing He does and gives us. He doesn't want us to become bitter, he wants us to become better, to be more like Him. I think of Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "Not Home Yet," that says, we are not home yet, we are not home yet, keep on looking ahead let your heart not forget we are not home yet. I am so glad this world isn't my home. God has prepared for me a home in heaven someday. As for now, my journey here continues.
In Christ alone,
Jennifer
As I reflect upon the last 4 1/2 years, these verses have given me new meaning. Losing a child is one of the worst things a parent can go through. I remember at the beginning there were many mornings when Brad and I did not even want to get out of bed. Still to this day, Kyler is who I think about when I fall asleep and I think about him when I wake up. Grief is such a strange thing. Brad, Karsten and I will always grieve over him, but the pain has lessened somewhat. I don't feel guilty anymore for laughing nor do I still cry everyday, but when the tears do come they really fall hard.
God said that we shouldn't be surprised when trials come our way. They are going to come in this life, it's a fact. I know of at least 9 families, 8 of them have lost babies and 1 was a 5 year old just in the past year. They are the Piper's, Kenderdine's, Hasenbalg's, Smith's, Skagg's, Marks', Sponberg's, Larsen's and Chapman's. I do know that all these families are grounded in their faith and they hold on to hope. The verses I listed above mean that through the suffering we endure we can help comfort others who are going through a similar situation. Oh how I pray for these families and ones around the world everyday who are suffering but may have no hope. That's the difference. We who have trusted Christ as our Lord and Savior have the hope and promise of eternal life with Him. The hope of being reunited with our loved ones, the hope of not having to be separated from our children anymore, we have this hope as an anchor.
God has a purpose for each thing He does and gives us. He doesn't want us to become bitter, he wants us to become better, to be more like Him. I think of Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "Not Home Yet," that says, we are not home yet, we are not home yet, keep on looking ahead let your heart not forget we are not home yet. I am so glad this world isn't my home. God has prepared for me a home in heaven someday. As for now, my journey here continues.
In Christ alone,
Jennifer
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