I LOVE Progress!

This has been a very productive week!  My type-A personality loves to be productive.  Some of this information in a repeat if we're friends on Facebook, but this blog serves two purposes: 1. It keeps all of you informed.  2.  It is a record of our journey that Isabelle can read later.  So, for that reason, please humor me :)

Isn't she beautiful?!  Our Facebook friends, the Pleets, made the long journey to our orphanage this week to get their little girl.  While there, they took the time to meet Isabelle.  We are so thankful!  What an amazing couple to bless us like that.  She has more pictures, but they'll come another day.  Internet in Ch*na isn't always the best so I will wait patiently for them. 

Here is what Gigi messaged me:  We got to meet your little girl as well- she was hungry for lunch and late for a nap so they just popped in for a moment and we gave her the hello kitty. They said that she had a bit of a cold as well which is why she was crying . I'm so sorry I couldn't spend more time with her. She was very sweet just upset. They said she is normally a very happy and sweet baby. I have more pics that I snapped from my camera that I will send later!! Please try not to worry about your little girlie- the staff at the O is very caring and loves these children very much!!! Her nanny was so attentive and hugged her and kissed her many times. I'm sure when Mandy goes she will be able to visit her again!!!  (Mandy is another adoptive mom who's little girl is at the same orphanage.)

Another sweet lady, Megan, checked in on Isabelle later that day or the next day.  Here is what she messaged me: I wanted you to know that I saw your baby girl this morning . . . I don't often make it to the areas with the babies, but after my English class today with the older kids I made my way to the other building and spent some time with the littler ones. :) I wandered around looking for your little one, and found her happy in her crib. Want you to know that she gave me a big grin, before ducking down to hide, with a bit of a peek-a-boo playful attitude. :) I know GiGi saw her yesterday, and that she was a bit upset at the moment they met her . . . just wanted you to know that she seems to be doing much better today. :)
I won't be back to the orphanage for quite some time, because our Gotcha Day is next week, and after that I'll lay low with my little guy for a while. But I'll ask some other volunteers to look out for your sweet girl . . . now I know where to find her! :)

Wow, two good reports in as many days!  (And even the hope of another volunteer checking in on her once in a while.)  Then, the best news of all........I received a call from our SW today and she told me we are OOT (out of translation).  That means our dossier is now being reviewed and usually within 4 weeks they issue our LOA (Letter of Acceptance).  The even better part of that news is that we weren't OOT today, but on January 8.  We're more than a week past that!  I'm doing a major happy dance.  Now, please, please, please pray.  About 4 weeks from January 8 is Chinese New Year (CNY).  All of the offices close down for a week, I think.  I'd really like our LOA before the CNY holiday.  That way we can be processing paperwork on this side of the ocean!

Isn't God good, faithful, awesome.....I could go on.  We are so blessed to have been led on this journey.  Our little girl is waiting at the end and we're getting so much closer.  From LOA to travel in Ch*na will still be 8-12 weeks, but those steps are pretty predictable, unlike the LOA wait.

Again today, I reminded myself, that all of this is in God's timing.  I am excited, but I won't get ahead of Him.  I will wait patiently and trust His timing for the rest of our journey.  (Even though her birthday, March 27, is in the back of my mind.)  It would be an act of God to make it, but whatever He puts into motion will be completed right on time!  Amen?