Good News Deserves to be Celebrated! (L.I.D.)

And this is how we like to celebrate . . .

Today we received a much anticipated e-mail from our agency. . . We are logged in with the Chinese government. In fact, we've been logged in since October 8th! (One whole week!) We are so excited.

This means that we are now available for a referral. Our agency believes that the next list will come out at the beginning of next week, which makes it completely possible (although it's still a long shot) that we could be seeing Baby Girl's face very soon. So much to think about. . . I can hardly wait!

Of course waiting is such an intricate part of this journey, and I must admit that this last week I've kind of grumbled and complained about the wait. I just wish it could all move faster!

While I truly know that God is completely in control of this process, our Sunday morning Bible study gave me a clear reminder of why we wait.

Early in his life, God promised Abram that he would be the father of many nations. However, as Abram and Sarai aged there was still no heir. At one point, Abram even considered giving his inheritance to one of his  servants. But again, God assured Abram that his heir would be of his own flesh and his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Years passed and still no son. Sarai decided that she was tired of waiting and developed her own plan. She would give Abram her servant, Hagar. Hagar soon conceived but instead being the much sought solution . . . the problems had just begun. Hagar bore a son - but he was not the heir God had promised. I imagine Abram and Sarai had really grown tired of waiting!! More years passed and finally . . . when Abram was 99 years old and Sarai was 89 . . .  God proclaimed that Sarah would soon bear the chosen son. He even changed their names to Abraham and Sarah so that they would always be reminded of his promise. But, do you remember how they responded??? They laughed!!! After all these years . . .

As we discussed this story yesterday, someone asked . . . why do you think God made them WAIT so long. That's such a good question!

However, now that we're at the end of their story, His reasoning is very easy to see. At 100 and 90 the only way these two could become parents was if God did it. Why did they have to wait? So that God would be glorified!

And isn't this what our purpose in this life is all about . . . bringing God glory??? And even as hard as it may be, we can bring Him glory as we patiently wait . . .  always trusting . . . knowing that He always keeps His promises. Is it easy?? Absolutely not! Do we sometimes, like Abraham and Sarah, try to help God with "His" plan? Certainly. However, like those who have gone before us, we can choose to bring God glory by refocusing on His plan, knowing that the process is all about Him and we're just blessed to be a part of it.

D . . .T . . . C . . .

Who would have known that those three little letters could mean so much? Wow! We are finally DOSSIER TO CHINA!!! We first sent our Dossier (which includes everything from birth certificates and medical reports to family and passport photos, to our home study and so, so much more) to our agency on July 30, and after almost two months of being authenticated and certified at the county, state, and national level, we received word today that our paperwork is on its way. Praise the Lord!  It should be in China by Friday!

The next step is to be logged in and then it’s a REFERRAL! I can hardly wait to see her sweet face. Although each day brings us closer to the day we meet Baby Girl, I am not going to lie . . . the wait gets harder. 

However, through the emotional highs and lows, God continues to carry us through. Throughout this entire process, He has blessed us beyond measure and has miraculously provided in ways we would’ve never considered.

Thank you for praying for our family as we continue this journey. Please continue to pray that we will trust that God is in control and is continuing to work all things for our good and His glory.

Where did August go?

School started back and now it’s September! The days seem to be flying off the calendar, and we are as busy as ever! Most everything seems to be moving at breakneck speed and yet, among grading papers, lesson planning, baseball practices, recorder concerts (definitely a ploy to get parents to come to the band meeting), sight words and did I mention laundry for six people . . . our adoption process seems to be on the slow boat to China!!! 

                                                   

By the way, we did receive news that our paperwork is moving again. Yay!!! We’re hoping our dossier will be heading to China in two weeks . . . hopefully on a plane, not a boat!

As the days turn to weeks, and the weeks to months, I find myself constantly thinking of Baby Girl. Across a continent and an ocean, there’s a Bray baby waiting. Waiting for arms to hold her . . . waiting for goodnight kisses and bedtime prayers . . . waiting for shared secrets with her big sister.  . . waiting

And I am waiting. As I wait . . .  I wonder . . . is she being cared for . . . is somebody holding her bottle . . . is she healthy . . . is someone whispering while they hold her . . . your mommy loves you . . . your daddy’s coming soon . . . I can hardly stand the thought that we are here.  . . and she is there

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His followers that He had to go in order that the Comforter could come. The Holy Spirit . . . able to be in all places at once.  . . here in Georgia and with Baby Girl in China. It is in that knowledge I find peace. Though I can’t hold her, Baby Girl is not alone, and when I wonder . . . I know the Comforter is there . . . preparing her heart  . . . and ours  . . . 

Although we long for the day when the wait is over, we trust that our Father is at work . . . for He understands waiting. In fact, He too is waiting . . . waiting for the day that His children will take up eternal residence with their forever family.  But until then . . . He is here and He is there  . . . offering comfort, constantly reminding . . . you are loved  . . . your Father is coming  . . . soon

Whew . . .

Another leg of the journey is complete!!

We are excited to share that yesterday we sent in the paperwork for our Dossier (home study, medical reports, financials, passport photos, etc.) minus our immigration approval.

Immigration approval usually takes around 3-4 weeks. So, since we did our fingerprints on July 17^th, we didn’t expect approval until next week at the earliest. Imagine our surprise that on the very day we sent in our Dossier, we also received our immigration approval in the mail – only 13 days from our screenings. Wow!!! 

Again, God is reminding us that this is all according to His timing. He’s got it all under control. In Proverbs 3:5-6, Solomon writes, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

Isn’t it overwhelming and awe-inspiring to know that God’s already got it all mapped out? I don’t even have to know all the details, and His will will still be done. Please pray that our family will continue to trust in Him throughout this wild, unpredictable roller coaster ride (AKA the adoption process). We look forward to taking the path He lays before us.

One Step Closer!!!

This summer has been a whirlwind to the say the least. We’ve barely had a minute to catch our breath, and now it’s almost time for school to start back. We have some adoption news and wanted to share that we are ONE step closer! On Tuesday, we stood in line at the Homeland Security office in Atlanta to have our Biometric Screening. 

For those of you not familiar with adoption lingo – biometric screening is just a fancy title for FINGERPRINTS.

We ought to be professionals by now – this is our third set!!! Well, actually it’s my fifth, since I had to have both my FBI and GBI prints redone. (No, I do not have a hidden criminal history!) The lady at immigration said, “Man, your prints are thick.” Soooo, I’m not sure if I should hold out hope for this set either!

The approval takes three to four weeks, and the next step is to complete our Dossier! Now, that’s exciting, except for the fact that it means another paperwork marathon!! We are definitely up for the challenge.

One step closer. One step closer to a referral. One step closer to China. One step closer to holding our baby girl. We can hardly wait! Please continue to pray for us as God gently reminds us that He is in control and has ordered each step according to His perfect timetable.

What? Are you CRAZY?

Don’t you know you’ve got four kids? And the estimated cost of raising ONE child is nearly $300,000 spread out over the first 17 years of life? (Yes, I know that for us that is already $1.2 million and when we add number five, it will equal $1.5 million.) And you’re still considering adoption?

The answer to all of these questions is . . . YES! 

As a matter of fact, we are CRAZY! We’re crazy about Jesus, crazy about the Gospel, crazy about being a Forever Family to a little Chinese girl who has no dad, no mom, no brothers or sisters either. We know it’s going to be costly. We also know it’s going to be worth it!

I know the next obvious question is WHY? 

I could answer by saying that Wayne and I have always wanted a big family, and that would be completely true. In fact, we always said we would have five. (Gluttons for punishment I know!) And the Lord only knows how many we’ll have now that He’s opened the door :)!

I could say that since I can no longer have children due to some female issues that adoption is the only way to expand our family, and that would be true as well. 

I could answer by saying that because of Wayne’s position, we desire to create a culture of adoption within our church community and to lead by example, which is certainly true.

I could say that when Wayne traveled to China, he fell in love with the people, the country, and the culture and that he made lifelong friendships while he was there and that is absolutely true.

But the truth is that while all these things were factors as we considered adopting, this adoption is all about obedience. While God calls us all to care for the fatherless, He has specifically called us to adopt - to be a physical representation of His love. Within our family, He is building a testimony of the Gospel and is painting a real-life picture of salvation.

Are we crazy? Sure! Are we nervous? Absolutely! Do we understand all the whys and hows? Certainly not! But we do know that God is guiding, and as we step out in obedience, there is freedom and there is peace. 

Don’t worry if it looks as if we are overwhelmed and have too much to carry - His hands are big enough. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

It's official! We're Adopting!

We are so excited to announce that we are expecting - on paper that is! We will soon be adding to our family through adoption. Hopefully, within the next year or so, we will be bringing home our baby girl from China. Although we don't know her yet, we love her all the same and eagerly await the day the she will join her forever family. Her brothers and sister cannot wait! 

Our adoption journey began in March as we sought pre approval from our adoption agency. After receiving the  pre approval, we then located a home study agency (with the help of some close friends) and began the LONG paper trail that is adoption. Today, we are happy to share that step one is complete! Praise the Lord! In the adoption world a day is a like a lifetime, so when we opened the mailbox to find six wonderfully certified copies of our home study, we quickly if you ignore several unforeseeable detours made our way to the post office to mail our immigration paperwork. Yay! We have officially begun step two. And now . . . we wait. 


Waiting . . . it's such an incredibly hard thing to do! If we had our way, we'd be on a plane to China today, but as we wait, we know that our heavenly Father is shaping and molding us into the people He wants us to be. In fact, He loves our baby girl more than we do, and it is He who has given us the heart for adoption. So, as we wait, we see each obstacle, each struggle as an avenue to greater faith. 


And as we wait, our desire is that at the end of this long journey, we will look more like Him -  give more, serve more, love more. That we will truly understand what it means to be adopted by the Father and to be joint heirs with Christ. We long for our children to see the Gospel up close and personal -  to know the love of the Father and understand His heart for the fatherless. 


We are so excited to share our journey with you. Please pray that God will use our family for His glory and that He will show Himself strong as we wait.