The suitcases are out!

12 days and counting!!!!! I only have a few things to do between now and then... pack for 2 weeks for myself, Josiah, Faith and Charis (Scott is on his own!), prep my classes for the substitute teachers, get Josiah ahead on his schoolwork so there is less for him to do while I am gone, plan for and carry out a birthday party for Faithy who turns 4 while we are China, get the dog to the vet and to the groomer, meet with 2 dear friends who need prayer and encouragement, pay our bills that are due while we are away, get a few more documents filled out and notarized, I suppose I should wash some clothes, change the sheets, clean the house and figure out how to use my new camera! Ahhhhhhhh! Or should I say Wooooooohooooo! It's almost here...almost time for us to go and get our daughter. I'm living in reality now!

I heard from Trina Walker today. She read my entry about worshiping with Charis. Here's what Trina had to say: "I was just reading your blog and I read the part where you realized that Charis would soon be with you in Church worshipping our Lord. I have to tell you this is one of my favorite parts of this whole experience… Esther stands with us and raises her hands to the Lord and she tries her best to sing what we are singing. She loves to sing! I hold her sometimes during worship service so that I can sing softly in her ear so she hears each word and can learn it quicker. She came home from school the day before yesterday singing the prayer song that the Kindergarteners sing before they eat their snack. She recognizes the name of Jesus in the songs on the CD we play in the car. It is so wonderful. Many Sundays I will just stand there and tear up or get the biggest grin on my face while we worship together… it doesn’t get any better than this!!! God is so good! I wish everyone could know the miracle of adoption and be blessed the way we have been." This is the picture God gave me about what is to come with Charis and it is already happening with the Walkers. Praise God!

Today was the ice cream social for our church's adoptive families to meet each other and get connected with resources in our church for them. Some of them have already experienced the joy of adoption; others are in the process of waiting for their children, but all of them know that God is at work in their lives and how awesome it is to be used by God in this way. So many people think that the child being adopted is so blessed, and he or she is. But let me tell you that I think the people doing the adoption are even more blessed as we get to see and understand God and His heart in such a unique way. It's overwhelming at times to experience God's deep love for someone else...and you don't have to adopt a child to understand that love. That is just who our God is. It is His nature, His essence, what defines Him...love. We are the recipients of His great love and we get to share it and pour it out on children who may never have experienced what love really is. What a privilege. What a blessing. What a responsibility.

Okay, I am rambling...that's just what happens to me when I get excited in the midst of being busy...everything just goes 100 miles per hour, including my brain and my mouth (in this case, my fingers!!!). Well, the suitcasese are calling! Did I mention... 12 days and counting! This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Itinerary: Becoming a Family of Five

If you want to see the itinerary for our trip, go the links section in the left sidebar and click on the link: "Calendar: Becoming a Family of Five."

Final gift

Today, I mailed our final gift for Charis before we meet her in person in just over 2 weeks. A family from Michigan adopting little Amira, Charis' friend at the orphanage, is leaving for China this weekend and they will hand deliver this package on our behalf. Over the past few months, I put together a cute little photo scrapbook with pictures of us, the house, Charis' bedroom, the backyard and more. In August when my friend from China visited, she translated the picture headings for us so that Charis will be able to read them. Thank you Patel family and may God bless you as you travel to China to meet and bring home your new daughter.

Time is moving quickly now and every day seems fuller than usual. There are so many little things (and big things!) to do. Every day, I just try to remember while yes, on one hand, our upcoming trip is not a typical one; on the other hand, we are just going to live somewhere else for 2 weeks, albeit the other side of the world! This is what my life is about right now. No need to carry extra pressure. Just take one day at a time. Do what is necessary. Remember what is truly important. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, through prayer and petition, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

It is well with my soul

I am doing better. Thank you to all who prayed for me. Please continue to do so! But know that it is well with my soul. Faith said to me yesterday, "I won't miss you when you are in China, Mommy, because Aunty Jen will take care of me." Yes, she will! I know Faith will still miss me (at least a little bit, right?), but I also know she is going to rise to the occasion. And I believe God led us to Faith's name for a reason. My little almost-4-year old has faith that many adults don't even have. She loves and trusts Jesus so much. Even when we run an errand, she confidently proclaims, "Mommy, Sophie (our dog) is not alone. Jesus is with her!" Yes, He is! She is so right. And Jesus will be with Faith. He will watch over her and love her and minister to her. And I know He is as blessed as I am when she sings at the top of her lungs "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved his wrench like me..." and "Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above this world...." Oh how beautiful are the faith and love of a child.

The thought God implanted into my mind at the service this weekend was that very soon, Charis will be with me in church. She will be by my side. We will stand in God's Presence together. We will hold hands and worship the LORD. This picture washed away so much of my sadness about leaving my other children for 2 weeks. I will still miss them dearly, but I know it is a short term sacrifice that will reap an eternal blessing. One day, Charis will know Jesus. Josiah and Faith will be a big part of that. Oh, God, what a blessing to be part of your work, part of your plan. What a blessing to be given such wonderful children. Thank you, Lord. There is no one like You.

Yesterday, it hit me...

Yesterday, reality hit me...I am going to be away from Faithy and Yiya (what Faith calls her big brother...short for Josiah) for 2 weeks. Obviously, I have known this for some time now, but yesterday my heart connected with my brain's reality. The longest I have been away from either of my kids has been 1 night.

When we prayed about this months ago, I really felt the Lord directing us to go alone so that Charis can begin bonding with us as her parents. I am just emotionally struggling with that today. A friend volunteered to fly the kids out to us (to China!) a week into our trip...I was liking that! But, talking it through, we are sticking with our original plan. These are the only 2 weeks that we will have Charis to ourselves and she will have us completely focused on her. Our time in China is so important to establish some communication patterns and especially to develop some bonds of trust. Having all the kids there would be more fun to be sure...and it would remove my emotional struggle, but our new daughter will remember these first 2 weeks with us for the rest of her life and we so want to honor her. Anyway, just thought I would ask for prayer...for God's peace which transcends understanding...for me and for little Faithy who is saying things like, "I am afraid you won't come back," and "Are you going to leave me?" Oh, how those questions break my heart. And oh, how I want to take away all her fear. But I can't. My prayer for Faith is that this will be a powerful time in her life where she experiences God like never before and is comforted by His tangible Presence. God is our refuge and our strength.

Unbelievable!

Unbelievable! At times, that's how I feel about God and His incredible love. Once again, He has blessed us beyond comprehension. I wish I could be detailed with some of this. Just take my word, God is bringing Charis home...we are just along for the ride. Charis' name means grace or gift in Greek. Well, God gave us another big charis yesterday afternoon. Grace upon grace, gift upon gift, our Lord is overwhelming us with His provision and power.

As if everything He has done so far wasn't enough, today came more. We received notice of our consulate appointment this morning!!!! This was the last piece we needed from China to be able to make our actual travel plans. We now have our flights booked... they were gifted to us through a family in our church who wanted to give us their frequent flyer miles. Our cost: taxes. Unbelievable! More mind-blowing than that is there were 3 frequent flyer seats still available on the days we needed to travel to and from China. That is so God. It shouldn't surprise me, but I have to admit it still does. It amazes me. He amazes me! Our reservation will be dated today, but I have a feeling God's reservation for us is dated before time began! In a little over 3 weeks, we will meet our daughter. Unbelievable! Can't wait. Give thanks to the LORD for His love endures forever!!!!!!!!

Having a sister rocks!

Growing up, I (Tammy) always wanted a sister. For most of my childhood I was an only child. At 10 and 12, I was blessed with half brothers, although we didn't grow up in the same house. Like a good big sis, I played with my little brothers...even dressed them up like girls a few times, did their hair and made them look pretty. Sorry Jason and Josh!

Sunday night, a group of my closest friends blessed me with an evening of worship, prayer, encouragement from Scripture and the sweetest of fellowship in anticipation of Charis coming home. Charis received many beautiful things...clothes, sheets, books, toys, her own American Girl doll (made in China, BTW!) and so much more. But the greatest gift she will receive from these women is their generous, selfless, beautiful love. I have known some of them for 6 months, others for almost 16 years. And the bond that unites us is so precious to me. It is strong. It is pure. It is powerful. It is deep. It is family. It is Christ. I truly have more sisters than I can count.

God delights in answering our prayers. And I think He loves to bless us with our heart's desires, even beyond our heart's desires. My longing for a sister has been answered more times than I ever officially asked for one through women more amazing than I could ever have imagined. How much love can a person receive? For I have been given so much that my heart is about to burst!

My sweet Charis, you have a family...a mom and a dad and 2 sets of grandparents who already absolutely adore you, a wonderful, kind, godly big brother, a thoughtful, generous, nurturing little sister, more "aunts" than you can count... and "cousins"! LOTS OF COUSINS! GIRL COUSINS WHO WILL BE YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR PLAYMATES AND ONE DAY, YOUR SISTERS! Oh, how incredibly beautiful the body of Christ is.

All I can say is WOW!

Yesterday, after we received our TA, God connected us to yet another family adopting one of Charis' friends. We have contact with the families of Esther, Jeremy and now Amira, another precious, little 8 year old girl in Charis' orphanage. We are spread from Washington state, Iowa, Michigan (We won't hold that against anyone, will we?! Ha ha!) and of course Chicago. God is keeping these kids together...I don't know what He has planned for them, but I know it is good.

Our God is sooooo good. I am blown away by who He is and what He does. He continues to pour down His blessings upon us in order to deliver Charis into our family and eventually into His. And I don't mean little blessings...I mean BIG blessings from our very BIG God! I can't be specific, but today God amazed us once again with His tangible, amazing love for us and especially for Charis. All I can say is WOW! And thank you, Lord. You are the Father to the fatherless.

TAday!

I spelled that correctly...today is our T-A-day! We received notice from our adoption agency that we have T-A--travel approval. Wooooohoooooo!!! Cartwheels, cheers, applause!!!!!! The hard copy will arrive Monday and then our appointment can be made with the American Consulate. Once that appointment is made, we can book our flights! Now we can process Scott's entry visa without any timing issues. Yea God! Next prayer request: flight details...available flights when we need them! Chinese for dinner tonight! How great is our God!!!

Please pray for our little one

Last night I spent an hour and a half talking with Trina, Esther's mom, who had some more info to share with us about Charis. Some of it is very personal and I don't want to post it to honor our little girl's privacy. Here are some things I can tell you. Esther and Charis slept on bunk beds across from one another. The bunks beds are green (the color of Charis' and Faith's room by the way!) and wooden. Charis sleeps on the top bunk. I also found out that the girls have 2 nannies...one for daytime and one for night. The night time nanny sleeps in a bed perpendicular to the 2 sets of bunk beds in the girls' room. I also found out that on occasion, Charis would poke at Esther during school (Charis sat behind Esther). This made me laugh because that sounds like something a Chapman kid would do! The ornriness gene just seems to find its way into our family...must be through Scott (Ha!).

On a more serious note, someone told Charis, Esther and Jeremy that American parents hit their children if they don't get straight A's in school. This was very worrisome to Esther and I am sure it is something Charis is worried about, too. And little Esther asked Trina and Rod why they abandoned her and took so long to come back for her. She thought they were her birth parents and for some reason left her at the orphanage for 7 years. This broke my heart. I don't know if Charis and Jeremy think the same thing, but I am so glad to know so that we can make sure Charis understands that we have not abandoned her in the past and we will not abandon her in the future.

Please pray for our little one...and for Esther and Jeremy. Pray that Charis will bond with us quickly...that she will open herself up to us to receive the love we have for her. Pray that she will trust us and in time give us love in return. Pray that she will not be overcome by fear. Pray that she will believe...believe that she is lovable, believe that she has hope and believe that she is safe. Pray that she will love her brother and sister and that they will love her.

And finally, pray for Scott's visa...there are new rules for clergy entering China and once we get his visa we only have 30 days rather than 90 to enter the country. What this means is that my visa can be processed now (actually it already has been) and I am good to go to China anytime over the next 3 months. But we can't apply for Scott's visa until we know our exact travel dates because if we process it now and we can't travel until 31 days from now, Scott won't be allowed in the country. With Faith, when we received our travel approval, we were given 4 days to get to China. If we are in the same situation this time, being given such little travel notice, we might run into a bind to get his visa quickly enough...and that's assuming they won't have any problems with his application. Ultimately, I don't expect this to be any big deal, but I would sure appreciate some prayer about it!

We are finding strength and joy in Jesus. We know He is leading us in this and that all the details will fall into place. We know He is watching over Charis and that He wants her to be our daughter... which means He wants us to be her parents. And God will give us what we need when we need it. We are blessed in the Lord and our cup overflows.