My HOPE is in The Lord!

Oh.my.goodness. Waiting is not my strong suit. We are still not DTC (dossier to China). We mailed the documents to the courier on February 7, 2012. Today is February 26, 2013. (for those of you using the Mayan calendar, I'm just catching you up. You might want to get a regular-folks calendar so you don't miss your trash pick-up day or your birthday or ya' know, like a day that ends in "Y") Anyhoo, sarcasm aside, I was kinda startin' to wonder if our documents were ever going to leave the consulate. I was seriously considering asking to have them back and then sending the to DC for authentication. But, that would be more money. And more time. And whose to say the consulate in Houston would give the documents back? And whose to say the consulate in DC would not be having the same little problemo with or dossier that the folks in Houston are having. BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! It's hard out there for a mommy.

Then, in my fairly dusty, cobwebby, not-so-bright brain, a tiny little light flickered. I think the Girl Scouts sing a song about "It only takes a tiny spark...blah, blah, blah..." (I really wouldn't know, 'cause I got kicked out of Brownies for being "rambunctious". I know. I can't believe it either.) Anyway, when the light went on, there was a little bit of smoke, and then I remembered---"Oh yeah, Mongo not in control." When will I learn? So, I prayed my childlike, "Lord, I know I've been putting my reliance in the completely wrong place. Please fix it. I'm just thankful that you don't leave me and you allow me to come back to You with all my faults and flaws. Thank you for bringing my son home." Then, the Holy Spirit had me call the secretary of state.

I was kinda concerned that the whomever I spoke to would tell me to take a hike. But, if God is for me, who can stand against me? Right, nobody. So, I called and I was nice and explained the whole thing that was going on. I might have cried. What it boiled down to was, the Chinese Consulate sent a fax at the end of last week ASKING for the signature pages for the new secretary, because it DID NOT have them. Then, our secretary's office went something like, "Ohhhhhh, that????!!!!!! Why didn't you say so?" The Chinese Consulate---"Uh, duh. We did." (only much nicer and in Chinese) The lovely woman who spoke with me assured me that the correct documents were mailed after the request was received and should arrive at the consulate either yesterday or today. Want me to tell you the miracle part of all this business? The consulate didn't have to ask for the papers. I don't believe that is the normal course of business for them. And---our secretary of state changes, AGAIN, this Friday. Ummmm...that would be a humongous deal if we were not already athenticated. ANNNNND according to our agency, we are likely the first file in the Oklahoma dossier pile. I learned my lesson. Thank you, Lord.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we bought Patrick a Big Wheels!!!! It's so cute! It was half off at Bed, Bath and B@yond!!! The great part is that it's the "traditional" Big Wheel and is identical to the one Ben rode as a little boy. I love the irony that it is the "Patriot" model---all red, white and blue with an eagle on the wheels. I cannot wait to see my sweet boy tearing down the sidewalk on his Big Wheel being chased by his two little sisters pushing their grocery carts. Maisy and Moxie LOVE the little metal grocery carts that they each got for their birthdays. Those things will last forever, but they have seen some serious miles already.

I have paint swatches taped to the boys' bedroom walls. I'm going to redecorate in their before Patrick comes home. Bobby is cool with it, although he probably wouldn't be as cool with it if I told him we are not buying bunk beds with a futon on the bottom. The bunk beds were his idea. I don't understand the fascination with the futon. We are going to tear the carpet out of that room and put down laminate like we have in the rest of the house. I think the change will be good for Bobby's asthma and easier to keep clean so that Patrick doesn't get any upper respiratory problems that would make his heart condition all that much more complicated.

We turned all of our tax documents into JJ-The-Tax-Man. I love JJ. He and I use to work together. He did look at me funny when I started explaining that the ginormous pile of receipts and documents on his table were there because we finished an adoption and began another adoption both in 2012. He asked me if we were "done". But, that's for another post.

Hopefully, we will get some tax money that will help with the rest of our adoption costs. I'm not good at fundraising. I know I need to be, but, I'm not. I don't really have a good understanding of how to do it. I'm not charismatic in the least and I dunno.....I'm just kind of at a loss. But, what I do know is that God is our provider and He has never, ever, let me down. I trust Him, completely, to provide us a way to bring Patrick home. Because, remember, He has already made a way for this adoption to happen where there was no way at all!!!

I must figure out how to post pictures here. Most people have probably stopped reading already. But, for those of you who have stuck with me---THANKS!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Please take some time today to pray for the orphans of Russia and for their American families. I am burdened for these babies and their parents. Certainly, the government of Russia may be able to keep those children confined as long as God chooses to let them, but, when God decides enough is enough.....Well, read the book of Exodus. In my heart, I believe it will be a whole lot like that.

Joy Unspeakable and Full of HIS Glory,
Amy

Valentines

Our dossier is cooling its proverbial heels with the courier. Little did I know, when we paid $75.00 to get it to the courier "first thing in the morning", that the courier would leave for the consulate before 8:30 A.M. I also didn't know that there would be an issue regarding our secretary of state having changed on February 1st. Apparently, the consulate may not have been notified that the secretary of state for the state of Oklahoma has changed. This little blip could cause our authentication process to be slowed. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out because the consulate has been closed since Monday for Spring Festival. Yeah, didn't know that either. Alas, we won't make the projected DTC date of 2/15, but hopefully, we will make 2/22!!! After that, I think things will go pretty quickly.

It was nice that when my fingerprints failed the first time (after I discovered that I'd lost my driver's license and had to come back the next day) I didn't have to be reprinted. I just went on down to the sheriff's office and got a handy-dandy letter and sent that to the orphan officer. Amy has a clean background---CHECK!!

The girls are getting ready for Valentine's Day. Maisy and Moxie are having parties at daycare. We are sending candy because that's what they picked and I'm too cheap to buy anything more expensive. The daycare does not accept "homemade items". Gone are the days when a kid could volunteer her mom to bring 24 cupcakes for the next day's party and then watch her mom make them during breakfast all the while muttering angry words about Valentines, first-grade teachers and the creator of cupcakes. Usually, though, Betty Crocker came across as a saint. :-) We will send "princess valentines" to all the little girls' friends. Abby has a party this evening. I've only been reminded about 5,000 times--give or take a few thousand. I bought boxes of candy for The Littles, and their favorite snacks for The Bigs. I so wish I could just hug and hold and kiss and lavish attention on my newest valentine, My Sweet Patrick. There is absolutely no truth to the saying, "You cannot miss what you never had", because I guarantee you, I miss him so bad my heart hurts.

Speaking of hearts.....please continue to pray for the health of Patrick's heart, both physically and emotionally. I pray that he will be prepared to accept all of the love his mama and daddy have to give him! I think all of the kids are ready for him to come home. the little girls cannot understand why I don't just show up with him one day, even though Maisy understands that China is a long way off and the adoption process is an arduous one. Maisy keeps telling Moxie that "Mama is going to China to get Patrick." It dang near broke my heart when Moxie came running up to me just as fast as those chunky legs could go, grabbed my knees and in her tiny voice with her big dark eyes wide-open said, "Mama go Nina?" She's okay with going to daycare, and likes it a lot, but, I'm afraid when I do go to "Nina" it is going to be very hard on my little Moxie Soxie.

Moxie's surgery to have the expanders put under her scalp in preparation for the removal of her nevus this summer is scheduled for March 19. Please pray for her. Even though I know that Maisy was younger than Moxie is now, when Maisy's surgery occurred, Moxie seems so much younger to me. Maybe it's because I'm no longer ignorant of the removal process or maybe it's because time has (somewhat) dimmed the painful memories of Maisy coming out of the expander surgery. I'm just dreading this surgery for Moxie. Her English language skills are improving every day. She's securely attached. I have total faith in Dr. Wayne and his amazing skill as a surgeon. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that GOD HAS MY BABY IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND. I'm just a worried mommy. Please pray for me, too!

I'm excited for my friend Katie to go to China and bring home Patrick's best buddy, Simon! Please pray for Katie and Simon. My Patrick will then be the last Musketeer in China. His bed buddy, Darren, came home in October and has just had heart surgery. Please pray for Darren and his wonderful mama, Sandy. If it weren't for an e-mail from Sandy, we wouldn't be on this amazing journey to bring Patrick home.

There is no other news fit to print (or blog). My friend Connie is leaving very soon to bring her daughter, Khloie, home from China. Please pray for them. Lots of children in China and the world over are without parents and a family to love them. Maybe you have some extra love to share??? I promise, love multiplies. It doesn't divide. There's always enough for one more!!!! Happy Valentine's Day, Bobby, Abby, Maisy, Moxie and Patrick. Mama loves you all!

Ben, if you read this blog (which I doubt), I love you too, Honey!

In Jesus, Whose Love Never Fails,
Amy