Final packing/cleaning and my purse was stolen today

Just cuz it would add a little extra "spice" to our last day here before we leave, my purse was stolen out of my unlocked (argh) car in my driveway overnight last night.  Thankfully, credit cards and id were IN the house with me cuz I keep them in a holder with my cell phone (THANK you Sharon for that little idea).  But, my checkbook was in the purse as well as a significant amount of cash and 2 uncashed checks totalling about $500 (able to stop payment on those)...argh!


Satan just had to throw one more dart today as we head out.  Well, guess what?  we are still going to China, and we are still moving forward with the purpose God has set us on, so once again, he loses the battle.  God wins!


Overall, a good day.  Prayed over by a good friend who prayed for peace from head to toe, and I think I'm so peaceful I could actually fall asleep right now (or it could be because it is almost midnight too =).  


So glad to see friends today, talk to others who are all so supportive of our journey. 


We leave the house at 6:30 am tomorrow (thank you Laurie McCune for driving us to the airport during rush hour)


Stay tuned for more of the adventure.


stats
3 suitcases
2 boxes for the orphanage--containing 100 stuffed bunnies, 100+ pair of new socks, some chocolate, and clothing
3 carry ons and a backpack


Totaly weight??? apx. 250+ pounds.  geesh that seems like a lot of stuff.  


good night friends.

Our last day in this house as a family of 3

Today Peter said, 
"Do you realize this is our last day in this house as a family of 3?"


Sure, now he gets all profound...the day before we leave.  (just kidding)


But, with him saying that, I recall our family...
we were 2 in 1988 (married)
then we were 3 for 7 months (pregnancy) in 1990 (Benjamin born and died)
then we were 2 again
then we were 3 again for 7 months (pregnancy) in 1991 (Samuel born and died)
then we were 2 again
then we were 3 again in 1995 (Isaac born)
then we were 4 in 1998 (Jacob born)
then we were 3 again in 2004 (Jacob died)


now we are 4 again in 2011 (SunWan comes home)


Do THAT math....
I think we are technically a family of 7 but it depends on how you do the math.


Here's the thing....I've always been the only GIRL!!!!  Even the dog, cat and frog are BOYS!


just sayin'

Travel plans

Our basic itinerary:
2 days in Beijing
4 days Hohhot, Inner Mongolia--where we meet our son
7 days Guangzhou

time is ticking.....only days away....

praying for God's provision and protection.  

Please pray for health and safety while we are gone, that we don't get sick from food or water issues and that sweet SunWan feels welcome into our family.

As the days draw closer, I get just a small glimpse of what our heavenly Father must feel when another "child" comes into His family.  Once in a while my heart skips a beat in anticipation.  Makes me smile to think about the joy in my Father's heart when we are just on the verge of becoming His.   My prayer is that SunWan will know the love of Jesus and the acceptance into his new family--We are by no means perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, but we pray we are able to love as He loves, unconditionally.

stay tuned

eph 1:5

"he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—"

I can't even comprehend God's infinite plan.  His awesome glory boggles my simple mind.

posting while in china

If you would like to be including in the list of people who can view our postings while in China, leaving soon, please let me know via comment on the blog.  I am going to be "closing" the blog to "all viewers" soon and would love to make sure I include you if you would like to follow our journey (ie videos, pictures, blog posts)

Preparations

We FINALLY have the room done and ready...

We left it plain on purpose.  We have been told that too much busyness can be overwhelming and stressful.  So for now the walls are white and things are simple.  But, if he likes color....I'm all over it!  We can always paint and decorate to personalize it.


It feels good to have this part of the preparations DONE!  And I love walking past the room and thinking about and praying for the boy.  

Now we just need to name him....And the 3 of us can't seem to come to an agreement.

Top choices currently are

Lucas SunWan 

Nathan SunWan 

Ezekiel SunWan 

Adam SunWan 

Maybe we'll just wait and let him pick from the list.

We also found out today that the cake we ordered to be delivered at the orphanage got there on Tuesday of this week (3/15).  We also got a sweet note from the teacher who is going in and teaching English to him and some of the other kids:

"Sun Wan is getting excited about going to America and meeting his new family...He has been working on pictures and writing his favorite foods so he can tell you what he likes to eat.  I left a small notebook for him to draw pictures and write the words of all his favorite things."

This confirmation of his excitement is such a sweet and tender gift from the Lord since he was anxious and worried just days ago about the idea.

God is good!

heidi

A Few Updates

Our days are filled with anticipation as we prepare to leave for China. 
This week we found out SunWan didn't even know he was up for adoption let alone leaving in just a few weeks. He found out about a week ago, when our package arrived to the orphanage for him.   I have many mixed emotions about that.  At first I was mad.  But, then I thought maybe not knowing was a protection from the Lord.  These next weeks will be hard for him as he processes how his life is about to change. He will need to leave all that he has known.  His only "family" has been the children at the orphanage, the nannies, the directors.  Even if it is not the perfect setting in "our" eyes, it is his life.   I want to be there to comfort him and reassure him.  But, since I cannot, I will pray.  Only God's comfort can embrace him right now.  Even though he may not have ever heard about Jesus, he still can know his loving peace.  It's a mystery to me, but I believe it with all my heart.  So I pray....across the miles.
A few days ago we placed an order for a cake to be delivered to the orphanage for the kids to share as they say their "good byes" to him.  

Isaac

So, I haven't really written much about our 15 year old son Isaac.  He has had a rough week.  As it is with all of us, sometimes we have difficult weeks.  I won't go into too much detail, but yesterday his week was topped off by getting his wisdom teeth removed.  Let me just say that coming out of the anethesia was quite entertaining.  He was writing poetry, talking about the road looking like a "v" saying the alphabet backwards, believing he was a Hobbit, and even climbing on the counter at one point and saying he was a dragon!  He's 5'8" tall.  I thought he was going to jump...but it eventually wore off and now he's in pain today.  My poor boy.  

Just a little bio on my son.

He plays guitar, and bass

He enjoys Art, Photography and theater and is very talented all all 3

He has an adorable girlfriend named Annabelle

He has been through the loss of a sibling and it has shaped him

He makes friends easily

He cannot STAND it when people are not "real" and try to be something they are not.

He is smart, handsome and very witty 

We love this boy and are very proud to be his parents.