And Now, Another Month

August. Month of the "Big O". Olympics in China. 2008.

And here we are ... waiting.

For anyone keeping track, last week marked 30 months since our paperwork was entered into the China system. That is exactly 2 1/2 years! Not to mention the 12 months prior with us fiddling around with paperwork for the adoption.

There are rumors on chinaadopttalk.com that matching is going on for our paperwork but nothing is 100% sure. Ironically, I am at peace not knowing what will happen in the next week or so. I will be devastated if we don't get our referral before the Olympics but I think I have finally learned (for now , at least) a lesson that God has been trying to teach me for a long time: I am not in control. Even here at home. I think I am in control but I am not. The jolt from the earthquake the other day was a good reminder that I really can't control anything (or anyone). God is in control & my trust in Him has grown through this adoption process. When things slowed down so much for our adoption I never thought I would thank God for this delay but He has truly done wonderful things in our lives as we have waited & as we have learned to be patient.

Hannah was jumping up & down when I told her we might get Lily's picture next week (gosh, now I sure hope so after I opened my big mouth!). I seriously need to get Hannah a trophy that says "Most Patient Sister Ever." Hannah has lived half her life being told, "you are going to be a big sister." She has been sooooo patient!!!

Summer has been in full swing. I have started to finally feel back to myself after all we went through at the start of the summer with losing Roisin.

I am so thankful that I have been able to enjoy lots of days with Hannah over the summer. We have had a lot of friends over, had sleepovers & gone to some fun places. Jim, Hannah & I went to Disneyland the other night & stayed until they closed. We had such a blast riding Space Mountain at midnight. It was Hannah's first time on Space Mountain & she LOVED it!! That girl is gutsy!! I guess I shouldn't be surprised after she was riding the jetski at 50 MPH on Lake Shasta & asking to go faster.

She is going to be in school full day starting on August 25th. I can't believe she is going into 1st grade! I am excited for her & the adventures this year will hold for her.

Stay tuned, hopefully we won't mark our 31 month LID anniversary at the end of August without a picture our Lily Hope Eriksen.

Count down until the Beijing Olympics

I have had this logo printed out on my bulletin board since last August when Beijing celebrated the day of "One year until the start of the Beijing Olympics". I remember thinking at that time that there was a chance we wouldn't get our referral until the Olympics in Beijing. At that time, it was definitely worse case scenario kind of thinking. But at this point, I have learned that there is actually such a thing as "worser case scenario". Ha.ha.

I am hopeful we will have our referral before the Olympics begin. Jim is thinking China will wait until after the Olympics in September. Please pray that China actually processes our paperwork before the start of Olympics, 8/8/08.

So hold tight, we are ready for the ride of our lives & most excited to finally see a picture our precious girl from China!!

We Are Next..

We are back from a much needed vacation up at Lake Shasta. Fun, fun, fun.

China referred through January 25th, 2006. We missed July's cutoff by one day. Can you imagine? As much as I am disappointed I am actually relieved that I can honestly say, "we are next." Hopefully referrals will come before the Olympics start on 8/8/08. If so, we will be seeing a picture of our Lily for the first time ever in August.

Truly I see how this waiting has been God's provision for me as I was able to really be involved with Roisin & her 3 beauties while she battled her recurrance of cancer from July 2006 until June 7, 2008. At times this wait has not been easy, at times I have lost hope for our Lily but overarching it all, I have felt God's grace in this journey .... that at times has felt like it will never end.

So at this point, I wonder .. how old is Lily? Any guesses? Hannah & Katie think she is 2 years old. I am totally prepared for a child that doesn't need a crib but also wondering if maybe she is still an infant. I have no idea and truly I have no preference. Whoever the Lord has planned for us!