Today marks two months since we first saw this little picture. Two months of scurrying around, trying to collect documents, fill out questionnaires, submit fingerprints.
Two months of falling in love with this precious face.
We, at last, have all our state clearances complete. One, to remain unnamed, state took an outrageously long time additional month to complete our clearances. This, obviously, set us way behind where we hoped we’d be by now in our paperchase… but if I’ve learned anything, it’s to completely trust His timing in all things.
Right now our completed homestudy is about to be sent off to USCIS. Woohooo! Celebrating in the small victories, you know? I’ve been hearing that the process has sped up immensely, and I am hopeful (ever the optimist am I) that we’ll be DTC in early May.
We have gotten some teeny tiny updates on our girl. By teeny tiny, I mean no new pictures. Or xrays. Or measurements, or milestones. But we have gotten some amazing, only- God- could- have- done- it kind of news: our girl is currently having her feet corrected. In the Ponseti method.
To understand the God- sizeness of this, let me back up a bit. Months ago, I was contacted by an orphanage group friend who was starting a charity to help SN kiddos in Guilin, called An Orphan’s Wish. She asked if I would consider helping with the charity, specifically the clubfoot casting unit they were trying to set up for children with clubfoot to be treated by the serial casting method instead of surgery. I immediately jumped at the idea and contacted my sons’ doctor in Iowa to see if he had any ideas that might help the unit become a reality. He had some recommendations for the potential unit, above all was a therapist he highly recommended to do the castings, one he had worked with personally when he had been in China.
Turns out our girl is being treated, in China, by the one person recommended to me by our boys’ doctor. One person in all of China. Is taking care of our girl. Amazing. So, it would be kinda silly for me to get all bent out of shape over an extended wait for state clearances, or moving this summer, or finances. Clearly our very big God has it all under control.
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O LORD, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things. Riches and honor come from You alone, for You rule over everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is at Your discretion that people are made great and given strength.”
~ 1 Chronicles 29:11-12
Rebecca says
Praise the Lord for His perfect timing! I am new to your blog and I been so blessed by you and your family. May the Lord continue to bless you all.
Rebecca
Lori says
Oh that is such GREAT NEWS!! All glory to GOD! He is so cool.
I will continue to pray with fervor for Vivi and that your dossier is sent in early May as your heart desires.
Lori
Mom to my China Posse says
Oh, I can surely see why you fell in love with this baby girl. She is a beauty! Great news about her feeting being casted. I am sure thats a answered prayer. More evidence that God is watchign out for this baby girl as she waits for her forever family.
Hope your DTC is record speed.
Tish says
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pretty amazing…but then that is our God!
Tish says
BTW, such a precious picture!!!
Lisa says
Is our God amazing or what?
She is beautiful and I’m thrilled for your news!!!
sara says
Oh I love how HE works!!!! What a great way for me to start my Monday – celebrating in the small milestones with you and the miracles that God is doing as we speak & breathe!!
Amy says
Oh she is so precious. How outrageously wonderful when God shows up so big that you know he has had is hand in this since before you even saw your girls beautifully sweet face. Love that. Hoping and praying for quick approval so you can get your paperwork to China a.s.a.p.
Amy
http://www.4ourkiddos.blogspot.com
Anonymous says
I LOVE to see the hand of God at work! She is precious.
Vonna in Kansas
TanyaLea says
Praise God!…isn't it just neat how the Lord works. Thanks for sharing that.
I am happy for you, for where you are at in your paperchase…I'm a little behind you, and can't wait to be done with it. I feel like there is a whirling tornado about in my head these days! UGH!!…though I've heard that's pretty normal. It just helps to hear you're not alone in all of this. I needed your post and the scripture today!! God bless! <><
~Tanya
Wife of the Pres. says
Stefanie, ONLY GOD. My only question: why do I continue to be amazed by details like this??? I guess in a way it is healthy spiritually to be speechless over His working in the details. THANK YOU for sharing.
OH, and she has to be the most adorable girl in China!!! (Notice I said IN China well because my girl has to be the most adorable outside of China! And I know you’d have to argue with me on that because you have adorable little and big girls outside of China!!!) :))) CONGRATS on what I consider to be HUGE steps! DTC by May? THAT IS HUGE and only a month away from tomorrow!
Amie@WildOlive says
Stef-
While this does not surprise me as our God is a BIG BIG BIG MIGHTY WONDERFUL GOD, that does not mean I am not in AWE of his kindness, provision, and Grace. AMAZING! On my knees thanking him for this blessing!
and given your timeline girl.. we might be in China the same time. could you imagine? can you even imagine??? either that or you and Jeff..lol.
Happy Happy Day girl. So blessed to be along for the ride to your precious blessing.
love ya!
🙂
Amie
http://www.wildolivetees.com
Heather says
What wonderful news about Vivi! God is good!
Your little Jude is becomming quite the celebrity. I have seen his sweet little self on several websites promoting special needs adoptions! You better watch out – the girls are going to be chasing after him!
Patricia/NYC says
Only GOD!!! WOW!!! This is simply AMAZING!!! I’m not surprised, I’m simply IN AWE the way He works in our lives!
Ooooohhhhhh….that sweet Vivi!!! That FACE!!!! LOVE HER!!
May the blessings continue!!
HUGS!
Patricia
Starwoodgal says
Oh my goodness! What a blessing and wonderful news. We’re praying for little Vivi and your family. Keep us posted, Stefanie.
Jamie
Karen says
What wonderful news!!! Her feet will be fixed, the right way, and she will learn how to walk on the bottom of them and not damage them further. How great is our God!!!
One of our son’s was treated with the Ponseti method while he was still in China (as an infant). His foot looked good when we brought him home, at 24 months. He did need a few months of casting since he didn’t like his brace and his foster parents didn’t want him upset so they were not diligent in him wearing it. (It caused him to roll his foot to the outside when he was tired.)
Tami says
What special news!!! Doesn’t surprise me…God is so giving…and this is probably just the peace you need right now amidst the hurried craziness to remind you He is in ‘all this’, taking care of your baby girl, and He will get you there in His perfect timing. God is good!
She’s such a cutie!
OX~Tam
Michelle says
Oh my, Stefanie!! There are no coincidences. God is in control of every little detail, and oh how I love His details!! What awesome news that Vivi’s feet are already being corrected – and in the method you know is tried and true.
Congrats on being so far along in your paperwork! What a great photo of your beautiful little girl.
Chris says
Everyone else already said it!
What an awesome God!
and what a beautiful little girl
Jen & Rob says
Wow Stefanie. That is so wonderful that I’m speechless. Unbelievable, but yet it isn’t because we’re not in control. It’s so hard for me to remember that sometimes with this long, long wait of ours. How fun it is to read your blog and see what exciting things lurk around the corner!
Jenny G.
Mary says
The mighty hand of God at work! :o)
Bobbi Jo says
Wow!! That’s awesome!! Eli was in Nanning for his treatments and they were perfect. Hope the same is true for little Vivi. xoxo
Jodi says
My God is so big,
So strong and so mighty –
there’s nothing my God cannot do!
The mountains are His, the rivers are His,
The stars are His handiwork too…
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty –
there’s nothing my God can not do!
The song that popped in my head while I was reading your post!
Yippee God!!!
Mark, Rebecca and Sophia says
Adoption is just the coolest! I feel sorry for those who don’t experience it. Thanks for sharing!
Sally- That Girl! says
We serve such an amazing God!!!! And you are right He has perfect timing and we shall not worry! In every adoption, I have fretted and worried because it wasn’t happening the way I wanted it to happen and in the end they each could not have been at more perfect times for our whole family!!
trina says
Stefanie,
I’m so happy for you and amazing news. Only God could have accomplished something so amazing. Vivi is so beautiful!
DiJo says
Goosebumps, tears, the whole enchilada over here over this post!!! Oh my gosh… Why do we ever doubt?I am always amazed over God’s ability to handle and orchestrate the details!!!! Clearly, she was born to be yours!!!!
Thanks for this today!!!!
Hugs,
Diana
P.S: Moving? AGAIN? WHERE!!!!
a Tonggu Momma says
Oh my gosh, does He ever! That is amazing Stefanie. Simply amazing. Hang in there.
(And is it funny if my word verification for this comment is teaser?)
The Oswalds says
That is awesome news about baby Vivi! I got chills reading about it. God is amazing!
Carrie says
What wonderful news! Congrats!
Doreen says
I just got goose bumps! What an amazing story.Once again I'm in awe at how G-d works.
Doreen in Montreal single mom to Faith-Jiangxi & Mia-Sichuan
Jennifer O'Cain says
Once again I am amazed by God in these adoption stories. I am so happy for you! What a blessing.
Kim says
that could have only been worked out by God Himself. Amazing!
HeatherMN says
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!
The Ferrill's says
Amen and Amen!!!!!!!!!
That verse is PERFECTLY glorifying to our PERFECT God!
He has your baby girl in His hands…only GOD could make that ONE person be the ONE to take care of VIVI!
WOW.
Julie says
wow, so amazing! I love it.
Chelley says
That is so wonderful!! And of all the people in China to be hepling!!
jennifer says
a friend recently introduced me to the joy of blogging. i never expected it would bring such great testament to the joy and peace of openly placing one’s heart in God’s hands. thank you so much for sharing. finding every day people in every day ways like comfort food from the laptop. God bless.
Farmer Gal says
I’m anxious for you to join up with your little girl and I don’t even know you! I’m sure it’s hard to wait, but you’re doing a great job!
Holly says
Oh my goodness! Oh God……you are bigger than my mind can grasp and Your love more than this heart can fathom.
Thank you Lord for caring for Vivi in such huge ways and for letting her Mama know.
I am just in awe of YOU.
Please continue to provide for this family as they trust in You once more to be united with their child.
Dita says
So thrilled for you. That is amazing!
Uh, did you say MOVING THIS SUMMER??????
Chelsea Gour says
You are such an inspiration. I’ve decided that I want to be you when I grow up! 🙂
Colleen says
OK that is am amazing story!!! Truly amazing!!!!!
She is just adorable!!! The cutest little face…oh my goodness!!! Just scrumptious!!!
Did you say you were moving this summer?????Didn’t you just move??? Girl you are my hero!
connie says
He is in all the details, isn’t He?!? That’s our awesome God, so big He created the universe, and yet so loving He orchestrates the seemingly impossible. We’re praying you get your clearance in record time. We were surprise to get it in 47 days so hang in there! Can’t wait to see what He’s going to do next …
living4him5 says
Amazing!! God is so Awesome!!!
She is just precious, some good snuggles coming your way soon!
Blessings,
Amy
PS… How fast are we talking here for paperchasing???
Norah says
Amazing it is!
Wendy says
Amazing story! Vivi is so precious. I hope the paperchase is fast!
bbmomof2boys says
God is Good! He amazes me everyday. Throughout our wait for Little T – even before she was born in my husbands heart, he watched over her!
Keep trusting him – he has a plan that he is revealing to you every day!
Hugs,
Carla
Teresa says
Out of the BILLIONS of people in China, God has managed to get YOUR daughter treatment from the ONE doctor your son’s doctor knows in China…
Only God…
Amy says
Wow. Just amazing. Wow.
I have tears:)
Janelle says
oh I just LOVE to hear stories of God’s preferential care and favor for His beloved. my mouth is smiling for you all!
Donna says
Such a sweetie!
Donna
Our Blog: Double Happiness!
3 Peanuts says
WOW! His timing is so perfect and your faith is so unwavering!
Moving, again? bless you.
tricia says
Wow. Just wow. Congratulations and may God continue to bless your family. :)Tricia
a little leprechaun says
Gave me goosebumps! God is amazing!
Jenny says
Astounding news, Stef.
Praise be to God for his blessings, large and small.
Have a wonderful day!
Jenny
Rebecca says
Look at that amazing baby girl of yours!!!!
I’m glad things are moving forward… praying for May!
xo
r
Nicole A. says
Wonderful news! I love stories of His perfect timing! Hope you are able to get everything done and are DTC soon! Maybe you will be in CHina with Amie or Lori or Linn … wow, if that happens, you might just have to write a book about that trip for the rest of us!
All the best!
Nicole A. in OH
Alyson and Ford says
How wonderful! Isn’t it wonderful how the right child is matched with the right family?
Alyzabeth’s Mommy
Ivy says
Wow Stephanie, I am so glad I stopped by. Was checking out the Mamarazzi blog and just had to say hello.
This child is simply precious! Not hard to fall head over heels for this one! Hope things go smoothly and the paperwork isn’t too overwhelming.
God bless you for helping these children. I so want to go back to China. Every time I look at my daughter I see her beauty and remember those that helped her there. I just hope that somehow my stubborn husband will change his mind one day soon. However, I am more than grateful for the daughter I have and people like you who continue to advocate for SN’s.
You go. I’ll write a story for you, just send me a reminder on my blog. I just did one for our agency.
Hugs my friend!
Also can’t wait to see more photos!!!!!
G'night Gracie says
What a wonderful testimony of just how great our God is. I check in every once in a while – love to hear your progress on the next adoption.
Enchanted Rose says
I have just now found your blog. Can I just tell you that I LOVE this post. I am having trouble with my home study agency and had a very similar post. Everything does happen in HIS time and for all of the right reasons. That is why we HAVE to have faith in all things.
Nancy H.
waitingforxiaohai.blogspot.com
Julie says
We were sitting in McDonald’s in Guilin about 2 months ago when a caucasion woman walked up to us and asked us if we were adopting our son. (She saw the cleft bottle.) We started talking with her. It was the director of An Orphan’s Wish. We talked about clubfeet and her organization. She is a doll. We met her daughters as well. I truly wish we could have spent more time with her. I hope that An Orphan’s Wish makes a ton of dreams come true for these children.