First a Pearl, then Three Rubies!!

Some may wonder why I feel led to share this personal story... The answer is easy, God asked me to.... Recently I had a very vivid dream. It was a conversation with God. I didn't see Him, I just remember the conversation... He told me I needed to share our story to Xia. When I asked Him how I would ever find the words to glorify Him, he said, "I will help you." So, here it is, my thank you note to God for using ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things... And, it begins with a tiny little girl, and it begins again later with her best friend... I am just part of the story.. God used friends, acquaintances, real life angels we will never meet, and prayer warriors to call us back to southern China! It is a story so well orchestrated, that only God could do it. It is a reminder that every day miracles do occur... And, that prayers are answered! Grab a cup of coffee, and snuggle in for a while with me as the red thread unwinds...

Our second journey to China started in September, 2008 when an adoption friend, Denise, emailed me, to ask if I would help her sponsor a Bamboo Baby from Pearl River Outreach named Kiley. When I clicked on the link she included, I paused at the photo of a different little girl named Lindsey. In fact, I couldn't get her out of my head... I wanted to sponsor her... No, what I really wanted was to adopt her! I did go on to sponsor Kiley, and eventually Lindsey too, but that is another part of this story.

I confessed my feelings about this child to two people I love and respect. Jeff, and my dear friend Kim. By this time, Kim was also a sponsor at Pearl River, something I did not know. The child she had chosen to sponsor was Lindsey! Coincidence? Of course not! So time moved forward and I continued to have a pull to this little girl, I had never met. During this time, Jeff and I were studying the Life of Moses through a nine month Bible study. What we took away from Moses is that when God calls you to do something, you do it out of faith. When you do it without grumbling, He will bless you! In fact, He will bless you abundantly.

The other thing I did was reach out to a network of adoption friends and prayer warriors. I do believe that with prayer, all things are possible. These faithful friends have taught me so much about the power of prayer!

Fast forward to January, 2009. I am spending my New Years day reading a book written by Jan Beazely, called "The Strength of Mercy." In this true story, Jan and her husband have just found out that the child they were ready to adopt had gone to another family. As they got on their knees and cried out to God, they heard Him say these profound words..

"I showed you one to give you another. Trust Me.

You don't have time to grieve over this. If you do, you'll miss

the child I have for you. I promise in the end you will see and understand."

I cried when I read that quote. Somehow, deep down I think I knew that was going to be my story... Well it did not stop me from trying to find "Lindsey." I reached out to the Executive Director of Pearl River the first week of January to try to find out her Chinese name. I knew unless I had this, we could never find out if she was going to be put up for adoption. The Director and I had a very honest conversation that night. He told me he could not help me. It was their policy. I was disappointed, but more than ever, determined to find her.

I remember getting on my knees and surrendering it ALL to God right in my laundry room.

I asked for him to open the doors we needed to get her Chinese name. Well, it took less than 72 hours. I reached out to a contact we met when we were in China with Ruby. On Monday morning, January 13th she shared her beautiful Chinese name with us. She also told us that the Director of her orphanage said that they were in the process of getting her paper ready for adoption! When I told Jeff, he said, "Let's call our Social Worker!" So that day the calls were made, home study began, and I was researching agencies. We needed to find one that was willing to work on a designated adoption... Something the China Center of Adoption Affairs does not officially do.

I shared with Pearl River that I had found her name... Thankfully, this was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with this very special group. Who knew that what started as an inquiry would lead to a job I love with them. One of many blessings on this road.

In March as we were completing our Dossier, we got the word from our contact that Lindsey's file was going to the CCAA soon. The timing looked like it would be perfect. Our dossier was completed and on it's way to the China on April 24th, about the exact same time her file arrived. For four months we focused on the timing of the shared list for Special Needs Children. Each month her file was not released.

Then August came. We knew that this had to be the month. I had heard so many amazing stories of families coming together this way. We were very excited to see God's plan revealed. The shared list came out, and we were on-line communicating with our agency that night. By midnight she had not been released..... So, we thought anyway.

A month passed and I got a phone call I will never forget. It was the morning of September 9th and my agency called to tell me they had bad news.... "Lindsey" was gone... Gone? I was sure I had not heard her correctly. How could she be "gone?" Hadn't it been confirmed that she was "available?" I can't really describe that morning.. It's hard to find words for the emotions attached to losing something that was never mine to have....

I remember wondering if this was a test. That perhaps she wasn't really gone. A mistake, or possibly even an adoption that would fall through? I truly needed to know that God had closed this door for our family. In fact I prayed that God would slam it shut if Lindsey was indeed gone. Well, again God faithfully answered that prayer. He used two very special adoptive Mom friends of mine, Kim and Stef, to help with that. They posted "Lindsey's" photo on their blogs to see if anyone knew the family that had gotten her referral. An adoption "amber alert"... Little did I know, that this would not only reveal Lindsey's destiny, but it would bless us with more than we ever could have prayed for, new dear friends and ultimately our new daughter!

A very important part of this story needs to be shared here... Lindsey's new Mom did see the post about her daughter. After some honest hesitation she reached out a few days later via email to Kim, wondering why we were looking for her child. Kim replied truthfully that we had sponsored Lindsey and that her friend was hoping to adopt her when she became available. Kim hoped for more, but Lindsey's new Mom never emailed again... Two days later I felt God telling me that it was my responsibility to send a note to Lindsey's new Mom. I had her email address... So, I sat at my desk late on a Monday night and poured my heart out to her. From a mother's heart I shared our story. I did not know if she would ever reply, but I knew I had nothing to lose by letting her know that we had loved and prayed for her new daughter from afar...

A few days later, she emailed me back with a thoughtful reply. Shortly after that she reached out and blessed me beyond what I could have ever asked for. An invitation to follow their journey to China to bring Lindsey home. It was the gift of closure, and the beginning of a life long friendship.

I believe that God places certain people in our lives at certain times for certain things. We may not understand many of these relationships until eternity. Sometimes we are blessed to understand why here on earth. I knew there was a reason that God had brought "Lindsey" into my life. I would find out soon that He had masterfully tied a red thread around her.

One of my favorite quotes from a Pastor at our church is, "The Comfort Zone, is the Danger Zone".. When you truly apply it to your life, it causes you to ask yourself, am I too comfortable? What is God asking me to do that will take me away from what I know, from what is easy..? We were about to find out....

After we received the news that "Lindsey" would not be our daughter, Jeff and I spent some time trying to decide what to do. Our dossier was done.. Were we ready to open our hearts up to another. I felt strongly that God had us do our dossier for a reason. Did He "Show us one to give us another?"

Many of you reading this know that the Chinese Adoption community is very tight! Many of us check a blog and forumn called the Rumor Queen. I found this resource while waiting for Ruby. At that time it was the life line to what was going on with our wait. And, it was a very fun and amazing support group for Mom's like me. During this second adoption I have spent the majority of my time in the Special Needs forumn. I have learned a lot about the process, and the timing of it all. It was at this very spot, that Lindsey's new Mom found me, and how God led us to Sienna Grace.

On a Saturday night in late September I went to Rumor Queen. I think to delete my posting about the "amber alert" on Lindsey. I had by now connected with her amazing new Mom, and it did not need to be there anymore. I saw a posting from a mom there advocating for a little girl with a repaired menogecele. Not knowing what that was, I opened the link. The Mom advocating for her had invited people to email her personally if they wanted to know more about this beautiful child that needed a home. I was curious, so I did. This special Mom, Amy, and I realized that we knew each other from my journey to Ruby. She would eventually lead us to our beautiful daughter.

Four days later, Amy emailed me about 4 little girls that had been on the August shared list, but not adopted yet. She highlighted a few that she though may be a good fit for our family. When I asked her for their photos, two little girls caught my attention. I emailed my agency to see what they could tell me. My contact quickly replied with a brief summary of both of them. One of the children took my breath away. She was stunning. Her name was Xia Chang, and she had Thalassemia. Not knowing what that was, I quickly did my Google search. It is a rare form of anemia found in the Mediterranean and Southern China. It was not the dis-order that scared me... It was the fact that she had received blood transfusions in China. Based on what I know and what I have seen, I didn't think this was safe for any child. Quite honestly, it scared me..... So, I filed her beautiful face in an adoption folder. But, right before I did that I sent an email to my agency asking where Xia Chang was from. Her eyes were so pretty, I thought she might be a Jiangxi Jewel like Ruby Mei. That was on October 1st....

October 6th I was driving to Bible Study, and my IPhone alerted me to a new email. I will admit, I looked down and saw it was from my agency so I clicked on it. The email said,

"that little girl you were asking about is from Hengshan, Hunan....." The reason this is a VERY BIG deal is that this is the EXACT same place where "Lindsey" was. I knew from my job with Pearl River that Hengshan is a very tiny village. Remotely located about two hours from Changsha in the Hunan Province. Why was she not a Bamboo Baby, and why did PRO not know about her? After being very distracted at BSF, I dropped off Ruby at pre-school and came home. I called Jeff and told him about this connection to this little girl who's file was still available. She had been sitting on the shared list for two months, and no one had locked her yet.... It was truly a miracle. We agreed to request her file, which was sent to us immediately. Slowly, God's story is revealed....

The networking begins, and God places some wonderful Mom's with children from China with Thalassemia in my path. I have a conference call with one, that is so encouraging. Next, I am connected with a fantastic local Pediatric Hematologist who is connected to friends of ours. He reaches out to me personally and is so encouraging... Then, the miracle starts to un-fold.

It dawns on me that Xia's referral photo background is the same as Lindsey's. I check her file to see when her physicals and blood work were done for her adoption file. I connect with Lindsey's new Mom and find out they were together for all of it! Their files were processed together! "I showed you one to give you another, trust me..." The morning after we confirmed all of this, we asked our agency to "lock" Xia's file. We were paper pregnant officially! That was October 9th. Exactly one month after we had found out "Lindsey" was gone.

Fast forward, to November 5th... Lindsey's family is preparing to travel to China to bring her home. By this time, I have been blessed to establish a very special friendship with her new Mom. We are so in awe of God's plan for our girls, and I can't wait to "travel" with them to bring "Lindsey" home. Before they depart, they bless me with an incredible gift. They ask me if I will be "Lindsey's" God Mother! I humbly and joyfully accept! You see, God never planned for me to be her Mom. He used me to pray for her, to care for her from afar, just like a mother would do until her family was ready for her. And, then He blessed me abundantly by allowing me to be in her life forever in a very special way. What a gift!!

As if God had not done enough for us, He blessed Lindsey's new family and our family with something even more amazing. On the evening of November 7th, we received an email from our new friends that they had just received a report on their new daughter that they were finally going to meet the next day in Changsha... The question, was who is Lindsey closest to.. The answer was, "She is close to the members in her family. And, she had a good friend named She Xia Chang, who is also from the same orphanage and now living in her neighbor's home with a foster family." Seriously? Her best friend!!!!! And, it was in writing! I just sat and cried at my desk with the realization that we were truly hand picked by God to be this child's parents. And, she was hand picked to be ours! You see, God's plans are always bigger and better than we could ever imagine. He did truly show us one, to give us another.

I am humbled to be a part of this story. And, I look forward to the day when these two precious little girls find their way back to each other. God has blessed us abundantly, because two families said, "Yes Lord, send us."

"An invisible red thread connects those that are destined

to meet regardless of time or place. The thread may

stretch or tangle, but never break." ~Ancient Chinese Proverb

"The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it."

1Thessalonians 5:24

Finally, I close this story as I know it today with a humble heart of thanks for the people that God has used to bring Sienna Grace into our life. Especially to Jeff, for your willingness to love another one of God's children and for your willingness to go! What a privilege to share this journey with you!

I can't close this story without thanking God for calling us out of our comfort zone once again. Through this you have faithfully encouraged us to trust your will for our family. We pray that you will equip us now for this journey you have called us to! And, ultimately that You will be glorified through it!

Love,

Diana

Happy New Year! Wow, are we excited for 2010 to be here.. It's hard to believe that soon Sienna Grace will be home! We have been extremely busy over our Christmas vacation getting ready for her.

Ainsley & Ruby have been patient as Jeff and I have torn our house apart. We have had several projects on our list, that we have wanted done before we leave for China. And, since he was home this past week it has been time to check them off our list... Let's just say our lower level looked like a bomb had gone off at one point. We have made great progress! We love being organized, and I can honestly say we are getting there!!! New Years Eve I found a new kitchen table, so Sienna has a place to sit! We can now comfortably seat 6-8!!

A few more hours of work, and I think I will feel pretty ready for that TA when it arrives! Other than the panic of packing that will set in!! We have our Visa's, so we can turn things pretty quickly when Great Wall calls us to say "come and get her!!!"

Some of you have asked how long until we get our TA. All I can say is it is taking anywhere from 2 weeks - 30days on average. But, like our Letter of Acceptance that we received on 11/23 we are hopeful we will be surprised!!! That only took 8 days. We are up against the Chinese New Year clock for a consulate appointment. We are hopeful it will work out! If not, we will travel at the end of February...

In between cleaning the closets yesterday, I printed out our blog posts for 2009. Something I try to do every January. I now have almost 3 years of posts saved in hard copy for the girls.

(Yes - I know I printed a tree yesterday.) I hope one day they will appreciate why I take so many photos of them, and write about the randomness of our days. Some day I will take it to the next level and slurp it all into a book for them.

**The photos above were taken Christmas week by Liz and me. A few personal favorites that I didn't have time to post until now... Have I mentioned I CAN NOT WAIT to take Sienna's photo! Let's pray she likes the camera. My current subjects are over me!

I will be honest and state that I look forward to Monday, and what the first full week of 2010 has in-store for this waiting family! I also have two blog pals leaving for China this week, so I can't wait to live vicariously through them as they meet their new toddlers!!!!

Blessings for a very special 2010!