Showered with Love

Sunday was such a special day for our family.  My sister-in-law and friend hosted a shower in honor of Maeli at our church.  Our church is a church with a burden for orphans.  The love shown for Maeli and the support to help bring her home will forever be a reminder of how our church family is demonstrates God love!

I'll post some photos from the shower tomorrow.  It was perfect!  What a blessing to share it with four of my Chinese friends.

An update on the adoption process:

I love to talk about our adoption!  It's a passion and a burden for children to find forever families.  Many have asked: "When are you traveling?"  The answer.... We don't know.  We are hoping for the end of April at the latest.  However, on February 15th, we received a request for more documentation for the US Immigration Service.  Our agency's In-China rep is in the process of getting the documents collected so that we can submit them to Immigration.  We are hoping to have them by the end of the week.  Please pray that the paperwork we submit is exactly what USCIS needs and our application can be approved so that we can move one step closer to bringing Maeli home.  We will then be about 5-6 weeks from travel once our application is approved, unless we receive an expedited Article 5 (next step with the US Embassy) which we are also praying for.  

Maeli received her care package this week!  The email we got said that she was very excited about her package and especially loved the recordable photo album.  I can't wait to make those faces in the album a reality for her.  One of the volunteers showed her how to take photos with the cameras we sent.  They said she was clicking and grinning from ear to ear.  It's such a relief knowing that there are wonderful people there caring for her and preparing her for the transition.  The volunteer says that Maeli laughs and has the most beautiful smile and twinkle in her eye when she talks about us.  That makes my heart smile!  I know that is God preparing her heart for what is to come.  For that I am so thankful! 

We received a few new photos as well.  She is growing and gaining weight, which are glad to hear.  She was very thin when she arrived at the orphanage.  This means she isn't going hungry and her smiles in the photos look very genuine and happy! 

The volunteers also said that Maeli's English is "getting pretty good!"  I'm sure Maeli's little sister will appreciate that!  I can only imagine how Emma will react when Maeli doesn't understand what Emma is saying!  We have talked about how Maeli may not understand and we have to be patient...  We'll see how that goes, lol.

Next week I will be attending the Created 4 Care Retreat with other adoptive moms who share the same passion for children and orphans.  This is a much needed retreat and I'm looking forward to spending some extra one-on-one time with God while learning more about how to be a better mother to my adopted girls and homegrown boy!