We Have a Baby!!!!

God Can Move the Mountains!

Our adoption paperwork arrived in China back in September.  Each month as China sends out the list of available orphans, we were told they were unable to find a match for us.  Each month has been filled with heartache as no match was found.  Our agency is working on agreements with two orphanages however those children's files will not be ready until February.  So, I decided that between Thanksgiving, Christmas, multiple birthdays, New Years and the birth of my first nephew that I would stay busy until it was my turn to receive a match.

Monday night, November 26th a list came out from China.  We were not expecting to hear anything however, we had a specific prayer.  After three months of waiting we prayed for God to move mountains if our little girl was on the November list.  We ask for Him to take away all obstacles in the way of us being matched with her.

He has moved the mountains and we have a match!!  As I sat at work Tuesday morning scanning through my list of emails, one came in from our agency that said "possible referral". My hands were shaking so hard that I could not even type.  As I opened the email I saw 22 attachments.  The first 18 that I opened were all in Chinese!  Seriously?!?  I can hardly speak English so how in the world can I read these files.  Then I came across the most precious, bright eyed, round chubby cheeks baby girl and I knew that our search was over!

She is 11 months old living in Kunming City, China.  She was found abandoned on the streets and at the time she was found the doctors "guessed" she was about 5 months old.  As many of you know we went through the special needs program of China, so many of you have ask what her special needs might be.  Well, her paperwork reads that she has a mild heart murmur, and she is small for her age.  Are you for real?!?!?!  Several members of my family have a heart murmur and she is small for her age because you don't really know her age!  Needless to say we are blessed beyond measures.

God can move the mountains!

Waiting.......

I realized it’s been a while since I have posted about the adoption so I wanted to let you know what has been going on……..Oh ya, NOTHING! That is what's happening. We have hit a brick wall and we are at a complete stand still. All of our paperwork is complete and we are just wanting on a referral. China sends out a list of available children about every 5 weeks and we have not been matched in the past two lists.
Uhhh…is there all of a sudden a shortage of orphan girls in China?!?!?! This has probably been the hardest week so far in this 9 month process. I cannot explain how broken hearted, frustrated, confused, and upset I was when I found out for the second month in a row our agency was unable to find us a match. Our agency told us we might be waiting much longer than I had ever expected. Possibly 5 months for a referral.
So, after a day filled with lots of tears (and eating lots of chocolate)…..I now have a peace……A peace that God is in control, and I have to trust in His perfect timing. I Peter 5:7 says to “Cast all your care on Him, because He cares for you”.
God knows exactly who our little baby girl is, where she is at, and He has already chosen her to be mine. So, until I am matched with her, I will wait. Knowing He is in control.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

China finally knows my name!

On Friday August 24^th our paperwork arrived in China.  Since then we have been waiting for them to process our paperwork and log us into their system.  We were told this would take about 2 weeks and of course we heard nothing for a month.  We received word this morning that we have a LID (Log in Date) of September 10^th.  I guess they forgot to let this waiting mom know of this very important information that I have been every so patiently waiting on. So what now??  Well, we are almost to the most important step.  In the next 1- 2 week another list of available children will come out.  From that list my agency will try and match us with our child.  I will not lie I am completely freaked out!  I can fill out paperwork from now until Jesus comes, but now the reality of being matched has set in and I’m scared to death.  I have no fingernails because I have chewed them off, I am stress eating, my face is broken out and I could not find my way out of a box right now.  I’m a complete wreck!!  Praying for peace and assurance over the next few weeks!  It is not my agency choosing our child, it is not me picking our child but this is a God thing.  Before she was ever born God knew that one day she would be mine. 

Psalms 139:16

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Our Dossier is off to China!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So after 7 months worth of paperwork I receive notice today that it has finally left the United States of America via Fed Ex and headed to the People's Republic of China!  It is so hard to imagine that we have worked so hard on this paperwork and China has never heard of the Condra family from Douglasville Georgia.  In just a few days the China Center of Child Welfare and Adoption will receive our letter pleading with them to allow us to adopt one of their precious little girls. 
As I received the tracking information today I had to laugh because my whole life is in one little package flying across the world this week.
Today I am filled with many emotions.  Excited that we are getting closer to seeing a picture of the little girl we will call our daughter.  Feeling anxiety over the trip as a whole.  Scared of the unknown and all there is to come with this new journey.  Thankful that our God is still holding our hands each step of the way. 

So, tonight I sit back and wait.......I have done my part.......and there is nothing left for me to do.......
Except Pray. 

 

Happy birthday Callie

Happy birthday to my sweet Callie Ann!

Callie has the most beautiful blue eyes, big smile and a precious personality.  She makes us laugh with her silly faces, and crazy sounds she makes.  She is such a happy baby and loves to play her little heart out.  She keeps us on our toes as she begins to explore around the house, opening cabinets and doors, climbing on everything, learning to walk and eating anything that comes into her reach.

I cannot believe she is already one year old!  Where has this year gone?  I am so exited to think that next year she will have a sister to celebrate with her on this special day.  I cannot wait to see the two of them together.  Best friends they will be! 

Mommy loves you baby girl!!

Happy Birthday Chad!!

Today we celebrate Chad’s birthday.  He is our fearless leader, pool guy, lifeguard, dishwasher, chief landscaper, little league baseball coach, lego builder, car washer, and nighttime baby whisperer. 

He wears many hats but he is our Daddy…….Husband……..Provider. 

We pray this time next year he has one more little angel in his lap!

Happy birthday!  We love you so much!

Step one is finally complete!

After a long wait......104 days to be exact....our home study is complete.  For those of you who are not up on the adoption terms, a home study is a detailed written report of your family, compiled and prepared by a social worker. So, over the past few months we have been interviewed numerous times by a social worker, gathered more documents that you could ever imagine, and been investigated under a microscope to make sure we are fit parents to adopt.  They have even interviewed Caden (everyone stop laughing!!) and yes we are able to proceed.  We have done multiple sets of fingerprints, background checks, had 911 reports pulled, finanical statements, reference checks, health screenings, and my favorite so far...the county septic tank inspection.  What in the what?!?!?  So, let me get this straight.  My child is in China, living in an orphanage, going to the bathroom in...well who knows where, but it is important to have my septic tank inspected.  Oh, well it is done.  The past few months my dining room table has been turned into the adoption paperwork center.  A normal size desk isn't big enough people!  I'm talking about serious stacks of paperwork.  So, with all that said...step one is complete.  Now time to move along to another step.