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.

Hello China - Meet the Condra's

As many of you already know we are in the process of adopting a little girl from China.  Can I get a woot woot!!  (Line one and I already have tears flowing).  God has truly blessed us with a precious little family.  Chad and I just celebrated our 16 year anniversary this week and have two children.  So many of you have asked what and where did this decision come from?  This has not been something that came up overnight and not something we have entered into lightly.  A few years after the LOOONG awaited arrival of Caden (who is my 7 year old energetic, athletic, fireball from Heaven), we started talking about adopting.  We never took that step to just “do” it because of money.  Oh, and let me say we still don’t have the money!!  So, if you know anyone who has about a kazillion dollars to donate to the cause please send them my way – Amen and thank you.  So, this is what FAITH is all about.  Seriously stepping out and knowing you cannot do anything without HIM.  A few years ago a precious family in our church started the process to adopt.  I knew the first time we talked that we should be filling out our paperwork just as they were.  About that same time out of the blue I found out I was pregnant.  What?? Seriously!?  Me?!?  It had been 6 LONG years of praying for another baby and God gave her to us in HIS precious timing.  Callie is our 9 month old little joy!  She makes me smile each day with that happy, fat little face.  I’m pretty sure that her cheeks stay chapped from me smooching all over them.  Ok, so now that God has given me TWO little miracle babies how could I forget about the orphans?!?  Over all this time our desire to adopt a baby has never stopped.  So, the beginning of this year( 2012) we started the paper chase.  I now know why there are 147 million orphans!  I mean really??? I’m pretty sure after this I should have my law degree.   Each time I am overwhelmed with stacks of paperwork, I remember this is one piece of paper closer to holding a sweet baby that doesn’t have a home, no parents and no one to love them.  One that carries the title as orphan.  So, bring on the paperwork!    I do have to stay this doesn’t come with FEAR.  Did I mention that I am scared of ……okay that list is way too long.  I am petrified of everything.  I need medication to fly a short flight (seriously) and it is a 16 hour flight to the other side of the world over the ocean!  I have already mentioned I have no idea where we are going to come up with this money (just google China adoption people it’s a lot of money!).  I live in a box.  No joke!  I don’t like Chinese food, I don’t like unusual different foods and they won’t have a Chick fil A there-and we have to go for a few weeks.  So, I might be skinny after this trip (woohoo!).  The devil often tells me how I am not qualified to adopt an orphan.  But my God tells me HE is.  Praise God that He equips the called and doesn’t call the equipped.  So, for those of you scratching your heads and saying “the Condra’s – really?  Trust me.  We did the same thing.  We have our hands full already, we are sorta old, very busy schedules, working full time and a little crazy on any given day.  However, a busy, old, overbooked, crazy mom and dad is better than no mom or dad. My point in saying all this is to ask for your Prayers!  Seriously, calling out my prayer warriors!!  This is a very long……long…..long journey.  I’m pretty sure we won’t get to travel until next spring/summer.  I write this for 3 reasons.  One is because I want to share with her one day of our amazing journey and with you our journey to rescue our daughter from China and bring her home. The second is because if I don’t write it down I will forget ( I cannot remember what I had for breakfast must less in a few years remember this whole process).  The last and most important reason is for you to see my post and lift us up in prayer.