It's official!!!

Our TA (Travel Approval) has been issued
by the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption, 

granting us permission to travel to China to finalize our daughter's adoption!

We leave in 2 weeks!!!
Praise the Lord! 

The waning days of summer

Three days ago, my eldest son boarded a plane for Colorado. The night before had been filled with packing & organizing & re-packing & chatting about the week to come, so when the clock blared loud at 3:15 a.m. (who flies out at 5:30 anyway??!), his demeanor was tinged with both excitement and exhaustion, anticipation and... hope.

Several hours later, he landed in Colorado Springs with a few of his fellow teammates, and from there they made the short jaunt to the Olympic Training Center where they're working hard this week, training for a dream.

Parenting truly is bittersweet.  On the one hand, children are supposed to grow up! God designed them that way, after all, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But when I watched my oldest babe stroll out the door-- suitcase in hand, adventure on face-- the tumult churned anew. Because the big girl in me was jumping up and down, cheering for all to hear... here comes my boy, and I am so, SO proud. But deep down inside, where no one but the Lord could see, a terrible ache spread slow... because my son is growing up.  All too quickly... growing up.

Thankfully, we live in the modern era.  Praise God for cell phones-- he called!-- and we talked long, and oh, how I rejoice in the gifts of the Lord!!

As we await his return, we pack and play and run and swim-- anxious for summer's last hoorah.  Back to the beach we go (as soon as we pick up our sure-to-be weary traveler from the airport), back to the glorious expanse... where earth meets sky, and the heavens truly declare His glory!

There are days when I wish summer would linger forever-- days on the sand, days that move slow.  But then I remember the beauty of seasonal change-- my favorite being next in line-- and I breathe deep the provision of the Father.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8

We're.almost.there. {!!!!}

So what they say is true...

waiting truly IS the hardest part.

But now, after almost 18 months since we (officially) started this amazing journey, the finish line is clearly within sight!

Within 2-3 weeks, we should receive our Travel Approval (issued by the CCCWA... granting us permission to make Consulate appointments & thus enter the country to adopt our little one), and 2-4 weeks thereafter, we'll be leaving on a jet plane... hallelujah!

Sing to God, sing in praise of His name;

extol Him who rides on the clouds;

rejoice before Him-- His name is the LORD.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,

is God in His holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families,

He leads out the prisoners with singing...

You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people.
Praise be to God!

Psalm 68:4-6,35

⁵ 

1000 Gifts: The beach

Last September, I stopped counting. After entry #1181, I simply set my "pen" aside and silenced the habit I'd grown to love.

Now, almost one full year later, it's time.
Time to dust off my camera and find a nugget-o-time
to capture our journey and savor the goodness...
to acknowledge His goodness and marvel at His grace,

His love too wonderful to miss.

O LORD, our Lord, 

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:1

1182
Cape May, NJ... my mama's childhood stompin' ground

1183
For one whole week

1184
Brothers

1185
The roar of the ocean

1186
The porpoise at play

1187
Waves to jump, shells to collect

1188
And color-- COLOR!-- everywhere

1189
Chairs for resting

1190
Company for keeping

1191
Rocks for climbing

1192

And time.

To soak it all in, to cherish each bit, to taste and see...

1193

That HE is good!

1194 

Critters for finding

1195

And walks along the shore

1196

Cat-naps on the sand

1197
And seaweed hair

1198
Endless laughter

1199

Together.

Thank you, God.

Could we with ink the ocean fill

And were the skies of parchment made

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Though stretched from sky to sky

O love of God, how rich and pure

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure

The saints' and angels' song

~F.M. Lehman

and the list continues...

Denial

Once again, I'm in denial.

It generally happens this time every year...

as the colors of fall begin to blanket the ground, 

and Christmas goodies begin to line the store shelves.

The swiftness with which the season is passing is mind-boggling at best!

So in my attempt to hold on to autumn for a little bit longer, 

I'll attach a few pre-autumn photos. 

Perhaps that way I can delude myself in to thinking that 

Thanksgiving is NOT only four weeks away!

****************

A teddy bear is a faithful friend

You can pick him up at either end.

His fur is the colour of breakfast toast, 

And he's always there when you need him most.

~Anonymous

1000 Gifts: In the woods

It's always a treat to head to the mountains... 

to my parents' home, nestled nicely in the woods.

The escape from our crazy-hectic pace is itself a lovely gift!

Add to that sweetness a neat, neat family--
our dinner companions on Saturday evening--
and I am filled.
Grateful beyond words. Compelled to count once again.

For His amazing gifts-- for all His goodness-- I give thanks.

Godly friends-- their journey & ours in the making.

Their beautiful, beautiful babes-- both adopted from China-- healed & whole, 

and loved beyond measure.

Insight & advice, counsel & excitement

Their desire to help & encourage

Contagious delight!

Child laughter, fast friends

A cozy table, the generosity of all
The anticipation of all to come

Time to play
And weather that beckoned us out-of-doors

Target practice & leaves to crunch

Logs to straddle, fallen trees to climb
 The great wide open

And the wonderful world of boys
All with my folks...
My mom and my dad.

"Not to us, O LORD, but to Your name give glory,
for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness!"
Psalm 115:1

To be continued...

When this boy doesn't want to read...

... a creative reading nook will generally make all the difference :)