Fingerprints Again!

Well, the USCIS has their third and final set of fingerprints for both Tom and I! Yeah! Still have to get Alexa updated with medical and fingerprinting...then we are good to go for the home study update! God has been very gracious to allow us to gather everything once again and have the pieces fall into to place. He provided the right folks and timing for all! Thanks to everyone for your prayers and help! Thanks be to God above all! Now,come quickly RA!!

God's Amazing Ways

I cannot believe it has been almost 2 weeks since I last posted. Time really does fly! We had a wonderful Resurrection Day with my folks in SC---long time since we've shared that day with them. Also had Kayla and Phil there---fun times with the puppies on the beach!

God orchestrated some amazing things for us with respect to our little one waiting in China! Two days ago I joined an online group of families who've adopted from Hanzhong City, where Xin Rui is. In the posts, I saw a message from a mom who is going there in two weeks to visit and offered to catch a glimpse of any children of waiting families. Well, I jumped on that! She wrote back to say she'll check on Xin Rui and also provided us with some wonderful information about that orphanage. It is apparently run by an organization called Caring for China and has a special needs portion called Shekinah Shalom. I will paste what this dear lady wrote to us:

"When you travel to Shaanxi to adopt you go to Xi'an and the nannies from Hanzhong bring the children to you there. You will not visit the SWI where Xin Rui is. Tha's why ever since we adopted P. from Hanzhong I have wanted to see his home town, his finding place, and the SWI where he got such good care thanks to Caring for China. They're FANTASTIC. Now I have friends there whom I know through e-mail and I can't wait to see them.
Do you know Xin Rui's English name? All the kids under Caring for China's care have English names and that's how they know themselves...not by the Chinese name usually. I will check on her and get the name for you if you don't know it already. Our son was already named P. and we kept that name. It's my husband's name too! By the way, the kids are also taught about Jesus and know to fold their hands when they pray. Its' really beautiful."

You can see why we are so excited! Xin Rui is already learning about her Heavenly Father's love! We stand amazed at God's goodness once again!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TYLER!!

Hard to believe this little boy is 22 years old today! Happy birthday, Tyler! We are so blessed to have you in our family and grateful to God for you. You have an amazing gift of joy and make everyone feel accepted with you. We continue to learn from you...to remain joyful and take life as it comes! God has great plans for you and we love watching them unfold!
Here you are with Dad and Zach at the beginning of your college journey in 2005 with the VT Corps! Only a few weeks left....hooah!

WE HAVE PA!!

"Praise the LORD.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise Him! "
Psalm 147:1

After only ten days, the CCAA has given us pre-approval(PA) to adopt Olivia XinRui! We are absolutely amazed at God's "suddenlies". We now await RA in 1-3 months...the next hurdle! Thanks for keeping us in your prayers and traveling this journey with us.

In the Words of John Piper

This past Sunday marked the beginning of our new Sunday school session. In looking at our choices, Tom and I chose a class taught by Ed Hatch that centers on the book, Don't Waste Your Life, by John Piper. I found myself only a few months ago perusing the bargain table when this very book caught my eye. So I bought it. Maybe its the approach of the big "50" or Tom's AF retirement in the near future or, just maybe, the Lord speaking to my heart. Hmmm. Anyway, with a class being offered about the very book I'd just recently read, I knew God had more for me still. Like most people, I want my life to count for eternity. It is the same for you...something pleads passionately from your heart to take a risk.

Piper's challenge from the preface, "There is a warning. The path of God-exalting joy will cost you your life. Jesus said, 'Whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." In other words, it is better to lose your life than to waste it. If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full. This is not a book about how to avoid a wounded life, but how to avoid a wasted life. Some of you will die in the service of Christ. That will not be a tragedy. Treasuring life above Christ is a tragedy."

We have a referral!!

After a lengthy wait in which God did much character-building :) , the Walrond family is delighted to announce the news!! Although we cannot share too many details and pictures until we have official approval from the CCAA, we are rejoicing over the referral we received last Saturday, 28 March 2009, of a beautiful 16 month-old girl! We are hoping all approvals come quickly, and, if so, we'll go to get her in mid-summer! Our ever-faithful God be praised!

"Sing to God, sing praises to His name, cast up a highway for Him Who rides through the deserts--His name is the Lord--be in high spirits and glory before Him! A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation. God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity..." Psalm 68:4-6