"In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world." Jesus

This week we got the phone call we have been waiting for. We got a referral for a Chinese baby girl. When we first looked over her documents and pictures we felt like it all looked and seemed pretty confusing. All of her documents had been translated into English except for the baby's echo cardiogram report which was still in Chinese. So, we began the process of pouring over the paperwork. Within the hour my sister (who is very close to being a Pediatrician) also began pouring over the paperwork. She worked hard at obtaining some other doctors opinions at OHSU. At some point during the day we had also discussed all of the child's documents with our very own Pediatrician. From the baby's documents we could tell that she had a congenital heart condition but the severity was unknown. From the limited data we had, it appeared to be a condition that would be correctable. After extensive research into her documents, by the end of the day we all felt like this was the child that we were supposed to move forward with and adopt, despite having limited info. on her current condition.

That night the excitement was building. We thought we had finally found the girl we had been waiting for. We began to fall in love with her. Earlier in the day her heart condition had been a big deal, at the forefront of our thoughts. By night time, it was a mere "medical issue" that was put on the back burner and would be dealt with once we had her over here in our country. When we thought of her we did not think of her heart, instead we thought of her as our daughter.

The next morning Marc went to work and we talked frequently by phone about how excited we were and started to visualize the process of meeting her in China. I ordered pictures of her and planned to pass them out to the family.

Late in the afternoon my sister called and said that she had found a Chinese doctor to translate the echo cardiogram. The report was not good. A couple hours later a Chinese doctor that I work with called me from Hawaii where he was vacationing with his family to tell me he also interpreted the echo report as very grim. Based on this information they were very surprised that she is still alive. The condition that this beautiful little girl has requires open heart surgery within the first week of life. Without the surgery most babies will die by 3 months of age. The reality of her condition is that she probably won't be alive until September which is hopefully when we will travel to China. IF she was still alive and we were able to get her home to have the surgery, her prognosis would be just as bad considering all of the damage that has already been done to her other organs due to living with this condition so long. So, either way, her life expectancy is very short. At this point in her life, there is nothing we could do to help her.

With this info. we were forced to make the hardest decision we have ever had to make. After buckets of tears and heartache we together made the decision that we believe to be the best for all parties involved to not accept the referral of this sweet baby girl. Ultimately, we felt like this was the best decision for her. She is in a foster home and appears to be surrounded with love. Leaving her where she is comfortable and loved we believe to the best place for her to remain.

It has been a very very very hard and emotional few days.

Thank you soooooooo much to all of you who have sent emails, notes, phone calls, and been praying for us. What an amazing circle of support that God has blessed us with. And the biggest thanks of all goes to my sister, Suzanne, for the hours of time she has given us in helping us to sort through the many confusing medical details. Suzy, Thank You!!!

Through it all Marc and I are so thankful for God's sovereignty, His perfect plan, and His faithfulness. We know circumstances that often look like defeat God can and does use to accomplish His mighty plan. We know that He continues to be at work. God is so good.

Friday Family Fun Night

So many people ask us what we are talking about when we speak of our Friday Family Fun Night. Basically all it is is a time set aside to just focus on being a family. All of me and Marc's attention is on the kids. Sometimes it's really simple in that we buy the kids their favorite treats and play boardgames all evening and sometimes it's more fancy like sitting as a family in the 6th row of a Blazer game! Although we are together a lot as a family so much of our time is focused on other things and not on the pure enjoyment of just being together.

Friday evenings are definitely my most favorite part of the week!

It's MY night to be with my most favorite people.

Papa, the most generous man in the world.

just like momma....

the kids taking it all in....

my daddy and my baby....two goof balls....

if we were to ever lose Luke, this is where we'd find him!

we are big Roy fans!!!!!

the car ride to the game was almost as fun.

what a fun night!

Car Ride Home

As noted in my last entry, Marc and I have been hanging around a lot of high schoolers lately. Thus, our children have too. Thought I would share with you the conversation in the car ride coming home from church tonight:

Jorie- I saw a high school boy and girl kiss tonight.
Luke- Yeah, I saw that too.
Jorie- That was their first kiss.
Luke- How do you know that?
Jorie-Because I could just tell.
Luke- How could you tell?
Jorie- Because they kissed and then they smiled at each other. And that's what they did on High School Musical....they kissed then smiled. That's how I know. After you have your first kiss then you smile like they did at each other.
Luke- Oh.

A new really cool thing.....

Well, I just have to say that one of the coolest things in my life right now is hanging out with high schoolers. Marc and I have started hanging out with them every Wednesday night at church (there are usually over 150 of them there) and then on Thursday nights when about 15 of them gather at our house with their two great leaders (we don't lead it, we just basically open our home and fix them food) to talk about how God wants us to apply His word to our lives.

At first they were a little annoying to us. Then we started listening to them, listening to their hearts. Have you been around high schoolers lately? They are extremely open and real and passionate; three of my most favorite characteristics about people. After we started listening to them we fell in love with them.

They are real people who have real hurts. Some know Jesus and some do not. The far majority of all of them struggle with their relationships with their parents, with the opposite sex, with intense peer pressure, self-esteem....I know I don't need to go on. It sounds familiar, doesn't it? We've all been there. It's just the same issues except cranked up a few notches.

Actually, it seems to not only be cranked up a few notches but they have some added issues thrown in. Marc and I cannot get over how many hurts/pains/struggles they have to live with daily. Here are a few things that my mind is trying to wrap itself around: Biological dads seem to be missing from many of their lives. Not only missing but many of them have vivid horrific memories of him leaving their families. These teens are deeply hurting over this. I mean deeply. One gal said tonight, "Most nights I lay awake thinking of what life would be like with a dad." The teenage boys seem really hurt and confused. Most of the girls are trying to fill the void with boys/boyfriends. It's not good. The cutting issue is intense. I don't get it. I just don't get that one. A girl came up to me last night and said, "My best friend is pregnant and wants an abortion. What should I do?" These kids bounce from house to house. The idea of a "stable home" is not even a concept to them.

I don't know about you, but I didn't deal with any of this when I was in high school. I had a lot of friends and I can't think of one that didn't have dad at home. I didn't even know that cutting existed. There were a small handful of teen pregnancies but not that many. My friends all lived in the same place for the entire time I knew them. So, you put all of the challenges that we all dealt with and add to it these intense issues that are EVERYWHERE and that adds up to some deeply hurting, struggling, and confused kids.

Oh, how it breaks our hearts.

There is not much that I'd rather do (second to being with my own three rascals of course) then to pour out God's love to these guys and girls. Oh, how they need to experience that deep real unconditional love of Jesus. They are beautiful beautiful beautiful children of God. I see so much potential in them......and I won't quit telling them that....ever.

Hanging out with high school kids is a really cool thing. I LOVE it!

March Adoption Update

Our dossier is finally complete and on it's way to China. We found out that we won't (probably) get a referral for our daughter before the first week in April. So, between now and then: 4 weeks to relax, not do a lick of paperwork, and delight in God's promises and His glory that surrounds us.

Oh how we love Him!

Habakkuk 2:3

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

Quote by someone...

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says, "Awww CRAP she's up!"