Adjusting...

As you have prayed for us in our joy of announcing in August that we had been approved to start adoption proceedings in China - I ask that you continue to pray for us in our sorrow of that door being closed. We need those prayers more now as we grieve the "loss of our China baby". When we first started thinking, talking, and praying about the prospect of adopting we felt that God made it abundantly clear that He had a baby for us in China. As we researched and learned more about those abandoned "lost daughters of China" we fell in love with these children.

The Chinese have an ancient belief - the red thread ("An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.") Adoptive families have taken this story to heart - that there is an abandoned baby in China with a red thread connecting them together - that will eventually bring them together. I can't tell you the strength of this "red thread" and the major emotional attachment we had to our baby already. We - and our families - have truly been grieving this loss.

Mine and Greg's picture of our family for the last 7 months has been with a black haired little girl with almond shaped eyes - the number of other children in the picture would come and go - but she was always there. As I was walking through the airport last Tuesday I realized that seeing pregnant women, women with babies or small children had no affect on me what so ever. It was seeing the Asian babies that would take my breath away and bring the tears once again.

Our faith is strong - and this has not affected that. We know that God has a plan for us - and we want that more than anything. Please do continue to pray for us as we adjust to this new picture of our family that is missing the black haired little girl.