Mei-Li Grace is Growing!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Our life together...
Since we picked up Mei-Li, life has been a hurricane. After visiting family and coming through Mei-Li's first scary illness, we are trying to establish some normalcy. I will update the blog as soon as I get the chance. Until then, stay up to date by viewing my facebook profile at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=502662831
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Leavin' on a Jet-plane...
We got our tickets in the mail. We are finishing up Mei-Li's room and packing! We leave on Tuesday morning!
Here's a tour of her bedroom!
Here's a tour of her bedroom!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Mei-Li, Here we come!
Hello friends and family!
This is it, the post you've all (and we have) been waiting for...
We got a call late tonight that a day opened up at AIT. We NOW have our interview on August 31(as opposed to September 7th)!!! We will leave either the 24th or the 26th. That's NEXT WEEK, folks! We are so excited...so blessed!
Thank you for all your prayers!
Mei-Li, here we come!
Joyfully expectant,
Mei-Li's Parents
PS--Right before we got the call, God showed me this:
"You're Not in the Driver's Seat
21-22Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
23But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
24-26Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
27-28"Don't be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You'll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn't pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory." Matthew 16:21-28(The Message)
This is it, the post you've all (and we have) been waiting for...
We got a call late tonight that a day opened up at AIT. We NOW have our interview on August 31(as opposed to September 7th)!!! We will leave either the 24th or the 26th. That's NEXT WEEK, folks! We are so excited...so blessed!
Thank you for all your prayers!
Mei-Li, here we come!
Joyfully expectant,
Mei-Li's Parents
PS--Right before we got the call, God showed me this:
"You're Not in the Driver's Seat
21-22Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
23But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
24-26Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
27-28"Don't be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You'll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn't pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory." Matthew 16:21-28(The Message)
Mei-Li, AIT Date
Hello everyone,
I got an email this morning (around 5AM) stating that we can have our AIT(American Instittute of Taiwan) interview scheduled on September 7th. That means we would be in Taiwan a few(like 3) days before and a few days after. The director is trying to get us an earlier date (the end of August). We really hope that we can go see our princess before then. I know God has His reasons for everything, so if we can only get September 7th, I will accept it. However, I am still praying that if possible, we could go earlier. It sounds ungrateful, I know, but Mei-Li will be 6 months old on September 13th. Please join me in praying about this.
Also, Chris and Amy(fellow adoptive parents) need your prayers. Their baby, Lillian (at the same orphanage as Mei-Li) will be in court Wed August 18 at 10 p.m. Central standard time. Recently, we heard that the biological grandmother was pressuring the birth mother to take her(Lillian) back after leaving her at the orphanage for 4 months. Chris and Amy are crushed and hoping for the opportunity to raise this baby girl whom they have named, and created a space for--in their hearts she is their daughter. We know that only God knows what is best for Lillian. I am asking you to pray for this situation.
Thank you all so much. We'll keep you posted.
Mei-Li's Mommy,
Lindsey
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (The Message)
I got an email this morning (around 5AM) stating that we can have our AIT(American Instittute of Taiwan) interview scheduled on September 7th. That means we would be in Taiwan a few(like 3) days before and a few days after. The director is trying to get us an earlier date (the end of August). We really hope that we can go see our princess before then. I know God has His reasons for everything, so if we can only get September 7th, I will accept it. However, I am still praying that if possible, we could go earlier. It sounds ungrateful, I know, but Mei-Li will be 6 months old on September 13th. Please join me in praying about this.
Also, Chris and Amy(fellow adoptive parents) need your prayers. Their baby, Lillian (at the same orphanage as Mei-Li) will be in court Wed August 18 at 10 p.m. Central standard time. Recently, we heard that the biological grandmother was pressuring the birth mother to take her(Lillian) back after leaving her at the orphanage for 4 months. Chris and Amy are crushed and hoping for the opportunity to raise this baby girl whom they have named, and created a space for--in their hearts she is their daughter. We know that only God knows what is best for Lillian. I am asking you to pray for this situation.
Thank you all so much. We'll keep you posted.
Mei-Li's Mommy,
Lindsey
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (The Message)
Monday, August 9, 2010
Court papers are in!
We just heard today that Mei-Li's final court papers have arrived at the orphanage! We don't know when we will travel for sure, but it will be within the next 3 weeks, most likely! I've started the packing list and I am trying desperately not to freak out. There is so much left to do! Brandon found out today that he should be able to go to Taiwan without using his personal leave which is good news. That means that he can take some time off (a week or so) to be with Mei-Li when we get home. God is sooo good! Below is our August picture of Mei-Li!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
COURT
Hallelujah, what a Savior, I owe everything to Him!
At 4:24AM, after a looong night, we got word that everything went "very well" at Mei-Li's court date and the birth parents even gave up their right to contest--they waived the waiting period! We are told that the papers should arrive (at the orphanage) in 2-3 weeks and we can begin travel plans in about a month. We are praying for SOONER than that!
Thank you for your prayers! We are exhausted and overjoyed!
15-17This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!-Romans 8:15-17 (MSG)
At 4:24AM, after a looong night, we got word that everything went "very well" at Mei-Li's court date and the birth parents even gave up their right to contest--they waived the waiting period! We are told that the papers should arrive (at the orphanage) in 2-3 weeks and we can begin travel plans in about a month. We are praying for SOONER than that!
Thank you for your prayers! We are exhausted and overjoyed!
15-17This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!-Romans 8:15-17 (MSG)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Mei-Li's Court Date-TONIGHT
Tonight at 2:25AM(technically Wednesday) Mei-Li will be at court with Ted (the director of the orphanage and our attorney) along with her birth parents. Her birth parents took her to the orphanage after she was born because they felt (for reasons we will never understand) that they could not keep her and give her the life they wanted for her. This, contrary to how it sounds, was actually a very unselfish, humble and loving decision. On July 28th at approximately 2:25PM in Taipei, Taiwan, they will make their decision again, in front of a judge and sign a contract. They have the option not to sign, but to take her home with them. While this is not likely, it IS possible. This contract, if signed, will officially make this lovely 4-month-old an orphan. This is also what will free her to be taken into our arms as our daughter.
As I explain this, I can't help but think of how God must feel as he watches everything we knew, everything we found comfort in, our whole world die. It is only after these things are given up--completely surrendered by us that we can be welcomed into His loving arms. This death is our salvation.
From a technical standpoint, after the contract is signed, the birth parents have 10 days to change their minds. In the past, the judge asked the BP(birth parents) if they wish to waive the 10 day waiting period. Many did. Recently, however, one BP came back during the waiting period and took her baby back. It is understandable that in light of her change-of-heart, the judges are hesitant to bring up the waiver option. Unfortunately, the waiver adds time to the wait to unite orphaned babies with their forever families.
God knows the desire of our hearts(Brandon and mine)--in our minds, Mei-Li is already our daughter and we want to bring her home YESTERDAY! However, as I ask God to fulfill this desire, I express the deeper , more difficult truth. I know God's plan for this child and for us is better than mine--arranged from a perspective much larger than the speck of my world that I can see. So I ask you Lord, to comfort the birth parents, guide the judge and Ted; and give us the strength to wait and believe in your unchanging love for all the parties involved.
Court will commence at 2:25 AM TONIGHT Eastern time. She's all yours, God.
As I explain this, I can't help but think of how God must feel as he watches everything we knew, everything we found comfort in, our whole world die. It is only after these things are given up--completely surrendered by us that we can be welcomed into His loving arms. This death is our salvation.
From a technical standpoint, after the contract is signed, the birth parents have 10 days to change their minds. In the past, the judge asked the BP(birth parents) if they wish to waive the 10 day waiting period. Many did. Recently, however, one BP came back during the waiting period and took her baby back. It is understandable that in light of her change-of-heart, the judges are hesitant to bring up the waiver option. Unfortunately, the waiver adds time to the wait to unite orphaned babies with their forever families.
God knows the desire of our hearts(Brandon and mine)--in our minds, Mei-Li is already our daughter and we want to bring her home YESTERDAY! However, as I ask God to fulfill this desire, I express the deeper , more difficult truth. I know God's plan for this child and for us is better than mine--arranged from a perspective much larger than the speck of my world that I can see. So I ask you Lord, to comfort the birth parents, guide the judge and Ted; and give us the strength to wait and believe in your unchanging love for all the parties involved.
Court will commence at 2:25 AM TONIGHT Eastern time. She's all yours, God.
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