We've spent the past 6 months...
completing forms
gathering documents
applying for our passports
undergoing medical exams
getting bloodwork done
updating boys' vaccine records
writing autobiographies
writing letters
writing checks
taking pictures of our family & home (inside&out)
undergoing multiple interviews
educating ourselves through online training
attending workshops
reading adoption articles and blogs
hunting ladybugs
watching numerous youtube adoption videos
writing more checks
getting fingerprinted (twice)
preparing our home to meet "code"
starting to decorate her room
attempting to learn a little Mandarin
developing relationships
developing a relationship with our local Fedex office
praying for wisdom, guidance, and provision
celebrating birthdays (all 4 of us were born in the summer)
visiting with loved ones
homeschooling
and spending plenty of time at our neighborhood pool
|
Sam fell on his noggin
and got a nice goose egg
the night before our social worker came to do our home visit
AND Luke's ear drum ruptured
the night before our social worker
came to do our home visit. |
 |
| Getting criminal record clearances and fingerprints |
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| Luke and Sam getting shots |
 |
| Having fun at the Asian Festival |
Ladybugs are considered the mascot of the Chinese adoption process.
Needless to say, the sight of a ladybug makes me smile!
Our dossier (i.e. humungous stack of papers that tell all about Willie and Stacey Byrd) will soon arrive in her homeland. China officials will be logging us into their system and our family picture will hang on a special wall in our agency's office.
We are now in the "Waiting Phase".
. . . waiting for a referral, a match . . .
waiting for our daughter-to-come
All of this work we've done moves us closer to bringing Eden Lin home.
Yes, we've given her a name even though we haven't laid eyes on her sweet face. It helps us prepare our hearts for this girl if we have a name to call her. Her name isn't "set in stone", but we sure like it.
Why, you ask, "Eden Lin"?
"Eden" ~ Delight. Paradise. The Garden of Eden.
I can remember one day, a couple of weeks before Lydia went Home, I was giving her a bath. She usually LOVED to take baths, especially if someone would sit and talk with her. On this day though the bath simply wore her out. I had pulled her from the warm water and sat her in a chair to dry her off. She looked up at me, on the verge of tears, being frustrated with the process of her physical health deteriorating. I asked her what was wrong. She uttered, "I wish this world was perfect". She fully understood that the reason she was sick was because sin sickness had entered this world a long time ago. I think she knew her time on earth was ending and she wouldn't be with us much longer. She longed for Eden. It thrills me to know that she is now in the perfect place and could be walking through the Garden of Eden at this very moment. Lydia frequently dreamed of having a sister. And so, Lydia and Eden's lives are weaved together even though they won't meet on this side of heaven. Adoption is birthed in grief as a child has suffered the loss of family. Perhaps the grief I've experienced will be a tool to help Eden Lin through her grief journey. Perhaps having "Home" and "family" will bring a slice of heaven to our lil' China Byrd. She will be a delight to us.
"Lin" ~ Forrest, trees; fine jade, gem. ( She will certainly be a gem in our family tree!)
It has an Asian flair and actually its origins are traced back to China. Plus, my middle name was Lynn before I became Mrs. Byrd. So, she will have a bit of heritage from her momma and a hint of her homeland from the spelling.
{So, in case you were wondering how we decided on her name, there ya go! ;) }
All of our work is nothing compared to the work He's done in our hearts.
He has grown us and shown us time and time again that
all things work together for good.
He continues to heal us and prepare us for another homecoming.
I can remember
the phase of
waiting
for Lydia
to depart
for Home.
Trying to savor moment and trust Him through it all,
knowing that soon she would leave us.
Remembering that His timing is perfect
produces patience
through life's intermissions.
My heart tenderly navigates this space in-between
Lydia's departure and Eden Lin's arrival.
∾♡∾♡∾♡∾
Both of these girls hold special places in my momma-heart.
And now we wait again.
We wait for the arrival,
instead of the departure.
~ Savoring the present ~
~ Trusting in His perfect timing ~
~ Knowing He is always in control ~
But more than that,
we're thankful for the One He sent.
The One who died that we may live and be with Him.
~ Forever ~
But when the fullness of time had come,
God sent forth his Son,
born of woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
And because you are sons,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying, “Abba! Father!”
So you are no longer a slave,
but a son,
and if a son,
then an heir through God.
Galations 4:4-7
