Thursday, July 3, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Slowly but SURELY
We are getting SO CLOSE.
I keep pinching myself. As hard as I try, I cannot wrap my mind around the changes that are just ahead. We are excited beyond any excitement I've known. There are so many unknowns and as we get closer, our prayers become more specific. If you're praying for us, here's a few specific prayer requests.
1.) That God will prepare our girls. That he will somehow, supernaturally, make them ready for "Gotcha Day" and our family. Pray that they'll "know" us, somewhere deep inside them, that we will be familiar. Pray that God will protect their little hearts from the trauma of being taken from all that they know.
2.) That God will prepare US! We are old, we are set in our ways, we are selfish. Life is going to change dramatically and I've no idea what's ahead. That's super exciting but it's also super scary. Pray that God will prepare our hearts for whatever Gotcha Day brings, be it tears, screaming, laughter.
3.) That we will use our time wisely to get "ready". I realize we will never REALLY be ready but at least that we'll be as ready as possible. (i.e. the house organized, room finished, meals prepared and frozen)
4.) That God will continue to provide financially.
Thank you in advance for lifting us up.
Now... where are we in the process? I've no idea, lol. This last bit is confusing to me, it's faster paced and i keep reading and re-reading the instructions I got from our agency. No matter how it happens or how you mix it up... we are CLOSE.
We now have i800 provisional approval. That's permission from the US gov't to make Emily and Olivia a part of our family. It's now on it's way to the National Visa Center to apply for visa's for the girls. This info will go from NVC to the US consulate in China. After a few weeks it will be back in China's hands and we will wait for Travel Approval (that'll take a couple weeks). Once we have travel approval... off we go! Our visas are en-route back to us (this is scary to trust in the USPS b/c our passports are in that package, that's another prayer request... that they get back to us!)
It's exciting, this time next month we'll be packing and preparing for the adventure of a lifetime!
Thank you so much for all the love and support! Thank you for buying Tshirts and sending emails and contributing financially and prayerfully. We just can't thank you enough.
With Love and Thanks,
Jenn & Rob
I keep pinching myself. As hard as I try, I cannot wrap my mind around the changes that are just ahead. We are excited beyond any excitement I've known. There are so many unknowns and as we get closer, our prayers become more specific. If you're praying for us, here's a few specific prayer requests.
1.) That God will prepare our girls. That he will somehow, supernaturally, make them ready for "Gotcha Day" and our family. Pray that they'll "know" us, somewhere deep inside them, that we will be familiar. Pray that God will protect their little hearts from the trauma of being taken from all that they know.
2.) That God will prepare US! We are old, we are set in our ways, we are selfish. Life is going to change dramatically and I've no idea what's ahead. That's super exciting but it's also super scary. Pray that God will prepare our hearts for whatever Gotcha Day brings, be it tears, screaming, laughter.
3.) That we will use our time wisely to get "ready". I realize we will never REALLY be ready but at least that we'll be as ready as possible. (i.e. the house organized, room finished, meals prepared and frozen)
4.) That God will continue to provide financially.
Thank you in advance for lifting us up.
Now... where are we in the process? I've no idea, lol. This last bit is confusing to me, it's faster paced and i keep reading and re-reading the instructions I got from our agency. No matter how it happens or how you mix it up... we are CLOSE.
We now have i800 provisional approval. That's permission from the US gov't to make Emily and Olivia a part of our family. It's now on it's way to the National Visa Center to apply for visa's for the girls. This info will go from NVC to the US consulate in China. After a few weeks it will be back in China's hands and we will wait for Travel Approval (that'll take a couple weeks). Once we have travel approval... off we go! Our visas are en-route back to us (this is scary to trust in the USPS b/c our passports are in that package, that's another prayer request... that they get back to us!)
It's exciting, this time next month we'll be packing and preparing for the adventure of a lifetime!
Thank you so much for all the love and support! Thank you for buying Tshirts and sending emails and contributing financially and prayerfully. We just can't thank you enough.
With Love and Thanks,
Jenn & Rob
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Olivia update!
Here's our updated pics of our youngest, Olivia! Loot at that CRAZY Hair!! HAHA
According to the update she is doing well. After LOA we can ask 5 questions and request some new pictures. They answered one of our 5...lol. Oh well. We will figure it out soon enough.
Here's her updated Info:
*She's getting over a fever but healthy now
*She can walk and go up and down stairs with support
*She is babbling and can say Mama
*She likes playing outside. Plants and flowers make her happy.
*Being "snatched" by others makes her upset (i've no idea what that means but i'm pretty sure it would make me upset too.)
*She sleeps in a crib by herself.
It's amazing how much you can fall in love with someone through a picture. But... you're falling... aren't you? Who can blame you, she's adorable!! :-)
We are currently waiting on our i800 provisional approval to adopt these two specific beauties. That's on the Department of Homeland Security side. After a few more little steps it will go back to China for approval to Travel! EEK. Could be anytime in August... unless there's a slow down or a mess up and then it could be pushed to September.
We are getting things ready.. well, I am, Rob has been working lots but that will help get us there! Speaking of that... We have launched our Tshirt fundraiser again!! We are SO grateful to everyone that purchased a shirt last go-round! Thank you again and again. After the sale ended, we had several people mention that they wished they had gotten one. To those of you who still want one... NOW is your chance!! We have about 12 days to sell about 44 more shirts or it's a no-go. They are really soft and comfy shirts! Heck.. go ahead and get two! :-)
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR SHIRT!!!!
This is a few of our supporters last round. I know I'm missing some pictures, i've had a heck of a time relocating the pictures on Facebook.. i'll get there, or feel free to email them to me!!
Hopefully your next update will be soon and will be filled with good news! Thanks for following along this incredible adventure with us!
With Love and Excitement
Jenn & Rob
Thursday, June 12, 2014
God is great.
We are weeks from becoming parents. My prayer is that God prepares the hearts of our girls for us...for life on Team Taylor! It's going to be an incredible adventure and I cannot wait for it to begin. The good, the bad, the ugly! We are ready!!
Of course, watching videos like this, doesn't help.
http://youtu.be/K6uZGcCajpc <-------click the link!!!
It's a really great gotcha day video! Watch it if you can!
In other news.... Our girls officially have "God parents"
Katie and Matt Wiatt will be awesome Godparents to our girls! We are so excited and know that they are perfect for the role. I know they'll be great and Emily and Olivia will love them as much as we do!
Katie and I go way back. She was a youth when I first started as Youth Director at UMC OF THE Palm Beaches. David ( her dad) was the pastor of the church. We became quick friends sisters and after she graduated she helped out with the youth group. We've had so many awesome experiences over the years from crazy adventures... to getting to be a Bridesmaid in her wedding. Matt is just as awesome as Katie... He had to be special to capture her heart. It's been so cool to get to have an inside track in their relationship since the very beginning. I can remember the night Matt asked David for permission to marry Katie. Katie and I were on the phone with her dad in the other room... ahh... fun times. Katie and I have often been accused of being sisters (along with Molly) something i'm always honored to be accused of :-). Our relationship has been an important part of my life from day one!
We are truly truly honored to have Matt and Katie have such and important role in the lives of our children. Thank you Katie and Matt.. from the bottom of our hearts!!
In adoption news... our i800 was sent today. This is an application for permission from the US government to adopt a specific child/children. This should be granted in a couple of weeks. Fingers Crossed. I fully intend to pester/annoy every person that I can between here and China until I get my hands on my sweet girls. The faster... the better!
This is the most awesome thing i've EVER been a part of... and i've been a part of some pretty awesome stuff! ;-)
With joy and excitement!
Jenn & Rob
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
LOA!!!!!!
" 
This is the face of one HAPPY mama!
Today... We got our LOA (letter of acceptance!) !
<insert happy dance here!>
💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃
To celebrate...
I'm watching it sprinkle from the garage with a glass of Pinot. Terribly exciting celebration! Rob is STILL at work. That's the kicker with rain here. We need it desperately but/and rain= overtime= I NEVER see Rob. (That's NOT a complaint, I'm grateful for Gods provision!) So.. I saw my husband briefly today when I tracked him down to sign our LOA and now the celebration goes on without him. 😃 Don't feel bad for me, I've got 6 dogs inside just waiting to join in. Mom and joe have gone down to MD Anderson in Houston for cancer check ups and dr visits, so their dogs are joining the Taylor clan. 😁 I wish they were here though.
I'm so very excited about this step. The long waits are gone. We still have "10-14" weeks (I'm determined to make it faster) until "GOTCHA DAY" but this is the home stretch! We. Are. About. To.. Be.. Parents.. HOLY COW THATS CRAZY!
I'm in full nesting mode. Making the bed every day. Planting flowers. Cleaning. Decluttering. I'm getting there. (It's REALLY WEIRD FOR ME)
Our agency celebrated their 11,000th adoption yesterday. That's amazing. I'm honored to be a part of such an organization. I'm excited to help them be 2 closer to 12,000!
I'm scared. I'm excited. I'm in awe of the AMAZING God I serve. HE truly is faithful... Even if not in my time!😃😄
With Love and Excitement!
Jenn& Rob
P.s. We are coming Olivia and Emily!
Now....more rain! Thank you Lord!
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Waiting.
I wrote a long long longgggggg post about this and then deleted it b/c it was long and sad and depressing. Consider yourself spared. :-)
*sigh*
We are still waiting on Chi*a to get on with our paperwork God to write the next page of this story :-) This step has taken/ is taking much longer than we anticipated and we'll likely miss Emily's 2nd birthday because of it. My heart aches.
BUT... this is God's story to write and i'm learning a valuable lesson about trust/faith/patience. (That's what i keep telling myself anyway)
Please keep us in your prayers. We actually have LOTS to accomplish between now and then. $$$ to raise, a home to prepare, and much much more. We WILL get there. Eventually.
With hope and a smidge of frustration,
Jenn
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Day 40
I know it's been quiet around blogville but we are still waiting.
This wait is the longest and toughest thus far. I've had to steer clear of some of the adoption facebook groups I'm on b/c it'll make you crazy trying to predict just how long it will be and then you see someone that's in front of you in line.. waiting longer than you thought possible... it's stressful. We are at day 40. Unfortunately, there's plenty in front of me well into the 50's. I'd really hoped to have our LOA in our hand by day 50 at the LATEST. That may not happen. I KNOW that God has a plan and has the whole thing under control. I'm a little slow in accepting that (no big surprise there). From day one He has been perfect with timing, I just have to find it in me to trust the rest of the adventure. That's a toughie.
There's a myriad of emotions rolling around in my heart these days. Unfortunately my family has gotten the brunt of that (sorry guys!). I'm SO very excited and SO very scared all at the same time. I know myself, I know how I react in situations, I'm trying to prepare myself. It's hard though. No matter how you picture it all, I know it will look different. I spend a lot of time thinking about what "Gotcha Day" will be like for them. I'll be a blubbering mess... no doubt, but while Rob and I are experiencing the most wonderful day of our life, our girls, will be experiencing one of the most traumatic of theirs. They'll be ripped away from all that they know and forced into the arms of this couple that looks nothing like them... all the while this lady they call "Mommy" can't quit crying. LOL See why I haven't blogged?
In all seriousness Rob and I pray for their transition every. single. day. We've sent them both care packages filled with pictures and other goodies. We pray that supernaturally they will know us. That when they see our face in real life there will be some familiarity. I know it's going to be a process. Thankfully they're both in orphanages that have a reputation for going the extra mile in preparing the children in their care.
We are "nesting" like mad. Trying to get the house in order. I've had this crazy urge to get rid of everything not being used. I'm going through room by room and our last project will be putting the girls room together. I'm really looking forward to that project. Until then, there are floors to clean, closets to organize, and a garage sale to be had! It's slowly coming together. My mom and I look at clothes at every store we go in and usually buy something on sale. Problem is... we have NO idea what size they'll be wearing. Haha. We will get an update after LOA and hopefully we will have a better idea. Think i can learn to sew between now and August?
Time is getting away from us, we are so very close at this point. We know that (most likely) we are approximately 10 weeks from Gotcha Day after we get our LOA (barring some terrible slow down in one of the other steps or something hitting a holiday)... That, my friends, is going to fly by QUICKLY. Well, I'd better get off here and get busy getting ready for these kiddos! :-)
Thank you for continuing to pray for us and our adventures. Thank you for the love and support that is continually shown!
With Love and Hope,
Jenn & Rob
This wait is the longest and toughest thus far. I've had to steer clear of some of the adoption facebook groups I'm on b/c it'll make you crazy trying to predict just how long it will be and then you see someone that's in front of you in line.. waiting longer than you thought possible... it's stressful. We are at day 40. Unfortunately, there's plenty in front of me well into the 50's. I'd really hoped to have our LOA in our hand by day 50 at the LATEST. That may not happen. I KNOW that God has a plan and has the whole thing under control. I'm a little slow in accepting that (no big surprise there). From day one He has been perfect with timing, I just have to find it in me to trust the rest of the adventure. That's a toughie.
There's a myriad of emotions rolling around in my heart these days. Unfortunately my family has gotten the brunt of that (sorry guys!). I'm SO very excited and SO very scared all at the same time. I know myself, I know how I react in situations, I'm trying to prepare myself. It's hard though. No matter how you picture it all, I know it will look different. I spend a lot of time thinking about what "Gotcha Day" will be like for them. I'll be a blubbering mess... no doubt, but while Rob and I are experiencing the most wonderful day of our life, our girls, will be experiencing one of the most traumatic of theirs. They'll be ripped away from all that they know and forced into the arms of this couple that looks nothing like them... all the while this lady they call "Mommy" can't quit crying. LOL See why I haven't blogged?
In all seriousness Rob and I pray for their transition every. single. day. We've sent them both care packages filled with pictures and other goodies. We pray that supernaturally they will know us. That when they see our face in real life there will be some familiarity. I know it's going to be a process. Thankfully they're both in orphanages that have a reputation for going the extra mile in preparing the children in their care.
We are "nesting" like mad. Trying to get the house in order. I've had this crazy urge to get rid of everything not being used. I'm going through room by room and our last project will be putting the girls room together. I'm really looking forward to that project. Until then, there are floors to clean, closets to organize, and a garage sale to be had! It's slowly coming together. My mom and I look at clothes at every store we go in and usually buy something on sale. Problem is... we have NO idea what size they'll be wearing. Haha. We will get an update after LOA and hopefully we will have a better idea. Think i can learn to sew between now and August?
Time is getting away from us, we are so very close at this point. We know that (most likely) we are approximately 10 weeks from Gotcha Day after we get our LOA (barring some terrible slow down in one of the other steps or something hitting a holiday)... That, my friends, is going to fly by QUICKLY. Well, I'd better get off here and get busy getting ready for these kiddos! :-)
Thank you for continuing to pray for us and our adventures. Thank you for the love and support that is continually shown!
With Love and Hope,
Jenn & Rob
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