Our sweet officer received AND approved our I800 application TODAY! We have two steps left before Travel Approval! If averages stay the same, it should come 40 days from today. That falls ~June 9. As most of you know we will not be able to travel immediately due to Mei Mei's surgery. I am SO sad over making our son wait longer for a forever family. It breaks my heart. However, unless someone discovers how to clone this Momma and Baba so we can be on opposite sides of the globe, it will have to be. We are praying her surgery can be moved up in the month of May to give her time to recover before we leave for China. Feel free to join us in praying Dr. K has a reschedule/cancellation in the month of May so we can move up Mei Mei's surgery. If not, surgery June 20 and travel sometime in July or August once Mei Mei is recovered. Oh please Lord. Don't make it August.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Mine to love...
I know it won't be all sunshine and lollipops. Don't get me wrong... I HOPE it will but I know it might not happen that way. Believe me. I know all too well. BUT. There is something about this song that makes my heart go pity-pat. I hope some day my little buddy smiles when he hears this song. I hope he knows he is "the answer to every midnight prayer". I think Dave Barnes wrote this song just for me...
It’ll take some time adjustin’
Welcome to your life
You’re everything you’ll someday be
There’s a weight off my shoulder
There’s laughter in the air
You are the answer to every midnight prayer
You’re mine to love
We have all been waitin’ on you
You’re mine to love
Come into these open arms
It took some time to wait it out
But I see it now, you’re worth all the dreaming of
You’re mine to love
You’re mine to love
You might wanna take your time
Takin’ all this technicolor, yeah
We’re on your side
Let us be the one you need
There’s a life on my shoulder
Laughter in the air
You are the answer to all those midnight prayers
You’re mine to love
We have all been waitin’ on you
You’re mine to love
Come into these open arms
It took some time to wait it out
But I see it now, you’re worth all the dreaming
You’re mine to love
You’re mine to love
Every time that my heart was broken
Every time that I’ve lost my wings
I forget when I look into your face
You’re mine to love
We have all been waitin’ on you
You’re mine to love
Come into these open arms
‘Cause I’m right here
It took some time to wait it out
But I see it now, you’re worth the dreaming of
You’re mine to love
You’re mine to love
You’re mine to love
You’re mine to love
So you might wanna close your eyes
Thursday, April 19, 2012
I knew today would come...
From the very first moment I knew Mei Mei was to become my daughter, I knew today would come. The day she would be scheduled for surgery. It's not like it comes as a complete shocker. A news flash. The first I've ever heard of it. Nope. I've known all along. Cleft affected children require multiple surgeries throughout their young life. I am well aware. So why do I want to hide under a pillow and pretend I don't know?
Don't get me wrong. I don't disagree with her Plastic Surgeon. I completely trust Dr. K and his recommendations. I spent years taking care of his surgical patients as a nurse in the PCCU at our local Children's Hospital. He is a wonderful man with an excellent reputation. I don't doubt his expertise. I simply hate it is even necessary.
Simply, radiantly beautiful she is. Her smile lights up a room. Her laugh is contagious. She is perfect in every way regardless of what the world might say. Today. On the day I became her Mommy. On the day she was born. She was and is perfect. We love her exactly the way God created her.
However, I know we can't ignore what she is starting to realize when she looks in the mirror. She doesn't need this for us. This isn't about us. It's about her. It's about what my 4 year old sees in her reflection. Quite frankly, some of the things she has said over the past six months have stopped me in my tracks. She is 4. FOUR! No one has said these things to her. She is saying them to herself. At FOUR years old. As her Mommy, I want her to be proud of who she is. I want her to be comfortable in her own skin. I don't want her to care what the world thinks but I've lived long enough to know she will. Thus the reason we need to move forward. For her...
She has no idea what is coming. I am making an appointment with Child Life to help us explain everything to her in an age appropriate way. I'm not sure we can truly prepare her for this but we'll try as best we can for her sake. I would be lying if I said I wasn't more than a little anxious. I've handed my first born off to anesthesia...twice...and wondered if he would return to me in the way he left. It is a vivid memory. Quite frankly, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I don't WANT to do that again but I know that option isn't the right one for her.
Dr. K's first available opening is Wednesday, June 20. She will have several procedures done while under anesthesia with the most extensive being the grafting of cartilage from her rib cage to be used to reshape the cleft affected side of her nose. She will be in surgery 4+ hours and spend 5-7 days in the hospital for recovery and adequate pain management. To be perfectly honest, the timing stinks. We've asked for the first available cancellation between now and then but there are no guarantees. If we wait until June 20 we will probably need to delay travel for Little Buddy until Mei Mei is on the mend. It is hard enough leaving healthy children for two weeks. Leaving one of my babies to recover from surgery without Mommy and Daddy? Not in a million years. Leaving my other baby on the other side of the world any longer than we already have? Well, that's not optimal either.
I know God loves our family more than I do. I know He already has the details of the next six months of our lives worked out in great detail. The timing. The surgery. The hospital stay. The childcare at home. The recovery. The travel to China. The finances. The childcare at home... again. The transition. The attachment. The grafting of a new family member. Yes, our plates are full. Ugh. Yes. They are. I am reminding myself that God's timing is always perfect. Really. It is. Even when it doesn't feel perfect... it doesn't change that fact. We'll figure it all out as we go. I'm getting much better at wingin' it these days. Well, some days. Prayers welcomed and appreciated.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Gimme an L! Gimme an O! Gimme an A! What does that spell?
LOA! LOA! LOA! IT IS HERE!!!!! IT IS HERE!!!!!! HE IS OFFICIALLY OURS!!!!!!!! 55 DAYS!!!!!!!! THANK YOU GOD!!!!! 8-10 WKS TIL TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEN WE CAN MEET OUR CABOOSE!!!!!!!! THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT... and for the number 55! It's my new favorite number. :D
And the winner IS....
Bob and Joella B! Woooohoooooo! A heartfelt thank you to all who contributed (though I don't know who you are just yet)! I hope to have a list of contributors and a total from Village to Village soon. The matching grant has ended though the VtoV account and tshirt sale remain open. Thank you friends. Thank you Lord!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
MATCHING GRANT!
After my post yesterday about the Target gift card raffle, we woke up to a $1000 MATCHING GRANT given by precious friends (who wish to remain anonymous). For every dollar given to help us bring home our son, your dollar will be DOUBLED!!! That means $25=$50!! $50=$100!!! Between now and April 15, you have the chance to win a Target gift card while DOUBLING your donation while helping our family in return. Here are the details...
We have an account with Village to Village International which provides a tax deductible way to contribute. If you choose to contribute please use the direct link and follow the directions on our page. Then e-mail Sarah privately at sarahdennisscott@yahoo.com with your name, address and donation amt. You will be entered in the drawing to be held on April 15th.
With gratitude,
the Womble 5 + 1
Monday, April 2, 2012
It takes a village...
We have been honored and humbled in this journey to our caboose. One of the biggest ways has been in wondering HOW the Lord is going to pull this off financially. Don't get me wrong. I KNOW He will. Let me be clear. I do not doubt that. However, the question of HOW is the current mystery. Believe me, it was a mystery on the day we said YES, but, we moved forward regardless. Some might say that was irresponsible. We respectfully disagree. Every decision we've ever made has always made sense. Calculated, researched, well planned, thought out and predictable. Always. That's us. Maybe this one didn't make perfect sense to everyone else in the world; but, it was crystal clear to us. In the end that was enough.
Yes, we've done the obvious. We've cut out all unnecessary expenses. We've sold furniture on Craigslist. We are trying to sell other non essentials. {Anyone need a hot tub? haha} We are clearing the attic for a yard sale in a few weeks. It's all stuff and stuff doesn't mean much in the big picture. Thankfully all of the adoption expenses are paid in full at this point which is a huge blessing. Huge. Now we move on to travel expenses. Unfortunately (from a financial standpoint -- not for our son) it is very likely we will travel during peak season (AKA the most expensive time of the year). Airfare for four + hotel + food + facilitator fees + ______= $$$$$
From day one we've had random friends who've asked to come along side us in this journey. At first we said no. No way. Not happening. Each time someone asked how they can help us get to China we've sort of ignored them. Why? It took us a little while but we discovered what was standing in our way. Pride. What I've come to realize in this journey to our caboose is PRIDE is not a pretty thing. Here we are with friends who want to help but we are too proud to accept it. Ironically, we ourselves have given countless times to help other parents bring home their child. Why would we assume those who want to help US feel any different? Why would we assume those who want to help us will expect something in return? Something we can't possibly give them? 
We know God gives us a head on our shoulders. We know God provides for our family through His financial plan for us. It IS His money after all. What has been hard for us to recognize is perhaps, in certain seasons of our lives, God provides for our family in ways outside of US. Perhaps He provides through the compassionate hearts of others while teaching us not to depend on US. We need to depend on HIM. See? A big fat lesson in humility.
It has taken us a little while but we finally packed away our pride and searched for possibilities. Finding a way for those who genuinely feel called to help by providing a tax deductible way to do so was no easy task. Then a friend introduced me to Village to Village International.
As an adoptive Mom and orphan care advocate, I knew they were right for us when I read their tagline. Because they matter. If you know me in real life you know that struck a chord with me. Yes, indeed. They DO matter. I love that.
So. This is the hard part. Here goes.
We know the economy stinks. We know we all have families to care for and bills to pay. We know because we live in the real world just like you. However, if your heart is burdened to help us bring home our son from China, you may do so here. This is our only request. We ask that you pray and feel confident about this decision. We certainly do not expect ANYTHING from ANYONE. Truly. We don't. We are simply trying to provide a tax deductible way to give for those who feel called to walk this journey with us.
Between now and April 15, my dear friend Sarah is hosting a raffle in honor of our family. For every $25 given in Little Buddy's honor, you will have a chance to win a $100 gift card from Target. Please email Sarah at sarahdennisscott@yahoo.com with your name, contact information and donation amount in order to be entered for your chance to win.
With deepest gratitude,
the Womble 5 + 1
*Like other charitable organizations, you will receive a Village to Village tax statement in winter 2013 to use on your 2012 taxes.*
