God's Grace

He has done it again!! He has placed another wonderful child in her family.  We are so excited to follow our friends the Lees as they bring Ellie home.  Today was Ellie's "Gotcha Day" and I read, prayed and cried as I followed their blog entry. (www.elliesjourneyhome.com) It is amazing to me how God works in our hearts, nudging us to follow Him in obedience so He can display His glory.  Seeing Ellie sitting on Heidi's lap, snuggling with her new sister Ava, and smiling over a KFC meal, all I can do is worship. He has done this wonderful thing!  Praise His holy name!

In other Elsa news, I learned this morning that our Article 5 was picked up from the American consulate in Guangzhou and will be delivered to the CCAA in Beijing either today or tomorrow.  This means that we are now about two weeks away from our Travel Approval (TA), Lord willing!  This is wonderful news as we pray about when we could possibly travel to bring Elsa home!  I wish I had new pictures or other Elsa updates for you, but I don't.  God is allowing us a bit of blindness at this point which is stretching for this mama!  His sovereignty remains steadfast and He will bring us through.

Pray with us as we are on the final stretch of waiting.  Pray for peace, travel planning, timing, transitions, schedules, shopping trips and anything else you can think of!  Pray for Elsa that she is being prepared for this transition into family, for her heart to be open to us, and for God's peace to reign in her.  We know that He is faithful and He will do it.

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13)

We look forward to His work in our lives as He brings us to Elsa soon!

Amen.....

A Sea of Acronyms and Initials

Everywhere you turn in the adoption world there are more letters thrown at you.  There's being LID when your papers are "logged in" over in China.  Then there's the PA and LOA which bring you closer to seeing your new little one.  Yesterday we received via USPS our PA for our I-800 from the USCIS.  Alphabet soup, right??? Well, we love those letters in this house!  God is good and continues to open the doors to bringing Elsa home in His time.  Yesterday's mail is simply one more hoop before Elsa has immigration status here and can be released from China.  So exciting!

We continue to pray, dream, prepare and pray some more.  Each of us is anticipating the newest Lindquist every day.  Annika especially can't wait for her sister and playmate.  In fact, most days we buckle an imaginary Elsa into her car seat and talk to her about all we are doing as we run errands.  Annika's little heart is full as she asks the God of the universe to look after her sister until we can get there.

I wish I had more pictures or information about Elsa to share, but my attempts to ask for more from the orphanage were not successful.  We simply wait, trust and pray for her.

"God settles the solitary in a home"  Psalm 68:6    Elsa's home awaits.  God is good and true to His word.  ALWAYS.