tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15289667974587588862024-02-19T07:27:10.888-08:00The Jett'sUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger299125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-25015300953211483382014-01-31T11:35:00.002-08:002014-01-31T11:36:59.255-08:00We have been home with Kenzie now for 10 months! TEN MONTHS??!?!? Time has flown by but I am loving every single second of being a mommy of two. It didn't come though without it's fairshare of heartache, frustration, and tears. But we have made it! We are all fully bonded and Kenzie and Kyler fight like a brother and sister should!<br />
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I plan to be more active in my blogging...sharing about my life, my love, and my children! <br />
So stay tuned....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-28898774731759414422013-03-18T00:08:00.001-07:002013-03-18T00:08:54.671-07:00I am on my way! I cannot believe that this day is already here! I am sitting in the San Francisco airport getting ready to board my last flight before I will be with my baby girl FOREVER! Words cannot express the emotions I am feeling right now! God is good. <br />
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The next 14 hours are going to be rough but totally worth it! We have had so many people praying for us along this journey and I know so many will continue! So blessed! <br />
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This morning we sang a song at church that sums it up.....<br />
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<b style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"Never Once" by Matt Redman</b></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Standing on this mountaintop</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Looking just how far we’ve come</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Knowing that for every step</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You were with us</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kneeling on this battle ground</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeing just how much You’ve done</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Knowing every victory</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Was Your power in us</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Scars and struggles on the way</div>
</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
But with joy our hearts can say</div>
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Never once did we ever walk alone</div>
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Carried by Your constant grace</div>
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Held within Your perfect peace</div>
</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Never once, no, we never walk alone</div>
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Never once did we ever walk alone</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Never once did You leave us on our own</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You are faithful, God, You are faithful</span></div>
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You are faithful, God, You are faithful</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Every step we are breathing in Your grace</div>
</span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise</div>
</span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
You are faithful, God, You are faithful</div>
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You are faithful, God, You are faithful</div>
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Thank you Lord Jesus for being faithful!!!!!</div>
</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-51798441310966634462013-03-13T06:30:00.003-07:002013-03-13T06:30:42.890-07:00IT IS FINISHED!!! <br />
Our adoption process is FINALLY complete! <br />
We got an email this morning that our Final Decree had arrived yesterday at THOGL! Kenzie is 100% legally ours and nothing can change that! We are allowed to bring her home!<br />
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In the email Ted said that it had been a whirlwind day. When he received our final decree, he quickly got Kenzie to Taipei to get her passport and then made an appointment so Bev could take her tomorrow to get her final visa physical! These are just the mandatory steps that must happen before we have our AIT appointment and can leave the country!<br />
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I am so excited that our process is done! It has been a long, frustrating, painful process at time....but totally worth it. God is good and His timing is perfect (even though most of the time it didn't line up with mine...haha!)<br />
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So the rest of the week for our family here in the states is going to be crazy! Tomorrow night the wonderful teachers I work with our throwing me a shower, Friday night we have Kyler's 6th birthday party, Saturday we are hanging out as a family of 3 for the final time, and then I leave on Sunday! Phew.....when will I pack??!?!??? So if anyone wants to come over and clean my house or help me organize life....feel free! :)<br />
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Please continue to pray for bonding between Kenzie and I.<br />
Please continue to pray for our traveling....that all goes smoothly and that Kenzie and I don't cry too much!! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-20511507247362931372013-02-26T12:25:00.001-08:002013-02-26T12:25:38.878-08:00Travel plans are set!!<br />
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I'm leaving on Sunday, March 17 and returning home (WITH KENZIE!!!!) on Sunday, March 24.<br />
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God is so good and we are so blessed that we finally get to bring Kenzie home to join our family! Our family of four! (I love how that sounds!)<br />
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Our AIT/Embassy appointment is on March 21. Please pray that everything goes smoothly!<br />
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We still cannot say thank you enough to everyone who has joined us on this journey. We could not have done it without you! God has truly blessed us with some of the most amazing friends and family!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-32752108901134205462013-02-23T11:05:00.000-08:002013-02-23T11:05:06.025-08:00<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></span>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Like cold water to a weary soul is
good news from a distant land.” Proverbs 25:25</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For t<span style="font-size: x-small;">hose of you <span style="font-size: x-small;">who have ad<span style="font-size: x-small;">opted from THOGL <span style="font-size: x-small;">you know that when you see that verse at the beginning of an email it is going to be <span style="font-size: x-small;">good news! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">That was the verse that came across our email today!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">WE GOT OUR F<span style="font-size: x-small;">IRST DECREE!!!!!!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kenzie i<span style="font-size: x-small;">s offic<span style="font-size: x-small;">ial<span style="font-size: x-small;">y <span style="font-size: x-small;">ours and we <span style="font-size: x-small;">are so excited. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The only thing left in our process is for our Final Decree to be issued and to have our AIT appointment<span style="font-size: x-small;">. So <span style="font-size: x-small;">I am leaving the week of <span style="font-size: x-small;">March 18 to head o<span style="font-size: x-small;">ver t<span style="font-size: x-small;">o T<span style="font-size: x-small;">aiwan to <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Lord <span style="font-size: x-small;">Willing) finish up our adoption process and bring our baby girl home! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There is a light <span style="font-size: x-small;">at the end of t<span style="font-size: x-small;">he tunnel and we see it! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you for <span style="font-size: x-small;">your p<span style="font-size: x-small;">rayers and <span style="font-size: x-small;">keep them coming! We are not quite done but <span style="font-size: x-small;">one HUGE step closer!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-9873767063907653932013-02-15T08:11:00.001-08:002013-02-15T10:32:34.497-08:00We have a due date!!!! <br />
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One of the hardest comments that has been made to me through this process is "well at least you do not have to wait as long as a pregnancy" or "your wait isnt that bad...when you are pregnant you have to wait 9 months". If you are reading this blog and you have ever said that to an adoptive mommy or have thought about saying it.....either apologies or refrain. That comment hurts! <br />
With a pregancy you have an END DATE. You know that around a certain time (due date) your baby will be in this world, with your family, part of your life. When you are adopting you have NO IDEA when you will bring your baby home or when you will have an END DATE. One of the hardest things about adoption is the unknown. So friends....I ask you....please DO NOT compare it to a pregnancy.....it is completely different. <br />
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But in saying all of that.....<br />
I actually have a due date! I know about when I am going to get to see my baby girl again! PTL! Richard and I have been praying for the past couple of weeks about when I could return to Taiwan and bring our baby girl home. Well the courts are not cooperating with us on the paperwork (ha ha) so we changed our prayer. We began praying that God would open a door so that I could be with our baby girl again soon. Since the moment I have left Taiwan I have missed it. I miss the smells, the weather, the people, the orphanage, the babies....but most of all my precious girl Kenzie. I have been so jealous of the mom's who have gotten to stay in between court and decrees. But I knew because of Kyler I could not be gone that long. So.....<br />
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This last week my school sent me an email letting me know that they had approved for me to not come back after Spring Break until the end of the year (and still get paid). They wanted me to have as much time as I could with my baby girl! Plus with the class that I have this year it would make for an easier transistion. So that got Richard and I thinking.....what if we could work out the details where I go ahead and go on over to Taiwan during my Spring Break and then spend time there until our adoption is final and I can bring Kenzie home. We knew a few things would have to work out for Kyler and we also wanted to make sure the orphanage was okay with it, but we got confirmation this morning that it is a GO. So...<br />
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Around March 17 I will be leaving to head to Taiwan to help out the orphange and spend time with our precious baby girl until I get to bring her home. I am so excited! <br />
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We are still praying that all of our paperwork will come together before then so I can just go for the week, finalize things up, and come home. But if not....at least I know that I will get to be with her while Richard and Kyler hold down the fort at home!<br />
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The biggest obstacle we still face is financial. It is going to cost more for a plane ticket right now because of a few reasons. It is Spring Break, I have to get an open ended ticket, and we have to pay for a plane ticket for Kenzie (we'd have to do this regardless of when we go). We know that God will provide for us. I would like to be able to book my ticket in the next week or so in hopes of getting a cheaper rate but since it is going to cost more we have to have more time to save (waiting on paychecks). So the closer that it gets to the time....the higher the tickets go. So please pray that it will all continue to come together and we can get a great deal on a ticket!<br />
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So with all of that said....<br />
Pray for us! <br />
We are so excited to have a DUE DATE but also trying to trust in God to work out the details!<br />
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Love you all! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-45427406923368017332013-02-11T08:55:00.001-08:002013-02-11T09:59:55.475-08:00<br />
It has been 4 1/2 weeks since we appeared in court. These past weeks have been the hardest and longest of my life. I just sit and stare at Kenzie's picture wondering if we will ever have her home. It still all seems like a distant dream.....not a reality.<br />
This week the courts are closed for CNY. So in a weird way I am relaxed this week....I still really want to have her at home with me and in my arms. But I also know that I do not have to wake up each morning wondering if I have an email or if today will be the day. <br />
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So I am going to be honest....I have a goal for this week while the courts are closed....<br />
My goal is to spend this week praying, fasting, and working on my heart. I have had a lot of jealousy over the past week. Their have been couples that have brought home their babies home recently and it is very hard to see their excitment and how their babies are growing and changing when my sweet girl is thousands of miles away....and right now we have no end in sight as to when we will bring her home. So God and I need to have some time to work through these issues! <br />
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We celebrated Chinese New Year with our THOGL friends this past weekend. It was so much fun! I enjoyed catching up with new and old friends. I am so thankful for the people that adoption and THOGL has brought into my life. Some of my very best friends!<br />
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Please continue to pray for us...<br />
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*Pray that as soon as the courts open back up we will get our first decree.<br />
*Pray that Kenzie remains healthy and safe.<br />
*Pray for our finances (we are still short on plane ticket money....trusting God to provide). <br />
*Pray for my heart as we wait.<br />
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Love you all!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-14371437272270545062013-02-05T07:16:00.000-08:002013-02-05T07:16:00.431-08:00SLEEP......<br />
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I long for the day when my entire family is under one roof.....then maybe sleep will come. During this entire process their has only been a short time where I have felt rested. It was right after we got the call for our court date. My body relaxed and I was just able to enjoy life. It was wonderful. I know that once we bring Kenzie home my sleep will be different because I will have a baby but when I do sleep it will be peaceful. I wont wake up through the night checking for an email. I wont go to bed with thoughts of her and how she is doing on my mind. I will finally be able to relax. I so desperately want to enjoy this season....to be patient...to wait on God's timing.....to rest in His goodness and peace. But I know that it is not going to happen. I know myself. As much as I try to fake it to everyone around me....I am a mess. I feel discouraged about everything. I just want an email....I just want a call.....I just want to be with my baby girl....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-75313375084427121762013-02-04T09:59:00.002-08:002013-02-04T09:59:50.583-08:00This week we are praying for BIG news! Next week the courts shut down for Chinese New Year. We have been praying since we returned home from court that we would get our first decree issued by the week before CNY. So we are praying that it comes this week.....I am sure that if it doesn't there will be lots of emotional moments for me....but I have to remember that God is in control and His timing is perfect.<br />
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There is another possible BIG news item that could happen in our family this week. We would also love for it to work in the way we have been praying but we also know we have to trust in God if it doesn't. I hope to be able to share that news but I can't until it is final! <br />
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SO needless to say.....we are praying for a BIG week for our family this week.....will you please join with us?<br />
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Also if you look at the below post there are several items that I listed that need to be prayed about....please continue to pray for those items! <br />
We appreciate everyone who has prayed for us and who has walked this journey with us so much! We COULD NOT do it alone!<br />
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Love to you...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-37023373598441125612013-02-01T09:38:00.001-08:002013-02-01T09:38:21.799-08:005 months ago....<br />
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Richard, Kyler, and I had been at my mom's house celebrating Labor Day. It had been a fun day with cousins and siblings. The entire weekend I had been in a weird mood. More than once I had mentioned how much I wish we could adopt from Taiwan again. Even that day I had mentioned to my mom and sister...."I feel like we should just give up on adopting again....God is going to have to clearly show us what He wants us to do because I am so confused." My mom and sister really didn't know how to reply. They were both "wishing" we could adopt from Taiwan again too. <br />
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Backstory:<br />
9 months earlier we were told that we would not be able to adopt from Taiwan because the new laws were really weird and THOGL was no longer adopting to second child families. We were crushed, frustrated, and confused. I felt like we had waited to long to pursue adoption again. If only we had contacted THOGL several years earlier maybe I would get my baby girl. But God had other plans. After being told "no" by THOGL we told them we appreciated their honesty and that they could take us off the list because we would be praying about other adoption options. That email broke my heart but we both really felt like God was closing this door. <br />
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Over the next several months Richard and I would still have various converstations about adopting from Taiwan (even in the midst of another country failed adoption attempt), neither of us could shake the longing but we knew we had to find peace in the situation...it was out of our hands.<br />
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So Labor Day...<br />
After we got home that evening we were all getting ready for the work/school week. Kyler was in bed fast asleep, Richard was in the living room watching TV, and I was in our bedroom getting ready for bed. It was 10:30pm. As I was climbing into bed my phone began to buzz. It was from a number I didn't recognize, I knew it was an international number but it didn't register. I almost didn't answer but because it was late I figured it had to be someone we knew and I was praying it wasn't "bad" news. As soon as I said "hello"....I knew! The person on the other end didn't even speak yet but I knew it was THOGL calling. As the converstation began (and I ran into the living room to get Richard on the phone) small talk was made. I remember thinking is Ted just calling to check in or what is going on? I honestly was confused until he said...."So the reason that I am calling is because we have a precious 5 week old baby girl that would love for you to be her mommy and daddy". CUE the tears....no seriously....like ugly snotty nose tears. I couldn't even talk. For those of you who know me you know that is nearly impossible! The next few moments were a a blur as Richard and Ted talked. I finally got myself together long enough to ask "Are you sure?" Ted laughed (not quite the response most would probably give). I was just in so much shock that I thought he had made a mistake. Over the next 30 minutes we learned details about Kenzie and how the new laws would work. It was an amazing evening with NO sleep. Richard and I just laid in bed talking, rejoicing, and thanking God was faithfulness and miracles.<br />
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So 5 months......<br />
That is how long ago since we go our referral. It has been the longest 5 months of my life but some of the happiest 5 months of my life because I know that we are over the half way point. We will get to bring our sweet baby girl home soon. And all the glory, honor, and praise will go to God!<br />
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<br />Please Pray:<br />
*That we will get our first decree issued before next Friday (that is when the courts close for Chinese New Year)<br />
*After the first decree is issued pray that we will quickly get our second decree issued (this is the point we will be able to go get Kenzie).<br />
*That Kenzie will remain happy and healthy<br />
*That we will enjoy our final days as a family of 3 as we prepare for Kenzie to come home. <br />
*Please pray for our friends who are also on this journey with us. They have the exact same emotions we have and long to have their babies in their arms soon!<br />
*Finances.....we thought we had all the money we need for our plane tickets but we found out we have to purchase a plane ticket for Kenzie because it is an international flight. So we are about $500 short. We are financially maxed out (our first trip tickets cost more than we had planned for) and so we are asking for prayers and help! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-23653564449026843562013-01-31T09:09:00.002-08:002013-02-01T08:11:40.023-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Richard snapped this picture as I was holding and seeing Kenzie in person for the first time! I LOVE everything about this picture and just looking at it right now brings tears. </div>
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To my precious Kenzie,</div>
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The moment I saw your picture on Sept. 3, 2012 my life was changed. I knew you were my girl. Your chubby cheeks and scrunched up little body was perfect. I knew that at that moment I was willing to do anything to bring you home so that I could help raise you into an amazing woman of God. </div>
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You are so loved.</div>
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The journey to get you has been one full of ups and downs. Your daddy, big brother, and I have literally been all across the state, country, and world to get everything in order so that you can join our forever family. </div>
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You are so loved.</div>
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As I write this letter to you, I have no idea when I will see you again or have you in my arms again but I promise you that I am praying every single moment of every single day that it is soon. My heart aches for you. </div>
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You are so loved.</div>
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God has brought you to us and we are forever indebted to Him. We want you to know that through our entire process we want His name to be glorified because He is who matters! You are a miracle. We never thought we would be able to adopt a precious baby girl from the same country as your big brother is from, but God is good. He heard our cries, our pleas, and our prayers and blessed us with you! </div>
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You are so loved. </div>
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Sweet baby girl...</div>
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You will be home soon. We cannot wait! </div>
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I love you so much.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Your mommy</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-13865822206393334362013-01-29T06:18:00.000-08:002013-01-29T06:18:18.472-08:00There has been some movement in Taiwan....PTL! Two babies that Kenzie is at the home with will be coming home this next week. We wish it was us that was bringing our baby girl home, but we are still thankful that things are moving forward with the courts. <br />
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We also found out that everyone who has been to court before us has received their first decree. We know that the judge does not always go in order but technically we are next in line for our first decree. So assuming that our BM report and SW report are done (like we have been told) we pray that we get our first decree within the next few days. It would be great to get it this week so that we can have a week of wait towards the second decree under our belts before Chinese New Year!<br />
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This week has been so hard for me. Each night I have cried myself to sleep and wondered if the whole process will ever end. I know it will but I miss her so much and want her home so badly. <br />
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Please continue to pray for us! Pray for BIG paperwork news this week! We know God is able!<br />
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Love you all!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-46714440887143082852013-01-25T06:31:00.002-08:002013-01-25T06:31:42.062-08:00TWO WEEKS....<br />
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That is how long it has been since we had our court date. My life is measured in weeks now...Friday to Friday. Another reason 2 weeks is significant is that is how many weeks we have until the courts close for 2 weeks because of Chinese New Year....so 2 weeks is a bittersweet number to me. <br />
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I am praying that in these next 2 weeks we will be issued our first decree. I know that it would be super fast in the world of adoption paperwork but because of paperwork that has already been completed in our case it is very possible. It would just be nice to go into Chinese New Year knowing that the process is almost complete!<br />
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Kenzie will be 6 months old on Sunday. Happy 1/2 Birthday sweet baby girl. I cannot wait to celebrate many more halves with you! <br />
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Thank you friends and family for your prayers! This is a journey that is not for the faint of heart....<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-44206472955682436152013-01-23T06:33:00.000-08:002013-01-23T06:33:23.534-08:00This week I went back to school. It was good to get back into the normal routine of life...but my mind has been a million miles away. It is so hard to focus on anything else but Kenzie. <br />
It has been fun to share with my students about sweet Kenzie. I really think they love her as much as we do! <br />
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As much fun as it was to talk about Kenzie and to show off her picture the question I was dreading came....<br />
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<strong>WHEN DO YOU GET TO GO BACK TO GET HER???</strong></div>
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I wish I could answer that question. All I know to do is pray and to ask you to pray. SO PLEASE PRAY! Waiting is hard and I am sure that God will teach me something during the waiting but that doesn't mean that the waiting will be easy. :) </div>
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My heart aches for her. I want to hold her, cuddle her, watch her, experience new things with her. UGH....</div>
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So friends and family....I ask you.....keep me busy! When I am busy, I do not have as much time to think about going to get her. I know we are on the downward side of this process and honestly I am so happy and relieved. I know that we are blessed because we have a referral. This time last year we NEVER thought adopting from THOGL was possible again...but God had other plans. </div>
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So pray...</div>
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Continue to pray...</div>
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Start to pray....</div>
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JUST PRAY!</div>
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Daddy and Kenzie</div>
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I am a big girl! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-66392650889999465142013-01-19T05:56:00.001-08:002013-01-19T05:56:27.034-08:00First of all I apologize for not updating the blog while we were in Taiwan.....for those of you who didn't hear or didn't get my FB message my blog would not work properly in Taiwan. So sorry! <br />
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I have so much to catch you all up on....<br />
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The most important thing you should know is KENZIE is perfect!<br />
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We have fallen in love with this precious baby girl and cannot wait to bring her home! Many have asked when that will be and honestly we have no idea. There has been so many variations in processed cases that we do not even have an estimated time. We will know more once our first decree is issued...but until then all we can do is trust and pray it is soon.<br />
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Leaving Kenzie was one of the hardest things I have ever done. My heart shattered into pieces when I had to say good-bye. Writing about it right now brings the tears and the emotions. Surviving over the next several weeks or months until we can bring her home is going to be so difficult. I ask for your prayers, support, and encouragement. I am going to do my best to focus on my family right now....these are our last days of being a family of 3. So I want to give Kyler the attention he needs before his world drastically changes too.<br />
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So Taiwan....<br />
Everything was amazing. We had the chance to do some sight-seeing and a tiny bit of shopping. We mainly hung around THOGL and helped out with the babies. There are SO many babies there right now that they need all hands on deck. Plus it was important to keep Kenzie on their schedule since we would be leaving her. <br />
Our social worker appointment and court appointment both went amazing. Richard and I were so nervous, but God went before us and all went smoothly. <br />
Besides meeting Kenzie the highlight of the trip was meeting Kenzie's birthmother and grandmother. It was such a special meeting and God was glorified. There were lots of tears and questions...but we all left the meeting with a since of hope and love for each other. I am so thankful that I was able to take pictures to show Kenzie one day. What a special treasure that will be for her. <br />
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There is so much more to our trip that I want to share...but that is all I have the energy for right now. As a few of you know...when we got home (on Thursday) I got super sick. I call it my "jet lag curse". Everytime I come home from going somewhere internationally I get sick....vomiting and all of the not fun stuff that goes with that. I am finally feeling a little bit better this morning. Thank you Jesus!<br />
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Please Pray:<br />
*Our paperwork will be processed quickly and decrees will be issued in record time. (It's been one week since court)<br />
*The bonding that we started with Kenzie will not be completely lost<br />
*That God will provide someone to travel with me on the second trip to pick up Kenzie. (We cannot financially afford for Richard to go so I am going to be traveling by myself.....it is very scary to think about traveling internationally by myself and then bringing a baby home internationally by myself. We know that God will give me the strength but it would be amazing if someone could go with me or we could come up with the money for Richard to go.)<br />
*We have several adoptive family friends who are also waiting on decrees right now...please pray that they will get those decrees soon and that they can bring their babies home! <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-19878275608055600732013-01-05T16:45:00.000-08:002013-01-05T16:45:41.463-08:00The craziness is in full swing....<br />
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I have not stopped all day.....<br />
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Packing, cleaning, making lists, running last minute errands......ready or not baby girl......we are coming! (I think she is ready...haha!)<br />
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Please be praying for us...<br />
We fly out Monday morning. Our plane leaves at 8:30am, after a layover in Dallas, we leave from LA heading to Taipei at 2:30pm (which is Joplin 4:30pm). As you head to bed on Monday night please pray for us as we are heading across the pacific ocean to meet our baby girl! We are so excited. <br />
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We will continue to update daily on this blog so dont forget to check each day!<br />
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But here is how you can begin to pray for us:<br />
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*Pray for our Social Worker appointment that we will answer the questions honestly and that all will go smoothly<br />
*Pray for our court appointment.....we will meet Kenzie's birth mom at this appointment and we will be standing before the judge answering adoption questions.<br />
*Pray for our time with Kenzie and the bonding that will begin over this short period of time.<br />
*Pray for our time at THOGL that we can be a help to Ted and Bev and the babies that are there.<br />
*Pray that our paperwork will be processed VERY QUICKLY and that I can travel back very soon to bring her home! <br />
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Thank you so much friends for joining us on this journey!<br />
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Love you all :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-50725921762161790252013-01-02T06:56:00.000-08:002013-01-02T06:56:30.893-08:00Happy New Year!!!<br />
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I had intented to write this post yesterday but we had a fun filled day hanging out with my family and it just didn't happen! <br />
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I am so incredibly excited for the year 2013. Big and exciting changes for the Jett family! <br />
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This time next week we will have spent an entire day with our sweet baby girl. We heard from THOGL yesterday and Kenzie's birth mom has been notified of our court appointment and plans to meet us there. We have so many emotions about that meeting. Please begin to pray now for us as we meet her BM. Please pray that she will know our heart and we will be able to communicate our gratitude towards her. <br />
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Nerves are really starting to set in about our trip over....tomorrow I will post more about how we are feeling and how you can specifically pray! Right now I am going to hang out with my little man....today is his last day of Christmas break and this momma is going to give him my undivided attention!<br />
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Kenzie Ann Mei-En Jett</div>
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5 months old</div>
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Weighs: 16.6 pounds</div>
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Length: 23.5 inches long</div>
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2 teeth</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-57579497257877383052012-12-31T08:05:00.000-08:002012-12-31T08:05:03.868-08:00<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">WAIT</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></strong><br />
A four letter word that holds so many emotions for me.....hope, frustration, trust, anger, love, worry, faith.....and the list could go on and on. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">WAIT</span></strong><br />
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In life we are required to wait on so many things. jobs, money, love, ADOPTION. Waiting is a part of everyone's life. Some wait patiently....others....like me....wait very unpatiently. <br />
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What kind of "waiter" are you? What is your attitude in your waiting? Who or what do you rely on?<br />
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<strong>It is in your waiting that your true character is revealed.</strong> <br />
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When you pray "Lord, let YOUR will be done." Do you REALLY mean that? Or are you actually praying with a selfish heart knowing your prayer actually means "Lord, let MY will be done" If we prayed that prayer with pure motives we would never question God and His timing. <br />
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I get it.....like I said I am someone who does not wait well. I hate not having control...I hate not being in control....I hate not knowing the outcome. But you know what I hate even more....not completely allowing God to handle my wait. I get so frustrated with myself for giving in to satan and his evil plans to still the joy out of my waiting, the prayer out of my waiting, the full reliance on God out of my waiting. <br />
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This has become my daily prayer..<br />
"God, I am going to be faithful in the NOW and trust that when YOU decide to answer my prayer (in your way) you will."<br />
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Romans 8:28<br />
<em>"And we know that in all things God works for the good<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28145A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> of those who love him, who have been called<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28145B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> according to his purpose." </em><br />
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As Christians we often over look the fact that we will have troubles. We expect life as a Christian to be easy, for God to answer our prayers exactly how we want them to be answered. But if there is one thing that I have learned in my 33 years on this earth is that God rarely answers my prayers in the way that I want. Does He answer them...yes....but rarely in "my timing" or "my plans". So, yes we will have troubles...we will have waiting, but God promises to overcome.<br />
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So I leave you with this....<br />
How are you in your waiting?<br />
Will you still follow HIM even if HIS plan is not your plan....HIS timing is not your timing?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-55291872880367206772012-12-27T20:43:00.000-08:002012-12-27T20:43:33.410-08:00Our sweet Kenzie is 5 months old today!!! She is growing up SO quickly. I CANNOT wait to get my hands on her in just a week and a half. It is going to be so hard to leave her but I know that I will be with her again very soon and she will be in our family forever. <br />
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We have been having so much fun this Christmas break. We have had tons of family time, relaxing time, and even some cleaning/organizing time (totally not my favorite and the offer still stands if someone wants to come to do that for me.....haha). God has truly blessed me and I am so in love with every part of my life right now. This time last year there were some MAJOR uncertainties but over the past year God has performed some amazing miracles and Richard and I will always give him all the glory, honor, and praise. Some day I will share God's story of redemption, forgiveness, and love....but right now this blog is dedicated to our journey to Kenzie.<br />
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10 days....10 days baby girl....mommy and daddy are coming! <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-64084185896019700752012-12-26T07:10:00.000-08:002012-12-26T07:10:53.548-08:00We had an amazing Christmas!! <br />
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My parents surprised us with a trip to Dauphin Island this summer as an entire family (my sisters and their families included). We have to pay for meals and souviners but everything else is taken care of!! So June 29-July 6 we will be laying (as a family of 4!!!) on the beach! So excited.<br />
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It was so fun to sit around and talk about Kenzie.....knowing she will be with us next year. At first I thought it was going to be super hard but I actually was very upbeat and excited knowing that our process will all be over very soon and also that she will be in my arms even sooner!<br />
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We got an email from Ted this morning that the social worker appointment is on Jan. 10. The SW appointment is important because this is a report that is submitted to the judge that shows him we are "fit" parents and encourages his approval on our case. We are still praying for immediate approval!<br />
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Now the craziness of getting ready for Taiwan begins! There is so much to do to prepare to be gone for a week and a half. I am so thankful I got all of my school stuff done. That is one less thing I have to worry about. Now I just have to get us packed, make sure stuff is ready for Kyler, clean my house (anyone wanna come over and do that for me..hah) and finish getting Kenzie's room all ready! <br />
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11 days and we will be on our way!!! PTL! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-45939488279369057082012-12-24T15:40:00.001-08:002012-12-24T15:40:45.032-08:00The baking is done.....the presents are wrapped....I am finally ready for Christmas. This year is different than ever before. My family is spread acrossed a HUGE pond. Early on in the adoption of Kenzie we had prayed for a Christmas miracle. We had prayed that we would have her home by tomorrow. We quickly realized that, that wasn't going to happen. Yes, we continued to pray but realistically we knew it wasn't going to happen. So tomorrow I will wake up with various emotions. Sad because my prayer was not answered in the way I had hoped, but excited because in 2 weeks I will finally get to hold my precious Kenzie in my arms. <br />
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We found out a little more information about our process today. Since our BM report is done the judge could actually issue us our first decree on the spot and we could begin the quick wait (about 2 weeks) for our final decree and AIT appointment but we were assured that, that probably will not happen. We do believe in miracles and it would be amazing to be able to bring her home that quickly...so we will pray for that. But we also have to remain realistic. We were told every other couple has had to wait at least 5 weeks from the time the BM report was done and given to the judge before the judge has issued a first decree and then it is typically another 2 weeks after first decree before we can actually bring her home. So from our court date around 7 weeks is a realistic time frame (end of Feb.). We will continue to pray for sooner and ask you to join with us! God knows! .<br />
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We are slowly beginning to prepare for our flight over. We called the airlines today to check on some baggage issues and I have started to make a "pile" of stuff that we will take. Richard is working on her room this evening....setting up a shelf that I bought. It is so exciting to see all this pink, girly stuff in my house! I NEVER thought this day would happen!!!! I will post pics of her room as soon as it is done! <br />
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God has truly blessed us this holiday season. Although we wished our sweet Kenzie was home with us....we know we are still blessed to have her and are excited for the memories we will create with her very soon! <br />
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Love you all.....<br />
Thank you for the prayers and PLEASE keep them coming! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-25736550688221134202012-12-22T07:41:00.000-08:002012-12-22T07:41:05.352-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Check out this cuteness!!!!</div>
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I CANNOT wait to get my hands on this precious baby girl! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOVQX202qu-xRghqzbv-bR5iZAHAxVLhmQiDfAXs7P8XaPVW8jw0z1oljAWaaLm20IYeG66VkIZ3nNw6NUaeQKa42-5LfdDmeF-e-J7q7fw7QMpMG9-C5h6XpjfLcfJa_Kx1AGgNrtK0/s1600/photo+ken.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOVQX202qu-xRghqzbv-bR5iZAHAxVLhmQiDfAXs7P8XaPVW8jw0z1oljAWaaLm20IYeG66VkIZ3nNw6NUaeQKa42-5LfdDmeF-e-J7q7fw7QMpMG9-C5h6XpjfLcfJa_Kx1AGgNrtK0/s320/photo+ken.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-1546545998147225962012-12-21T13:24:00.001-08:002012-12-21T13:24:23.958-08:00I love Christmas! I love the holiday season and this year is a special one. It will be our last as a family of 3. We are so excited to welcome Kenzie into our forever family and we cannot wait until she is home with us.....but God has been working on my heart. I realize that I need to live in today. God holds the future and as much as I want to figure it out....mold it into my desires....or plan it on my own. If I truly trust in an almighy God that means I have to trust in Him in EVERYTHING...not just when it is convienent for me. <br />
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This has been so hard with our adoption process to Kenzie. It is so easy to compare our case to other cases. To wonder why "they are moving" and we are not. But just in the past week God has began to show me exactly what has been going on. We have received very positive news for THOGL and how our process is going. We still do not know exactly when God will allow us to bring Kenzie home...but we have hope. Just a few weeks ago I was in a really bad spot. I was crying out to God, pleading, and begging Him to give me answers. He did! It wasn't the timing that I wanted...but He gave us answers! <br />
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Several have asked when we will get to bring Kenzie home after court. At this point we have no idea. We asked THOGL what they thought and they gave us their opinion but they also do not know. For the majority of the couples who are home it has taken 2 months after their court appearance to bring home their baby or get their first decree. One couple actually took 3 months. But because our process is being done a bit different we have been told our "long" waiting was done before court (10 weeks) so we remain very positive that it will be in God's perfect timing. We know we will lose a week during Feburary because of Chinese New Year. But we are praying that the Lord will show us favor and process everything before that week (this is very wishful thinking). <br />
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Kenzie will be 5 months in 6 days!!! We had hoped to have her home by 6 months. At this point we know that, that will not happen. But that's okay! God has given us a huge peace about her age. <br />
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We are so thankful for this time in our life and we know that God has us exactly where He wants us! We know that it is going to be so hard to leave Kenzie...but we also know that God will reunite us very soon and when that day comes we will give HIM all the glory!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-68238229146338530152012-12-19T10:57:00.000-08:002012-12-19T10:57:03.673-08:00Good news today! <br />
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Ted emailed this morning. The courts sent notice that our court appointment is on Jan. 11 at 9:30am which is Jan. 10 7:30pm Joplin time. So please set your clocks, calendars, and alarms to be praying for us during that time! We are unsure if Kenzie's birth mom will meet us at court or come to THOGL first and ride with us to court. But we are very excited, anxious, and nervous for that meeting. We want God to be glorified and for Him to give us the words to say to her. We are forever indebted to her and the precious gift she has given us. So please pray for her as well. We know that this will be a very hard time for her. <br />
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Several friends who are adopting from THOGL are having hold ups in their cases. The judge and social workers seem to be moving very slowly right now. Please pray for them and that they will not get discouraged in their waiting. God's timing is perfect and it is so hard to understand that some times. Please also pray that the judge and social worker will work through our case rapidly. As Chinese New Year approaches in Feb. we are hoping that they judge will want to process as many cases as possible before that date....if not it could set us back a week or two. We are still praying to have her home in March. We were told that is very realistic and actually it could be even sooner because of paperwork that has already been completed towards our case. We pray this is true. It would be so much fun to have Kenzie at Kyler's 6th birthday party...which is March 16! <br />
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Thank you for your continued prayers! We feel them and know God hears them! May HE be given all the glory and praise through this process!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528966797458758886.post-18369516328435369902012-12-17T10:15:00.002-08:002012-12-17T10:15:21.792-08:003 weeks from today we leave to meet our precious baby girl! We are so excited! This weekend Richard and I had an all day date day in Springfield, MO and Branson, MO. It was so great to get a away, finish Christmas shopping and just spend some time together dreaming about the future and setting family goals. While we were shopping we did find a super cute outfit that we are going to take over to Kenzie for a mini photo shoot! I will be so excited to share those pictures....<br />
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Speaking of pictures....you all have been patient long enough. <br />
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Here is our precious Kenzie Ann Mei-En Jett (4 months old)<br />
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A few things we have learned about Kenzie:</div>
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*She is a great sleeper</div>
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*She doesn't like her bottle at first but once she realizes what it is she is a great eater</div>
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*She is VERY loved by several of the workers (they aren't "allowed" to have favorites...wink, wink)</div>
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*She loves to cuddle</div>
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*She giggles, rolls, and is begininng to sit up</div>
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Hang on baby girl......mommy and daddy are coming!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0