Brighton in front of the Forbidden Tomb entrance in Shenyang

My little Anshan warrior
His first plane ride...from Shenyang to Guangzhou

The top of the waterfall at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou Bottom of waterfall with a good looking boy next to it!

Brighton and Sam waiting for medical exams in Guangzhou

Brighton and the Piper children in Guangzhou

STARBUCKS!!!!

Brighton with the Bruins family waiting to fly from Guangzhou to Hong Kong

Hello from Guangzhou! It's a balmy 94 with a heat index of 104. After 5 minutes outside we are soaking wet. It's very tropical here. We are on Shamian Island. It's beautiful! Palm trees, beautiful lights and buildings, and our hotel (White Swan) is right on the Pearl River, which is the third largest river in China.

Things here have gone wonderfully!!! Brighton is having the time of his life. It is exciting to see him experience all of this. It's a bit hard to get on the internet because he gets so impatient and wanders.

Yesterday, he tried me a bit, which was exhausting, but it is a wonderful feeling to know that he is comfortable enough with me that he's acting like a normal 9 year-old boy! He has picked up quite a bit of sign language already. His orphanage director said he doesn't like meat, but he's been eating EVERYTHING!

Yesterday was the medical exam. Everything went great, but he needs glasses. A family was sitting right next to us with big open sores everywhere and they told the doctor that it was spreading fast. We tried to scootch over without seeming disrespectful, then took a shower and changed clothes when we returned to the hotel.

Brighton is really helpful. He wanted to iron my shirts, but I was afraid he would burn them so I got out his pj's and he had a blast ironing them. He really loves french fries and noodles. He LOVES the pool!

We are going to go on a riverboat cruise today, then shop for Chinese silks and pearls. We will be going to the US Consulate tomorrow for the swearing-in ceremony, then flying home on Thursday. (Wednesday in the US)

Love you all!!!!
Tina

Hi, everybody- my mom wanted for me to post this for her that she sent in an email, because it won't let her post anything on her blog from where she is right now in China.

~Charly



Brighton is just the most amazing little boy! He is so smart and learns things the first time you tell him. He is polite and holds doors for others, offers his gum to others and loves to help with everything. I had to tell him it was ok for him not to clean the hotel room. The second day here he was thoroughly amazed when we got back to the room and it was clean and the beds were made. He ran to the bathroom to see if it was clean too.

He is finally starting to not be nervous around me and hugged me this morning. It was really hard not to cry. He is so sweet. Every time I answer the phone, he wants to know if it's his dad. When I say yes, he waves hi.

We went to the mall the day before yesterday and bought many clothes, shoes, and a few games. He was so excited! When we went to Walmart Supercenter, he was throwing everything in the cart and I had to establish boundaries really fast and teach him to ask and what yes and no means. He had a lot of fun teaching me the games. We played a mean game of volleyball in the hotel room with a beach ball I took. It was so fun that we both fell on the bed laughing.

We are having trouble getting Brighton's passport. Can't elaborate, but please pray that we can get it today. We are supposed to fly to Guangzhou tomorrow.

Miss everyone!
Tina

Hello from Beijing, China! It is 7am here and I thought I'd get everyone caught up on what's happening. Our flight was delayed in Chicago for 7 hours due to mecahnical problems. (6 hours in the airport and nearly an hour of waiting on the plane with no airconditioning and waiting to take off on the runway) It was a very uncomfortable feeling sitting on a plane that was having engine trouble. The flight over was long and uncomfortable, but the food was excellent and the company was even better. I sat next to a gentleman who has adopted from China and said a prayer for us as we took off for safe travel! While at the airport, a Chinese gentleman gave me Chinese language lessons. He was very kind, as was his wife.

Beijing reminds me of Houston. Everyone smokes here, so it's hard to get used to smelling the smoke all of the time. The weather is nice. The other families I'm traveling with have been wonderful. They let me borrow their Panda Phone because mine was not delivered. Please pray that I will get that today so I can call David and the girls.

We are getting ready to go to see the Great Wall and the Forbidden Palace. I'm so excited that tomorrow I will get to meet our son!!!!!

Love,
Tina

I received my passport back today with my visa stamped into it for China, receipts for our plane tickets, and travel maps. Then I received an email from Virginia with my itinerary in China. It makes it feel so close. Everything is nearly finished, and I'm starting to pace the floor in anticipation! The thought of that first day meeting our son makes so many emotions bubble up at once. Please Lord, help me to be patient!

I was at Hallmark picking up some 'thank you' cards, and look what else I brought home! This mama panda hugging her cub was just too precious to pass up. I am going to take them to China with me for Brighton. Every little boy needs a teddy bear.

This is it! It's really happening! This has been the longest we've had to wait as expectant parents. One entire year will have elapsed from the time we knew we were going to have another child, until we actually have him in our arms! When I received the phone call that the date was set for me to travel, I started running around here with an overwhelming urgency to "get things done", just like the nesting period towards the end of a pregnancy. Brighton was conceived in our hearts and has been growing there for 11 long months.

God sure has taught us so many things over the last 11 months. We've learned that the plans we had made for our future were not God's plans (His are SO perfect!), and that God can grow love in a person's heart for a child they've never met (just like pregnancy). We've learned to let go and let God, to trust that He is always faithful in all things, and that His timing is PERFECT. We've learned patience and we've learned that God's people are truly amazing!!!!!!!! God is so good, ALL of the time! Praise Him, Praise Him always!!!!

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Are these the cutest little things you've ever seen? Can you guess what they are? The first person to correctly guess what they are will receive 10 of these in the mail, from me, with love!

Update: Karen guessed right. They are chocolates!

We received another call from Virginia today to confirm out travel dates. We contacted the travel agency and they set up the tickets for Brighton and me! I'm so excited that I'm nearly all the way packed.

I bought a 12" blow up beach ball that is actually a globe. It will serve double duty as a play ball to bop around in the hotel room or pool, and also to show Brighton where we are and where we will be traveling to. The kids and I have been having quite a bit of fun learning sign language. I haven't been able to learn everything, but I think we're set for the most important signs during the trip. I've also been trying to learn a few Chinese words to be polite.

Brighton's backpack is almost full too. We bought him some pj's, a few shirts and shorts, socks, a floppy hat like his big brother's to keep the sun off his face, sunscreen, and an overnight bag with his very own brush, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, chap stick and shampoo. We have to wait on an updated size chart to get underwear. I hope he hasn't already outgrown the clothes, but he is a boy and we know how fast they grow. We did buy them a little big, so they may still fit. I also packed him a drawing pad and markers, travel games, picture puzzles and a few small toys to keep him entertained on the plane. Once we're in China, I'll get him a few bilingual books to read as well. If anyone has any other wonderful ideas to help the time pass quickly, let me know. The flight is 14 hours long!

Blessings!
Tina

"I will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:1-2

We received a phone call today from Virginia, our wonderful caseworker from CWA, announcing our TA! I'll let everyone know when the date is set for sure.

Today, I thought about Brighton all day long. I just couldn't get him out of my mind. It's on days like this that I wonder if he needs our prayers more so than any other day. It's my only connection to him right now. It's as if my heart string is attached to his and he's somehow pulling on it more than usual.

We didn't get our TA last week and we are now on day 103 of our wait (that's 3 1/2 months since our Log-In-Date). Surely it will come this week. I know that God's timing is perfect and He has a reason to keep us waiting. That is such a reassuring truth!

I sent out an urgent prayer request today about a little girl in China who is very sick and in the hospital. Her adoptive family is there, and they are hoping she will be well enough to travel home to the US this week. Please pray for Lilly to be well enough to come home! While reading their blog, I realized how much God's hand has been on this family's adoption. It was no mere coincidence that a man traveling with his own family to bring their child home at the same time as this family is an ICU RN. He has been able to intercede at the hospital on this child's behalf. What a blessing. Praise God!

Thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of Brighton. We love you all!

Tina

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

We are in the process of getting more paperwork completed, and we're getting more and more excited as the time gets closer. We also found out that China has recently changed regulations for Liaoning Province and we must now stay an extra day. I will have to travel to the city where the orphanage is (3 hours round trip from Shenyang to Anshan and back) in order to get a document from the police station stating that the child is a resident of that city and a document from the orphanage in order to get a passport for Brighton. This wasn't required before. Since I will have to go anyway, I will visit the orphanage after all.



We are happy to have found this out before I travel. Another family we know that is in China right now found out after they had already arrived and were sweating it big time due to their appointments in Guangzhou. Please pray that China doesn't change requirements while I am already there!!!!



If you know of anyone considering adoption that has older children and that can handle a child with attachment disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, aggression, etc..., please go to the link for Forever Families (message # 1699). There are several children available from Russia that are already in the US, but the adoptive familes have had to disrupt the adoptions.

Thank you for remembering Brighton in your prayers!


Blessings,

Tina



"Those who know Your name will put their trust in You,For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You." Psalm 9:10

URGENT from IAAP

Time is Running Out For
Fu Yang Yang



We have had Fu Yang Yang's file returned to us because the family that was to adopt him cannot continue. Unfortunately he will be turning 14 in July and will no longer be adoptable under Chinese law. We must find a family for him that is either already paper ready or can be in a couple of weeks. We will waive our agency fees for Yang Yang's adoption. This leaves the China fees of $4,500 which includes the orphanage donation, CCAA fee, and the fees in the province. Fu Yang Yang was born on July 15, 1993. His medical report states that he has congenital dislocated hips, but his diagnostic report says that his right hip is normal, only his left hip is affected and he has a club foot. What we know for sure is that Yang Yang is a charming, outgoing, talkative young guy who is quickly running out of time to find a family. On the day he turns 14 years old, he is no longer eligible to be adopted under Chinese law. We need to help him find a family as soon as possible. Yang Yang may be adopted by a couple under the age of 55.

An amazing thing happened today! After a wonderful day full of prayers and thanksgiving yesterday, I went to sleep confident that God is SO in control and will handle EVERY detail of our lives and our adoption. He is so faithful! I prayed and specifically asked God to provide for every need as it came along. Well, today we needed a certain amount in order to pay for the next step in our adoption.

This morning a sister-in Christ, my very dear friend, Shayne, stopped by to visit. We sat on my couch and visited a bit before she told me about a yard-sale that a friend had over the weekend. She took some things to sell and had decided that she would dedicate a certain amount that she might make for our adoption expenses. She ended up making the entire amount with 99 cents to spare!!!!! When she handed me the envelope, the tears began to flow down both our cheeks. She did not know that we needed this exact amount before she blessed us with it!

I asked her if she knew where the exact amount came from, and I proceeded to explain to her about putting everything in God's hands yesterday. It's amazing and such a blessing to see God's hand at work and His lovingkindness! God is sovereign. This is His way of showing us He is there EVERY step of the way, at EVERY moment for EVERY individual need. When He told us to adopt this child and that He would provide the way, He already had all of this pre-planned! There is no reason to worry. He knew our future before we were even conceived. He is wise, infinite, sovereign, holy, omniscient, omnipresent, faithful, loving, omnipotent, self-existent, self-sufficient, immutable, merciful, eternal, good, gracious, and just.

My children talked me out of running up and down the streets today screaming hallelujah. It's hard for me to focus on daily tasks when all I want to do is call everyone and shout GOD IS AWESOME! If the LORD is calling you to adopt or to be involved in orphan ministries, please do not ever think that He will not also provide the means necessary.

On another note; I was asked recently, do you think God has a sense of humor? It made me remember something that happened last summer. Our AC had been out for quite some time on our car. It did not come and go; it was dead, and it was HOT! Especially when the heat index was 105. The inside of a car can feel like an oven down here, especially when you have a minivan and the middle windows do not open.

I was driving around, doing errands, griping and complaining about being miserable. I said aloud to God, "Oh please God, what I wouldn't give for just one blast of cool air!" Would you believe that the next moment the AC came on full blast and lasted about a whole second, then went back off????? I don't know that I've ever laughed so hard in my life! I had to pull my car over. Every time I got into that hot car after that, I laughed and didn't complain. The AC never did that again either!

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations!" Psalm 100

Wonderful News and a Confession

All of the children from Ethiopia in need of hosts families (that I spoke of earlier) have found host families!! Praise the Lord! If anyone is interested in finding out more about adopting or hosting to adopt, please click on one of the links to the right. Christian World Adoption, Forever Families, and Central Texas Orphan Mission Alliance are all good places to start your search or get more information.

A few weeks ago I realized that our son, Josh, wasn't going to be able to travel with me to China to get Brighton. I will have to make the trip alone. For someone who put so much faith and trust into the Lord throughout this adoption, I began to falter. Fear began to creep in and I began to worry. There wasn't just the usual, "What if I get mugged?" scenario running through my head. It began with that, but once I started to entertain that fear, and let it get a foothold, all sorts of crazy fears began to spring up. There were so many "what ifs" running through my head that I couldn't hear the Lord whispering, "Put your trust in Me alone."

Today at church, the pastor's sermon was all about surrendering to God. It was a tear-jerker for me, one of those, "God just spoke to me" moments. I finally understood that, yes, something bad could happen, but it doesn't matter! All that matters is that we are totally surrendered to the good and perfect will of God! We can let go of fear and hold on to His hand and trust that no matter what happens, He is there with us. As we sang the hymn, "I surrender all," all of the fear washed away and was replaced by a stronger faith and trust in Him. Beloved, have you surrendered all?

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4

And my favorite one of all....Look at that smile!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of Good News!

We received a phone call from Virginia, our caseworker at CWA on Friday to let us know that they have received our LOA from China and she has shipped it overnight UPS so we can get it on Monday. She said that we should receive our travel announcement in 2-3 weeks. I will be traveling about 4 weeks after that, so I will be flying to China to meet our son and bring him home in June!

We also received a few photos of Brighton from his teacher again. She is such a wonerful lady. One can tell, by reading her emails and seeing the photos, that she loves Brighton. We are so thankful for that!

Please continue to pray for Brighton's safety, for the Lord to bless us financially by providing for our upcoming travel fees, and for my safety in China because I will have to make this trip alone. (which I am a bit nervous about)

"I lift up my eyes to You, to You whose throne is in heaven." Psalm 123:1

We're still in waiting mode for those of you who've been wondering why we haven't posted in so long. We really do not have any new information. The wait has been really hard, but has been a good teacher of patience, which I need. The past few weeks have really been a time to slow down and to just be still and know that He is God. I want to sit at His feet and choose the better part instead of always fretting over the details.

Forever Families is bringing a group of orphans from Ethiopia for a short stay this summer. There are still several children who need sponser families. If anyone is interested or wants more information, please email me.

While praying for these children, one child in particular really struck my heart. She's only 6 and her name is Bethlehem. She still doesn't have a host family. They will be here around the same time that I'm in China, so we can't host a child at this time. Please pray that someone will take this sweet child into their home so she can experience the love of God through them.

Today, this is what is on my heart. My prayer for you is that you too will choose the good part. From Luke, Chapter 10:38-42 (NASB)

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."

But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

...and from Psalm 46:10:

"Be still, and know that I am God..."