Friday, November 13, 2009

Happy birthday Rachel Catherine!




I love this picture of Rachel, it captures her personality perfectly! My sweet baby will turn six on Sunday the 15th. We have a weekend planned full of fun so I wanted to get a post up today.

Oh how I remember the day this precious baby entered our world. I wish I could go back and do it all over again...I would love to hold that tiny little baby again...Just once!!!

So in celebration of our little sweetie...Here's a 10 fun facts about Rachel Cate!

Rachel loves....

1. All animals, especially horses and dogs.
2. Hannah Montana, iCarly and Arthur.
3. Summer and swimming.
4. Trees and flowers and little bugs.
5. finding little treasures in the house, little tiny nothings but to Rachel it's a
treasure.
6. JEWELRY!!! All kinds all colors!
7. School and all her friends.
8. Writing letters and sounding out words.
9. Nail polish and make-up.
10. Jesus!



Happy birthday day baby girl!


PS. Thank you all for your sweet comments and emails regarding our current situation with USC!S. I can feel God's hands all over this as you all covered us in prayer!! KEEP IT UP!!! It's working! I feel we are etching away at this and it may be resolved soon! Love you all!!!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

And the nightmare continues....

I've been bottling this up as best as I can. I have talked about this with a few people because I honestly do not have the strength for all of the questions that ultimately bring me to tears. CJ and I are currently in a continual nightmare with USCI$. A decision on our application was rendered then revised. As of yesterday, we were told by our lovely social worker who dropped the ball in the first place that more evidence is going to be needed on my behalf from my divorce that was finalized 12 years ago. Praise God my former spouse and his wife as agreed to whatever I need in order to get this situation resolved. I am not kidding when I say, we have jumped though many hoops to appease USCI$. But as of yesterday, we are losing hope in this situation. I promised God back in April that if we did indeed receive our PA from China that I would be patient, hopeful, trusting, etc... But I'm human and I'm not sure what direction this is going in...I am not angry, I am not asking "why us God" I am thankful for all the many blessings He has given us and I am thankful for the sacrifice that He gave for me. We whole heartily believe in God's will, we do not want to live outside of His will, We are keeping our eyes to Him always but let me tell you my friends, it is very, very hard to see a light at the end of this tunnel. All we think about is Madelyn and what's best for her and my heart aches because it may not include us. I am regretful that we sent her care packages. I am sick thinking she believes we are coming and at this moment I'm not sure it's going to happen.

We are so grateful for the number of people who have stepped up on our behalf. Matt at Senator Dick Durbin's office, my good friend Suzy that knows lots of people in the right places, Trevor's dad Chris and his wife Julie, Rod at church, CJ's former spouse, my friend Malissa, friends and family that have lifted us in prayer (please continue), my Mother-in-law and father-in-law, my mom and siblings, etc... Thank you!

I never imagined this major storm from USCI$. We were approved so quickly with Linzhi that this situation totally blind sided us. And I'm not saying I expected this adoption to be without a hiccup here or there but to the degree USCI$ is taking this, is beyond what we expected, they are treating us like criminals. And let me clarify, neither of us have a criminal, domestic, drug or alcohol, abusive, etc... background...NOTHING! USCI$ is hammering us on verbiage that is stated in both of our prior divorces. We have had ample statements from other government offices and supporting documents to clarify but it's not enough. So we have no idea what else to send in to clarify this common divorce verbiage. If we had a shady background, I would understand but that's not the case so it's even harder to understand. I am laying this all out because we need desperate prayers. I am looking at Madelyn's picture begging God for the honor of being her mother, CJ to be her father, our home to be her home, Rachel and Linzhi to be her sisters, Trevor to be her brother...But we have no guarantee we are seeking God's will which we believe it's God making the decision, not USCI$.

For the last 90 days, I have had many good and positive days and some dark and scary days. Today is a scary day. So on that note, I'm going to personalize one of my favorite scripture verses...

I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart and soul, I will not lean on my own understandings, In all of my ways I will acknowledge and thank HIM because I have faith and BELIEVE HE will make this path straight.

As this unfolds, I will keep you all posted. If you think of Madelyn and our family. Prayer is powerful, prayer is uplifting, prayer heals, prayer comforts, prayer is all we have.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

My sweetie is home from China! The team he traveled with successfully delivered 10,000 bibles across the border into mainland China. I am so proud of him and all the others that worked so hard. PRAISE JESUS!!!! Thank you for all your prayers and private emails. I will post some pictures soon.





Below is a picture I took of my girlies. Something about it grabs my heart. I see pure happiness in lovely Linzhi's eyes and in Rachel, I see the beautiful '"got your back" big sister look in her eyes. I love my babies...All four of them...Trev, Mady, Rachel and Linzhi!!! And my hubby too!

I. am. blessed.



Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Not going private yet...

Ok, I'm a big dork but due to a few family members that shall remain nameless, expressed "it's too hard to log into your blog when it's private" asked me to old off a bit until I can walk them through it. So, I will keep you posted but for now it's will remain open.

Many have emailed and asked if we were ok. My husband is fine but on the adoption front we have hit a major wall. As much as I want to I cannot talk or write about it but let me tell you this...We are in the eye of a storm. God showed up BIG time last night to give me confirmation to keep moving forward so that is what we are doing. And I give BIG props to Chin@ for being very kind and generous.

Please pray for us and Madelyn. Some days, I want to crawl in a ball and die but as of yesterday, my hope has been renewed.

Thank you for all of your concern. Love you all!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Going private...again...

I have decided I am going to go private again. If you follow my blog and would like an invite to view, please email me at corzine03@hotmail.com

Blessings.

Monday, October 19, 2009

On Hiatus.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Day one.

As I am sitting here watching the Bears game, my husband is walking with bibles packed in his bags to smuggle across the border into mainland China. He, along with 10 others will make this 5 mile trip 3-4 times each day, walking 15-20 miles per day. Each time I think of him my stomach drops. I know the team is being watched by our heavenly father and I am keeping the faith here and lighting my candle every night praying for my sweet hubby until he is home. My heart is heavy thinking of all the Chinese people that wait and pray for their own bible so that they too will know the power of Christ's love. My personal prayer is for the birth families of my sweet babies Madelyn and Linzhi, I pray a bible is placed in their hands one day or that they already have one and their lives are being transformed and renewed. I know my husband signed up for this mission with the same purpose in mind. He told me today on the phone, these people are Linzhi's people and I could tell he was grateful to give back to the country that has given us so much JOY in our girls. If you think of it at night while it's day time in China, please pray the borders are open and they can get across with no issues...No issues means MORE bibles in China!!!

God is so very good.