update on Taiwan response...

Well, we did receive a response from Cathwel in Taiwan. Apparently the birth mother is concerned about how able we will be to care for 2 children the same age with many of the same needs. Personally, I think this will easier than caring for two with totally different sets of needs, but I can understand why someone could question it I guess. So, we had to respond and send a care plan of sorts explaining why and how we thought we could accomplish this. Of course, having already put many years into an older set of twins, I think we had a pretty reasonable argument. We'll have to wait and see if they feel the same way.

I know it's probably typical of all families that adopt, but I just feel like I wish they would let us bring her home and get started with making her a part of our family already! Geez! Having a family has to be better than living in an orphanage; no matter how good the orphanage and the care there is! I'm not a patient person to begin with, and especially not when it involves my children. I want what is best for them and I want it NOW! haha. Guess I better learn a little about delayed gratification, eh? But, I'm sure anyone reading this, who has children, understands what I'm talking about.

So, please keep us in your prayers. They seem to be working..(although you could also pray for a little bit more speed if your so inclined!) :-) We do appreciate the concern.

Sheryl

I hate to say it, but today I'm pretty down. We were planning on using the money from the sale of Joby's Harley to finance part of the adoption (we had helped out a family member in crisis with the money originally saved), and guess what, the bike hasn't sold at this point. I am expecting a message from Julie at CCI any day saying Taiwan has matched us with Yin-Chiao, and then we only have 2 days to send the money in. At this point, it will take a miracle, or we will have to tell Julie we are not able to do it as we had originally thought (and were). I'm devastated. I can't help it, I feel like I've lost the faith tonight. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Sheryl

Our homestudy has been sent to Taiwan!

Well, it's been sent! Julie sent our homestudy and our profile to the orphanage in Taiwan on Monday afternoon. I received an email from her last night telling me that they had contacted her stating "they think you seem like a nice family and they will be having a committee meeting to determine if you are a perfect match for Yin-Chiao". Julie said she will be very surprised if we are not matched with her and we should know something either way by the middle of next week! WOW!

Meanwhile, Joby has put his motorcycle up for sale to fund the next part of the adoption. So far, a couple of interested parties, but no buyers. Unfortunately for us, it's WINTER in Michigan and nobody is thinking about riding a motorcycle with 3 feet of snow on the ground! (sigh) There has to be someone out there who wants that bike! If anyone you know is looking for a beautiful Harley-Davidson, send them our way!

Please continue to pray for us; that this continues to move forward and that we find the funds to finish it!

Thank you so much to the person who sent this version of the "starfish" story to me. I love it!

The Adoption Starfish Story...

As I walked along the seashore

This young boy greeted me.

He was tossing stranded starfish

Back to the deep blue sea.

I said "Tell me why you bother,

Why you waste your time this way.

There's a million stranded starfish

Does it matter, anyway?"

And he said, "It matters to this one.

It deserves a chance to grow.

It matters to this one.

I can't save them all I know.

But it matters to this one,

I'll return it to the sea.

It matters to this one,

And it matters to me."

I walked into an orphanage,

A young woman greeted me.

She was adopting a little girl,

She was excited, I could see.

I said, "Tell me why you bother,

Why you waste your time this way.

She's only one of thousands,

Does it matter anyway?"

And she said, "It matters to this one.

She deserves a chance to grow.

It matters to this one.

I can't save them all I know.

But it matters to this one,

I'll help her be what she can be.

It matters to this one,

And it matters to me."