Travel approval and flights booked!

In the adoption world there are acronyms....LOI, PA, DTC, LSC, LID, SIM, GUZ, CCCWA, LOA, TA, CA, and adoptive families know them inside out and see these letters everywhere even if they don't apply to us!  It's amazing how creative we get in our announcements when we reach these milestones but nothing is more sacred than TA!!!!  When we get the call, and it's always a call because this is the best news, we start to panic!  Not sure why, because this is the news we have been waiting for.  It's not like it snuck up on us the last few months, we saw every step coming, we even checked off each box, listed the date the acronym paperwork happened, checked with our fellow adoptive families when their date occurred to see if ours is "normal"?  Really why does adoption make us obsessive complusive over acronyms!

It's because we do not have any control over any of these things.  It's the paperwork lying on a desk across the ocean moved to another desk, and then mailed and then entered into a computer-hopefully not to land on the bottom of a pile or lost  ;(   It's the sixth holiday in a row and then there is the consulate in China that observes both US and China holidays!  Yikes how does any paperwork get processed?  It's our own government that seems to have no rhyme or reason to expedite or not sick, dying children through the system.  Adoption makes us give up ALL the control and have complete FAITH to trust God to bring to fruition what he called us to do.  There is no sugar coating it.  FAITH.

http://adoptionbridge.org/families/oehlhof-adoption/        or    www.adoptionbridge.org    enter Oehlhof adoption
If you feel led, this is the link to donate to final travel costs.  We also have lots of t-shirts for sale!!!  Thank you all for your love and support thus far!  Many people have already offered to bring Ryan and the kids a meal while I am gone!  He will definitely appreciate that!

On Sept 16, Ryan and I's 16th wedding anniversary, Justin and I will set out for China to bring home our son, Jacob WenXiang.   We will pick him up on my birthday--Sept 19. What a present :)

This song has been my rock throughout the adoption process  "Trust in You", by Lauren Daigle.  For there were and will be many times things don't go the way I expect, but God is not asking me to go anywhere he has not seen or prepared for me.

https://youtu.be/n_aVFVveJNs

Trust in You

Lauren Daigle

Letting go of every single dream
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see

I’ve tried to win this war I confess
My hands are weary I need Your rest
Mighty Warrior, King of the fight
No matter what I face, You’re by my side

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So, in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand

Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!

Travel approval and flights booked!

In the adoption world there are acronyms....LOI, PA, DTC, LSC, LID, SIM, GUZ, CCCWA, LOA, TA, CA, and adoptive families know them inside out and see these letters everywhere even if they don't apply to us!  It's amazing how creative we get in our announcements when we reach these milestones but nothing is more sacred than TA!!!!  When we get the call, and it's always a call because this is the best news, we start to panic!  Not sure why, because this is the news we have been waiting for.  It's not like it snuck up on us the last few months, we saw every step coming, we even checked off each box, listed the date the acronym paperwork happened, checked with our fellow adoptive families when their date occurred to see if ours is "normal"?  Really why does adoption make us obsessive complusive over acronyms!

It's because we do not have any control over any of these things.  It's the paperwork lying on a desk across the ocean moved to another desk, and then mailed and then entered into a computer-hopefully not to land on the bottom of a pile or lost  ;(   It's the sixth holiday in a row and then there is the consulate in China that observes both US and China holidays!  Yikes how does any paperwork get processed?  It's our own government that seems to have no rhyme or reason to expedite or not sick, dying children through the system.  Adoption makes us give up ALL the control and have complete FAITH to trust God to bring to fruition what he called us to do.  There is no sugar coating it.  FAITH.

http://adoptionbridge.org/families/oehlhof-adoption/
If you feel led, this is the link to donate to final travel costs.  We also have lots of t-shirts for sale!!!

On Sept 16, Ryan and I's 16th wedding anniversary, Justin and I will set out for China to bring home our son, Jacob WenXiang.   We will pick him up on my birthday--Sept 19. What a present :)

This song has been my rock throughout the adoption process  "Trust in You", by Lauren Daigle.  For there were and will be many times things don't go the way I expect, but God is not asking me to go anywhere he has not seen or prepared for me.

https://youtu.be/n_aVFVveJNs

Trust in You

Lauren Daigle

Letting go of every single dream
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see

I’ve tried to win this war I confess
My hands are weary I need Your rest
Mighty Warrior, King of the fight
No matter what I face, You’re by my side

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So, in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand

Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!

Almost time to travel!!! ....and some disappointing news....And His Name IS

We know as believers our prayers are always answered.  The hard part is.... having the faith to believe and accept the answer--no matter what.  We have to trust that God knows ALL and has the entire plan and purpose mapped out.  Right now it is just disappointment for a little boy and his wish to see those who meant so much to him.    We continue to petition and pray for permission for his wish to come true.  

So with the disappointing news our travel plans to China have changed.  Only Justin and Mom will travel to pick up the little guy in hopefully mid september.  Dad will hold down the fort with the other 5 kiddos. Prayers are appreciated for this transition of being separated for this extended period of time.

We are closing the gap of our funds needed for travel.  We need only $4,000 to complete our fundraising goal!   Our adoption support community has been very generous. Thank you for walking beside us as we take this one more step of faith into the unknown.   Click on the link for our tax deductable website.     http://adoptionbridge.org/families/oehlhof-adoption/

Remember to get your adoption t shirt too on the home page! Or beautiful handmade jewelry through Beth Williams (Just message her on FB)!  Easy simple ways to support adoption.

 What do you do when it rains alot????  MUD RACES through the track.... and then a bath in the water hose.

 Aunt Katie found this treasure sick in an orphanage a little over four years ago.....she was so close to death, with a broken heart.  God restores the weak, the lonely, the orphans and brings them home!  Katie will always have a special place in our family.  She came to visit for a long weekend from Alabama!  Thankful for those working to save our children before we even know they are to be ours.

 Jordan turned 8 years old and we celebrated with movies, fake fingernails and finally Little America.

                                                  This is called STEAM ROLLER!

 Birthday BOY Turns FIVE!    This face, oh this face!!!  Sometimes we wonder what is going on behind those eyes???  Joseph has blossomed this year and has come out of his shell.  He feels 100 times better and has become so strong physically with his repaired heart.  But with the passing of his birthday we are reminded that he has unknown roots and losses that even our kisses and hugs may never heal.  His parents may yearn to know what his life is like now, or even to know he is still alive.  Adoption is redemptive but always born from loss and grief.  We focus on the smiles but always remember at the root of our blessing there was incredible pain.
 My friend Angela recently had a baby and the baby shares a birthday with Joseph, August 6!  It's especially special as this little one is the big brother to a heart warrior, ASHER, who lost his battle 18 months ago.  As I held this newborn baby,  I reflected how Joseph's birth mother, and James' birth family, and Jessica's birth parents, all held a tiny newborn and then carefully placed them down on a sidewalk, all alone, but with Hope of having a chance.   I want to make it clear WE are not heros, we are merely believers following what God called us to do.  We do not even do it well at times, sometimes we are angry, resentful and tired, but when we learn God's ways are better than our own plan, God is glorified.

                                          Justin is the king of jokes!  He has his Dad's personality

        This is what happens when Dad tries to play on the playground---he got stuck--literally.

                                          Don't worry Dad the kids will help you get out.

                                 

                                           69 cent cones at McDonalds!  Happy Birthday!!!!

                                                    Don't mess with this police girlie!

                               A watch for his birthday--doesn't care if he can tell time- just wanted a watch!

                                                               Loving the rides.

                                            Of course Jackson was the fastest!

                              A picture with the cousins at Little America

AND HE SHALL BE CALLED 

JACOB WenXiang

Pray for him as he learns of our family through his care package and pictures.  Pray for his heart to be prepared for the adoption transition-he will literally feel kidnapped by strangers  :( from all he has known.  Pray for his heart to remain stable and the ability to endure the stress of a long flight home. Pray for his foster family, for they have poured their hearts into caring and loving him.  Adoption is a solution-but it hurts for many people.  Pray for the orphans that are left behind....awaiting to be found....

Prayer Petition

In the troughs of waiting.... prayer is our where our strength resides.   Because the one we petition holds the power to answer our prayers.

So we ask you to join in our prayer circle and storm heaven's gate for this request.   As the request may seem vague, because the details cannot be shared until the prayer is answered.  Trust me I cannot wait to share to enormous works going on behind the scene, but we need this prayer answered!

                         Adoption IS family-- created by God--  Two sisters watching over him.

 It all started here....for this little boy who fought like a superhero for a chance at life!  He said someday he wanted to see some very special people in his life again and made that very clear.  And now he has that opportunity, but we need a certain governmental body to grant us permission.  Please pray for his wish to come true!  Pray how this could have a positive impact on international adoption and orphans.

On our current adoption front--we are still awaiting our LSC (letter seeking confirmation) from China.  Processing seems very slow for an expedite, but out immigration on this side of the ocean is all ready to go once we get this paper.  Oh the joys of paperwork pregnancies!  We joke it's a different type of labor.  

Our fundraising goal is almost at 60%.  If you feel led to walk along beside us financially we have three ways to help  1. T-shirts   &  2. The Adoption bridge nonprofit link on the home page of the blog.  If you send in a check, it can be slow to post on the website.  Please let me know if you do not see your donation posted within a reasonable time.  3. Jewlery through the Yada Project.  Please message Beth Williams through FB.  You can see the jewelry on my FB page also.  The jewelry pieces are stamped coins, with assorted Faith, Hope, Love, Adopt  phrases (etc) with coins from various countries.  Makes great presents for adoptive parents, grandparents, siblings.