The Agony of the Wait

We are now in the toughest part of the adoption journey--- awaiting the formal letter of acceptance (LOA) for our two boys.   This is the longest waiting period throughout the adoption process and there is nothing we can do to speed things up or know how or what our file is doing on the other side of the world.  More importantly we have no way of knowing how our little boys are doing.  We just pray that the Lord covers them in his gracious hand of protection.  Whenever anyone complains of being cold lately, I simply remind them, two of our children sleep without heat tonight (It's 50 degrees at night).  Not to sound depressing, just a fact and a reminder to be grateful for what you have.  In the meantime we have rearranged our bedroom situation and de-cluttered to accomodate the expecting growth of our family!  All the kids have taken delight in preparing where the new little ones will be sitting at the table, some discrepancy still, but bedrooms are all confirmed and agreed upon!  Yesterday as we were moving things upstairs, Grandpa showed up, unannounced at the perfect time to move the heavy furniture.  I was not looking forward to moving the dressers and beds around!  A gift from above for me :)

The second time around my heart aches for other reasons that it did the first time.  Last year at this time I was aching to hold Huahua and assure her heart health was maintaining.  Now we are calmer in some ways.  Maybe like a second pregnancy, second time adoptive parents are more calm about the process, but there are pains I can't shake.  We know two little boys are going to join our home, our family and be given a life of hope and a future.  We are getting prepared, the process will be difficult and we will have struggles while we acclimate to a family of eight.  But there are millions, yes, millions of faces, no not just faces, but real children with personality, passion, and potential -living alone and left to fend for themselves.  Some may be "lucky" to have the shelter and food of an orphanage, but emotionally they fend for themselves.  This is completely and utterly wrong!  My heart, selfishly aches to hold our new sons, but my heart is in agony for those children who will never know the love of a mother's arms holding them.  My heart screams for families to find meaning in a little soul and call one of these orphans their own.

Sunday our pastor spoke about examining our lives to see if we are living for earthy or heavenly treasures?  Where is our focus in our lives?  Where do we commit our resources and time?  Does it bless ourselves or humanity and ultimately the Kingdom of God?  Do we live to be like Christ or are we just becoming more critical of others?

John 2:16-17"For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever."

We are so fortunate to have been given this opportunity to be the parents of all of our children.  This past week another mother, and dear friend, is in Boston and has been awaiting for her sweet daughter to wake up and heal from her miraculous heart surgery.  We have talked back and forth a few times.  Interesting enough as she was picking up her daughter in China only five short months ago, I was sitting in a hospital room awaiting for my sweet Chinese princess to heal from heart surgery.  God ways are so much grander than anything we can imagine and the peace he can bring us in the waiting only comes from our faith in him.  Why do we accept these battles when we know full well there will be pain... because the Lord led us and asked us to serve him.  He walks us through and we confidently know His will, will prevail!    We have the opportunity to teach our children what truly matters and bring them to know the peace of heavenly treasures.  The glory is and forever will be to God!  

If you feel led to be part of bringing our boys home, please consider a tax deductible donation to our adoption fundraising campaign.  You can donate from the home page of the blog or send a check to LifeSong for Orphans.  ***Donation Checks payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”.  In the memo, note Oehlhof  #4819 to assure it goes to the correct account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744. Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fund-raising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your tax deductible donation will go directly to the OEHLHOF adoption. 

Everyone who donates to our adoption fund will have their name on a piece of this puzzle in their honor.  You will be a part of our journey forever.  Thank you for your prayers and support. 

Take Hope When Tests Come

James 1:2-4  2My Christian brothers, you should be happy when you have all kinds of tests. 3 You know these prove your faith. It helps you not to give up. 4 Learn well how to wait so you will be strong and complete and in need of nothing.

"OverWhelmed" ---LID (LOGGED IN DATE)

Yesterday was a day when we realize we just go with the flow and only God is in control!  As a parents of children with medical needs, the day may not go as planned and we have come to accept the changes in our day.  The easier we move with the changes and allow others to walk along aside us the smoother the day goes, no matter the outcome.  Faith in the one who created these special little bodies comforts me knowing He will guide us in their care.

Huahua spiked a fever with her immunizations.  I called the clinic in the morning and when her Dr returned the call late afternoon she said after consulting with hemotology clinic it was urgent for her to be treated with IV antibiotics because of risk of bacterial infection.  Without a spleen, Huahua is in a dangerous position when she spikes a fever and unable to fight off infection.  The time frame for her to receive treatment is critical and we are so thankful for her primary doctor's diligent management of her care.  As we preparing to head to AWANA last night, Ryan headed of the the ER with Huahua.  My Mama heart ached not to take her, but the two of them had a wonderful experience bonding together through her evening of treatment.  Daddy's have a special way of being extra silly to make things not hurt so bad. 

The other three kids and I went off to AWANA and continued our night while Daddy and Huahua managed the medical side of things.    The lesson I was teaching was on thankfulness.  Do we live our lives in a manner that show we are thankful for everything we have?  From the freedom to vote, be educated, receive medical care, speak our minds, worship our God freely, and share the gospel to one other.  Do we really live in a way that says Thank you God for everything you have given to me, and mostly we should be thankful God's son as our redeeming savior?  The children at AWANA are now is midst of of a friendly competition to raise money for WORLD VISION in that others might receive some of the benefit of our glorious earthy riches we have already received.   They are showing their generosity to other children in the midst of their thankfulness. Are we willing to be part of something really big and make a difference?

A great song linked to World Vision is "Overwhelmed" by Big Daddy Weave.  We watched this last night with the children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiGb14tTaH4

We should all be overwhelmed by the Lord's creation, beauty and everything he has provided and done for us in our lives!

NEWS OF THE DAY!!!!!

We have LID!!!! Logged in China!!!!  For those of you without the cheat sheet. This should have taken a few weeks, but it took only two days!!!!  Our social worker has never seen this happen in the same week!  Beijing (yes the entire city), where the CCCWA is located in being shut down because of pollution next week.  So in our favor it looks like they were busy clearing off their desks before their break.  Pray for those living in a region where the pollution is this bad.  Pray for these workers as they return rested and refreshed ready to process adoptions for children awaiting their families.  The next thing we await is Letter of Acceptance (LOA) which can take up to 3 months.  Huahua was an amazing 6 weeks.  We know who really controls the time frame of adoption :)

NAMES ANYONE???  To be announced soon....

Yesterday when I told HuaHua this little guy was going to be her brother, she lit up with a smile and said " He looks like me!"  And then she found out he was three years old, (just like her) 

laughter erupted throughout the house!

If you feel led to contribute to the finances of these sweet boy's adoption, please click on the donate button on our home page.  It's the easiest way to contribute a tax deductible donation through Lifesong for Orphans.  Thank you for your support and prayers!

Updates and BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

When she crashes, she crashes hard.  We don't typically put her down for naps anymore because she won't go to bed until 11 pm then.  Although I am thankful she listens to her body and rests when needed.  This day she made a little fortress, under the pool table, for the princess to rejuvenate her precious self.    Medically we are still working to bring her oxygen levels up.  The new medication is having some unwanted side effects.  Initially seemed to raise her oxygen, but long term now we have not seen the results as expected.  We have a little room to increase the medication, and will reevaluate just before Thanksgiving with an ECHO and cardio appt.    The other option is to close her fenestration value, which gave her really good reading while under sedation.  Long term though there are possible complications with that route as well.   She saw the general surgeon today regarding her mal rotation of the intestines.  Final result is we will only monitor her symptoms, as the surgery is too risky for a child with her type of heart condition. (30% mortality are not good odds going into surgery)   She is finally healthy enough to start some vaccinations again tomorrow.  Although not our favorite thing to do, I am glad we can finally get back on track.  Another testament to the miracle she truly is..... When she came to us she had already lived 2 1/2 years in China, in a massive orphanage without a spleen to fight infection, not immunized!  Praise God for the protection over her life!

We love to play outside and Huahua loves the fresh air like most children.  Fall has been exceptionally beautiful this year with the leaves staying on the trees a little longer.  Simple experiences of walking through the crunchy leaves, finding catapillars, even when they pee on her, have been so incredible.  She sees things for the first time and can verbally express her new found passions and dreams and shares with us her little heart.  How did we get to be so lucky?

She is also an entertainer and an orchestrator of the show.   She can be bossy, sassy and manipulative too.   But how do you survive life in an orphanage without these basic skills.  Mature beyond her 3 years in some respects and still an infant needing swaddling in other moments.  We pray for time to heal her wounds and for her to allow us to walk beside her as she heals.

Did we mention she does like to ride the pony, but when he's not available, the dog works too!  Good boy Bubba Gump.

With a smile like that, why wouldn't she get away with everything?















Snuggling with Daddy after the races at Pecatoncia.  The boys had their award banquet and she cheered real loud for them.  Go gaga's!

First Trick o Treat--  Was not sure why these people kept giving her candy.  She was happy after the first three bags of M & M's.  But then realized more houses= more candy and said I like this, This is fun!  As a mother I thought she would be afraid of the decorations, but NOT so much!  She walked up to the guy who was hiding under the table with his head sticking out of the bowl (and had a scary mask on)  plainly patted him on the head and ask him, "why do you have your head in the bowl? " Never mind the mask!   She commented the skeletons were broken.  Maybe with a stomach like that girl you're headed to medical school to be a surgeon.

                                                                Halloween 2014

So you might have wondered why have we been so short on updates.  Well extra busy, with some extra paperwork, for someone extra special.  You see when you say, "Yes Lord I will follow you, I will go where you send me", your submit your life and will to Him.  And in the same time there is something so freeing because you know your are doing what you are intended to do, there is a peace that transcends all understanding.  Is it easy, without struggle?  No, but peace is found.  Here is our littlest Oehlhof.....

He just turned three in August and also has a congenital heart condition.  Medical details to be figured out as we get more information from his orphanage.  But really it doesn't matter because he is our son, chosen to be ours by the one who knows it ALL.

How do we bring these two boys home from China?  With your help.  First prayers to prepare them to be a part of our family and then major financial support.   We estimate this adoption will run around $60,000 and we need to raise about $30,000.  We are approved through "Lifesong For Orphans" to receive donations upon our behalf as a non profit entity.  100% of donations given to Lifesong will go directly to our adoption and are tax deductable.

There are a couple ways to give a tax deductable donation.

  1. Donation Checks payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”.  In the memo, note Oehlhof  #4819 to assure it goes to the correct account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744. Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fund-raising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the OEHLHOF adoption. (Note: In Following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization. They retain full discretion over its use, but intend to honor the donor’s suggested use.  Individual Donations over $50 or more will receive a tax-deductable receipt. Donations receipts under $50 will be sent upon request. Lifesong is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt organization.)

 2.  To donate online go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate .  Select “Give to an Adoptive Family.” Complete the online form and fill in “Family Account Number” and “Family Name” fields.   OEHLHOF  #4819   Note PayPal charges an administrative fee (2.9% + $.30 USD per transaction).

3.  Click on the donate tab on the home page of this website.  Donations go through paypal and are accepted through "Lifesong for Orphans".  Note PayPal charges an administrative fee (2.9% + $.30 USD per transaction).

Thank you for your continued support in our journey to follow where the Lord has called us to go.  We are blessed immeasurably and cannot wait to meet our sons and bring them home!