Walking by Faith

Just Plain Cute

2012-01-23T22:52:00.004-05:00

Not much time to blog as we try to unravel the beautiful puzzle our Lily is. So much testing with many doctors, trying for quality time and to really get to know our new daughter. The docs are a blessing at Children's Pittsburgh, so caring, careful and real.

Found out today that Lily has three little holes in her heart. One tiny, one tiny/small and one small. One, maybe two will be repaired in the future but they do not think these holes are the source of her severely delayed development. They think the answer lies in the genetic testing.

The results of her ultrasound was that she has an abnormal kidney ultrasound, fluid found around the kidneys so we made another appointment in Pittsburgh to determine what/if anything can be done about that. We will spend three days in Pittsburgh at Children's for appointments the week of Jan. 1st. She is struggling in some ways but coming along in some ways--it is a bit complicated but boy do we all love her so much.

There is more but not time to write. Genetics testing should tell us the most and results are weeks away. How we can do our best for her medically. The Lord shows us how to do our best for her as we seek Him. Just trying to soak in this special time even though we are on the run and will be for a couple more weeks for sure.

We are so thankful our daughter is home now. Hope this finds you all soaking in the sweet loved ones He has placed in your life.

Home

2012-01-16T04:46:00.002-05:00

We are home, many doctor visits. Our precious girl was a bit more complex healthwise than expected. God's timing was perfect--I know we say that a lot but I'll say it again because the grace and love by Him on her (and our) behalf is astounding. No hand surgery until genetics and a slew of other tests are done. Our sweet little 16 pound 2 1/2 year old is much like a 6 month old in most ways. I cannot tell you how PRECIOUS she is. More later with pics. Did I mention we are so glad to be home? Amazing trip, but being home is so good.

Another Sweet Adoption Story

2011-12-21T19:08:00.001-05:00

The 23rd it is!

2011-12-13T15:30:00.006-05:00

We have received our travel approval! Life just got a bit crazier. We will have Lily in our arms on December 25th--quite a Christmas present if you ask me! I hope to spend the next week finishing up packing, celebrating our Savior's birth with family ahead of time, ironing out details for our children while we are away and just trying to spend some extra time with them. Blogger and Facebook are blocked in China and I do not think I will have time to find and set up another site so this will be a blogless trip. Since we are pretty unsure what Lily's health status really is, we will want to just be focusing on her and all the appointments and paperwork to be completed while in China.

The mountains God has moved for this little girl has truly amazed me and I feel so humbled and privileged to be a part of her plan and her life.

One More Step

2011-12-12T12:13:00.002-05:00

We are so thankful today to receive TA (Travel Approval)!!!! Last step is to receive a consulate appointment so we can truly travel on the 23rd. It has all been heaped in much prayer, wanting the Lord's perfect timing. Trying hard not to be SO EXCITED until we receive final word (tomorrow morning we think). Have a blessed day!

Just an Update

2011-12-08T22:16:00.002-05:00

"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him."
Colossians 1:15-17

Our Article 5 has been expedited by the US Consulate in China and is now in the hands of the CCCWA in Bejing with much hope the Lord will prompt them to expedite our Travel Approval (TA) so a consulate appointment can be made. Only then can plane tickets be purchased. The Lord rules over it all and for that I am very thankful! Over the last few days, today in particular, I believe God has been preparing my heart in a special way for our Lily, the journey to her and the mysteries (to us) that surround her health that are not mysteries to Him. He has broken my heart numerous times today for the things that break His, and it has been hard but good. I can also see the spiritual warfare right in our home intensifying. We shall continue to cover it in prayer and would be so thankful if you would too.

Muddy Waters

2011-12-06T22:52:00.002-05:00

Talking about finances is always muddy waters as far as I am concerned. When you enter into an adoption and need help with the costs, there are definitely different opinions. Some ask for details such as...what are you going to do with the tax credit when you get it? For us that is simple. We are going to pay on the loan we took to get Lily's adoption started. Now, I'm in more muddy waters. A loan?!? There are definitely different opinions on that one. I have heard both sides on Christian radio by "experts" highlighting different portions of scripture. Maybe there should just be an official document stating every detail of how much we borrowed, etc. for all who are just curious, those who question the whole idea of adopting in the first place if we don't have the money all in the bank, and the list goes on.

In my last post, I think I misspoke unintentionally. What was provided in the last weeks through the matching grant and other grants is what covered the final stage of Lily's adoption so that when they say it's time to travel we are able to go. God provided tremendously for this final stage. Yes, the rest is borrowed, we will carry the burden until we hopefully get the tax credit and that will not cover the whole loan. So there it is, to be judged. But now it is out in the open and no one need guess or make assumptions. Any monetary help received now will help to cut down that "burden". We will carry what He calls us to carry.

There is sacrifice with stepping out in faith, which I really don't mention much because I don't see us as these great sacrificial people--we are selfish sinners covered by grace and striving to grow in the Lord Jesus. We have struggled with following what we believe the Lord has for our lives because it is hard some days or seems impossible or embarrassing (when you don't have all the funds on hand to adopt). You all know that, whether it's adoption or wherever the Lord is leading you.

I would do it again if we felt truly led. A little girl, created by the same God as you and me, has been abandoned and is lonely without a family to tell her all about Jesus, to show her love, to teach her the Bible songs our kids all just grow up with, without proper medical care. We have in our home now a little girl who was just like that a few years ago and now sings alot and asks alot of questions about Jesus. Oh yeah, I would do it all over again, no regrets. Not even with all the hard places we have gone to accomplish their homecomings.

In a sinful world, it is an injustice to pay such a sum of money to bring an orphaned or neglected child into your family, right? Yes, and the Lord will settle all that in His time, He says so in His word, and His word is truth. And I believe it. I understand that as Christians, we want to spend the Lord's resources wisely so questions are a good thing, with the right spirit of course. We spend our money on a lot of other things, we borrow money for a lot of other things. Can money be better spent than on the furthering of His kingdom and the gospel being spread through His created people and the love of Christ being shown to these children? And there are many ways to do this, but it is clear that one of them is to care for the orphans and the widows. You may not "feel called" to adopt a child but I am very sure your support of another Christian family's adoption will not be seen as wasted money by our Lord. And I hesitate to say this being in the final stage of an adoption ourselves but it appears now is the time to speak up based on the "word on the street."

I pray encouragement will be gleaned from my sharing a bit of my heart and some facts. I am very, very thankful to be a child of God, adopted by Him.

Lord willing, Lily will be an orphan no more on December 25th, 2011!

Faithfulness

2011-12-05T22:15:00.002-05:00

Before I type anything else, I just want to thank our faithful God for providing the REST OF THE ADOPTION EXPENSES...yes, all of it...through other believers in Christ who love orphans and see the amazing picture adoption is for us all and desire to see the gospel shared with those in all the earth.

God is always faithful while I often am not in so many ways but I am thankful we have His word to look to for all the truth and answers. What a blessing to live where the Word is always permitted in our homes!

Lord willing, we will be on a plane in less than three weeks to bring our daughter home. I am so excited...and there is so much to do with the most important being to spend some extra special time with the children who will watch their parents board a plane without them for the first time to bring their sister home. I am humbled and really joyfilled by their love for Lily and not once questioning the timing with Christmas and all. And we have loving friends who offered to stay at OUR HOUSE with them while we are gone (they also homeschool). For Abigail, this is more than we could ask for since night time can still be a bit difficult for her. And friends who will take them to their church for the Christmas Eve service and the Sunday services while we are gone. God has truly provided beyond our dreams...

19 Days...but who's counting?

2011-12-03T15:30:00.005-05:00

If all goes as our agency is hoping and planning, WE WILL BOARD A PLANE TO CHINA ON
DECEMBER 23rd!!!

God has truly moved mountains and provided miracles for Lily. We are so thankful. I can't wait to list them all out and share His mighty works with ya'll.

Granted, there is the possibility a paper will get stuck somewhere and that would be God's will if it prevented us from traveling with this travel group. And yes, we are still short some cash but I KNOW He is going to provide in some way for every penny. But, thank you to those of you who stepped up and donated for Lily's adoption. The matching grant has been met! All monies sent to Lifesong now will be used for Lily's adoption, just not matched. We received word on another grant that we will be receiving and it was more than we thought it might be! And it is all in just the right timing. Some would say "too close for comfort", but it's not about comfort and it has helped us to walk step by step with Him, trusting when it seemed a bit hopeless with paperwork (I spent all last week on the phone, literally hour after hour with either USCIS or National Visa Center--I am might thankful our part of the paperwork is DONE)and financially. And it is hitting us real hard that we are leaving our other children at home, have never done that for this long before. But I have resolved with much prayer I'll be joyful while completely uncomfortable if it means Lily gets home sooner (just might need an extra hair color appointment!) OUR DAUGHTER MAY NOT SPEND ANOTHER CHRISTMAS IN AN ORPHANAGE--PRAISE OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN!

We are so humbled and so thankful!

Help is Needed--Just Saying it Like it is Today

2011-11-28T22:53:00.007-05:00

I have typed and retyped this post lots of times in my mind so here goes.

We need to get Lily home. All my fluffy thoughts about how this trip should go are now being set aside. There are health concerns as I mentioned in a previous post that the medical staff at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh have brought to our attention, then to our agency's attention. Lily needs her arm surgery yesterday but more than that she needs to be seen by a hematologist. The Lord is moving the paperwork for expediting.

So, all pride set aside...We still need to raise $6,000 to get our daughter home and we have incredibly less time to do that, almost no time really. My heart is breaking. The daughter that my Lord has placed so distinctly and beautifully in my heart needs to come home now. He moves mountains for these angels, I see it all the time across the adoption blog world. And I trust, I know, I have faith He will for Lily.

Please pray with us...please consider if you might be a part of this mountain moving...please share our need with others.

I truly would entirely avoid asking for help if I had my way. Of course, it's not about my way but His and His glory. I don't even know if more than two people read this blog but maybe that's all it will take. What I do know is I need to petition for this orphan, soon to be our daughter, any way I can.

If the Lord is leading you to help get Lily home, please see the sidebar about the miracle matching grant for Lily where your gift can be doubled! It does not appear we have until January 5th anymore. It would be the best Christmas present our family could receive!

Trusting in Him,

So Much to be Thankful For

2011-11-25T07:55:00.004-05:00

Our thankful tree turned out huge this year, bigger people, bigger hands. It was very good for us all to share what we are thankful for each day in a visible way. I don't think we are ever too old. It was joyful for us all to help Abigail too, she was often thankful for the basics that we take for granted as we get older so it was so sweet to be reminded.

A couple days ago we had sweet time with friends and made these cute pumpkins as well as little edible turkeys (eaten before pics!). We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with family, the sun came out, then we took a nice long walk afterward to burn off some of that pumpkin pie. We were reminded of the tremendous sacrifice of those who risked their lives to come to a "new world" so they could worship Christ freely.

We truly give thanks though to the Lord for His steadfast love that endures forever. Now THAT is a promise to be thankful for no matter whether the food is good or the sun is shining! Happy Thanksgiving!

Gone Before Us

2011-11-21T22:24:00.002-05:00

I am in awe of how God has gone before us on Lily's behalf. My dear husband was on it this a.m. with a call made to our Representative's office to ask for help in expediting the adoption paperwork due to Lily's health concerns. Before I could follow through on it, we had a call from our agency saying the corrected RA was back already! All I had to do was open my e-mail and follow the instructions to e-mail to our USCIS officer. I don't need to say this was done quickly between practicing our alphabet and mapping out the ecozones.

The Lord was not done yet though. By afternoon, the signed doctor letter from Children's Hospital was e-mailed and forwarded. Granted, things get a bit more complicated from here and I am being taken out of my comfort zone bigtime by having make several other contacts to officials and government entities and professionally plead for assistance. Whatever it takes that He requires me to do.

No clue when we may travel so I'm going to get ready. No clue how the rest of the funds will be provided. What I do know is that He knows and He says move forward so we will. One step at a time, trying to stay right with Him. But I have all kinds of thoughts and emotions and a million things I think need to be "ready." Just trying to slow down my brain has become quite a challenge. Prayer is a good, good thing all the time but times like this I realize how much I cherish that communication. It steadies me. His Word steadies me.

Psalm 84:1-4

How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young--
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
They will still be praising You."

Six not Zero and Labor of Love

2011-11-18T23:31:00.006-05:00

Can it be? The document we are waiting on, in Texas, in the reviewing officer's hand...but there is a problem. The birthdate of our daughter has one wrong number in it...the 0 should be a 6 in the number 26. Should be easy enough to fix right? Except a new/revised RA has to be issued from China and this means more waiting. We've waited before. How did I miss it when I have tried to be so careful with all the paperwork?

This time is different though because today the letter came from the pediatric surgeon reviewing Lily's pics and paperwork again. The letter is written to "To Whom It May Concern" at the request of our agency. It politely pleads on behalf of our daughter...for best surgery results on her hand and arm the surgery should be done at 18-24 months and we are quite behind schedule on that one. But there is more...there are other things to be tested for, serious things that are often related to what they see going on with our Lily. And they are serious. These docs at Children's in Pittsburgh don't try to invoke fear but also are truthful and ready to help. I knew the doc meant it when I met with them on Monday but to see it in writing and to get the RA news in the same day. We were set to put forth all efforts to expedite. Our agency loves each one of these children and do all they can for them and I know they won't give up.

And the truth is that God knew all this ahead of us but I am having trouble processing it today. This mama wants to protect and provide NOW and I know He created that in me. I just want her to be home. But I also want to be thankful in all things.

He wants us to trust, obey and pray. Would you pray for Lily's health, paperwork miracles and financial provision in time? We have the matching grant goal to make (details a couple posts ago); we are waiting to hear about another grant we applied for.

And, what is a post without a picture? Check out this labor of love by some sweet young ladies! They are making hats by using looms for us to take for the children at Lily's orphanage. Aren't they lovely? Each time they get together, they have had a tea party or smores in the fireplace and they have all continued to work on hats in between their times together. And four more girls joined in after I had left with my camera. There are over 50 hats so far! The ripple effect on hearts that only our great God can inspire. May all of this bring Him glory.

Have a beautiful weekend.

2011-11-15T23:05:00.001-05:00

These Pictures...

2011-11-11T15:25:00.008-05:00

Our agency surprised us with pictures today that we thought we would not be able to get so I had settled on seeing my little girl in a few months in person. This is the same day three years ago we met Abigail in China and I am a bit overwhelmed taking it all in. We are celebrating so much today!

Okay, so I have pictures from some months back but...these pictures. Took my breath away, my heart lay before me, absolutely smitten with this child. My goodness, this is going be the longest 3 months. Without further ado, take a peek and you will see what I mean.

We still are in need of funds to finish Lily's adoption in the next 3 months. We ask for your prayer; that you might consider a gift toward her adoption; that you would share the need with others. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for anything you can do! I am re-posting the details below.

Lifesong for Orphans has found a matching grant for us through Run for Orphans . That is, the goal is to raise $3,000 by January 5, 2011 and it will be matched dollar for dollar! This is a tax-deductible donation made payable to "Lifesong" with "Nageotte/#2199 adoption" in the memo section to be mailed to: LIfesong for Orphans, PO Box 40/202 N. Ford Street, Gridley, IL 61744. 100% of all funds received by Lifesong go to cover Lily's adoption costs, nothing is taken for administrative costs. And anything received above $3,000 is still tax-deductible and goes toward Lily's adoption costs. This is an incredible blessing!

Below is a picture from today of our Abigail with her brothers and sister. Happy Forever Family day sweet girl!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Miracles, truly

2011-11-09T23:07:00.006-05:00

"A Father to the fatherless...God setteth the solitary in families..." Psalm 68:5,6

"Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" Ephesians 1:5

In the midst of little trials and a sweet little 4 year old who is writing notes now to Lily's orphanage and praying Lily will be home before Abigail's birthday, we received an amazing surprise telephone call today! Just when we thought there was not going to be enough time, a matching grant was found for our family! I'm just going to be blunt. Knowing the amount needed to finish Lily's adoption and seeing the balance in the account combined with proposed travel dates has been keeping me up at night... and has kept me coming before my Father in heaven asking forgiveness for worrying instead of trusting. And talking with Him through each day just to keep trusting, knowing He will provide for Lily and He did send us on this second adoption journey. And getting my heart right with Him in other areas of my life. I am so utterly thankful for my Savior. To us, this is a miracle. Lily, I cannot wait to meet you and tell you all about your Savior!

THE DETAILS: Lifesong for Orphans has found a matching grant for us through Run for Orphans . That is, the goal is to raise $3,000 by January 5, 2011 and it will be matched! This is a tax-deductible donation made payable to Lifesong for Orphans with "Nageotte/#2199 adoption" in the memo section to be mailed to: LIfesong for Orphans, PO Box 40/202 N. Ford Street, Gridley, IL 61744. 100% of all funds received by Lifesong go to cover Lily's adoption costs, nothing is taken for administrative costs. And anything received above $3,000 is still tax-deductible and goes toward Lily's adoption costs. This is an incredible blessing!

I believe God is going to use people with "big hearts" to bring Lily home. That is what Abigail's birth mama left on the torn peice of paper in the box with her on which she explained that she could not meet her baby's medical needs and she hoped "someone with a big heart" would take her. God chose us to take her and we are FOREVER thankful. Thankful to be her mama and daddy, thankful for the opportunity to teach her about the Lord, thankful to more fully understand our adoption by our heavenly Father through Christ...and to become more able to share it with others.

So, yes, we are asking for financial help to bring Lily home but also prayer and spreading of the need and this amazing opportunity to double a donation of love for Lily. We pray God will be glorified through our journey, that more orphans would get families to share Christ with them,and that others would be encouraged even though adoption often seems impossible financially. With Christ, we know all things are possible!

On another note, we were in China 3 years ago today and about to meet our Abigail. Our sweet girl who was sure she did not want to be loved, showed little remorse, and plain did not trust. Wow, how the Lord has worked in her life and showed us the deep pain of an orphan. This girl is vibrant, getting more and more secure each day, able to show true remorse and loves her family. It's been hard at times, yes. Worth it? A hundred, a million times over. To see God's love change her...another miracle before our eyes. Again, SO thankful!

Please let me introduce you...

2011-10-31T15:02:00.007-04:00

Qing Fu Yu, Lily Ruth. Is she not precious? The Lord surprised us today with an early RA...wow. Two days earlier than the date I was praying for. We thought it would be delayed based on an e-mail from our agency last week, but again we were reminded who is in charge! This was the infusion of joy this family needed right now as we have struggled not to let unexpected repairs (expensive ones) and other difficulties bring us down.

This sweet girl's parents have now been "ascertained" and we are so proud to be those parents.

So, what is next? I800a has already been sent, to arrive tomorrow by noon in Texas at USCIS. Then, we wait again...for them to process it. Lots of processing has to go on to bring our daughter home! There is more paperwork to do also, but it is travel paperwork and that is pretty exciting. And we have been given proposed travel dates of end of January or middle of February. THAT makes me smile.

Please pray for Lily's health. She really is very, very small for her age and still does not walk or talk or even sit up on her own. Granted, her arm may be preventing her from accomplishing some of that on her own. They also say she is a serious baby who does not smile much. Can't wait to see her smile in person.

Please pray for financial provision as well. I know God is going to provide the shortage, He just hasn't revealed it to us yet. But He does say to pray. Would you?

I am feeling so blessed to be a mama again that I just don't know what else to say...except good night and I pray this finds my two or three readers well.

Snowman???

2011-10-29T20:12:00.003-04:00

This should not surprise us; it really almost always snows a bit before October is over in these parts. The girls were so excited about the "dusting" that they gathered all the snow they could find and there you have it...our first snowman of what this mama considers a very long winter in these parts. He is a bit small in stature, but I found him to be just adorable. The falling snow was very beautiful though...God graces us with such beauty in His creation.

Till next time...

No Pictures

2011-10-26T22:58:00.003-04:00

I am not real good at just saying what I am thinking sometimes, well, a lot of the time. Any public speaking brings instant sweat and rapid heartbeat, and I am not one to sweat easily.

But, no pictures. With the update we just asked for on our Lily Qing Fu Yu, they said they are not allowed to take pictures. They gave us pictures months ago, but something has changed. And I am sad right now. I had placed too much anticipation on getting a glimpse of our sweet girl a few months older. It seems so many things have been hard in our household lately plus expense after extra expenses. An e-mail indicating the timeframe for the RA wait is trending longer than than when we submitted. I cling to the knowledge that if God wants that RA to come sooner, it will come. This wait seems SO much harder than the last time. I am once again amazed how my God can place this great love in my heart for this child. I shouldn't be surprised, it is His love. He first loved me, so that I can love.

I need to get out of this heavy waiting place and remember to trust God in all His timing. As we prepared a "Thankful tree" which turned into more of mural size which we will adorn with each family member's handprint each day in bright fall colors saying what each of us is thankful for until Thanksgiving I was reminded through Psalm 136:1 (painted on our tree trunk)that I need to

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever."

It has become apparent we need to become more thankful ALL the time around here. It's not about me. And He takes care of Lily. It's all about Him and sharing the gospel. If you think of us, we would appreciate your prayers.

Blessings to you!

Fall Update/Book Review

2011-10-19T14:47:00.008-04:00

Psalm 4:4 "Be angry (tremble, stand in awe), and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord."

No RA yet. We are praying it will come in the next two weeks while remembering how important it is to wait on the Lord's timing. Few things going on though. Having trouble being "still" some days.

We are still hoping to hear positive news from ShowHope and from Lifesong for grants. We also have some sweet friends who are advocating for Lily in other small ways. We are selling some cards locally, and every little bit helps. We are so thankful to all who have helped in any way with Lily's adoption so far. We SO look forward to getting our girl home!

We just sent out a care package to her orphanage and hope to receive some new pictures and updated information on how she is doing. The more we learn, the more we realize how remote her location seems to be, very rural.

In the meantime, we have been learning and trying some new homeschool resources, playing and in awe of the beauty that God brings us with this season in PA. We also have been experiencing some spiritual warfare in many forms (attitudes, extra, necessary expenses of household and car repairs, etc.) as we draw closer to bringing Lily home. There has also been a polio outbreak in the province bordering Lily's province so please pray for all the vulnerable there. The CDC is recommending all travelers to those areas to check the status of their polio vaccines. What a joy and relief to know God is always with us.

Oh, and a book review. "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn is recommended reading by our agency. Problem with me is I can't put a good book down--therefore, haven't ready many lately, aside from the Bible of course which is not in the good book rankings but the BEST book. I could not put this book down and I questioned even reading it as I do not tend to take the time to read fiction. This fiction is based on factual events with places, names, etc. changed or manufactured. Well done is what I would say but I am glad I did not pack it away in my carry on to China as I had planned. Let's just say I'd rather leave it here for that trip. It was also a wake up call in so many ways spiritually. Anyone local who wants to borrow it, just let me know.

Maybe I'll have some news soon! Then I can share all the sweet pictures of Lily Ruth.

More to Think About

2011-10-04T22:58:00.000-04:00

Bloodlines Documentary with John Piper from Crossway on Vimeo.

Custom Cards

2011-09-24T08:37:00.002-04:00

Here is an example of a custom card a sweet lady just ordered for a baby shower. She ordered a set so that this one could be framed for the nursery and the other in the set is the actual baby shower card. What was really sweet about it though, was that she shared her story of being adopted. I am continually amazed at how the Lord uses the insignificant ways to connect people and give us the opportunity to encourage one another. Have a great day in the Lord!

It's Worth a Try

2011-09-20T19:06:00.002-04:00

Here's my little fundraising idea...worth a try, right? I thought about doing it by donation with the Chipin that was up a few days back but after we explored a few options, we landed on this idea with high hopes for selling lots of cards and for some grants that we are still waiting to hear on.

On the sidebar, you will see a link to the Etsy for Lily shop where I am selling handmade cards made with lots of love...but also with quality papers, embellishments, ribbon, etc. They are blank inside. I will be adding more, some will have birthday embellishments and I am trying to include different styles. I don't want to add too many at a time as there is a small fee each time I list and I want to make sure they will sell so check back if you don't see something you like. There are three ways to purchase on the site. If anyone from church is ordering that I can just deliver the cards to, just e-mail and we will work it out.

Would my three or so readers please pass on the idea, the blog, the Etsy shop link to all your friends and relatives? I know the key is letting people know and we would be so very thankful if you would help spread the news of our fundraiser. It is small, but I know the Lord is able to use it big!

There is not a person in this house that is not thinking about Lily coming home--Abigail picked up a pencil from the floor today and told us she needed to pick that up because she did not want Lily to fall and hurt herself on it...so sweet.

Blessings to you all!

LID!!

2011-09-19T11:04:00.003-04:00

We received our confirmation of our login date today. 9/8/11 We are praying for our RA to come in 2 months instead of four (there is a 2-4 month window); we are hoping this is God's plan. My small idea for fundraising should be posted later today. Have a blessed day!

This Made Me Think

2011-09-16T00:12:00.003-04:00

This post was going to be about a little fundraiser idea to help us cross the finish line of Lily's adoption. I'll do that tomorrow. But first...

There are a few things really weighing on my mind tonight.

Friends who have spent the week "stuck" in another State waiting on a piece of paper to allow them to travel home to their State to begin a new life with two adopted sons. Let me just add they are not alone but with their rather large family in tow, takes two hotel rooms. I see God refining them each day, preparing them, we miss them. Would you pray for them?

Our Bible study tonight focused on the book of Titus, which led me to read in James 2 verses 14 - 26; especially “...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” What does that look like I pondered. I must have no doubt in the promises of the LORD. I must have a a surrendered will. Will I give Him my concerns, fears and problems and surrender them all for deliverance from them? Will I be like King Josiah in Chronicles 34:31 and walk after the Lord and keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes--with all my heart and soul? Will I have a wholehearted commitment to obey everthing that is in the Bible.
Will I read it and walk away forgetting what His word says in the midst of my busy day? We must not just read it and walk away from it forgetting what it says. As James 1:25 says “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” I ask myself, why do I do the things I do? He did not say it would be easy and to be honest I find today that it is not. Adoption expense and travel pressures. The thought of leaving the rest of our children here while we go halfway around the world for 10 days is utterly unappealing to me. He has given me a love for a little girl I have not met who has known medical needs and some mystery needs as well and He says "Go", so we will go, in faith. We believe that He is faithful, loving, merciful, constantly showering us with undeserved grace. He will provide. We live for Him. Thank you to the sweet blogger who God used to help finish impressing this on me tonight.

Last but not least. Do you ever remind your children that there are people, all ages, including children starving in the world? You know, when we remind them to be thankful because many do not have? Do you ever show them pictures of that reality. Now, I do not make an obsessive habit of it but sometimes I know I need (and my children) to be reminded of the great ocean of need in God's world. How the gospel can be shared in a mighty way through meeting basic needs of others, needs that are unfathomable to us? We are not called to ignore the least of these. I think your heart will be touched by seeing just a glimpse of the need and what a difference can be made. They are real people created by God just like me.

http://www.servinghischildreninuganda.blogspot.com/

A physical life saved for the opportunity to be spiritually saved through Jesus Christ and share Him with others. It is so beautiful to me.

Another Peek

2011-09-05T23:47:00.003-04:00

It's official! Our dossier was signed in by the receptionist in CHINA! I am quite sure I am ready to go tomorrow...sigh. Would love to share full photos but we have to wait until given the okay. Instead here is another peek of our daughter.

Go here http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07357/843262-114.stm to see the amazing surgery that was done right in Pittsburgh where Abigail's cleft team is as well. Check out the pictures on the left of the article; this is the surgery we think Lily will have based on what the surgeons see in her pictures.

What hit me hard last night as I was putting things away that I haven't gotten to yet since we moved is that our middle son weighed 15 pounds when he was six months old. He was sick quite a bit those first six months with reflux and two severe viruses and he had trouble gaining weight. Lily weighs 15 pounds at AGE TWO. I am baffled because it does not seem obvious in the pictures. Our pediatrician said she is very small but I don't think I'll get it until I hold her in my arms...and that cannot come too soon for me.

We are in need of help financially to bring Lily home so I would love to hear any ideas you all have for raising funds for Lily. We have tapped all our resources, had a garage sale, applied for grants. We have sold all we could i.e. books, etc. So, I am humbly praying for some fresh ideas and the time to carry them out. I am also praying for the other adopting families that are trying to raise funds to bring their children home. One thing I am sure of...He has sent us on the path to Lily...He will provide somehow, some way, through His people as we trust Him. The body of Christ, it is a beautiful thing. I am so very thankful to be a part as He teaches me and grows me.

For Real

2011-09-02T21:14:00.001-04:00

InitiatedPicked upIn transitDelivered

In transit
HERNDON, VA Shipment Dates
Ship date Sep 2, 2011
Estimated delivery Sep 5, 2011 by 6:00 PM
Destination
BEIJING CN

DTC-YAHOO!!

It Was A First

2011-09-01T21:19:00.005-04:00

No surgery required...no procedure...no medicine

This was our first (of many) appointment with the ear doctor at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh where there was no infection, no clogged tube! Abigail's ear doctor is wonderful, consistently a great doctor. As her siblings braced themselves, He carefully removed the tube that had fallen in the canal right in the office which in itself tells you how wonderful he is...be assured that our little daughter is very opinionated regarding who is permitted to do such things. And she lets the whole building know about it if such person is not acceptable. She did great and it was a happy visit. It was another step in trusting for her. Those opportunities to build trust with her are so precious to me and much needed blessings. I know the Lord is going to use her determination for His glory. We are so blessed to get to share it with her.

DTC

2011-08-30T21:26:00.002-04:00

Dossier to China (DTC). That is the goal for this week in regard to our Lily. After some delays, that last piece of paper is on its way to our adoption agency and the entire dossier will be mailed to China on Friday. We are VERY excited and feel so very blessed to be at this point. (For anyone in the process right now who has to use the New York consulate, we did learn today that the Chinese consulate in New York no longer does same day service. The soonest they will process is in 48 hours.)

We are praying our way through each and every step.

We were blessed by one of our new neighbors with some sweet corn from his garden tonight and as he pronounced praise and thankfulness to God for the food growing in his garden, he said "God always gives us what we need". That is so true at so many levels from physical sustenance to overwhelming grace in our lives. Thank you Jesus! This 80-year old Amish man has already become so endearing to us. When I asked the Lord to help us make friends with some our neighbors out here in the country I probably didn't picture Jim but he is a blessing to our whole family and has lived a long time and has much wisdom to share. And as we ate dinner, Mike commented on what a miracle and blessing it is to have Abigail at the table with us eating corn on the cob (with a repaired third degree cleft lip and palate), a beautiful daughter added to our family. And I thought about Lily and how she would not be able to eat corn on the cob due to her arm deformity (you know what, I can't either anymore due to a tooth issue but I cut it off and it tastes just as good!) I long for that little girl to become a part of our family because I know God has led us to her intentionally. We so look forward to knowing her (I will confess that it is okay with me if she is a bit less strong-willed than the beautiful daughter mentioned above...)

We see how the Lord uses His people to provide for these precious waiting children...and we have been so blessed to give toward other families adoptions and watch God place orphans in families who love the Lord and each time it is such a miracle to me, such a picture of my Heavenly Father's adoption of me. So, I must put off my discouragement about the monetary part of this adoption and put on full TRUST IN HIM as we do everything we can personally to pay the expenses and humble ourselves to accept the gifts of others He prompts to help us. It is not about us, but all about Him and His glory.

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26

Have a blessed rest of the week! Pictures to come as soon as I relocate my camera cards...why are two missing right now?! My guess is the above-mentioned 4-year old can help me out.

One Day Shy

2011-08-18T22:51:00.002-04:00

IT CAME one day shy of 60 days...the official name of the important document is "I800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country" or I-797. If you want a definition, please ask because we would love to share our hearts for adoption with you. For us, it is the final dossier document...but wait...it had to be notarized, not just notarized but a Notarized Copy of an Original, then it had to be overnight mailed to the State Department with a letter and all proper forms, etc. while the rest of the dossier documents were mailed off to America World for final review. Once the document is certified by the State Department, it will return to us. Then we immediately overnight it to the courier who will walk it in to the Consulate in New York City for authentication (that real pretty sticker). Then they will overnight it to America World. From there the whole dossier is China bound. We are praying for that to happen on September 2nd. Only on Fridays do they submit dossiers. You know that neat convenience we have here of tracking most any mail we want if we pay a little fee? Well, once the documents are in China...not the case. It is another time that we realize how much we truly depend on the Lord for each step of this process.

The incredibly nice postal worker in our small town post office will probably hide under the counter next time I walk in but he did a great job after opening the practically indestructable, extremely sticky Express Mail envelope two extra times. Because it all has to be trackable of course and we forgot to do that part.

No picture this post but we are so very thankful to the Lord for this gift today that brings us one step further. Will you pray with us for Lily's health as we press on through paper? Will you also pray about the grants we have applied for--they are very much needed to help with the financial aspect of bringing Lily home and the deadlines are close when these wonderful people will have to decide whose turn it is to receive a grant. That would be a hard task I think.

We are so thankful for you all, your love and prayers!

Pretty

2011-08-16T16:03:00.003-04:00

Well, I think it's pretty. My family gives me strange looks...but...I still think it's pretty. All documents are notarized, certified,and now authenticated EXCEPT (is there not always an exception??) the USCIS approval document, which of course must come before our dossier can be sent to China. An official conversation with our USCIS officer did reveal that our one piece of paper is on his desk and he will review it soon. Soon-is there a definition for the word that can help me here?

It's okay though because I know God has it all figured out according to His plan.

The Waiting...A Glimpse

2011-08-14T15:39:00.006-04:00

Okay, so we all know it's about waiting. I should know, have done it once before...and waited much longer the first time than we should this time. But, this time the waiting seems utterly painful. We want to be with our little girl so much, bring her home...

Until then, I hang on the words of scripture for comfort and courage and the example of my Savior in patience. I also am so thankful for the kind and supportive words of others along this journey...God is so good to give us each other.

Still not supposed to post full pictures but here is a glimpse of our sweetie just to help you all understand why I took a moment to share. Can't wait to hold and play with these little feet!

Update on Lily

2011-07-21T23:08:00.002-04:00

We are so thankful to Angela and Kelly at LadybugsnLove for their amazing service that offers us waiting families an update on our precious children a half a world away. They did an orphanage call and here's what we know:

Our sweet girl likes to suck her fingers...she is only 15 pounds at age two...she rolls over but does not crawl or walk or sit up on her own...does not eat solid food...she is introverted...

Boy does her smile light up our world and I cried and wanted to get on a plane right now (even though I become pretty much unnerved by plane rides). But there are things that must be done..fingerprints to be taken (next Friday..yay!), authentications and certifications, TAs to be obtained. Our hearts are ready, now if the governments would just catch up.

Cannot wait to be able to share her pictures!

In the meantime, our Abigail has decided she must have a bicycle, not a tricycle, but a bicycle (with training wheels of course)...you know, like the one she sat on at Dick's Sporting Goods...with a basket for storing little stuffed friends and other treasures...and tassles that dangle from the handlebars. It is what we talk about in the morning and again at night. This will be cause for much smiling I think and hopefully some fun pictures...she is very determined so I am sure there will be no stopping her once she gets on the bike, even if she falls a couple times...

The Family Picture

2011-07-19T07:53:00.002-04:00

Seems simple enough right? It's just a family picture...and we need it plus another to send to China with our dossier. This is the final result of numerous attempts, thankfully mostly not unpleasant attempts at getting all to at least be looking at the camera without someone laughing so all you can see is the back of their throat (and yes there were also a few instances of too much leaning on another, etc.) We actually ended up with two and couldn't really decide which was better and I'm just happy to have it ready for our dossier.

So, even though we look forward to this picture being outdated soon (we hope SOON) with our new little treasure, we rejoice in it! Have a wonderful day!

precious time with my baby

2011-07-08T00:17:00.005-04:00

Don't ask me how it happened. I was out with just my baby, (brothers and sister were all at piano lessons) brought my camera not really knowing if I would use it, and...she let me put her hair up. Only with mommy's hairband though and no pretty bow, no way. It may have helped that it was very hot today...

And, we found a neat old church right smack in the middle of town that I have driven by for years, so I convinced her to go check out the steps. Yes, that is a Burger King shake in her hand...but she was willing to let me take pictures so the shake becomes part of history. Did I mention our girl is strong-willed? Beautiful, smart, determined...and strong willed.

But this mama is tickled to have these pictures that were taken while truly enjoying each other's company. On a warm, summer day after a long winter and wet, chilly spring here in NW Pennslyvania. And a move to a new house two weeks ago. And keeping up with adoption paperwork for Lily. By the way, the garage sale was a blessing and covered our I800a application!

But, back to the pictures. I hope my camera and I have re-established our relationship. We'll see.

Lily

2011-06-07T23:02:00.004-04:00

Where to begin...

This post is all about God and Lily. And His providence in spite of our shortcomings, hesitations and fear of man at times.

You see, we were afraid to embark on another international adoption. You know, the money. Plus, how would we qualify for China again?

So, we entered the Foster Care/Adoption program in our state. You know, free. Lots of children needing homes though.

I am just being honest here about how we thought we knew just what we should do. We knew we were to adopt again for sure.

A year later, one "almost" placement that fell through at the last minute and, lots of matching events where we were pretty much given a reason every time that a placement would not work...too young of children already in family, too many children in family...and the list went on either on our side or the other. Now let me just say there are HURTING children in our state and country that need homes, particularly older children, really hurting, who need some loving couples complete attention. I pray for them.

We inquire about an exception for a special needs child from China through one agency, they say no unless we can take an older with child severe special needs and still probably no. But, they suggest Ethiopia would be a great fit for our family. I love Africa and pray for and follow some amazing ministries to orphans, widows and just people there. We pursue. Within a day, there are changes in the Ethiopia program, possible big delays. We pray more about it.

Our hearts keep turning back to specials needs, definitely. And to China. A little sister or brother for our Abigail, right? We continue to look at the special needs list of our agency we used before and even inquire on a couple Rainbow Kids. Nothing works out. But the special needs list won't leave us. We see the little girl again called Lucy, still on the list. WE WAIT ALMOST TWO MONTHS! To our shame.

I call Mike (my husband) at work one day and just casually ask if we should inquire about Lucy (I woke up thinking about her). I don't know he says. I ask again the next day. Yes, he says. Inquire.

I inquire. Lucy's file is being reviewed by another family but they will let us know if something changes. Okay. Two days later, we receive a call. The family decided not to pursue the referral. Okay!? However, her file is being returned to CCCWA the next day--they will ask for an extension.

Extension granted, we wait to review her file. We pray more. We did not dream of going back to China. What arrives in our e-mail box is astounding. Surely she is our daughter, right? Instantly love her. No matter what you tell me about her special needs, we instantly love her. But there are mountains to be moved; maybe we are wrong. Because we love orphans and she is one. Hold her file for us anyway.

Mountain #1 is that we are just shy of China's requirements. We need to be granted an exception. This could go either way. We pray more. A week and a half later...exception granted. REALLY!!?? But, we didn't dream of being able to go back to China. Our God is way bigger and we are so very thankful.

The paperwork has gone like lightning until we got stalled a bit on a glitch right now that is in someone else's hands--paperwork pushing. We are praying hard about it.

We have named her Lily Ruth and we are a family on a mission to do whatever it takes to bring her home as soon as possible. Lily has some significant special needs that should be addressed soon.

Mountain #2. We are kicking off our campaign and petition for our Lily with a garage sale this weekend. Not a huge fundraising tool but it might get us the next bit we need to pay. And we will be thankful. We would also be thankful to receive our previous adoption tax credit from the IRS...soon please. As much as our pride wants to do this quietly, I think God has lives to touch through Lily. Because it is not about the Nageottes. And it might be hard. But it's all about HIM.

So, if anyone is reading, we invite you to join us on our new adoption journey to Lily Ruth.

And I will try to be a more consistent blogger. If nothing else I will have a record of the journey for our sweet daughter and our family.

For His Glory,

Jeunesse

"Children Of God" - Official Music Video

2011-03-11T00:41:00.000-05:00

Ethiopia's Plan to Cut Adoptions: A Prayerful Response

2011-03-07T23:20:00.001-05:00

Please click on the link below to read the prayer plea from Tom Davis regarding Ethiopian adoption:

Ethiopia's Plan to Cut Adoptions: A Prayerful Response

This came to our attention through a China travel buddy blog just today, the same day we submitted our formal application to begin the adoption process for...that's right, Ethiopia. We have been prayerfully seeking God's will for the past year, knowing we are to adopt again but failing to combat well the "financial fears" of another international adoption. So after several closed doors and redirection, we believe we are to go to Ethiopia (I have had a heart for Africa and China for years).

If anyone is still reading, please pray. Pray for the orphans of Ethiopia who deserve a family when theirs has been destroyed by disease, illness, poverty, and more.

Trusting Him,

Jeunesse

We Are Called

2010-10-30T19:49:00.004-04:00

We can pray, we can help others adopt, we can visit and share, we can adopt. There is so much we can do to love the "least of these" as if they were Jesus Himself. He truly does "move mountains" for His will to be done.

As much as our hearts ache for the orphans, it has taken us two years to be courageous enough to present Orphan Sunday to our church (we are known to evade public speaking at all costs) and we thank the Lord for this opportunity and this unusual courage (knots are forming in my stomach as I type).

Mid-Atlantic Orphan Summit from CoMission for Children at Risk on Vimeo.

EYES OPEN
"...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."
Proverbs 24:12

What can I say?

2010-10-23T18:55:00.004-04:00

The only thing I have to say about this is we are SO THANKFUL for these smiling faces on a sunny Fall day in Western PA. Of course, I have not forgotten the boys in the family but they were busy with Daddy today. My camera skills are limited, some training is needed, so I was just so tickled to capture this moment!

Blessings to you!

2010-10-06T22:41:00.005-04:00

"You're my mom and Dad is my dad" says Abigail. I say "That is true and nothing is going to change that."

We have many conversations like this lately (some with much more detail) and this is such a marvelous blessing! Why so marvelous to us? Because it has taken Abigail a long time to believe and trust this in her heart despite all our efforts and hopes it would happen sooner. God has done so much work in our hearts in the past year and this little girl just lights up our days!

This picture is from our Cape May, New Jersey vacation this summer. She is still quite skilled at evading my picture taking so I take what I can get. Even though that week was a bit rough for Abigail, returning to our home all together still a family was a revelation to her--bless her sweet little heart! Now she talks about the beach and other things we did this summer with such joy!

I pray this finds anyone still following well.

Our latest good news is that, after much prayer (and questions to the Lord) we have applied and are in the waiting process to adopt out of the foster care system here in the States. It appears our quiver is not full yet.

Blessings,

Jeunesse

Hard to Believe There was a Day Without Her

2009-04-05T21:07:00.006-04:00

Hello all. We hope you are well and growing closer to the Lord each day. We had decided before we started blogging that we would continue until after Abigail's palate surgery. Well, she is well recovered and really doing well. She is trying to say everything with her new "roof" and the word "no" seems to come the easiest recently. She is singing now and it is just so sweet. She has not gained a lot of weight but the doctors are not concerned as she is eating well and is strong.

I could go into hundreds of details, some difficult some just plain wonderful. I will make it brief and say that we can hardly believe she is finally here with us and that her surgery is over (she has a speech evaluation in May). It is so clearly God's will that this sweet, beautiful little girl was placed in our family with God's perfect guidance and timing. He worked out SO MANY details, provided so much financial help in the perfect amounts at the perfect times; placed just the right people in our lives; denied us some things to show us we were off track or that He had different intentions that would just glorify Him more; TRULY INCREDIBLE IS OUR GOD!! We love Abigail with all our hearts.

I will tell you that this little girl has and is still having a bit of a slow, hard time bonding (and very difficult nights with sleeping) but we see wonderful little bits of progress and for me experiencing and seeing her pain just reminds me all the more how many of these children are around the world in need of the love of a family to show them the love of our Savior. It is hard to understand some days why it is so hard for her but we do not know what she has previously experienced and we trust in Jesus to guide and overtake us with His love and He does.

This is all the more reason that I need to focus more on my family and eliminate some of the little things that take up time--a bunch of littles adds up to a lot. So, blogging is on the list of things that must be put aside right now.

We would adopt again in a heartbeat if the Lord so directed. Our trip to China is an amazing mass of images burned into my mind with a wide range of emotions attached. The best part is Abigail is home. We now have many other families to pray for that we were privileged to travel with and they all remain in a very special place in my heart. I hope you will all not hesitate to e-mail us with any prayer requests or just good news!

Well, here are some pictures of what we have been doing (this turned into a grand finale slideshow!). May the Lord bless you all continually as you seek Him and share Him with others.

The Choice of Life

2009-02-20T16:14:00.004-05:00

Yes, we have an update but I have felt the Lord place some things on my heart that can only be shared. As a parent who has had the joy of experiencing adding to our family in more than one way I read something that touched me so deeply that I just wept and thanked God for His absolute presence in our lives. I often find myself wondering exactly what made Abigail's mother choose to keep her baby and abandon her when she was unable to care for her while so many choose other sad alternatives that deny life to children. My heart just aches for her and how painful it must have been--but she chose life and we are so thankful. Although I do not know why exactly, I believe whatever the conscious reason for her decision, behind that reason was the remarkable grace of God. I cannot imagine what it was like to not give in to fears and to make such a wise choice in those circumstances. God placed such grace in the heart of that surely scared, distraught but courageous woman. We are so immensely blessed by her decision and our other children the Lord has gifted to us. And to be adopted as sons and daughters by our sovereign God is so much more than we deserve but aren't we more thankful than we could ever properly express?

Because women choose life, other babies are born who can hear the message of those whose mothers chose life; husbands and wives are loved by each other and their children; the truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared; and on the list could go!

Let us give praise to the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of grateful children, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, ...for the daily blessings which come from the fruit of sorrowing mothers who chose life and for the parents who will continue to give loving families to the lost babies everywhere.

****

As for our little blessing, she (and we) has emerged from two weeks of what seemed like torture at times to a little one on the mend, able to eat again and with full use of her arms. The first week appointment showed slow healing and so many people prayed (some even vowed to pray each time they woke up at night) she was so well healed by her second doctor appointment that we do not need to go back for 3 MONTHS! Abigail has had a hard adjustment but we believe we are seeing much change and I think God used the surgery to help that along. There have been times I have wondered why so much has been so hard but to look back the Lord has grown us in areas we didn't have any clue we needed to grow in. As a family we have endured together sleepless nights more often than not and a rather difficult, strong-willed disposition from such a little girl. But we are being shown a beautiful sweetness and the most wonderful giggle ever now that makes our hearts rejoice and we have a better undstanding of patience by this whole process. I sometimes feel weary thinking about and knowing there is much more the Lord has to teach us but I am so thankful we have Him to teach us and that we are not without Him in our lives! What a mighty, merciful God we serve!

We will probably update once a month from now on. It has become clear I need to focus on my family even more with one more to nurture in the ways and admonition of the Lord.

May the Lord bless you all!

As a side note, we are very proud of our Maddie--she has been growing her hair for a very long time with intentions of donating it to "Locks of Love" and she accomplished that even though it had to be real short to do it this time--she easily said yes not knowing how her really thick hair would take this new "do" but we think it is adorable (of course, we are her parents and what else would we think?!)

Thankful to be Home

2009-02-08T18:45:00.009-05:00

First we want to thank everyone for your petitions to the Lord on behalf of our family. Abigail's fever is mostly gone, she began swallowing and drinking (due mostly to the Tylenol with codeine) and WE ARE HOME! It is quite a surgery with a couple really rough days afterward but it is all looking up a little each day. We had wonderful nurses and her doctors are great. We had to stay a couple extra days because things progressed slowly the first few days. She was so happy to get all the tubes and things out and off of her (Audrey, your day is soon for that!) She was most happy when her whole family came though and we were all together again.

This experience has provided some amazing bonding time and hopefully now that we are home again will build trust for Abigail.

Arm restraints are highly annoying for her but very necessary so nothing gets to her mouth to disturb the stitches, etc. She also had the growth removed from her nose which was actually a leftover stitch from her previous surgery that just didn't get removed and tissue began to grow around it (it was very sensitive tissue). She is quite upset about not being able to have food so we are not going to eat in front of her until she is off the all liquid diet (two weeks and two weeks arm restraints if all goes well).

I had some wonderful opportunities at the hospital to explain to people why we adopted and to share the gift of adoption to us. The Lord is working among us all the time, we just have to be paying attention!

Well, I am quite tired and will sign of with some pictures.

Mommy (all suited up for anesthesia) and Abigail

Abigail a little silly from pre-surgery meds

Abigail unimpressed with arm restraints

A break from our room

GOING HOME!

Just a little Saturday update

2009-02-07T09:04:00.005-05:00

Mike and the kids are heading to Pittsburgh today. They are still not sure if they will be able to find some housing for the night, but are taking some overnight bags just in case.

Abigail is running a fever. A small fever after surgery is normal, but hers is a bit higher and they are trying to figure out what's causing it or where there may be an infection.

Please continue to pray for the family and that Jeunesse can get some rest to be able to deal with what lies ahead.

-Patty Mears

Update after surgery

2009-02-06T15:08:00.004-05:00

(Patty Mears updating for Jeunesse)

Little Abigail made it out of surgery just fine. The doctor had originally stated that it would take 3 hours but it was 5 instead.

Last night was very rough. Jeunesse had no idea that there would be large amounts of blood causing Abigail to choke and gag throughout the night. So as Jeunesse sat on her chair beside Abigail the night was very long.

Plus Abigail must have sensed something was happening the night before her surgery because she did not sleep one wink.

Jeunesse has been able to spend ALOT of bonding time with little Abigail, they pretty much read books and she said she was terribly bored as they can not leave the room.

Abigail has been switched from Morphine to Tylenol with codeine. She is allowing Jeunesse to hold and soothe her. She does not like the nurses or doctor coming in and makes that known. She at different times will try and pull out or kick out the IV in her foot.

The tube is out of her nose. Abigail needs to drink before she comes home and she will not do that yet. She is NOT swallowing. At this age that Abigail is, they know they have pain, they know where it's coming from and they do not understand "if you drink we can go home."

The Nageottes are not sure how many more days they will be in Pittsburgh, they do feel the necessity of the family being together this weekend and are checking to see if they can get a Ronald McDonald House nearby so Mike and the kids can come stay and see Abigail too. Please pray that this all works out quickly so they can go today still.

Jeunesse said that she knows alot of people are following this blog and especially friends from their travel group who are still yet to have this surgery with their children that when she gets home she will go into further details about it.

She has also taken lots of pictures that she will post when she gets home and settled.

I will definitely keep you posted if Jeunesse calls again and allows me to update further.

Palate Surgery

2009-02-04T16:26:00.007-05:00

Just a note that little Audrey and her family that we asked you all to pray for is having some setbacks and staying in the PICU another couple days with some more aggressive treatments for her lungs. Please lift her up to our Lord for healing.

Tomorrow (Feb. 5th) we will drive to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh around 6 a.m. to make our arrival time of 9 a.m. Abigail will have surgery around 10:30 a.m. (3 hour surgery) and her surgery will last around 3 hours. It would not be truthful to say we have no worries. There is much involved in her surgery and recovery. They will also be removing a growth inside her nose. Our faith is in the Lord and we trust in His will and may it all be for His glory.

We have seen our little girl that we waited so long for grow closer to us in this past week in little but very significant ways. She runs to us, settles in my arms comfortably and we just have felt another level of trust develop. It is hard sometimes to wonder what she will think about this whole surgery thing and even harder for me to think about after surgery recovery period. As with the other areas of our lives, we have set our hearts upon Him who knows all and is in control of all of this. Abigail is so, so sweet and funny but also very strong-willed and still struggles at night. We will so enjoy the time beyond this to see how the Lord uses her beautiful personality. We love her so and that is something she will know no matter what.

Thank you all for lifting her (and us) up to Him in prayer--it means so much because we know He is listening!

We will update as soon as possible (no laptop so we will do our best!)

Here are a few pictures of the children enjoying a history learning song which Abigail loves to be a part of each day, the tub which she strongly disliked and now thoroughly enjoys and likes to snuggle in her towel afterward.

Pray for Audrey

2009-01-30T14:34:00.003-05:00

Audrey is having her open heart surgery today--it was postponed from yesterday. She is such a sweet, loving little girl with a wonderful family that we were blessed to meet in China. Please pray for them all as they trust in the Lord to work out all the details.

Speechless

2009-01-27T22:12:00.004-05:00

I seem to have had a loss of words as of late but have just been so busy taking care of this beautiful family the Lord has graciously gifted to me.

Before I update, I would like to ask you all to pray for dear Audrey (we traveled with this family) who is having her open heart surgery on Thursday (1-29). She has a cold so is being admitted early to try to stave off the cold to keep her surgery date. She needs this surgery!

We also welcomed a very handsome new nephew/cousin to our family--we love you Kaitlyn, Ryan, Ken and Jen!

Our sweet Abigail is having her palate surgery on February 5th at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh--please pray for doctor's wisdom and skill; unending patience for us as she will be on liquids (she LOVES food), in arm restraints (so she cannot bend her elbows) and just in pain. Our stay will be 1 or 2 nights and until she drinks. Sounded simple until the doctor said that children having this surgery at her age sometimes are quite stubborn about anything touching their sore roof and will go without drink for quite some time. Hmmmm.....I noted to him that our sweet girl does live on the strong-willed side of life--it did not phase him, no drink no leave. Of course he was not there on December 31st for ear tube surgery when she was disrupting the post-op room so much that the head of the area came and asked what he could do (they also wanted her to drink before she left) and would it help if he just let us go and would she drink then. I said she probably would. She was quite thirsty but refused her drink until she was safe in our car again (which was awhile because we had several things to do first). THis surgery is much more serious and the doc made it clear there would not be exceptions. Kind of like the cup she has to drink out of--it is nice and soft and just the right length they say. Well, she can bite the end of it off in a turn of this mommy's head. I took a different cup that she has been using that is just so close but a tad bit longer on the side that will touch the palate. He looked at it and said "no". Nuby is going to make a lot of money off the Nageottes in the next four weeks! The do not sell just the tops, you have to buy the whole cup. Oh well.

We thank the Lord this surgery can be done so our Abi can talk and eat more solids--she tries to talk and wants to very much. She can say "ma ma", "hi", "uh oh" "amen"; we know other words but they are not recognizable to others. She signs for her milk. She is a bundle of personality that we see more and more of each day and our love just grows and grows.

You all want to know if she is sleeping well. Not well, but a little better. She sleeps with us for now and still has night terrors and extreme restlessness. She is comforted by us, falls back to sleep but is soon awake and restless again. It breaks my heart some nights to see it but I just pray for the Lord to bring a peace to her heart so she can rest. Night time is just a very hard time for her.

However, since we have been giving Abigail Pediasure for the past month, she gained 1pound. She is quite underweight and had not gained any weight after our first month. We were very excited for this pound!

Kacey, Payton and Maddie just shower her with love--to the point where we had to have a little family meeting about "spoiling". They do just love her so much. She points now to each picture of the people in our family and just smiles as she points to herself in that family--God is so good! She knows exactly who Abigail is and clearly understands a lot of English.

We have visited with our cousins in North Carolina--Hi Em and Caroline! We love you!
We also had a wonderful time getting together with our little friends Annika Mears and Julia McCall. Julia is from the same province as Abigail. We are so thankful for all of you.

And wow, our church family has been amazing showing us so much love and generosity. We have the best church family (I know...you do too but we don't know yours so we can only speak for ours! As I write all this, even through the difficult days (and yes, we have had them whether it's with family issues or due to the effects of the economic depression) I see so many blessings and am reminded to "count it all joy" and rejoice in the Lord and be always thankful. I pray this for you also.

Well, here are pictures (baby Ryan, cousins Emily and Carolyn, friends Annika and Julia) Thank you for all your love and prayers!

Something to Think About

2009-01-06T19:23:00.001-05:00

Please press pause on our music player

2009-01-04T15:39:00.006-05:00

(Julia, Annika and Abigail) having fun playing together.

2008-12-31T15:26:00.002-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T16:46:00.003-05:00

(Please go down to my playlist on the right side and click the (ll) mark to pause my music so you can hear this video)

Plan B

2008-12-11T21:48:00.005-05:00

We are so thankful that our God is sovereign and He never has a "plan B". However, us sleep deprived humans sometimes go to "plan B." This appears to be somewhat successful as I am able to type this as our littlest one sleeps in her new (hand-me-down) toddler bed generously offered by a friend of Mike's. We hesitated to make a change but she definitely is not fearful of it like the crib. She still cries some in the night but with the bed in our room I can comfort her hopefully (it worked last night) and at least rest a little more without constant panicky crying. The Lord has been so good to grant us the ability to homeschool through this time and gives us strength each day in addition to enjoyment of our studies. It was the adult (me) who had to adjust and realize the daily schedule just will not be the same but can still work and I praise Him for all this!

Have a blessed weekend!

Update: I hear crying from the little bed....hmmmm.

Snapshots and an Update

2008-12-10T18:53:00.003-05:00

We do so love these children! We thank the Lord for them that we should be so honored to care for them for Him. We continue to pray for Abigail as she struggles with sleep. We are changing sleeping arrangements again as it seems there is something fearful to her about the crib we have--the dilemma is do we make more changes or just press on the way it is? We both are concerned the crib reminds her of something unpleasant. She has a hearing exam on Friday and hopefully we will know more about her surgery soon. Our pediatrician is concerned waiting too long for the tubes will adversely affect her hearing and he says why wait. We know the Lord has it all planned out so we are just trying follow.

In the meantime, even though she is not sleeping well at all, her appetite is going strong! We are thankful.

Blessings to you all!

2008-12-08T17:06:00.002-05:00

Light of the World and Powerful Love

2008-12-05T06:48:00.007-05:00

As we do our family devotions with Abigail home this Christmas season we are again in awe of the same scripture we have read many times at Christmas and throughout the year.

In Isaiah 2 it was prophesied that "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." And then in verse 6 "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

We just stand in awe that we received the light in the humble yet so powerful baby in Bethlehem. Thank you Lord and may all come to truly know You!

Without Jesus, we know that we would not be capable of feeling the powerful love that has come into our entire family through adoption. And what a joy it was to be reminded of our own adoption by our God and share that with our children. I have had the opportunity to look into the painful, restless eyes of a little girl who is frightened to go to sleep and we have prayed over her and held her even when it does not seem like it makes a difference. But it is making a difference and the Lord is making a way for her and we know He will continue to make a way for Abigail through her fear. She is beginning to rest more easily for short times and even a few longer stretches. I cannot explain in words how thankful we are to have her in our home and we would adopt many times over if the will of God. Everything is new to her and we are starting to see already the sweet, funny aspects of her personality. It will take time. One thing is sure, she is very excited about food! And we are happy to give and thankful we are able when there really are so many who do not have.

We pray you will experience much joy in the love of Jesus as you prepare the decorations and gifts...and continue to pray for the forgotten in this country and around the world.

Thankful and Forever Changed (Part II)

2008-11-29T13:21:00.007-05:00

I posted a couple times ago about us being forever changed by our adoption experience so far. My thoughts have been so many that I could not do it all in one post.

We are so thankful to our Lord and Savior that Abigail is here with us now. To see a little girl who spent the first 12 months of her life in an orphanage (that was confirmed for us by the officials in China--we had been told foster care but that was not the case) be scooped up and provided really life saving surgery for her at that point, and to have a more loving environment for her next six months of life is only our Father's work in a country that is so overloaded with people and a government system that does not support or is unable to support the needs of these children. And He is doing this every day all over the world! These children now just need families to step forth and take them into their lives if it be God's calling. We are forever changed by the need we saw personally just in China.

I will not pretend all is easy about adopting but our Lord is forever with us and merciful, never giving us more than we can handle. It is hard to see little Abigail wake up each morning, sit straight up, look all around and look at us repeatedly and to see her lip tremble at the newness of all this. We wish we could have gone to her sooner. But, I pray for the Lord to work in her heart each day for comfort. And I ask Him to give us the wisdom to make good decisions that glorify Him, whether it is regarding sleeping or whatever it may be. She is a sweet baby and still does not realize that the Lord has given her a family for real and forever.

Abigail loves to eat which Dr. Leung says it very good and necessary as she is way underweight at 19.4 pounds. He has told us to provide many snacks in between meals. She had blood drawn today for testing and I thank the Lord for only ONE prick--those ladies were excellent as they took the time to look at each arm, discuss in detail how to accomplish this feat of drawing blood and even changed places in the end to let the other draw. I felt this was humble actions and had Abigail in mind first. Our previous experiences with Maddie as a baby were quite the opposite so I was thankful and overjoyed. She will have a renal ultrasound on Tuesday as a result of her being on tainted formula in China. Abigail will also have a hearing exam because she has so much fluid in her ears and we have no surgery date yet at which time they will put tubes in also. He is a little concerned about hearing loss. Apparently, it sometimes requires hearing aids after the ears are filled with fluid for so long.

Abigail is mostly happy but sleeping is very hard for her and she will take naps anywhere but in her crib. As you can see in the pictures, she really enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner but due to not taking her nap she had to "sleep-eat". It provided a lot of laughs and giggles at dinner though. She kept trying to put food in her mouth with her eyes closed. Her hair and fingernails are really growing as a result of her much more protein-rich diet. We do just love her so!

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all have so much to thank the Lord for every day of the year.

Happy Girl

2008-11-26T09:06:00.003-05:00

Just some photos of our sweet girl as she opens up a little more each day. She ran today for what I think is the first time! Thank you Lord for such a blessing as this.

Naomi S., this is for you!

Cleft Team Appointment Update

2008-11-24T22:55:00.004-05:00

Hello! Just a quick update from today. The appointment went well and they would like to do Abigail's surgery as soon as possible and noted that they had a cancellation tomorrow!??!! We respectfully declined as that was just too much for this day/week. They indicated that we would have to take her off the bottle and put her on a special cup before surgery. We hope this transition will not be hard for her with all the others. She does have a great deal of fluid in her left ear and also in the right ear (which explains her lack of response at the medical exam to the sound test) so they will put tubes in at the time of palate surgery. She will then have another surgery around age 7-8 where they take a peice of bone from her hip and use it for the bone above her gum. Sometimes two palate surgeries are needed with 3rd degree like Abigails but they hope she will do fine with one (as many do). So we are basically on call for the surgery because even though they want her to have it asap they are scheduled through Spring! We have been placed on the cancellation schedule. We know God's timing will be just right as we were sure tomorrow was NOT it.

She will see the pediatrician on Wednesday. It is 11 a.m. and she is wide awake and raring to go with this unusual day today and sleeping in the car. Everyone else is passed out. We have decided we like sleep in this house and took it for granted before! I know other families are experiencing this lack of sleep so as I pray for peace and patience in the midst of fatigue I will pray for you all also. Good night!

Forever Changed

2008-11-24T11:10:00.004-05:00

The Lord has forever changed us through just the first part of this adoption journey. Not only do we have a new member of our family forever, He has shown so very much about Himself that we were not seeing before. And to look back there are many very important things that had to happen that we could not do to bring this little girl home with us. Literally could not do. His presence is so evident to us we stand amazed and in awe at His mighty works.

I have so many more thoughts now that my brain is beginning to get defogged. When we finally landed home, three of us needed medicine for various illnesses and sleep did not come for a few days but things are looking up. The pictures show some of what we have been doing at our house as we love this new member of our family. She does not sleep in her crib at night, she would just as soon scream ALL NIGHT so I put her in bed with us and she sleeps. If the wakes up with a cry I put my hand on her and she sleeps. What are parents to do. We do not know what things have been like for her and she is clearly comforted by us and we are happy for that! We are going to have to work on sleeping in her own bed in due time. For now everyone is able to sleep and that is a good thing! We did discover through watching our video from the day we received Abigail that she was not in foster care but had spent her first 12 months in the orphanage in Yingtan, then went to have her surgery and stayed at the children's home for the past six months. What a joy she is to have in our home, just like our other children--we are truly blessed.

Please pray as we travel to PIttsburgh Children's Hospital today to have appointments with the entire cleft team. As far as we know things should be standard procedure so we just pray for the doctors' wisdom knowing that the Lord has us all in His hands, with every detail perfectly planned. We are praying for the dear families we traveled with as many of them are in the midst of appointments with physicians today and in the coming days.

Love and prayers to you all!

Who's tired?!!?

2008-11-21T06:22:00.002-05:00

Apparently sleeping has become overrated in our house because no one is doing it! It is 6:30 a.m. and we have had breakfast, cleaned up and everyone is still going strong. Our sweet little girl chose to wail and fuss all night so everyone else was up of course and then hungry; clearly, we are all still on China time. Mike decided he should just get up and go to work at 4 a.m. Abigail did not sleep the night before either until 5 a.m. This is what happens when your baby sleeps 10 hours on the plane ride home I guess. As for me, I am exhausted with a sinus infection and would like to sleep a couple of days. We did not notice the jet lag so much after flying to China. Now that I have whined, I am reminded we have so much to be thankful for as the Lord has been so good to us. We were delighted to have a visit from grandparents and our pastor. We had a meal brought to our home last night and I never saw a family so excited as ours to sit down and eat. Thank you!

Safe at Home

2008-11-20T21:29:00.008-05:00

The Lord has brought us home safely and we think that is such a huge blessing. He placed a wonderful family, the Spragues, with us through the hard airports (Beijing and Chicago) and we really enjoyed spending that time with them and so appreciated them guiding us through the airports--Thanks Steve and Andrea!! The trip was not without snags but minor ones and we are on the ground in the USA and very happy about that. Thank you Waresaks for picking us up--you have no idea how wonderful it was to see your faces when we got off that last plane!

Abigail is doing really well we think. We arrived at our house at 12:30 a.m. Thursday and she pretty much cried in our arms until 5 a.m. Needless to say, none of us we out of bed until 12:30 p.m. but we have had a good day at home and she has been mostly happy and we held off her napping so she is sleeping right now after only 1/2 hour of holding while walking and maybe 5 minutes of crying--this is a huge improvement.

We did come home to welcome home signs, food on our counters and in our refrigerator. We were overwhelmed by the love and generosity that provided these things! Thank you everyone! Our children (and us too!) were so thrilled to have food they recognized and to turn on the tap water and drink from it. I actually went to use a water bottle to brush my teeth then realized I don't have to do that anymore. We are truly blessed and thankful. We have gained a deeper appreciation for our missionaries and their sacrifices for long periods of time.

She is eating everything with her favorite new food being potatoes and carrots. She is not afraid to try the new foods at all. She played a lot and explored the house and it is snowing here so she thought that stuff was pretty neat.

Here are pictures of homecoming. I will go back and post other parts of our trip that I didn't have time for as soon as I can. It really was an amazing trip through which we saw God glorified through many people with their love for children without families and without access to necessary medical treatment. The group picture is all the America World families that met up in Guangzhou after going to their specific provinces to get their babies. On the day we had our consulate appointment there were 48 families from different agencies there from 27 states! And more were coming through on other days. We were in awe of the miracle of adoption the Lord has placed in hearts of these specific people. There are some we spoke to that are already planning to go back to China to adopt another baby through the waiting child program.

Well, she is sleeping so I should be too! Blessings to all.

Last day in Guanghzou

2008-11-17T18:57:00.005-05:00

Our last day here we will do a group picture and go to the consulate to get the babies visas. Abigail has been sleeping well with some crying in the night. We have done so many things while here but today we will post some pictures while at the zoo and of Abigail "coming out of her shell" a little bit. She decided that baths are not torture and that walking again is fun and allows her to explore. She loves to be outside and waves hello to people now. It is Tuesday here, we leave tomorrow and will be home Wednesday in the US. We are very thankful for your prayers as we travel.

Two Days Left in China

2008-11-17T00:13:00.006-05:00

We cannot believe there are only two more days left here. We are looking forward to coming home but getting there is going to be a long haul--a three hour flight to Beijing, 4 hour layover in the Beijing airport without a guide, 13 hour flight to Chicago then flight to Pittsburgh, then two hour drive home. Ok, I might be thinking about it too much but even after all this I have not gained a love for flying. We know you will all pray us home; we have had so much comfort knowing you are praying for us to our God who hears and answers all those prayers according to His will.

I will send pictures later because we are off to Shamian Island today. This city we are in is very tropical and warm. Abigail is doing so so good and opening up a little each day. What a sweet and beautiful (and temperamental at times of course) personality she has! We love her so much!

Sherry, whatever you need to do is fine for transportation. We are so thankful for your family and all you have done--we miss you and love you all. I do not know what condition we will be in upon arrival so thank you!

Patty, I hope Annika's boo boo is healing quickly and we will see you soon!

Will post more later--we have internet for 24 hours (we have to pay here for internet!)

Love, Mike, Jeunesse, Kacey, Payton, Maddie and Abigail

We are back from Shamian Island--after doing some paperwork we went shopping. Shopping here is much differentthan in the states and I am not great at bartering but we did okay I think. We ate very close to American food at a place called Lucy's tonight and I must admit to feeling a bit comforted by that. We ventured out in a taxi on our own for the second time, this time at night. As we drove back to our hotel I was struck by the reality of something our guide had said about there being very little middle class here. My heart was saddened by the poverty I saw amidst the big new fancy buildings. Our standards are so different here in the states. We met many friendly chinese people in a park today also, some that would just hang out with us even though the language barrier existed. And what an absolute joy for us that Mike was able to share the gospel with a couple people he had talked with before and then had a long conversation with and they had many questions! We also met a shop owner who asked our baby's name and when we said Abigail he said oh, Abigail like from the Bible and said he was a Christian and he really acted like one too! Many, many people to pray for!

Now pictures of some of the babies that became part of families in the past week, all with various special needs, abandoned for that reason. We have seen our Father in heaven work in the hearts of these dear families who love Him and He called to this country for these children--we love them all and wish we could spend more time with them! We have witnessed a great testimony to His provision during a huge trial for the Cuzzo family while here in China and we pray for joy at the end of this trial. They have turned to Him and leaned on Him for strength. Please pray for these children who have all been abandoned due to their special need and their families as they prepare to return home and seek medical care and transition into their wonderfully changed family units. Here are a few pictures of them, there are many more here. Love to you all and praise the Lord in all things!

His Mercies are New Every Day

2008-11-14T17:51:00.003-05:00

Just few more pictures and we wake up to a new day in China. Abigail slept all night after our busy travel day--Praise the Lord. I have a monster sinus infection so that was helpful. The smog is bad here and all the men smoke everywhere. The people are always amazed at how many children we have and give a thumbs up about it. They want their picture taken with the kids a lot, these are just a few pictures.

We did see the O'Boyles twice while in Beijing and what a blessing that was! It was encouraging and also fun for the children.

Caleb, thank you for praying for us and the kids all say hello and they look forward to seeing you soon.

I forgot to mention yesterday that Abigail stood on her feet for the first time yesterday since we got her. She would not stand at all and now she is walking again. Drinking is a long process for her and eating is limited but she is trying new things and pretty much wanted to eat all day yesterday!! Water is given by spoon. We are so thankful to the Lord for her progress yesterday.

We have her medical appointment today and then a trip for bottled water and supplies. Of course, I was the one who forgot and brushed my teeth with tap water one tired day but I didn't swallow. We'll see what happens.

Love and prayers to you all!

Arrival in Guanzhou and pictures

2008-11-14T08:26:00.003-05:00

The Lord landed us safely in Guanzhou (sp). Lots to see just in one bus ride. China is a place of many diverse culture within on main culture. Anyway, great day for Abigail in comparison to our first days and we started to see some of her personality today--hoping the change to another location will not be a negative thing for her. We are also praying for all of you knowing there are needs that we just are not aware of right now. It is late but here are the promised pictures.
They are of the countryside where 70% of the Chinese live and where Abigail's parents were from in some part of this huge province. One woman was so friendly and invited us into her home. The other pictures are of our children from yesterday.

Faithful God

2008-11-13T23:17:00.002-05:00

As I was praying this morning I was reminded that His word promises us that He is a faithful God, ever true, the one that we cling to and every day His mercies are new and everyday we are trusting in Him. As we prepare to leave Nanchang and move one step closer to home we are a little sad but mostly happy. She will be leaving the only country she has known and there are wonderful people here too.

Amy, how can we thank you!?? Thank you for telling us what her birth note says!! The timing was so perfect after being in the countryside. Heartbreaking but we are so happy for her that she will know that much.

The birth note was translated by a chinese friend of a good friend and says this:

My daughter was born with cleft. I live in the country side, the
> living condition is very bad.I can't afford the medical treatment. I
> hope some good
> heart person could help. Her birthday is:May-15-2007. Thank you.
> Lanting
>

After you see pictures of the country side we visited you will understand.

Abigail had what we call breakthrough in that she slept long and ate well and smiled much this morning. She got down and played and will look us in the eye more often. And she walked. She would not walk since Monday at all. God is so good, far more than we deserve! We have to move on now so hopefully that will not frighten her.

Please pray for all the families and all the babies as many transitions and difficulties are going on here. How wonderful that we are able to travel with other believers and have prayer times together!

We have to leave right now for Guanghzou--I will post pictures to this when we get there! Thank you so much for your prayers, it is keeping us going!

The babies

2008-11-13T04:01:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone! Emily, we received your e-mail--it was good to hear from you and here are more pictures. We cannot return e-mails but love reading all those being sent. Abigail had a much better day today as did most of the babies. She is starting to eat better and Patty, she is not 18 months size except for her length, she is very thin. We have some really great pictures to share in the next couple of days hopefully. We went to the countryside today--wow is all we can say about how 70% of Chinese live. They are so friendly though. We had an amazing day interacting (or sometimes trying really hard to) with Chinese people. Now I know why they scattered at the tower of Babel. Smiles and hugs say so much though. Can't wait to share more at a later date. Here are pictures of other babies in our family group and of a rare peaceful moment for Abigail. She has cried so much but less today than yesterday. She is so sweet and has been through so much and I remind myself of that whenever I feel like I just want to go home.

Tomorrow we do more paperwork and get on a flight to Guanzhou in the afternoon. I will go back after we are home and post pictures of The Great Wall and all the other amazing things we have seen and experienced on this side of God's world.

Love to you all and we cherish your e-mails and blog comments. The children really enjoy hearing from you all.

Debby, we will be praying your surgery goes well--and we are so happy your root canal was not so bad, Rachel.

Abigail's birth note at abandonment
Abigail Sleeping
Audrey
Lydia
Georgianna

The Lord is good always

2008-11-12T02:10:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone. Go ahead and look at the pictures first, I know you want to. The Lord got us to Nanchang safely on a 2 1/2 hour flight and things have been a little challenging since then. We would be lying if we said everything is great right now. God is good even in the challenging times. Abigail is having a difficult transition(Thank you Amy for your e-mail-I read it at just the right time through some tears) She is healthy in general. She eats formula, porridge, bananas and apple basically so we are introducing some new things. Drinking her bottle is a little hard for her and takes some time and she gets water by spoon. She does not like the hotel rooms at all, not even our friends hotel room--she cries a lot right now. We have seen some small smiles, a few playful moments. We hope that leaving this hotel on Friday will help her. We are doing some sightseeing and she likes to be out being held the whole time. The kids are swimming in the pool and really being so good and patient with their baby sister. We love her so much and look forward to each day getting better. We are thankful for your e-mails (Rachel and Ryan and Sami--we miss you too) and honestly really need your prayers right now. We will share more in future posts. The Lord has shown us much about people, other cultures and given us opportunities to share kindnesses with people we cannot verbally communicate at all or very little. Pray for little Abigail--she seems to be the most traumatized baby in our group (we will share pictures of the other babies and families in a later post). Also pray for a family in our group that were faced with some enormous decisions regarding their adoption as they seek God's will in their situation. We are headed out to find some dinner. Love to you all from China. Tomorrow we go to the countryside and we are looking forward to that. The cities are amazingly crazy here

friends writing update for Nageottes

2008-11-11T20:23:00.002-05:00

We just heard from Jeunesse's mother and gave us the following update:

Mike called his mom today and indicated that they are in a very rural place without internet access. Maddie is feeling better. They have had Abigail for two nights. They will be moving on to their next destination today (China time) and hopefully will have internet access at that time.

Leaving for Nancheng

2008-11-09T15:55:00.002-05:00

This is the day! Just a quick note to ask if you would keep Maddie in your prayers. She has a cough that just keeps nagging and seems to be getting worse. We will try to post later with pictures of our new family. Thank you for your prayers and e-mails. I just can't e-mail back but we love getting them! Love to all!

Beijing, China

2008-11-09T09:24:00.010-05:00

Hello everyone. I think we have worked out some computer issues so I will try again. We are so tired so I am posting a short one today but will post tomorrow--the day we finally meet our daughter. We have seen so many wonderful things in the last few days but the best part was meeting people, trying to communicate with them and mostly just communicating with smiles and gestures. So much I could say but will have to do that later. We have a 7:30 a.m. flight to Nancheng tomorrow but need to meet in the hotel lobby at 5:30 a.m.!! We will meeting Abigail in Nancheng. My stomach is in knots of joy and wonder of that meeting. And, the luggage came (what a praise) and thank you for your e-mails as they are encouraging. Oh, we did attend an international church today which was really amazing. Until tomorrow, here are a few pictures from the last couple days but there were so many to choose from that I will post some others later.

We made it!!

2008-11-08T08:40:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone! We are not able to e-mail from China but we can receive e-mails. Rachel, Maddie says hello and thank you for praying!

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We are in China!

2008-11-07T09:12:00.002-05:00

Hello all. We made it and are very glad to be here in China. There were some delays in our flight from Pittsburgh to D.C. We barely made it to our connecting flight...unfortunately our luggage was not as fortunate and did not make it. All we have is our carry on bags. The O'Boyles surprised us and met us at the airport. It was great to be greeted by them!

Our schedule over the next two days are busy ones.

Here we come Abigail!

2008-11-06T20:54:00.003-05:00

The Nageotte family has left for China! Please pause the music player on the lower right side of our blog prior to watching the video.

We are Ready to Meet our Little Girl

2008-11-04T21:45:00.004-05:00

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

We are ready to go! We will leave on Thursday morning at 6 a.m. for the airport. We are rookie travelers so if you are behind us in line, please be patient!

As the day draws nearer to meeting our little girl, we are again humbled by God's amazing provision for our family to be able to make this journey and we know He will give us the strength needed to glorify Him. We are amazed at the love He has instilled in us for Abigail that will remain forever. We are thankful for the prayer warriors out there in our church and elsewhere for we know God hears the prayers of His people and answers. We will continue to pray for your lives as well. Most of all, we are thankful for Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us that grants us the way to our Father in heaven.

We will attempt to post from China and cannot wait for Abigail to meet all the dear people who have loved her from afar with us.

Our little girl who is waiting

The bags are loaded and we are excited!
Our dear friend Annika came to visit us before we leave

Praise be to God, from whom all blessings flow!

2008-10-31T22:18:00.002-04:00

There is not much to say today except.......We received our Itinerary for our stay in China!!! Seeing each leg of the trip on paper made us think "Wow, we really are going to China on Thursday!" The Lord is bringing us closer to meeting our daughter Abigail day by day and we have found a calm trust in Him that dissolves all anxiety through His word.

How we will spend our days in China:

November 6th –November 19th

 Thursday, Nov. 6th Depart for Beijing

 Friday, Nov. 7th Arrive in Beijing

 Saturday, Nov. 8th Beijing Sight-Seeing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden
City, Summer Palace (See Anne and Greg O'Boyle and family!!)

 Sunday, Nov. 9th Beijing Sight-Seeing: Church Service, Great Wall
Meet Abigail Day!
 Monday, Nov. 10th Morning-flight to Jiangxi
Afternoon-Meet Abigail Esther Nageotte
Civil Affairs Appointment

 Nov. 11th -13th Paperwork, Sight-seeing, & Shopping

 Friday, Nov. 14th Flight to Guangzhou

 Saturday, Nov. 15th Sight-seeing, & Shopping

 Sunday, Nov. 16th Medical Exam & Consulate Paperwork

 Monday, Nov. 17th Consulate Appointment

 Tuesday, Nov. 18th Pick up Child’s Visa

 Wednesday, Nov. 19th Depart from Guangzhou
Depart from Beijing

Thank you for your prayers!

Six More Days!!

2008-10-30T22:00:00.003-04:00

We have felt a little weak the last few days as the many "unknowns" rattle in our brains. We are so thankful to God for His amazing grace and mercy and for His word to remind us of so many wonderful truths. Isaiah 40:28-31 has been the focal point for a few days and so we share it with you:

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

This journey is BIG for us. We know He has sent us and that He is bigger and able to overcome any worry of ours. We would be so thankful for your prayers for all the orphans and needy children of the world; for those families preparing to travel on November 6th; and for those still held up in the waiting process. God's timing is perfect!!

And....yes it snowed in Northwestern Pennsylvania...a lot. It was very beautiful and to our children's delight, it was great packing snow!! The pictures tell it all.

Sweet Signs

2008-10-26T19:19:00.002-04:00

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads for the the prisoners with singing..." Psalm 68:5

In the last few days, we have taken note of some sweet signs that it is time for the Lord to bring Abigail (Lan Ting) into our family and home. Our hearts are rejoicing! We are continually praying God will prepare her heart and ours for the very traumatic transition that is coming. We pray this for all the little ones and their families as we prepare to travel with others on this amazing adoption journey. We also pray for those of you who are reading this and God is nudging you to step out in faith for the orphans of the world...that you would seek Him and His will...and walk by faith.

Ten days until we leave for China--it is so hard to believe!

We are Going to China!

2008-10-22T21:06:00.003-04:00

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

Just typing that verse gives us shivers. There have been moments on the adoption journey where we wondered why the Lord was sending us; we questioned being worthy; we questioned going so far, etc. He has taken us around, above, beyond many things that appeared to be very big obstacles. We pray each day for guidance to remain in His will as our lives continue to unfold. God has given us so much joy, even in the uncertain times; and we are so happy to finally have approval to travel to China for our daughter, chosen for us as all our children are.

The news of the day is that we have a consulate appointment on November 17th for Abigail. We will leave the U.S. on November 6th and return on November 19th!!! Tonight we celebrated--Kacey, Payton and Maddie are so excited to bring their sister home finally. We will post our exact travel itinerary as soon as it comes. Thank you all for your prayers!

Rejoicing!

2008-10-20T20:51:00.005-04:00

"And my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; It shall exalt in His salvation. All my bones will say, "Lord, who is like you..." Psalm 35:9-10

We are rejoicing today because no one is like our God and we are so thankful for salvation.

We are also rejoicing today because.......we received our TA (Travel Approval)!! Our tentative travel dates are November 6th-20th. We should have definite dates by the end of the week. We are still trying to understand and believe that we are actually going to have our daughter in our arms soon. We are all very happy at this thought. It is just so amazing how God so perfectly planned and chose this little girl for our family and we can't wait to tell her about Him!

Our Great Comforter

2008-10-15T22:02:00.003-04:00

Psalm 23 "...For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

The Lord brought us a tremendous amount of comfort today with these pictures of Abigail looking at the photo album we sent to her in a care package. Mostly because we could see her and that she is well. Also because she has seen us for the first time--in pictures only but we are praying we will travel to China very soon!

I am at a loss for words right now. These pictures are of people half a world away from each other that our great God in His perfect plan is bringing together!

A Gift from God

2008-10-13T14:23:00.002-04:00

It is truly a gift from God to be able to perform surgery and we are sure there are many more amazing surgeries but we can tell you that this one amazed us. Abigail's surprise cleft lip surgery in China is only possible by our God gifting someone with a skill that changes lives and through the hearts of people who facilitate organizations like China Care. At the time of accepting our little daughter's referral, we had no idea that such a thing would happen. Needless to say, after we recovered from the surprise of the information and pictures we were able to clearly see the testing of our faith that we came close to miserably failing. But God gave us the ability in our hearts to love her as soon as we saw her and we knew this was the child He had chosen for our family after three years of waiting. It will be a privilege to be able to witness her palate surgery here in the states upon returning. Our God is the one who is so patient with us even though we think we are the patient ones! Thank you to our God for His Word to direct our paths!

Reflecting on God's Faithfulness and Miracles

2008-10-10T23:04:00.003-04:00

As we prepare material things for our new little daughter, my thoughts and emotions are in overdrive. We are so thankful to God for His amazing attention to every detail of our lives and the many miracles He has shown us through adoption. As we wait for Travel Approval, we know He has every detail covered by His love, mercy and grace. The difficult times grow us and prepare us to glorify our Savior, Jesus Christ, more. There are many unknowns for both Abigail and for us and we are praying for God to prepare her heart for us and us for her. We are just so excited to meet Abigail and love her and share the love of Jesus with her, but in the meantime, we have much to do (prepare travel paperwork, pack, finish up things around the house, homeschool three children, etc.) In the pictures you will see the girls' room and Abigail's crib for which the bedding was provided through so many generous people who gave gift cards at the shower. Other wonderful gifts are around the room, in the crib and on the walls. Thank you!!! And thank you for your prayers!!!!

Mike and Jeunesse

The 1st Suitcase is Packed!

2008-10-06T22:33:00.005-04:00

We have packed our first suitcase for our trip to China. It contains 28 pairs of pajamas and 7 homemade blankets made and given by so many near and dear to us! Thank you to all of you who donated and made pajamas and blankets. We will be giving them to the True Children's Home where Abigail has been living for the past 5 months since the Lord moved her there for her surgery on her cleft lip (palate surgery will be done here after she is home).

God is using The True Children's Homes, sponsored by ChinaCare, to work miracles in orphaned babies lives by providing love, necessary medical care, a clean living environment, all with the goal of finding these children a family!

We are so thankful! Check out their links to the right if you are interested in learning more about these two organizations.

Another Step Closer

2008-10-04T21:22:00.004-04:00

The FedEx man in the picture below thought I was going to reprimand him as he apologized because the delivery was late. Little did he know that we were ecstatic to see his delivery and even wanted his picture!

Yes, our RA came on Friday, September 25, 2008 and for this we were so thankful to our God. We had accepted Abigail's referral back on August 15th!

Kacey, Payton and Maddie are sooo excited at the thought of their little sister coming in person to wear these bibs! Next stop, TA (Travel Approval). We know it will be God's perfect timing.

Showered with Blessings

2008-10-01T22:07:00.006-04:00

Wow, what a really special blessing to have a baby shower (who would have thought at my age??!!) This shower was fun and we received so many needed and wonderful things for Abigail. Thank you everyone and a special thank you to those who took time out of their busy lives to plan this. It was such a joy to have all the little ones there to share in this night!

Generosity

2008-09-29T20:45:00.007-04:00

Let's backtrack a couple weeks now that I have this blog thing somewhat down. Some very dear friends of ours felt the Lord place on their hearts to have a spaghetti dinner to help us bring our daughter home from China. Our thankfulness to the Lord and them cannot be expressed in words! As we looked across our church gymnasium we saw so many people serving and caring in the name of Christ. Thank you so much to those who planned and carried out the dinner and to all of you who came for bringing us one step closer to the little girl God has chosen for our family! We can't wait to tell her about her mighty God's faithfulness through so many!

Soon to Be Newest Member of our Family -- Abigail Esther Nageotte

2008-09-28T00:06:00.002-04:00

Blessings

2008-09-27T23:44:00.004-04:00

After three long years, God has miraculously shown us the little girl He chose to become a member of our family! We are overjoyed and cannot wait to hold her in our arms. His timing has been perfect (although we did not understand at times) and His grace and mercy beyond our comprehension.

We received our RA (Referral Acceptance) on Friday, September 26, 2008 and hope to travel in the next 3-5 weeks to China. The next approval will be a TA (Travel Approval) and then we can go.

There is so much joy in this adoption journey along with a great test of our faith and patience that has only grown us closer to our God and Savior. Our prayer is that many others would be turned toward considering the many children without families and take that step to walk by faith.

Abigail Esther Nageotte

2008-08-17T14:20:00.006-04:00

It is with great pleasure that we introduce to you our newest daughter:

Abigail Esther Nageotte
Born on May 15, 2007 in Jiangxi Province, China
15 months old

Her report says that she was found on May 29, 2007 in or near the train/bus station and taken to the Social Welfare Institute in Yingtan

We are amazed and in awe over this precious gift that God has entrusted to our family. We are in the process of finalizing paperwork and preparing for travel.

Please stay tuned and we will keep you abreast on our latest happenings.

Pray for a speedy travel assignment, continued care for Abigail while she's in China and future plans for facial surgeries.