It's Been a While. . .

I haven't posted in some time because there has been absolutely nothing to report on the adoption front. Journeys of the Heart seems to be stuck in a desert wasteland currently with no referral news at all. Of course, even though we are 10th on the list, any news is great news. Each referral brings us one step closer to our baby girl. So, we still eagerly await good news for our waiting families. Those at the top of the wait list are experiencing a pretty excruciating wait. They've been watching the phone daily since the end of November full of hope---but each passing day another disappointment. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

The GOOD news is, thankfully, I am very busy, right now. I am blessed to be able to do the thing I love the most and that is theatre. I have the wonderful opportunity to be on both sides of the stage, currently. I'm in a fabulous production of George Washington Carver (celebrating the life and accomplishments of that fine man), and I am having the great opportunity to serve as an instructor with the Youth Program of a local professional performing arts group----ABSOLUTELY amazingly talented kids. That allows me to tap back into my "teacher" mode. I haven't taught since my daughter was born 6 years ago. So, working with these kids---singing and dancing---what more could I want??? :-) And, thirdly, I have been commissioned to write a show to go into the schools for "Alice in Wonderland". I have to write the curriculum and the one-woman show. Very challenging (especially the show part), but I am LOVING it!! This work is challenging me to grow in the areas I love the most---and very importantly---it is taking my mind off of the SLOW period in this adoption journey. I'm thankful for that. Otherwise, I'm the type of person who would sit at my email hitting "refresh" over and over hoping for good news to be posted.
I believe in God's timing. And, right now must be the time for me to work and grow in other areas. I will embrace this time to grow while I wait for our daughter to come home.
I'll keep you posted as new news develops. Have a great week.

No news is no news

I have been waiting to post because we have been eagerly awaiting wonderful news that many of our JOH friends have received their referrals after our facilitator's trip home from Taiwan. Well, it has been a full week, now, since she arrived back in the U.S. and there has been one referral. And, for Holly and Rich---she is absolutely beautiful beyond measure!!!! For the rest of the waiting families, the news hasn't been so great. For Program III, there has been no more word of referrals. And, for Program II (which is the St. Lucy's orphanage program)--they received very disappointing news this week. Apparantly, JOH is not as high on the priority list as some other agencies, and those families waiting (some for 19 months already) may not see a referral for a very long time more. Our facilitator learned that JOH has been getting skipped all-together for referrals in that program unless there are more than 4 referrals in a given month. My heart goes out to those families who are hurting from this.

Hopefully, soon, there will be happy news to post! One wonderful bit of news is that Michelle and Byron, indeed, have a very beautiful, healthy and happy baby girl who loves her new family--and I got the opportunity to witness it with my own two eyes. That gives me great hope!!!

One day, our time will come. . . and in the meantime, we will be about our business, staying busy, living life and trying not to think too much about "when" the phone will ring. One day, our sweet girl will be home---and she will be worth the wait.

To the rest of my waiting friends----you are in my heart and prayers, right now. Thank you for reading.

Holidays 2008

Holidays 2008, originally uploaded by kwhite1972.

The White Family chose to celebrate the New Year at home. We rang in 2009 in style with some tasty treats and took some pictures to share. This time next year, we will be a family of 4! Welcome 2009.

Closing out 2008, Reflecting on our Adoption Journey

I changed our blog background to ladybugs because ladybugs are good luck symbols in adoption. All of my adoption community friends are nodding their heads and smiling because it is a good luck charm adoptive parents come to know. Since we are now closing out 2008 and a little more than a full year from the beginning of our paper chase/homestudy process to now being #10 on the wait list, we are eager for the exciting and magical things 2009 promises to bring---namely our daughter home to us. . . so ladybugs are on order!!!

Adoption is not something people fall into by accident. It is such a long and arduous and costly and emotional and trying process, that only the strongest, most determined make it to the finish line. And,many people are stopped short at various points in the process due to the rigorous standards and constant changes that go hand-in-hand with the adoption journey. I have heard many times that adoption is not for the faint of heart. That is true. It takes great faith, diligence, planning, optimism and patience to walk this road, and sometimes even then can end in heartbreak. But, I cling to the belief that when the time is right (I believe in God's timing), the diligence is rewarded---and the reward is something that cannot be measured in earthly measurements. The reward will go straight through your heart to the depths of the soul intertwining lives together, fulfilling purpose, completing families, making a difference and changing every life touched by the adoption.

The road that led Geoff and me to adoption began over a year ago---but really long before that--long before we even knew we were being called to adopt to complete our family. And, every day has been preparing us since then. Even the delays and heart-aches along the way. Every person arrives at the decision to adopt from different places--but the end result is the same. A child comes home and a family is created.

I look forward to the beautiful things 2009 brings---to our family and to the countless others I've met along this journey. And, my hope is that the other 143 million orphaned children in our world will also come to know their families.

Thank you for following, and hopefully soon there will be exciting referral news for our JOH families. I will post as soon as news occurs!

Happy New Year!

Dancing Lights at Calloway Gardens

Geoff had a good time playing with light on the trolley ride through the Christmas light displays at Calloway. The ride was so bumpy, that it was nearly impossible to get any clear shots--so, he made the most of it and actually liked the result! Kind of crazy and abstract, but amazing what the camera saw on a slow shutter speed. Hope you have fun looking!

Fairy that brings spring

This one is my favorite! I think it may have been an angel.

This is the shot of Snowflake Valley with a fast shutter speed

Snowflake Valley at a slow shutter speed
Gorgeous tree covered in lights reflecting off the lake

Our first adoption purchase!

We bit the bullet and purchased this decor for our nursery! We are so excited!!! This is our first purchase for our adoption. We are still #10 on our waitlist, but when we found this nursery, we couldn't resist!!

Inoticed the full picture doesnt' show up for me unless I click on the mousepad and click on "view image". Then the full picture appears--if you want to check it out!
I'll be posting more pictures from Christmas soon, so keep checking back :-)

Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for following our journey!

Holiday Angels and Christmas Luaus!!!

What an exciting few days it has been! We closed "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" yesterday after 29 performances! Anna Grace was a lovely angel in the angel chorus. She enjoyed posing for these pictures ;-)

And, today was the day of Anna Grace's birthday luau! What a good time we had. Anna Grace's "Yaya" flew in from Asheville, NC and "Mama B" made a trip into town . Here are a few memories from our special day.

Merry Christmas everyone! And, thanks for reading. . .