I sent an email to our adoption agency this week.... I said "All I want for Christmas is our P.A.". They said they hadn't heard if they'd be getting any this week.
When I hadn't heard anything by Friday evening, I was a little disappointed and was resigned to the fact that we'd still have to wait. But then.... at about 5:30 this afternoon, I checked my email from mom's house in SC.... and it was there!!! DHL had delivered the PA to the agency today!! HOORAY!
For those of you who don't know, P.A. stands for Pre-Approval. In other words, we got our pre-approval from China to adopt Chang Hua Hui (aka Samuel). China said YES!! Praise the LORD!
Now we can send Sam a care package and pictures of us. We can tell him that he has a family that loves him and can't wait to come get him and bring him home. We can tell him that we'll love him forever and that he is part of our forever family. Hold on Sammy!! Mommy and Daddy are coming!!!! Hopefully we'll all be patient enough to wait for the rest of our paperwork and red tape to be done so we'll be able to get him late this spring.
Thanks to the LORD for an awesome Christmas gift!!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Friday, December 01, 2006
Merry Christmas
I was listening to the radio this morning and heard the song "Merry Christmas" by Third Day. I was all choked up by the end of the song. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to get the music to play here, but for now here are the lyrics.... They are worth the read!
There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for momma's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
There the forgotten are
But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,
Make angels in the snow
But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child
and we celebrate his perfect gift of love
He came to earth to give his life
and prepare a place for us
so we could have a home with him above
It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for momma's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
There the forgotten are
But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,
Make angels in the snow
But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child
and we celebrate his perfect gift of love
He came to earth to give his life
and prepare a place for us
so we could have a home with him above
It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
Monday, November 20, 2006
What a great week!
Whether you have heard the news or not, let what I write settle in for a bit before you jump all over me.
This week has been jam packed full of drama for the Vogel family. Since this is John posting, I will make it brief- Kirsten is much better at the detailed and heartfelt posts.
Tuesday- I had to fire someone. Contrary to what some might think, it is never fun, and always leaves you with more work to do.
Wednesday morning- Jake goes to the doctor for what we think is a UTI (I will let you guess if you don't know) and he is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Kirsten called me at work and I turned into a little girl- serious tears (for those wondering, I was able to make it into the solitude of my car before anyone saw me).
Thursday- I had to be in Chapel Hill first thing in the morning for a conference. It is always good to see your boss (I see mine 4 times a year) and he makes you feel like poo. I managed to get back to Greensboro in time for Kirsten to call me about waiting in line for the PS3 (long story) so I quickly made it to position 12. After a few hours, the store manager came out and announced they had 8 units available. I went home and relayed the news. Oh, and Kir got an email that said we may not be able to adopt because I was a less-than-stellar 14 year old.
Friday- Trying to wrap up a very hectic week. Kirsten and I were on the phone trying to deal with the miles of red tape from the adoption nightmare, I mean process, and my cell phone rings. It is Kim, from up the street, telling me Jake was in an accident and it's an emergency. I relay to Kirsten who is on the other line and Kirsten drops everything.
We find out that Jake was skitching and fell. Kirsten took him to the emergency room and had his head dermabonded.. He was admitted to the hospital for the diabetes and is set to be released today.
Oh, and Lilly Birthday was yesterday- trumped by the aforementioned turn of events.
So why would I call that a great week? Because I felt closer to God this past week than I have in a long time. God drew me back to Him, and I am so glad for that. God sent encouragement from friends and family who I thought might not care. God gave me (and Kirsten) the strength to be the rock for our kids. God gave me hope. And isn't that what He does best? He gives us hope. For what is life without hope?
Hopeless, I guess.
Knowing that God performs miracles in the midst of a storm does not make travel through the storm easier, but it does give purpose to the storm.
Thank you God for my many blessings- You, Family, Friends, Job, and stuff.
-john
This week has been jam packed full of drama for the Vogel family. Since this is John posting, I will make it brief- Kirsten is much better at the detailed and heartfelt posts.
Tuesday- I had to fire someone. Contrary to what some might think, it is never fun, and always leaves you with more work to do.
Wednesday morning- Jake goes to the doctor for what we think is a UTI (I will let you guess if you don't know) and he is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Kirsten called me at work and I turned into a little girl- serious tears (for those wondering, I was able to make it into the solitude of my car before anyone saw me).
Thursday- I had to be in Chapel Hill first thing in the morning for a conference. It is always good to see your boss (I see mine 4 times a year) and he makes you feel like poo. I managed to get back to Greensboro in time for Kirsten to call me about waiting in line for the PS3 (long story) so I quickly made it to position 12. After a few hours, the store manager came out and announced they had 8 units available. I went home and relayed the news. Oh, and Kir got an email that said we may not be able to adopt because I was a less-than-stellar 14 year old.
Friday- Trying to wrap up a very hectic week. Kirsten and I were on the phone trying to deal with the miles of red tape from the adoption nightmare, I mean process, and my cell phone rings. It is Kim, from up the street, telling me Jake was in an accident and it's an emergency. I relay to Kirsten who is on the other line and Kirsten drops everything.
We find out that Jake was skitching and fell. Kirsten took him to the emergency room and had his head dermabonded.. He was admitted to the hospital for the diabetes and is set to be released today.
Oh, and Lilly Birthday was yesterday- trumped by the aforementioned turn of events.
So why would I call that a great week? Because I felt closer to God this past week than I have in a long time. God drew me back to Him, and I am so glad for that. God sent encouragement from friends and family who I thought might not care. God gave me (and Kirsten) the strength to be the rock for our kids. God gave me hope. And isn't that what He does best? He gives us hope. For what is life without hope?
Hopeless, I guess.
Knowing that God performs miracles in the midst of a storm does not make travel through the storm easier, but it does give purpose to the storm.
Thank you God for my many blessings- You, Family, Friends, Job, and stuff.
-john
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Fall Days
We've had a beautiful fall here in North Carolina!! The yellow, orange, and red leaves are gorgeous this year, the sky has been blue, and the temperature has been fabulous... some sweaters and jackets mixed in with t-shirt days!!
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