Update on Hope

It turns out that the blog that i wrote earlier this week didn't actually post, and neither did the picture.  Oh well.  O.E. is the story of my life.  Thats why i surround myself with people that are geniuses in the area i'm defunct in. :0)

So anyway, i wanted to update you on where we are in our Journey to Hope and ask you to pray.  We received our Travel Approval from China and now we are only waiting on one document from US Immigration.  But its only the single most important paper that we will need to secure her future here in the US when she returns.  Turns out this is not work as quick as you can this month and there seems to be a delay in getting this paper.  Our agency says that if we don't get this paper by the end of this next week that our chances of traveling to China to get Hope in May start to slim tremendously.  So we are down to the wire.  So can I ask you to pray for Officer N.  He has been very helpful to us in the past and may be the key to getting this expedited.  As you know, the reason we are hoping to travel in May is so that we can all travel together as a family to China (including Mark).  May is our only month completely off this year until December.  And we will have to be gone for 18 days.  So. . . thank you for partnering with us in prayer.  God knows what we need and what our sweet little Hope needs and He is in control of this situation. So we are asking for His Will to be done and not ours.  But we are also asking that He will get ALL the glory for the timing on this.

On another note, we received an update from Hope's orphanage recently along with some updated pictures.  They say that her overall health is good.  They also say that she like to talk to people.  Her updated measurements indicate that she is still very small for her age.  She is 31 months old but measures smallest in a group of 24 month olds. I'm praying that God will give me wisdom on how to nurture her physically through a healthy diet.  At the same time, i'm thinking she probably just needs some French Fries and Chicken McNuggets.  :0)

I'll try to post a new pic of her, but i can't make any promises due to my seeming blogging handicap.

The pic i want to post shows an "almost smile", and its precious.  But i must tell you that this Mothers Heart wants so bad to see a big 'ol smile on that sweet face.  Our family longs to teach our Hope about the Joy she will have in Jesus.  Joy unspeakable and full of glory.  I can't wait to blog her first smile caught on film.

Thank you again for your prayers and support.  They mean a great deal to our family.

Longing for HOPE,

Melanie Hall