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
Comments
She is so stinkin' cute! :) Thanks for the update! I just had to get in touch and let you know that it was wonderful to meet you at the St. Paul concert. I was so hoping that you would be around so we could deliver our little gift. We'll continue to pray for your family and all the powers that be in the paperwork chain that things fall into place for May travel. What a blessing to receive new photo updates!
Beth (& Hope) in WI
I have many friends who have adopted and I have been a home school mom. Will pray you have peace while going about God's business!
Have been praying for The Coming Home Project (www.thecominghomeproject.org). Will you look it over, pray about bringing the Tour to northern Virginia Memorial Weekend to support our troops as they are "coming home" from Iraq and Afghanistan? We are experiencing such an awakening of the Holy Spirit of the Living God in our country and my family, individually. Will you consider passing your HOPE to us in Middleburg, VA? Find us at Meadowkirk, a Christian retreat center that prides itself in offering safe haven to those who search for God in the meadows!! www.meadowkirk.org. ~Shannon
Having been in the waiting game twice so far, I can sure sympathize! I will be praying for God's timing, Hope's health and your peace!
She sure is amazingly cute! Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
Andrea
http://4blessed.blogspot.com/
She is so precious ! Congratulations ! I will be praying for you to travel in May , we have done this three times and each time had a need to travel at a certain time . I will tell you how much we learned about God's timing during our adoptions :0 . Our Katie was very small when we received her and at 10 still is . She eats well but at 10 is still wearing some size 6x clothes . Praying ! Judy
She is beautiful!!!!! I will be keeping her and your whole family in our prayers.
Thank you for your fantastic music...it speaks to me in so many ways. May God continue to bless you all.
Kate
She is beautiful!!!!! I will be keeping her and your whole family in our prayers.
Thank you for your fantastic music...it speaks to me in so many ways. May God continue to bless you all.
Kate
Melanie,
I love her already! So happy for this for your family... Love you, too!!!
Cindy J
She's beautiful...can't wait to see the smile, either. I've been keeping an eye on your blogs and tweets about this and have been praying. I can't put into words how happy I am for the Hall family, including Hope. God bless you guys!
Saw the tweet that you are making travel arrangements! SO SO happy for you all that you are getting to travel as you hoped. God is working all things for His good...and yours. YAY God! :o)
Many blessings
Andrea
http://4blessed.blogspot.com/
So excited for you!!! We have been home with our Jiangxi girl for a year now. She was 1 yr and 10 days when we got her and she couldn't even sit up....She was like a marshmellow with zero muscle tone. That all changed before our very eyes. Love is a very powerful force! We'll be praying for you as you prepare for this journey of a lifetime! www.grimespartyoffive.blogspot.com Our Gotcha and China journal is in the March of '09 archives.
She is adorable!!!!
God is so awesome You get your new baby on Mothers Day Seen you guys in college station Texas your words in the youth pastors meeting really touched my heart I am a new youth Pastor your words confimed that I am exactly where God has placed me God bless you and your family.