Merry Christmas Emma Grace

Emma's first ornament! 

 

I wanted to post a video that explains my heart this Christmas.  I celebrate Christ's birth with my family this year with a piece missing, Emma Grace.  May God bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you this special day of Jesus' birth.  May you never know another lonely Christmas for all of your days, Emma!  Momma loves you and is counting the days till I can hold you in my arms .  God bless you with His perfect peace today!

 

 If you can handle a cry...go ahead and listen.  :)

 

 

 

Merry Christmas

by Third Day (written by Brad Avery)

 

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 tell you from my heart

I wish you Merry Christmas

We Got the Call!!!

China said yes!  She is ours!  Our wait for the RA is now over!  We got the call saying our official referral acceptance documents had arrived at America World Adoption Association.  The document will now be over-nighted to us for our signatures and then be sent right back!  We are so thankful to have this part over with as it is China's official permission to adopt the little girl that has captured our hearts for several months now.  So with no further ado...we are allowed to post her pictures now!  May I introduce you to Emma Grace Morgan, born on August 26th, 2011.  She lives in Baoji, Shaanxi, China.

 

 This was taken when Emma was 6 months old.  It is the first picture we saw of her and the one we fell in love with. 

 

 

This was taken a couple days after her 1st birthday, in August.

Isn't she precious!  I can't wait to see a smile on her face and maybe a little more hair up top! :)

Now we enter the next phase of paperwork and the nitty gritty of getting ready to travel, oh and, mail out the Christmas card that I just couldn't print up without her picture on it!  Praise God for His blessings!  We hope to travel early to mid March! 
This is where I jump up and click my heals in excitment...that is, if I could jump up and click my heals!  :)

Never Give Up!

 

 

My reminder for the day! 

 

oooops!

Every few days I look through my 'while you wait for your RA' packet, making sure that I have all my paperwork in order for the day our RA call comes.  On that day, we have a major packet of papers to send off to clarify that the prior approval from the US government that gave us a blanket approval to adopt 'some' Chinese orphan now will be for a special known child from China.  As I was looking through all the notes that our adoption agency has been so good to spell out for us...I noticed something I hadn't seen before, or maybe I just ignored.  It talks about the expected wait times from PA to RA being 2-4 months, with an average of 2.5 months.   60 to 120 days.  Then it says "Don't compare yourself to other families and how fast or slow their RA have arrived" AND "Don't count the days".   Ooooooooooops!  Guilty.  This morning dawns as day 68, to be exact.  Others I have watched go through the process have waited in the 70-80 day range.  So after 68 days of counting and crossing the days off the calendar...I realize I shouldn't have been...oh well.  I will continue to count!  So day number 68....hoping for the wait to end this week and expecting it to go all the way to 120 days!  Either way, I know God's timing is perfect for us, for her, for me and as I battle the emotions that have attached themselves to my heart since day 1, I will continue to give it back to Him even for more than 120 days!

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  

Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:34

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving came and flew by!  We have so much to be thankful for here on Long Hollow Road!  Thankful for family near and far and for the five blessings God has entrusted Justin and I with!   I *tried* to get each child to pose for some picture updates and for the yearly Christmas card family shot!  So here goes....

Mark, age 10, so caring and tender-hearted,

responsible and playful although very stoic!

 

Matthew, age 6

All boy and adventure, never a moment without another

fabulous question!

 

Ashley, age 4

Super sweet Daddy worshipper!  All about girlie everything, except when it is

time to work with Dad!

 

Beth Ann, age 2

Mischievous go-getter in a tiny package that loves to take time

out for cuddles!

 

The Crew, missing Emma Grace, can't wait to add her to the shot next year!

 

 

The Morgan Family, 2012!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

40 Days!

Today marks 40 days since we accepted our referral for our dear sweet "China Sister"!  The perimeters of wait from now to RA is 30-120 days...so I am embracing day 40 as the 1/3 mark!  The time has sped by in lightning fashion and yet has crept by ever so slowly. I am thankful this week for two new friends that God has put in my path, both who love Him and who are adopting from the same country, province, city, and orphanage!  What a gift to share this waiting game with them!

 

"Yet those who wait for the Lord

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary"

Isaiah 40:31

 



 

 



My Middle Man!

A great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet middle man, Matthew!  He has taught us all so much about life and how to embrace each moment with GUSTO!  He intrigues me with his questions (like what happens if you glue your lips together, Mom?), impresses me with his ideas and questions, gives the best Velcro hugs, tells me daily something he wants to do when he grows up, loves Jesus with a sweet faith, loves to collect things, keeps everyone he knows in stitches, never knows a stranger (like his Grandpa Great Miller), loves his family, and keeps everyone on their toes ALL. THE. TIME.

All about Matt this year...
Grade..Kindergarten, Mrs. Largent's class
Favorite color..green
Favorite food..banana's (although allergic)
Favorite toy..bugs
Favorite activity..art
Favorite place to go..toy store
Favorite person..Mom (aw!)
Favorite ice cream..any
Favorite character..smurfs  (??okay, wouldn't have guessed that one)
Favorite movie..Jeff Corwin on Netflix
What he wants to be when he grows up...a bug scientist
What he likes to do with Dad..snuggle
Favorite animal..snake  (rattle snake and king cobra)
Favorite restaurant..Chinese
Favorite birthday present..bugs (real bugs sealed in silicone)
Most excited about..his baby sister in China, Emma

Sweet Matt, I pray the Lord will guide you and teach you as you grow to use your kind heart and outgoing personality to share God's love with others.  May you never lose your adventurous spirit but use it all for the glory of God!  Love you so much!  Happy Birthday!