Change of plan

i love the old quip that the easiest way to make God laugh is to make plans. God must be giggling at my expense.


today, minutes after writing the Chinese officials a plea to make a special exception in our case(we're less than $4k shy of minimum financial requirement) and requesting a specific child, we were emailed informing us that sweet "annalisa" as she was listed on the agency site, was matched with a family.


my heart sings for joy that she will have a family to love her. i prayed for her to be adopted, not for her to be mine. that is why i posted a different name. God knew she wasn't meant for us and blessed me with forewarning that her name would be jiara. very kind indeed to save me the heartache of expecting this particular sweetie. THANK YOU GOD FOR YOUR PROTECTION


we will pray for her always- that her new family would be loving and perfect for her- that God will always shine on her and bless her.


now i turn my attention and pleas to "jiara" whom we don't know yet. i pray  God gives her the patience to endure waiting for us, that her birth parents' hearts are healed,  her caregivers are kind, and that she feels God's love and provision even if she isn't aware of Him yet.


i must say thank you to all those who wrote me in support and love. so much encouragement and advice.  your love for us is reflected back in all those we love. THANK YOU GOD FOR SHOWING ME HOW LOVED WE ARE


i copied and pasted this from a dear friend's email. awesome. thanks e!

James 1:27 (New Century Version)

²⁷ Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and without fault is this:
caring for orphans or widows who need help,
and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence.

雅 各 書 1:27 (Chinese Union Version (Traditional))

 ²⁷ 在 神 我 們 的 父 面 前 ， 那 清 潔 沒 有 玷 污 的 虔 誠 ， 就 是 看 顧 在 患 難 中 的 孤 兒 寡 婦 ， 並 且 保 守 自 己 不 沾 染 世 俗 。

雅 各 書 1:27 (Chinese Union Version (Simplified))

 ²⁷ 在 神 我 们 的 父 面 前 ， 那 清 洁 没 有 玷 污 的 虔 诚 ， 就 是 看 顾 在 患 难 中 的 孤 儿 寡 妇 ， 并 且 保 守 自 己 不 沾 染 世 俗 。

Matthew 25:34-40 (Amplified Bible)

³⁴Then the King will say...,
"Come, you blessed of My Father
[you favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation],
inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

³⁵For I was hungry and you gave Me food,
I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves
and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me,

    ³⁶I was naked and you clothed Me,
I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care,
I was in prison and you came to see Me...

Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for
one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren,
you did it for Me."