Happy Birthday Nina-Li

Today is Nina-Li's 7th Birthday! We sent her a video of us sing Happy Birthday to her in Mandarin. Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè (Jew knee shun gree kwi le) sung to the Happy Birthday song. We are hoping that she got it!
I met someone also named Michelle on a Yahoo group that is adopting from the same orphanage. Her daughter turned one in July. She was able to send her daughter a birthday cake and get pictures of the occassion. She sent them to me in hopes that Nina-Li was in several of the photos. During that time, I believe I shared with Michelle that our agency won't allow us to send Nina-Li a cake. It is actually the CCAA (the agency that oversees adoption in China) that set the policy and our agency strongly encourages us to follow it.
At the end of September Michelle contacted me to let me know they are trying to visit the orphanage our daughters are at. This is rare, and therefore she wasn't sure if she would get to go. She asked if she could take anything or tell Nina-Li anything while there. With respect to our agency's wishes I just emailed her a family photo and asked her to take it.
Right now Michelle and her family are in China and got their daughter Mingmei. I have been reading their blog routinely! I was shocked when I read the paragraph below. I am not a crier. I don't cry easily. But this made me burst into tears of joy!
From Michelle Hascall:
October 19, 2010
Tuesday was a huge day for us, in a number of senses. Our agency had gotten approval and made arrangements for us to visit Mingmei's orphanage. The trip there was 20 minutes in a van to the train station, 15 minute walk through the station, 70 minutes on a bullet train and then 50 minutes by car. (Driving in China deserves its own post, another day, not even going to start on that one right now.) Was it a little crazy to attempt with two kids? Yes, but maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. The best way I can describe it was humbling. Even now, it shakes me to the core. You really have no concept of how easy and posh life is in the US until you leave there. We were welcomed into the orphanage with open arms, didn't hurt that we showed up with birthday cake. (I have found some amazing support from people online and a person I met has a daughter waiting for her at the same orphanage. The daughter's birthday happens to be today, so we took cake from her parents.) We were able to meet the nannies who have cared for Mingmei and see her room and "crib". It was difficult to see, although the conditions were superior to most because her orphanage is relatively new and well-funded. It was good for us to experience. We then had tea with the two directors and they asked us more questions. They seemed pleased that we were well educated and thought we would provide well for her. Next they took us to lunch :D I warned Troy that he better eat whatever they gave us and smile. He was a champ. I think my two favorites were watching Troy pull the head off shrimp then eating it as well as watching Troy pull apart a crab to eat the innards while Ray was freaking out and couldn't believe we would eat that, because "it was scary". Troy's quote when I asked him about it later, "Ah, the things we do for our kids." We also went to Mingmei's "finding place." As some of you know, she was left at the hospital's OB unit the day after she was born. Again, a humbling experience. We have a few pictures, but those belong to her and it will be up to her if she ever wants to share them.

I am so thankful that Michelle & her husband were the hands of God and delivered Nina-Li a birthday cake! I was so discouraged that I couldn't do it and thought how sad to have another birthday come and go with out any celebration. I am overwhelmed that a family we really don't know would do such a kind thing for us.

We have seen God move through this entire process. I have wanted to adopt since before Bill and I got married, it was one of those package deal things. Well, it took awhile before Bill was ready. In the summer of 2009, he shared with me that he was ready. We officially began the process at the beginning of September, going out on faith. I cannot even remember how many things just 'fell' into place. Knowing that it was a God thing.

The moment I saw Nina-Li's picture, I knew she was our daughter. There are several families who want a healthy little girl. And there are a lot who are like us and want an older daughter. When I inquired about G09-230 her number on the website, I was so surprised to find out we were the only family thus far who did. They sent us paperwork to fill out. Every Thursday they go to board and discuss a families' application and make a decision regarding the match. If there are more than one family, they carefully consider each family and make a decision. There were no other families who inquired about G09-230. I believe that is because God knew Nina-Li was for us, and made the process simple and easy for us.

Through the Yahoo group I have mentioned I met Terry Daly who adopted a friend of Nina's last year. Then of course I also met Michelle. 10 years ago that wouldn't have been possible. I love God using Yahoo!

God has provided financially. Travel costs nearly doubled this past summer. When I saw that I was a bit concerned that we wouldn't be able to afford to take the boys. However, they have returned to normal. We are blessed to take my father and kids who will be with us the entire time. And my dad & the boys can do other things while we are dealing with all the goverment paperwork. The weather this time of year is supposedly beautiful in China. So, we are very excited.

We are so thankful for so many of our friends supporting us and praying for us through this process.

To God be the glory!