A Little Sophie-date

Let's review the facts:
Our login date is 12/14/05...you don't have to understand that, just know that is the date we are wanting to get to.
They (the storks in China) just matched up to 11/21/05.
They've consistently matched right at a week (6 or 7 days) at a time for the last few months.
11/22/05 is an incredibly big login date. Numbers-wise it's about as big as a typical week.

Opinions we can draw from the facts:
Holy Cow! We're getting close!
Let's say, worst case scenario, they (the storks again) only match 11/22/05 in the September batch...hang with me here....
September will get through 11/22
October will get through 11/29
November will get through 12/6
December will get through 12/13 (well, of course we'll have to miss it by one day!)
January will put Kim in panic mode of packing for China!

Now, here's what I'm thinking. What if one of the storks is having a bad day and isn't into the stork thing? Let's pray for that stork!!! Or say, what if there's a meeting to decide 'do we push a bunch through or slow it down?" Let's pray that storks' hearts are filled with compassion and decide "push!!". Or say, the storks are feeling discouraged because they can't do all they want to do for these children (haven't we all wanted to do something at work that red tape has prevented or slowed down?)? Let's pray that the Lord will move mountains (literally of paperwork) and allow all the storks to feel joy in their hearts that they have taken part in changing lives...more than they expected they could.
Most importantly, please pray right now that every child over there feels fed, comforted, hugged, smiled at, made eye-contact with, has a playmate nearby that makes all the difference, and knows that God has not abandoned them. God has a plan for them. Has given them every ounce of strength and perseverance they need to make these days only the beginning sentences of their testimony. May they not feel bitterness over details they likely will never know, but compassion for lives they will likely never fully understand. Oh that they will be filled with pride that their heritage is rich, their birthplace beautiful; their beginnings, while difficult, are just that...beginnings. That they never feel confusion over who they are. "Am I Chinese in America?" "Am I an American in Chinese skin?". May they know with confidence, above all else, that we are ALL strangers in this land...this world is not our home..."Heaven is my home. I was born in China, but I belong to God the Father Almighty".

Sweet Sophie, your family awaits you. No matter what, you are perfect in our eyes. The perfect sister for Sarah. The perfect daughter for Mommy and Daddy. The perfect picture of what God can do with 4 lives at once. We love you, Mommy.