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the tale of our journey to unite us with our daughter...waiting across the sea
Visit our new blog at:
Jen Hope (Hai Zhen)
for I know the plans I have for you (Jer 29:11)
Safely home
July 30, 1997: in the loving care of Zhuhai orphanage, Guangdong province
December 17, 2007: in the loving care of her new family
December 17, 2007: in the loving care of her new family
Our Christmas Journey to China
Thank you for following us as we travel to China to meet our precious daughter, Jen Hope. We have been brought together through the marvelous grace of God and for that we are so very thankful. We hope you enjoy our story. We go with your love and prayers. Thanks for sharing the journey!!
--- Kristy and Steven
--- Kristy and Steven
Journal entries
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▼
2007
(25)
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December
(21)
- 1/2 The rainbow's end
- 12/27 The Pearl River
- 12/27 Reflections on our journey
- 12/25 A Christmas Gift
- 12/25 Visit to Jen's orphanage
- 12/23 Things are going very well here
- 12/18 Gotcha Day Reflections
- 12/21 Between two worlds
- 12/18 Comments
- 12/18 Some more pictures
- 12/18 Sweet and Sour Pork in Guangzhou
- 12/18 Pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- 12/17
- 12/17 The stars are shining brightly in Guangzhou ...
- 12/16 Life as we know it changes tomorrow
- 12/15 Arrived safely in Guangzhou
- 12/10 Into the wind
- 12/7 The great paper chase is almost through
- 12/5 We've a got a ticket to ride
- 12/4 Whale song
- 12/2 Love needs no translation
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▼
December
(21)
The Long and Winding Road
12/02 1st adoption seminar
12/29 the great paper chase begins
3/02 saw her picture
3/07 received referral
4/30 homestudy completed
5/03 sent Letter of Intent to China
7/18 received Preliminary Approval
7/20 sent our dossier to China
7/24 dossier logged in China
11/02 received Letter of Approval
11/26 received Travel Approval
12/12 depart for Guangzhou, China
12/17 Gotcha Day in Guangzhou
12/27 US Consulate appointment
12/28 Visa issued
12/29 The journey home begins
12/29 the great paper chase begins
3/02 saw her picture
3/07 received referral
4/30 homestudy completed
5/03 sent Letter of Intent to China
7/18 received Preliminary Approval
7/20 sent our dossier to China
7/24 dossier logged in China
11/02 received Letter of Approval
11/26 received Travel Approval
12/12 depart for Guangzhou, China
12/17 Gotcha Day in Guangzhou
12/27 US Consulate appointment
12/28 Visa issued
12/29 The journey home begins
The StarThrower of Costabel
Somewhere in the world today, ocean waves break along the shores of a place called Costabel. And once, not long ago, a man searching for meaning in life found himself along those shores. Early one morning he rose to walk the beach after a stormy night of wind and crashing seas. And as he walked he passed by kelp and driftwood cast up on the sand. He passed by broken shells and the flotsam and jetsam of life washed in by the waves. And then he saw the starfish. Starfish all along the beach and too many to count. Starfish everywhere...left on the sand by the storm. Then, in the distance, he saw the figure of a man stooping at the surf's edge. As he reached him, he watched as the man grabbed up a starfish and hurled it across the breakers into the sea. He greeted the man then said, "What difference can you possibly make? There are thousands of starfish on the beach." Quietly, the man stooped again and clutched a starfish that clung to life beyond the reach of the tide. And with a heave it sailed out into the waves. Then he simply replied, "It made a difference to that one".
And leaving the starthrower behind, this traveler walked on in search of the meaning of things. Then gazing back over his shoulder, he saw that a rainbow was stretching down from the sky and touching the beach behind him. And standing in the rays of that rainbow was that starthrower of Costabel -- stooping and casting little starfish back into the sea. And in that moment, he began to see things more clearly. Then kneeling down, he fetched up a little star and sailed it homeward to the sea. He too had become a thrower of stars...in a place called Costabel.
(adapted from "The Starthrower" by Loren Eiseley in his work, "The Unexpected Universe")
And leaving the starthrower behind, this traveler walked on in search of the meaning of things. Then gazing back over his shoulder, he saw that a rainbow was stretching down from the sky and touching the beach behind him. And standing in the rays of that rainbow was that starthrower of Costabel -- stooping and casting little starfish back into the sea. And in that moment, he began to see things more clearly. Then kneeling down, he fetched up a little star and sailed it homeward to the sea. He too had become a thrower of stars...in a place called Costabel.
(adapted from "The Starthrower" by Loren Eiseley in his work, "The Unexpected Universe")
6 comments:
Dear Kristy & Steven
Congratulations! We were so excited to see the pictures. Mom told me you got Jen yesterday and I thought it was the 19th. She's beautiful. She looks a little smaller than Olivia. My sister and I were just looking at the pictures at the same time. I sent her the website. Hope you don't mind. We look forward to meeting Jen when you get back. Please tell her we said Ni Hao and Merry Christmas. What a wonderful Christmas present you just got. Have a wonderful holiday - Merry Christmas. Let us know if Duff needs anything.
Love,
Wende
Sunday night in Wisconsin Alicia, Lindsey, Ian, and I were counting down the hours until you met Jen. We were so excited and worried for you both. The next day I thought about what we went through and I realized it was no different that with all the other nieces and nephews (and, for myself, grandchildren) I've been blessed with. Except I didn't have to worry that she'd get Stevens nose. Just kidding Steven, we love you. I am so happy and thankful that Jen Hope is finally ours. I can't wait to get her in my arms. She couldn't possibly have more wonderful and loving parents. I pray she will always know just how wanted she is; not just by her Mom and Dad, but also by all of her grandmothers, grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Love Aunt Cathy and Aunt Alicia
Wow, What a wonderful Christmas for you!!!!
Will they allow you to have contact information for the other adoptees so they can keep in touch here?
Congratulations!
Lynn
Oh My Gosh. A God dream has come true. It is hard not to let the tears fall as I read of your precious time with your new daughter. She is so in your heart. It is hard to believe that we will be where you are in 2 months. I hear your words and I marvel at the wonder of your emotion and the beauty of Jen but I cannot imagine your feelings or joy. I can't imagine.
You have answered the call and you are truly blessed.
Brenda Crooks
Steven: this is great. Jen is so cute and looks like a princess. Congratulations to you and Kristy. Hope everything is going great over there.
Syed & Zehra Mehdi
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