The Difference in a Tear

I have shed many a tear in my life.  Tears of fear and sadness.  Tears of hurt and confusion.  Tears of anger and dismay.  I have cried many a tear of joy!!!  Tonight, however, my tears were different and I don't have a label for them.  I don't think I want a label.  I want it to be indescribable............

In the world of international adoption we sometimes refer to the process as stages of a pregnacy.  The first trimester is the paperwork process, which can actually take the time of a full term pregnacy ( ours took 7 months).  The second trimester is the time spent waiting after you mail your paperwork to China until you receive your final approval from China and in our case it took 5 1/2 months!  The third trimester is the time you wait from the final approval until "Gotcha Day"!  This stage can take up to 4 months.

I have never been blessed to hear the sound of my children's heartbeat in my womb or seen their beautiful faces on a 3D ultra-sound, but I think that the indiscrible feeling that a mother experiences is the equivalent to my experience tonight.  I did not get to hear a heartbeat, but I got to hear one of the most precious voices God created.  Tonight I got to talk with Lyric!!!!!  The tears that I don't have nor want a label for flowed as I listened to our big girls reunite and chat on the computer.  Phoebe taught her some English and Lyric spoke it quite well.  I told her I loved her and she said "I love you" back.  (I love you in Mandarin flows beautifully off the tongue).

Speaking of love....Love Without Boundaries is an organization that helps thousands of orphans in China.  They were the way we found both Phoebe and Lyric.  They started amazing programs in the girl's orphanage.  The link below is a short video about what children in orphanages think adoption is all about.  Lyric is in the video.  She is the third child you will see.  Keep watching and listen closely and you will hear her beautiful voice.

Love Without Boundaries' "What is Adoption?"

Drum Roll Please........

First of all, I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted.  The wait for Lyric got really long and in the wait, I had to re-enroll in the school of "Trust God"!!!!!  I failed most my classes but I have come to realize that God's love for me is not dependent on me or how well or poorly I perform!  God can't help but love....He is love!!  He has shown me in His "silence" that He is my constant, my Rock.  His word is true.  He is good.  He is good no matter how big my hurt is or tantrum is, no matter how I rant and rave for answers.  He does not owe me answers, He is God.   He is not the cause of my pain, but is the Comfort in my pain.  It has taken the last 6 months for me to believe in my core what my brain has always known, God is good even when life is bad.  Then to seal it with a Heavenly kiss, my pastor spoke on this subject Sunday!!!!  I have not graduated from the school of "Trust" but I have a lot to look back on and hold fast to the next time the storm winds blow.

Ok.....why am I posting after such a long absence from the keyboard??????  Drum roll please.......
After waiting 5 and a half months we just received our approval!!!  I would like to present Lyric LaWren Yarbrough.

We are so excited!  We should travel close to the end of October to China.  There is so much to do.  I can't believe that in a few short months, she will be with us.  Please continue to pray for all of us. There is a ton of paperwork to do this week and more to follow.  There are still funds to raise.  She is still half a world away.  Pray and ask God for a hedge of protection around her.  Pray not only for Lyric,  but for all the fatherless.  Cry out to our Adoptive Father for men and women  who will answer the call to care for the orphan and to be the voice for the oppressed.