Early Morning Labor Has Begun

I just woke up about 20 minutes ago.....labor pains.....in my neck! Now, I am VERY awake. Oh, it is 2:20am on Monday and I am READY TO GO!!!!! It seems totally impossible that the day has finally arrived. Of course, we do have to catch a plane from here in Beijing to Nanchang, Jiangxi but I am just believing that all the details of that flight will be seamless.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time yesterday at the Jade factory and the Great Wall, but for me, the best part of the day was getting to know 2 particular families in our travel group. One couple is from Texas and they have a 4 and 3 year old at home, waiting on the arrival of their little sister. Hearing how God has been busy orchestrating all the details of their adoption was so encouraging; God has been up to a lot of good, I'll tell you that! The other family is from Virginia and actually, the wife's dad lives in FLORENCE!!!! Coincidence? I think not! They are accompanied on this trip by their daughters, Melanie (7 yrs.) and Kristen (3 1/2 yrs.), both of which they adopted from China. Kendal wrote last night about how Jordan and Melanie were instant buddies! I have been trying to soak up all their experience and knowledge; I really appreciate their willingness to answer my questions, share their stories and just been a huge encouragement. Even though the play dates that Melanie and Jordan are planning may be difficult to pull off on a regular basis, I am totally pumped about the future opportunities we will have to spend time with them.....thanks to the Florence connection!

When I woke a little while ago, my mind immediately went to the Pray family; that is their last name. They were on the same original flight itinerary as us but somehow have not yet made it to Beijing yet!!! Our entire group hurts for them and has been praying that they arrive ASAP. The Pray family is supposed to go to Nanchang with us and the Wheelus family so, although I can't begin to imagine the frustration, pain, and anger they may be feeling right now, I look forward to seeing God work something huge in their lives; the Danford family will get to be front row spectators on that one! Please join us in praying for this family!!! I will say that in all the mess we went thru with flights ourselves, it was a comfort to me to remember that God has gone before us. He has done the same for the Pray family so maybe you can pray that they remember this and find encouragement from that.

OH MY WORD!!! In 18 hours or less, we will finally be holding Anna!!!! Right now she is sleeping for the very last time in her bed at the Suichan orphanage. I pray, as we have for a couple of years, that God is allowing her to see our faces and hear our voices as she dreams right now. She is laying there, with God watching her sleep. I can imagine His excitement for her, much like me and Kendal, awake so early, eager to for this big day! Soon, she will wake up, maybe with the help of her nanny, and be given breakfast. I imagine that the nanny will have tears of joy for Anna, and tears of pain over her "loss" of this precious child....knowing that she is about to meet her forever family. Her nanny will dress her in clothes that she will have for years to come; clothes that will serve as a reminder of her beginning in China, God's hand of grace plucking her from a family-less existance, and gently placing her in our arms. Arms that have anticipated her warmth for 10 years, since the time God first impressed on my heart that we would one day adopt from China. She will take a long car ride to a brand new place, seeing new sights all along the way. Her nanny will carry her into a building; I can imagine her wonderment at the surroundings she has never seen. She will soon hear her name, be carried by her nanny, and approached by 2 sobbing parents and a big sister that is seeing her prayers of 4 1/2 years answered in a very tangible way.

I know that some of you who are reading this have been wondering for a while, maybe for years, if God actually hears you. Yes, He does hear you. I also know that He loves each one of us and longs to open His hand of blessing over our lives. We often run to Him, as if He were a genie in a bottle, obligated to grant us our wishes. I know that our family has learned through this entire process that He is not at our beck and call. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying. He loves us, wants what is best for us and hears our prayers. But, His view of our lives is much broader than our own. Even though we can't see how all the pieces are fitting together, as long as we put our faith in Him (and that means we aren't totally stressed out trying to do things on our own) and seek His strength and His glory (not our selfish desires, no matter how noble they may be), it's all good.

"Joy comes in the morning" and sometimes it is early! Room 1022 at the Radisson in Beijing is about to burst forth with joy!!! And Jordan hasn't even woken up yet.......which means there is a lot more to come!!!! I sit here smiling at the fact that today, TODAY, May 31, 2010, Ai Cui Long will NO LONGER BE! God is giving her a new name, a new beginning, one He planned long before her birth!! Anna Len-Ai Danford is almost here!!!!