Anna Grace turned ten months old yesterday. It was three months ago today we sent our LOI (letter of intent)  to China.  We are still waiting on our LOA (letter of acceptance from China), seventy-two days and still no word.  The wait has been one of the toughest things I have ever done.  My heart aches so bad to have our baby girl home.  Each day that passes is a day we will never have back.  All the new things she is doing and experiencing we will never experience together.  She is growing and we are missing it!  She knows not of the love that overflows in our hearts for her.  Her forever family aches to experience each new day with her.  I know there are a lot of hard days ahead and that it will take her time to learn to know, trust, and love us.  I am so ready to tackle the hard, to endure the tough and to love our baby girl.  I look at her pictures and I am totally blown away by the love that over flows my heart.  I am waiting for the day that the Lord turns my pain into beauty. 

The boys are even starting to get anxious for Anna Grace to arrive.  We continually pray for her health and safety.  The boys will mention small things about how things will be better once she is home and we can finally be whole as a family.   Ben made a bracelet in Sunday school for his little sister and couldn't wait to rush up to her room when we got home.  Mitchell said he was ready to have pictures of Anna here at home and not from the orphanage.  Andrew plays with the little ones at church and says can't wait to play with his little sister. 

Mitchell is recovering well from his shoulder surgery and is hoping he will finally get out of his sling next week when he sees the surgeon again.  He started physical therapy this week and said it felt good to stretch his arm a bit.  He's signed up for track but I'm not sure if he'll get to actually participate or not. 

Andrew signed up for track too.  He loves to run the long distances, if he'd only learn to run out of season so he doesn't hurt so bad in season from lack of training.  Seriously, what do his parents know?  He's getting excited about his eighth grade Washington D.C. trip in June.  We are hoping and praying to be back from China by then so Ken can go with him.  Although I think he may be more excited about the fishing trip with his Uncle Blake when he comes back from D.C..

Ben has a big day tomorrow, he gets his braces on!  We really debated on waiting another six months for him to get them.  He has been trying hard to do a good job brushing and when the orthodontist said his brushing was good what could we do?  That had been the main reason for waiting, hard work and dedication needs rewarded.  I'm just praying and trusting God will deliver all the funds where they are needed when they are needed! 

I am so thankful for all the prayers and support for so many of our friends and family.  There are many days I believe the only thing that keeps me going is the prayers of others.  My heart cries out to Jesus and one day soon he will give me the desire of my heart, our baby girl.  I know it's going to be scary and I know it's going to be tough but it was really scary and really tough when we brought Mitchell home from the hospital as new parents.  Much of life is unknown and the unknown usually is scary but so many of unknown scary things are the things that has made my life full.  As long as God is for us, no one and nothing can stand against us. 

God is good all the time.  All the time God is good!  With God all things are possible, even the hard.  No matter how hard this is, God did hard when he allowed Jesus to be put on the cross for me.  He knows my pain, he knows my heart and he loves me.  He loves Anna Grace and until I can hold her in my arms I know he will hold her for me. 

One day soon Lord, one day soon you will grant me the desire of my heart, Anna Grace.