Were in China!

THE Great Wall. 

Side note: I did partially climb The Great Wall and then climbed back down. Pretty amazing and daunting, yet the skill used to produce that Wall is mind boggling, as well as, the skill to completely make it to the top. I will dispel any heroic thoughts you may have of my Great Wall climbing accomplishment---I did not make it to the top. 

Cool huh! 

But for now, I've stopped in a coffee house at the base of The Wall. 

As I wait for the others to venture down. I've stopped here in the warmth from this

To this 

 just to collect all the sounds and smells that surround me. 

Wow! Such long awaited words to say: We're in China!!

On one hand, what seems like over 2years, over 700 days. Sometimes it seems like yesterday as clear as day when we knew Julia was our girl. All we knew was ~That's our girl! She is ours! And we we are on a path to pursue her no matter what could stand in our way.

Many of you have given so much to get us here. You have given love, financial means, much prayer, and many words of support and encouragement. We could not be here today with the many ways God has used you to walk with us on this journey.  Thank you, Thank you-we honestly could not have done this on our own. Thank you also for welcoming our little Julia into your hearts as well. 

With that~

It's crazy we are 1 day, ONE DAY, away from seeing Julia. From the few pictures of her that I have held on to and the screen shot I've eagerly shared from my phone, will soon give way to a little girl I see with my eyes and hold tightly in my arms. 

Many have asked what will you do if she cries like crazy when the nannies bring her to you? I've thought about that and thought I'm going to do what any mom would do. I'm going to pick her up, hold her close, rock her and say over and over again, "It's going to be ok little one, Mommie's here!" 

Happy Birthday Julia!

Oh May!

For the last few years May has been a celebration of summer, sunshine and mine and Phillips Anniversary. But this year we celebrated the mark of 15 years hence the exciting photo below...

But this year, as we defied gravity remembering May 15, 1999,  we also celebrated the birthday of our sweet Julia whose birthday is just the day after our anniversary. So we had so much to celebrate and jump for joy about. Not to mention that next years anniversary will have 3 of us jumping in the air.

Though our hearts were saddened that we were not able to physically celebrate Julia's birthday with her, we decided we are going to throw her a little party anyway. We took pictures to include in a photo album we would be sending in her birthday box. 

So, scroll through the pictures and take a short ride of  our mini-bration of Julia turning 4 years old.

By the way, the banner says Happy Birthday in Chinese..or rather Birthday Happy as read in Chinese.

The kitty cat and tennis shoes are items that were included in her Birthday Box. We have tried taking pictures with items we send so she can piece together her gifts are from Mommy and Daddy. :)

Ohhhhh melt my heart!!! What a super dad!!

The following pictures are other pictures that were included with the birthday pics and labeled with labels that say Mother, Father and We love You ZiTao!

We have the limitations of a box a little bigger than a shoe box that we can send. So a lot of rolling and squishing of items into ziplock bags to protect from moisture were squeezed into a box.

And this was sunny May.

We sit today in a coffee shop with a check off list that seems so minimal. Like blow me down, I see a pinpoint of light at the end of this adoption tunnel.  Our conversations are continually on life with Julia and we cant help but giggle when we think of her. How gracious is God. As we dream daily of her God reminded my heart that dreams come from him. When we give ourselves the space and freedom to dream our hearts are able to in a tiny unlimited way grasp that God is truly in the business of doing more than we ever ask or can imagine..the impossible!

Celebrating Milestones

Milestones..

For the first time since we started this adoption journey we have been reaching tangible milestones.
Checking our long list with dark fat Sharpie check marks. Yeah, the fat Sharpie because a fine point cannot carry the weight of these accomplishments.

What we have figured out, is that each step we take is directly linked to the next step. So like when one step is complete we have to wait to start on the next step because what we need is tied up in the last step and so on and so on...so milestones...yeah! Big Deal!!

In the middle of this journey God has been so persistent in the outpouring of his peace. It's crazy, the one and only certain thing we know and are sure of these days is that our girl lives in China and we are going to get her. A verse that has really stood out for us in this what seems like a 1,000 day journey is Isaiah 35:2. In this adoption journey there is ALOT of waiting. Sometimes (a bunch of times) we are filled with despair and feel like we are running as fast as we can in a mud pit..yeah real fast! But in our slow motion running we do know the day is coming where we will dance with and hold our baby girl. There will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy. Even now as we wait and in the days and weeks to come our Lord will display His glory the splendor of our God. We know Julia's story is God's story.

So as a reminder for us and with the colors of her room, I had to get these life giving words up on the wall.





Also, since our last post, back in February we prepared a very special package.
This package was a first of many (but hope few) packages going to our sweet girl.
In this box we packed a few snuggly warm goodies like a cozy blanket, pajamas, a mix-n-match dress with leggings and birdies...

and then this guy. Look at that face!

But the biggest, BEST, Most Wonderful part of this package was this little book.
Do you see this baby girl. It is one of the pictures taken about 2 years ago that our adoption agency sent to us with her file. We hoped she would be able to connect with her picture and to see "We love you ZiTao" in her language. (Her sweet Chinese name is ZiTao which stands for "purple peach")

And then, turn the page and what do you see?

2 words - Mother & Father..
Yay! Yay! Yaaaay!
She got to see us!
Mommy and Daddy and know we are coming to get her.
It may be a boring book since it is all about -us- but, we did want her to see over and over were 2 people crazy about her and loved her with each page she turned.

So, for now, stay tuned as we hurry-up and wait to bring Julia home. We're currently waiting for a response from U.S. Immigration. We've been told the process can take up to 90 days but the process is currently running as "quick" as 45 days...we're about 15 days in...so let's pray for 30!

What next?

So after the big to do of an announcement and picture of our sweet girl, I only wish we could snap our fingers and go get her. Oh don't I wish!

I have mentioned to several the place we are now seems and feels like we are so close to picking up sweet Julia, yet we still feel like we are so far away. Its like running through the waves on the beach to meet your loved one in the middle of the ocean. The more you run toward them, the undercurrent seems to carry you further away. They are there in your midst but you just cant reach them. Like running in slowmo when trying to get away from something in a bad dream.

On the flip side of that we are really unpacking the layers of faith. 

Faith is not a 3 second fix. Faith is patient endurance. It is the believing in what we don't see to be as clear and as bright as day. 

Oh how we have cried and prayed for sweet Julia to be a light where she is, for her smile and joy to not be hindered, and to love on her friends. This momma wants her baby and I trust more vivid than before that " the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save or his ear dull, that it cannot hear. (Isa 59:1) I know God cares for our girl more deeply than we can imagine. His hand protects and his ears hear. 

So what's next...

A continual rhythm of finalizing details, emails and paper gathering and sending...

Buuuut with greater joy, a whole lot of this.

Look at Julias dad looking a baby stuff. 

We have never made it down this aisle of HEB. Look at that cuteness in the cart. 

And then this.

This is the development of Julia's care package. Look at all that sweetness!

She will receive first word and pictures of us that we are Mommy and Daddy. >>Gulp<<

Along with some cuddly lovies. 

I will post more of this later.

Pray with us.

Thank you for following~

Our God is faithful and mighty to save

Lets Go!

oh friends!
How this blog has seemed to lie dormant for weeks upon weeks..
Every question of where we were at with adoption left us with the P and the W..paperwork&waiting!

now sitting at a year and almost a half later we were given the news we always dreamed of receiving that the baby girl we started on the journey praying for became a waiting child and we were called...and the tears upon tears and more tears...we were matched with her..Really!? Really!!!

on another post we will begin to share exactly what God has done..I mean no question...what God has done! He has mapped this whole journey out and has asked us simply to trust Him and walk.
In case you missed our social media announcement I wanted to post our announcement here.

Be watching in the coming days for:
--a pictorial diary of bringing home jonesy
--an online thrifting sale (donations accepted:) everything going to our adoption cost
--hope and info for you on how to care for the fatherless..You!
   there is no age limit on caring for the fatherless..

Ok..enough for now..the best part of the entry is our announcement..and here you go..

Friends it is with our greatest joy we introduce you to our baby girl Julia Caroline. We are on a quick road to getting her from China in the coming months. This picture is borrowed from @showhope where she was loved and so sweetly cared for while at Maria's Big House of Hope in Luoyang China. Follow along in our #adoption and how you can be apart of our journey at www.bringinghomejonesy.blogspot.com We are humbled to be chosen to care for our sweet daughter and praise our God who is indeed a father to the fatherless and the hope to our deepest longings.

Thanks for reading and celebrating with us..now lets do this!

Poppy Hair Clip - $5.00 each

I am loving these felty flowers. 

These Clippies are my 2inch Poppies.

 

The Poppies are roughly cut felt, hand singed and then adorned with a sewn on glass bead.

The cuties are then attached to an alligator clip.

They can be placed as gift toppers, worn on scarves, hats, lapels, on shoes, a purse, in your with one or multiple flowers..options are endless wherever you want to take them to brighten your day.

You can choose any color you see or request a color not pictured.

Your purchase(s) can be made at the Poppy Clip pay button on your right.
So fun and cute :)

Nest Necklace on Chain - $12.00

Oooooh! My sweet Nesty's!

I adore this necklace and the ring.

They are sweet and remembrance of new life for me.

The nest are delicately hand crafted 

by wire and are looped to hang on an 

antiqued gold chain.

You can choose from this beautiful Robin's Egg Blue

color. You can choose 1, 2, or 3 of your beads to be the blue or White...

     

     You can also choose from 

     the soft pearl colors shown on the left.

I craft each necklace and I love how every nest comes        out a little different..so no 2 are alike.

These would make sweet gifts for anyone on your list (including yourself :) as well as for new mom's or Mother's Day gifts.

You can order your necklace at the Necklace: Blue Eggs or Pearls button on the right and notate which colors you want your little nest eggs to be.