Update

After 65 days of waiting, we received our LSC (Letter Seeking Confirmation - Official Referral) for Clare on September 25, 2008!!! Woohoo! We are now awaiting travel approval. We have sent in our visa information. We hope to travel in mid November. If we don't go then, we will have to wait until after Brycie's law school finals, which will mean mid December.

We began this entire process 2 years ago when we attended a seminar in Enid, OK. We had the great fortune of meeting Paige Keithly, Regional Office Representative for Great Wall China Adoption. Two years later, we count Paige, her husband, Kent, and their four beautiful children as close family friends. In fact, we have prayed for many months about God's choice to be Clare's Godparents and are delighted to announce that Paige and Kent have graciously accepted the privilege, honor, and responsibility of being Godparents of our darling daughter.

During our sojourn toward Clare we have had the opportunity to meet many incredible people in the adoption community - all who have such a deep love and compassion for orphaned children. May we begin with Amy Eldridge, Wendy Petersen, and Suzanne Damstedt who do such wonderful work through Love Without Boundaries. Amy has been such a blessing in recent months since she has known Clare for 5 years. Wendy has offered many prayers and much support for us and for Clare. Suzanne has been a wealth of information as she has adopted two older daughters from China. God bless them all!

In our church family, many of our friends have fervently prayed for us and for this adoption. Our heartfelt thanks to Theresa and Wally, Bill and Sue, Steve and Michele, Mike and Katie, Matt and Stephanie, Lauren and JC, Jeff and Aimee, John and Seyan, and Diane (from Sacred Relics). We truly appreciate each person who has lifted us and Clare up in prayer.

Jesus, we trust in You! God's timing is always perfect - although we tried to help Him speed things along. We are thankful that God has blessed US with the joy of raising this beautiful, precious child! We accept the responsibility of training up this child in the way she should go!