We are home! Detroit Rock City

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

Isaiah 25:1

We returned home on schedule Saturday night and was met by a wonderful reception of family and friends. It was a long flight back (24 hrs door to door). You truly appreciate being in the United States after being in a foreign country. It was difficult traversing the city with the 4 million plus mopeds whizzing around. We did appreciated not hearing the "please fasten your seat belts" instruction about every 25 minutes. Lydia did wonderfully on the plane and has bonded very well with Becky. She is still not sure about her new dad. Maybe he is just too tall. She loves her brothers and can say words like mama and dog. We discovered by accident that Lydia loves to eat Romen noodles. There are two things that she shows great excitment for, her mother and the "noodles." She obviously was fed noodles in the orphanage. It is nice to be able to give her something that she was used to in Vietnam, to make her more comfortable in her new home. As I am typing, Luke wanted me to share that he likes to play with her and share his toys. He also makes it very known that he is bigger and older than Lydia and that he will protect her. Luke also likes to color with Lydia and show her how to draw circles and lines and make the letter "L."

WE ARE COMING HOME!!!!

Henry is fast at helping us get through the process and we have had a wonderful time experiencing Vietnam but it is time to get home to our boys!!!

We will arrive home on Dec. 13,2008
United flight 248 landing in Detroit @ 9:16 pm

Can't wait to introduce you to Lydia Lan at the airport.

The girl cannot drink...

Mommy and Lydia
What we cannot believe is that Lydia cannot drink out of a bottle or a straw and has difficulty drinking from a cup. It appears as though she was cup fed at the orphanage. It is quite an experience trying to provide liquid to Lydia, as half of it ends up on her shirt if we are not careful she coughs down the other half. It is an interesting experience, one sip at a time.

Daddy and Lydia

We have only had her for 2.5 days but love and adore her. She likes to know were Becky is at all times. If she can't see me she starts to cry.

This is Henry, Lydia (La0ng) and Daddy at the airport waiting to fly to Hanoi. Just about the time we got used to HCMC it was time to leave.

Video of Lydia

143 million orphans minus 1

We picked Lydia Lan up from the orphanage yesterday. This is Lydia with Henry and her special caregiver. You can tell that Lydia is one of Henry's favorite children. He picked her up from the hospital when she was born.This is Lydia with the assistant orphanage director of the Tam Binh #2 Orphanage. Lydia has not figured out how to look at the camera at the right time. While sitting with the assistant orphanage director, we saw a picture of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. They adopted their boys from the same orphanage.


This is Lydia's first formal picture. She is getting ready for the "Giving and Receiving" ceremony. Henry says that she will be the next Miss USA or Miss Vietnam, one of the two.


This is the newest edition of the Adams Family, Lydia Lan Adams becoming officially apart of the Adams family in Ho Chi Minh City. She already misses her four older brothers.

SURPRISE!

We went to the orphanage today with Henry. We were going to visit Lydia and drop off the donations, that you all so generously gave us but we also got to take Lydia home with us too! As I write this she is laying in the bed next to her Daddy taking a nap. It took us 45 min to get to her orphanage dodging all the motor scooters. We hen we got there we met the asst.director and she gave us water. She was excited about all the donations and opened the suit cases first. Then Henry took us to see Lydia. He told me going up the stairs that we could take her today. I was afraid that I was not understanding him with his broken English. But I heard right. I was afraid I would not recognize her but we saw her first and we knew it was her. She saw Henry and have him the look like " where have you been? I haven't seen you in a while" The care giver changed her clothes and when she was done put her on the ground. I thought she would walk to Henry since she knows him but she walked right over to ME. Lydia is very sweet. She is in shook but has not freaked out uncontrollable. It seems so surreal that after all this time we have her. Tomorrow we go to sign the papers for her to be officially ours and then we can post pictures!Thank you to everyone who is reading and praying for us.

We made it!

It is so hard to believe but we made it to Vietnam. Henry was there as we got off the plane and had connections to get us through customs quickly. He is a wonderful man and is totally in his element of guiding us and being in the know. That is comforting. Henry admitted that Lydia is his favorite along with the orphanage director. I prayed that she would be favored. God is so faithful. What is also comforting is that our hotel gets ESPN for Nate. We will get to see Lydia on Sunday. The orphanage is closed Saturday to visitors. Henry will take us around the city Saturday. it is 2:30 am here but we feel like it is in the afternoon. We need to try to sleep. Thank you to all that are praying for us. We can feel it.

leaving on a jet plane

Just an update. We are leaving earlier then we thought because our flight was canceled due to weather from Detroit to Chicago (the rest of the flight is the same). Feeling alittle like a chicken with her heat cut off.

Thank you to all of you that have been so faithful and have prayed for us. We couldn't have made it to this point with your it. The following are our new prayer requests while we are gone and traveling.
*Pray that the boys feel secure and don't miss us and are good for Grandma and Grandpa
*Grandpa and Grandma have wisdom and energy .
*Our flights and all travel goes smoothly
* Lydia's heart is prepared for us and we know how to love her
*God's name would be glorified

For all of you that are night owls and want to meet us at the airport are flight is as follows:
Dec. 18
Flight United 248 arriving at 9:31pm in Detroit

"to the very day"

A while ago I was reading in Exodus 12:40 where the Israelites were leaving Egypt. The scripture stuck out to me " to the very day." Scripture says that the Israelites were in Egypt 430 years, to the very day, and then they left. That scripture was encouraging to me because it reminded me that the Israelites left Egypt on the day that God had prophesied about and He had the power to make it happen. He also had the power to bring Lydia home on the day of His choosing. Not a day earlier or not a day late. Since we have received our travel dates, this scripture has become even more precious to me. Nate and I will have the privilege of bringing Lydia home to our family the EXACT same day as Nate's parents did 39 years earlier when they brought Nate home,TO THE VERY DAY. That is amazing! That is something only The One True God could do. He did it just to amaze us. And we are in awe of Him and His goodness.

Like cool water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country Proverbs 25:25

Today is the day we have been waiting for years! We received our "Giving and Receiving" date, Dec. 8, 2008. This is the date that Lydia will become officially ours. We will be traveling to Vietnam to get her on Dec. 4Th ( yes that is only eight days away!). Crazy isn't it. We will leave Detroit bright and early and return on Dec. 18 at 9:31 pm. You are all welcome to meet us at the air port but we know it will be a late night.

Thank you for sharing in our joy and carrying us on this journey in your prayers.
Nate and Becky

We serve an amazing God!

I was so excited to get our approval letter that I did not check the date it was written. Yesterday, I went back to look at the date on it. I don't want to say I couldn't believe it because I can. The God we serve is loving and detailed. Anyway, the date on the letter was Nov. 17.
My friends had been praying that I would get this acceptance for my birthday, Nov.17. God gave me our approval for my birthday. That day, The 17, was also a fast and prayer day for our family. As if that was not enough, we received the e-mail on Nov.20. That was the two year anniversary of when we decided to officially adopt. God's timing is amazing. In realizing all of this, I just had to cry in appreciation to God's tender details.

cloud nine

We are so excited and blessed to have our approval form the US Embassy. We have three bags packed and are mentally there. Our caseworker asked us when we would be willing to travel. After waiting two years for this opportunity, I said we were ready to travel "yesterday"! Please continue to pray that we receive our Giving and Receiving date soon ( or 24 hours, which ever happens first).

Thank you for all your prayer support.

The prayers of a righteous man and woman are powerful and effective.
James 5:16

Your prayers are bringing Lydia home. Thank you!

This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Nate does not normally have his Blackberry up stair with him at night but tonight he did. He just had a feeling and a nudge by the Spirit. We received our "approval" by the US Embassy in Hanoi to proceed in the adoption of Lydia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Noe we just wait to get our "Giving and Receiving date given to us by the Dept. of International Adoption of Vietnam. This can take from 24 hours to 2.5 weeks. Guess which we are praying for?

Thank you to all the people who have prayed and continue to do so on our behalf.
Nate, Becky and boys

God's little blessings

One day after "National Prayer Day for Lydia" God connects us with a woman from our list serve that has been looking for us for 8 months. Thank you to all who prayed and fasted for us. It produced a amazing harvest. This woman,Heather, traveled to Lydia's orphanage 8 months ago (to get her daughter) and fell in love with Lydia. Prompted by, I believe God, she took picture after picture of Lydia. We received over 25 of them yesterday. If that was not enough, Heather described her personality to us and about the wonderful caregivers that adore her. These things are priceless to us and make the wait bearable.

Nate is studying Moses in the Bible study this year and made the comparison that just like the Israelites had God guide them by the pillar of cloud and fire, God guides us by pillars of encouragement along our way to Vietnam.

Thank you for your prayers!

National Day of Prayer for Lydia

Nation Prayer Day for Lydia

Okay so it is not a nationally reconized day of pray but it is for our family. We have been so blessed to have so many family and friends walk this journey with us and pray for us. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for Lydia. Our family once again is going to fast and pray for Lydia and we wanted to invite you to pray along with us. We believe in the power of prayer of united believers wil bring Lydia home. God has reminded me that Lydia's approval will not come by my doing but by His power.

Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty. What are you, O moutian? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Zechariah 4:6,7

We are on Monday going to be 54 days into the wait for the US Embassy to approve Lydia's info. The average wait is 45 days.

**Please pray that we will receive this approval from the US Embassy and we would get a travel date within 24 hours.

Encouragement

I read this on a blog and it was so encouraging:

{ Romans 8:22-39 The Message }That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way!

40 days of waiting

The greatest experience, the one which shakes a soul with hope and fear, the results of which are never ending and incidentally, the one which pays the biggest dividends, is to be found in the adoption of children.
-Anonymous

This day marks the 40th day of waiting (the number 40, we are in good company with that number) to hear from the US Embassy for our approval. The wait can take up to 60 days but averages 45 days. Hopefully, this week we will hear conformation. Then we can WAIT AGAIN for our travel date. We are entering in the last leg of the marathon.

waiting

We are two weeks into the possible 8 week wait (before the LAST wait of approx. 6 weeks). I'll say the obvious, "It is hard to wait!" This last week ,Peter said with a sad heart," I can't take it anymore! I want Lydia to come home." We all as a family feel his pain. All of our hearts long for her to be home. But God has blessed us with each other to lean on and wait with. Because of this journey we are all closer. We have prayed together, fasted together, dreamed together and waited together.

A friend who has adopted three times over gave us this fridge magnet when we started our adoption that reads the following;

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:14

She knew we would need to read it.

Praise God, Great is His Faithfulness!

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?

Who has ever given to God

that God should repay him?

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory for ever! Amen

Romans 11:33-36

Today, God has moved in a mighty way for the Adams family. God has performed a awesome miracle. We received news that Lydia became a "official" referral on Aug. 26, 2008. Our dossier is in the hands of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and now we just wait for the conformation from them and our travel dates! Lydia could be home by Christmas. We are in such amazement of God's plan and are so grateful for all of you who have been so faithful to pray for her! Amen

Perplexed but Not in Despair

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9

God is STILL Good even in this time of unknown!

Closing of Vietnam

In the fall of 2003, God gave me the parable of the Persistent Widow to encourage me in our pursuit of the daughter, He had picked it out for us. He has brought me back to the scripture many times during the last 22 months, during this adoption journey. One again, I find myself reading it. Yes, Vietnam did indeed close, Sept. 1 to the U.S. for international adoption. This was not a complete surprise. Our Lydia, is stuck in a system without the law in place to bring her to us. In the mist of this unknown He is faithful. God has given us the peace for today and He will do the same tomorrow, as He did yesterday. The country is closed but laws and boundary lines have never stopped God from His miracles. We would appreciate your prayers for the following:

*To bring Lydia home we need her to be grandfathered in with the other "officially" referred children. ( Our referral with Lydia is only a "preliminary referral")

*During this time of closure to the U.S. we need Lydia not be referred to another family in a country that is still doing adoptions with Vietnam.

*We need guidance from God. We need to know what God's will is in this situation.

We thank you for your faithfulness in prayer to our family.

To My Dear Children

To My Dear Children,

Before we met, I wanted you...
Before I found you, I loved you...
Before I touched your face, I would die for you...
This is the mircle of love.

Love Mom

5 weeks today

We received our referral for Lydia 5 weeks ago today. It seems much longer than that since we have been praying for her and loving her in our heart for 20 months. Since our first referral pictures, we have been blessed to received two new sets of pictures of her. The U.S. State Dept. came our with an announcement regarding the lack of new written agreement between the U.S. and Vietnam. This agreement is necessary to continue our adoption or to have our initial referral to become "official" by Sept. 1. This was not a new revelation but it was just another reminder of how precarious the situation is. A dear friend, whom I haven't talked to in too long called and gave me a great quote (God knew I would need this in the hours after the announcement). The quoit follows:

"DON'T DOUBT IN THE DARK WHAT GOD HAS REVELED IN THE LIGHT"

This time of uncertain waiting seems a little dark but we choose to wait in faith of the promise He gave to us on June 16, named Lydia.

Duel meet champs...again

This is a picture of our family's fine swimmers. Our swim club was 8-0 for the second year in a row (I won't mention that last weekend, our club lost in our interclub event to our biggest rival).

Veitnam update

We received an update from our agency with detailed from the trip to Vietnam that the Pres. of our agency made on behalf of the Joint Council.The following is an excerpt from her letter:

From John’s meetings with the Vietnamese authorities and the DIA (Dept. on International Adoption) we now understand that in order for files received prior to July 1, 2008 to be grandfathered in, there must be an interim agreement signed between the two countries permitting this process. Rather than a simple request by the Department of State, we will need a signed agreement in order for this process to be followed. No decision has been made regarding the grandfathering of files received prior to July 1, 2008, as an interim agreement is still in progress.

What will happen regarding the implementation of a new agreement by September 1st (or shortly thereafter) as well as the grandfathering of files received prior to July 1, 2008 is still uncertain.


Please continue to pray:
*that the Us and Vietnam can come to a new agreement on adoption and get it written down and signed by Sept.1

*that an agreement can be written and signed by Sept.1 grandfathering all dossiers (like ours) so we can bring home our children that we have been referred.

Yesterday, we also received 3 new pictures of Lydia. That way so exciting! I wish I could put them on the Blog.

Waiting

Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows what we know and holds us responsible to act.
Proverbs 24:12

We must act. Nate and I are not the people we were when we started this adoption journey. God has broken our hearts for the orphans of the world. We can't go back. Yet to move forward we must wait. Waiting is the most difficult demand. Thankfully we wait, being supported in the strength and courage of God our Father.

prayer for adoption

The dead line for Vietnam and the US to sign their bilateral agreement to continue adoptions between the two countries is fast approaching. The agreement is still unsigned and potentially this could end our adoption of Lydia with out a way for her to come home. Yet at the same time we have great peace from God, remembering that He is in control. He has brought us this far in His strength and He will lead us on. We would ask that you keep the following things in prayer with us:

* that The Joint Council ( a group that negotiates and arbitrates for orphans and between countries) would successfully negotiate with the DIA (Dept. of International Adoption in Vietnam) to inspire them to want to continue adoptions with the US.

*that the US State Dept. and the USCIS would send a letter to Vietnam and state, they would desire to continue and support adoptions between the US and Vietnam.

Thank you for continuing to walk this journey with us. May you be bless for the faithfulness you have given us.

We have our referral!

We received our referral today!
We have been waiting for 19 mos. to know what the feeling was like to get "the call." Today, June 16,2008, the referral call came from our agency. After an emotional weekend of prayer and fasting by friends and our family, the next work day God brought us our daughter - Lydia Lan born May 1,2007 in the southern part of Vietnam.

For all of you that can't see the picture of her, there is a reason. We can't show her picture off until she is offically legally ours. The second picture is of us viewing our newest family member on the computer.

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you: if I were to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
Psalm 40:5