Answers to prayers...

We have heard back from Shepherd's Field Children's Village!!! 

There are absolutely no words to describe the feelings of gratitude and relief we are feeling today.  We have so much to be thankful for!   

We had emailed them asking if there was any chance that Thea could stay at Shepherd's Field until we go to China to get her, as we are so concerned with the affects of her having to adjust to being moved back to the Duchang County orphanage and then again when we come to bring her home. 

Today Shepherd's Field notified us that they contacted the director of the Duchang County orphanage on our behalf (this is where we thought Thea was).  They have made arrangements for Thea to remain at Shepherd's Field until we go to China to bring her home!!!  Hallelujah!  We will get to go directly to Shepherd's Field when we arrive in China and meet our baby girl for the first time there...they also told us that we can most likely stay overnight right there at SFCV.  We are going to be allowed to have Thea stay in our room there with us as soon as we meet her!!  Sara from Shepherd's Field will then travel with us to Nanchang, Jiangxi (the capital city of the province that Thea was born in) to complete the adoption papers.  This is absolutely incredible news!  We have truly been blessed beyond measure! 

To top it off they also shared with us that Thea has been with them since August 2010 (when she was only 3 months old)!  How lucky that she has been there being loved on and cared for by them for most of her young life.  We could not ask for a better place for our sweet baby girl to be until we can go and bring her home.  Because she has been there for so long, they also have pictures of Thea that they shared with us.  These are most precious...we never expected to ever know much of Thea's life before we met her. 

August 2010 ~ 3 months old

September 2010 ~ 4 months old

December 5th 2010 ~ almost 7 months old

This picture was taken shortly after her cleft lip surgery as she is still wearing the splints on her arms to prevent her from touching her mouth.

February 2010 ~ 9 months old

(check out that belly!)

We are still waiting to hear back from the doctor at Shepherd's Field with more information regarding Thea's cleft lip and palate.  He will be able to share with us exactly when and where her lip repair was done, and also share her other medical information with us.  How lucky we are to be in direct contact with those caring for our little girl!!  And to think that had we not sent Thea a care package, they would have moved her back to the Duchang orphanage before our arrival in China, and we might never have known she was ever at Shepherd's Field at all...crazy!

As you can imagine, we are absolutely dying to jump on a plane and go get little Thea now!  Good thing i've got tons of 'house stuff' to get done in order to prepare for her arrival...hopefully it will keep me busy enough that the time will go by fast.  We are hoping and praying that the 'official' side of things will move quickly and that we will get travel approval to go mid-June.  When I looked at the calendar today and saw 'April' at the top I felt relief...May & then June...I can handle this! 

Thank you for all your prayers.  It is so obvious that the Lord has watched over our Thea and has His hand in her life...we are so thankful! 

blessings to you, gayle :)

Father God,
Thank you for the incredible blessing of our precious daughter Thea.  While we continue waiting and desperately yearn to hold her, it comforts me knowing that you have your hand in her life and that you are in control.  Thank you for opening up the doors to enable us to find our Thea at Shepherd's Field Children's Village.  And thank you for Shepherd's Field and the loving care they provide for China's orphans... please bless them and the work they are doing for your children.   Thank you Lord for giving us the blessing of Thea's 'history'... what an amazing gift for her to have.  I pray that you will continue to bless her, protect her, and begin preparing her heart for us.
In Jesus Name, Amen.