After our church service on Sunday my friend Deb looked me in the eye and asked, 'How can we pray specifically for you and Hannah right now?'What a blessing it was to hear those words and I shared a couple of things with her. Since then a number of other people have asked me the same question and wow, it's an amazing, humbling feeling to know that so many of you are praying for Hannah and I right now and asking for specific prayer requests.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6
I have a few requests right now and will update these as the days between today and our meeting grow closer and closer together.
1. This may sound silly but one of my first requests is that the care package that I mailed to China 5 1/2 weeks ago would arrive so that Ann could forward it to Hannah. This is the package that contains the blanket I have slept with and also 2 photo albums with pictures of myself, my parents and Norma in them. I'm guessing that Hannah has never seen anyone with blond hair and I don't want to cause her any more grief or frighten her the day we meet. She will already be going through a lot of heart challenges as she is removed from all those who she knows and loves. Seeing pictures of us ahead of time will help her little heart make the transition a little bit easier. Also, the blanket will help her in that it will mean when we meet she'll have another piece of her puzzle in place as it will be a scent that she has smelled already. Thank you for all the prayers that you are offering for my sweet baby girl. God is hearing every single one of them. I'm so thankful that God is in the details and cares about all our requests...even a care package that is somewhere between Canada and China!2. Please pray for Hannah's nanny, Jiang Xin Chang. As I am counting down the days until I meet my precious daughter, I believe she is counting too. The DaoXian SWI has one nanny for 4 babies so Xin Chang has most likely been caring for Hannah since she entered the orphanage almost 8 months ago. This parting will be challenging for her too.
3. This evening I am fighting a cold. Throughout the day I had little nigglings that something might be up so I began drinking Airborne but tonight it's pretty much confirmed as in the past hour or so my throat is quite sore. A cold is a cold and I will survive. It's just with the trip to China coming up next week I don't want anything to cause extra stress if I can possibly help it. Thankful it's this week though and not next week.
Thank you for praying!! As I have more prayers and/or updates I will post them here too.
My friend...You and Hannah have been in our prayers and will continue to be.
ReplyDeleteMay the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Romans 15:13
I am keeping you and your beautiful precious daughter in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteJust a note about your cold, try taking 500mg Vitamin C every hour for at least a day and you will be amazed how fast your body will react to getting better. Your body will only absorb as much vit c as it needs and you will eliminate the rest. I have not had a cold for more then a ay in the past 5 yrs by following this regimine. I hope it helps.
I will definitely remember you and Hannah in my prayers specifically for what you need.
ReplyDeleteFor your sore throat, I highly recommend a natural and inexpensive product called Alkalol. It is a natural mucus solvent and antimicrobial wash. If you put a few drops or squirts up each nostril, like you'd do with saline, it will run down the back of your throat and rinse away the germs that cause the soreness. In the three years since my doctor recommended this, I've prevented ALL the sore throats I felt starting and have had only one cold - and I'm a daycare provider!
I love this so much that if I could bring only one thing with me to China, this would be it - hands down, no brainer.
I get it at my local drug store's pharmacy. It's over-the-counter but they keep it in the back and not of the shelf, I don't know why except I think they keep it in the dark. Sometimes they have to order it and it only takes 24-48 hours.
My doctor told me to get a little bottle of saline, pry off the tip, pour it out and refill it with the Alkalol. I use this on all my daycare kids, as needed, and their parents stock up on it, too, once they see how well it works.
I hope you definitely feel better soon!
Oh sweetie, thinking of you!!
ReplyDeletePrayers sent!! I can't believe you are this close! I know you must feel like you are dreaming!!
ReplyDeletePraying in Cookeville, TN
ReplyDeleteYou are both never far from my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteKeep smilin!
Because Cady was a part of HTS, she was cared for by one nanny for 16 months, since she was 4 days old. When we met her nanny and she cried with me, I knew Cady was loved. After things settled, I realized it was the children left behind that needed my prayers the most. To this day, it's still extremely difficult to look at current pictures of the SWI and see children in those pictures who are still there....my daughter's age. I weep for those children.
ReplyDeleteThere, but for the Grace of God, is my daughter.
Because you believe and because you are praying for her, and because we are too, Hannah is very much blessed and protected. Thank God she found you, and you her!
to sing and to dance....THANK YOU!!! I had never really considered that the 3 little girls sharing Hannah's room might never be adopted. Wow, what a sobering thought that is and what a wonderful encouragement your note was to pray for these little girls too. I know them by name and will pray for them...and share this request with my next prayer request. (Omitting their names)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your note and beautiful reminder!!
Hannah, her nanny and her mommy are in my prayers today. Get well soon!
ReplyDeleteConsider it done.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you and Hannah.
Stace
You will indeed be remembered in my prayers....
ReplyDeleteMany thoughts and prayers...
I don't know why this post has made me so emotional but it has. I'm so excited for you and in every post there's something to make me catch my breath and realize you are so close now. I've got chills just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteOh my dear Catherine. I will keep you and Hannah in my prayers and all the other specifics you mentioned.
I know you're super busy but maybe the cold symptoms is your body's way of telling you to slow down a bit. Take care of yourself my friend and don't forget to get a good night's sleep every night (HA!! . . . is that even possible being this close to Hannah Day!!!!)
Love you lots.
Karen
P.S. I think Mike fixed my email issue. :)
You and Hannah are certainly in my prayer. I can't wait to see her in your arms. I know what a blessing it is to have a church family like yours and yes indeed it is very humbling. What a blessing.
ReplyDeleteLove,Kristy
You don't need to worry too much on the blond hair front. Children that young do not show any racial preferences, so it's highly unlikely that she is going to be any more upset because you don't look Chinese. I know this interesting tidbit because our daughter occasionally serves as a subject for experiments by the Harvard lab for developmental studies, and she was involved in a study specifically about that. On the other hand, you should be prepared to have your golden tresses admired by all the adults, many of whom will no doubt want their picture taken with you. (My daughter is our biological child via IVF, but I've been to China as a tourist and even in Bejing my auburn hair was considered fascinating.)
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed following your journey to sweet Hannah. In case I don't have a chance to stop by again before you leave, I just wanted to wish you all the best on your trip to China. Treasure the many amazing moments with your daughter in the country of her birth. Can't wait to see pictures of you holding her in your arms!
Krista
I will pray for your health. Take care of yourself.... rest, liquids... you know!
ReplyDeleteAlyzabeth's Mommy
You are absolutely in my prayers, along with Hannah the people who are taking care of her now, and the other babies/children she is with now.
ReplyDelete9 days til your sweet girl is in your arms, wow!
It is so kind of you to think of your daughter's nanny. Our daughter's nanny was so upset at having our dughter taken from her. The translator came back into the room and leaned in to me and said "Her nanny wants you to know that she loves her." Those were the best and hardest words to hear at that moment. I knew our daughter had been in very caring and capable hands and I knew that I was about to take her from that.
ReplyDeleteI thanked our daughter's nanny for taking such great care of the babies and for giving them a part of her heart.
I think the blessing is that the nanny will know that this child is getting a wonderful forever family and will grow strong and loving in your family.