HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! part 2

I don't know that I can even begin to describe this day. This has been the most incredible birthday celebration EVER!!! God in His Marvelous love lavished us and our sweet girl with almost too much love to handle. Have you ever been so overwhelmed with love? Today was one of those days when I was sure the Lord had the wrong person...Um, God, It's Amy Arnold here, were you looking for someone else to richly bless with abundant love and friendship??? I had a pedicure today and a SURPRISE little birthday brunch, a wonderful celebration with family...China Buffet of course! And, you know what came today...first thing this morning? Libi Faith's airplane ticket home. What a gift!! In the midst of feeling so blessed, I can't help but be in awe of the wonder of this little Libi Faith. We don't really know her, yet she has all of our hearts so captivated. We are only days away now from bringing our sweet baby home and the wonder of my love for her will grow even stronger. I cannot begin to express my gratitude and praise to my Father for all of you. You will never begin to know how deeply we feel for each of you, our family and friends who give us 150% of your love, support and prayers. May the Lord return the blessing to you 100 fold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Part 1

Be sure to post or email a birthday blessing. I am going to put together a little book for her as a keepsake.

When the director of her orphanage went to greet her with a birthday kiss from us she said she was just grumbling away about something...she thinks she is wondering where we are. I think she was saying, "It's my birthday", in Eeyore style!We will post part 2 of our celebrating later!! This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!!!!

Our sweet Birthday Girl!!!!

April 28th

Today is your birthday sweet girl! We miss you much today and cannot wait to kiss your sweet cheeks. We are less than 2 weeks from holding you forever. You have blessed our life so much already...so, today on your birthday we wish you many blessings and we thank our Great God for the amazing gift of YOU!!!

Libi Faith Jia Qi
my heart confidence, belief beautiful fine jade

Selah and Shaylee displaying their Birthday banner for Libi Faith!!

Mark. Bridget, Selah and Shaylee...neighbors who are teaching us much as we prepare for our China babe...

Aren't they precious!? You should have seen these 2 carrying ice cream cones down to the house for Miss Amy and Mr Brad the other night...licking them ALL the way...aren't those the best kind?

Bridget made me a blessing blanket for Libi Faith. Inside it, on a piece of linen are special scriptures and words of blessing for our sweet baby! THANK YOU BRIDGET!

Ari Visits last weekend

We had a visit with Ari last weekend. It is amazing to me how much she grows and changes between each visit.

My thoughts and feelings about Ari are often hard to put into words. There is one thing about Ari I KNOW! She is our little girl and will forever be our 4th child.

The depth of our love for her makes it so difficult to not share the 24x7 of life with her. When she comes to visit us the reality of that loss is HUGE! The truth of it all is...we wouldn't change it. God has purpose and plan. A friend encouraged me with these words recently, she is right where God wants her, to want her anywhere else is selfish? You see, it would not be what is best for her.

I cannot tell you how happy her mom is! She loves her sweet Ari so much. Ari has changed and impacted many lives, including mine, her mom's and most of yours! It is Ari that God used as a tool to show Himself to her mom for the first time. You know what? God isn't about to stop! She has been, and will continue to be used by God to make an impact for His kingdom.

I feel so blessed and privileged to be her "Mommy Amy"! As a mommy it is not easy to "share" that role. I think that is because we really weren't designed to share it. So, in that I see it is God that enables my heart to do what is not "natural". Do you know how important this is. Not only for Ari, but for Libi Faith. They both have "mommies". They both need to love their "mommies". I am a huge part of giving them the freedom to do that.

The Lord has used our precious Ari to prepare us for her sweet sister Libi Faith. Believe me, Ari gets it that she is coming, and she knows right where she is going to have her sit! She tells us, "she is going to sit RIGHT HERE!" and pats her hands on her lap! She also thinks she is going on the plane with us to get her... :) I cannot wait for the day when my 2 little girls meet! I can just imagine their reactions...one will be loud and overwhelming, the other having a very furrowed brow...you can guess which is which.

We will be leaving in just 10 days! I will post more details soon....

Thank you for sharing in this with us. It makes it so much more fun!!!

SAVIOR HE CAN MOVE THE MOUNTAINS!!!

You have joined with us in this! So join us in praise!

2 Corinthians 1
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The God of All Comfort
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

He gave us that appointment and He did it in "STYLE"...so that none other can take claim for it. We received the earliest possible appointment time...Monday the 19th. We will be with a whole other group from our agency that we are already in love with, each of these families are becoming dear to us! It looks as though we will leave on the 7th...I will have more definite times by the end of the day. So...I must be short so that I can book some tickets...

My GOD is MIGHTY TO SAVE!!
He ROSE and CONQUERED the grave!!
I give my life to follow EVERYTHING I believe in!
Savior He can move the mountains...
Forever Author of SALVATION!

Shine your light and let the WHOLE WORLD SEE...WE"RE SINGING FOR THE GLORY OF THE RISEN KING!!!!!!!!!!! JESUS!!

This is the praise song our day opened with in the AM carpool...not sure all of the children enjoyed Mrs. Arnold's singing, but my God did. :)

Join us in Prayer

I was just thinking tonight that I would put a plea out to our ARMY! Would you join us in praying that we would receive our appointment date from the US Consulate tomorrow. We are on hold to book airline tickets and make definite travel plans until this appointment is set. Keep in mind...when we are asleep China is awake, so if the Lord should awaken you tonight pray for that appointment to be sent to our agency! You all bless our lives so richly! It is a JOY to travel this road with each of you. Thank you for praying....

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Luke 14:14 "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

We have seen our Lord move the heavens and the earth for our Libi Faith and we believe He will once again. Consulate Appointment come quickly...release it LORD!

On another note...the Lord gave me a sweet song this morning that expressed where my heart was with Him. It was new to me, so I thought I would share it with you. I am not a big fan of the lady who sings it...my apologies if you are...

LOVELY

You're the sweet dreams that soothe me
when I can't fall asleep.
You're the field
in the middle of the city.
When I'm rushing by
at the speed of light.

You're the strong resolution
when I find no peace.
You're the church bells ringing
in the evening.
When all is quiet,
Your whisper comfort
lifts my heart.
I get so weak.

Ohhh.... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A thousand times
I look around me and I find...

Ohh... you're lovely. (lovely)
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A million ways
cannot explain,
you're lovely.

You're the soft words that touch me
when I just can't speak.
You're the breeze on the ocean
in the morning,
reminding me
to greet the day.

You're the flowers I remember
seeing in Italy.
Colors through

a golden haze,
bright and radiant,
soft and fragrant
In the noon day sun,
it makes me sing.

Ohh... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A thousand times
I look around me and I find...

Ohh... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A million ways
cannot explain
You're lovely.

I understand...
There may be grief
and there may be pain.
But I am aware
You blind the darkness
with who You are
because...

Ohh... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A thousand times
I look around me and I find...

Ohh... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A million ways
cannot explain
You're lovely.

CELEBRATING TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!

We had a great time celebrating together at a fun restaurant...KOBE. It's a Japanese Steakhouse where the chef prepares your food in front of you. It was a new experience for us. We laughed a lot! It was the perfect way to celebrate such a wonderful day.

Thank you for your wonderful comments...it's so fun sharing our news with you. We will post the details of our travel soon. We are hoping to leave on the 6th of May and return around the 23rd. By the way, if these dates stand, our Gotcha Day (the day we will unite with our daughter) will be Mother's Day! Is Our God perfection!?

Meet me at the end of the World - just a song...

My Rhapsody Playlist

The first time I heard this song I thought of my sweet Libi Faith...now the time has come and we will meet her at the end of the world and start the rest of our lives together!!!

I will post details of our night of celebration soon.

Thank you ALL SO much for your comments, prayers and encouragement. We love taking each of you with us on this journey! You make it so much more fun!!

LYRICS:

First act I wake to find the hope

To see you simply staring back at me

But still there's only emptiness calling

To break the dream I once believed

Now I'm scared that this reality Is much too heavy for me

I'm too weak to be strong, I can't be the only one

Holding on till the day you find me


So meet me at the end of the world

I'm waiting

Meet me at the end of the world

Please save me

This could be the place where we start

The rest of our lives, rest of our life

Meet me at the end, the end of the world

Meet me at the end of the world



You found the place I hide within

Like you see right through my skin

And my heart to see I'm hopelessly wishing

You can forgive all my mistakes

Take them back and just erase all the wrong and let our future get brighter


Till these shadows disappear

I still wait to find you here

Still I'm haunted from the moment, I feared, oh

Never forget what it's like

To surrender in your eyes

Holding on till the day you find me


So meet me at the end of the world

I'm waiting

Meet me at the end of the world

Please save me

This could be the place where we start

The rest of our lives, rest of our life

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!

Today God ROCKED our world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God woke us with an earthquake this morning...do I need to say more? We have travel approval. He has ordered every part of this process and we are overwhelmed! We are on our way to celebrate so this is short.... WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO BRING OUR DAUGHTER HOME!!!!


Psalm 68
1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.
2 As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7 When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah
8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9 You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.

11 The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it:

17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
18 When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious— that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.

19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah
20 Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.
24 Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
25 In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines.
26 Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.

32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice.
34 Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies.
35 You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

I should wait until the 28th, but...these pictures are too cute to keep to myself.

Libi Faith's foster home celebrates all the birthdays of the month on one day. We think it is because of the MESS!! All these little babes and their messy little faces...I am sure it has to take hours to clean it up!

Her little walker is NASCAR, she must be a real "speedster". From the looks of things, I would venture to say there is not a lot of "speed" in Libi's world! We think the cheeks might slow her down...

SO where are we at in the process of getting her home? Only God knows...and in that lies the struggle.

This is a constant cycle of emotions.

Once again, I must testify of My sweet Fathers knowledge of his little girl.

I wait minute by minute, hour by hour, at this point to here that we can leave to go get Libi.

He knows my desire is to hold my daughter in my arms on her birthday, this dream is likely to stay just that, a dream. When faced with the reality of this today what should arrive?

Pictures of my precious Libi Faith celebrating her birthday. Yes, it is bitter sweet for me, but what a blessing!

Birthday's come and go for so many mommies who wait for their children on the other side of the world, birthdays that will never be marked in their minds with memories or pictures in their albums. I have been blessed with birthday memories, I have her first....

and now her second....

Thank You my Great God for the hope of that 3rd birthday celebration!!!!!!!!!!!

LOA!!!!!

Our LOA finally arrived!!!! NO APRIL FOOLS!

LOA Letter of Acceptance…we needed to check a box and sign our name that we still wanted to adopt Zhang Jia Qi (-soon to be Libi Faith Arnold!)

This document could have taken 84 days to arrive…it came in 47!!! This is due to an Amazing God who choose to expedite her papers.

Our hope and prayer is to be on a plane to China by the end of the month!

After we singed the paper and got ready to send it off Joel had disappeared up the stairs and came back with a ltter to send to his sister...From: your brother Joel

To: Libi Faith Arnold

I love you SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!

He wanted us to send it to her. Oh this sends my heart!

Psalm 34:8

"Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! "

Boys Trip

We had one last final “boy’s” trip…yes I went. We went down to Branson over Spring break and enjoyed some time with our sweet boys! The flood waters caused some technical difficulties when it came to fishing from the bank. I really think we were fishing for birds or squirrels. Our drive down was held up…actually brought to a screeching halt!!!, when we hit rising flood water on the other side of St. Louis. Poor Jacob was such a trooper! He has a cast due to a broken growth plate in his ankle. We drug him around on his crutches…and I mean DRUG! I love his spirit. I experienced fish blood and puke to whole new levels. I will leave it at that. I really needed to try putting a slide show out here.