We are still waiting for our Letter of Approval (LOA). There have been some pauses in China's processing as they've transitioned to a new processing system followed by a week of holiday. These things just slow everything down a bit. We trust the timing of the One who loves our little girl more than we do, but that doesn't mean that the waiting isn't hard.
But there are are things in the midst of the waiting that bring such joy. A team of therapists will be going to Ivy-Ann's orphanage in a couple of weeks. One of the team members contacted me, and she will be taking a small bag of things from us to our Ivy-Ann. (I am so grateful!)
A dress made just for her.
Some cute panties.
A toothbrush and toothpaste.
A rain stick for her little ears that adore sound.
Sunglasses to hopefully allow her to see a bit better when it's sunny.
Lady and the Tramp to encourage some role playing.
A bunny that has been loved and slept with during the time we had it. Hopefully the bunny has our scent and will help in us seeming a bit familiar to Ivy-Ann when she meets us.
And the most exciting to me...a photo album of us...Ivy-Ann's family.
The majority of the photos I put in the album have the bunny in it. She is sitting on Ivy-Ann's bed, or being held by each of us, or sitting in between Ashlyn and Emryn on the couch. Basically, the bunny was in Ivy-Ann's "place." I don't know if Ivy-Ann will make the connection between herself and the bunny, but it was so special for us to take these photos.
I don't think I'll ever forget the afternoon I spent putting together the photo album. I wanted it to be simple but cute. We took close-ups of each of us in hopes that Ivy-Ann will better be able to see our faces. I wrote our names in English, pinyin and Chinese calligraphy. I'm sure I did not do all the strokes correctly, but I'm hoping Ivy-Ann's "aunties" will be able to decipher what I wrote. There is nothing quite like introducing yourself to your little girl. I just wanted it to be perfect, not perfectly executed, but perfect for who she is and what she needs to see. I pray that it is.
Sometime in the next few weeks, our little girl will see photos of her family for the first time. I am praying that that moment will be the beginning of a connection in Ivy-Ann's heart. My desire is that when we walk into the room to meet her later this year, we won't be strangers to her. My hope is that there will be some level of familiarity, of love, of belonging, of family, of home.
