God’s timing is always interesting. He is never late. He is never early. I believe He is deliberate, intentional and precise with each and every thing He does. (And yes, even as I believe that whole-heartedly, it can be very confusing too).
On Wednesday January 14th when our home was destroyed by fire we were eventually allowed to go back in the house. We walked through in shock at the devastation that surrounded us. A few friends were with us and for that we are so grateful. Sharing pain and burdens, they were in shock too.
The Red Cross came and we talked with them for a bit. I wanted to go see the kids, who had been at Kim’s (across the road) but part of me wanted to stay and start working to fix the house up so we could move right back in (yeah, like I could do that).
Eventually I was driven over to Kim’s. I walked in and was sobbing. My sweet friends were very comforting. Elizabeth came around the corner sucking her thumb and eyeing me. I am sure she was struggling, knowing something had gone terribly wrong.
I had not used a lavatory since the middle of the night and so I went to Kim’s master bath and as I was closing the door my cell phone rang. It was a number that looked familiar…with a Denver area code. I decided to answer it.
It was Kathi from Chinese Children. She called to say that she had heard from immigration and we had Immigration approval for Jubilee. Now her dossier could finally go to China! I thought the timing for this Immigration word was so deliberate from the Lord. Not the day before the fire, not the day after. Exactly upon “finishing up” being at the fire.
I would love to tell you that we threw a party and celebrated, but we were dealing with such grieving and brokenness, we couldn’t. We thanked the Lord and now are finally able to tell you our friends of this good news.
About 5 days after the fire I got a phone call from a gal in Ch*na who was able to go see Jubilee and sent me some pictures. So these are fresh from China and she said that she will fit in wonderfully with our family. She said she already loved her, but it was “love at first sight.”
Oh was a sweetheart. I have goosebumps reading this post and then seeing her precious smile. She is just so cute.
Jubilee is beautiful!!!!
What a gift from God. I am sitting here crying just thinking about when I would get those pictures of Jaxson and even though he was a world away it made him seem just a little closer. Jubilee is so very beautiful and man does she have that same huge smile your whole family has.
Praise the Lord for he gives and takes away-not necessarily in that order. She is perfect.
What a precious, beautiful girl! So glad that God gave you this wonderful encouragement in the midst of your pain. He is good!
Blessings,
Sarah
so amazing! and it’s so awesome that lynsay got to go love on her!
(lori mentioned in a blog comment to me that Tyler deploys tomorrow. he is in my prayers and you are too. there are so many balls in the air for you right now, so many emotions to deal with. praying for God’s strength through it all.)
Now that I have read several of your post and saw the picture on your header , I truly cannot even remember how I got to your blog. But let me tell you something, your are an incredible woman with an unbelievably beautiful family. WOW!!!! I feel so blessed to have been pointed in your direction. God is good. I am so sorry for your losses that you endured through the fire, I know how devastating that must have been, but I am just so thankful that all of you are ok.
I can’t wait to see you with Jubilee in your arms. Can you also tell Tyler thank you from the Rodriguez Family. Our son Steven did two tours in Iraq and God shed his grace on us both times, brought Steven home safely and that we will forever be grateful. I look forward to following along with your life.
Love and blessings, Kristy
Yeah! She’s coming home!
Congratulations! She looks so happy and fun…just what you need to see right now.
Jubilee is beautiful. You can see her inner beauty in those eyes. What wonderful timing for God to send you this encouragement.
In His peace – Cindy
MoM(Mom of Many)
http://www.faithfulpromises.blogspot.com
God’s way are so much higher than ours!
She looks like the sweetest of blessings!
I’m still praying for you all.
She is so precious! I can’t wait until she can come home with you!
That is such a sweet picture. I love to see smiles. They are beautiful. That is a Blessed Child and so are you all for all you do for children
Such wonderful news!! God IS on the throne!! Jubilee really does look jubilant! What a blessed little girl she is, to have the privilege of joining your family. Praying for you day by day.
love,
Holly
She is beautiful! Bless your sweet precious Jubilee! How wonderful that Lynsay got to see her and give her a big hug from her family! What an awesome family she will be coming home to!
Love from MN,
Jean
God’s timing is always perfect – right when you needed a blessing :0) Your family is in OUR family’s constant prayers and thoughts. We are reminded that God’s gifts are eternal and survive through fires! We pray for peace for your hearts this weekend!
Jubilee. Even the name sings of praise. My prayer will be for you to be settled in a new place called simplicity by the time she comes home.
Those smiles melt my heart.
Look at that girl! So precious! Can’t wait to give her a hug, too.
Matthew 10:29-31
xx, c
Wonderful news! She is beautiful!
She is beautiful!!! The pictures are so sweet!
“In Happy moments,praise God, Difficult moments, seek God, Quiet moments,Worship God, Painful moments,trust God, Every moment, Thank God.”
Wow, I just came here from another blog. My heart goes out to you in the loss of your home. On January 16th, my neighbor’s house caught on fire and I remember every detail of that day from start to finish. I felt so many emotions for my neighbor and saw how hard it was for her to lose everything. But to also know that everyone was safe(she has two small children), that still astounds me. Several “coincidences” led her to safely exit the house and make her way to my house where I called 911. Before she came, I was staring at my clock wondering why it felt like I shouldn’t go to my exercise class at the YMCA. I shouldn’t have been home to hear her son’s panicked cries. God was present that morning,like it sounds like He was for you, too.
Congratulations on your new addition to the family and it is nice to “meet” you all!
Praying for you!
Stephanie Adams
I love Anna Grace’s Jie Jie’s quote! Amen!
Linn, I am so grateful that you have the incredible support of friends that you have. Lynsay is a treasure! What a blessing that she could love on precious Jubilee and send her mama these photographs!
With Love and Prayers Unceasing,
Amy and all the Chapman Brood
She is adorable. God ‘s timing is when we need it. Happy moments to look forward too.
Lisa
Newark, Ohio
God is in control and He is very good! What a darling little girl.
How wonderful Linn that in the midst of your disaster our precious Father gave you hope for the future! His timing is always so perfect!!!! I can’t believe you kept this from me when we talked the other day!!! Okay, I just found out I am pregnant with triplets and did not tell you the other day either!!! Well, not really had ya there for a minute though! Jubilee looks great. What a sweet girl! Love you!
Precious girl!!
PTL!!
I have tears of joy for you—-doesn’t our Father know just what we need, when we need it? He KNEW you NEEDED this now. What a sweet, sweet little girl. What a beautiful smile she has. Oh my, I just cannot wait to see the newest Saunders home, where she belongs. Thank you so much for sharing these with us. The Salem’s are praying you get to China soon—bring that sweet girl home. Yes, ALL be organized by the time she comes home—God already has all the details sorted—a safe place for the beautiful Saunders Brood!
What a wonderful word for me too! We are waiting on the homecoming of our seventh child. It has been one set back after another–but I am learning a set back for me may actually be the hand of God, as His timing is perfect. I also know, however, that the enemy is up to no good…I would like to share some day–when you are over the grief–what I have gone through physically EVERY time we have adopted. To date, I have been sick from the day we obeyed to adopt Ethan–which was in November. It has been one illness after another, with no break in between. Ethan is the fifth child the Lord has brought into our hearts and so I am learning to prepare for the physical attacks–it has happend every time. Suffering is part of obedience, and these little souls are worth the pain and agony. Love to you and your precious lambs. Praying in Uganda
What a beautiful child with a gorgeous smile. Praises be for God’s timing once again and the great pictures!
Barbara Lyman
Marysville, WA
What a beautiful thing to LOOK FORWARD TO! That Jubilee will bring BRIGHTNESS to some dark areas of life! YAY! I’ll bet those pictures made your day 🙂
Oh my goodness! She has grown so much! What great news! BTW, I just nominated for a blog with a great attitude! It’s called the Lemonade stand award! You are such an inspiration to me!
Much love and prayers ( as always)
Sandy
Hi there, I am in awe of all that has happened with your family-mainly God’s protection and His timing for your Jubilee. My heart broke with you as I read of your cabin being destroyed. I am praying the Lord will restore what the locusts have eaten. I’m new here to Colorado, just one year, but find it so comforting to know there are other godly families out there. Blessings to you this day.
Noreen
http:///www.nananors.blogspot.com
werhis3@gmail.com
What a precious moment it must have been to see such a beautiful little girl grinning at you. God’s timimg is nothing but PERFECT and for that I am so grateful. We continue to pray for you all here in Folkston, Ga.
Paula Jacoby
Amazing! We are happy for you and as always in awe of God’s work and timing. She is precious! I know you will be in a good place when it is finally time to go get her, and we will joyfully follow that journey, too! Congrats … so wonderful to have great news amidst everything else.
All the best,
Nicole A. in OH
Wow, God is so into the details of our lives. He knew you would need a ray of hope and a ray of sunshine on that day. What a mighty and awesome God we serve. What a sweet blessing to get those pictures and look at her smile! That had to warm your mama’s heart! Still praying for you and your family.
Hugs,
Robin
Oh…this post has TOTALLY made me cry!!! The very grace of Christ is staggering sometimes! I am so very happy for you guys!
Your sweet Jubilee has been on my heart! I am so glad to hear your good news. We are praying for you still. Many blessings friend, Lisa C.
From a world away, God provided a link to you and sent someone to love on that little girl.
And you couldn’t possibly miss the radiant joy on either of their faces. What a gift – thank you for sharing it with us.
What terrific good news!
i am in awe of your faith and transparency … your daughter is beyond beautiful and that twinkle in her eye is meant just for you her mother …
i will pray the provisions fall from the sky to fix your home …
Ih how I have been waiting for these pics!!!!!!!!! What a doll! Oh I can’t wait to see her.. you know when we pack our boatload of kids up in big mama and head that way. Cannot wait till she is in her mamas arms!!! CANNOT WAIT!
Thank you Lord for this surprise and perfect timed blessing(though it was not a surprise for you). We thank you for your care in every detail… for knowing just what we need and when we will need it before we know. Thank you for the smiles and comfort this now doubt brought to this sweet mamas heart. PTL!!!!
Thinking of you .. we had our party I told about last night, and I can’t wait to have a reason to celebrate again.even bigger party!!!!. 🙂
Thinking of you and pryaing for you always.
Much love dear friend!
🙂
Amie
She’s gorgeous…and so are you all…so she’ll fit right in!!!
And her smile…it’s flat contagious!
God is good!
To use YOUR own phrase…
YIPPEE JESUS!!!!!!
Tammy
So excited about this news and what a special treat for Lindsay to send the pictures! Even more special that she got to see her and hug her. YEAH! Praying for you from Texas and praying that the Lord will give you strength and peace to meet the challenges of each day. Love to you all.
Jubilee has a beautiful smile! Thanks for sharing her picture, and thanks for being real. We have adopted from China three times, and when we received our first daughters’ permission to travel, our 4th son – sweet baby Ben – had only been gone for 7 weeks. It was a bittersweet time, and I know well what you mean by feeling a joy but not being able to celebrate due to the present grief. My prayer is that she (along with your other children) will be the salve that heals your wounds. I wish I lived closer to you – I would love to give you a hug.
Blessings,
Linda from Northern Colorado
Praising HIM in all of this. May GOD continue to shower you in HIS blessings….even the ones that are unkown.
What a sweet smile!! You continue to inspire me with your optimisim and faith! I have shared your story with so many- truly you amaze me!!
Linn,
Two days before you posted this God brought Jubilee to my mind, and I prayed that He would orchestrate the timing of all of this. . . and Jubilee’s homecoming. (Like He isn’t already right? But I know He likes to hear from us!) What a joy it was to then click on your blog and see your sweet, smiling (and I mean smiling BIG) Jubilee, wrapped up in Lynsay’s arms. God is so good.
Precious Jubilee–you have no idea baby girl what JOY lies ahead of you! Oh Linn, I can’t wait to see her come home. Just like I can’t wait to see all of you “come home”. May the Lord settle you quickly, in a home, YOUR home. He is ABLE!
Love you friend ~
Tina
You should have seen the smile on Kamryn’s Rachel’s face to see these pictures. She calls Jubilee by her Chinese name though. Wish you could her her say it. Glad you had some good news. I was wondering and praying your dossier was destroyed in the fire. praying, Kathy
God is SO DARN good!!!!! Thank you, Lord for this gift for your children who are hurting so much now.
Jubilee is just beautiful and will be in your arms in the perfect timing, also.
Hugs,
Ohilda
Isn’t that just like our God? He knows when to send every ounce of encouragement we receive. He is so good.
We are continuing to pray for your family,
Robbie