An Open Letter to Our Jubilee Promise

Our Precious Jubilee Promise,

571 days since….

we started the journey to bring you home…..
*
*

571 days you have been the daughter of our hearts….
*
*

571 days we have dreamed of life with you….

*

*
571 days we have prayed for you and longed for you to be home…..

*

*
Little did we know on April 10th, 2008, when we began the journey to you, that the road would be this long. Little did we know that you would have two siblings join the family before we could get you home. Little did we know that we would lose our family home in a fire. Little did we know that you would be almost 8 instead of just 6. Little did we know.

*

*

But He knew. (I’m so glad He didn’t tell us!) He knew all along what His perfect timing would be and all the obstacles that we would have to hurdle (or at times drag our weary bodies over) to get to you. Your value to God and to us is immeasurable!

Someone wrote recently that maybe you weren’t here yet because you would have hid during the fire and perished. Maybe. I was ministered to by those words. Perhaps we will never understand His timing, but we are comforted by the fact that He has been sustaining you when we could not. He has been holding you when we could not. He has been ministering to your soul and giving you hope because we have asked Him to do these things. He is a faithful God and we rejoice that the days without you are drawing to a close.

That soon, we pray, you will be in your Mama’s arms. That you will never again wonder if you will ever have a family. That you, precious Jubilee Promise, will rest securely knowing that you are finally where God planned from the beginning of time for you to be….in our now white farmhouse at a Place Called Simplicity surrounded by acres of horse pastures and farmland.
Learning about Jesus and just how much He really loves you. Playing dollies with Elizabeth. Giggling with Isaiah. Following Liberty to feed the animals. Going on dates with YOUR daddy. Snuggling with Emma. Being carried by Graham. Going shopping with Autumn. Chasing Elijah. Talking to Abi & Ryan on Skype. Praying for Tyler far away and talking to Sarah on the phone. There are bunches of people who can’t wait for you to be here. And soon….so very soon….you will be with us…..I pray you love us as much as we love you…..
PS. We continue to wait for TA (Travel Assignment)….soon Lord, please?

43 thoughts on “An Open Letter to Our Jubilee Promise

  1. Oh Linny, my heart…
    If the New Testament were still being written…I am certain along with the "Greats" in the Faith Hall of Fame it would say, "and by faith Linny…."
    Waiting with you sweet friend.

  2. I cannot wait for the day your precious daughter gets to read those words and know just how very much her Mommy & Daddy loved her and longed for her everyday. I pray you get to hold your sweet girl very very soon!!!

  3. Precious! It is so hard to understand God's timing. But I bet that years from now, you can put the story in Memorial Box Monday, and Jubilee will have the story memorized! Praying with you.
    Janet

  4. Oh Linn,

    My heart has been longing for this little girl for you. I am praying … that is all I can do … and it is the MOST I can do. Once Jubilee is home and you are settling in, I would love to plan a visit. I have always wanted to visit Colorado instead of just driving through. Jubilee seems like a perfect reason!

    Love and blessings, Lisa C.

  5. Oh my precious friend–how I understand. The wait is so terribly painful. Excruciating! Some day soon, dear friend, that angel will be in your arms. It will all be so worth it! Know that you are NOT alone in this wait. There are so many of us in the same boat–ready to hold up your arms when the wait takes it's toll on your mommy heart!

    Sending you all my love today.
    Adeye

  6. Tissue warning???
    I thank God for leading me to you. For the gift of laughing with you , crying with you and soon rejoicing with you in Jubilee's homecoming.
    Linny, we are praying!!!!!!

  7. Oh, Linny, with tears in my eyes, I think of our long wait for Ellie. I was reminded of this post on my lowest day of our wait:
    http://meimeimakesfour.blogspot.com/2007/08/mournful.html

    But, then more tears when I tought of today. Today, Josie-Tatum began classes at a new gym. Her instructor and many of the students had not yet met Ellie. When I went to pick Ellie up, all eyes were on my spit-fire princess, so tiny, on her crutches. She demands an audience wherever she goes….and I pray that those who watch her see HIM!

    And, I can't wait to see the letters TA! in a post very soon. You, my faithful friend, will be in my prayers.

    Now, let me go downstairs and love on my baby girls, who will sleep under the same roof with their forever family!

    Love ya',
    Robbie

  8. How I wish the wait was over for you! I can't imagine how hard it must be. We waited almost one year for Marissa and it was awful because we thought for sure we would have her in less than four months. The wait for four months on was painfully hard, but then God brought her home at the most perfect time as he did with Bryson and will with our sweet waiting Gio!

    Hugs, kisses and lots of love from your one and only VT!!!

  9. Jubilee,
    The more I "get to know" your family, the more I adore them all. Lately I have been thinking about you multiple times a day. I imagine my own daughter on the other side of the world just waiting for me to come get her. Needless to say I cannot even imagine the thought. I am trusting that the Lord is with you everyday telling you to hold tight! We will all rejoice to see you home. We can't wait!!
    Love,
    CM

  10. Jubilee,
    The more I "get to know" your family, the more I adore them all. Lately I have been thinking about you multiple times a day. I imagine my own daughter on the other side of the world just waiting for me to come get her. Needless to say I cannot even imagine the thought. I am trusting that the Lord is with you everyday telling you to hold tight! We will all rejoice to see you home. We can't wait!!
    Love,
    CM

  11. I can not thank you enough for your encouraging words on my blog! It is such a sweet blessing to be supported by others that have walked some of the same paths (adoption, ministry). I found comfort from your understanding!
    I am going to begin praying for Jubilee tonight. The words you wrote to her are beautiful! Your love for her jumped right off the screen and into my heart!
    Thank you again!

  12. Brian and I are praying for that TA for all of you. We got our LOA for Joseph last year for my birthday (that was exactly what I asked for) I am so sorry for that ache in your heart right now as the days drag. I love your faith and confidence in God's goodness. All our love, The Lockwoods

  13. Oh, Linny, I really need to cover my keyboard with plastic wrap before reading your posts. I weep with you, ache with you, pray fervently with you, and hope with you every single day.

    I feel your pain. We are 2 and 1/2 years into our adoption of a little boy who has waited 9 years for a family. We just got bad news today that could mean we may have to wait another year to bring him home, but we're still asking God to work a miracle. Thanks for your prayers for our son and so many other families who count the days with tears. You are dear to remember others in the midst of your own pain.

    We will continue to cover your family and beautiful Jubilee Promise with prayer until she comes home. All heaven and earth will rejoice when you get TA. If you hear a "whoooooo hooooo" in a Southern accent, that's your friend from Georgia–I'll be squealing the loudest.

    Much Love,
    Kathie

  14. I read your post and the phrase "long-suffering" popped into my mind. When I looked up that phrase to see if it was in a verse, I found Jeremiah 15:15, "LORD, you understand, remember me and care for me . . . you are long-suffering."

  15. We continue to pray every day for you. This is God's plan…even though it does not make sense to us right now…someday it will all be clear. May God bless you for your faith…and bring that little darling home.

    Ann Marie

  16. Your faith is such a testimony! May God bless you with TA TODAY! I love reading your blog as often as possible. We have four children, two from China and two bio. You AMAZE me! If you can do it, I can do it! 🙂 Thank you for your ministry through words.

    Jackie W.

  17. Linny,
    Such beautiful words coming from the heart of such a beautiful mother.
    I will be praying for you all and for your sweet precious Jubilee!
    Hugs and Blessings
    Kiesha

  18. Oh Linny ~ your words and your faith always inspire me to the core! I know we have never met in person, but you are such a blessing and the more I 'know' you the more I love ya! We are praying sweet Jubilee home right along with you, dear friend! Hang in there, I trust that your TA is right around the corner!

    We just got notice of our DTC for Khloe, and are SO excited to bring her home, too! Isn't it wonderful knowing that our Father is holding our girls until they are in our arms!?! He is SO faithful!! <><

    Blessings and Hugs,
    ~ Tanya

  19. I had a dream last night that your whole family was waiting by your mailbox. The mailman came and delivered your TA for Jubilee!!! Now, I know that it won't come to your house, but I do believe that it is coming!

    Blessings,
    Sarah

  20. I wish I had perfect words of comfort for you…however we both know God does. Rest in His word, and let Him minister to your bruised and broken heart. I do know from experience that He truly knows how to patch 'em up!

  21. Linny, I'm bawling here. What a precious letter to your daughter. I still am believing for a miracle. I'm so thankful Jesus is holding your precious daughter in His arms until you can. Hugs..

  22. Oh Linny- this has been much too long of a wait. Your darling daughter needs to come home… now. She needs to experience and enjoy all the things that you said.

    My deepest prayers are with you all as you wait to hear about your little girl.

    Praying that their are no more delays and she comes home to her family now.

  23. Oh Linny,

    I don't know what is going on today regarding beautiful Jubilee-but God woke me up in the middle of the night here in Australia to pray for her and for you.
    blessings my friend,
    Kathy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>