Pearls for Peter.

I can't believe it has been over a year since we brought our little dumpling home! It has been a FULL year! Many times I thought about dusting off the ol' blog and updating it with Selah's journey since being home. The best I could do was a facebook post every now and then. In the midst of medical appointments, trips back and forth to Dallas and Fort Worth on a weekly bases, surgeries and castings. Celebrating milestones of the most simplest nature I found myself needing to just be present. 

To be honest I used to greatly enjoy blogging but half way through our adoption journey to bring Selah home that changed. As we got closer to the finish line of the adoption process, it felt as if we were limping and dragging ourselves across. While there were many external and internal factors that contributed to this feeling, the fault was my own. 

 Matthew 14:28-33

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
²⁹ “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

    Like Peter the moment I took my eyes off of Jesus and focused on the storm and ragging water, my brain took over were faith had allowed me to freely walk.

In many ways this past year has been a recovery for Selah's body and soul and in many ways it has been a recovery for our own. I am so thankful for our little love Selah, for the life lessons the Lord is teaching US through her. 

People always comment how "lucky" Selah is, but we truly are the lucky ones, we are BLESSED!

Matthew 13:44

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

 Jesus is our treasure or fine pearl! His word says HE is father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5) and he draws near to the broken hearted (Psalm 34:18). Oh how we KNOW this is truth. The the road was rough and painfully stretched us but we have decided to follow Jesus, again, to China.

We would like to invite you again, to follow our families journey... to Peter Coriell.

I have one request this time, please help us with your encouragement and prayers. If I start to become silent...check on me. Point me back to the gaze of Jesus where there is freedom and water to be walked on.

Where we are at:

*Today our home study has been sent for review to our placing agency.

* Our home study can't be reviewed (and move on to the next step) until we come up with $3300 for agency fees.

How you can help:

* We are selling beautiful LARGE 9mm pearl earrings (from our last trip to China) for $25 (plus $5 shipping). I can fit multiple pairs in one box so shipping is the same for 1 or 10! There are 3 colors to choose from:

-White

-light coral

-opal/lavender

* Share with your friends!!!

* Pray!

You can use the Donate button at the top of the page to place your order. Use "Pearls for Peter" in the subject line and use the comment section to describe your order. You can also e-mail me at nathan_coriell@yahoo.com.

We love you guys! Thank you for your support!

Children of God

This post has been a hard one to write. Where I last left off was coming in from Nanning. I knew what to expect this next leg of the adoption process.... the U.S consulate appointment and the promise of a pending home coming. What I did not know was the affect it would have on my heart after a week in Selah's province and upon arriving in Guangzhou. How Selah could go from just a week before from living in an impoverished region with nothing and no one really to call her own. To now playing in a lobby with gold murals .....

as a beloved daughter.....

Only God!

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry "Abba Father." The spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. "

Romans 8:15-16

Our Last day in Nanning part 2

After the People's Park our guide Mary took us to an open air market. Nathan and I had tried to find this on our own but was unsuccessful. Oh how I wish we had known where it was days earlier.

Although not my choice ( animal intestines) you will have to believe me on this one, it smelled wonderful!!!








These are red dates, some of these were sent along with Selah's birthday care package we had delivered. We always wondered what they tasted like as you can only get these specific kind here. So we bought some and we shared them with our guide Mary as we walked the market.




She started giggling when I asked what to do with the seeds in the middle (suggested getting another bag) while Nathan had already taken to it like a local (spitting). It was hard for me to just spit so I would just nonchalantly toss.




Selah saw this dog and said " Wa wa" (She calls toys and animals Wa wa) and then said "Woof woof".




Oh and this man....makes the worlds BEST DUMPLINGS !!! For 4 yuan (less than $1 U.S dollar) we got 10 large dumplings which were filling enough for all 3 of us for lunch!



Time was winding down and it was time to head to the airport for the next leg of our journey in China...Guangzhou. This is where the U.S consulate is and this is where Selah's Visa will be issued and we can can come home with our daughter.

Saying goodbye to Nanning was bitter/sweet.






We enjoyed our time in Nanning , although this is not the city she grew up in, Guangxi is Selah's birth province and were we had our first start as a family of with her .





As plane took off and we flew over saying one last goodbye, Nathan said "She has no idea what just took place. "

Upon landing we meet our guide Elvin who ushered us into a super nice van black leather seats.... were we in the right van? Our last one was rather worn down, the A/C above head would rain on us and if we were holding paper we had to be on guard.

We knew in our heads what came next in the process but was not prepared for what would come with arriving in Guangzhou and the affect it had on our hearts...

Our last day in Nanning part 1...

The People's Park




The People's Park is really breath taking....





It is open to the public, people come to practice their their different forms of art (singing, dancing,painting or simply to take a stroll).




Only in Guangxi can you find the "Love ball". Baba and Selah sitting on a "Love ball".

Is this next shot you will see we are about to cross a bridge or so we thought.

A class of school children were on a field trip at the park and spotted us approaching and most of them had never seen real life foreigners. Their teacher asked if they could take a picture with us. We said sure...so you can guess what happened next....they surrounded us shouting "Ni Hao" and repeating our "Hello's." giggling and grabbing for hand shakes!! It was the cutest thing.

They we greeting Selah and telling her what lucky baby she was. When we crossed over the bridge we were met with an older gentlemen playing a saxaphone.











Then one of the school teachers came over to us knelt down by Selah's stroller and for the first time since we have had her in ours someone has asked about Selah's disabilities. "Does she have crossed feet?" I replied "Yes." There was a few more exchanges between us and our guide. She asked "Why did you not pick a healthy child?" I said " Because she is a beautiful and joyful child. Her life is just a precious as a healthy child. By then a HUGE crowd was forming. We said good bye and moved on. A few feet away I had Nathan stop the stroller so I could smoother Selah in kisses and tell her " Wo an ni " I love you.



A young girl painting along the lake.

Our daughter feeding koi fish by the lake.

Forever Baba Mama ...forever family!

It started with a taxi ride.

Selah loves a good taxi ride.

Her personality comes into bloom when she is OUT and on the go. Nathan had her on his lap ( please don't freak y'all, this is China you are lucky to find a seat belt let alone a car seat)

Ok, back to the good stuff.... Nathan was softly saying "Baba, Baba" and she looked up at him and responded with one word that would melt hearts,"Baba."

The look on his face was priceless so I snapped this quick picture. Is this not the face of man smitten by a little girl who has found her forever Baba.

The next day our guide took us to the Guangxi Minority Muesum. It was an amazing trip for so many reasons. It will have to be a separate blog. One of the many miracles that took place while there .... Selah would now call me Mama.



I am not exactly sure what prompted it but I have an idea. Moments early in the museum we passed a bunch of school children. She was entranced! When our guide motioned us to the next room Selah whined and arched to look back at them so I walked back over so she could continue to look. I told my guide " I think she misses her foster siblings, and the children and the orphanage." As I said this a large lump wheeled up in my throat. "Hold it together Alisa." I thought to my self. My guide said. " Oh yes, this is very true." I lost it. Selah looked up at me and blew on my face, as I had done to her before for comfort. Moments later as we were walking....she looked up at me and said said " Mama."

Sweet Nathan captured this picture of our moment.




So we are all excited ....Nathan and I, Selah and our guide Mary. Seconds later we all step onto this really steep escalator to go down stairs and POW!!! The building goes black, children are screaming and the escalator jerks to a stop almost throwing all of us down. We cautiously walk down to find out there is a storm now outside. It was sunny, in the 80's when we arrived and now it was pouring and freezing cold.

We rush are rushed to our driver who then takes us back to our hotel. When we got back, Selah walked over to the little couch we keep her toys and things on. She picked up her photo album that we had sent her months ago and she started pointing at the pictures. First to the picture of herself "Ya Ya" (it's her nick name), then she would point to herself. Then to my picture and then point to me ... "Mama" then to Nathan's picture and and point to him " Baba". Then she moved to the kids pictures, first Madelynn, "Jie Jie" (sister) and then Noah's picture and then she pointed to the door. As if to say... let's go home.

It's official.... OUR DAUGHTER Selah Coriell !!!

As of today 04/17/2012 our adoption has been made complete in the eye's of China. Today she is officially Selah Coriell!!!

We also celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary today. Thank you Jesus for the gift that is our daughter!

She is one amazing little girl who has gone through so much in her short 2 little years in life and in the last couple of days.

But she has has shown so much strength and so much bravery. In her times of grieving, she shows how us much she has been loved and learned to love . She amazes us by her ability to trust us in those moments, to let us hold her and see her through it.

She is blossoming before our eyes. Letting her guard down little by little. We were blessed to see first smiles and laughter by the evening and even a first word in Cantonese "Wa Wa" = Toy (it was a giant teddy bear that was in the dinner room that caught her eye.)

We look forward to the days and years ahead with our beautiful girl. Praise the Lord oh my soul!

"..and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:3