It's Monday! Monday's are happy days in our China adoption circles as they are typically "family" days - the days when families are united with their children in China!! Every Monday morning I eagerly look forward to seeing the pictures of families meeting their beautiful sons and daughters who, praise God, are orphans no longer!! What a blessing and an encouragement to watch these stories, share these journeys and then to finally see that first family photo! We gaze longingly, knowing that someday it will be us holding Lila and shedding tears of joy to have her finally with us.
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Latest pic from her BFF's
birthday party |
It's hard to believe, but that day for us could be in just 8 or 9 Mondays! Over a year of planning, working, fundraising, waiting (and waiting and waiting) will all be over soon and we can begin the work of bonding and attaching that is all a part of this adoption marathon. Please pray with us for Lila's heart! We have read books, attending trainings and generally "know" what things we can expect, but really we have no idea. Each child is unique, with their own temperament, emotions, experiences, memories, fears, etc. We must learn how to love Lila in ways that she specifically needs. We will learn what scares her, what soothes her, what makes her happy, what foods she doesn't like, what things she likes to play with, how she sleeps, how to make her laugh, and so much more! We look forward to these lessons but also know that it will be hard work, there will be tears, frustrations, possible even temper tantrums (after all she is our daughter and 2!). Please pray specifically we will have wisdom and patience as we love her and woo her heart.
As I mentioned we are in the final stages now with travel coming soon. We are currently waiting for our I800 (permission from US Immigration to bring Lila home) approval. Once we have that there are just 2-3 additional short steps until we will be waiting for travel approval (TA) from China. When that arrives we will mostly travel within 1-2 weeks - fast!!! Please pray all these steps go smoothly. It's a very exciting time!
The last piece is finances. We have come such a long way and are so thankful for each and every source of funding - grants, personal donations, sales of bracelets, hats, tshirts, and baked goods.
In order for us to travel though we need to raise the last $6000. Its a lot yes, but not compared to how far we've come!! I posted on our fb page today if just 100 people donated $60 each we'd be there - fully funded!!! It sounds so doable to me and in fact, we already have our first $60!!!! Yea! God has been so good to us, proving everything we have needed along the way and we are trusting that He knows exactly where this final amount will come from. Would you please pray that God will bring in this last $6000. Please pray and consider helping us - any amount is greatly appreciated!!
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