It's been a few weeks since my last update. Here's what's happening. We submitted our Letter of Intent (the documents that aka China I match is with our specific child) with China on 2/25. We were hoping for a fast PA (pre-approval) like Lila's which came the very next day but God had other plans. One week and 2 days later we are still waiting. It will come, in God's perfect timing, just like all the other steps, forms and approvals. God uses them in our lives to show us that we are not in control!
We have also been learning this lesson in regard to Lila's surgery. Our original date for her open heart surgery was January 15. That was 3 schedule changes ago. There were legitimate reasons for each change but sometimes its easy to lose sight of the reasons and just weary of delays. This week I was reminded of this verse in Proverbs 19:1 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
So we will praise the Lord for his goodness and everlasting kindness as we wait to share our girl with you!
Our next step is to file our I800a Immigration paperwork. Once that is filed we wait for our fingerprint appointment and once it is approved we can submit our dossier to China! Please pray that each of these steps go smoothly and the all the funds will come in so that we can keep moving forward. Our most urgent need is for $2200 before we can file our I800a. We have started applying for grants which is great, but most of them take at least 2-3 months before you hear whether or not you will receive one. If you'd like to help us reach this milestone we'd be very appreciative!
I have tried to update our adoption blog with all our current fundraisers. Just go to www.masseadoption.blogspot.com and check out the left side bar. There are links to each different fundraiser we have, and more are coming! We are so grateful for each purchase made and ever single donation as it gets us closer to our goal!
If you've ever seen the movie Fireproof you'll remember this song from John Waller, it's become sort of a theme song for me lately! Thanks for following our journey!
While I'm Waiting
I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait
link to the video
http://youtu.be/i6X71sXagUY
Mar 5, 2016
Feb 14, 2016
UPDATE: 2/14/16
Happy Valentine's Day! Today is a day to celebrate love all over the world. We give people we love cards and candy and flowers. We do nice things for people, and we tell people we love them. How many if you gave gifts to your children? Our family started a tradition a few years ago where I take the children to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast. It basically began when I forgot to buy Valentine's Day candy one year. LOL! But they all look forward to it now!
This year I'm thinking of a child halfway around the world who hopefully will be spending her last Valentine's Day without us. She doesn't know about us, yet. And even after she finds out, she may not even understand it. But we're thinking of her, and we're missing her!
Would you help us get one step closer to her? Would you be willing to give her a Valentine's Day gift? We are hoping to have a picture to show you very soon, but first we need to finish some business. Our agency won't let us submit a letter of intent until we've paid up our account. How I wish this process could go forward without even a mention of money! And I know a lot of people who feel the same way. But that's impossible, and so we humbly ask for your help.
Adoption is expensive! But it is so worth it! These children are worth it, their lives are worth it, their happiness is worth it!
So let's spread the love today! Anyone who donates to our adoption fund today in honor of Valentine's Day, is going to receive from us one of our OneLess keychains as a thank you and a reminder of the love you've shown to us! I'll be emailing you for your address so watch for that. And please share this post far and wide!
Our goal is $3000, A huge amount. But as I posted before, little by little, a little becomes a lot! Thank you so much, we love you all!
This year I'm thinking of a child halfway around the world who hopefully will be spending her last Valentine's Day without us. She doesn't know about us, yet. And even after she finds out, she may not even understand it. But we're thinking of her, and we're missing her!
Would you help us get one step closer to her? Would you be willing to give her a Valentine's Day gift? We are hoping to have a picture to show you very soon, but first we need to finish some business. Our agency won't let us submit a letter of intent until we've paid up our account. How I wish this process could go forward without even a mention of money! And I know a lot of people who feel the same way. But that's impossible, and so we humbly ask for your help.
Adoption is expensive! But it is so worth it! These children are worth it, their lives are worth it, their happiness is worth it!
So let's spread the love today! Anyone who donates to our adoption fund today in honor of Valentine's Day, is going to receive from us one of our OneLess keychains as a thank you and a reminder of the love you've shown to us! I'll be emailing you for your address so watch for that. And please share this post far and wide!
Our goal is $3000, A huge amount. But as I posted before, little by little, a little becomes a lot! Thank you so much, we love you all!
Feb 9, 2016
UPDATE: 2/08/16
Happy Chinese New Year friends! All of China is currently celebrating the year of the Monkey, they will take all week to visit family, cleanse their houses to bring good fortune for the new year the eats lots of yummy food!
Any family of a Chinese child also knows it's a week of waiting - nothing adoption-related happens during this week. While we wait, we try to find lots of things to keep our mind off the waiting. Maybe I should try that house cleansing tradition! Haha!
One thing I've been busy with is fundraising! I realize there are several but please know that we understand that every fundraiser does not appeal to every person. There may be something offered that doesn't speak to you, but may to another friend. We are passionate about bringing our daughter home as quickly as possible and we are extremely grateful for all who have contributed to our adoption!
We we were able to send half of our first agency payment over the weekend along with our contact with the agency. Praise God! Our homestudy, although it was completed a few weeks ago will get notarized and be official tomorrow! Another praise! In order to take the next step, applying for approval from Immigration to adopt, we need to pay the rest of the first payment AND the second agency payment, a total of about $3,500. It's not a small amount, but our God is bigger!! We continue to trust and know he will provide.
Thank you for your prayers for us and your gifts to us, we cannot imagine going on this journey alone!
Any family of a Chinese child also knows it's a week of waiting - nothing adoption-related happens during this week. While we wait, we try to find lots of things to keep our mind off the waiting. Maybe I should try that house cleansing tradition! Haha!
One thing I've been busy with is fundraising! I realize there are several but please know that we understand that every fundraiser does not appeal to every person. There may be something offered that doesn't speak to you, but may to another friend. We are passionate about bringing our daughter home as quickly as possible and we are extremely grateful for all who have contributed to our adoption!
We we were able to send half of our first agency payment over the weekend along with our contact with the agency. Praise God! Our homestudy, although it was completed a few weeks ago will get notarized and be official tomorrow! Another praise! In order to take the next step, applying for approval from Immigration to adopt, we need to pay the rest of the first payment AND the second agency payment, a total of about $3,500. It's not a small amount, but our God is bigger!! We continue to trust and know he will provide.
Thank you for your prayers for us and your gifts to us, we cannot imagine going on this journey alone!
NEW Fundraiser - Selah Essential Oils
Calling all Essential Oil lovers! Our newest fundraiser for our adoption is in partnership with Selah Essential Oils. This wonderful company is co-owned by fellow adoptive mom Elizabeth Courtney. I'm fairly new to EOs but I know some of you are big fans!! These are high quality oils and the website has a lot of great information.
To order, please use the link below (every time you order). For each order placed we will receive a percentage of the proceeds toward our adoption expenses. You get the oils you love and use everyday and we get closer to being with our daughter - Win/Win!!
Please send me any questions you have and thank you!!
UPDATE: 2/02/16
We're getting closer! Little by little God is bringing in the funds we need! We are about half way to what we need for our agency payment! Thank you! Once we can make this payment we'll be able to file our immigration paperwork and be that much closer to submitting the 3 documents to update our dossier! This time last year our dossier had just been logged into China and we began our long wait for approval from China. If I'm being honest I have to say that I really wish we were in that stage now!! I wish I could say the waiting is easier this time around, but it's not. But as I learned last time around, God's timing is perfect and it can't be rushed by my impatience. I'd appreciate your prayers! ??
We we have several fundraisers going on right now.
1) OneLess Keychains ($12) and Bracelets ($18). These can be seen here in our YouCaring Gallery.
2). We do still have several tshirts left - they also can be seen in the Gallery.
3) The children are making chocolate covered Oreos and chocolate covered Oreo truffles for Valentine's Day! Check them out on my Facebook page - so yummy!
4) donations can be made at any time on our YouCaring site.
Chinese New Year starts next week which means almost the entire country of China shuts down to celebrate. Please pray for all the families waiting, and for their sweet children!
Thank you again for your support and prayers!
We we have several fundraisers going on right now.
1) OneLess Keychains ($12) and Bracelets ($18). These can be seen here in our YouCaring Gallery.
2). We do still have several tshirts left - they also can be seen in the Gallery.
3) The children are making chocolate covered Oreos and chocolate covered Oreo truffles for Valentine's Day! Check them out on my Facebook page - so yummy!
4) donations can be made at any time on our YouCaring site.
Chinese New Year starts next week which means almost the entire country of China shuts down to celebrate. Please pray for all the families waiting, and for their sweet children!
Thank you again for your support and prayers!
UPDATE: 1/13/16
Dear friends,
This is a hard update to write but we received word yesterday that our "last chance" agency has decided not to take us on as clients. This means we will not be able to move forward with the child we had hoped to adopt. While this is not the news we wanted to hear, we must believe and trust that this answer is all part of God's plan. We continue to pray that a family will step forward and give this sweet child the love, care and home she needs. If anyone would like more information about her or knows someone looking for an older girl, please message me privately.
For now, we will finish up our home study update and continue to work with our agency to find the child God has planned for our family. Please pray for wisdom and clarity, sometimes it can be overwhelming to see all the many, many children waiting for families!
Please also continue to pray for the finances to come in. At this point we need to make our first agency payment, followed quickly by the second agency payment. This is another area where we trust God will provide exactly what is needed! If you feel led to help us in any way we would be so grateful! Thank you all for your prayers and support!!
This is a hard update to write but we received word yesterday that our "last chance" agency has decided not to take us on as clients. This means we will not be able to move forward with the child we had hoped to adopt. While this is not the news we wanted to hear, we must believe and trust that this answer is all part of God's plan. We continue to pray that a family will step forward and give this sweet child the love, care and home she needs. If anyone would like more information about her or knows someone looking for an older girl, please message me privately.
For now, we will finish up our home study update and continue to work with our agency to find the child God has planned for our family. Please pray for wisdom and clarity, sometimes it can be overwhelming to see all the many, many children waiting for families!
Please also continue to pray for the finances to come in. At this point we need to make our first agency payment, followed quickly by the second agency payment. This is another area where we trust God will provide exactly what is needed! If you feel led to help us in any way we would be so grateful! Thank you all for your prayers and support!!
UPDATE: 1/09/16
We have heard from our social worker that our homestudy is almost complete! What a huge praise this is! Something that should have been so simple, a HS update has now taken just as long as our original HS took.
Please pray specifically over the next couple of weeks as it is reviewed and finalized. As I mentioned in the last update, another social worker will be reviewing our homestudy with a view toward possibly transferring it their agency. If this new agency agrees to the transfer it will mean that we can move forward with the girl we have been praying about for 6 months!
We know that God has a plan for our family and for this child, is she meant to be part of our family? We hope so, but if God has other plans please pray that He will provide a family for her very, very soon!
We we are excited to see God's plan unfold! Thank you for praying with us.
Please pray specifically over the next couple of weeks as it is reviewed and finalized. As I mentioned in the last update, another social worker will be reviewing our homestudy with a view toward possibly transferring it their agency. If this new agency agrees to the transfer it will mean that we can move forward with the girl we have been praying about for 6 months!
We know that God has a plan for our family and for this child, is she meant to be part of our family? We hope so, but if God has other plans please pray that He will provide a family for her very, very soon!
We we are excited to see God's plan unfold! Thank you for praying with us.
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