Status

Ok so we have now filed our I800a (permission for Ariana to enter the USA), her visa paperwork is done and paid for, and we have requested that our loan process be expedited.  The lady we spoke with was very kind and said she would make that request for us.  So prayerfully we will find out about our loan very soon!  Please keep praying that we get travel approval in July, this is very important.  Also keep praying that nothing will happen to slow this process any further, Ariana needs to be home with us, and learning language. :) It feels like we are getting so close.  We will be sending her a care package in the next few days, which is very exciting.  Thank you all again for praying and standing with us....

Needs and victory.

I sit here still in awe of God and His majesty.  A year ago we were unsure if we would even make it to this point, but we stepped out on faith and told God He would have to complete this journey.  We even had one very reputable agency tell us they couldn't help us.  My God knew exactly where my little girl was and what agency we need to use.  Today we have our LOA from China and very shortly we will recieve our travel papers.  I cannot believe how far we have come, and every single step of this journey was God.  He has provided everything we have needed, basically we filled out the paperwork and he did the rest :).  He has just reciently, shortened a process that "could have" taken 7 months into 1 (and a few days). We still have a couple huge needs, but I believe.... I believe.... I believe! Help us pray this process continues to go quickly and that every single need is met on the way.  Thank you so much for walking this journey beside us, for holding our hands and hearts, and for praying for us without ceasing.  We have been blessed with amazing people in our life. God thank you for surrounding us with such love! We still want to beat the August first deadline, for those who don't know China has changed some policies that will cost more money and years added to this porcess, so help us pray get get our travel papers in July.  Nothing is to hard for God.  For any of you that have been watching our journey from the begining, I made a challenge then in my very first blog post (you should go read it again). I believe God has called so many of you reading this to begin your own adoption journey.  I believe you have asked God to confirm it in your heart,  I believe our story, although not yet complete, is the confirmation you need. I believe that your heart has been stirred, and if you will allow Him God can you a miracle in your life too.  There are too many babies out there waiting for a loving home like yours.  My family is praying for you, for all those reading these words, that God will fan this desire into a roaring flame like He did ours... and that you too will catched the "Adoption Bug" and pass it to everyone you know. :)

We are approved!

WE JUST GOT OR APPROVAL FROM CHINA!!!!! We have an LOA!!!!!!! Thank you God, only you can turn a seven month period into a little over a month.

I lift my hands

Be still, there is a healer
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms are fortress for the weak

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever

Be still, there is a river
That flows from Calvary's tree
A fountain for the thirsty
Pure grace that washes over me

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever

Let faith arise, let faith arise
Open my eyes, open my eyes
Let faith arise, let faith arise
Open my eyes, open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever

And I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God
You are faithful, God, forever

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

I am not a patient woman.

I know that comes as a HUGE shock to those of you who know me. :) Last night I dreamed of Ariana again, of teaching her words.  This is the second dream I have had where I am teaching her sign language and she is also speaking English.  In this dream she fell and bumped her head and I picked her up to comfort her, as I did I wondered if she would let me.  To my surprise she wrapped her arms and her body around me and laid her head on my shoulder and cried a little.  Then she sweetly began to sing the words to a song I had sang to her only once a few minutes earlier.  Needless to say I stood there holding my breath tears streaming down my face, not wanted the moment to pass. It wasn't the song but the fact that she associated it with me and the comfort she was feeling. Beautiful.... I wish i could rush this process, make people understand that her learning language is as urgent as if she had a medical need.  Please help me to pray that the delays she has already experienced won't hold her back for long and pray that God intervenes and we get approval and travel so quickly that people know it is a miracle.  We have also been praying that she know us, that she dream of us, and that she feel comfort with us.  We know this will be scary for her, she doesn't have the benefit of a warning, or pre-explanation like other children do.  She doesn't know we are coming, she doesn't even know that where she is living is not her forever home. I am going to try and work with my brother and make a book to send to her, showing her in pictures what will happen, so that as soon as we can send her a package she will have it.  Our hope is that it helps the transition be less scary.

Anyway thanks for following our story... Oh we are applying for a loan from the Abba fund to cover the remaining costs of the adoption and travel.  It is a wonderful foundation that helps Christian couples afford adoption. So help us pray we get approved and that the funding is there to cover all our remaining expenses.

Thanks for all the support and prayers :)

Waiting and my amazing kids...

We have only been waiting a couple weeks since we submitted our dossier.  Paperwork is done and all we can do is wait... and fund raise of course :) Our wait will be short especially in comparison to families waiting for a healthy infant, they can wait 6 years or more.  I didn't go into this process looking for a perfect infant, I went into it looking for my daughter, and finding her was easy. Anyway, I am already struggling with the wait, it was easier when we were consumed with paperwork and things to do.  So pray we get our final approval quickly, so she doesn't have to wait any longer for her forever family, or wait to be spoken to for the first time.  I am beyond excited to teach her language and give her the tools she needs to succeed in life. 

I haven't said much about my oldest two kids on here.  I wanted to take a minute to say how blessed I am.  My daughter Ashlyn is an amazing young lady, she has overcome so many things and has grown into a young woman who takes on struggles with grace and beauty.  She is also deaf and I wondered going into this how she would feel about us bringing another little girl into the family.  When we told them we were thinking about it, she kinda laughed (probably from shock lol), but she jumped on board very quickly. She started pointing out things in stores that we could buy for our new addition.  She has been my partner in dreaming of her room, and planning how to teach her language.  Just last night she pointed out a little girl who was running all over playing and talking to people, she informed me that she was going to teach her baby sister to be like that, that she wasn't going to let her be all shy and timid :).  She is going to be such a wonderful sister, and a great person for Ariana to look up to. My son Destin is one of the best young men I know, he was quieter when we told him but never once did he act like he was opposed.  As a matter of fact he made the transition easily, he has never worried he would be replaced, or acted jealous about us having a new "baby" of the family.  He is so kind and loving, and I know his baby sister is going to love him!  It amazes me how God so perfectly wove this family to be the perfect place for this little girl.  She has a big sister to teach her to be strong and to laugh at life, to not be afraid of anything, and a brother who will shower her with so much love, and teach her not to take things so seriously.  They will both love her immensely, be fiercely protective, and our family will be very interesting.  I won't mention (to much) the trouble the will teach her to get into, or how they will both enjoy tormenting me through her but I will love every minute, and try to remember that they are all blessings.

Life lesson today... you have no idea where God wants to take you, but the journey is beautiful, and looking back and being able to see this was the plan he had woven for years before it ever crossed your mind is amazing.

Amazed...

It never ceases to amaze me that in my darkest times God does something to show me He loves me.  We received two more donations this week, and little by little we are getting closer to our baby.  When I doubt myself or the situation God brings these blessings to remind us we are doing His will and that we have so many people who love us, and believe in what we are doing.