Monday, June 25, 2012

Surprise!

This past week we were pleasantly surprised to get a card and pictures of our little girl opening the care package we sent her! Our social worker said it is very unusual to hear from them after the packages are received! I was so excited!  Her caretakers sent us a nice little note. They said that Joy was so ecstatic and was ready to "go home already"! Hopefully, any day now, we will get the official paperwork so we can file the I-800! I am praying that this part goes quickly. It has been more difficult than ever to wait, knowing that our little girl is halfway around the world.

This is what Joy wrote to us:"Mommy, Daddy, Natalie and Micah,
I miss you and I'm excited to see you. I love you all! Joy."

We got the bunk beds up and have transformed Natalie's room to make room for her little sister. We are ready...everything except for the money. We put the country fees on the credit card because we  had to pay it immediately. That credit card is due this week and we are still $600 short.  We will also need the money for the post-placement fees and the balance of the travel expenses that will not be covered by our Show Hope grant! I am thankful and amazed for what God has provided. I am trusting Him to provide the rest!

If you would like to be a part of this amazing journey that God has called us on, you can donate by going to www.mission127.com and clicking on the donate button, or you can donate directly through paypal on the side of this blog. It takes God's people working together to accomplish His plan. It takes someone willing to provide a home for a little girl; but it also takes many people together willing to help out with the finances, because adoption has many, many expenses. Thank you to so many who have joined us and supported us in this journey! You have helped a little girl in the Philippines come to know the love of a family and also the love of her Father God!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Prayers requested

I'm requesting your prayers today for several things:

1) We really need Joy's paperwork from the Philippines this week. We need to get our I800 filed in plenty of time so that our previous paperwork doesn't expire! Please pray with me that we get that paperwork TODAY!!!

2) I've had a little case of the "nerves" lately! I know we are doing what God called us to do, but every once in a while panic overtakes me. "WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE DOING?" Adopting a six year old girl has its challenges. Adopting one with special needs has even more challenges! I haven't written much about our little girl, and I honestly can't say much until she is in our arms, but she was on the special home finding list. Someday I might write a little bit more about her particular needs. Honestly, right now, although we have read her paperwork, had her file reviewed by physicians, and prayed about it, we don't really know the extent of the special attention she will need. Please pray that we will be able to be the family that she needs and that God will  heal her completely, both emotionally and physically.

3) Finances. Yes, here it is that awful word again when you are talking about adoption! We have been incredibly blessed and I know God is going to provide the rest of our finances or provide a way for us to work more to be able to fund this adoption without debt.  BUT....we have been praying and have come to the conclusion that we would like to take our children with us. Adoption is not just about the parents and the child when there are other family members involved. Adoption is about the whole family.  I believe it would be good for Natalie and Micah to see where Joy is coming from. It will be good for them to have an understanding of where she has been and what she has been through. I believe it will be good for Joy to meet the whole family at once and know that we are all in this together.  However, plane tickets are running at about $1300 a piece right now....so if this is supposed to happen, we are going to need God to intervene on our behalf! Please pray for a miracle and for God's continued guidance!

Thank you so much to my fellow Christ followers who are upholding us in prayer during this adoption journey!! Your prayers mean so much to us!! There have been times I have been discouraged or worried or overwhelmed and just knowing that there are others crying out to God on our behalf has been an encouragement!