Hello Friends!!
We are getting closer! On Tuesday (4/26) our papers will be picked up in China and then we wait for our Travel approval. This is when China says you can come and get your girl!! We will quickly make arrangements and then hope to be on a plane in 2-3 weeks. We are still praying we can get there in May before cost rise. Please pray!! Travel approval usually takes 2 days -2 weeks. In the past few months there has been a glitch in the China computers and it has taken 3-6 weeks!! Lately we have seen a few start to come sooner so we are hoping the glitch has been worked out. Please pray our travel approval will come quickly and for God's perfect timing!!! Thank you!!
Monday, April 25, 2016
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Amazing March
So much has happened!! I can't believe how much time has passed since my last post. It really has been crazy here in the Month of March!!! April is just a few hours away so I thought I would do a quick recap of all the Lord has been doing!!
We are so excited to announce we got our papers approved from China so we now can post pictures of our precious girl, Moriah!! Please keep praying as we have a few more little steps to get through. We are hoping to travel in May before costs go up for flights and hotels in June!
We had a wonderful time at the Awana Pine Wood Derby at our church. The boys both did a great job on their cars and Cargan won 1st place for design. ( it was an exciting night since this was his first derby!)
We experienced a miracle. Peter and his brother were out driving in the day and 2 deer jumped over the car. God protected them because the 1st deer scratched the windshield but did not come through it and the second deer broke the back window just an inch behind Peter's head. The Lord told him not to hit the brake. If he had the deer would have come though his window and it could have been a fatal accident. We are praising the Lord that Peter and his brother are alive!!!
I had mentioned the boys were taking archery lessons. Well they had their first contest and Cargan won 3rd place in the beginning class. Pierson was chosen to shoot in a higher class and got 5th. ( He unfortunately was sick that day and didn't shoot as well as he normally does.) The boys loved the program and are looking forward to next year.
Peter's parents have bought a house just up the street! We are so excited to have then close by.
We were so thankful for Peter's brother and his family that came to help with stripping wallpaper and carpets. That is how we all spent spring break!
They have some more renovations to be completed and then will move in!! ( Please pray their current house will sell quickly!!)
This past Tuesday Pierson did a presentation at our home school group. He was Genghis Khan and did a fantastic job presenting in 1st person all his research about the Mongol leader. He had a great time leaning more about his heritage.
We are so excited to announce we got our papers approved from China so we now can post pictures of our precious girl, Moriah!! Please keep praying as we have a few more little steps to get through. We are hoping to travel in May before costs go up for flights and hotels in June!
We had a wonderful time at the Awana Pine Wood Derby at our church. The boys both did a great job on their cars and Cargan won 1st place for design. ( it was an exciting night since this was his first derby!)
We experienced a miracle. Peter and his brother were out driving in the day and 2 deer jumped over the car. God protected them because the 1st deer scratched the windshield but did not come through it and the second deer broke the back window just an inch behind Peter's head. The Lord told him not to hit the brake. If he had the deer would have come though his window and it could have been a fatal accident. We are praising the Lord that Peter and his brother are alive!!!
I had mentioned the boys were taking archery lessons. Well they had their first contest and Cargan won 3rd place in the beginning class. Pierson was chosen to shoot in a higher class and got 5th. ( He unfortunately was sick that day and didn't shoot as well as he normally does.) The boys loved the program and are looking forward to next year.
Peter's parents have bought a house just up the street! We are so excited to have then close by.
They have some more renovations to be completed and then will move in!! ( Please pray their current house will sell quickly!!)
We had a wonderful time celebrating our Risen Savior and can't wait for Moriah to be here with us next year.
This past Tuesday Pierson did a presentation at our home school group. He was Genghis Khan and did a fantastic job presenting in 1st person all his research about the Mongol leader. He had a great time leaning more about his heritage.
Sarah has been involved with the youth drama group at our church and will be presenting this Sunday! It is exciting to watch her step out of her comfort zone.
And today we celebrate Sarah's 14th Birthday.
I can't believe it was 14 years ago that she surprised us arriving 2 months early. It has been an amazing journey watching her heart grow for the Lord. She loves helping others. I can't wait to see all the Lord will do through her life!
As you can see it has been an amazing month! God is working in so many ways and teaching us that each moment is HIS! I love to plan things but right now I don't know when any of the things ahead will come together. God keeps asking me to just open my hands and heart and listen to what He is calling me to do today!
Thank you to all of you who continue to pray for us. We definitely need it, as the attacks begin to get stronger the closer we get to going for Moriah. We are so thankful for all of you!!
God Bless!!!
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Touching Lives
Sometimes God brings special people into your life that will have a huge impact on the person you will become. Sarah and Pierson had that happen by a special teacher who poured into them the love of Christ and taught them all about the Character of God. Over the years they continue to refer to things they learned from him.
A few weeks ago Cargan began on a journey that would shape his character. He began archery lessons. Now you have to keep in mind that he has limited strength and sensation in his left side including his left hand. At times I also have to remember that the trauma from his early years in China will continue resurface from time to time. When we signed up I wasn't sure how well he could physically do it, but thought it was worth a try. I also wasn't sure if the teachers would know how to help him. And that is where the story begins.
The first day there I shared with the teacher his limitations due to his cerebral palsy and he was so kind and helpful. I walked Cargan downstairs and fear spread over his face, a fear I had not seen in over a year. Trauma fear. I was unsure at first what was triggering it but once he is there it is very hard to pull him out of it. I watched something incredible happen that day. I saw his instructor a complete stranger take my son who was holding back tears to smiles and even shooting an arrow with no one watching him. I wasn't sure if he would return the next week but on the way home we stopped at the archery store to pick up something Pierson needed and Cargan saw a little bow like the one he had used and he bought it with his Christmas money. I guess he was going back.
Week two he reluctantly returned and as soon as he went down those stairs fear engulfed him again. Once again this incredible man helped draw him out and had him laughing and even shooting a little with the others which was huge. You see Cargan finally shared he didn't want to shoot with the others watching him. This was because he was so afraid of what they would say and do to him, drawing him back to the many memories he had of the way he had been treated as a person with a disability in a culture that looks at it as a curse. But he overcame that and Jerry his instructor stood and blocked the others view and encouraged him to shoot. A smile spread across his face as he shoot behind the protection of this man.
This was week three and it was a day to remember! Cargan doesn't like to get up early so he tried to pull excuses to get him out of going but once up he was excited. I wasn't sure what would happen when we got there but as soon as he saw Jerry he was all smiles. The kids were called to go down and Cargan told me I didn't need to go with him!! That in itself was huge. Then half way parents were invited to go down to watch. I wasn't sure if I should since he had went on his own but I went down to peak and their he was
Mr. Confident shooting and now hitting the target. At first he wouldn't shoot unless Jerry was standing next to him but then Jerry slowly weaned away and their was my son overcoming one of his biggest fears shooting with all those kids and now also parents watching. You know what he did. He shoot his first ever bulls eye!! His face was so full of joy and confidence. It is a moment he will always remember. I love how God connects people. I am so thankful for Jerry . He is a gifted man who can comfort a child full of fear and help them believe they can really do something great. This mama will be forever grateful! I can't wait to see what next week brings.
PS- more pictures coming once I get them from my friend. She got one of the bulls eye.
A few weeks ago Cargan began on a journey that would shape his character. He began archery lessons. Now you have to keep in mind that he has limited strength and sensation in his left side including his left hand. At times I also have to remember that the trauma from his early years in China will continue resurface from time to time. When we signed up I wasn't sure how well he could physically do it, but thought it was worth a try. I also wasn't sure if the teachers would know how to help him. And that is where the story begins.
The first day there I shared with the teacher his limitations due to his cerebral palsy and he was so kind and helpful. I walked Cargan downstairs and fear spread over his face, a fear I had not seen in over a year. Trauma fear. I was unsure at first what was triggering it but once he is there it is very hard to pull him out of it. I watched something incredible happen that day. I saw his instructor a complete stranger take my son who was holding back tears to smiles and even shooting an arrow with no one watching him. I wasn't sure if he would return the next week but on the way home we stopped at the archery store to pick up something Pierson needed and Cargan saw a little bow like the one he had used and he bought it with his Christmas money. I guess he was going back.
Week two he reluctantly returned and as soon as he went down those stairs fear engulfed him again. Once again this incredible man helped draw him out and had him laughing and even shooting a little with the others which was huge. You see Cargan finally shared he didn't want to shoot with the others watching him. This was because he was so afraid of what they would say and do to him, drawing him back to the many memories he had of the way he had been treated as a person with a disability in a culture that looks at it as a curse. But he overcame that and Jerry his instructor stood and blocked the others view and encouraged him to shoot. A smile spread across his face as he shoot behind the protection of this man.
This was week three and it was a day to remember! Cargan doesn't like to get up early so he tried to pull excuses to get him out of going but once up he was excited. I wasn't sure what would happen when we got there but as soon as he saw Jerry he was all smiles. The kids were called to go down and Cargan told me I didn't need to go with him!! That in itself was huge. Then half way parents were invited to go down to watch. I wasn't sure if I should since he had went on his own but I went down to peak and their he was
Mr. Confident shooting and now hitting the target. At first he wouldn't shoot unless Jerry was standing next to him but then Jerry slowly weaned away and their was my son overcoming one of his biggest fears shooting with all those kids and now also parents watching. You know what he did. He shoot his first ever bulls eye!! His face was so full of joy and confidence. It is a moment he will always remember. I love how God connects people. I am so thankful for Jerry . He is a gifted man who can comfort a child full of fear and help them believe they can really do something great. This mama will be forever grateful! I can't wait to see what next week brings.
PS- more pictures coming once I get them from my friend. She got one of the bulls eye.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Changed forever
Last week I watched this FILM LINK documentary called Find Me that captures the heart of adoption. I feel the Lord sent this to me at a time when I was really struggling. As an adoptive Mama your life is forever changed once you have experienced the process of adoption especially the orphanage visit. There are so many unknowns for children adopted from China but we have to remember that our Lord knows every detail. There are times when I think of my children's birth parents and I wish they could know that they are so loved and cared for. My heart aches at the thought of all the struggled they went through when they chose to give them up. It amazes me how God can orchestrate each child's life and bring families together around the world. We experienced this first hand with Cargan and how God picked him out of the millions of people in China and brought him here so that he could hear about the most incredible gift from God,Jesus Christ. He just lit up and loved Jesus from the moment he heard the truth. God used the hard to bring beauty in a life changing way. This was also so evident in the movie when two woman who live on opposite sides of the world miraculously meet. We can not wait to see all the Lord will do in Moriah's life.
Today I was sitting at Good Shephard where Cargan receives occupational, physical and speech therapies. I love being there. It is like a second home. What I love most is that there are no heads being turned because someone looks or moves differently. There is just love, smiles, and determination. I often look online at the list of children waiting for families and pray for them. So many are precious children that have special needs. My heart just broke today as I waited because all I could picture were the faces of children on that list that had no one to help them and they do not have opportunities to get the help they need. My heart was hurting so much that I almost burst into tears right there. The movie above captured so much of the heart of adoption. The one thing it shared was all the incredible people you meet and how it deepen your walk with Lord beyond measure. You think you are helping them but they bring more than you can ever imagine to you. I am so thankful for each of my precious children. Hug your kids today and think and pray for the millions that have no one to hug them today. #sharing from the heart.
Waiting
Our papers are in China!! We are waiting to hear when they are logged into their computer system and then we will begin the wait for the Letter of Acceptance. This is the most variable wait of the whole process. It can take 21/2 months or longer but we have seen a few people before us get theirs in under 2 months! We are praying for this! We also will have Chinese New Year in our wait as everything shuts down for the week. We are praying for God's perfect timing!! Once we get the letter of approval we finally will be able to share her picture online! (although if you have not seen this sweetie yet just email me and I can send you a picture). After we get the letter it then is approximately 2 months until travel. Please keep praying for our sweet girl!
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Crossing Over
We are so excited!!! We have crossed a huge step in the adoption process. Our papers called the Dossier have now officially been sent to China. They may be crossing over the ocean now!! This step is called DTC (Dossier to China). It is a huge mile stone. Please pray they arrive safely and move swiftly through the system there. We now wait for a letter from China saying all our papers are approved. This is the most variable time in the process it can take from 2-4 months to wait although we have seen some come quicker! We are praying for that!! After we get the letter of approval we will then be about 2 months away from traveling. Please continue to pray the Lord will prepare Moriah for all that will be happening. We are also excited to say the Lord is providing the funds. We are so thankful for each of you that have given we now are at 109 people giving $25 each to be fully funded. It is such a joy to write the names on the frame. It has been amazing to Watch God Work!!!
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
AMAZING
God is so AMAZING! We only need 245 people to give $25 each to be fully funded!!!
God is moving mountains through people who are giving so generously. We are so humbled and thankful for the envelopes with donations, online donations, gifts in Christmas cards to the anonymous card arriving in the mail, all to help bring Moriah home. It has been an amazing journey watching God work. My sweet Sarah only asked for things for Christmas to get the room ready for her sister. So after receiving gifts from our extended family we happily decorated the girls room. We are so thankful for the crib from my sister. It is a precious thought that all her children and now Moriah will use this crib.
God is moving mountains through people who are giving so generously. We are so humbled and thankful for the envelopes with donations, online donations, gifts in Christmas cards to the anonymous card arriving in the mail, all to help bring Moriah home. It has been an amazing journey watching God work. My sweet Sarah only asked for things for Christmas to get the room ready for her sister. So after receiving gifts from our extended family we happily decorated the girls room. We are so thankful for the crib from my sister. It is a precious thought that all her children and now Moriah will use this crib.
We still have room on the So Loved Frame!!
Please keep praying that the Lord will raise up the last 245 people needed for the frame fundraiser or that he will show us what to do next. We are praying for wisdom on how to raise this last amount.
Prayer is so powerful. Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement.
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