The Winner is...

We did the drawing last night for our fundraiser and the winner is...Kendal S.  She works with my mom in Oklahoma!  So excited for her and her family.  We had a special prayer time before the drawing and thanked God for each of you that donated and prayed for His blessings on you and your family!  Emily drew the name and Brooks read off the ticket number.  They loved being a part of the drawing.  YOU all donated close to $3,000!!!  What a blessing!

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Ephesians 3:20

Hope to post again very soon about being DTC...

LAST CHANCE!!!

Last chance for you to enter the raffle for a week at the beach!  We will draw the lucky winner Sunday evening.  Just click the donate button to enter.  We are so thankful for each of you that have already supported us.  We are blessed to have so many friends be a part of our adoption story!  Scroll down to earlier post to see photos of the condo!

We are expecting to be DTC (dossier to China) next week!  I'll update then!

Don't be afraid...

We got our immigration approval in record time!  That was an answered prayer.  Now, we are in the authentication process.  Our paperwork is en route to Alabama's Secretary of State and then off to Houston to the Chinese Consulate.  After that, we will be DTC (Dossier to China).  Praying for a smooth process and continued peace while we wait.  I'm so excited to make progress and feel like we are getting closer to our child.

We've begun listening to a CD to try and learn some Chinese.  The kids have picked up on it faster than we have.  The phrase that I've picked up on and has stuck in my head is "Bu yao hai pa" sounds like boo yaow hi pah = Don't be afraid.  I feel peace that God is comforting me with this phrase.  We pray that our child will feel the same peace when we speak it over them.

i800A...adoption lingo!

I remember first looking at an adoption timeline and having NO CLUE what all the lingo meant.  CANS, i800A, 797C, i800, DTC, LID, LOI, LOA, NVC, TA...  I'm so excited to at least know what some of those terms mean now!  We submitted our i800A March 1st and we are awaiting biometric fingerprint appointment and hopefully a quick approval notice!  Some people have waited as little as a month, others up to 90 days for their approval!   So, the i800A approval is a requirement for us on the USA side before we can submit paperwork to China.  I am so thankful that God has allowed us to be a part of HIS great plan.  Go, God, Go!

Orange Beach Condo Pictures

View from the balcony

Master bedroom

second bedroom with 2 queens

3rd bedroom with queen

Entrance/foyer

living room

Kitchen

Living room

Balcony

Master bedroom

Fundraising

Dear Friends and Family,

We pray this letter finds you well.  As most of you know, our family is in the process of adopting a special needs child from China.  We officially began the process in late September 2011 and are in hopes of being a family of 5 in the year of 2012! 

God has truly blessed us and given us a heart for orphans.  He has opened our eyes to the great need for these children to be loved.  Emily and Brooks are also excited to have another sibling.  Brooks is mostly excited to have another kid to play with!  Emily enjoys researching orphans and watching videos with Stacy.  They can’t wait to travel to China and meet the newest Franklin. Stacy is very excited to go on her first mission trip in late April.  She and a team from our church are going to a special needs orphanage.  We feel that God is calling us to start Orphan Care Ministry in our church and believe that this trip is a part of His plan.  Your prayers for this trip and ministry are appreciated.  These lyrics from Francesca Battistelli’s song Motion of Mercy best sum up our new fire…

Now I’m filled by a love
That calls me to action
I was empty before now I’m drawn to compassion
And to give myself away

We are so thankful that we went through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace several years ago to allow us to live debt free (still house payment).  We continue to pray that we will be financially responsible as we proceed with our adoption expenses.  Jon is planning to put his photography skills to good use and do a fundraiser photo shoot.  Stacy is planning to conduct some soccer camps to raise funds as well.   

Our Aunt Betsy has graciously offered the week of June 2-9^th at her gorgeous 3BR/2BA Orange Beach, AL condominium for us to raffle off!  Here is an opportunity for you to be a part of our adoption.  The donation entry table: $20 = 1 entry, $50 = 3 entries, $100 = 7 entries.  We will draw the winner on April 15th!  The Paypal link to donate will be listed below (Paypal account not needed).  We are truly grateful for any financial contributions and prayers you send our way.  We will leave you with some scripture that we have treasured recently…

John 14:18  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

James 1:27  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Isaiah 1:17  Learn to do right; seek justice.  Defend the oppressed.  Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

Proverbs 31:8  Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

God Bless,

Jon, Stacy, Emily and Brooks

Donation link is found on our blog:

http://www.followinghim-stacy.blogspot.com/

So, I wait

So, I wait...for so many things.  I wait for forms to be returned that we sent off 3 months ago.  I wait for the reference letters to be written from family and doctors.  I wait for the home study to be finalized so we can submit it.  I wait for the next step in what seems to be a forever process.  I wait for my child.  I have no control over the timeline, even though I have a great one all mapped out in my head!  It seems that my routine is I hurry up and complete a form and then wait.  Rinse and repeat...  If God would just show me His timeline, things would be so much better!  Or would they?  If I knew when this all would happen, would I seek Him?  Would I cry out to Him?  Would I depend on Him?  Would I try to change His mind and beg Him to speed it up?  Would I grumble and complain?  Oh wait, that's exactly what I'm doing right now!  Although I have no control over the timing of how this story plays out, I do have control over how I respond to the wait.  I can grumble my time away or I can trust that His timing is perfect!  I say it over and over, but am I just talking the talk?  I know that God is having us wait for a reason...more like lots of reasons.  This is the time to strengthen my relationship with my husband, daughter and son.  It's a time to pour into those relationships so that we can pour out on our new son/daughter.  It's time to ask God to prepare our hearts for this new child and them for us.  It's a time to grow in His word, as I'm sure we will need it with the upcoming struggles we will face.  It's a time to be quiet and listen to His voice, so I will know it distinctly from all the other voices in my head (yes, I'm a bit crazy!).  It's a time to focus on someone/something other than ourselves and our situation.  It's a time to ask God to show me a new way to pray.  So, I wait...

LORD, help me learn your ways.
   Show me how you want me to live.
⁵ Guide me and teach me your truths.
   You are my God, my Savior.
   You are the one I have been waiting for.