Sunday, July 24, 2011

Abounding With Blessing!

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to let you all know we have now reached our adoption goal for finances!! We are sooo thankful for all of you who've blessed us in so many ways and thank you for continuing to pray for us as we complete this adoption. As you know we leave on August 7th to go to Zhengzhou to do the adoption. We couldn't be more excited and know to Whom we owe all the thanks! If not for all of you who've touched our hearts and lives, we would not be where we are today--about to complete the process of getting our new daughter, Elizabeth. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

We Have Travel Notice!!

I know you all are as excited as we are! Yesterday we had official travel notice but not a for sure date until this morning. Our group flies from the states on August 4th, but we are skipping the 2 or 3 days of Beijing tours and meeting up with our group in Zhengzhou on the 7th. We are so pleased and have much to do to prepare for our travels. Our visa appointment in Guangzhou is on the 17th and we will be able to return to Beijing on the 18th. We plan to take a family trip to the US about mid-September when the rates are a bit cheaper. Since Elizabeth must travel to US soil, it will also complete the final process of her adoption. She's excited about getting to go to the US and being a permanent member of our family. We couldn't be happier and are excited about finishing up the process of adoption.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Article 5 Issued

Hi Guys,

Just thought I'd let you all know that we received notice that our Article 5 from Guangzhou has issued on July 6th. We can expect travel notice in 2-4 weeks. We are hoping for 2 weeks:) We are anxious to travel and finish up this adoption. Then about mid-September we'll make a trip back to the states as a family taking Elizabeth onto US soil thereby completing the last step of this adoption!! Yippeee!! We are so ready for a trip back to the US as it's been more than 2 1/2 years since visiting all our family and friends. We really miss them!! It should be very exciting for Elizabeth to visit the states as she's heard so much about it. She's been asking lots of questions since we were able to tell her we were adopting her. One in particular sticks in my mind as funny and that is, "Do they have stores in America, Mom?" She has no idea what to expect but it should be exciting for all of us! We can't wait to have her meet everyone and get to know the rest of her family. She has yet to meet her older brother and sister, and grandparents, and aunts and uncles, and so many others!

The last grant we've been waiting on has informed us that they delayed our application yet another month, until August. I guess they were thinking we wouldn't travel until then. We are hopeful it will not be that long.

We have $2837 yet to raise to complete this adoption. We are hopeful that the rest of our needed funds will come in soon. We are sooo close and it's hard to believe that we've raised sooo much! YET, it's not hard to believe at all!! Since the very beginning, this entire adoption was began and continued purely on faith. In the natural, it seemed overwhelming and impossible. However, we had ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT that He has orchestrated all of this and we stepped out in faith knowing that if He called us to this--He would not only provide the necessary funds, but go before and prepare the way. You see, it was not just the funds lacking, but other things as well--like the fact that we didn't qualify by either governments standards. A way had to paved and HE did just that!! And soooo much more!! We are so very blessed by this adoption and know to Whom gets the glory and honor! We have so much to testify about and know just how much we are blessed through this entire process! Thank you all for whatever part--whether it was financial, emotional, or prayer support--you have played in helping us through this adoption journey! As soon as we get travel notice or other information, we'll be sure to let you know.