We are officially approve by the China Team !

We heard just TODAY that our home study application was officially approved, so now we can apply for grants, and all the other paperwork to really move forward and closer to getting our little one home.
We are celebrating this today.  God is good.   (:

Maddie's own words

This video was taken by my daughter, as she was trying to explain "gotcha day", which is a term that has been used to describe the moment when families first meet their adopted child.  The term is more accurately defined as "adoption day", but most video posts still refer to it as "gotcha day".   She has been watching these moments on youtube, and obviously was excited to share it in her own, special way.   Thought I'd share it forward.

Garage Sale Prayer

Had a garage sale last weekend at my mom's best friend's daughter's house...(:
Due to the raining/cold weather, I wasn't too hopeful for a good outcome, but God proved me wrong in big ways.

We needed $720 to pay our next application fee for Immigration.  When the sale was over, my mom counted up all the money.  She asked me how much I had hoped to have?   I will admit that I said a lower number than we needed, because I was afraid of being disappointed and wanted my mom to feel like we had raised a good enough amount.
So.....I said about $600 (knowing that we needed $720).   Then she said, "what's the entire amount you were hoping to raise?".    Ok.   I decided to just say the exact amount and I hesitated prior to just saying it.

She said:   "$812".    What?!    Really?!    Wow.   Another moment when God met our needs and beyond.  We needed another $70 from the 720.00 to pay for other application fee, so than we came out ahead by 22.00.   Amazing.

Then, a lady and her expecting daughter were shopping at our sale.  They had asked about our adoption process and journey.  After her purchase, she came over to me and asked if she could pray for me.  I said "sure".  She asked if she could lay her hand on me.  I said "sure".   As her daughter sat in a nearby chair, my mom sitting next to me, and other shoppers mingling around the garage, a lady (just a rummage sale shopper), prayed for our little boy in China.  

 God shows up everywhere.  He knows our heart.  He brings people to us in the right timing. He shows up, even at a garage sale.

Conversations and bonding.

It's one thing to make a decision to bring home another child into your family with your husband, but it's equally important to have your kids on board as well.  

The time when we shared our conversation about adopting from China with our kids, has been a beautiful thing.    The excitement and anticipation for our journey was instantaneous.

 Between our kids about planning out their brother's room, activities, family trips, car seat location, going to the park and swimming pool, toy selections and beyond, it's a special time of bonding and conversation that brings a smile to my face.

It's amazing to see how our kids are currently creating this inner bond with their brother whom they have yet to meet.   They are dreaming, wondering, praying, anticipating the day we go to bring him HOME.  

 I love how God is preparing us all in special ways that create a sense of family bonding  now, as we all look forward to meeting him someday.

We have made the decision to take Ben and Maddie with us to China.  We want to allow them this experience to see the culture of where their brother is from and be there in the moment when we complete our family.    We are continuing to trust in God's provisions for every single detail of our journey.