Some interesting things that spoke to me in today's sermon:
Satan, the Enemy, is the Deceiver and wants me to believe things that aren't true. Some of them I have fallen for.
The biggest lie I have believed is that when things are difficult, painful and down right scary that I should look inward to myself for the answers. This can lead to a Pity Party, depression, anger, hurtful actions or words toward others, blaming others, and sometimes taking things in "my" own control and making it worse.
But God's Truth and Light is that I should look upward, toward Christ, the Prize. That God is not a God of darkness, fear, doubt, condemnation and confusion. He keeps his promises, He finishes the work he began, He is always with me, He is my Healer, my Provider, my Comforter, He loved Me first-while I was a sinner (so why do I worry that He will stop loving me when I do wrong things?), and that He has, through a covenant, given me His name (as in a marriage) that I will always have. He is my husband and I, His bride. Just like a good earthly husband would fight and protect for his bride, and not make her do certain things to keep his name, God is the perfect husband. He always has my best interest in mind, even when I fail. In fact scriptures tell me that it was He gives grace and extra help to the humble and lowly. James 4:6 "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
When my heart tells me I am a failure, that is the Enemy's tactic to get me looking away from Jesus. If we are feeling there is no other way but to believe the lie that we can't do it anymore, whatever that might be, then that is blindness (from the Deceiver) and not from God. God has a different opinion about my weakness and where my hope should be.
1 John 3:19-21 "And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God."
This means that the truth is that even when our hearts condemn us (we know we failed or we are too feeble and incapable of doing some "impossible" task) that God is greater than our heart, and deeply knows all things intimately about us. He is a God of hope, forgiveness, redemption, healing, and Light.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Care Package for Isaiah
Now that we have Pre-approval to adopt Isaiah, I of course wanted to get a small care package off to him. This time I used Angela's service. We got to meet Angela when we went to Beigjing, China last November, 2011 right before we adopted Asher. She is a sweet Korean gal, who happens to live in China and also is a personalized, fabulous guide, whom I highly recommend.
We sent a letter introducing ourselves to the orphanage and a few items.
We sent a letter introducing ourselves to the orphanage and a few items.
To the Caretakers of *******,
It is with great honor and appreciation to let you know we
are going to adopt *******. We are so happy and blessed to make him our
son. We already love him and pray for
him every day. He is such a handsome boy.
We can’t wait to meet him and make him a part of our family. He will
have lots of brothers and sisters to grow up with. We will send photos of our
family in the coming months.
We thank you, from the bottom of our hearts for taking such
good care of him and giving him your love. Please use this camera we are
sending to take photos of him, so we can share them with him during his growing
years.
Thank you,
Jay and April
And here are the items we sent. In the next couple months we will send another care package to Elliana and Isaiah with some special things and photos we bought ourselves. But this will do until then.
The Way We Ended Summer and Started Our School Year
Eliza got the idea to have a "Mud Party" from another person's blog she had seen. Since we had to tear up the dead grass in our back yard this summer, we thought it would be an opportune time to have one.
We invited a few friends and neighbors, ate "Dirt and Worm" Pudding for snack, and had a fantastic time.
Lenea made a real "Mud Pie". Doesn't it look delicious? Mommy doesn't let her do that very often so she really enjoyed it.
Some of the children were a bit hesitant to get themselves muddy, but not Toby. He has a hard time staying out of any mud, dirt, or anything messy. So this was heaven to his soul.
Okay, it looks like the kids are getting braver, slowly but surely.
Asher had his own little "Mud Bath" and he preferred to stay there.
Afterward, all children were hosed off and all sat down to dry, to eat some dirt and worms. A delicious way to end a childlike way to have some fun.
The kids have asked if they could do it again next year. I am not decided yet. First, I hope we have some grass again. But if we don't I might let them just for an hour.
We invited a few friends and neighbors, ate "Dirt and Worm" Pudding for snack, and had a fantastic time.
Okay, it looks like the kids are getting braver, slowly but surely.
The kids have asked if they could do it again next year. I am not decided yet. First, I hope we have some grass again. But if we don't I might let them just for an hour.
The Littlest Two
Here are my 2 littlest sweeties (for now).
Lenea loves being a big sister and Asher loves being a little brother.
Asher is 2 1/2 and Lenea is 4 1/2. She is about double his size though.
Lenea loves being a big sister and Asher loves being a little brother.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
2nd Pre-Approval for Isaiah!
We got it!! Our pre-approval to adopt Isaiah came in from China today. We are very excited and happy to introduce his precious face to you. This photo is almost a year old, and we area asking for updated photos which we hope to have soon.
He just turned 2 in August. What a blessing he is. We did also find out that he had a second surgery in April of this year. We have the medical release report. However, it is in Chinese so we still don't know what was done during that surgery. His orphanage director says that he is "healthy and doing well since his surgery". So we have faith in our God about his health and future. We are looking into a translation as well.
We also got all of our criminal clearances in last week!! Such good and long awaited news. We are still thinking we should be able to have Immigration applications sent out by the end of this month.
Please keep praying paperwork will move forward in a timely manner and that finances will be there as we need them.
We are having a coffee store fund raiser. Each bag of coffee (beside the Pink Beans) we can make $5 or more from a sale, toward our adoption and the others items we can make some $ as well. Everyone likes coffee (well besides me LOL, but Jay does!), and it is a Fair Trade coffee and I hear really tasty. Please check out this store front and consider buying some for a try or a gift.
Just Love Coffee Adoption Fundraiser
He just turned 2 in August. What a blessing he is. We did also find out that he had a second surgery in April of this year. We have the medical release report. However, it is in Chinese so we still don't know what was done during that surgery. His orphanage director says that he is "healthy and doing well since his surgery". So we have faith in our God about his health and future. We are looking into a translation as well.
We also got all of our criminal clearances in last week!! Such good and long awaited news. We are still thinking we should be able to have Immigration applications sent out by the end of this month.
Please keep praying paperwork will move forward in a timely manner and that finances will be there as we need them.
We are having a coffee store fund raiser. Each bag of coffee (beside the Pink Beans) we can make $5 or more from a sale, toward our adoption and the others items we can make some $ as well. Everyone likes coffee (well besides me LOL, but Jay does!), and it is a Fair Trade coffee and I hear really tasty. Please check out this store front and consider buying some for a try or a gift.
Just Love Coffee Adoption Fundraiser
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Adoption Update
Adoption Newsy Stuff:
First of all, the garage sale on Saturday only made $120. We ended up getting rained out 2 hours into it. We know God will show himself through His provision and we are at peace about it all.
Secondly, we "heard" that our clearances should be coming in this week! It took a long 2 plus months and we would have been almost sent off to China in the next couple weeks if it had been quicker. But again, we know God has the perfect timing for each step, taking us to China at just the right time. Once those clearances are in, the homestudy goes to our state for approval and then to our agency, who will in turn send it to USCIS (immigration). USCIS we think is taking about 6 weeks to approve lately. Whew...then that piece of paper (Immigration approval) needs to be authenticated, for another weeks time. Then all China required documents (The Dossier) will be sent off to China. Wow, that is a huge step in the international adoption world. I can't wait until we are onto that step. Still praying for December.
Thirdly, we pretty much decided that when we travel to China that we WILL be bringing Asher along with us. The thought of leaving him for 2 or 3 weeks was just not giving me peace at all. Jay and I were concerned that with bringing 2 new little people into his world and him having to begin really sharing his Mama and Daddy, would be doubly hard if he had to stay home without us. We think it will help him by doing it together. We know it will not be an easier trip with 3 little ones, so we have also decided to take Eliza, who will be 15 at the time, to help with Asher's care. This will bring up our cost at least another $4000. However, we feel confident this is how we should proceed.
And the last, but definitely NOT least news is that we have found our second child. It is another 2 year old little boy!! He is just 2 months younger than Ellie, who is 4 months younger than Asher. So by the time we adopt, we will have 3, three year olds!! I am so excited! Our house is going to be so busy and wonderfully full. I can't wait. This sweet little boy we have decided to name Isaiah. Isaiah means "God is salvation".
Isaiah has a significant heart condition, called Tetralogy of Fallot. This is sometimes called "Blue Baby Syndrome" The good news is that if successful surgery happens in a child with this Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) they can live a very active and healthy life. He has had one surgery already and the pediatric cardiologist we spoke with said he will need maybe one more as he gets older and then likely more as an adult when the pulmonary valves where out. They have to build him a new one and they only last for 10-15 years I guess. But for adults they do most of the surgeries through a catheter so it is a much less invasive and quick recovery.
This week we are hoping to put in our Letter of Intent to China for them to pre-approve us to adopt him. As soon as I have that news I can post his photo and share his preciousness with everyone.
Please pray for that in the coming days and that we can still travel by June 2013 to bring them both home. From the sounds of his description he is still not walking yet and is very tiny as well. So instead of having 3 active 3 years old, I am already imagining that we will developmentally have our strong active and busy 3 year old and 2 very delayed more like 1 year olds. But we will see. God has his hands over them, already walked this road for our travel and we can't wait to walk down this path He has brought to us.
First of all, the garage sale on Saturday only made $120. We ended up getting rained out 2 hours into it. We know God will show himself through His provision and we are at peace about it all.
Secondly, we "heard" that our clearances should be coming in this week! It took a long 2 plus months and we would have been almost sent off to China in the next couple weeks if it had been quicker. But again, we know God has the perfect timing for each step, taking us to China at just the right time. Once those clearances are in, the homestudy goes to our state for approval and then to our agency, who will in turn send it to USCIS (immigration). USCIS we think is taking about 6 weeks to approve lately. Whew...then that piece of paper (Immigration approval) needs to be authenticated, for another weeks time. Then all China required documents (The Dossier) will be sent off to China. Wow, that is a huge step in the international adoption world. I can't wait until we are onto that step. Still praying for December.
Thirdly, we pretty much decided that when we travel to China that we WILL be bringing Asher along with us. The thought of leaving him for 2 or 3 weeks was just not giving me peace at all. Jay and I were concerned that with bringing 2 new little people into his world and him having to begin really sharing his Mama and Daddy, would be doubly hard if he had to stay home without us. We think it will help him by doing it together. We know it will not be an easier trip with 3 little ones, so we have also decided to take Eliza, who will be 15 at the time, to help with Asher's care. This will bring up our cost at least another $4000. However, we feel confident this is how we should proceed.
And the last, but definitely NOT least news is that we have found our second child. It is another 2 year old little boy!! He is just 2 months younger than Ellie, who is 4 months younger than Asher. So by the time we adopt, we will have 3, three year olds!! I am so excited! Our house is going to be so busy and wonderfully full. I can't wait. This sweet little boy we have decided to name Isaiah. Isaiah means "God is salvation".
Isaiah has a significant heart condition, called Tetralogy of Fallot. This is sometimes called "Blue Baby Syndrome" The good news is that if successful surgery happens in a child with this Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) they can live a very active and healthy life. He has had one surgery already and the pediatric cardiologist we spoke with said he will need maybe one more as he gets older and then likely more as an adult when the pulmonary valves where out. They have to build him a new one and they only last for 10-15 years I guess. But for adults they do most of the surgeries through a catheter so it is a much less invasive and quick recovery.
This week we are hoping to put in our Letter of Intent to China for them to pre-approve us to adopt him. As soon as I have that news I can post his photo and share his preciousness with everyone.
Please pray for that in the coming days and that we can still travel by June 2013 to bring them both home. From the sounds of his description he is still not walking yet and is very tiny as well. So instead of having 3 active 3 years old, I am already imagining that we will developmentally have our strong active and busy 3 year old and 2 very delayed more like 1 year olds. But we will see. God has his hands over them, already walked this road for our travel and we can't wait to walk down this path He has brought to us.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
A Little About the Money
Yes, adoption is expensive. It cost 1000's and 1000's of dollars to adopt from China. And with us adopting 2 little Chinese sweeties our cost is going to be close to $45,000~!
I know that amount sounds huge. But God is bigger than that and His heart is for orphans being cared for in this world. I have no doubt He will provide the funds. Jays has been working overtime whenever possible, at least a few hours each week, which all helps. I have been starting to post things on Craig's list hoping to sell some things.
But the big project we are working on the last couple weeks is for a huge garage sale. I don't mind garage sales, I love shopping them! However, they are a ton of work. I am so thankful for all the donations we have been given.. Over 20 families have put their used items in our sale. I am so thankful for a hard working husband, who just had knee surgery 2 weeks ago and has been helping so much, even moving furniture. I am so thankful for my eldest son who helped his dad pick up the furniture. I am so thankful for my daughter-in-love and 2 oldest daughters helping me with all the sorting and pricing, but especially helping to keep me sane. They are also baked some goodies to sell.
I am so thankful for my younger kids who are so excited to be helpers at the sale, including manning the homemade lemonade stand.
So we went ahead and had the first day of the garage sale last Friday, in spite of the first freezing cold temperatures of the season. Just a couple days before that, the weather was gorgeous. There wasn't as many shoppers as I had hoped for, but there was as many as the Lord wanted. While we did freeze for 6 hours, it paid off as we made $370 dollars, plus a I sold some gently used cloth diapers on Craig's List for another $70. It wasn't the $1000 that I prayed for, but I am choosing to rejoice in what God did provide. We did not do the second day on Saturday as the weather was even colder and had some flurries as well. Although nothing did end up sticking to the ground. We are praying to finish our garage sale next Saturday the 13th, as the weather is looking good for the 7 day forecast. God is in control of it and I can trust His plan for our sale. We have lots of expenses for this adoption coming up this month, about $5,000, so please pray we are able to save that in God's provision.
Just in case you thought we might "buy" babies (I have really heard that before) with our adoption fees or wonder why does it cost so much; I am going to break down a little bit what it costs and why.\
Homestudy Reports: (includes initial report, education, and post adoption reports for 5 years per child)
$6000
Adoption Agency Fees: (includes all adoption services in finding our children, being the liaison for us with China, translating files and updates, planning our travel , authenticating documents, holding our hand with all questions and much more)
$7800
US Government Fees: (including passports, Immigration, certificates like marriage and birth, visa, authentication fees)
$2000
Travel Fees: (including out of country flights, in country flights, hotels, food, Guide for adoption work, driver, small bit of sight seeing, orphanage visit)
$12,000-$15,000
China Government Fees: (including orphanage donation for 2 children, Visas, Medical check ups, Log in paperwork to process the adoptions)
$12,000-$14,000
So there you go, that adds up to almost $45,000. It really is all necessary. Sure things could maybe cost a little less, but we all know they just don't anymore.
Truth be told, many people in our country don't think twice to buy a car that sells for that amount, or even just spending half that on a nice vacation that lasts only a couple weeks. Those things are nice sure. I have had them before, maybe not for that cost, but still enjoyed many material things that I didn't need.
Though today, I want to bring home two precious little ones that are living in an orphanage and need a Mommy and Daddy; along with lots of brother and sisters to love on them. Oh, how my heart is full of love for these orphans, whom God has called me to take care of. I want to build a legacy in these children through Christ who lives in me. I want to give them His unconditional love. People adopt for different reasons and I am not interested in debating Jay's and my reasons. It is because it is God's heart and we want to live like Christ, plain and simple.
I know that amount sounds huge. But God is bigger than that and His heart is for orphans being cared for in this world. I have no doubt He will provide the funds. Jays has been working overtime whenever possible, at least a few hours each week, which all helps. I have been starting to post things on Craig's list hoping to sell some things.
But the big project we are working on the last couple weeks is for a huge garage sale. I don't mind garage sales, I love shopping them! However, they are a ton of work. I am so thankful for all the donations we have been given.. Over 20 families have put their used items in our sale. I am so thankful for a hard working husband, who just had knee surgery 2 weeks ago and has been helping so much, even moving furniture. I am so thankful for my eldest son who helped his dad pick up the furniture. I am so thankful for my daughter-in-love and 2 oldest daughters helping me with all the sorting and pricing, but especially helping to keep me sane. They are also baked some goodies to sell.
I am so thankful for my younger kids who are so excited to be helpers at the sale, including manning the homemade lemonade stand.
So we went ahead and had the first day of the garage sale last Friday, in spite of the first freezing cold temperatures of the season. Just a couple days before that, the weather was gorgeous. There wasn't as many shoppers as I had hoped for, but there was as many as the Lord wanted. While we did freeze for 6 hours, it paid off as we made $370 dollars, plus a I sold some gently used cloth diapers on Craig's List for another $70. It wasn't the $1000 that I prayed for, but I am choosing to rejoice in what God did provide. We did not do the second day on Saturday as the weather was even colder and had some flurries as well. Although nothing did end up sticking to the ground. We are praying to finish our garage sale next Saturday the 13th, as the weather is looking good for the 7 day forecast. God is in control of it and I can trust His plan for our sale. We have lots of expenses for this adoption coming up this month, about $5,000, so please pray we are able to save that in God's provision.
Just in case you thought we might "buy" babies (I have really heard that before) with our adoption fees or wonder why does it cost so much; I am going to break down a little bit what it costs and why.\
Homestudy Reports: (includes initial report, education, and post adoption reports for 5 years per child)
$6000
Adoption Agency Fees: (includes all adoption services in finding our children, being the liaison for us with China, translating files and updates, planning our travel , authenticating documents, holding our hand with all questions and much more)
$7800
US Government Fees: (including passports, Immigration, certificates like marriage and birth, visa, authentication fees)
$2000
Travel Fees: (including out of country flights, in country flights, hotels, food, Guide for adoption work, driver, small bit of sight seeing, orphanage visit)
$12,000-$15,000
China Government Fees: (including orphanage donation for 2 children, Visas, Medical check ups, Log in paperwork to process the adoptions)
$12,000-$14,000
So there you go, that adds up to almost $45,000. It really is all necessary. Sure things could maybe cost a little less, but we all know they just don't anymore.
Truth be told, many people in our country don't think twice to buy a car that sells for that amount, or even just spending half that on a nice vacation that lasts only a couple weeks. Those things are nice sure. I have had them before, maybe not for that cost, but still enjoyed many material things that I didn't need.
Though today, I want to bring home two precious little ones that are living in an orphanage and need a Mommy and Daddy; along with lots of brother and sisters to love on them. Oh, how my heart is full of love for these orphans, whom God has called me to take care of. I want to build a legacy in these children through Christ who lives in me. I want to give them His unconditional love. People adopt for different reasons and I am not interested in debating Jay's and my reasons. It is because it is God's heart and we want to live like Christ, plain and simple.
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