All adoption fees are covered!!!

     I think our God deserves a standing ovation on this journey. I mean, REALLY! Matt and I went on a prayer walk yesterday, just to say thank you to our God for this journey and all that HE has provided!

     Yesterday we received word that we were given an $800 donation! That put our remaining total to, roughly, $976.  I texted a friend to keep her in the loop. She wrote back minutes later saying that her kids still had Christmas money from last year to be given to charity and they wanted to put it all together and pay our remaining $1,000!!!!

     Philippians 2:13 says, "It is GOD who works in you, to will and act according to HIS purpose."

     That verse speaks to me on so many levels through this journey. The Holy Spirit is the one who convinced us to take a step of faith and begin this journey. He had to change our hearts to even begin it.

     So now, we say "bring on Maggie, God!!"

Thankful that God is the AUTHOR of this journey

     Well, the last post was about hearing the spirit speak to me about December and being ready to go. So, for the next several days Matt & I were trying to figure that out. After prayer and speaking with friends (thank you so much Janet!) our conclusion is this: We are NOT to try and figure out God's next step. HE is the AUTHOR of this journey and HE gets to make the big calls. Our job is to be ready. So, what that looks like for me is this...
*All Christmas presents purchased are wrapped;
*I have all of the paperwork filled out and ready to be sent once we get LOA (China's approval);
*I continually give the details to my God, sometimes on an hourly basis, just so all glory goes to Him.

     On a financial front, we found out this week that we are being awarded a $4,500 grant from Show Hope!!! This is Steven Curtis Chapman's adoption grant. Then, the next day we received $625! Our new total is $1,743 (roughly) and that is to finish up flight costs. Isn't God amazing!!!????

     So thankful this season for this journey and all of the support we have been given!

God's WORD is amazing stuff...

     So last night I was going through all the paperwork needed to be done after we get China's approval. This is the point that I realized that I filled in some numbers wrong on the "budget" I am keeping for all the "Maggie funds". We thought that we had, roughly, $5,000 to go. Turns out that we have about $7,400 to go.
     Well, as you can imagine, that threw a little kink into my "hoping I heard right we will get her in December" faith mind-set. HOWEVER, I quoted Psalm 56:3, "WHEN I am afraid I will TRUST in you, in God whose word I praise; in God I trust. I WILL NOT BE AFRAID!"

     Scripture itself says that God's word is alive and active, sharper than any double edged sword. Well, it's been powerful for me through this whole journey. I'm not sure how I would be standing with a smile if not. Because, here's the thing. His sweet spirit that has been speaking to me...he knew that I had figured the finances wrong and that mistake didn't change anything on His agenda. Our "gotcha day" hasn't changed and He still owns all the cows (read a previous post).

     So, when you see me STANDING TALL, SMILING of all things, it is JESUS you are seeing and His sweet spirit's work in and through me. I just love Him and the amazing things He is doing through our family.

     We covet your prayers on this journey! We are so thankful for the support we have received!

I'm not sure how this will play out...

     My hubby told me I need to blog about what I have been hearing within my spirit. But to be honest, it makes me nervous to be that vulnerable. To risk being wrong; hearing wrong.
     While Matt and I were on a date Friday I was texting a friend of mine, asking her if our families could get together over Christmas break and just as a typed those words, I heard in my spirit "you won't be there [Fort Wayne, IN] for Christmas." I told Matt right away and said that I am going to assume that I made that up. Because that would mean we would have to get LOA (China's approval) this week. AND, we would need the remaining $5-6,000.
     This morning during devotions I did more praying and listening than reading. I don't know how to explain what I am feeling except that I sense an urgency in my spirit. A voice telling me to get ready, we are leaving soon.
     Soon may still be February. But what if God did do something crazy amazing and got us there in December? It's not like this whole journey has been normal! He gave me a name and led us to her! We have been able to raise close to $20,000 within a 6 month time period!
     Matt and I are wondering if Jesus isn't next to God the Father saying, "Why did they stop praying for December? Why are they asking for January now?"

So there it is... a piece of my heart. Right out in the open for people to gawk at.

I am choosing to be hopeful and close to Jesus in prayer.

China has logged us in! The last LONG wait!

     Our dossier was logged in in China on Oct. 26! That means that now we are at the point where all we do is wait for China to give the big approval. Right now those approvals are running 55-60 days. And when we do get it, it will be roughly 2 months to travel!!!
     We are thankful that we are coming into the holiday season! It will make the wait a little more bearable.
     For those who pray for us on the financial front... We need $350 to finish the China escort/translator fees and then the fees due to China are finished! So unbelievable! After that we will focus on the flight & meals while in China, which will be roughly $5,000.  That's it! Less than $6,000 to finish! AND, we haven't heard from Show Hope yet (adoption grant). We will hear from them by Nov. 15th.
     We received this picture of Maggie last week. It is the first picture where we can see a little of her personality; can tell she is giggling. We love her so much already!