Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Five days of quiet

    This week is my final week before work. What that means is 5 days of a quiet house from 7:35a - 2:30p (other than my loud music in the background)! I am savoring every minute, as I realized the other day that next year at this time we will have a little 2 year old side-kick again!
    Even in this time I see my sweet Savior's hand. It has given me prolonged devotions, time to tidy up the house without interruptions, time to wander favorite stores by myself, and time to fill out paperwork for the Abba Fund & Show Hope!
    The Abba Fund is a foundation that gives interest free loans for qualifying adopting families. We are really hoping we qualify! Show Hope is Steven Curtis Chapman's foundation that gives grants for adopting families. I am preparing the finishing touches on both and hoping to send those out tomorrow (Wed.).
    In the background Christy Nockels is singing..."be blessed, be loved, be lifted high, be treasured here, be glorified..." Oh, how I hope that is what I am doing for Jesus in this journey!
   We have decided on Maggie's middle name - Mei (pronounced May)!
    Mei means "beautiful"; Maggie means "Pearl". So, in a round-about way, it means "beautiful pearl". We like it, but we laugh because she has an American first name, Chinese middle name, and a Dutch last name! And said together, Maggie Mei, it has a southern sound! Love it!
    Please pray for continued financial support to come in...we need $88 more for the dossier, followed up quickly with a $480 fee and then $150.
    Thank you to all who are following this journey with us! For all your prayers, financial donations, material donations and interest!! We are humbled.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Blessings, one after another...thank you Jesus!

    This week has held several blessings for us on the adoption journey! I have been in contact with two other mom's on the same journey! One leaves tomorrow for China and was willing to take our Maggie a gift! (I can't wait to do that for someone when we go!!) The other is at the same point in the journey, so there is a chance we will travel together.
    Another blessing is that our homestudy has been approved by our placing agency, so final touches are being made and it will then be sent to DSS for approval and will then meet up with our I800A! I am beyond excited to be at this point - even though it involves waiting!
    Yet another blessing is on the financial front - we have received around $2,600 within the last week! We are only $36 short of the funds needed for the dossier! And, once we have our homestudy in hand, we have grant/loan forms to go out!!
     I am humbled that so many are following our journey! We pray that God would get every bit of the glory, for it is HIM who is able to accept it and deserves it!
 

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Steady Expectation

     This past week our homestudy was sent to our placing agency for approval! Along with that was a fee of $1,500, of which we were short $250. I posted on FB that we needed the funds TODAY (8/2) & we would wait and see what God did...well, THAT DAY we received $275!
     Six years ago my hubby and I started what we call the "Jehovah Jirah" list. Jehovah Jirah is a name for God which basically means "Our God will provide."
     It started as a list on our refrigerator and has now turned into a journal. In it we list every way that God provides for us, be it financial, physical, spiritual, etc. The journal is our everyday application for our faith - when we doubt God's goodness or provision for us, we can read through the journal and be reminded of His faithfulness. It has helped to build in us a STEADY EXPECTATION for God to be present.
     God changed our hearts towards a growing family, knowing He would have to supply the funds. He is growing our faith daily and I am so grateful! It's really been a crazy journey in that we receive funds for one fee, rejoice in that for that day, and get up the next day and start praying for funds for the next fee. STEADY EXPECTATION.
     Once our homestudy is approved, we get to send in the next form, with a required fee of $890...we are only $352 short!!
     Psalm 5:3 says it well..."In the morning you hear my voice; In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."