<<Sigh>>

For some reason, these past couple of weeks have been particularly hard.  I can't explain why really.  Each and every leg of this journey, I've been able to remain calm knowing Christ has this whole thing already planned from beginning to end.  Something about being so close to the end, makes the waiting seem unbearable.  I'm really DONE with the waiting.  I DON'T want to wait anymore.  I WANT to throw a temper tantrum.  I want to, I WANT to, I WANT TO!!!!!!  And yet, I know in my heart that it's completely unnecessary.  God has ultimate control even if I'm struggling with the trust factor at this moment.  The whole being human thing sort of stinks sometimes.

Here's a brief update on OUR progress that I literally copied and pasted from some else's blog because word for word, it matches our timeline exactly:

Our NVC Letter and Supporting Documents will be hand delivered to the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China- hopefully today!

1. We will wait 2 weeks for our Article 5 to be issued and then overnighted to the CCCWA (China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption) in Bejing.

2. Then we will wait 2-4 weeks for the CCCWA in Bejing to issue our TA!  Our TA (Travel Approval) is the big date we’re waiting for!

3. After our TA is issued, we have to secure an appointment with the Consulate in Guangzhou (to get Jordy a Visa once we’re in China) and then our trip dates will be finalized!

We were hoping to travel end of July but we have two HUGE hurdles that may hold us back.  First, China "upgraded" their welfare computer program and it's been all but glamorous.  The system isn't really working and our agency said they haven't received any travel approvals (TAs) in 3 weeks.  Yuck!!!  Second, the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China is closing from the 12th to the 24th of July to relocate which means even if we get TA, we cannot schedule travel until the Embassy reopens and gives us an appointment.  

Truth is, we know that all these stupid little hiccups are typical in some way shape or form but we (I) so wanted to be in China before the end of August or September.  Jordy's 4th birthday is September 6 and we'd love to celebrate it at home.

Other things to pray for:  

I'm trying very hard to qualify for FMLA at work which would give me 12 weeks off of work but I have to pick up enough hours in the next month or so.  The stress of picking up hours will wear on us all but it is necessary.  Pray that I'm able to get enough hours and that I can find appropriate child care.  We are launching a new program at work and that is an extra stress for all the Parkview community hospitals.  Pray for the transition mid-July.

Also, pray that I can find enough people to donate PTO hours that I won't have to do any time off without pay.  I have vacation time but not enough to cover 12 weeks.  I've already had a few offers to donate PTO and I'm getting close to having enough.

Travel Expenses.  We will be travelling at a very expensive time of year.  We have no exact numbers on cost but let's just say at best, it's a lot and at worst, it's a lot.  August is an expensive time to travel.  We are so thrilled that to date God has covered all costs up to this point.  All that remains is the travel and legal fees.  Wisdom in knowing how to pay the remainder of this journey is needed!!!

Your prayers are so appreciated and I find when I'm down, I can feel the power of prayer picking me up and carrying me through.

And, I can't resist posting more pictures of our little guy.  His cheeks are going to hurt when this momma finally gets to squeeze them!!!!  :)

Post Yard/Bake/Food Sale

It's 8:30am on Monday morning after our BIG garage sale weekend.  I slept today until almost 8am and I'm still in my pjs.  And, I'm staring outside at the wet landscape of my now empty yard thinking my God is HUGE!

Our sale was BIG.  At least that is what we were told repeatedly over the weekend by garage sale shoppers.  So many friends and family members donated and donated and donated some more.  Our whole entire basement looked like a bad episode of hoarders according to my sister as we collected, sorted, and collected more.

Was it worth it?  Totally!!!!  We were able to raise over $3,000 towards our adoption between our Yard/Bake/Food sales!  That's HUGE.  

There were so many God moments this weekend I will share a few:

First off, the weather.  Set up day was Thursday and we needed every little bit of it.  We started at 7am and I officially quit at 10pm.  Rain was a big possibility Thursday evening but once we started bringing stuff out, there was no turning back because there was no where to hide the sheer volume of stuff we had.  Many people were praying us through Thursday and not a single drop fell upon our efforts.  Not Thursday.  Not Friday.  Not Saturday.  Not Sunday . . . it took us an extra day to get everything tore down.  But Monday, rain!  Thank you!!!!

Second, volunteers.  This was no easy mess to sort and bring out of our basement but we had some incredible people that rearranged their lives to help us put this all together and run it.  Couldn't have survived without a single one of them.  Teresa Hursey & family, Maureen Freeman & family, Kacey Foote & family, Jenny Heffelfinger & family, Heather Ward & family, Dad & Deb Barr, the Scott Household, Chris Woolfington-Cochern & family, Davis Family, Bianca Boles, Trisha Miller, AND the many that donated baked goods, chips, hot dogs, and buns from our church Merriam Christian Chapel.  Thank you!!!!

Third, shoppers.  There was a steady flow of shoppers Friday.  So steady, my husband cancelled soccer practice to stay at home and watch over the sale as people continued to shop even past 5pm.  Saturday was slow to start and we anticipated closing around noon. But as we started packing up a few items here and there, the shoppers kept coming.  I had to head to work at 2:30pm and the shoppers were still coming.  Thank you!!!!!

It amazed me the items that sold.  I would think in my mind, please allow fill in the blank to be sold so we don't have to pack it up or move it.  By the end of the weekend, there were very few items from my list of things that I was hoping would sell.  How incredibly thankful I was for that.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

There were so many people that donated items.  I wish I could name them all personally but truth is, I would forget someone because there were just so many that gave.  We are so grateful.  Grateful doesn't even seem adequate because the response was overwhelming.  We said please donate, and everyone did and in large volume.  UH-Maze-ing!!!!!!!!!  Without those donations, we wouldn't have, we couldn't have raised such a large amount of money.  THANK YOU!!!

And the last blessing was the aftermath.  Of course, we had clothing and shoes left over.  We knew we would.  As a result, the local clothing bank received a very large donation of kids clothing.  I haven't sorted the adult stuff yet.  AND, the shoes?  I'm so excited that these were donated towards another adoption fundraiser for a child from Bulgaria.  We literally filled the back end of Jayme Dee's SUV!!  Even I was shocked by the volume.

I need to also mention what an incredible amazing excellent fantastic super trooper husband I have.  He put up with all the stuff in our house, and garage for two months.  He worked his tail off collecting stuff, setting up stuff, carrying stuff, moving stuff, and tearing down everything.  He made multiple trips all over and with very very very few complaints.  I'm so blessed to have him and I can't wait to travel half way around the world with him!  

Now, our summer officially begins.  Time to sit back and relax as much as we can before our older girls have surgery on the 21st of June.  They are having their adenoids and possibly their tonsils removed to help with sleep apnea.  And then before we know it, we'll be on our way to China.  Time is flying by at record speed.  Whew!

Continued prayers for us are so appreciated as we anticipate the girls' surgery, making travel plans, and funding the remaining balance of the adoption.  God is obviously in control!!!