Mountain Fun

We had been looking forward to our mountain weekend for a couple of months. The kids skipped school on Friday and we headed for a cabin in the mountains. Our little cabin sat right beside a beautiful stream which apparently called Rion, Sophie and Pressley's names because yesterday they went swimming! Yes, it was freezing, but apparently worth it to them. We built campfires at night, cooked smores, hiked trails, and saw beautiful waterfalls. It really was a wonderful weekend. Now, that being said, I don't think I'm so much a mountain girl. I love the scenery and the brisk air, and the children love it.... but, after two days of smokey, wet, dirty, clothes, I'm ready to go home!

A Family In Need

There is a family that is in need of our prayers and could also use some financial assistance. They are the Kamberger family and have already adopted several children with special needs. They had already started their paperwork for a 9 year old girl when they found out about an almost 14 year old boy who is in desperate need of a family. Read about their story at www.afamilyforchristina.blogspot.com. This family has a heart full of love and I strive to be more like them. If you follow their journey I bet you will see miracles happen.

I also wanted to share a book that Greg and I read- It's called Crazy Love Overwhelmed By A Relentless God by Francis Chan. And it. is. great.

Will you pray for us that we receive our I800A approval soon so that we can send our dossier off to China? I'll tell ya, I have been a little bit worried because we have not even been assigned a case worker yet, and I really thought we should have by now.We surely can't get an approval without a case worker! But I am counting on God for some great things to happen!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 2nd Birthday Cai!!

Fingerprints- Check!

I am so happy to announce that our fingerprint appointments were this morning and we are done with that step! We are waiting for one more piece of paper- our I800A approval and then our dossier will be ready to be sent to China. That, of course, involves another wait, but every step is a huge, and greatly anticipated accomplishment. Today, we are specifically praying for our case worker who will approve our paperwork and issue our approval. While this can take 35-45 days, it can also be as few as 5. I am praying for 5!
We did find out that we will not be receiving any pictures of Cai with her cake. Her orphanage is apparently very strict, and said that they would take pictures, but we would not see them until the day we adopt her. So... we will be happy with what we have.

Here She Is!

We would like to introduce Cai to you. We will be celebrating her second Birthday next Saturday. And while we will be sad that she won't be here with us to celebrate her special day, we are looking forward to helping her celebrate many, many more! We sent a Birthday cake package to her orphanage and hopefully we will receive pictures of her enjoying her cake with her foster family and friends.
There is no better day than today to introduce Cai because today is Orphan Sunday. There are so many children in need of families that can use these extra prayers today. We feel especially blessed to be called to be the parents of two of these children.
Cai is living at an orphange in the province of Hubei. In a report we received, it says " The neighbors all love her because she looks so lovely and she talks sweetly. They always bring good food and toys to her and sometime they invite her into their homes as their guest. She has outgoing personality and she is very lively. She likes to watch TV."
We are hoping to have our paperwork ready to be sent to China soon. Once again, I am praying for patience and having to remember every day to place my trust and faith in God- ( and then to leave it there!) When things aren't happening as quickly as I would like, and we are waiting for yet, another approval so that we can hurry and wait for something else, I must remind myself that "If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it," and most importantly that this is not my "thing", this is His. And just as miraculously as he placed Cai into our lives, He will place her into our arms.
Please keep Cai in your prayers. We are praying daily for her, and are already praying that her little heart will be prepared for us.

" No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Cor. 2:9

Check it out!

Please go to www.nohandscurrentinfo.blogspot.com and read what Stefanie wrote about adoption. It is labeled "Why" and it is great. She has the gift for words that I so wish I had! She has an amazing family and I love reading her blog (the link to her blog is in the story). Please keep checking; our new blog should be ready soon so we can introduce Cai to you!