Blessings from Friends

I think we have some the most loving friends in life! The constant outpouring to us in this whole process of adoption has caused me to evaluate myself continually. I realize that I am often inadequate in loving others so graciously and hope that my friends can forgive me for not being more like Jesus everyday. I am thankful that God is teaching me to more mindful of His ways in these days as our family strives to live unto His will and to love with His mercy and grace.
Recently we received our first update of Ruby, one picture and a few sentences, and updated measurements, which is the first we've gotten in 3 months from China! Sweet precious child we know so little about, yet love so completely! Recently the wait is taking a toll on the whole family unit. Lulu cries for Ruby sometimes too; it must be hard to go to sleep in a room that now hold an extra bed in the anticipation of baby sister, and no real concept of "soon". Which is all we can really tell her when she wonder when we'll go. This is the most hard part of it all. My sorrow in waiting I can understand, my precious daughter's longing for a sister is very difficult to bear.

Our Documents are now in China, hand-delivered today! And part 1 of 3 is over, with the anticipation of part 2 just beginning. I have to reflect on the love of God's people for this process of loving a child halfway around the world and supporting us to bring her home. We have had 5 fundraisers, all offered by our loving Church family, aside from the Chip-in widget that will expire soon. A total of Gifts through the Church and fundraising has now broke over $6000 and we can never express the gratitude we feel. I only hope one day I can help another person in their desire to adopt one day!!!

I will say that I have never felt so completely unconditionally loved by such kindness in my life. This is an amazing gift that has forever changed my life. Ruby's life being entwined with ours will no doubt bless us more than we could imagine, as LuLu's proved to do. Let's thank the Father, for such great love and provision of His children!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer 29:11 (NIV)

Do you know what LuLu means in Mandarin??? It's a wish for the future: meaning "with this child may you prosper". We have indeed prospered with this precious gift of LuLu.

Multiplying; Being Encouraged

I mentioned this to my FB peeps, but felt it deserved a post of its own. Last Friday, I was updating our costs and contributions spreadsheet we keep for our adoption process, and could hardly believe the results. We started the process to adopt Ruby on the desire to continue to grow our family and the belief that God was again leading toward adoption; knowing that we would need to rely wholly on God's provision for this.
I remember telling Pat, "we'll get our tax returns; it'll be like $5000 to start with; it's more than we had when we started to adopt LuLu." Both of us knowing full well, that we had $1200 to start our 1st adoption, and the total came to just over $23000. It also took years to complete, and by God's grace and provision Pat lost his job in the meantime, and we were able to cash out his 401K!!! The amount need to raise then, ended up being more like $5000. This time? This time we knew we'd need to raise $18000 from day one, and would have more like 7 months at most, rather than the 3 years for LuLu. We leaped and decide to see how God's work would unfold in our lives.
It was a revelation to look at these numbers on Friday! (our tax returns by the way surprised us at coming back at $7000 rather than 5, first sign of things to come) Every bit of that went into a separate acct. used only for adoption funds, and every dollar raised has also been put into that acct. But I also would write checks for the smaller things from our personal account if it looked like we could handle it. $20 here for Passport Photos, $15 there for document sealing, etc. Well, upon looking at the spreadsheet, we have somehow managed to pay $8849 in fees already. We have $5610 left in our adoption account for upcoming costs which are estimated to be a minimum of $16,511. So if my numbers are right....a minimum of $10,901 is left to raise. (this is also hoping we can get at least one ticket at half price with miles, and that flights and hotels are at the lower end during the season we travel.)
I am reminded at this time of how Jesus fed the people with the Fish and Loaves. He took what we could only see as an insufficient amount and provided such amazing provision for the obviously large need of His people at the time. Practically right before our eyes, yet without us realizing, He multiplied and it is proof of His faithfulness.

My verse for the day:
Joshua 1:9 (New International Version)

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Thank you for the love of this process which you all have show in so many tangible ways!

Waiting, Trusting, Hoping in Him

A difficult week and still waiting for answers. The Adoption process is unique every time, every situation, and one thing all parents who've been through it know, is that all we can do is, Wait, Hope and Trust in Him. We can do nothing more. I have heard so many stories of hang-ups and errors and lost papers, I can't count them all. We have had a recent week of this. Just when we were thinking we were so close, an error was discovered on our Home Study last week, and we are waiting for it to be amended and will do our best to complete the 2 processes already done (incorrectly) from this Home Study. We are waiting on our Social Worker again. And Trusting our Agency has a good plan of attack, and Hoping this does not cause even further delays in getting Ruby. If ever our family needs prayer, this is one of those times!