Adoption is NOT God's "plan B"

That thought has been rolling around in my head the last couple of days. God cannot have a "plan B"! Us Gentiles were not His plan B. He was going to adopt us all along. The law wasn't plan A and Jesus being crucified plan B, it was what God knew would happen and had planned from the beginning of time. Just like He knew Caleb would be in our family from the beginning of time.
Anxiously awaiting our LOA (letter from China). Hopefully by next week. The waiting is getting harder. But plenty to keep us busy. Can't believe our silent auction is in 2 weeks!
God is still letting us know that He is in control even when there is so much craziness around me. Extended family issues, issues with kids, car issues. He is wanting to know where my faith lies...
God has also called me to do something I didn't really want to do. One Sunday after church someone asked me to pray about speaking at our women's brunch. HUH?! Me?! I really wanted to say no right away, too much already on my plate, things going on. Then the next night at BSF of course we are going over the passage in Isaiah where he says " Here am I, send me." And the fact that only God can make our words worthy. Ok God, I hear you! Another lady and I will be talking about adoption. I'm happy to have the opportunity to talk about something I'm becoming very passionate about and hope to inspire others to care for orphans in whatever way God is calling them to. But very nervous too!
I'm a huge fan of Steven Curtis Chapman. His family is certainly part of my inspiration to adopt. Here is the chorus to a song "I Will Trust You":
"And I will trust You, I'll trust You, trust You God, I will, even when I don't understand, even then I will say again, You are my God and I will trust you."
May I continue to trust is His perfect timing!

Big News!

We are finally able to share some news a little more publically, but can't share everything yet.
We were matched with a sweet little boy on Sep. 20th. We had 24 hours to give an initial yes or no. I did a lot of processing during those 24 hours! Then we said yes. I'm growing more attached to him each day. He is about 17 mos. old. Beautiful dark hair and dark eyes. Its becoming more real each day. We sure have a lot to do!
After saying yes we had to do some paperwork which did not get off until today because our social worker was out of town. I had been kind of frustrated with that as time is very important now, so we can go get him! I'm studying Isaiah this year in Bible study and this week's lesson was about pride. Well I was humbled today as we found out that we are got our pre-approval (PA) from China on the 25th! Our paperwork hadn't even been sent yet! So God is teaching me AGAIN that He is in control of all of this. He certainly doesn't need me or any paperwork to accomplish His will. It gave us joy and peace knowing that this little boy is supposed to be part of our family. "Oh how marvelous, oh how wonderful and my song shall ever be..."
So next is our Letter of Acceptance (LOA). That is the OFFICIAL letter that says China is accepting us and that he will be our son. When we get that we can post pictures. Pray that it happens quickly, but it can take several weeks.

Prayer: We have a silent auction coming up on Nov. 5th. Pray for preparations for that.
Finances: We have paid about half of what our total costs will be. Praise God! This has been done with about $3,000 from people giving and our garage sales/bake sales, and the rest we had saved. But now we need to pay for the other half. We know God will provide.
Time: Pray that I will use my time wisely. I need to start applying for grants, lots of paperwork. Many other preparations and things to do. I have two children to teach.
Travel: Pray that we will get to travel end of Dec./beginning of Jan. Chinese New Year is Feb.3rd and the country shuts down for awhile. Pray for our many travel preparations.
Thank you for your support!!!

With the trees , again...

In the mountains again, looking at the trees again, thinking of and praying for Caleb. Last time we were in the mountains, we got logged in. Now hoping and praying to meet Caleb very soon.
Pray that I can concentrate on school with the kids and everything else I need to do. But we are anxious to "meet" him and get going on our next phase. I have to keep reminding myself that God is in control and His timing is perfect. I'm looking forward to studying Isaiah this year to be reminded how powerful my God is!

Its official

Our LID was Aug. 28th, so cool, because of the day it happened, the story about being in the mountains. So yesterday or today our "waiting child" paperwork was supposed to get submitted to Grand Rapids ( our agency's headquarters). Our social worker said they were "anxiously awaiting our paperwork". So I'm hoping and praying that we get matched next week, and that it doesn't drag on for weeks!
Started working on some online adoption classes the other night that we have to get done before we travel. Trying to "get ahead" with things knowing that it will get busier.
Please pray that we get to "meet" Caleb soon and that our paperwork will continue to move quickly and smoothly.

It appears we have our LID

I went on our agency's site tonight just for fun, logged into our account and saw that we have a log-in date of Aug. 28th! Not sure why we didn't get a call or anything... Unbelievable!!! Our social worker said it would probably take 3 weeks, but that was only 8 days. Its also kind of cool because that was when we were in the mountains. That night I was lying in bed, looking out the windows at the big beautiful trees, thinking about and praying for Caleb for a long time. It was so cool!
So we should be getting to meet him very soon, maybe even next week! That makes my head spin! But also very excited!

Hurry up and wait...

On Friday our dossier (paperwork) went to China! Yay! It was a little anti-climatic though as we had waited 3 weeks to hear that. But still very happy. Pray now that nothing gets lost or anything. What a nightmare that would be, though I'm sure it has happened to others.
So what next? The nest thing is our log-in date, when China logs in our paperwork. That could take about 3 weeks, hopefully not longer than that. Then once we are logged-in our agency will match us with a little boy 0-18 mos., with some minor medical need that we have indicated. We have 24 hours to initially accept him, so that will be a crazy 24 hours. Then we have up to two weeks to formally accept him. Then more paperwork goes back and forth, so it will take a few more months until we can go get him. I'm still hoping and praying it will be before Christmas, but may more likely be after.
Our BIG yard sale is coming up Sep. 4th. So many have donated, thank you! I have a lot to go through and organize. We are also beginning to plan a dinner and silent auction for possibly the first weekend in Nov.
Please continue to pray for God's provision and His perfect timing.
I am not always very patient and I like getting things done. Yesterday I heard the Lincoln Brewster song from Is. 40 and it really spoke to me about waiting on God through this process. Is. 40:27-31, read it!

Adoption roller coaster

Again I "knew" this would be a roller coaster, but things are so different once you experience them yourself. We went to our agency again today thinking we just needed to have one document notarized, ended up needing three done. Don't care at this point, just want to write the check to get us closer to Caleb. We also made the decision to take our documents up to Sacramento, "buying" us about a week of time and the peace of mind of delivering it and bringing it back yourself. Even if you overnight them they could sit on a desk below others for several days. So Rod and Austin will go and have a nice father/son day in the car. Naomi and I will continue to bake for our bake sale.
It was good to talk to our social worker some more. We should be logged in to China within 6-8 weeks and will get matched as soon as that happens. The person in charge of the China program with our agency is very anxious to match us as we are the only family requesting a boy right now.
Here is a poem that really spoke to me the other day. I certainly don't want to/can't compare myself to those who have gone through infertility, but this is a new journey for us. The poem is from the book "Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft". The poem is called "Song of the Waiting Mother" by Christine Futia
I'm pregnant, but my tummy isn't growing,
And no one ever calls me "Little Mom."
The public simply isn't overflowing
With questions that I'd handle with aplomb.

There are no special clothes to mark my waiting.
Nobody stops and smiles as I pass by.
The absence of a due-date is frustrating
And looking at the nursery makes me cry.

When I'm overdue no one will worry.
The phone won't ring and ring as friends check in.
I can't induce my labor in a hurry,
My new life as a parent to begin.

Adoption is a worrisome endeavor,
And waiting all alone is not much fun.
To be "with child" a year seems like forever.
Dear God, we're ready! Please send us our son!