FULLY FUNDED and the joy of the Lord

The only reason I'm still up and blogging right now is because I told Z she had to go to sleep.  Which means that I didn't rock her to sleep and lay her in bed and quietly sneak out for the first time in 2 (almost 3) years.  She rolled over and pretended to go to sleep but my guess is that in about 15 minutes Crazy Legs (as I often times call her at night since those legs never seem to stop moving) will probably be up and wandering around soon.  That gives me 15 minutes to shoot out our latest adoption update and a few other random thoughts that have been circling my mind lately.

Adoption News:

The biggest news of all is that our adoption is FULLY FUNDED!!!!!!  Last year when we started this process we had full confidence that God was going to provide every single cent we needed for our adoption.  Along the way he has provided everything we needed exactly when we needed it.  But here at the end, it has seemed overwhelming to learn how to trust God and let go of our security net.  Two weeks ago we purchased our airline tickets on our credit card.  We had part of the funds to cover them, not all.  Over the weekend we received a donation to cover our airline tickets and most of our travel expenses.  Today we were able to cover our in-country expenses.  God is never slow, he is always on time. 

As we have gone through this process we have been met along the way by friends and family who have been so incredibly generous.  Some of you with your time, some of you with your abilities, some of you with your finances.  It has not ceased to amaze me in these past months just how much love we are surrounded by. We are not alone, we have a huge village supporting us. 

Winter Jam concert is coming up on Sunday evening, and although we won't be going I love thinking about the role a Winter Jam concert played in our story.  It was about 5 years ago that my husband went to a Winter Jam concert and came home with a sponsor child for our family.  He said that he just knew it was what we were supposed to do.  This concert introduced us to a great agency and our first sponsor child who has since graduated from sponsorship but who we think of and pray for often.  The next child assigned to us was a little boy from China, because of his sponsorship our eyes were opened to Foster Care in China and also the possibility of adopting from China someday.  Here we are, having planned our trip to China to go and pick up our little boy.  He isn't the little boy we sponsored for awhile but he is a little boy living in a foster care family in China.  As I was thinking about this I thought about his foster family and how much they mean to us.  Then I wondered, is there a family sponsoring our son?  So many people working together to care for our son.  I am so grateful for all of them, pouring our their love on him. 

It is strange to see how we grow and change and develop as we age.  I know I'm not even close to nearing the end of this growing and changing... it will continue as long as I continue.  Sometimes in the midst of all that is going on in our lives I have to remind myself to not be weighed down by all the responsibilities I have on me.  The last few weeks have been more stressful than usual.  It has seemed overwhelming at times.  Our house has not stayed "together", and I have found myself dwelling on the frustrating and the overwhelming. 

It has felt at times like the weight of years of loss and pain, and then having a second baby and post partum depression, and then heading into all that goes into preparing to adopt - at times I felt like I've lost my fun.  I have a good friend who is always fun.  The joy of the Lord is in her, and she lives a life of faithfulness to him.  Even when she is overwhelmed or burdened, or sick, or in a difficult circumstance - she is joyful, encouraging, and full of life.  I have thought, momentarily and at times, that if only she were still here (in Iowa) I would be fun again.  But I have to remember where my joy comes from; not from a friend who clings to the promises of God. No, her joy and my joy have to come from God; from clinging to his promises myself. 

I don't want to be old and crochety (you can be crochety at 30).  I want to be full of life, vibrant, radiating Holy Spirit and him living in me. 

Incredibly so, I have come to the end of this and our little Z is still in her own bed!  After a week of fitful nights, I may be able to sleep all night tonight!  Good night my friends, and may God bless you and give you joy.

Love,
Brie

Travel Approval and Plane Tickets!

So it's here!

Our Travel Approval arrived via FedEx this morning!  It happened like this.  For some reason Zemirah insisted on being worn on my back while I made breakfast this morning.  So I'm walking around the kitchen with a 35+lb toddler on my back and my hair pulled off to the side so she wouldn't play with it.  But then she pulls the tiny hairs on my neck and it really hurts.  I also happen to have a pimple on my neck and she kept telling me she didn't like it.  So there was much chatter and pulling and ow-ing and Am walks into the kitchen and says "here mom."  I look down and see this giant thing that looks like a graphing calculater and she's holding a pen.  "What's This?" I say.  "Where did you get this???"  My mind is spinning as to how she would have gotten a hold of one of Aaron's graphing calculators from college.  And she replies "The man at the door gave it to me.  Supposed to sign it."  "What?! THE MAN AT THE DOOR!?!?!"  Realization dawns..."oooohhhhh!  FedEx!  You can't sign this!" She counters with "No, he said YOU have to sign it!"  So a frazzled mom showed up at the door.  I relayed the story while I quickly signed and it gave him a good laugh.  Hopefully it made up for how much time he wasted by sitting at my door waiting for a 7 year old to come back with his signy thing.

Travel Approval is literally the LAST step to purchasing tickets to China!  And we did that today also!  We are so incredibly excited!

In my last post I mentioned how devastating it was to find out we would not be traveling in April.  Strangely things have turned out that it is good we can't travel then.  On Monday our damaged sewer line reminded us that it needs to be repaired, and it seems that repair will happen as soon as the ground is thawed, which may be in about 2 weeks.   On Tuesday my darling husband was diagnosed with mono, it seems the poor guy has to get worse before he gets better.  So, things are working out.

We didn't want to have to disrupt our lives for the sewer repair just after bringing Doron home, and we never could have predicted Aaron getting sick.  We are thankful we have time to get our house in order and let Aaron heal before leaving for China.

We are still fundraising for our trip (Which may be more costly than we originally anticipated) so if you know anyone who might like to help us get to China, you can send them to our puzzle fundraiser on Facebook by clicking here!  $10 sponsors 1 puzzle piece that will have your name or whatever you'd like written on the back.  You are welcome to sponsor as many pieces as you'd like.

Fundraisers

I find myself in a difficult place these days.  I don't like asking for help.  I don't like depending on people.  I want to help.  I want to be depended on, but having the humility to ask for help - this is not something that comes naturally to me.

I was on the phone with a friend this morning and talking about a few key moments in our lives when I wish I would have asked for help.  And in hindsight, I know it was legitimate, at the time it felt like failing.

When we put on fundraisers, mail out support letters, and just in general ask for financial support of our adoption, I feel like I'm laying it all out there for the world to see.

I feel like the question is raised "Why are you adopting when you can't afford it?"

I think the question is real and for a lot of reasons, needs to be asked.

In the past few months we have been blown away by the generosity of more than a handful of people.  Many who have stretched themselves thin for our son.  This generosity has done a number on my heart, and my pride, because I ask myself the hard question above.

While friends ask constantly, "How can I help?"  I don't know what to say.

How can you help?  My head spins.  This is a step above laundry, dishes, a meal...

Yet, so many of you have seen the need and stepped up to meet it, and we stand here overwhelmed.

I write this because tonight one fundraiser ended, and another began.  It is because of the generosity of friends, and their desperate desire to raise all that we need that these are occuring.  And I am so thankful that when they see a need they are so kind as to take the initiative to try and fill it however they can.

I want to be sure though, that all of those who have graciously donated already, whether through Lifesong, Freezer-Full, Bake Sale, Garage Sale,  - whatever it is...  I want you to know that your gift has not gone unrecognized.  Your gift has not been minimized.  Your gift is significant.

I am so excited about the puzzle piece fundraiser and the way it provides illustration of just how many people have come together to take part in bringing our son home.  But, it doesn't represent all who have worked to bring him home, and because of that we will have another piece of artwork that holds the names of all others who have donated, regardless of amount.

We know that this adventure, from start through to our lifelong journey takes a village.  Every piece of our village is important to us.  

If you would like to know more about the Puzzle Fundraiser you can find it on here Facebook.

We love you all so very much!

Aaron & Brie

Letter of Acceptance and Matching Grant!!!!

The last week and a half has been crazy fun and crazy busy and I have had all these different ideas of things to write about in my head but no time to sit and write.  However, today we received incredibly exciting news!

Our Letter of Intent was sent to China I think October 10 *or very near there*, our Dossier was Logged In at the Chinese Consulate on October 30, and Today on December 29 we received our Letter Of Acceptance!  It is so exciting to see an official document from China with our names on it, our son’s name on it and the official Chinese seal all saying that we have been accepted to adopt this little guy. 

This gives us estimated dates of travel for most likely April, possibly March! 

Also, exciting news is that our Matching Grant has been met!  We have had so many generous donors at this time that we have been able to raise a little over $7,000 at this point! (and funds are still coming in!) so with our Matching Grant included that is $9,000.  God is so good and so faithful.  We know that he will provide the $16,000 we still need. 

All of the prayer and support has been so amazing to us!  We have just been floored by the number of incredibly generous friends and family that have stepped up to help us bring home Doron. 

THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!

Matching Grant from Lifesong!

I mentioned in our last post that we have received a matching grant through Lifesong for Orphans for $2000!  This is super exciting, and I am happy to announce that we now also have a donate button on our page.  Over on the Side Bar directly under "About Me"  -------> You can donate to our adoption through Lifesong.  100% of your donation will go directly to us.  Please note though that Paypal charges and administrative fee (2.9%+ $.30 USD) and your donation will be decreased by this amount.

Big News, Big News, and Even Bigger News!!!!

First of all, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our raffle fundraiser, either by buying tickets or making meals!  Your gift means so much to us.

All in all we raised...drum roll please....

$1920!!!!

That's amazing!  

What is also amazing is that we have been approved for a $2000 matching grant through Lifesong for Orphans!  This means that when we raise $2000 by December 31 they will match it! (this does not include the money we have already raised through the raffle) We have also been approved for the Both Hands project!  We will be getting you more information next week on how you can donate to our matching grant or be involved with our Both Hands project.  Such an exciting time for us!!

Also....

In a very short amount of time we have gotten our 797, which is an important piece of paper, and submitted it for all it's things it has to do.  Next step?  DOSSIER TO CHINA!

I'm not sure if that means anything to you, probably not - but it does to us!  Your dossier is your final stack of paperwork that goes to China, from that - they can approve us.

That happened today!!  Today our dossier was sent to China and will probably be logged in by the CCCWA (Chinese welfare system) in 3-4 weeks!  After that we wait 2-4 months (insert sad impatient waiting face here) for our LOA our Letter of Acceptance from the Chinese government, the final piece of paper that officially approves our match -  Why a Letter of Acceptance?  Does it sound like we missed a step???

It does because:

THE MOST EXCITING PART IS.....

We've been matched with a child!  We have a little boy waiting for us in China!  He has a name and an age and we have a picture and everything!  Now that our dossier has been sent to China he will be notified that he has a family, although he's little so he won't know for sure what this means - but we can send him a photo album and cards and even a CD for him to listen to at bedtime and naptime!!

oh be still my heart and make this time fly.

Now, I'm sure you have a lot of questions (most of which I can't answer over the internet), so I'm going to do my best to give you the answers you need to know.

How long now?  Well, we still don't really know.  Most likely between 6-8 months.

Why so long?  There are still a lot of paperwork processes to work with.  Lots of children are waiting to join their families, and we've just jumped in line.

Anything you can tell us about your little boy?  Not much online :)  I won't be sharing pictures of him on here, releasing his name, or anything else personal about him during this time and our post placement period.

Thank you so much for all of your understanding and excitement!  Thank you also for partnering with us in our adoption!  Many of you have expressed your desire to partner with us in this financially, we are so so grateful for you.  For all of you who are praying for us, thank you thank you thank you!  We need so many prayers right now as we navigate paperwork, time, finances, and preparing to bring home our little boy.

Lifesong for Orphans Advocate Blogger and Orphan Sunday

If there is one thing that has changed over this past year and going through this incredible journey to bring home our son, is that my heart for the orphan is only growing.

Out there, in this great big world is a little boy, sleeping alone in a crib tonight, in a room full of cribs he sleeps.  Who will rock him to sleep?  Who will soothe his tears?

I think of my little one often when I hear this song by JJ Heller -

This world is unfortunately full of orphans.  Full of little ones, like mine, that are alone tonight.

I'm going to be honest, I'm a terrible blogger.  You already know that.  I can hardly remember to write, but I've made the decision to partner with Lifesong for Orphans to be an advocate blogger.  One more way I can reach more people to bring awareness to orphans,

You'll notice I've added a new button to the side bar -------->

And every so often you'll get a new blog post from me, sending you to Lifesong's page.

Please, get involved - hear the cry of the fatherless.  Not everyone can adopt, but everyone can do something. (quoted from Orphan Justice)

My first Lifesong advocate blogger post is about Orphan Sunday!  Coming up on November 2, check out this post to see 4 way that you can get involved!

4 Way to Engage in Orphan Sunday

Freezer Full Adoption Fundraiser!

We have officially launched our next Adoption Fundraiser!!  I am super excited about this one because you have the opportunity to win 30 Freezer Meals!  That is an entire month's worth of dinner, already bought, already made  - all you have to do is throw it in the oven or crockpot.

Seriously.

So here it goes...

Raffle Tickets are officially on sale now through myself, my husband, or one of a few wonderful friends who have volunteered to sell tickets too!  If you would like to sell raffle tickets let me know!  The more the better, as we can all reach different people!

All proceeds go towards our adoption!

Tickets are $5/1 or $20/5

Tickets will be on sale through September 25th and the drawing will take place on September 26th!

Unfortunately, because of the nature of this fundraiser, it is restricted to local friends.  :(  But don't worry, we're working on another fundraiser for later that will be nationwide!

Thank you all so much for your support during our adoption process, we can not wait to bring home our little boy!!

The Garage Sale

Our first adoption fundraiser was last Saturday!  We had a garage sale to help raise funds and it was so exciting.  My very good friends spent Wednesday and Thursday at my mother-in-laws house tagging/organizing/sorting all in preparation for Friday afternoon and Saturday.  And my mother-in-law deserves a medal of honor for watching my kids AND my friends' kids all day Wednesday and Thursday!!

There were so many generous friends who donated so much to this sale!  There is no way we would have done so well without all of you!  We had a full garage and full driveway with everything from nearly every size of children's clothing, to toys, to maternity clothes, to housewares, to a huge toolbox and fencing!

It was amazing.  

Everything did not sell :( but we are going to pack everything back up and try again for the spring city-wide!  We might have a baby by then (who knows?) but even if we do, we will still be paying for this adoption, so all the funds will still go towards our adoption fund.