Are the mountains starting to move?

God may have started moving our biggest mountain yesterday morning. A dear friend of mine, Dan Dubell, President of International Care, Inc. (I CARE) called me yesterday morning and offered to set up an adoption fund at I CARE where people can make tax-deductable donations to assist with Hannah and Sara’s adoptions. Dan specifically asked if I could get the word out that he was doing this. Since this is something that was initiated by Dan and not by me, I believe it is God working in the situation and as such I feel obligated to share the information.

If God leads you to send money to I CARE for Hannah and Sara’s adoption, your donation will remain anonymous to us unless you explicitly let I CARE know you would like for us to know where the love gift came from. You will need to identify in the memo field of the check or in a separate note that the love gift is for Hannah and Sara’s adoption fund. The address for I CARE is below.

International Care, Inc.
P.O. Box 1603
Bel Air, MD 21014

I wish I could share with you specifically what we need, but God still will not allow me to do that. Therefore, you will have to pray and ask God to show you what you need to know.

Blessings be to God!

Ben

Ok--So We Really Have Been Doing School at Home!

I know.  I Know.  Another Mother of the Year Trophy for my mantle. 

I failed to capture our first day of school for Zach and Leighanne in pictures.

I could make all kinds of excuses . . .

The dog ate the camera!

We were so busy being perfect that--nope--no one would even believe that!

We were enjoying ourselves so much that time got away!

Really--it was such an insane day that I just didn't get to it.

But it really did happen--we began Georgia Cyber Academy on August 15th with Zach and Leighanne.

Zach began his 9th grade year and Leighanne began 4th.

We are still making adjustments, and no, it has not been perfect, but we are beginning to feel a little more at ease. 

Zach  has 5 teachers and attends classes online.  He loves the independence of working on his on. (We will see how that continues.)

I am having to tweak Leighanne's schooling.  The GCA program for her is not flexible enough for how I will need to meet the needs for all three girls when we return from China.

So we are making plans over the weekend to gear up for Round #2.  But hey--that's the beauty of home schooling-- You get to make the choices you need to make.

We took our first field trip for 1/2 day on Friday--Bowling at the StrikeZone with other GCA Families. 

Our days have been filled with schoolwork, but there is the blessing that when we are finished there is no homework.  Love that!

So--maybe there wasn't a 1st Day of School Picture--But who's to say the 7th Day of School isn't just as good?

Check them out . . .

God knows how to encourage us where we need it most.....

Here is the song that was playing as I was on the way to work this morning....

Ben

Not a Single Word!

Through this journey one of the things that I have learned is that we can convince ourselves that we hear what we want God to tell us – and it is really easy to do. We are expecting our TA (Travel Authorization) literally any day now and once we get TA things have to happen very fast…. and there are still mountains in the way of those things happening. I convinced myself that now was the time for us to share what those mountains are. Between Sunday School and Corporate Worship yesterday morning I prayed and asked God to show me clearly whether I was right. What I heard and what Julie heard in the sermon were two completely different things. The 3rd point of the sermon was all about taking action and from that I concluded that God was telling me it was time for me to take action (and therefore share our needs and do everything I could within my own power to meet them). However, one thing I have learned a long time ago is that unless we both agree on something that is important we don’t change direction and our last direction was to keep quiet and watch God work. As we went to bed, I was still uneasy about what we should do. We prayed together, asking God to show both of us clearly what specific action He wanted us to take. As I prayed, He answered my prayer….. I was praying an example of where God gave the Israelites specific instructions. I said, “God, you gave Israel specific instructions on how to take Jericho and we need specific instructions just like you gave them. You told the Israelites to march around the city and not ……..” I couldn’t finish my sentence because I was speechless in the presence of God. The verse actually says, "Do not shout; do not even talk," Joshua commanded. "Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout (emphasis mine). Then shout!" (Jos 6:10 NLT)

One day, when this is over and Sara and Hannah are safely in their new family we will get to shout to the world what God has done for us to make this possible. In the mean time, we are clay and we are in the Potter’s hands and sometimes being molded into what God wants us to be hurts, but I will take those pains any day in order to become what God wants me to be!

Ben

A Quote and a Song for Today

"Don't give up hope. Whatever it is your praying about...whoever it is that your praying for...don't give up hope. Don't think your prayers aren't going to be answered. Your prayers can be answered. Your God hears your prayers and He can perform miracles and He still does today! I beg you, don't give up."

-Beth Moore

This was a quote my friend Angie posted this last week.  Angie has a new speaking ministry.  If you want to learn about this sweet lady of faith you may go to her blog here.  She has walked a tough road of faith.  I am proud to call her a friend.

THEN--- I came across this video.

All I can say is --get the tissue, I was crying a few.

Bring our girls home from China, Lord--Bring them Home!

Julie

Preparing for Our Trip to China

Well--it looks like it will be sooner than later that we will travel.  :)

Our Article 5 is being picked up tomorrow and then we will be waiting for our travel approval.  YAY!!!!!

So now I know why I have been feeling that urge to buy, wash and dry clothes for Sara and Hannah.

Here's a few things we have been doing to get ready . . .



Purchased Sara's clothes




5 pair of pants




3 polo type shirts




5 pajama pants and cami's (yes--I love pajama pants)




10 short sleeve shirts





3 long sleeve shirts and a sweater

 In addition to these items today I finished her list with a bathing suit, undies, and a couple of pair of shorts.  Buying for Sara was a big challenge for me.  I don't have any clue what she likes, and I am having to go on measurements to figure out sizes.  I'm sure some of my purchases will cause much humor in China, but we just might need a moment to laugh.  

Great story about the purchases.  I was in Walmart looking for a cami for me, when one of the workers says to me, "Do you need any shirts because I'm getting ready to mark this whole shelf down to $1.00.  YES!  I bought her 5 shirts for $5.00.  Can you believe it?
God IS in the details!  He cares about the LITTLE and the BIG . To the best of my knowledge  I spent around $125 so far for all of Sara's clothes.  God is all over this!

We've only have a few more things to do to complete Sara's room.
Then it'll be ready for her.


Her room is almost decorated.



Needs to be hung on the wall behind the bed

And Yes--the suitcases are ready to begin packing

Can you say Organized Chore Chart in Pictures?

Getting ready for Non-English speaking girlies. 
Pictures are going up around the house.

Who's turn to wash the dishes?--Check it out!

If anyone has any other ideas to help transition our girls --we would greatly appreciate ideas.

Thanks to Jackie in Tennessee--I have the Mp3 players ready to load with christian music for the trip.

Thanks to Joli in Georgia--Every child now has their own cup color.

Anymore ideas?

Watching and Waiting!

"For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:6

Waiting seems to be a norm for us right now.  But I am waiting in a "good" way right now--not anxious--but with GREAT ANTICIPATION! 

 I literally CAN. NOT. WAIT. to SEE. HOW. GOD is going to WORK in our girls lives.

I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to TELL them about an AWESOME GOD who created them, made plans for their lives, who orchestrated a series of events, in just the right time, and made a way for them to learn about HIM. 

I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to TELL them about this FAITH JOURNEY that brought them to our house.

I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to give them a hug and say, "Wo shi ni de ma ma."  (I am your mama.)

I CAN. NOT. WAIT.  and I say this with Much Joy and A Few Happy Tears!

Julie