Updates (and Zachary!)

I'll start with the good stuff!  We were able to ask for an update with our LID and today we got 3 new pictures of Zachary.  When I saw his face my heart leapt out of my chest...there is no doubt that this is our son and that God is growing a love for him in us before we've even met him.  Not all that different from the love that grew in our hearts for Asher and Laurel while they were still in my tummy.

To be honest, the updated info we got on Zachary was not all positive.  Our caseworker personally called us to let us know that they tried to wean him off one of his seizure medications and he did not respond well.  We have no idea what this means or what happened, but they put him back on it and said he responded positively...again no idea what that means.  He also still can't talk or form any words, though he does try to communicate.  But God must have prepared my heart for the news, because I could only find positives in the update.  He is trying to walk!!  He can take a few steps holding onto things.  And he is getting some physical therapy!  He likes to eat and can feed himself snacks, can understand simple commands when his nannies talk to him, and has a gentle and happy personality.  Praise God!  Love him!!

Seeing his pictures, knowing he is waiting...we are so so motivated to get him home.  Asher and Laurel were excited to see "Zachy" and give his photo kisses.  Oh I long for the day when we

can kiss those sweet cheeks for real!

Thank you for your prayers ❤️

I have more great news to share, but I'll save it for another post on another day.  This is enough to take in for now :)

Advocating with Lifesong

**I've been given the wonderful opportunity to work alongside Lifesong For Orphans to help advocate for orphans and global orphan care.  Keep reading to learn more about this amazing organization and the privilege of child and community sponsorship.**

 "If our effort to love only affects ONE person...it is worth it!" -Ivan Zhykhariev, Ukraine Graduate

Child Sponsorship. It's easy to underestimate the impact sponsorship has on a child. Not only are basic needs (such as food, clothing, shelter) met, but also a sense of belonging is given that money can't buy. Sponsorship speaks "YOU MATTER TO ME." to a child who is longing for love from a family, security and hope for a future.

Giving FAMILY to Evelyn {HONDURAS}

Testimonies like Evelyn's reminds us of the work God is doing to change lives in Honduras. Children who lose their earthly father, learn about their heavenly Father. Children who lose their family can say they have a new family. Children with little hope are taught that they can change their nation!

Currently, Evelyn has not been chosen by a sponsor to help support her Christian education and hopeful future. By sponsoring a child like Evelyn, you can be a part of changing a life, letting a child know they matter by bringing joy and purpose to their lives.

Will you help us find Evelyn a sponsor?

 Learn more about Child Sponsorship at www.lifesongchildsponsorship.org.

Testimony: More than Money {LIBERIA}

Listen in as Carla Cornell, Liberia Child Sponsor shares on sponsorship...

"Meeting Thomas, Sharine and Prince was something we had been picturing for months and to finally feel those arms around us was a priceless, God-given moment. It was then we realized that sponsoring a child can be so much more than just sending money.

It can be an opportunity to open our hearts and share the love we so often take for granted with a child who needs it desperately. A child who may never have the same blessings and opportunities that most of us enjoy but with our help, they can have hope and they can know Jesus loves them and has not forgotten them. And we can be blessed beyond measure to be a tiny part of God's plan for them."

Read her full testimony>>

#31kids31days

This month, Help us find 31 sponsors in 31 days! Each day, we feature a child that does not yet have a sponsor. Will you join us in advocating on their behalf?

Meet a few of our kids waiting for sponsorship....

Yididiya, 11 years old, Ethiopia	Momo, 8 years old, Liberia
Samuel, 12 years old, Zambia	Antonina, 12 years old, Ukraine

See all featured kids for the #31kids31days Campaign at lifesongfororphans.org/31kids31days 

Ni Hao

I'm sitting here on Sunday night listening from the other room as my husband chops vegetables for our Sunday Chili.  It's a tradition...nearly every Sunday for 8 years we've made chili and had a date night at home.  Josh has the recipe perfected- it is his shining moment in the kitchen each week.  After the kids are in bed we curl up on the couch with a bowl of deliciousness and talk.  Back when we had our tv we'd sometimes watch movies, but now we mostly talk and it is so nice to have this to look forward to every week.

Right now I can hear the meat sizzling to the sounds of "Ni Hao" and "Putong qua"...Josh is practicing Mandarin as he cooks.  It is simultaneously sweet and silly, the strange sounds coming from the kitchen.  He makes me smile.

A week ago Josh ran out to pick up some take out Chinese to celebrate getting our LID- the start of our official long wait to hear that Zachary is ours.  He burst into the house practically beaming- he was so excited!  "Rene, they speak Mandarin!" he told me enthusiastically..."I actually spoke with the lady at the front...she smiled and told me I spoke good!"  His Mandarin was intelligible and brought a smile to the face of the normally stoic lady who runs our favorite Chinese restaurant.  It felt like a huge victory and we just laughed at the craziness of it all!  We have a Chinese son waiting for us...in China.  And we're trying to learn one of the most incredibly difficult languages.  My sometimes reserved husband is eager to speak it with strangers because he is already so in love Zachary and just wants to be able to communicate with him when we meet him.  Who would have thought we'd be here!

Asher and Laurel are using the mandarin words for thank you and excuse me as often as the English ones.  And the other night Asher and I stayed up late because he was determined to learn how to say, "I am your brother" in Mandarin for when he meets Zachary for the first time.

Two cultures are colliding and it couldn't be more beautiful.  Adoption is already stretching us and growing us, so much to learn and be thankful for.

Log in Date

China has officially received our dossier and we are logged in!  Today starts day 1 of our wait for LOA.  Here we go!  

A Different Mother's Day

To my sweet Mom- the woman who gave birth to me, sacrificed often, loves extravagantly, and is always there for me no matter what.  God gave me the best when he made you my Mom...I love you!

To Josh's Mom and step Mom- the lovely women who helped mold my husband into such a wonderful man, who have become true second mothers to me...I honor you!

To my Asher & Laurel- the little precious gifts who made me "Mommy" 4.5 and almost 2 years ago, who wake me each morning with squeals and smiles on their faces, and fill my life with love and joy...I adore you forever and always!

To Zachary- my son halfway across the world, who already owns a piece of my heart, whom I love with a ferocity and protectiveness that makes me willing to move mountains to hold him in my arms...Mama is coming!

To his Chinese Mother- for your courage to choose life for your son, to want the best for his future, for the sacrifice and loss you surely feel even today so that he might have the chance to live...thank you.  

What a privilege to be a Mom...and to see how a mother's love stretches past all boundaries and just does.  It does the fun things and the hard things...because that is what love is all about.

This year feels a little different.  Obviously the depth of love and gratitude I feel for my biological kids is pretty much indescribable.  They are incredible little people.  But this year, "a child born to another woman will call me mommy.  the magnitude of that tragedy & the depth of that privilege are not lost on me". It's not lost on me...the women who came before me, the absolute miracle of motherhood.  What a complete honor and gift to be called "mommy".

Happy Mother's Day!!! 

DTC!!

Well, today is the day!  We are officially DTC (dossier to China) and that is something to celebrate.  This is the big milestone that we have been working so hard towards these past 4-5 months.  Six months since we saw his face.  Four months since we officially requested to adopt him.  Hours and hours of paperwork, essays, documents, notarizations, education requirements, physicals, and interviews.  We have been approved, certified, and authenticated by the USA and now we have officially sent everything to China so that they can review and basically give us permission to come and get Zachary.

Look at those pretty little seals from the Chinese Consulate and State offices...can't believe we've made it this far.  Incredible.

We already have PA (preliminary approval) so we know that China is essentially promising that we will be approved to adopt Zachary providing that all the right documents on the US side are sent to them.  We were given 6 months to get these things to China (our dossier) and now here we are 2 months ahead of schedule!  We were told to have everything in by July 3rd, and today we are DTC, so that is thrilling.

God did it!  We made our deadline with room to spare and are that much closer to meeting our beautiful boy.

I don't know if I can express how much effort, energy, love, stress, and anticipation has gone into this moment.  I know I can't express how much we've seen God move in this process...it has been humbling.  Now we wait.  We wait (probably 3 months or so) for China to send our official letter of approval to adopt Zachary (LOA).  Once the LOA comes we go into a frenzy to get everything ready to travel.  Probably three months after the LOA we will be in China meeting our precious son for the first time.

So, thank you for all the support and prayers that have brought us to this point.  We are over half way there!  Please pray that our LOA would arrive quickly, some people wait 20 days and some people wait over 120 days (the average is 70 right now so we're hoping for sometime in July).  Pray that the government officials have no questions or issues with our dossier and that we are approved.  And most importantly, please, please pray for Zachary.  We hope that he is in good health, that he is being loved on, and that God would prepare his heart to meet us.

Yard Sale - Adoption Fundraiser!

Calling all hoarders, pack rats, or people who just have stuff they've been wanting to get rid of....

We need your help!!  

Our family is planning a big yard sale for Saturday May 31st and all proceeds are going to go to bring Zachary home.  We are asking for anyone and everyone to donate any stuff that you might not need or are wishing to give away.  Ice cub tray?  We'll take it!  King size bed?  We'll take it!  Clothes, shoes, electronics, toys, knickknacks, furniture, blankets, tools, exercise equipment, old stuff, new stuff, used stuff, silly stuff, we'll take it!  We will take anything, big or small, and trust that if the Lord wants to sell it then it will get sold!  We will be happy to come pick up and haul whatever you have, or you are welcome to drop things off at our house or the church.  The bigger the yard sale, the more potential for success!

We could also use help with:

• setting up the yard sale (transporting tables/large items, labeling prices)
• possibly running a snack concessions table
• making signs to advertise
• cleaning up

Please let me, Josh or our families know if you want to help or have something to donate.  If you'd be willing, as the date gets closer, to talk up our yard sale, Facebook, tweet, tell your friends and coworkers...that would be awesome.  Thank you!  The location is still to be determined...we are trying to decide if having it at our home vs. another location would be best.

Josh and I have been praying about this and are so excited about the opportunity to not only raise funds for Zachary, but to also reach out to our community about adoption.  We are hoping to print out fliers to give to everyone who comes by that explain the gospel, our adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, and how this has motivated us to love orphans and pursue Zachary.  Will you pray for us?  Not only that we would have success in selling things and reaching our financial goals, but that peoples' hearts would be open to hear about Jesus and also to learn more about adoption.

We have some big, big payments due next and we are hoping this yard sale will put a dent in the total we'll need in the near future.  Once we get our LOA from china (3-4 months) things will start to move quickly.

We are excited and will have more to say about this yard sale as it gets closer.  If you'd like to help, just contact us.  God is so good to give us family and friends who already care about and love Zachary.  We think about how our son is not just gaining a Mom and Dad, but he is getting grandparents, aunt and uncles, cousins, church brothers and sisters in Christ and so much more.  He is truly gaining a family.   Lots of love to you all!

ps. here's a puzzle update- our hope is to finish it before we get our LOA, lots of pieces left!
We are almost halfway to our goal with $960 raised, wow, thank you! We've still got many puzzle pieces left, as some people have given more than $10 per piece.  We're going to put names on the puzzle pieces for any amount donated...to our funding page or stuff given or donated to our yard sale, it all goes to help bring Zachary home.  Can't wait to see it finished!