Finished Puzzle

Our finished puzzle has been sitting on a desk for months as I "looked for a frame"(bemoaned the fact that I couldn't find the right frame that would show both sides of an awkwardly shaped puzzle while in reality I was so consumed with every other part of this adoption process that I had no time or energy to actually look for one).

But alas, the paperwork is done.  All we have to do is get the house immaculate, survive preschool sickness overload, search and pay for the perfect international flight, pack a million items to support 2 adults, 1 child, and multiple orphanages, and somehow remain calm.

So I was able to search for the perfect frame and lo and behold,  I found what I was looking for at Jo Anne's for under $10 with a coupon.  Win!

Thank you to everyone who donated a puzzle piece, gave items for the yardsale, or donated funds to our yardsale.  All the yellow stars are for people who donated anonymously or paid for more puzzle pieces than people they indicated in their family.

This puzzle represents family, friends, and strangers. 

Thank you.

It's going up in Asher and Zachary's bedroom.  In just a few shorts weeks our new son will be sleeping in there too ❤️.

Praise God!

It is Well

Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard

Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well

Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
It is well with me

Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can’t see
And this mountain that’s in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name 

It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul

TA!!

We got TA yesterday and a confirmed consulate appt- we'll be leaving in a few weeks for China!

So excited!  Thank you Lord for bringing us this far!

Please pray that we can find the right flight- there are not a lot of options since it is so close and we're traveling during an international trade fair.

Also, our family has been sick non stop for the past month.  These last 2 weeks have been rough. It is one thing after another and we are just getting tired of it. Please pray for for our health and that we all would get back to normal and be 100% healthy as we head to China.

Can't wait to hop on that plane and meet Zachary!

Call Me!

I never made it to either of my due dates.  Asher was born 6 weeks early and Laurel came 3 weeks early after nearly two months of bed rest.

I remember the surprise of learning I was in labor with Asher, way too early.

I remember the feeling of laying in bed for weeks, praying that I could keep Laurel safe inside for another day.

Each situation that brought our children into the world had its own mixture of anxiety and anticipation.  Which is exactly where I find myself right now.

Waiting.  With anxiety and anticipation.  Knowing that the call could come at any moment that will set the rest of our lives into motion.

It is so hard to wait!  I feel like I'm on pins and needles, jumping every time the phone rings and it is not the call.  Ugh.  I'm checking my emails a hundred times a day.  Feeling a little insane over here, lol.

A watched phone never rings.

But please phone, please ring soon and tell us when we can come get Zachary.  

All Approved

Our Article 5 was picked up in China today.  The final stamp of approval has been given to indicate that all of our adoption paperwork and all of Zachary's paperwork is in order.

We are officially waiting for THE CALL.

The last batch of travel approvals took about 2 weeks- so in 14 days we should get the official invitation to come to China and get Zachary!

We are hoping to travel in exactly one month.  That is the first available travel date due to a super long National Chinese holiday coming up right as we anticipate getting travel approval.

The reality that we are so close fills me with a mixture of elation and anxiety.  Please pray for us- so much is about to happen- and soon.

We'll let you know when the call comes :)

Sliding into Fall

We love this time of year at our house.

The air starts to get that little bit of crispness, football occupies Saturdays, preschool begins and the kids start talking about Halloween costumes, pumpkin patches, and getting the Christmas tree.  
We just love all the holiday traditions and the fall season.  This year we hope to introduce Zachary to many family favorites!

Our article 5 is scheduled to be picked up the second week of September.  Because of Labor Day and a Chinese Holiday, our article 5 process will take almost 3 weeks instead of 14 days.  That is truly a bummer, but it is what it is.  

So, the second week of Sept. we will officially be waiting for travel approval.  THE CALL has been taking about 8-16 days right now for waiting families, so we should truly know in 2-3 weeks when we'll be leaving for China!

We are so so so excited.  It's all we are talking about.  Josh and I have nightly discussions about how best to pack our luggage, what we need to bring, and how to prepare for various scenarios.

We know all the flights into every major chinese airport and their arrival times and costs.

We are ready to go get our son.

Despite the holidays, there is still a good chance we will be going in mid October.  Things are getting booked up, so we'll wait and see what is available.  Please keep praying!  Truly want to be home before November, but we trust God's timing and rest in the fact that he knows exactly how it will all play out.

Abba

"Oh, to know God as Father…what a privilege! Just let it soak in for a minute. God. Your Father. Let this thought, this reality, this pleasure prompt and control you! And to know that this is possible because He has adopted you. Christian, He planned to adopt you, He pursued after you, and He has paid the price for you to become His child." - David Platt