Proverbs 3:5-6

One of the biggest issues families have with adoption (domestic or international) is money. They hear or see how much it costs and quickly drop the idea. Adoption is expensive-very. Ours will cost approximately $25,000 (give or take) when it is all said and done. I have wished many times we had that sitting in the bank. Some families are blessed with that opportunity and that's amazing- others aren't. I don't feel money should stand in the way of a family opening themselves up to grow through adoption. To me, it doesn't matter if it is your first child or your sixth, if God has led you to take this journey- He will certainly provide all the means to do so. While there are many times I've complained that it would be so much easier to write the check and not have to wait a few weeks until the money came in, there have also been such a huge blessings that come as a result of the waiting.  Without the need to rely on God and Him working through others, we would have missed SO many of the amazing testimonies God has placed before us. This isn't to say that no fundraising = no blessings! It's just a different perspective and we have chosen to find joy in the journey we are in, regardless of it being frustrating sometimes. When Jesiah comes home, so many people know they personally took responsibility for helping him come home. I'm so grateful. Please know that. We have been so blessed with encouragement, physical help, emotional and spiritual support, and friendships halfway across the country that have all pitched in, selflessly to do whatever they can. I continue to be humbled and rest in the fact that God will continue to provide.

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 

                            James 1:27

  

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

He's Getting So Big!

We were blessed immensely with new pictures and an update of Jesiah a few days ago. I'm sorry it's taken me a few days to post them!  We found out Jesiah's foster brother is being adopted into the United States as well which is extremely valuable information. We are praying that God opens the doors so that we might be able to find his adoptive parents and maintain contact with them.  It is so exciting to be getting closer and closer to being able to hold him in our arms and take care of him. We are waiting on our "Article 5" which is just another approval in a long process of approvals. We should have that in a week or two and then, hopefully our travel approval will follow shortly. We are still holding out for the end of November but it may be the beginning of December before we go. Either way- we are coming shortly Jesiah!!

He definitely looks like he fits into our family well (especially those of you that know Eli and his passion for sports! :). Thank you for your continued love and support. We'd love prayers, in the upcoming weeks, specifically for:  our "homegrown" kiddos as we prepare to leave and while we are gone, Jesiah and his preparation to meet us, his loving foster family and their transition as he leaves them and travels to the orphanage before we arrive, his foster brother and his adoptive parents that they may be blessed, continued financial blessings as we near travel and still have a ways to go.

Side note: Our house situation has been resolved in part and things will be okay. Thank you for your prayers. God is good and merciful. He REALLY DOES MOVE MOUNTAINS!!