So it's been awhile... ok, it's been over half of a year since our last blog. It's been exactly 5 days of garage sales, craigslist and Joplin give and take, bunches of plaques and Apparent Project bracelets sold and one amazing bunco party fundraiser. It's been coming in from the mailbox or home from a friends house to find an envelope overflowing with love for the little girl God is bringing into our family. It's been family members quietly, humbly and generously giving. It's been our church family cleaning out their garages to stock the garage sales and some fiercely supportive friends and family helping to pull them off! It's been good tears and stupors of gratitude. We are on track to have completed the financial goals of the adoption by February of 2015, to the Glory of God! It has surely been an adventure of love and we are so thankful for those who have chosen to join us on the journey. Your love and efforts have made this adventure far sweeter and farther reaching than we knew possible. What a joy to know our daughter is coming home to love such as this.
These past few months have been just plain tricky to get down on paper! We had the opportunity in August to submit a request to adopt a specific little girl who was born in Haiti on February 5th, 2014. August was the last month that Haiti accepted referrals made by agencies for the matching of children with waiting families. We are very thankful that just 3 days before the deadline for agency referrals, this sweet child was brought to our attention and we were able to submit a letter stating our intent to adopt her. As of now we are told that Haiti plans to honor all referrals made prior to September 1st, 2014 and so we are growing in confidence that she is the one! We have been told that this part of the journey can last 8 to 16 months. We are waiting to hear from the matching authority in Haiti. They will complete our child's dossier, match it with ours, and then invite us to travel for a 15 day socialization trip at the orphanage. These requirements must be completed before she is officially our daughter. We will return home from the socialization trip without our sweet girl; leaning more heavily than ever on the Lord to provide patience and peace as we wait to return and bring her home for good (to some very loving and expectant big brothers)!
So in the waiting, we thankfully take the joy that is set before us. We remember this precious Christmas season that the true Light , which gives light to everyone, came into the world so that all who would receive Him, believing in His name would have the right to become the children of God. (John Ch.1). Thank you Jesus for the gift you gave us- to be sons and daughters of God when we were powerless to be a part of His family. And thank you Lord for pursuing us when we needed you most!
