When THANK YOU Doesn't Seem To Be Enough

After several months of chasing paperwork, we've had a chance to catch our breath and review what the last several months have required of us, emotionally, financially and spiritually. 

Emotionally, it's been a roller coaster of ups and downs.  Overwhelming excitement prevailed at times, when we didn't think we could wait another day to finally see the face of the daughter we would call our own.  At times, we just felt like robots, only going through the motions of what was asked of us.  Then there were times where we were fearful and stressed. Could we really do this?

While reviewing the financial side, I was overwhelmed with gratitude as I realized how much we've been blessed by YOU, our friends and family.  Since beginning this process in April of 2012, we've paid out $12, 940 in adoption related expenses.  If you looked at our personal bank account, you would immediately notice, that we didn't have anywhere near that amount of money "saved" for this adventure.  In fact, when we submitted to what we felt God was asking of us, we didn't have any savings set aside, ear-marked, specifically for this adoption. 

So, how did we manage to be able to pay nearly thirteen-thousand dollars, in the last 9 months.  Well, I was wondering that too.  We've done an adequate job of keeping records of receipts and expenses and this is what we noticed:

DONATIONS: To date, we have received almost $3000 in cash donations from friends and family. Time after time, we found a check in the mailbox or someone would hand us an envelope in passing. We've saved every note or letter and intend to make them part of her Lifebook.

 

James 2:14-17  "What good is it my brothers if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself without works, is dead."

    

FUNDRAISERS: Thanks to the help of friends and families, $1000 has been raised so far. This has been done through a garage sale, our ongoing Just Love Coffee and Amazon links and a Tupperware sale.

 

PERSONAL SAVINGS:  As I said before, we did not have a savings account set aside with hundreds or thousands of dollars. God has shown up time after time, just in time, to provide exactly we've needed. Some of this came from income tax returns, some from a company stock owed to us from a previous employer, some even came from an overpayment to a chiropractor from two years ago.  God continues to work in ways beyond our comprehension.

 

Phillipians 4:19-20 "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen."

 



We continue to be shaped spiritually by the testing of our faith and trust in a God who is more than deserving of all our worship and praise. 

For now, all of our expenses are paid!  We are now saving for the next big fee - our international agency fee, which will be due when we accept a referral.  We have two grant applications waiting to be approved.  One of those applications is scheduled to be reviewed in March, the other in April.  We are trusting God that He will provide through those as He desires. 

Thank you for being a important part in changing the life of one little girl, half a world way.  Because of your love for our family, she will one day know the love of a Forever family! 

Thank you, just doesn't seem enough.

And the WAITING begins

 

 

 

For the first time since we started the adoption process in April of 2012, we have nothing to do but WAIT!  

Psalms 130:5a  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope;

 

After 129 days, our dossier is finally complete, copied in triplicate and mailed.  Whew! 

So what do we do from here?  We WAIT!

Psalms 25:21  May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

 

Bulgaria has to translate our documents before we are officially logged in with their Ministry of Justice. We've been told this should take 3-4 weeks.  So we WAIT!

Isaiah 33:2  O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.

 

Once we have an official log-in, it is up to their in-country system to match us with a little girl who falls within the age and special needs parameters we outlined in our home study.  Knowing that our agency has to give us the "worst case scenario" on our wait time, we've been told this "could" take up to 18-24 months.  Until then, we  WAIT!

Habakkuk 2:3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

 

Somewhere, on the other side of the world, in an orphanage in Bulgaria, a little girl also WAITS. She WAITS for the love of a mom and a dad. She WAITS for the day when she will no longer have to wonder if she will have another meal.  She WAITS for a time when someone who loves her will wipe away her tears when she cries and laugh with her when she's happy. She WAITS for the necessary medical attention she desperately needs. She WAITS for her forever family.  She WAITS to be introduced to a Heavenly Father who loves her infinitely more than we could imagine. She WAITS!

Isaiah 25:9  It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”