So close!

Feeling great this morning! Finding some balance and trusting that no matter what happens, God has it in control. It is a strange feeling as I tend to like being the one in control! (and it always works better when God is the one in control!) 
Wednesday I spent the morning shopping and then assembling 17 freezer meals! I feel great getting one of my BIG to-do items off my list! We have a few crock pot recipes we enjoy and I tend to make 4 or 5 at a time. This time I expanded to 10 recipes and 17 meals! This will be great when I just don't have the time or energy to cook or shop when we get back! 

Now on to packing!We plan to pack light and only have a carry on and hand bag for our travels. If I can do 10 days for a wedding in Italy with just a carry on, I think 2 weeks in China should be just as ok with minimal packing! It helps that we are adopting an older child and we don't need a lot of baby items. And it will be warm weather while we are there! We will get more luggage in country for Joy and any extra items we may be bringing back. 


Keep the prayers coming! We feel them! We are so blessed by our friends and family who are keeping us covered in prayer! What a wonderful blessing it has been! 

Philippians 2:1-11

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father."

10 days and counting down!!

We have been quite busy the last week finishing up volleyball and soccer seasons for the kids and making lists and gathering items for our trip! Thank you to all who have been sending gifts for Joy off the Amazon registry! It has been a huge blessing and I know that all of it will be greatly appreciated! 
As we get closer to travel and making preparations I am finding myself feeling a little anxious. What if Joy doesn't want to be adopted? (they do have the option to refuse adoption!) What if the communication barrier is too much? What if her grieving is too much? We have read a lot of stories of how these children are told horrible stories about America. We hear stories of how the child was not told of their pending adoption until the morning they meet their new parents! We hear of stories that the child really wants to stay in China, but their care workers tell the adoptive families that they really want to be adopted and it isn't found out till later that they were forced to agree to the adoption. There is so much unknown, so much possibility that we will come home empty handed. 
Although I feel these fears when I think about them, I still have a deep peace about the whole process. I feel deep down that no matter what happens, it will be OK! I have to put my trust in the one who doesn't disappoint. I have to rely on the One who will never let me down. Jesus. Jesus is the one who gives me this peace in my soul. Whatever happens, whatever fears I may have, I can trust Him. 

We are going to contact our agency and request to skype with Joy. We really want to make sure she knows she has a family on their way to her! We want her to have the time to say goodbye to her friends and get their contact info and pictures. We know that this is going to be hard for her. Spending 12 years in her country is a lot of history. She will be leaving friends, family, culture and all that goes with that! 

We want to make it possible for her to continue her language studies and Cultural learning. Her heritage is part of her and we do not want to forget that. Please pray as we narrow down where to send her to continue these studies. There is a cultural center in our state and hope that it can be good for her to keep in touch with her culture and celebrations. 

There is so much on my heart that I still need to work through. We are excited to add to our family and are praying that the transition will be easier than what my fears are orchestrating! Please continue to pray for us as we finalize our travel and finish up the long list of things to complete before we leave! 

Holding on to this verse:

Philippians 4:6
 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Pray - Plan - Pack.... repeat!

The day is finally approaching! We have a date, we have a time frame!! Making last minute travel plans are always so hard. Our flight times are limited, our hotel locations are limited, our in country flight options are few! Ugh! We are trying to get the best rates possible as well as making all the travel arrangements work out time wise. It is hard when the time frame is so rushed!! 
By making plans so last minute it drives up the cost of travel. We are thankful for your prayers and support!

We will be a family of 5 next month and the reality of it is sinking in. We are so excited and can't believe how fast this year has gone by. There is still so much to do before we travel that I don't even know how we are going to get it all done! Two more weeks of coaching volleyball, getting last minute needed supplies, finalizing travel plans, packing, home details, schooling, etc!!! So much to think about! 

Psalm 28:7-9
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

⁸ The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
⁹ Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Even when I have my little "freak out" moments I am always reminded 

 "Pray More, Worry Less"

God has truly shown me throughout this year that I really do need to put all my trust in Him and to not waste time in worry, but to use that time to pray. I've grown a lot this year. I have learned a lot about my limits and my abilities. I've said so many times "This is so far outside my comfort zone!" that I now say, "I don't have a limited comfort zone anymore!" It's all good! Being able to let go and let God has amazing effects! He really does orchestrate all things and even when He is telling me "No" to something, I can trust that there is a bigger picture and that in the end I'm better off. Our family is going to grow and stretch and be new in the next month as we begin this new chapter. We are praying that God will stretch and mold Joy into His child and that she will also share in the salvation that is hers!! 

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!

We got a call from our Agency today!!!! So unexpected! We have our 

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!

Apparently tons of TA's were mailed out just before the holiday! We still will not be able to travel until November as there are no Consulate Appointments until late October, but Trade Fair is going on in the two provinces we will be in and it is crazy expensive to be there at that time. So, it is all in God's timing and we can start planning our travel!!! Yay!! Praise God!! 

Please pray that we can get the right travel dates in order to use our flier miles. Right now, nothing is available for the times we need. We may not be able to use the points we have. All things are possible with God!!! Keep praying!!