Happy Birthday Dear Boaz!

Hi friends. It's been a few weeks since I've posted and it's time for an update. First of all, check out that fundraising thermometer over on the right hand side. We are so close to being fully funded, y'all. It's incredible. We have had some extremely generous and unexpected donations come in and we couldn't be more thankful. I may do a post on how draining the prospect of fundraising after three failed adoptions is later, but for now please just know how precious you are to us when you show us so much love. We are humbled and honored and thankful to know you. And our Jamberry party raised $187! Thanks again to sweet Jane, who is donating all of her commission from what was sold. You are a blessing!

In adoption progress news, we had all three home study visits with our social worker in the past couple of weeks. It is such a good feeling to have that checked off of the list and we will move on to the next step as soon as the papers are in our hands. I know I posted about it on Facebook, but seriously-if anyone is intimidated by the thought of going through the scrutinizing aspect of the adoption process but you want to adopt, please know this. During a home visit one of our children came waltzing past the kitchen table sans clothes because he said his energy was draining and he needed to soak his feet in water. There were a couple of other similarly embarrassing hilarious things as well. And our social worker didn't bat an eye. Evidently this isn't her first rodeo and it ain't ours either. It was pretty comical. So do not let the red tape part of bringing a child home keep you from going for it. There is no such thing as a perfect home with perfect parents and brothers and sisters. It just doesn't exist. Thankfully perfection is not required to be able to adopt-only willing hearts. Grace abounds. Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions-we are far from experts, but I would love to put your mind at ease if I can. 

And here's the really fun stuff. Little Boaz is turning one on Saturday! Lord willing, this will be his only birthday spent without a family. We cannot WAIT to get our hands on that little man. And what a precious little man he is. We got an updated report from our agency along with some new pictures- which are like solid gold to a waiting family. Feast your eyes:

I know, I know-it's not fair that we are getting the cutest boy in China-but we are. I mean-what a little lover! That tongue...those fingers...those little touching feet...the little man haircut...the overstuffed and probably really sweaty little getup...Gah! Happy Birthday, little Bo-you are so loved and so celebrated and we are praying you home!!

Jamberry Fundraiser!

It's been a crazy week! We just got back from Aaron's sister's beautiful wedding where she was a gorgeous bride. We are so happy for her and her new husband. And now that we've had a second to catch our breath, we are starting our first official fundraiser for little Boaz! 

I've known Jane since I was little. We're talking the 1980's. My sister and I were in her wedding. She was in my dad's youth group. And her mom married my uncle, which makes us cousins by marriage. She's a precious life long friend and has chosen to bless us by giving us her commission from a Jamberry party she is hosting! I'm so pumped and even more thankful!! If you don't know what Jamberry is, here's some information for you. They're awesome nail wraps that last for weeks - no harsh chemicals, chipped polish, trips to the salon, or damage to your natural nail. These are not polish strips or fake nails. They are high quality, latex-free, non-toxic heat sealed wraps you apply to your nails of any length. One sheet gives you 2-4 manis and 2 pedis, and last for 10-14 days. Because this party is all online, you can shop in your jammies! Over 300 styles so there's something for everyone! There are so many cute designs. This video shows you how to apply them. And if you're on Facebook, you can join the party here. Even if you're not sure if you want to purchase anything, join the group and there will be some fun giveaways. The Jamberry party ends May 12.

Thanks for your support!

Such a good Friday.

Today is good Friday. I woke up this morning pondering the fact that I killed Jesus and because of His scandalous grace He loves me anyway. It is truly a miracle and one I will never understand but will forever inherit the rewards.

Then I logged onto Facebook and witnessed a miracle that happened on the other side of the world on this good Friday. Aaron and I have met many precious people throughout our adoption of Vitaliy. One couple that has stood by us in prayer and the deepest understanding and empathy are Brad and Jonana. She has become one of my dearest friends. In a culture where children with special needs such as Down syndrome are often aborted before they take their first breath, Brad and Jonana shared the heart of Jesus and saw His image in a petite, breathtakingly beautiful, gentle and loving little girl they named "Haley." They understood that to Her creator, she has infinite worth. Even though they had no idea the unimaginable heartache that was in store for them and their two children at home, they were obedient. God gave them the faith to chase after her, so they did. They traveled one week after we did to go meet their little girl for the first time in October 2012. They had been working through the red tape of Russian adoption for years to get to that point. And then God blessed them with the privilege of meeting their sweet girl-and they all fell in love. Here's one of the first pictures they took holding the daughter of their hearts:

She and Vitaliy are from the same region. We stayed in close contact while they were in country and celebrated with them that they had found their newest daughter. We waited with them in anticipation for our court dates, which were likely going to fall within a week of each other. We received our court dates. And then the ban came. And we were confused. And drained. And crushed. And horrified.

Aaron and I went to court in Moscow in January 2013, where the judge ended up dropping our case due to the ban. Brad and Jonana did not go to their court date because they knew their case would be dropped as well. I went back to Moscow alone in May 2013 to appeal our case before three judges this time around, and our case remained dropped. I sat alone in the hallway outside the courtroom, surrounded by people quietly chatting with their attorneys in Russian all around me. And longed for my boy who I knew was just out of my reach a handful of miles away and wondered why this was turning out to be so hard. Someone from the court came out and started calling names of people who were scheduled for that day. It was then that I heard a few familiar names that made me smile-Brad and Jonana being two of them. They were back home in America praying for me and for our case with hope in their hearts for what may be for Vitaliy and Haley. I came home and we remained in close contact, grieving and hoping together. Our families prayed for each other's Russians and they prayed for our newest boys we thought we would be bringing home. They were a HUGE support for us, providing us with so much hope and lifting us up and being real, live answered prayers in the flesh.

I won't leave you in suspense anymore. This morning in Russia, Haley went home to be with her loving, beautiful, huge-hearted, brave, precious Russian family. Brad and Jonana have cried out to God for Him to be merciful to their sweet girl and He has shown Himself faithful by providing a family for her. The Lord has rescued her from the institution where she would have likely lived out her life if it weren't for this family. She is the only known child with Down syndrome who was caught in the ban who has been adopted by a Russian family. It is really, truly a miracle. She is no longer forsaken on this earth, but is a beloved daughter with a mama and papa. Right now she is probably sleeping in her very own bed in her very own house, likely the first time she's ever even been in a house. Can you imagine what that must be like for her? She went to bed Thursday night thinking that the cold institution where she laid her head was home-having no idea what was in store for her the next day on Good Friday. What a glimpse of the gospel, friends. Let's not get too comfortable in this orphanage earth we live in when we have an unimaginable eternity in store for us that is our true home if we are God's blood-bought and ransomed children.

I have to repent-I did not have the faith to believe Vitaliy could be adopted by a Russian family. I have prayed for it and I have hoped that it may be true but in my unbelieving heart I didn't know if it were possible because in my finite mind I don't have a full picture of how big God is. How foolish. Forgive me, Lord. And praise Him that He writes the best stories that involve his doing immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. Vitaliy may not be adopted by a Russian family but by seeing what has happened with Haley I have been given new hope that it is true-ANYTHING is possible with God. And He has plans for every single orphan caught in the Russian adoption ban whose American families have been grieving the loss of their living child and running to the throne of grace on their behalf. He is so good and so worthy of our praise. Please pray for Brad and Jonana as they navigate through this overwhelming and glorious news and for Haley and her new family as they gently guide her through learning how to be a beloved daughter. Here is a video (in Russian) of sweet "Haley" being plucked out of that orphanage:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xWXPaNSJuAM

And here are some pictures (shared with permission) of her basking in the love of her new mama and being set free:

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

    to proclaim freedom for the captives

    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

    and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

    instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

    instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord

    for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

    and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

    that have been devastated for generations.

5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;

    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,

    you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

    and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame

    you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace

    you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,

    and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;

    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

In my faithfulness I will reward my people

    and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations

    and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge

    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;

    my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up

    and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness

    and praise spring up before all nations.

-Isaiah 61

Thankful.

Y'all. I'm just blown away. When we were fundraising for Moses' adoption I remember praying that the Lord would provide a big chunk of what was needed and overnight Moses' adoption account went up over $8,000. I prayed the same prayer last night, but this time for our newest adoption-and this afternoon when I checked "Charley"'s adoption account, it had gone up over $5,000!!!!!!! Both donations were made by anonymous donors and they had no way of knowing they were answering a very specific prayer by giving so radically. To say we are thankful for their obedience to the Lord would be a huge understatement. I just can't get over how good our God is and how He uses faithful people to answer prayers.

Speaking of fundraising, since we never received a court date for our Ugandan adoption, we were not able to utilize any of the money we had raised to bring Moses home. So we started this new adoption with over $12,000 in the account from what had been so graciously given for him. If you were any part of helping us raise that money, we can't thank you enough. You blessed us for one adoption and now are blessing us in another. What a gift! As we looked at our finances for this adoption, we realized we need to raise about $10,000 so that is our goal. Well, I'm ecstatic to say we are over half way to the goal. We still need to raise $4,705.14 and are brain storming some ideas. A very dear old friend contacted me and has so graciously offered to do a Jamberry nails fundraiser for us, so be on the lookout for that coming soon! And if you want to keep up with how much has been raised, there is a little thermometer on the right side of the blog that I will do my best to keep up to date. Also, there is a page at the top that breaks down how much we will owe for each step. Adoption ain't cheap! 

In the mean time, I wanted to thank those of you who have commented on our announcement post, hugged our necks, texted, messaged, called, and prayed-it has been such a sweet time for us with y'all joining us in celebrating our newest little one. We had the honor of announcing our adoption news to our church family on Sunday and I recorded it on my iphone (I posted it below). That is Eli whispering in the back ground once he realizes that's a picture of his new brother up there. I'll tell y'all about his and his siblings' reactions to the news in a separate post. We are so blessed to have such a strong body of believers surrounding us in our church family. They've wept with us, prayed fervently for our little boys, encouraged us, listened to us grieve and mourn, prayed over us, and now are celebrating as though it's their child who will be coming home. Aaron and I are just in awe of how precious they've been and how God has used them as we begin the healing process and look forward with hope to the future. So, enjoy this short clip! Also, little man's name isn't really Charley-that is just the name he has been given on Reece's Rainbow. Ready to hear the name he will be given as part of our family? Wait for it.....

BOAZ ISAIAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're so pumped. We especially like the story of Boaz being a kinsman redeemer in the Old Testament and Isaiah is my favorite book in the Bible. Also, it's just a really cool name for a really cool kid. We love y'all!

We're having a baby!

I have a funny story to tell y'all. Almost 3 weeks ago-on March 11th to be exact-Aaron woke up very, very early in the morning to leave in time to make it to a work breakfast for the day. Well, I was on cold meds and already sleeping weird. Like waking up at 2 am all jacked up and ready to clean the house kind of weird. After taking that stuff for a few days in a row, I had a whole new understanding of why the pharmacy checks your id before you can buy it. Anyway, when Aaron left that morning around 3 am, I was wide awake. I had the urge to fold the heaping pile of laundry that had been growing like fungus on our dining room table for weeks days, but decided to try to go back to sleep. I knew I would suffer if I stayed up starting that early in the day. So as I was lying in bed trying to turn my mind off, I decided to check out the newly listed waiting children on Reece's Rainbow. I hardly ever went to this website anymore because my heart has been so raw from 2013, but I decided that morning to take a peek. As I was scrolling through all of the precious little faces, I was stopped in my tracks by this sweet one:

I mean, he's the cutest thing you've ever seen, right? Here's what his write up said: 

Boy, Born May 2013
PRC
Down syndrome

Tiny baby Charley! He will be turning ONE year old in May. The orphanage describes him as a “plump little baby” who eats and sleeps well. From his last report in January 2014, they said he could turn over in his bed, kick his quilt off, and follow a toy with his eyes and then his head will also turn to watch it. If you call his name, he will look for you, and he loves to lay or play in his bed. They say he is a quiet child who, when hungry, will not cry, but will suck on his hands instead.

So I immediately took a screen shot of his profile on my phone and texted it to Aaron. All it said was "I like Charley." He agreed that he was precious. And as the day went on, I started getting these hilarious memes from him. Like this (we're big Portlandia fans):

And this:

I didn't even realize until a few days later that Aaron had put a cartoon hammer in his hand. So at the point in the day when I started getting memes, I knew Aaron was really thinking about this little man and I was cautiously excited. When he got home that night our conversation went a little something like this:

Me: "So what do you think about Charley?"

Aaron: "What do you think about Charley?"

Me: "I think I love him."

Aaron: "I do too. Let's go get him."

And that was all she wrote. I contacted the agency the next day and found out more information about him, we submitted our LOI (Letter of Intent) paper work to China on March 21st, and received pre-approval from China to adopt him on March 26th. We are absolutely elated to be working to bring him home after such a tragic 2013, and we are reminded of this passage from Lamentations 3:21-24:

21 But this I call to mind,

    and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

    his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

    “therefore I will hope in him.”

God is so good to us, friends. Thank you for being excited with us as our family grows by His grace.