22 Days Later

Twenty-two days have passed since we got our surprise referral and saw our little boys face for the first time!

We are humbled and blessed at how the Lord has provided the last $7000.00 so we could accept his referral. I had posted that we were matched and what we needed and asked our friends and family to pray with us the the Lord would provide. In a matter of days we had two thousand! Being down to the day that we needed to send in our money and not having the last five thousand we prayed the Lord would somehow provide. That afternoon I got an email from a sweet gal in PA. Here's what she sent....

OK.....so I'm going to explain our entire situation and then you let me know what you want to do.

Yesterday, I called you, checked my mail (no mail), drove to Sams Club while talking to you, came home, got my mail. And got M's check in the mail from his retirement that we had to cash out on to help us along financially. We originally were going to use it to pay off a credit card and use the rest to help us get over the hump until M starts his new job. Is this also God's perfect timing for this check. I find it odd, that we have been waiting for this check for about 3 months and we would happen to get it the same day that you get your referral. Had we gotten it a few weeks ago, we would've done the above plan with nothing left over.

Maybe we only need the amount to get us until M starts making his new salary which leaves $5,000 if we do not pay off our credit card. When we started our grant, I wanted to eventually start an interest free loan that we could give to families as well. Is this God's way of forcing us into starting it now??? M and I both prayed about it last night and this is what we want to offer to you.....an interest free loan that you can pay back as it's convenient to pay back. Right now we need that money - but maybe in another 2 months we won't and we can continue this idea for the next family who might need it (which I already know of another family planning to travel in about 4 months).

Well....let me know what you would like to do. Maybe you can get more gifts rather than a loan offer....but M and I agree that if the option is to pay off our credit card or help you get your little boy.....we choose choice B.

I'm prayerful that other people can step up and help too!!!!

Looking forward to hearing from you and again we're sooooooooooooooooooooooo incredibly excited about your great news!!!!!!
Hope you have a great day!!!

Love,


Isn't that amazing?! We were just so blessed and humbled that this sweet family (who we've never met in person) would offer that money with the option to pay back as we were able! We prayed and decided to accept the offer because we needed that $5000.00 asap. We had no doubt the Lord would provide we just didn't know His time frame and if it would be through Mike's job or His church all gathering around and helping to rescue and orphan.

Last year we had several yard sales in order to help raise money for the adoption so I thought why not have another one. We went through the house and found things we were willing to sell(anything not nailed down) in order to help bring our son home.
A few of our friends donated some items as well and between two yard sales and individuals just giving we raised all but $350.00! Then last Sunday morning a gal at church came up to me and asked if we were the family adopting that needed to raise x numbers of dollars by a certain time. I told her yes and shared what the Lord has done in the past two plus weeks and she wanted to know how much we had left....which was 350.00. That evening before the evening service she wrote out a check for 350.00! I was thanking her and gave her a hug and she kinda giggled and said how she felt blessed to be able to help and that she had the easy part....we had to raise him :)

Mike and I are just amazed that withing 10 days of this couple offering 5000.00 the Lord provided the full 5000.00 for us to pay them back!! Isn't that just amazing? We are so thankful that this couple heard the sweet soft voice of the Holy Spirit prompting them to offer that money and that they were obedient (not always easy in our flesh, especially sending money to a family you never met and nothing in writing)!
I just love how the Lord used them to bless our family and then turned right around and blessed them for their obedience and provided the full amount of money so we could send it right back to them! A M A Z I N G !!!!

On Monday I called her to tell her we were mailing them the 5000.00 and her church who had blessed us with a travel grant was mailing us our grant money the same day!

Now we begin to prepare for travel. We have NO IDEA when that might be. We know there are some things that need to take place in the other country, but we choose to not worry and rest in the Lord that He will work all things out. We could travel anywhere from a month from now to 12 months from now. We are PRAYING we can have him home for the holidays! HE IS ABLE to make it happen if it's His will. Once we get the call we'll need to leave asap probably within 4 days! Our girls will stay with our close friends in NC while we go get their brother.


So although we have raised all the adoption expenses we still have people offering donations to help with any misc. costs that we might encounter. So this weekend we are having our final yard sale/bake sale. Any money raised will be put in an account in case of an emergency (having to stay more than two weeks when we go get him). Also one of my adoption blog/fb friends, Jeanette, has a business, Thirty-One and has offered to do a fundraiser to help us out this any additional expenses we have. The plan is to start the online party early in Sept. More details to come soon!

I just want to thank all of you who have prayed, given items to the yard sale, and selflessly donated to help rescue our little boy! We love you and pray the Lord blesses you! {{{hugs}}}

I was reading this morning and just love these verses in Psalm 22

vs.5 You heard the their cries for help and saved them. They put their trust in you and were never disappointed.

vs. 22 Then I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you amoung all your people.

vs. 23 Praise the Lord....Honor Him...Show Him reverence

vs. 24 For he has not ignored the suffering of the needy. He has not turned and walked away. He has listened to their cries for help.

vs. 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise Him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.


vs. 28 For the LORD is King!

vs. 30 Future generations will also serve Him. Our children will hear about the wonders of the Lord.

vs. 31 His righteous acts will be told to those yet unborn. They will hear about everything He has done.