Blessings All Around!

     We have been so busy over the last month we just haven't had time to update the blog! A lot has happened since the last post and we are very excited to share our news! Home Study is complete!!! It has been a long waiting process and at times a bit frustrating but we are happy to say we are through with this step. Yay! Last week Lifeline sent our home study off to immigration and this week our check to Homeland Security cleared so we are moving forward. We will be in contact with our agency next week to began preparing our Dossier documents. This is the actual part that will be sent to China in preparation to be matched with a child. This stage could last up to 90 days. It really depends on how quickly we get clearance from immigration.
     Blessings all around is the only way to describe how this last month has been. It is such a wonderful eye opening experience to see God's hand truly at work in our lives. He is never early or late but always on time. Our family and friends have been tremendous during this process. They have encouraged us, prayed for us, and even contributed time and resources to make this possible. I can not thank each one of you enough for your help. I pray that God will bless you and your family ten fold for your willingness and generosity that you have blessed our family with. One day my hope is that our new daughter will know your love for her but more importantly because of your faithfulness she will have the opportunity to know HIS Love.
     I have seen through this process how God uses all who are willing to be used. When I look around I am amazed at the little glimpses of the puzzle I can see forming together. To me we are each one a piece. When we allow God to work in our lives He moves us and fits us perfectly to the next piece of the puzzle. We can not see what the puzzle looks like from up top but sometimes we see the glimpse of a picture with the pieces we are put with. He holds the pieces and sees the masterpiece He is creating. I believe God used Rebecca McCoy and Karen Mahy "as a piece". For Brandon He used the precious Chinese adopted children in our church "as a piece". If these families and precious people would not have been obedient to His calling we may have not been in the position we are in today. I am now seeing how God is using us and our story to work in other peoples lives. He is fitting us together to build His giant puzzle, the kingdom, to honor and glorify Him! I can't wait for the day when we are all there and get to see the whole picture! Ephesians 4 talks about the Unity in the Body of Christ. This speaks volumes to me. I encourage you to read it!!
     In our Home Study we had to choose gender, age, and the disabilities we felt like our family could accommodate. This was extremely hard for us to do! We have chosen to adopt a little girl two years or younger. That means as you read this she is out there. We don't know her name, haven't seen her face, and are not sure of where she is exactly located but we do know who holds her future. We also know that soon... she will have a forever family! When you think of us please pray for our daughter that she will have her needs met until she is able to come home. Pray that she has a care giver that will love her until she home for good. Thanks Friends!