Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Beautiful Hope

     Even though we haven't seen her, she is in our hearts. We have beautiful hope in Christ Jesus knowing she will be in our arms soon. Beautiful Hope knowing he has plans for all of us. Our precious China girls name means "Beautiful Hope" ~ Ella Hope Greer. How could we name her anything else! We will incorporate some of her Chinese name after Hope but for now "China Baby" has a name. He knows her right where she is and we will meet her soon. :)

Monday, April 23, 2012

Exciting News!

     God is so good! He is good all the time! A lot has happened over the last month. Cooper lost his first bottom tooth... and then his second bottom tooth. It is amazing to see how much he has grown since the first of the school year. I had to pull two pictures for his 5K graduation and it hurt my heart a little to see that he isn't my baby anymore. However, with that being said, growing up is not always a bad thing. The best news a mother possibly could hear my sweet big boy shared with me Easter Sunday. Cooper excepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior!!! It brings tears to my eyes writing this. The next Sunday he got on stage and shared it with his friends in Kids Zone. This momma is over the moon.
     Avery is taking a turn for 4. I think 4 is just terrible two's times two. But it is Avery we are talking about here, the girl doesn't have a mean bone in her body. She just discovered she can have an attitude when she wants.
     Brandon's business has expanded. He is now doing work in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. One reason I haven't updated the blog is because he is always on the computer working. Hopefully in the next month or so he will be better adjusted and want have to spend as much time working.... I hope!
     Things have been crazy all around. Over the last two weeks I have been working on our dossier papers and a grant for Show Hope. This could patiently be a large financial support grant if we are excepted. Please pray for God's favor during this process.
     Ready for the Big News...  We have already received our I 800 A Clearance!! Whoop! Whoop! Sorry... I am a little over excited!!! Through this whole experience I can see God's provision and mercy. He has amazed me over and over. We sent our application off and in two weeks we got our fingerprint appointment. That is not normal! We go to our fingerprint appointment and I heard that we needed to be prepared to wait awhile. In and out in less than ten minutes. That was on Monday. On Wednesday, Brandon calls me with the news that our application and fingerprints were in and we are approved to adopt our little girl from China!!! It was the official letter we received by mail. I live in Hokes Bluff people, my mail runs late! I get mail and coupons that have already expired. Wow... It was a God thing. I called the adoption agency because it was just to good to be true and they reassured me that it was the correct letter and "yes we are a miracle family!"
     Our agency will start authenticating our dossier. We are waiting on our passports to come in. God is working all of that out as well. A friend gave us a number to actually call and have them expedited. I was able to expedite mine but Brandon's isn't in the system yet so pray that when he calls back on Wednesday they will be able to find it and expedite it.
     So what is next? Once our dossier is authenticated we will wire the money to China and send our letter of intent. Once they except that we will receive our log in date!!!! Then we wait for a referral or the match. Then we go and get her. Not that simple but you get the idea. We are getting closer. Getting closer is exciting but we still need about $19,000! That will punch you in the gut. However, we serve a big God and that number is nothing to Him. He is in complete control of the process and I can see His hand all around us. He will provide!