Grace means "the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it."
KEEP GOD FIRST!!
Our I800A was approved on 6/18 (my Dad's birthday!) but now just waiting on the actual letters in the snail mail. Jeremy received his yesterday so fingers crossed mine will be today. Next step is that our Dossier will be sent to China. (DTC) The process has been taking 2-3 weeks lately. After this we will be getting logged in to China's system. That might take another 2-3 weeks. Then finally we will be at the point of this process to receive a referral of a precious child.
I'm already finding times of weakness when I long for my child and anxiety when things don't happen on my timeline.
Lord, I need You
Oh I need You
Every hour I need You
(Chris Tomlin)
I really need to get it together and quit time lining again! I said I wasn't going to do it this adoption. And I fell right back into it. I need to get on God's timeline and trust that there are reasons for every day and minute when we haven't received a document or an email.
Much love!
Sarah
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Be Still
"The Lord will FIGHT for you; you need only be still." Exodus 14:14
I have a ton to talk to you about!
First I will briefly mention a subject that was too painful to blog a couple weeks ago. Haley moved home with her mom. Which is what we always wanted to work towards! I don't want that statement to be taken wrong. We just wanted it to be the appropriate time. We knew it was coming so we were somewhat prepared. She was more than ready. Her mother had mentioned this to her for the past month and a half so Haley began shutting us out of her life. Things in our household became quite difficult because she distanced her relationships with us. It was sad and painful. Because Jeremy and I have had training and extensive reading relating to this type of situation through the adoptions we were familiar as to why she was showing us this behavior. Never enough to prepare your feelings though! All I can say is please love on every foster parent you know! They are truly amazing people. We had her for 6 months and she was our child. The day she left hurt me but to her it was an exciting day as she was able to reunite with her mom.
(right before she left)
The night before came and so did the rain. It didn't stop until 8:00 or so. I felt so discouraged! I thought to myself...we have an entire garage full, an enclosed trailer full and we have to be completely set up by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow. HOW???? Oh and rain expected all weekend so we have to set the yard sale up to be rain ready. Our crew came together and got everything moved around for us. We sent everyone home by 10 and Jeremy, Drake, Mikayla and I worked through the night. We were able to complete a lot but not finish. The trailer had not been emptied and still had boxes and boxes packed away. Family started to arrive Friday morning to help us and so did the buyers! We worked and unpacked ALL day! There was not one minute on Friday that we were without a customer. I could not believe it. And no rain either.
Around 4:30 p.m. we tarped our merchandise and Drake and Mikayla spent another night outside protecting our items. Saturday morning came early for us to have another successful day. We were prepared by Saturday though. We had rearranged the setup, all items were out on tables, everything was organized! Rain held off and we even had "buck a bag" from noon until about 2:30. That helped move the final merchandise. At the end of the day we were only left with less than a truck load of items! We donated those items to CCC and done for the day at about 4:45. Then the rain came. God fought for us!
We made $2515.21!!!!!
THEN we received this in the mail...
This means we are scheduled for our Biometrics Fingerprinting! Another step in our Dossier process. We are going Friday to Birmingham for our appointment. So excited! This was the only thing we were waiting on other than the I-800a in the Dossier process. When we had this process for Natalee's adoption it wasn't so easy. My fingerprints are hard to read. They unfortunately do not show up. The first did not take so I had to return. They told me to use Corn Husker's or some lotion like that to help moisten my fingertips. I have been using "Working Hands" every day for months in preparation for this appointment. Let's hope this has helped!
Please pray with us for some specific requests:
1. Haley in her transition in her new home life
2. Our adoption agency and all agencies involved during this paper process
3. God's perfect timing and our hearts as we understand His timing
4. Referral as we near that in the next few months
5. friends traveling to meet their child in China next week!
6. unspoken for my bff <3
Much love,
Sarah
I have a ton to talk to you about!
First I will briefly mention a subject that was too painful to blog a couple weeks ago. Haley moved home with her mom. Which is what we always wanted to work towards! I don't want that statement to be taken wrong. We just wanted it to be the appropriate time. We knew it was coming so we were somewhat prepared. She was more than ready. Her mother had mentioned this to her for the past month and a half so Haley began shutting us out of her life. Things in our household became quite difficult because she distanced her relationships with us. It was sad and painful. Because Jeremy and I have had training and extensive reading relating to this type of situation through the adoptions we were familiar as to why she was showing us this behavior. Never enough to prepare your feelings though! All I can say is please love on every foster parent you know! They are truly amazing people. We had her for 6 months and she was our child. The day she left hurt me but to her it was an exciting day as she was able to reunite with her mom.
(right before she left)
We had our yard sale this past weekend!! It was a HUGE success. We can't say thank you enough to all of you for your fabulous donations! My generous aunt and uncle let us use their yard for the sale and their garage to help store the abundance of items for weeks. We spent the past couple weeks pricing in our garage and their garage. My parents, cousins, aunts/uncles, brother & sis-in-law, nieces, friends helped us for days until late at night to make this sale happen. The multiple nights of rain (mass amounts of down pour!) did not stop us.
 |
| NG testing the items out! |
 |
| So many customers! See all the boxes of DISorganization??!! Drives me CrAzY! |
 |
We made $2515.21!!!!!
THEN we received this in the mail...
Please pray with us for some specific requests:
1. Haley in her transition in her new home life
2. Our adoption agency and all agencies involved during this paper process
3. God's perfect timing and our hearts as we understand His timing
4. Referral as we near that in the next few months
5. friends traveling to meet their child in China next week!
6. unspoken for my bff <3
Much love,
Sarah
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Let's play catch up!
Last week started with Haley's 4th grade graduation from West Morgan!
Our 1800a was overnighted to the USCIS on Tuesday. I immediately started applying for grants and working on our checklist of items for our dossier. We are almost finished with those items to mail to the agency. The only issue that we don't have yet is Natalee's passport. We are getting that processed this week and having it expedited will take approximately 3 weeks. I somehow dropped the ball on that and thought we had more time. Procrastinator here!
We ended the week with Natalee's end of the year ceremony at our church preschool. She didn't cry this time and she even sang for a couple of the songs. I was one proud mom!
Our yard sale is going to be HUGE! We filled our entire garage and moving it to my aunt and uncle's house and filling theirs too! We are so thankful for the donations. Jeremy, my parents, and I worked and worked all week and weekend sorting and preparing for the sale. Now on to pricing! Beyond blessed! Can you help us spread the word?
5/29 & 5/30
1404 Runnymead Ave SW
Decatur, AL 35603
Prayers for your week to be as abundant as mine!
Much love,
Sarah
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Our 1800a was overnighted to the USCIS on Tuesday. I immediately started applying for grants and working on our checklist of items for our dossier. We are almost finished with those items to mail to the agency. The only issue that we don't have yet is Natalee's passport. We are getting that processed this week and having it expedited will take approximately 3 weeks. I somehow dropped the ball on that and thought we had more time. Procrastinator here!
We ended the week with Natalee's end of the year ceremony at our church preschool. She didn't cry this time and she even sang for a couple of the songs. I was one proud mom!
Our yard sale is going to be HUGE! We filled our entire garage and moving it to my aunt and uncle's house and filling theirs too! We are so thankful for the donations. Jeremy, my parents, and I worked and worked all week and weekend sorting and preparing for the sale. Now on to pricing! Beyond blessed! Can you help us spread the word?
5/29 & 5/30
1404 Runnymead Ave SW
Decatur, AL 35603
Prayers for your week to be as abundant as mine!
Much love,
Sarah
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Through Prayer and Petition
This has become so apparent to me this week. I love how God shines on His time not just ours! We received the phone call on Monday! After several weeks going back and forth making changes to our Home Study, it is finalized and approved. We were so eager to get the next step (Immigration) in process so we had actually already filled out paperwork and compiled important documents. All we had to do was receive the call, sign and date the docs, write a check, and drop in the mail. And we did! So we are excited to say we are already in process for our dossier. Even though I was ahead of the game, the agency still has tedious work on their end so it takes time :)
Thank you for all of your yard sale donations! We are so blessed with amazing friends!! We have a packed garage. I mean floor to ceiling! It is still on schedule for 5/29 and 5/30 at my aunt and uncle's house. We also plan on having a Mellow Mushroom fundraising day in June. More details on that soon.
Much love!
Sarah
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Instilling Gratefulness
Gratefulness has not really been a problem for me. My parents were not rich but they were not poor. I honestly never knew what type of income we had growing up. They provided our needs and we didn't want excessively. They taught that gratefulness goes hand in hand with responsibility and respect.
We are trying our best to instill this trait in our home as well. We've had years of the constant prompting of "Thank You's" and sending cards. I must say it feels so good when we are in public and someone does something for NG and I hear her say the words! My insides scream "Yes, Yes, YES!!" You know the feeling!
It's been a bit more difficult with Haley. She has much prompting and still has difficulty convincing to be grateful. I haven't quite pin pointed the issue there but there is always the fact that she spent 10 years in different environments before our home.
I say all this to lead back to this...these are basic necessities for our children. I have learned the importance of this as a parent. I can only imagine if these simple traits are instilled to a higher standard AS toddlers and children, then would Baltimore be in quite the mess? Maybe, maybe not. It all starts with what we teach our children. Parents have to be involved! It may not always work but why not spend every minute you have with that child trying.
Keep God first!
Much love,
Sarah
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
We are trying our best to instill this trait in our home as well. We've had years of the constant prompting of "Thank You's" and sending cards. I must say it feels so good when we are in public and someone does something for NG and I hear her say the words! My insides scream "Yes, Yes, YES!!" You know the feeling!
It's been a bit more difficult with Haley. She has much prompting and still has difficulty convincing to be grateful. I haven't quite pin pointed the issue there but there is always the fact that she spent 10 years in different environments before our home.
I say all this to lead back to this...these are basic necessities for our children. I have learned the importance of this as a parent. I can only imagine if these simple traits are instilled to a higher standard AS toddlers and children, then would Baltimore be in quite the mess? Maybe, maybe not. It all starts with what we teach our children. Parents have to be involved! It may not always work but why not spend every minute you have with that child trying.
Keep God first!
Much love,
Sarah
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Struggles are real!
The past week has been TOUGH! We all have them. So I'm not going to dwell. I am going to say it means the world to cry your heart out and look up and see your friend crying with you.
How did Jesus do it? He healed sick. He made blind see. He cured those that had never walked before and watched them walk away. He made deaf hear. Yet people still harassed him, beat him, yelled at him, and treat him so unfair. He never stopped loving them all. He hung on the cross being tortured and taking his very last breath but still loved.
I am in NO comparison of Jesus. I do wish everyday to be more like Him. All of our decisions throughout these processes (caring for our niece and adopting again) have been faith based. We have not made a decision without praying and making sure it is God centered. So we know every decision is right at this time. For some reason we are struggling right now. God has His plan and will see us through but it sure hurts in the meantime. And I am having a very hard time loving on those hurting me. I'm easy to forgive but not as easy to love. I'm telling you Jesus is awesome.
I keep saying each day will get better but it hasn't quite yet. Please pray with our family.
This verse was one of my daily verses I received last week. Very appropriate!
Much love,
Sarah
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
How did Jesus do it? He healed sick. He made blind see. He cured those that had never walked before and watched them walk away. He made deaf hear. Yet people still harassed him, beat him, yelled at him, and treat him so unfair. He never stopped loving them all. He hung on the cross being tortured and taking his very last breath but still loved.
I am in NO comparison of Jesus. I do wish everyday to be more like Him. All of our decisions throughout these processes (caring for our niece and adopting again) have been faith based. We have not made a decision without praying and making sure it is God centered. So we know every decision is right at this time. For some reason we are struggling right now. God has His plan and will see us through but it sure hurts in the meantime. And I am having a very hard time loving on those hurting me. I'm easy to forgive but not as easy to love. I'm telling you Jesus is awesome.
I keep saying each day will get better but it hasn't quite yet. Please pray with our family.
This verse was one of my daily verses I received last week. Very appropriate!
Much love,
Sarah
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Listening to God
My little Nattie Grace comes to us with a new answer to every situation.
"God told me!"
Why do you want to go to school during spring break? Why do you burp so rudely out loud? Why do you want to jump on the trampoline in the rain? Yep, same answer every time. "God told me to!"
As we drive past the yards that have burned away the grass and weeds for Spring, NG says "Mommy that grass is black because God makes all colors!" Yes!
As she's terrorizing Haley in every single possible way imaginable and then she's caught..."God wants me to" NO!!
If it were only easy peasy to hear God. Over the years it has become more natural for me as I grow in my Christian faith. I believe the stronger Christian you become the easier it is to recognize what God wants. We all know the basics that are expected of us as He tells us in the Bible. I'm talking about those life changing decisions that you have to make throughout your life. The most amazing part is that God initiates it and He sees it through. I tell my girls all the time. God is our one constant! We can always count on Him.
So when you feel the tugging at your ear and your heart just pray. God has some important news. Or you can always come ask my Nattie Grace, she and God are quite tight and he tells her to do everything!
Oh and for the important adoption stuff:
Our case worker's supervisor has been swamped but our Home Study will be approved by the end of the week. We jumped ahead and already began immigration paperwork. We are still working on yard sale but possibly moving it back to June. I spoke to mgr at Mellow Mushroom and we will have a fundraising day there! We are deciding the day and will let you know. He will give us a percentage of all the receipts turned in that day!
Have a fabulous Easter!
NG celebrating Chinese NY at church 2/15
Much love,
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
"God told me!"
Why do you want to go to school during spring break? Why do you burp so rudely out loud? Why do you want to jump on the trampoline in the rain? Yep, same answer every time. "God told me to!"
As we drive past the yards that have burned away the grass and weeds for Spring, NG says "Mommy that grass is black because God makes all colors!" Yes!
As she's terrorizing Haley in every single possible way imaginable and then she's caught..."God wants me to" NO!!
If it were only easy peasy to hear God. Over the years it has become more natural for me as I grow in my Christian faith. I believe the stronger Christian you become the easier it is to recognize what God wants. We all know the basics that are expected of us as He tells us in the Bible. I'm talking about those life changing decisions that you have to make throughout your life. The most amazing part is that God initiates it and He sees it through. I tell my girls all the time. God is our one constant! We can always count on Him.
So when you feel the tugging at your ear and your heart just pray. God has some important news. Or you can always come ask my Nattie Grace, she and God are quite tight and he tells her to do everything!
Oh and for the important adoption stuff:
Our case worker's supervisor has been swamped but our Home Study will be approved by the end of the week. We jumped ahead and already began immigration paperwork. We are still working on yard sale but possibly moving it back to June. I spoke to mgr at Mellow Mushroom and we will have a fundraising day there! We are deciding the day and will let you know. He will give us a percentage of all the receipts turned in that day!
Have a fabulous Easter!
NG celebrating Chinese NY at church 2/15
Much love,
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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