A June update

We are currently in between phases of getting things done. We are sending our I-800A off to get State Certified tomorrow (after it gets notarized). Then we need to wait for that to come back and then get it Authenticated with a few other papers that are sitting here waiting for that paper to come back so these papers can have a "lets get Authenticated party". Once that is done we send everything off to our agency and then they check it all over and get it out of here and off to China and then we can hopefully start to see some progress on our journey to bring this handsome little boy home. The first time we saw Elias's photo he was 6 years old and we were in the process of adopting Luke. Does it break my heart to know that soon he will be 3 years older then the first time we saw his sweet face and still does not have his family.. YES it does. But his wait shall soon be over. Not soon enough for this momma but God has this situation firmly in place and He has a plan. God has ordained the time down to the second that Elias will come home long ago. We just have to rest and know that God is in control. This weekend after our garage sale we were wiped out... but I am also energized in a different way. We are ready to make a run for this boy and get him home and do what we need to do.

The adoption process is a process like no other. People either think you are amazing for what you are doing ( trust me when I tell you I dont think I am amazing) I am just a momma that loves being a momma and whose heart has bled for the Orphan cause and continues to bleed. OR people think you are crazy and do not understand WHY you would want to bring home a child that is "not your own" "not your blood" "from a country other then our own when we have children in need here" "you can have children why didnt you have a few more of your own" "how much did you pay for your children" and the list goes on and on.... It is hard to hear these questions and hard to answer them to be honest. I KNOW MY ANSWER.. but many do not understand it. My answer is.... When God calls.. You answer.. it is that easy. (for me and my family it is anyway) but many do not understand that answer. So I say take a look at my family, take a look at my miracle named Luke and see how much he has changed and grown and is full of love and joy. Does Luke have issues still 1 and a half years after being home.. you bet.. but to be honest, I do not know to many people that dont have issues and there was only one person ever to walk this planet that was perfect and He died on a cross for our sins! So issues need to be placed in perspective. Luke is a happy happy happy boy with a heart as big as the sea.  Many people tell us how blessed Luke is to be with us, I can tell you without a doubt that we are the ones who are blessed, we are the ones who are forever changed by one little boy that was laid on our hearts to be brought home by the Lord our God and we chose to say YES and our lives are forever changed for the better. We are no longer the same family we were a few years ago and we have never been happier. I am head over heels in love with my children in a way like never before, we have all become better people for obeying the Lord and we have shown our children what it means to sacrifice for others and to give and then receive a blessing.

We have again stepped out in faith and are bringing Elias home and we pray for him and the 146 million orphans in the world daily. We pray for Gods protection over our precious son and that he will soon be home here learning about a new country, a new language,  a new Everything!  This weekend our Pastor preached about how we are supposed to obey the Lord and open our hearts and minds and see those in need we are supposed to:

 James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

We are told to take care of the widows and orphans. Now that doesnt mean you must adopt every orphan (great thought but not possible) but you can pray for them, see where God leads you. Maybe it is to support an organization that supports orphans, maybe it is to sponsor an orphan, maybe just maybe God is calling you to adopt. I know that I would never have thought I would have adopted a child years ago if you said I was going to adopt children I would have told you that you were nuts. But here I am. So see what your role in this is. Pray about it, think about it and then do what He leads you to do. Just thinking about something and doing something are two different things. Whatever it is he leads you to do....Do it! If God leads you then he will make a way. 

Elias almost 3 years ago

Elias just a few months ago (he needs his momma)