Life is Fast, Adoption is Slow

Life has been flying by at a very fast pace while we have been waiting on our LOA (letter of approval) since mid-July. The boys have both been playing football, I've been recovering from shoulder surgery slowly and painfully and Ernie has been working at a full time new job while still leading our church plant. The Lord has been using these times to increase our patience and our faith...tough lessons!

Friday we received a letter turning us down for a grant for which we had applied. We were disappointed and sad and trying to figure out why. In God's perfect timing and kindness, the next morning was Lifeline's seminar Adopt Without Debt. I learned so many things, but I mainly took away that I don't need a grant to carry out God's calling for our family. I shouldn't have been relying on the grant in the first place. I should be relying completely on God. He's the one that supplies for the grants anyway!! He supplied the money so far even with 6 months of Ernie not having an income. That's incredible to think about! How could I forget these things?

That wasn't the only blessing the kindness of the Lord gave me. I ended up meeting a couple there that also is adopting from Maoming and he was the photographer on the trip in July! He had over 100 pictures of our Madison Jade!! She was absolutely gorgeous in every single one of course!!

In conclusion, I can't do a post on 9/11 without remembering what happened 10 years ago. I'm so grateful for the men and women who sacrificially fight for freedom. I was pregnant and scared watching everything unfold 10 years ago. Then 6 months later I was 2 weeks from delivering my 1st child and burying my dad. A lot has happened in 10 years, but we will never forget.

Please continue to pray for our family...including the one that is in another country. Also pray for God to provide for the remaining in-country and travel expenses we have (about $12,000 more), my recovery and our church plant! Be on the lookout for fundraisers that we'll invite you to take part! We're excited to see how God will provide beyond our wildest imagination!