We're coming Ashley, even if we have to walk to China to get you!

Paperchasing like crazy!

Here's a list of the things we've checked off our list.....

Septic Tank Inspection (passed)
Birth Certificates
Marriage Certificates
Employment Verifications
Shot records for the Dogs (come on people, this is RIDICULOUS!)
Child Abuse Clearance


Goals for this week:
Kids Dr. Appts
Make Jay/mine Dr. appt
Send in USCIS clearance form and money
get fingerprinted at Sheriff's office

Still left:
get Em a passport (need to so SOON, takes 4-6 weeks)
Home Study Visits with Social Worker
Go to Atlanta for fingerprinting
Get everything in creation notarized


I'm sure I'm missing something but we're making PROGRESS!

Please pray that the Lord would provide the money we need to turn our Dossier in...He knows how much we need, pray we would be patient!

One of those days...

I just want her home. Yesterday. I hate the waiting and the paperwork and the waiting some more. I just want her home. We have so far to go but I try to remind myself that it pales in comparison to the time we'll have with her for the rest of her life. Some days that works and some days it doesn't and today was one of those days. We're coming, baby!!! We're trying to get there as fast as we possibly can, I promise we are! Ally says she has a baby in her tummy and she's from China....you are in all of our hearts, even your 3 year old sister!

Update

We are beginning our HOME STUDY!!! YIPEEE!!!!! We start meeting with Marissa in a few days!!! I'll let you know how it goes.....pray!!!

Let the paperchase begin!

We are officially "paper chasing!" We're compiling all the documents China needs to approve us to adopt a child. Just in case you're wondering, here they are:

Birth Certificates
Marriage Certificate
Police/FBI fingerprints and clearance
Physical Exams (done by our Dr's)
Department of Homeland Security Clearance
Petition to bring a foreign orphan into the country
Passports
Employment Verification
Letter to Chinese officials requesting an orphan and promising to teach her Chinese culture
Family Photos of our home, children and family life

In addition, we need these for our Homestudy:
Clearance from health department about our septic tank (?)
Additional fingerprints
3 reference letters
Employment Letters


I'm sure I left something out......once we get all these things and get them notarized, they are sent to the Secretary of State for authentication. Once approved they are sent to the Chinese consulate in Houston, TX...then after translation are sent to CHINA!!!!

Please keep us in your prayers....especially me (emily) as I am the "adoption secretary" around here! Jay just says, "tell me where to sign!" Also specifically pray for the funds for our fingerprints/clearance from Homeland Security...while the other documents are very cheap, these cost 860.00!!! (Someone in the government is getting very rich!!)

Humbled

This morning at church, some good friends of ours came over to me...she said, "come in this room, we want to pray for Ashley..."
I was thinking "WHAT?"
She prayed for her, (and said Ashley Flynt which really hit me for some reason) and then handed me a check.
It was for $1,000.00......
These people are not wealthy BY ANY MEANS. They were just being obedient to what God had told them to do and we are overwhelmed. They are such an example of listening to the Lord and obeying, and I left the church in tears. Thank you Lord for people who listen you and bless others! Their gift will be another piece of the miracle of God that brings Ashley home and completes our family. It makes me long to hold her in my arms and tell her the story of the individuals who loved her enough to help get her here. Thank you so much for the others that have sent gifts....large or small, they are all a testament to us about His faithfulness and promise. What a journey we are on!

The Flip Side

In our attempt to show all the sides of International Adoption, I think I need to be honest and post about all the aspects of it. Right now we are in a holding pattern of sorts with the process. Financially, we can;t go any further until the Lord provides. This is the most frustrating aspect, (along with the wait.) Jay and I thought we had something in place that was going to help out HUGE with the expenses and it fell through yesterday. The person in charge said no. It had already been a long frustrating week money wise but this was the thing that broke us emotionally. We are clinging to the things we know for sure. 1.) God clearly told both of us, in His own way, back in April, that this was His plan for our family. 2.) God promised to provide. 3.) God has never left us or let us down. 4.) God keeps His promises.
I don;t want anybody to think I am "Super Spiritual" and haven;t doubted every one of these points, I'd be lying if I said I hadn;t. But sometimes it's profitable to lay out what you know so you can cling to it.
When we were trying to get pregnant with Avery we went through the same exact emotions. Only God could make it happen and we were relying totally on Him. We simply couldn;t do it ourselves. Jay reminded me that this is the same thing. It's just a "stretching" of our faith, intended to refine us of all the junk that clouds our faith and dependency on ourselves. We know that at the end of all of this is a precious face that needs a mommy and a daddy...and a family that isn;t complete without her.
Sometime ago I made the statement that "This will be the greatest faith journey that our family has ever taken." Little did I know how true that would be.