LID

We received LID yesterday.  Now we wait for LOA-letter of approval- from China.  We are still anticipating to travel around February, but are hopeful to travel sooner.  I have to say, that as each step gets completed I get more and more anxious to meet my two boys.  We are so excited and can't wait to put our arms around them.  Our family has been preparing for the adoption and have been finding wonderful resources in Birmingham to help us meet their needs.  We have even been learning another language in order to be prepared.  So excited and blessed to be going through this process.  We serve an amazing God. 

God is Great Every Day

We are currently waiting on our DTC-Dossier to China.  We are so anxious to meet our children and officially make them members of our family.  Currently, God is providing financially for our adoption and allowed us to make the necessary payments(we have received support through LifeSong which makes donations on the website tax deductible).  We are so thankful and blessed to serve the Lord and grateful that God called us to this mission.  As always, I ask for continued prayer for our family as we go through this emotional process.  I also ask you pray for all families going through the adoption process as well as the 147 million orphans in the world.  Furthermore, if you feel called to adoption or foster care, then I strongly encourage you to be faithful and answer your calling.  I was scared to start foster care and understand all the concerns.  But, God has been so good to my family and I believe He has a plan.  Please look into LifeLine for adoptions and foster care or SAFY for therapeutic foster care.  Both organizations are wonderful and I don't know where we would be without their support and knowledge. 

I-800A Approved!

We have jumped through another hoop! After anxiously waiting 56 days, we have been approved by immigration to adopt our children.  That means we are another step closer to getting our boys!  From here, our paperwork is sent for certification to three government agencies.  After that, it is sent to China.  This process altogether is another 3-4 week process.  This time of waiting is very difficult.  I know I have these boys waiting for me and they need me as much as I need them. I am so ready to get them here to be a part of my family and cuddle them! I am also so anxious to get them seen by doctors and helped out physically.  On another note, I am not allowed to post what their disability is or their Chinese name.  So, if you ever wonder about these two things that is why! I can share that God equipped me to take on their disability and I feel confident that I can help them.  Please continue to pray for our boys, family, and finances.  Thank you for following and praying for us. 

Give 10 Save 2

We are starting a fundraising effort in order to help with the costs of adoption of our boys Alec and Anderson.  Our estimated costs for adoption are around $42,000.  We are believers in the power of God and know He will provide.  All money donated will go towards our adoption costs and will ultimately save 2 boys from a being institutionalized.  We know money is tight for so many in today's society.  Please, consider a small donation in the amount of $10 to help. If there is no way you can give $10, please be in prayer for our family, our boys, and the financial responsibilities of adoption.  We setting a goal of $7,000 by October 20 which is our youngest son's birthday (Anderson). I know this is ambitious for our first fundraising project, but we are on a tight schedule and the money is needed by the different governments and agencies.  Give 10 Save 2

PA

We received PA- Pre Approval- from China yesterday! The boys are ours!  They are precious little boys and our family is so excited to hear the news from China.  We still are unclear on travel dates as we are anxiously and patiently waiting for many different people to look over our information.  However, we do know that Alec and Anderson are ours!!!!!!  Please continue to pray for our family.  We always can use support through these months of waiting to get our children.

How to Be A Part of our Ministry

There are many ways we are asking for support in this process.  They are:
1)  Pray for our family and the 147 million orphans in the world.
2) Buy necklaces and bracelets from John or Maryann for $24.  They make excellent gifts and support our ministry and ministries around the world.
3)  Buy coffee at www.justlovecoffee.com/pledger
4)  Donate to our ministry by clicking on the link on the right.  The link will connect you to Paypal and Lifesong.  This is a nonprofit organization that supports families like ours.

Thank you so much!  We are thankful for how God is using everyone for this calling in our life.

With Love,
Maryann and John

Lifesong and China

A little over three weeks ago, John and I wrote two letters to China.  We wrote these "care plan" letters on two specific boys.  We have been patiently waiting and praying that China sends us a PA-Pre Approval- which will put these boys on hold until we get formally approved with all our paperwork. As we round the corner on three weeks, please include us in your prayers as we are eager to hear from China.  We know we have to rely on the Lord and His beautiful timing.

In the meantime, we have been speaking to specialists and the local school to discuss plans for our boys once we get home.  We want to get the information now rather than spend our time on the phone when we get home. We are feeling very confident in the resources available to us in our city and with the community that is wrapping their arms around our family.  We have so many people showing grace to us and being supportive of our family. 

On another note, our family adoption ministry has received the status of a nonprofit through Lifesong.  What this means is that if you donate to our ministry you will get a letter to include in your taxes so it can be a "write off".  God calls some people to give and others to do.  We are doers at this point in our journey.  I ask you to pray and seek God's plan for your life.