The Prayers

Hello.
As many of us are preparing all our paperwork.
    Coming up with creative ideas for fundraising.
         Blogging.
              Writing 'Thank-You's"..
       All the while, keeping the clothing washed, kids entertained, food on the table, garden growing, and husband happy.
               We forget to trust.  We forget to intercede for others.  We forget to pray.

So, here are the prayers on my heart this week, that I wholeheartedly ask you to lift up as well.

1. Pray for Nadine.  She is the little girl that Leah and I were entrusted with as Prayer Warriors.  We pray for her every night.  For a family to be touched by her little face and desire to make her their own.

2. Pray for Joshua and Lisa and Dave. Joshua has been Blake's buddy since birth.  Lisa and Dave just had their "Gotcha" Day Wednesday and were planning to be traveling home today with him-to their home in Michigan.  Well, Joshua came down with a sinus infection and the Ukraine Medical doctor is refusing to let them leave the country with him for fear of it being TB. (although, 2 other doctor's already denied that with testing)  So they risk being in-country another 3 weeks!!  PLEASE pray for this doctor to soften her heart.  You can read the rest of the story here.  It is heartbreaking.

3. Pray for those families whose children were taken off the adoption list because their special needs are no longer listed by law as important enough to be adopted yet.  Two of these include Cerebral Palsy and HIV.  My heart breaks for these families who have fallen in love with their children already, have begun fundraising, have finished all their paperwork, were preparing to travel, and now...nothing.  Pray that the law is changed soon.  For the sake of these children.

This is Maeve. She was going to be adopted by the same family as Blake.  But God had other plans and it did not work out for them to adopt either child.  So while we were blessed with Blake, Maeve is still looking for her Forever Family.

4. Pray for the children who do not have families, who are still waiting.

5. Pray for us.  Specifically, we are needing Blake's government to accept our paperwork and petition to adopt him.  Our medical documents aren't quite what they are requesting but because we are having a hard time getting that information, we are hoping they will be forgiving and accept it as is... Also that our fundraising and advocating of these children can be fruitful and God-honoring.

So my challenge to you this week is...pray.

The Last Pics...

Our Time Line

-Finish up medical appointments and bloodwork for dossier

-Wait to hear approval on completed dossier paperwork

-Edit Home Study with Adoption & Beyond, Inc. and wait for final approval 

-Send finished Home Study in with USCIS application for fingerprinting

-July 25th--This One's for the Kids fundraiser 

-Mid-August--Beginning of 46" Flat Screen LCD TV giveaway--it will be displayed at Vogt's Hometown Grocery!! (contest ends the day of the craft show, Sept. 17th) 

-Sept. 2nd--Garage sales in Cherokee, OK (taking donations now)

-Wait...wait...wait

So while we wait...here are a few last glimpses of Blake.

We received the last pictures we will probably get from Blake's orphanage until we are there to kiss his sweet little face ourselves...The family that has been providing us with glimpses into his life are enroute back to the U.S. with their little boy, Joshua.  They had their 'gotcha' day Wednesday morning, she snapped a few pictures of Blake on the way out the door and they were on their way.

...here's what she had to share with us.

Ohhh, this picture makes me laugh out loud.  Lisa said he always climbs out of his chair onto the table and sits there until someone comes to put him back down.  It thrills me to see him so mobile and active.  If you know anything about our family, he will fit right in.

The other little children at the bottom of this page exemplify the desire these children have for attention and love.

God's Messenger to Blake

Okay, so I received a story from Lisa and her husband, Dave.  They are currently in Eastern Europe at the same orphanage that Blake lives in, adopting their son, Joshua.  He and Blake are two of the youngest boys in this orphanage-only a few months apart in age.  She has been so gracious to send me pictures, updates, and information about the environment these boys have lived in since birth.  Here is a picture of their little man.  You can read her blog at: www.buildingourvillage.blogspot.com to get a feel for where Blake lives, etc.  She has been an amazing resource for us while we plan for what our trip ahead will be like. 
Anyway, she sent me this message this weekend..
"so I told you how Dave just loves your little guy, right? Well today we went to take Joshua back to his groupa that had been outside. We saw that the caregivers were no longer there and figured they all went in-but then we caught a glimpse of the cribs outside and saw 2 little children left and one was Blake. As we got to the area, though, one caregiver came out... Blake reached for her but she picked up the little girl first then was going to pick him up but I gestured that I would help and carry him in. So I picked him up and was walking behind the caregiver looking at Dave and sticking my tongue out that I got to hold him :) I whispered in his ear that soon his momma and papa would be coming for him and Dave said he smiled!!" 

Why this particular story gives me goosebumps is because Jerad and I's prayer since the day we committed to Blake has been for God to reveal to Blake that we were coming to get him.  For God to help him to know he has a family working hard to make him their own and for him to feel God's presence in this time of waiting. 

How Great is our God. 
Thank you, Lisa, for being a messenger and reassurance to what I think Blake already knows.

And the best surprise of all!

To sum it up...this weekend was pretty amazing!

As I already told you about...Friday morning we received these pictures of little Blake.  So the day started out amazing just with that!

Then, I went out to get the mail and we received a load of letters that were filled with encouragement, drawings for Blake, checks of support, fundraising items for our next big fundraiser (go here to get a sneak peek)  You don't understand how blessed we feel through your kind words of affirmation, prayers, and generosity financially. 

In addition, we were leaving Hillsboro for the weekend to go to my 10-Year Class Reunion in Hutchinson.  Myself and several other ladies had been planning this event in advance, for months now.  So we were SO EXCITED to see the fruits of our labor come about.  Plus, I couldn't wait to catch up with everyone and reminisce about old memories.  This also meant a 'date' night for Jerad and I, minus the girl's...and I always look forward to that. 

So my adrenaline was pumping in anxiousness for that...but probably the biggest highlight of my day was the email I received while driving to Hutchinson that evening...
     
As many of you know, Blake's country had decided to close all adoptions for approximately 3 months beginning July 11 to reorganize their government adoption entity, hire new staff, and streamline the process...so myself and many other families were dreading this wait, as well as were uncertain what to do with our paperwork we had been working so diligently on in the months before--because there was a good chance the requirements would change and we would have to start this grueling process all over again.  So to sum it all up--it wasn't going to be a 'good' thing.  But we all have been praying and pleading with God to allow this wait to glorify Him, and for His will to be done--even if that meant all of us had to learn some patience.  Well, God came through more than any of us had imagined.  Blake's country voted Friday night not to close adoptions during this changeover process!!!!!!  
    So what this means is...we are quickly trying to finish up those loose ends of paperwork we had remaining and get it sent over to his country.  (before they change their minds) We should hear back from our adoption agency on the status of our homestudy at the end of this week, then when that is edited and finished, we will apply for our USCIS fingerprinting appointment, then after that, we will submit our dossier and homestudy to Blake's government and wait to hear on a court date! 
     What this also means is, we need to get serious about our fundraising...so check out the pictures of items for our next fundraiser coming up July 25-Aug. 3..."This One's for the Kids!"  It will be packed with some great giveaways.