It is a Miracle!

Monday was a day I would like to erase from my memory, the day I wished never happened. It has taken me this long to be able to write about it and I still have tears in my eyes.

Our 17 year old had a seizure driving out of our driveway Monday morning. We still can't figure out how his car ended up where it did . We know at some point he hit the house and went flying in reverse into the flower bed in front of our house. Dallas heard the constant honking of his car's horn and went running out to see what was happening. He saw him flying towards the flower bed.

The miracle is he is still alive. He was not injured at all. He hit a tree in the flower bed or else he would have landed on a busy street. The flower bed is slanted like a ramp so his car would have really flown. There are so many other scenarios that would have ended in death.

I am thankful God was watching over him.
Otherwise he would not be with us today. My heart hurts for him and the disappointment he is facing now not being able to drive. He is a great kid and I am sad he has to face the challenges of having seizures. But he is alive and for that I will be eternally grateful!

We just received confirmation of our flights.  It is real this is really going to happen.  It's okay that our flights aren't very good, our airtime is much longer than it should be, and the tickets are quite expensive especially since we had to upgrade to get seats together.  After the flights last year I said never again. We were spread out and it was miserable going and coming home.  It is even okay that we have to spend 2 extra days in China.

I go through this every adoption.  I feel like it is all a dream and can't really be happening to us.

We are really going to China! I am going to have the twins I have dreamed of for as long as I can remember.  Hope they like us.

We are going to China!

It is confirmed!  We leave for China a week from today.  We will meet the boys on May 13.  Wow!  Now if we could just get our international flights.  We have been told by our travel agent that they have been booked but I sure would like to receive the confirmation email.

It has just been so odd.  Another large check that we weren't expecting showed up today.  We continue to be amazed!

Will be posting our itinerary once we get one.  We can't get it until we give them our international flight information.  Hoping it comes soon before the travel agency in China closes for the weekend.

It has to be a God thing

I am not a writer.  Times like this I really wish I was.  I know I can't adequately explain all that God has done for our family during this adoption.  It has truly amazed us all!

This adoption has flown by.  Every step has been faster than normal.  This rarely happens in the world of adoption.  There is no explanation we can give except that this is God's will. He led us to the boys and for some reason wants them home quickly.

At the end of March I started getting really concerned that we weren't going to be able to come up with the rest of the fees in time.  The largest amounts were still to come.  I was almost at my breaking point when the IRS website showed that our refund would be deposited that week.  Praise God!

This last week once again I was getting worried that I would have to get a cash advance on a credit card to pay the fees we have to pay in China.  My prayers became very specific.  Guess what showed up today?  Our refund from the state of North Carolina.  For some unknown reason it was over $1000 more than we thought it would be.  Praise God!

Along the way there have been many other little things that have happened that surprised us and confirmed we are following the correct path.  God is good, all the time!

I have posted this verse before but I am posting it again.  This is definitely the bible verse that best fits the boys' adoption.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Travel Approval

Our travel approval arrived at our agency yesterday, 4/29/2013.  We also received a confirmed Consulate Appointment of 4/23 a few hours ago.  Mixed feelings about this because it means two extra days in China.  The bright side of it is the boys will be with us not in an orphanage.  We still have to wait until May 2 for the provincial offices to open.  The government usually likes 2 weeks notice to process an adoption.  Due to the holiday we are a few days shorts of 2 weeks.  So we can't book flights until it is confirmed on May 2.  I am eager to have everything confirmed.

Secret Pal

The boys received the cutest bears and photo albums in the mail yesterday from my secret pal.  When you press the bear's tummy it lights up and plays music for 10 minutes unless you press it again.  The boys are going to love them.  I need to put a few photos in the albums for the boys.  They will be great to take to China.  The card will looked great framed with the boys' photos.

No TA news yet!  Hoping it will be soon.  If it doesn't come in the next few days then we won't be leaving until May 16.  We would still like to leave May 9 but May 16 is still much sooner than we originally thought we would travel.

Specific Prayer Requests

A few months ago there was a guest pastor preaching at our church.  One of the points of his message was when you pray that your prayers need to be specific.  That is exactly what I have been doing.  God has showed up big time in our adoption of the boys.

I am compiling a list of some of the things I will be praying for over the next few weeks.  If you feel led please pray for us.  I will probably being adding to the list.

1.  The boys
Their whole world is about to be turned upside down.  Please pray for a smooth transition, their hearts to be open to us, and good health.

2.  My sister, Zachary and Me
It will be the three of us traveling to get the boys.  Please pray for good health, strength, and safety.
I am extremely nervous without Dallas going this time.  I know I can do it, I was in Russia with Julia for almost 2 weeks by myself.  I am an introvert and it is difficult for me to be the one in charge.  I will have to be the leader of this pack.  I am confident with God's help I can do it but nonetheless I will be nervous.

3. The nannies at the orphanage who cared for the boys
The boys have been on the Show Hope floor since they arrived at the orphanage as babies.  There are specific nannies they have formed special bonds with.  It is going to be very difficult for them to see the boys leave.

4.  Alyssa
She spends everyday with me.  It is going to be very difficult for her without me here.  This is the first time she would have been away from me for more than a couple of hours.  When Mommy comes home she will have two little boys about her size with her.  This is going to be hard for Alyssa.  Her world is being turned upside down too.  Praying for her to accept the boys and that they all get along.

5. Julia, Grace, Nicholas, and Kristopher
They will be without Mom for 2 weeks.  Dallas will do a great job but it just isn't the same without Mom there.

6.  Dallas
He will have all the responsibilities on him while I am gone plus working full time.  He will also be concerned about all of us in China.