Last and final step

We received word yesterday from our adoption agency that our dossier has officially arrived at the Chinese Consult in Chicago! Words cannot describe how wonderful it was to read those words. As I mentioned in our previous post, authenticating our paperwork with the Chinese Consult is our last and final step in completing our paper chase!! Our agency indicated that the authentication process may take up to two weeks and they expect to have our final documents in hand by December 28!! Our goal was to have our dossier complete before the first of the year and God, who makes all things possible, made it happen!  Praise The Lord for the little victories!

Once our agency has our paperwork, they will hold onto it until February 5, 2016 before submitting it officially to China. As I have mentioned, China requires both parents to be 30 years old before they are allowed to adopt from their country. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but over the course of our (going on) 3 year adoption process, we have learned the importance of patience. God timing, not ours.  And now we are so close! I have never been so excited for time to move faster, as usually I am wanting it to slow down. :-)

As you all know, over the course of these past few months, we have put our fundraising efforts into high gear- selling shirts, bracelets, superhero capes (we still have a few left), having bake sales, canvas and wine painting parties, ect.  We knew that updating our paperwork from an Ethiopia to China was going to cost us extra fees for our home study update, finger print update, and agency fees.  Once our dossier is submitted to China, we will owe the first installment to our agency for their services. This past week, we wrote the check to cover that cost! Praise The Lord once again! In fact, we had exactly the amount we needed with $158 to spare to use toward our next payment!

I felt a strong need to share this today.  I don't like talking about money, as no cost can outweigh the life of a child...but I felt I needed to share this little praise moment to encourage anyone who is looking at taking a leap of faith but are worried about how they will make ends meet.  If you are following a calling, God truly works out every detail.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"
Romans 8:28

It just so happens I stumble across this picture on Facebook yesterday...I'd call it irony but I know irony has nothing to do with it....

So please be encouraged today and know we are serving an amazing, loving and faithful Father.

We will continue to update you as we get closer to February 5th.  Thank you for your support!

God Bless.