Paperwork Done

We have finished all the paperwork on our side. We now wait as there are two families ahead of us in the process who are going soon to get their kids. As soon as they are done our kids in the DRC will fly to the capitol to get passports and visas. When they are done we will get our visas and plan to go and receive our children.

It has been a process that we have seen God's hand throughout. We are continuing to pray that He will workout the details and provide for all who are involved. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Proverbs 16:9- Thanks Pastor Paul

Proverbs 16:9 "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

We have made the journey to Tahoe for an annual vacation with our good friends the Andersons. As we are so close in the adoption process and wait for referrals from the orphanage we begin to plan for the future. Pastor Paul shared with us recently, and I've been thinking about his comment, man makes a plan but God guides his steps. We know that each and every day is only by the will of God. As I think at this annual event for our family, there is a real possibility of having one or two more will be joining our family for next year's annual vacation. The thought starts to bring some focus in on our adoption journey.

This adventure has taken us in and out of potential adoption possibilities; foster-adopt, to a few potential private adoptions, and back-and-forth through each even looking at adopting internationally. And even now as I reflect it's all been in preparation from God to prepare us (heart mind and soul) for the things he has in store for us. Another thing that has my mind going was a video Kiana shared with me about the book Kisses from Katie. That with a friend that is in the Congo saying any kid would be fortunate and a blessing. So I am hopeful of the things God has planned for us. For now- Proverbs 16:9 will be our plan. Planning but allowing God to guide us.

Good Time with Friends

It was good to house some friends from Placerville up for the weekend. We hung out had a good time.
Both these families were in our original Bible study or than 12 years ago. Of course that was before kids for all of us. It was great to see the kids hang out and play and have a good time, also

Waiting for Finger Prints

We had to go to Sacramento a few weeks ago to the office of Homeland Security for another set of fingerprinting. Just waiting for another step in the process.

UPDATE- We got our approved I-600A!! 

To Mexico for Short Term Mission Trip Day 1

We are heading to Mexico with YWAM to work to an orphanage for the next 6 days.

We hope to serve and to show our kids another world that exist and how many in our world don't have much. We are open to what ever God will do.

Today is a travel day. Flight to San Diego and 5 hours driving into Mexico.

As Time Goes By...New Year- New Hope

We have had a lot of ups and downs since our last post. The twins went to another family. Sounded like a good family, a couple married for over 10 years who could not have children of their own. So although we were a bit sad we pray for them and rejoice for the opportunity and the decisive answer to pray for clear open and closed doors.
We then saw wonderful little Matteus come home to our good friends the Layton's and followed their journey of adoption from the Congo. Some of the things such as cost and if the orphanage would continue to take in infants and young children where all in question. So we turned back to foster-adopt possibilities.
We went to an informational class and made an appointment with a social worker. She was very nice and said we may be happier with private adopt action as foster-adopt may not be a good fit for us. The process of providing foster care for up to a year to only have the court return the child back to the life that brought them to us in the first place would be very difficult for us.
About this time in November (2011) another opportunity like the twins came. We went through an interview process and Kiana had a feeling that this probably wouldn't workout. She was right, and after many unanswered emails we found out the the mother decided to keep the baby boy.
Feeling discouraged and thinking God was obviously telling us that this was not for us; we should be happy with two wonderful children we have, a new twist came.
The second week of December the family we are renting our house from in Paradise, showed up and presented us with our November rent check to be used towards our adoption process.
Now with renewed hope (and lots of encouragement from the Layton's) and a changed heart from a sibling pair we saw from the Congo, we have returned to the Congo adoption process. The "changed heart" is that we would even considering older children.
Today we sent off our home study paper work. We will see what things God has in store for us. The pic is Marleine and Michel (children on left and right) God used in the process to change our hearts on age of the children. We don't know if it may be them or some other children, but we hope to possibly have two.