After a bit of a hiatus, I am here to fill you in on family plans and hopes. This news has been floating around our facebook page, and I hope to update on this blog, or start a new blog for this process. For now, I welcome you to read this detailed family update on our plans:
A few times recently the question of us adopting a sibling for Phoebe, from China, has come up. The timely length of the process has come up, and I was thinking it would be good to give an update, a prayer reminder, and show a timeline for friends who may have questions about this process; firstly, we are personally still raising a certain goal of funds that Kevin and I have decided in prayer before we take any more official steps. We are q-u-i-t-e a ways off from this planned goal. It is important to note that we consider that this adoption would be an absolute miracle, so we covet your prayers and support. It will take even LONGER than an average process (average which is a little over a year, to a year and a half or longer if you hit some bumps in the road like we did with paper work for Phoebe's adoption-- and take into consideration, short of a surprise-financial-windfall, that this would take longer than a year and a half to two years) I was looking for a clear description of the adoption process, that boils it down even more clearly "in a nutshell" than it really is (you know what I mean, so many nuances and bumps in reality) So, with this in mind, I plan to cite some blogs and other internet sites on upcoming blog posts for anyone who is looking for some internet reading, or who is simply interested. Keep a look out for those the coming days, weeks, months! I plan to target things like timelines, and descriptions of the process.
You can think of us currently as if we are planning a pregnancy, so I think of it as "figuratively dreaming of another baby/child", which I think protects my heart a bit. Basically, we are chatting, planning, and considering our options for fundraisers. Honestly, not much nesting, or other excitement yet. ;) But, YES, much in the way of HOPE.
Pausing for a note on fundraising: we had a successful craft sale in our home, and with a follow up auction on fb. There are plans for more fundraisers, which hope to be fun and a blessings to our friends, family, and internet community as well. Thank you SO much to our contributors and shoppers!!!!! We love you!!!!
Once we are more in process you can consider us "paper pregnant". And if this time is anything like Phoebe's paper pregnancy, it was scary, daunting, fun, and exciting like most pregnancies and adoptions are; I was certainly nesting, doing **loads** of paper work for our agency, for China, for Homeland Security, lots of medical appointments which included a few blood tests and physicals, feeling excited and nervous, literally dreaming of little one at night with vivid dreams, thinking about names, setting up her bedroom and crib, enjoying baby showers, etc.
Thanks all for your support, for those of you who have prayed, enjoyed fundraisers, sent checks with loving notes, and more. Please, understanding that this is a very long process for people in our situation, even so, we need your caring support now, so keep up the supportive comments, the prayers each day for us, and follow along even if the updates are more far apart at this time. Hopefully in time, according to the Lord's will, we will keep inching forward.
I'm prayerful about a certain part time job soon, and there is something possibly in the works that could be a real blessing. This will help us make our tight household ends meet if it comes to fruition, plus it would be something "for me" which is a love of mine, and I am hopeful for news soon.
Kevin and I have prayed that kev would receive over-time to help with the adoption (which sometimes means that money will help us catching up on house bills and medical bills, which does in turn help the adoption fund, too) After a dry spell, he did receive some over time, with hopes of more, so we consider this answer to prayer.
No matter what, we want you to be more aware of the plight of the orphans, praying for them, supporting other families who are adopting, or agencies. Reach out to ask me questions at any time; I will try to answer, or get you in touch with the right person. Our adoption fund is growing slowly but **surely**, (He, Jesus, is showing us a gradual growth, and answer to prayers along the way, with MANY spiritual markers!! I am a fan of those markers ;) ) We hope these moneys can bring our child home to us, but if that ultimately is not God's plan then the fruits of that fund will go to help another orphan.
Blessings, Lynette
PS:
In the meantime, since we have last blogged, we have moved about 45 minutes away from our old home, have been doing lots of projects in our fixer upper '64 spit level home, and simply living life with its ups, downs, and daily walk.
Here are a few recent pics of Phoebe, so my blog pals can see how she has grown! :) She is amazing, smart, and always our JOY! She is in preschool a couple days a week, adores her teachers & friends, and will be 4 years old soon. I cannot even wrap my mind around that news. 4! Time flies.
