God Math

Don't you just love God Math?

If you're not familiar what I'm talking about, it's when your budget, and brain say "this is not possible - we will not make it. We can not afford it"

And then God does his "God Math" and all the sudden it is possible, you will make it, and you can afford it... not because of something you've done - but by some mind-boggling way God has afforded it to you.

Well, we've had some serious God Math over here.

Just days after my last post, lamenting about why He wasn't blessing us with finances - He was just about to!

Some how when we had our foster kids, and life was impossibly busy, I (crazy budgeter, check book always balanced, bills always paid, me - some how paid our mortgage two times, on two different months!

I know - how do you not notice that!?

How did I of all people not notice that!?

Well, some how I didn't, and God did his God Math - and we don't have a mortgage due until August, because I already paid it!

HALLELUJAH!

That leaves us with about $7,552 to fundraise.

We'd love to travel in October - so that's about 13-14 weeks from now.

Its such a scary number, but I just have to believe that God will work it out.

If He can do this with out me being aware - He can do anything!

Later:

Well we got slammed with some unexpected bills that ate up this month's mortgage. So, that makes me sad. But, still - God knew it was coming - and he provided. Wether it goes to Olive or keeping us current on unexpected bills - it's all in His hands.

Still Waiting

We're still doing a lot of waiting around here.

We're waiting for paperwork,

Waiting for appointments,

Waiting for Olive's cardiology notes to be translated...

We've had a lot of "duds" for fundraisers.

Our Garage sale this past week didn't do well.

And this week we were suppose to have a "Parent's Night Out" and no one signed up...

I'm not sure what God's plan is in this - you'd think that He'd reach out His Mighty Hand and bless us in our efforts.

But, He is not.

Sometimes I get discouraged because of it - but I'm trying to believe that He has a purpose for this that will bless us more than finances in this minute would.

But, Cara and Doug have blessed us yet again with another picture of our little girl.

Isn't she just so beautiful.

I wish with every part of my being that I could go over there right now and get her.

It literally hurts my heart that I can't.

I wish that God would just have mercy on us, and spare us all of this process, and make some wonderful, amazing way that we could just go get her NOW!

But, He wont - and we'll wait. And she'll wait. And We'll continue to have faith that He's working, and it's the best for everyone - even though bringing her home tomorrow sounds better to me.

Cara and Doug delivered Olive the blanket that I made her. I am so thrilled!

And even better - she got a picture of Olive!

It's such a treat.

It makes my whole week!

She was being 'stealth' while taking the picture, so Olive's not looking at the camera, and she's in physical therapy!

I was so glad to hear that!

She is in the room with Cara and Doug's daughter every day - so they get to peek at her when they go in!

Home Study Visits Done

We are officially done with our home study visits!

We have to get a few medical releases signed, my birth certificates came in yesterday, and then we have all the paperwork she needs!

I found out good news that we can send out dossier over before our USCIS approval, and so our next step is getting that finished and getting the translation fee.

We hope to have a good garage sale this weekend, so prayers over that would be welcomed!

Fostering...

Thanks to our lovely babysitter Julie, we had a very productive day yesterday.

We got a ton of our documents needed for our home study and our dossier.

We also go to watch part of our foster son's visit with his parents.

Let me tell you - fostering is not for the faint of heart.

It hurts to see someone else hurt - even if they screwed up a million times.

I struggle with grace sometimes, and I definitely experienced it yesterday watching that visit.

Anyway, we are busy around here, per usual.

Immediate concerns are getting a truckload of rocks from our driveway to our pool, getting design work done for fliers, and getting the house ready for our home study visit with Olive's social worker.

Mini Update

Not much of an update, other than to update us that we should get an update soon.
J. has Olive's cardiology appt's notes and is getting them translated.
I'm very happy that we'll be able to see them!
Although we'll be reading the report in English - I'm sure I'll still need help understanding them.

We were expecting to finish our home study tonight, but we are waiting on some paperwork,
and our SW's kids are sick.
So, we're rescheduled until next week.
Hopefully by then we'll have all the paperwork for our home study done, and even more of our dossier requirements done.

We are still trying to raise funds to have all our USCIS application fees.
We're in that in-between time where we've already burned through our savings, and haven't started earning the wedding money yet.

We sent out a blanket for Olive with another family who is adopting from her country.
We are so grateful to Cara for doing that for us.
They're going to see if they're allowed to get a picture of Olive with it. I hope they can!

So, I'm reading the Bible this morning...
I came across this passage:

Matthew 19:16-30 (Amplified Bible)

And behold, there came a man up to Him, saying, Teacher, what excellent and perfectly and essentially good deed must I do to possess eternal life?
And He said to him, Why do you ask Me about the perfectly and essentially good?
There is only One Who is good [perfectly and essentially]--God.
If you would enter into the Life, you must continually keep the commandments.
He said to Him, What sort of commandments? [Or, which ones?]
And Jesus answered, You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.
The young man said, I have observed all these from my youth; what still do I lack?
Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven and come, be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me].
But when the young man heard this, he went away sad (grieved and in much distress), for he had great possessions.
And Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven.
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven.
When the disciples heard this, they were utterly puzzled (astonished, bewildered), saying, Who then can be saved?
But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.
Then Peter answered Him, saying, Behold, we have left [our] all and have become Your disciples. What then shall we receive?
Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, in the new age [the Messianic rebirth of the world], when the Son of Man shall sit down on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
And anyone and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My name's sake will receive many [even a hundred] times more and will inherit eternal life.
But many who [now] are first will be last [then], and many who [now] are last will be first [then].

It makes you think "How many possessions do I have?"
You can do all the right things and keep all the commandments, and still have a deep issue of coveting posessions that will keep us from fully following and enjoying God and what He has for us.
I don't think it's wrong to enjoy or own nice things, but I think He's talking about a heart condition.
Would you be willing to give up many or all of your 'things' to follow Jesus' or God's calling?

This passage spoke to me and our adoption specifically.
Sometimes I get grumbly seeing other people getting their hair done, or buying nice new things, and going out to eat all the time.
Let's be real here - usually I end up either thinking "all that money your spending could be saving someone else's life!" and getting all self-righteous.
Or I end up getting jealous and thinking how easy it would be to just say "what ever" to this adoption, and go out like what seems to be everyone else and spend my money on what ever I wanted - and get my cable back, and go out to eat all the time, and have nice food in the house, and get some new clothes.
But, this passage is both convicting and comforting all at once.
Convicting - because why would I even feel that way!? Who NEEDS cable, and clothes, and fancy food? I'm taken care of. I have what I NEED. And I am so blessed. And what a brat I am to walk around whining and wanting those things. Comforting because just as this passage says: "And anyone and everyone who has left houses... or lands (material possessions) for My name's sake will receive many [even a hundred] times more and will inherit eternal life.
But many who [now] are first will be last [then], and many who [now] are last will be first [then]."

It's hard to not have a bad attitude about resources, when you're in our position. But, I'm trying - and I'm glad I came across this, this morning.

And it makes me joyful to those that are on the same page as us, and are adopting, or giving away their resources sacrificially so others can. Go you! Not only are the children blessed, but so are you.

And on a completely unrelated note - Ethan has peed on the potty three times today!

Feeling Blessed

I haven't blogged in a few days because I've been feeling a little stressed.
We've been buried under paper for foster care and our adoption, not to mention trying to chase after 3 kids under 3.
Add that to two failed fundraisers, a possible diagnosis of MS for my mom, and broken sleep from a teething, gassy 1 year old - and you've got a sour woman on your hands.
I've started going down the thought process of "am I praying the wrong things?", "where are You, God?".
And things like "why aren't the doors opening", and comparing our journey to others who are doing "better", and by that I mean raising more money, or have more money to spend, or whose paperwork is seeming to come easy.
I start questioning if we're doing what God wants, or if there's something I'm not doing, etc.
I'm not saying that any of these thought processes make any sense, or hold any truth to them - or even that I feel that way often.
But, I've been a bit grumpy the last few days.
And God has graciously spoke to me tonight - and eased my anxiety.
He's showed me to trust Him and His timing, and to stop trying to figure our His ways before He's ready to show them to me.
I'm having a hard time learning this.
But, I am feeling blessed tonight.
We have gotten two donations that really mean a lot more than what they are.
They are God's way of saying "I've got it" to me, and calming my spirit.

Thank You, God. Thank you so much for giving me that sweet reminder that this is all in your very capable hands. Thank you for understanding my need to SEE things happen in order to not be discouraged, and being so lavish in providing me that reassurance the way you did.
I am so blessed and spoiled, and in awe of your perfect timing.