Down syndrome play group - Grand Rapids

We have been going to a play group for people who have children with Down syndrome two wednesdays a month here in Grand Rapids...

It is such a wonderful group.

We are so blessed to be a part of it.

Every time we go, we are greeted and embraced by people who are genuinely supportive and interested in our adoption process.

It's so lovely, and such a blessing.

Every time we go, we are less and less afraid of the thought,

"what are we getting ourselves in to!?"

Remember we didn't choose to adopt a little girl with Down syndrome - God showed us, and we followed...

It can be intimidating sometimes.

But, after 3.5 books (and a dozen to go!) - and spending time with these people's gorgeous, wonderful, little children - we are realizing that kids with DS are soooo much more like 'typical/normal' children that you'd ever realize.

And we're realizing just how blessed we are to have been picked, and trusted to parent one of these angels.

Every time we go, it is bitter sweet.

We go to see a glimpse of our future, and we get to see our daughter's face in their kids.. and it's also hard because it makes me miss Olive so much.

It makes me yearn to hold her and kiss her chubby little hands, and big cheeks.

But, every time we go, we leave feeling refreshed.

It confirms in us that this is what God has for us, and we are thrilled, excited, and eager to be a part of this community of families with children who have DS.

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.

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.

Going with a different agency...

We have chosen a different agency because we are getting a reduced fee due to our previous Foster HS! Yay!!
We are still waiting on Olive's SW in her country to give us the OK.

We're praying that she accepts our initial profile, and let's us know quickly.
Hopefully we'll get new pictures of her from the facilitator when we get approved, and hopefully some video from a family who is traveling there to get their little one soon.

I can not wait!

I am so excited to get new pictures of her, and even more excited about the prospect of getting some video!

To see her move, to see her interact - even if it's not me...

To see that she is okay (Lord, please!) will mean so much to me...

Hope Community

We just got good news about our adoption process.
The issue we thought we were going to have to jump hurdles for - wasn't even mentioned in our first home study!
and isn't an issue at all!
Hallelujah!

That means that as soon as our Initial Family Profile is accepted by Olive's social worker in her country,
We can send in our commitment money, and officially start the process here!

We have the commitment money for Olive,
and will be short for our Home Study Fee's
But, I'm confident that God will work it out.
Either by the many items we have to sell, a wedding contract, a forgotten rebate, extra money in the budget...
How ever He does it, it's always a surprise, and it's always so good, and so God!

Great News!

God has heard us, and he has answered!
Thank you Lord! you are so wonderful!

We received the most wonderful news today!
From our state-side coordinator:

"Our facilitator is taking new commitments again. She has 2 families that will be traveling in May...possibly 3. We've had one new comittment this month, with 2 more expected in the next week if things go well. So, the program is moving forward. They "close" in the summer because the adoption officials go on vacation, so after May, no new dossiers can be sent to Serbia until September. But, that gives you pleanty of time to get everything done.
I will send your family profile to our facilitator and have her ask Olive's social worker to approve you. As soon as we have an official approval, that will be when you send the promise trust money to Andrea and are marked "matched".
Our facilitator said that Olive's paper work has already been started to register her for international adoption and she's expecting it to be completed soon. So, she will be happy to know that a family is ready to commit to her.
I'll send your family profile tonight and let you know as soon as I hear anything."

Thank you Lord!

Lord, I know my faith has waivered. I've sobbed, and grieved, not trusting you to pull through. But, you are GOD. And I'm learning that. Thank you for so much grace. Thank you for Olive. Thank you for bringing us another daughter. Lord, please forgive me of my sins, and my overly emotional heart. Please protect Olive as she waits for us. Prepare her heart for a momma and a daddy, a sister and a brother. Comfort and protect her as she waits. And Lord, please protect our process. Please help things to go smoothly, and bless those who have blessed us. Amen

Slowly but Surely!

Things are slowly but surely creeping along.
One really exciting thing is that Olive is officially 'ON HOLD' for us!
We sent in our electronic copy of our Family Sponsorship Profile to RR today. It's a way to enable anyone who comes across RR to read a bio about our family, and donate to our travel and in-country costs in tax-deductible way.
We are going to prepare the paper application and send that in this afternoon.
As soon as we get our Initial Family Profile accepted we're going to be sending in our commitment money to officially be matched with Olive!
We are using our tax refund $ to pay for our commitment to Olive.
That was a huge financial obsticle.
Now we need to raise funds to get our homestudy done.
But, God is moving there too.

We have initiated contact with our foster agency, and they are licensed to do international home studies, and will do ours!

We might even get a reduced fee because we've already had a foster home study done with in the last year!
They are a small department of DAB and don't do many international home studies, and since we've already got a head start on ours because of fostering, we could get it done pretty quickly here!

We have been so blessed in just the 2 weeks since we've started.
We have raised $312 in donations so far!
Karl and I are also eating frugally, and saving that towards Olive's adoption too.
We have $40 set aside so far.
I have also been blessed with an opportunity to clean my mother in law's for a couple hours a week to earn extra money towards saving Olive as well.

God is so good!

We are praying for Olive - that she is being loved on, that she is healthy, and that God is over her. Also for us - that our Initial Family Profile will be accepted soon so we can get the ball rolling on our home study...

Another generous donator!

It's amazing what God can do in just a few days!
We have had a mom-owned business tell us that she is going to be donating TWO $29.99 gift certificates to help save Olive.