Oh Mercy...So much to say...

We're still in shock of getting our LOA is 38 days! I was praying for 80!!!! LOL... God knew a better plan for sure.

Thank you all for your sweet comments about our LOA and my father in law.

As of now, it looks like he had a mild stroke (no paralysis, thank you LORD) and all of his tests came back good so we're praying he could be heading home this week. I can't tell you how much all your prayers and emails meant to both CJ and I, it humbled us knowing you all were praying and we thank you all!!

So yesterday, our LOA came in FED EX and reality started to hit me...HARD... I need to get my booty MOVIN! I still have to get her room ready and making purchases for our TRAVEL!!!! Oh goodness, I can't believe the road we've been on for the past 13 months. I look back on all the events that has taken place in order to give Madelyn a forever loving home and I am simply humbled and in awe... This was not the work of ours hands but God's and God's alone. NO WAY do we take any credit for getting us through what we believe was and still is a spiritual battle and I know it happens in every adoption because the enemy does not want the orphan to become a son or daughter to a forever family so when your heart is open for adoption (or anything the Lord is calling you to) BE PREPARED for the enemy to attack! I'm not trying to be dramatic or over exaggerate this, I'm telling you from experience as present as God is , the enemy is too. Hold on tight to the Lord and be prepared for the ride of your life!!

This scripture verse is so precious to me (and I'm sure to many of you too), it has helped me in so many areas of my life.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"- Phillippians 4:13


So now, I ask you again my friends for prayers. Please pray for God to prepare Madelyn's heart for our arrival. I have no idea how she is going to respond to leaving the only life she has known for 8 years, I know it's going to be a roller coaster of emotions and adjustments for her and for us too. I noticed my girls are really starting to ask questions so we've had several talks the last couple of days. Linzhi can't wait for her "Chinese sister with Arthrogryposis"! Oh how grateful I am that they will have each other to identify with, someone who understands and someone that looks like you in so many ways. I can't wait to see how that relationship develops!! My Rachel is all over the place, she's nervous about us leaving because she remembers when we went the first time and then she's so excited to get her big sister and thrilled at the idea of helping mama teach her ABC's and 123's in English. I asked Linzhi if she was excited to help Madelyn learn English and her response "no, not really" LOL... =) Then there's Trevor, my boy. He is beyond excited to go to China with us and I am thrilled he'll be there too. You mark my words, Madelyn is going to attach to him easily, he is such a great big brother and all the kids love him. I wouldn't be surprised if Trevor is the link to getting Madelyn adjusted, I'm just sayin... It's my motherly intuition.

I'm not going to be blogging while in China however, I will be using the services of Joe and Jen at www.myadoptionwebsite.com I'm actually working on the text and pulling pictures so hopefully it will be ready soon. WOW! Is this really happening again?!?!?!? I.AM.GOING.TO.CHINA...SOON!!!! YIPPEE JESUS!!! (AS Linny would say), I love that! Sorry if I'm all over the board here, I'm sort of freaking out, in a good way!

So financially adoption is expensive. We had a successful fundraiser last May and we still have that money tucked away but I noticed things have come up and our savings has gone down a bit. I'm not one to worry about money, I believe if we are faithful and keep our end of the deal that He provides. Well, once we got our LOA, I started looking at things like the $5400 orphanage donation, travel, spending money, etc... My heart sank thinking WOW, not sure we have enough to cover everything... Oh Lord, what will we do?? I call CJ and tell him how I've been adding everything up and that we're coming up short..."What are we going to do" came out of my mouth next. And his response still makes me giddy! He told me to go look in his high school year book on his closet shelf. So I did and to my utter shock, there was a stash of money my hubby's been saving for the adoption for over 9 months!!!! So, We are good to go! Thank you Lord putting it on his heart to save!!

Well, I'm off to FED EX. I need to overnight our "signed" LOA and all the other documents that need to be sent out so we can travel!!!

SOMEONE PLEASE PINCH ME!!!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!