More updates!

WOW! Things seem to be moving rather fast all of a sudden!

NVC letter came yesterday!!! My Favorite part of the letter is this..

"This case has been forwarded to:"

Guangzhou
People's Republic of CH*NA!!!!!!!

I am soooo excited to get back to China! I have so much love in my heart for the people of that nation. In the mail with our NVC we received a beautiful, eye opening letter from our dear friend Rod about the Christianity movement going on in that country. I will post the entire letter once we're back from China.

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Our sweet Linzhi Rose is schedule for her first surgery at Shriners Hospital on August 25th. I already have a lump in my throat. It's scary but we're so grateful God is right there with her and we trust and believe HE is in total control. Mama's heart is overwhelmed with emotion when it comes to one of her chicks getting ready to face a trial of life. I know there are so many mother's and father's facing much more with their kids so I am very grateful for Arthrogryposis.

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Next week is our big garage sale to help raise additional $$$ for our adoption. Our orphanage donation went up...YIKES... Good thing God already has it figured out, I can't wait to see how the extra money is raised, I always love watching His plan unfold even in trying times. He knows best!

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That's all the updates but I want to add one more thing. I want to keep it real here so here goes...

We are truly overwhelmed at how the Lord totally delivered us through all the trials of this adoption process. So there is never a doubt in our minds that this child is meant to be ours. These are just my thoughts here, I'm not going to speak for CJ... So here goes... I am getting a bit anxious along with all of the excitement. There are nights where I cannot sleep because I am praying and thinking of what lies ahead for Madelyn and our family. My prayers are more directed to Madelyn than anything else. I think about her at 8 1/2, living the life that is "normal" for her, all she's ever known. Then here we come speaking a language she doesn't know, looking completely different than anyone in her circle and then TAKING her from her familiar world. Oh my heart! It breaks every time I think of what she will be facing very soon. Honestly, the bravery of these children humble my heart in so many ways. As excited as we are to go to China and FINALLY see our child, it's bittersweet because of the loss she will face. Good or bad, it's her life and she will grieve for a long time. I know the Lord is near her and loving her so much more than anyone can. I praise the Lord, the creator of heaven and Earth, The Lord of the seen and unseen, our savior, the One who gave it all ...Is right there with us, all of us! For the good and bad He is there. What a relief! I pray Madelyn will know the peace of God and seek Jesus as the savior of her life. All those souls needing to know about Jesus, needing forever families, Madelyn is one of 147 million. Can you believe that number????? 147 MILLION orphans needing forever mama's and daddy's. If you have it in your heart to bring a child into your home to love and nurture, please don't wait another minute. There is NEVER a right time and there will NEVER be enough money, but GOD is so very faithful and will bless you in so many ways, ways you could never imagine. You will never be the same. Pray about it, ask Him to move your heart if you're stuck...And then get ready, buckle up! It's going to be an amazing ride!!!!!

God bless,
Amy

Quick update

Just a little update on the adoption front...



Last Thursday we received our I-800 approval from USCI$!!!! It only to 2 weeks!! So now we're expecting our NVC letter any day,then it's time to wait for our Article 5, then our TRAVEL APPROVAL. Our adoption agency told us last week to prepare to travel in 8 weeks! All in God's time. =)



Things are soooo busy here at home and I have neglected my blog big time! The school year is coming to a close so this week we have to outside picnics so it should be a great time and next week we're having a adoption fundraiser garage sale so it's been nuts!



I have (almost) completed my shopping list for China. I am not bringing nearly as much as I did the first time around. I decided I'm only going to bring a few clothing items for Madelyn like PJ's and a couple of summer dresses, slippers, undies, etc... I just can't wait to take her shopping!!!



This week I'm ordering one last cake for the orphanage and I'm paying the extra $$ for digital pics so hopefully in the next week or two I'll be able to post our beautiful girl. I just got chills!!! This is the last time I'll receive pictures of her, soon it will be me taking the pictures (or daddy)!!



TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!

Madelyn's Website is up!!

When we traveled for our sweet Linzhi Rose, we created a website to log our travels through Joe and Jen at My adoption website. They do such a fantastic job creating beautiful "life books" for our girls that I had to do it again for Madelyn. Here's the link if you would like to check it out!!

http://www.myadoptionwebsite.com/madelyn/

*Adoption update*
Today, we received our I-800 approval from immigration!!!! Whoo hoo!! Another box checked off!!! It's getting closer and closer ... I'm feeling July!!!!

Enjoy your week!

Catchin up!

Everytime I try to get to my computer to do a post, something comes up and I'm side tracked!! There is a lot going on here so I thought now would be a great time to do an update!

We made a HUGE decision this week for our kids. We have decided after much prayer that next school year, I will home school the girls! If you know me, this is a thought I have entertained but came up with more cons than pros to move forward. Recently, as we began to discuss school for both Linzhi Rose and Madelyn, I had a nagging pit of anxiousness in my stomach that would not go away. All the "What if's" kept running through my head like, Madelyn's mobility, language barriers, bonding, all the stairs she would have to climb (she has arthrogryposis in her left leg) not to mention my Linzhi Lu that needs bathroom assistance, just to name a few...SO many o' nights I was on bended knees asking the Lord to reveal to us the best game plan for our three little girls...? Trevor is home schooled but all his classes are online so I'm not teaching him, just monitoring as he goes along so the idea of teaching my littles to read and write has intimdated me so the thought of home schooling was an idea I kept way way way in the back of my mind. Last week, I finally admitted my fears and prayed hard for direction AND let me tell you folks, the answer to my prayers came super fast! WOW! I was shocked, but not surprised. I know the Lord takes care of His flock and my little girls are His flock as we all are. He knows what's best for them and how to have all their school needs met and the answer is here at home surrounded by love and safety and CJ is totally on board as well...actually he's pretty relieved too!! I have dreaded the idea of trying to figure things out for Madelyn at school. Since they would have gone to a private school most likely we would have to have hired a private aide for both girls not to mention $700 dollars a month for all three girls tuition. Don't get me wrong, we LOVE Rachel's school and strongly support it and we would have made it work if that's what we felt was best but knowing we have another option is so heart warming for CJ and me. All the things I feared about teaching has "left the building" I've been given so much peace about this decision that my wheels are spinning on all the ideas for the upcoming school year. This coming week we are going to start and finish Madelyn's bedroom and then it's off to putting our classroom together!! Thank God we have the space to have an actual classroom so we feel totally blessed! I'm in the market now for three little desks and some other odds and ends. I can't wait to get started and plan on blogging about our jounrney through home school!

Another exciting project I'm working on with the help of my mother in law Sharon, is a fundraiser garage sale!!! We've asked friends and family if they wish to donate items to sell to raise funds for our upcoming travels and the increase in the orphanage donation fee we just found put about...sigh... Anyway, I pray we do well, I have a ton of stuff I need to get rid of and lots of people have offered to help. Thank you all!! If you live in my area, please come over to shop!! We'll be open on Thursday May 27th and Friday May 28th. For more info, you can email me at
corzine03@hotmail.com

On Friday, I receieved a letter for immigration that they have recieved and are processing our I-800 paperwork for Miss Madelyn...We're getting closer and closer everyday!

Trevor went to prom this weekend with his friend Katelyn. I am so proud of my boy, he is such a sweet gentleman and is so thoughtful when it comes to taking care of his date for the evening. I feel so blessed to call him my son. All my kids are true treasures from above, I PRAISE God he trusts me with His children. Below are some pictures from his weekend!!

I had a wonderful mother's day filled with precious homemade and thoughtful gifts! Church was great and our lunch was "interesting" but we made it fun and it was a perfect day for this mama... My cup overflows tonight. My heart is full.



Trevor and Kaitlyn...Prom 2010
Our mother's day lunch
Mom and Son.
Group sho( it was very crowded and I had a very bad angle)
Kaitlyn's dress was gorgeous! My son looked awesome in his tux!