It was a long day, but we made it! The 5k, Run For A Son, that our small group organized and put on for our adoption was a success! The weather was perfect and everything went really well. We will never be able to thank our small group enough for doing this for us. We raised over $2500 through this race....and we discovered that Teresa has the gift to be a race coordinator. So a big shout-out to Aaron & Teresa, Steve & Nadia, Hector & Claudia, Omar & Julie, Steve & Janice, and Dave, Kimi, & Haylee! You guys are awesome!!!
Pictures of Race Day will follow as soon as I get some. I am so smart that I brought my camera to the race to chronicle everything, but didn't put the newly charged battery back into the camera.
That's what happens on 6 hours of sleep.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
1 task down, a BUNCH to go
We had our final home study visit today-this means that the house will go back to its normal state of disarray. Just kidding! We've actually been doing a really good job lately keeping up with things, so it has stayed much cleaner. I am truly trying to make a life change in keeping on top of the house, because when Max comes home, things are just going to get crazier.
But tonight is a time to celebrate and relax. We are finished with one small part of our adoption process-there is MUCH that follows, but at least I can mark one thing off my list. Now I will be focusing on our Dossier. The dossier is a huge file of information about all areas of our life. We will include background checks, medical exams (no fudging on my weight), financial statements, DNA samples (just kidding). Basically, it is to prove that we are who we say we are, and that we are fit to adopt. So if you call get a call asking for a reference, lie! Make us look good (again, kidding).
But tonight is a time to celebrate and relax. We are finished with one small part of our adoption process-there is MUCH that follows, but at least I can mark one thing off my list. Now I will be focusing on our Dossier. The dossier is a huge file of information about all areas of our life. We will include background checks, medical exams (no fudging on my weight), financial statements, DNA samples (just kidding). Basically, it is to prove that we are who we say we are, and that we are fit to adopt. So if you call get a call asking for a reference, lie! Make us look good (again, kidding).
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
3 Days and Counting......
Only 3 days until Run For A Son! I cannot believe it's almost here. We have been busily preparing all the last minute details. The funny thing is, we have absolutely no idea how many people will be there. We had almost 50 people pre-register, but we feel that there will be more people who register on the day of. So it's kind of like when you have a party and only some people RSVP. You have no idea what to expect. But the great thing about all of this is that God knows how many people will be there. He already has a plan for this event and it will be a success whether we have 50 runners, or 500 (Lord help us if we have 500 cause we will be short lots of porta-potties!).
Anyway-if you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and you feel like being outdoors on Saturday, please join us at River Legacy park in Arlington. Registration starts at 7, the race starts at 8. It's going to be a beautiful morning! Come help us Run For A Son!
Anyway-if you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and you feel like being outdoors on Saturday, please join us at River Legacy park in Arlington. Registration starts at 7, the race starts at 8. It's going to be a beautiful morning! Come help us Run For A Son!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The Miracle of Max
It has been quite a roller coaster the past 2 weeks. Just when you think things are mundane, God shakes them up!
We have been waiting for some time for news regarding a request that was made on our behalf to have the file of a particular little boy placed with our adoption agency. We were into week 4 of waiting for any news when God placed in motion a chain of events that may prove to be life-changing.
We had already been experiencing a hard week, due to the unexpected death of Jason's grandmother. On the morning that we should have doing our first home study visit with our social worker, I was bathing the baby to get her ready to stay with a friend of mine while I attended the funeral of Jason's grandmother. While Madeline was in the bathtub, I received a phone call from Jason on my cell phone while the home phone began ringing off the hook. Jason had received an email from a friend of ours in China (as did many of you!) that concerned the little boy we had been praying to adopt. His file had been sent to a completely different adoption agency while we had been waiting to hear if it would be sent to ours. The email went on to explain that we needed to act fast to switch agencies and get matched. Our emotions were frantic. Not only had his file not been matched with our agency, but it had been matched with a completely different agency altogether. Would this prove to be the miracle that we had been waiting for, or would it close the door shut on our pursuit of the little boy we wanted to adopt?
With a naked baby splashing water all over me, I proceeded to call the new agency to find out any information on our little guy. When I finally got through, I was in tears as I explained our situation. I had no idea what to expect from the agency being that they knew nothing of us and we knew even less about them. But almost immediately, I could see God's hand on the situation. I quickly asked the most important question-whether our little boy was even still available. Our fear was that another family had seen his picture and his information and fallen in love with him like we had and moved to match with him, all before we even knew he had been listed there. I held my breath after I had given his information and waited for their response...... He was available. He had not been matched up to a family. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! I told them everything as quickly as I could and spoke with several people over the course of the conversation. They agreed to put him on hold and take us on as clients. We realize what a miracle it was that he was put with an agency in the United States. If it had been in another country, then we would not have been able to proceed. Plus, our new agency is unashamedly Christian. AMAZING! Everyone that I spoke to on the phone recognized and verbalized that God's hand was all over this.
So in less than 30 minutes I was able to switch adoption agencies and get this heart-stealing little boy put on hold with us. The stipulation was that I had one week to return all the contracts and necessary paperwork and..............send in a check for $8,000. As my heart skipped a beat (or 3) and I tried not to pass out, I heard myself answer that we could send in that much money in a week. I knew that if God had gotten us to this point, that somehow, He would miraculously make that money come in as well. We had $4000 in our account that we set up for our adoption expenses, so we were short the other half. I started sending out emails (which many of you got!), sharing the situation and the praises we had regarding the miracle that had just taken place. And God moved. In 3 short days, we received the $4,000 that we needed. Incredible. People started emailing and calling and sending cards, including donations to get us to our goal. We were astounded. I could not believe the way people responded. People opened their hearts and their checkbooks to support us. It was amazing to see that happen. God totally used people all over the country to help us out.....
So-we are proudly announcing that we have accepted the referral of Max from China, the little boy that God put on our hearts, one year ago, to adopt as our son. Please continue to pray for us as we wait for approval of the match from China . I believe with all of my heart that if God wants Max to be ours, than we will get him. God has already shown His power in this whole process. We have been moved to tears at the miracles that have been taking place. I am honored that He chose our family for this journey. We are also honored that so many of you have joined us on this journey as well. Thank you.
We have been waiting for some time for news regarding a request that was made on our behalf to have the file of a particular little boy placed with our adoption agency. We were into week 4 of waiting for any news when God placed in motion a chain of events that may prove to be life-changing.
We had already been experiencing a hard week, due to the unexpected death of Jason's grandmother. On the morning that we should have doing our first home study visit with our social worker, I was bathing the baby to get her ready to stay with a friend of mine while I attended the funeral of Jason's grandmother. While Madeline was in the bathtub, I received a phone call from Jason on my cell phone while the home phone began ringing off the hook. Jason had received an email from a friend of ours in China (as did many of you!) that concerned the little boy we had been praying to adopt. His file had been sent to a completely different adoption agency while we had been waiting to hear if it would be sent to ours. The email went on to explain that we needed to act fast to switch agencies and get matched. Our emotions were frantic. Not only had his file not been matched with our agency, but it had been matched with a completely different agency altogether. Would this prove to be the miracle that we had been waiting for, or would it close the door shut on our pursuit of the little boy we wanted to adopt?
With a naked baby splashing water all over me, I proceeded to call the new agency to find out any information on our little guy. When I finally got through, I was in tears as I explained our situation. I had no idea what to expect from the agency being that they knew nothing of us and we knew even less about them. But almost immediately, I could see God's hand on the situation. I quickly asked the most important question-whether our little boy was even still available. Our fear was that another family had seen his picture and his information and fallen in love with him like we had and moved to match with him, all before we even knew he had been listed there. I held my breath after I had given his information and waited for their response...... He was available. He had not been matched up to a family. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! I told them everything as quickly as I could and spoke with several people over the course of the conversation. They agreed to put him on hold and take us on as clients. We realize what a miracle it was that he was put with an agency in the United States. If it had been in another country, then we would not have been able to proceed. Plus, our new agency is unashamedly Christian. AMAZING! Everyone that I spoke to on the phone recognized and verbalized that God's hand was all over this.
So in less than 30 minutes I was able to switch adoption agencies and get this heart-stealing little boy put on hold with us. The stipulation was that I had one week to return all the contracts and necessary paperwork and..............send in a check for $8,000. As my heart skipped a beat (or 3) and I tried not to pass out, I heard myself answer that we could send in that much money in a week. I knew that if God had gotten us to this point, that somehow, He would miraculously make that money come in as well. We had $4000 in our account that we set up for our adoption expenses, so we were short the other half. I started sending out emails (which many of you got!), sharing the situation and the praises we had regarding the miracle that had just taken place. And God moved. In 3 short days, we received the $4,000 that we needed. Incredible. People started emailing and calling and sending cards, including donations to get us to our goal. We were astounded. I could not believe the way people responded. People opened their hearts and their checkbooks to support us. It was amazing to see that happen. God totally used people all over the country to help us out.....
So-we are proudly announcing that we have accepted the referral of Max from China, the little boy that God put on our hearts, one year ago, to adopt as our son. Please continue to pray for us as we wait for approval of the match from China . I believe with all of my heart that if God wants Max to be ours, than we will get him. God has already shown His power in this whole process. We have been moved to tears at the miracles that have been taking place. I am honored that He chose our family for this journey. We are also honored that so many of you have joined us on this journey as well. Thank you.
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