We checked in our bags, which had to be 50 pounds or less. They weighed in at 48 lbs, 49lbs, 49.5 lbs, and 50lbs. (Thank you for the luggage scale, Mia!) Almost 50 pounds of it is gifts and resources we are taking as gifts. (David Platt, Seeds Family Worship,etc. ;-) We made it through security just fine, although we realized at 10pm last night that Travis' drivers license had expired over a year ago. Minor details. Not sure how we secured passports on that one.....
As we've been doing our last preperations, we've also been reflecting on all God has done to bring us to this point. In many senses, we feel like He has parted the red sea for us many times over, and we wanted to create markers, so as not to forget.
- When we first felt God stirring our hearts towards special needs orphans in China we knew we did not meet 3 out of the 4 requirements - our family size, our income, and our net worth. China was willing to overlook our family size if we'd adopt a special needs child (which was exactly what we were interested in) and the financial requirements were where God truly parted the sea.
- When Travis first suggested we adopt two, God brought my heart on board (and gave me a true peace and excitement!), but once again, not only did we not qualify to bring home two children, but one had to be considered severe needs by China's standards. This would typically be things like brain damage, cerebral palsey, etc. As much as we would love to bring home any child, we also knew that we had limitations in this season of life and would probably not be able to give a child with severe needs all that they needed. To bring home two children also most likely meant that we would need to spend an extra week in China, traveling to two provinces to get the children. We gave it up to the Lord and he worked it out amazingly! Our little girl is classified as severe because she needs glasses and has fluid trapped in her ears (!) and both Reed and Grace are in the same province - keeping our trip in the typical time frame!
- Over the course of the past two years, we feel like God has used this time and process to grow us immensly. We've come to understand our own adoption and identity in a new light. We've been renewed in our vision (both now and long term) for the Great Commission, as international adoption has a very distinct dimension of the Great Commission. We look forward with anticipation to see how God will use this down the road. Lastly, we've grown in our parenting. At times it has been painful, but I think God has done (and is doing!) a great work in our family, and especially in Travis and I's lives. We pray it will bear great fruit!
- It has been AMAZING to watch God provide and get to be a part of it! I know most people think they can't afford adoption - we knew we couldn't! In fact, this was Travis' biggest concern when we set out. And yet, God has provided over and over and over again. Close to $50,000 of over and over. I have to share just a few of the ways...
-Through several Grants ($25,000)
- By filling an ARC truck
- Many numerous gifts from generous friends
- We won a drawing from the Home School Legal
Defense Association (we don't even belong!)
- We got all kinds of crazy refunds - from the doctors
office for more than we'd even paid
(we tried to return it but they insisted it was ours),
from the propane company, we even
got a lawsuit settlement from the State of Colorado
vs the People for some lawsuit we'd
never even heard of. When I looked up the guilty
party, he was an apparent drug dealer. Not sure
how we got involved.....
- Here was a really crazy one. We aren't big credit
card people (don't worry family - I definitely got the
Morgan gene) and we ALWAYS pay them off.
However, somehow, we missed one and rather than
getting fined, CHASE cancelled the card and forgave
our balance?!? I've never even heard of this
happening...
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| I had to take a picture for this to be believeable! |
- The Lord allowed us opportunity to raise cows and
sell them as grassfed beef.
- CHASE covered $1200 of expenses (in addition to the
forgiven credit card debt) by giving us money to open
savings accounts (we did 2!), checking accounts (2
more!), and cash back on a credit card.
- Lastly, God has provided in ways that aren't
necessarily monetary. We signed up for hotel credit
cards and the incentive points have earned us 10 free
hotel nights in China out of the 16 we will be staying.
And these are just the biggies. It has been a completely wild and crazy ride and grown our faith more than we'd ever imagined!
A few more recent answered prayers have been in regards to our trip -
- We've been praying that someone is pouring love on
both Reed and Grace and that Grace would be able to
stay at Shanghai Healing Home until we come for her.
(It is customary for the orphanage the child originated
from to call them back at some point once they have
been matched with a family.
- In addition to the wonderful care we know
Grace has been receiving, we recently
found out that there is a Christian couple in
Shanghai who have been volunteering with
Grace. We have been able to communicate
with them, and they've told us that they have
loved her like their own daughter and their
greatest prayer is that she would come to know
Jesus as her Lord and Savior! We've also
discovered that she is still at Shanghai Healing
Home and will be there until this
Sunday, the day before we get her!!! We are
still praying that Reed had someone in
his life loving him as well!
- We had desired to travel to Shanghai and see where
Grace has lived since 3 weeks of life, however it is an
11 hour train ride from where we will be, which would
require at least one extra day of travel and extra
expense. When we went to buy our tickets, it was
cheapest to fly through Shanghai on the way home,
AND we are arriving home one day earlier than is
typical!!! Not only will we get to meet Grace's full time
nanny and see where she has lived, we'll also meet the
couple who has been volunteering with her and loving
her!
- One of our biggest prayer requests was that God would
provide a GREAT plan for who to leave our kids with at
home. We have a wonderful Grandma who is a
tremendous blessing to us, but is watching our nieces
and nepews this summer. Our dear friend Liz Grove
was willing to help, but only available during a 3 week
period in July. Praise the Lord, God lined up our dates
to travel EXACTLY during Liz's availability. Grandmas is
sacrificing all of her free days as well, in addition to
many loving friends who will be offering relief to Liz!
- Lastly, we have been blessed with the most wonderful
family, friends, and church family! They have prayed for
us, encouraged us, generously blessed us with their time
and gifts, and sent countless texts, emails, phone calls,
etc. over the past few days. We've even had dearf
friends stop by bearing ice cream, pizza, cookies and all
sorts of other treats. These gals know me well!!!
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| One last famiy picture! Addie told me she wants us to only be gone ONE day NOT TWO! :-( Praying the time goes quickly! |
Boarding in 10 minutes so next time you hear from us will be in Beijing! Thank you for all of your prayers!
So excited to see this journey with you. Please email me if you have questions, concerns, need support and prayer. You are one wild and life changing ride!! I can't wait to see you with your babies in arms next week. We went to Zhengzhou for Elliana. There is a beautiful park just done the street from the Crowne Plaza you must go to regularly with a big Koi Ponds and bridges. Have your guide write down in Chinese on a paper that you just adopted your kiddos and what city they are from. You will get a lot of stares which will make you feel uncomfortable. It is mostly people who are clueless, believe it or not, and just need answers. I handed the paper to people who started speaking to me in Chinese and usually always got a return smile and some more happy Chinese words in return (still have no clue what was said). .Yes, you will have your hands extremely full, but your hearts will be even more full. I love you friend!!
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