where are we? I know you are asking

So, where are we? Well, in a nutshell: We LID'd (received our Log In Date) back in July and then that started our LOA (Letter of Acceptance / Letter Seeking Confirmation) wait. Then, as most of you know, 68 days later we received that magical envelope that our stork delivered : 

our stork :) 

Most of the time, people are counting down the days during their LOA wait. I'm talking like stalking their email...recounting days. It gets a little crazy. (it's kind of like that 3 minute wait when you take a pregnancy test...and you just don't know what the answer is going to be...except this 3 minute wait is more of 60-100 days). Well, we needed more room and the perfect house became available to rent...so we moved. And THAT'S what I did with my wait. lol We moved. Not everything is unpacked. Nothing is really finished (pictures aren't on the walls or anything). oh - and many have asked...we're still working on the kids room. They'll be sharing a room (it's big!) and we're going to have twin beds in there. I'll share pictures when it's done...but don't hold your breath for that to happen soon! lol  I'm hoping to finish unpacking boxes soon. But I'm getting there. SLOWLY, but surely. :)  Meanwhile, adoption stuff is happening as we are cleaning the house and moving. Citizenship paperwork is being filled out and sent to the appropriate place, work is picking up as the busy season starts, and fundraisers are happening. (At one point I actually had to tell someone, "please be patient with me. I'm not operating at 100%...I need a 30 second processing delay to comprehend what you just asked me". ridiculous, yes. necessity, YES)

And now...as of Monday the last chunk of paperwork was picked up from the consulate in China. That paperwork said that Austin is approved to be a US Citizen when he comes home. PRAISE GOD! Now that paperwork got forwarded to the official agency in China that oversees all adoption in that country. GUESS WHAT WE ARE WAITING ON.... 

WE ARE OFFICIALLY WAITING ON OUR TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!! 
this is the last step yall. THE LAST STEP. (other than getting on the plane) This means that we could get the call in the next 2 weeks saying we are getting on a plane. We are experiencing every emotion that you think we would be. We're excited. happy. sad. nervous. anxious. over joyed. curious. EVERYTHING. I've been told that this is the most excruciating point...you're so close...but just don't know when the next thing is going to happen. It's kind of like when you're 38 weeks pregnant and you're just ready. Ready to meet this person you've been praying for and preparing for. And you know that your water might break...but where will you be? How will it happen? Are you going to freak out or remain calm? You're cleaning everything in sight. nesting like crazy...scatterbrained like crazy. 

WE ARE ALMOST THERE. 

her heart

I'm sitting at my computer tonight feeling overwhelmed. Making lists of all the things I need to get done before we travel, things we will need for travel, a few keepsakes we'd like to get while traveling.....you name it there's a list. overwhelmed. I had all these list in one notebook that I kept next to my computer, but it's been temporarily misplaced during the move. I'm also trying my best to make a list of things I need to update on the blog. I know yall have all been waiting for that. (like, really, really, really, patiently waiting ) I figured I would update the timeline (check), update the fundraising thermometer (check) and in walks my baby girl (her allergies have gotten the best of her in the last few days, so she hasn't been feeling well. Poor girl. I'm so very blessed that that is the usual extent of her getting sick)

"momma, what are you doing?"

"working baby"

"adoption work or photography work?"

"both" 

"well, what exactly work are you doing with adoption work? can i help?"

I told her I was trying to add money from the last few fundraisers and the grant that we received  so i could update the fundraiser thermometer on the blog. She disappeared for a moment and then came back...

holding a dollar. 

"momma, i know it's not a lot, but can we put this one dollar bill with the adoption stuff. I'm really ready for Austin to be home". 

{insert happy tears here} 

There you go ladies and gentleman. Many have asked about how Mary feels about Austin. She's excited and ready. She understands (as much as she can without experiencing it) that she will have to share me and Josh after he comes home. We aren't "just hers" anymore. She's wanted a sibling for a long time. A very long time. She's seen all of her friends have a brother or a sister...sometimes twice. She's been so excited for them. Genuinely happy for them. And she waits. I'm so thankful that God is using Austin to show her how awesome HE really is. I mean think about it...when you had your 2nd or 3rd child, didn't your oldest want it to be born their age? She gets that. She knows that they will fight sometimes. She also knows that they are going to have an incredible bond that can't be broken. They will always be there for each other. To watch over each other. Protect each other. Help each other. Be happy for each other. It's finally her turn. And after all the waiting, and the work, and everything else...she's STILL excited. 

She's also seeing all the things that kids her age don't normally see. She sees a ton of photos of kids that are her age or older or younger that don't have moms and dads. She sees them in less than ideal environments. She prays for these kids EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. I'm so thankful that God is working on her heart to care and love and pray for these kids. They say that adoption is not something that affects one child, but has a lasting effect for generations. I see this already. She's five yall. FIVE. And she gets this. 

She has an amazing beauty about her. I'm not talking about outside appearance (I know she's beautiful there too!).

I'm talking about her inner beauty. Her Heart. So compassionate, so loving, so tender. Her heart is being transformed. She's such a servant. I can't wait to see what God has planned for her. Watch out...it's going to be big.

It's amazing that I didn't know what to write tonight because there's a lot to catch up on. I mean, seriously. I haven't blogged since June. I'm sorry. I even asked my cousin an hour ago and said "I need to write a post, but don't know where to start" and she said " do one from Mary's prospective". BOOM. 30 seconds later, she comes in and He gives me an opportunity. About a blog post. Do you see that? This is what He's done for the last YEAR during this process. Constantly giving us just what we need. Never more. JUST what is needed. Do you know what that does? It makes us constantly rely on Him. Which is exactly what we are supposed to do. And we know that He'll continue to give us what we need. We are praising Him everyday for that! 

As of this post, (I did update the thermometer to the right but it's not complete yet), we are still about $3000 short of being fully funded. We aren't giving up. We know that God will provide that money. He has provided every single dollar that's on that number to the right already! He won't stop.

Will you please pray with us?
Pray for funding to be completed soon. Pray that God continues to work on Mary's heart. Pray that God works on our hearts. Pray that God works on Austin's heart as he prepares to have his life changed.
Thank you.