They are home! Thanks for your donations!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

YEAH!


We got our I-800 provisionary approvals today!!! YA-HOO!!! Thank you Kirk Giffen! Thank you EVERYONE for your prayers and last-minute ideas on how to get through the system!
I love the fact that God waited for me to get my heart back on track. I am THANKFUL that he didn’t bless me while I was busy fretting. Kind of coincidental that the same day that I gave it to HIM and took my hands off that the PA came…or NOT!!!
THANK YOU, GOD, that nothing happens by chance!
What happens next??? Now we are on to the National Visa Center (NVC), which they will scan into their system and cable the information to Guangzhou. There we will get the Article 5 and it will be carried to the CCAA—who will issue our travel approval (TA). Hopefully we will get our consulate appointment (CA) within the time frame of our tickets to China…otherwise we will have to extend our stay. But that is for another day!
All my best,
Amy

Three weeks



We are a sandwich…three weeks behind us waiting for our I-800s to clear, three weeks in front of us until Xi Fan’s 14th birthday. The pressure of the wait is growing more intense every day. My mind tends to want to worry and fret—neither of which reflects God and his power. I came across a quote today by G. Campbell Morgan, who was a great Bible teacher in the last generation. He said,
The supreme need in every hour of difficulty and distress is for a fresh vision of God. Seeing Him, all else takes on proper perspective and proportion.
So aptly said. Why do I take my eyes off Jesus? He hasn’t changed…just my circumstances (and available time) has. Why do I waste my time telling God to get a move-on? He has it under HIS control. I love Isaiah 40:13-14:

Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?
Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?

I certainly don’t want to limit his power to my understanding.  Once again, I lift this situation to you, O LORD. I lay it at your feet, and will step back and watch you work it all out. In your timing. In your way. Not my will, but yours.

All my best,
Amy

Thursday, December 24, 2009

A Christmas Angel





We just received word that a Christmas angel has been found for us!! This angel has agreed to give a matching grant of $5000 to us!!!
After all the agencies and funds that are made up of hundreds of people denied us, this one angel has stood in the gap.

To say that I still feel “in shock” would be an understatement!

I wish I could know who this person is—I would love to thank him/her profusely!

As it is, I have/am/will continue to offer up prayers of thanksgiving and blessing on this individual. I may not know this person’s identity, but God does, and His blessings are WAY better than mine!

Now we need to bring in the extra funds so we can access this grant. People have been generous with us so far—is it too much to hope that there will be others who will help us also?  

I hope that I can offer something like this to another family in the future! I am truly blessed—again!

All my best,

Amy




All matching contributions must be sent to our Lifesong account with “Fathman 939” on the memo line.
The donations are tax-deductible too!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

JT


I am taking the time to honor a long-time friend. I met him 18 years ago while working in a horse stable. He would run to greet me when I arrived most days. An accident that almost cost him his life led me to adopt him in to our “beginning” family, as Dave and I had been married less than a year. JT moved with us 8 times, being the best-natured during the worst of times (except car rides—he didn’t fare so well!)




After beating the odds for almost 4 years of renal insufficiency, a tumor growing next to his heart was growing rapidly and was closing his trachea—and suffocating him. To add insult upon injury, an abscessed tooth root that blew out his face and a bladder infection compounded his suffering the last week. On Friday, December 18th, our friend, our family member, and yes, our cat, passed on to glory.



We love you, JT.

Monday, December 21, 2009

We’re Not Alone


A fellow sojourner in the adoption trail just posted this. I thought it captured what has been bouncing around in my heart and mind quite well.
Not that it will change anything, but at least it gives words to the thoughts and emotions.
Thanks, Kathleen!
I know how hard it is to Fundraise!!! We are in the same position as Amy.

Isn't it strange that we both have to leave in about 4 weeks, we both started out adopting one child, and ended up with two because of an aging out child. Our aging out child is deaf.

That means for both us that we have an adoption bill of $35,000 - $40,000. Why does it cost so much to bring a child into a family? Don't get me wrong, I know where all the payments go to, but it is so inflated. It would be in the government's best interest to subsidize adoptions. That would lower their care taking bills. You know, I think they need women in charge of these areas, we usually put compassion first instead of numbers.

One of the side effects of fundraising is despair. It is hard to ask for help when you are always the one to offer help when needed. When you do reach out and don't get the results that make you hopeful, it can be quite debilitating. So you pick yourself up, because after all a child is involved, and try and try again. You know that no matter what you WILL be bringing the children home, but at what cost? Wipe out retirement when the husband doesn't have a job, choose to eat and not pay a bill? It is so hard...

All my best,
Amy

Sunday, December 20, 2009

It’s Not About ME


As I write this I continue to shake my head in disbelief. Some of my friends, many of whom I have never met (yet!), have stepped out in faith to support us in our adoption process. I knew that many were praying for us; now I can see the tangible outpouring of other people’s love and generosity. I am amazed that so many are willing to help! I do realize that the help is not for me but for two little girls in Southern China; not for my family as it is now but for the forever family we will be for these precious children. What a beautiful example of God, who sees us not as we are but who we will become, not as orphans but as blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed and forgiven. (Ephesians 1:3-7)
Thank you, EVERYONE, for being the hands and feet of our Lord!
All my best,
Amy

Friday, December 18, 2009

EXCITED!

It is SO FUN to see how God takes our small efforts and multiplies them…
A friend of our family, whom I will refer to as “M” (b/c I didn’t ask if I could share her story…but it is SO BEAUTIFUL I just have to share…and allow her to remain anonymous) has helped us through our adoption process. She has adopted in the past so she understands my feelings and obstacles without my having to expound on them. She has a heart for orphans, and has sought out God’s will for starting an orphan ministry with us in our church.  During our first meeting last month, while we were in prayer for God’s direction, she prayed for God to remove the walls of our hearts to what HE has in store for all of us. M admits that she was praying that for everyone else in the room, but little did she know that God was pointing at her!
 A couple of weeks later she told me via e-mail that she had some big news to share with me, but would wait for church to share. Being the patient person that I am (HA!) I immediately asked her about her news…and put the ultimatum out that if she didn’t tell me, I would assume that she was pregnant. She laughed, saying that it would have to be a miracle of God if she was pregnant, b/c she received a hysterectomy years ago. God heard her laughter and started to move…
M said that she regularly receives newsletters from her agency she used to adopt her girls, but she rarely looked at any of the photos of waiting children. FOR SOME REASON last month when the newsletter found its way into her mailbox again there wasn’t a photo that caught her attention but a short bio about a 14 year old boy from Ethiopia. FOR SOME REASON, God asked her, “Why not you?”
“No, God! I’m all done! I can’t adopt again!”
Why not?
“I have all that I can handle! We’re full!”
You have an extra bed in the basement and an extra seat in the van. There isn’t anything you and I can’t handle together.
“No, God! My heart is in Guatemala!”
My heart is with orphans. Where is your heart???
Needless to say, God won the argument.
Sadly, the first boy was referred to another family, but as M says, there is probably another one out there that has been chosen for her family. She also says that although she laughed at me before when I asked her if she was pregnant, she now FEELS pregnant…in her heart!
I am SOOOOOO head-over-heals happy for M and her family! I am so excited that we will be able to walk through this process with them as they have been walking with us!
Thank you God!
Amy

We tried, but…

No matching grant for us. That makes 3 denials, one more to go. I did contact another organization on the recommendation of someone from Family Life Today, but that fell flat as well. The backdrop is becoming more bleak, so God will REALLY be able to show himself to be BIG.
I have said it before but it deserves repeating: we have been SO blessed by other people’s efforts on our account and their encouraging words as well. We are continually humbled by other people going to bat for us! Even if we aren’t helped financially, I feel rich by the blessings we have been given.

On a separate note, our packages were delivered to Hope and Amanda’s orphanages. I don’t know if the girls received them, but we have done what we can to connect with them before arriving. It’s hard to believe that we will see Hope in just over 4 weeks and Amanda in a little under 5 weeks! My heart is racing just thinking about it!!!
All my best,
Amy

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Behold, I stand at the door and knock..knock..knock!

I have been on the phone our senators all morning. Melissa from Debbie Stabenow’s office has taken my plea and has contacted the in office liaison for USCIS. According to Melissa, our paperwork needs to be in the “lockbox” (which actually is a processing center for USCIS) for four business days. Since our paperwork arrived at 9:38 last Thursday morning, today should be the last day before it gets to our officer’s desk. He has already agreed to process it the same day provided that everything is current and looks ok.
I have learned to ask, and ask again, and ask even again for my kiddos. My area of comfort is always abandoned to get things accomplished for THEM!
All my best,
Amy

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

We Have Tickets!!!


David booked our tickets today!!! We leave GR on January 14, arrive in Shanghai January 15th, visit with the Cere Care Center kids (and my beloved Liu Li Wei!) on the 16th, and then to Kunming either late on the 16th or early on the 17th. We will depart from Hong Kong with our daughters on January 30th, arriving home on the “same day” (although we will have endured a 15 hour plane ride!!!).
It’s official! We are going to get our girls!!!
Doing the happy dance,
Amy

Please Pray—Again

I am requesting prayer on three different fronts today.

Our I-800s were delivered at 9:38 Thursday morning to the USCIS lockbox—and they are still there. We need a quick approval since we need to travel in a little over 4 weeks! Once we get that approval we can buy our tickets, even without the Travel Approval. I contacted our senators in an attempt for someone with “muscle” to get this governmental agency to move things along. I have contacted my senators SO MANY times in the past months about changing the US Hague policy that makes our adopted kids toxic pincushions…but that soap box is for a different post. I just hope they don’t see my e-mail address and just push delete. Please pray for the approval of the girls’ visas.

Yesterday we received our second "denied" form letter from a grant agency. It seems that, even with our second adoption happening at the zero-hour, we don't qualify. There are two more applications out; please pray that at least one comes through with either a grant or a no-interest loan. We don't have our first adoption even near covered and the second is requiring many payments already. We travel in a little over 4 weeks, and the in-country costs are obviously twice what we originally planned for. We will need to buy tickets within the next few days too. Has anyone seen a money tree in bloom despite the winter weather?

The final thing I really need prayer for is my own heart. Probably coinciding with the denial letter, I started "looking at the waves" instead of focusing on Jesus, became overwhelmed with fear and worry, and started to sink. I KNOW these adoptions are of the Lord, I KNOW that he will take care of the details, I KNOW that I am not alone. It just doesn't FEEL that way right now. Please pray that since "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (2 Tim. 1:12) Since we act on what we believe, pray that I would believe that "the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed".(2 Tim 4:17)

Thank you, my fellow prayer warriors!

Amy

Sunday, December 13, 2009

To Grant or Not to Grant


We have four requests out for either grants or no-interest loans. One just came back today—Denied. There are three to go…and one that promised that they would give us their decision by next week. May I ask you to please pray that we receive a grant or no-interest loan? It feels so menial, but when the rubber meets the road, we have $40k to cover. The fact of the matter is that we DON’T have it. Like Dave said, it is God’s to provide…and it will be interesting to see through whom he delivers it!  Even if we have to make payments on our visa for the next few years, it will be worth it.  Not preferable, but worth it.
BTW, we leave in LESS THAN 5 WEEKS!!!
To God be the glory,
Amy

Waiting Again


This week WACAP overnighted our I-800s to USCIS. We were supposed to receive a tracking number on Thursday; as of today, we are still waiting. However, I know that these adoptions are in His hands—and there is no better place to be!

I was blessed this week by another adoptive mom. Through an adoption yahoo group I met a mom from Long Island. She adopted an 11 year old two months ago who knew Xi Fan—would you believe their foster moms were best friends?  The best thing is this…Jessica, the 11 year old from NY, has the middle name of Hope…the same name we are giving Xi Fan!  It may be a 13 hour drive, but I have a strong feeling that we will be taking a road trip to New York this summer!

This is what is commonly called the “red thread”.  There is a Chinese legend that says the gods tie a red string around the ankles of men and women who will one day marry each other.  The China adoptive community has embraced an adapted version of this legend:  An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances.  The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.

I can’t wait to meet our new daughters!
Amy

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

We Got the Word…Again!


China issued us our letter of approval for Xi Fan today! Whoo-hoo!
Now both of the LOAs go to NVC of USCIS with our I-800s.  After they sit in the “lock box” for some indeterminate amount of time, they will be processed and approved by our pre-appointed officer. It takes seven to ten days for the National Visa Center (NVC) to send a cable to the US Consulate to indicate that certain preliminary steps for issuance of a US immigrant visa have been fulfilled. After receipt of that cable, the US Consulate typically takes seven to fourteen days to send the Article 5 letter to the CCAA. The CCAA then typically takes two to four weeks to issue travel approval after the consulate appointments are set up. Clear as mud yet?
Little does China know that with or without their “approvals”, we WILL be going to get our girls before the 19th of January. We may have to stay put a few more days in China, but that is the least of my concerns!
I praise God for delivering these clearances! I will continue to believe that He will see us through.
To Him be the glory,
Amy

Friday, December 4, 2009

Presenting…

Our new girls! 


Min Zhi will become Amanda Beth MinZhi (Mandy is close in sound to MinZhi)










Xi Fan will become Hope Katherine XiFan (against all hope, we chose to hope for Hope!)






All the kids in our family have names starting either with an A or an H, so the girls will have their part of our immediate family’s heritage.
Beth is my sister’s name, and Katherine is David’s (maternal) grandmother’s middle name, so they will have their part of our extended family’s heritage.
They will keep their names as their second middle names, so they will retain their Chinese heritage.

We chose to involve our kids in picking out the names. Talk about difficult! It never failed that when some liked one name, the others HATED it. We finally arrived at the place that the majority of the kids are ok with the names with only one disliking each selection.  For all the hassle, however, we felt it was important for everyone to be involved, as the adoptions are affecting everyone.

Just wanted to share a bit of our excitement!

All my best,
Amy

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

We Got Word!!!!

I just heard from our agency that Xi Fan’s referral was transferred to WACAP and that we have pre-pre approval for her!  I also heard that since the CCAA is now aware of the time sensitive nature to our case that we may get our pre-approval this week, plus possibly our LOA for Xi Fan as well!!! I am doing the happy dance in my kitchen and can’t seem to wipe this silly grin off my face!
Min Zhi’s paperwork is on hold right now, as we need to submit both at the same time since we are using one dossier. I have never felt so peaceful about being told that I need to wait for one of my daughter’s paperwork to be submitted!
To every person that told me not to worry about the adoption process and timetable while we were waiting for our LOA for Min Zhi—Thank YOU! Had we raced forward (like I wanted) we wouldn’t be getting Xi Fan! 
Going to dance more circles!!!
All my best,
Amy

Thursday, November 26, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


It has been a great day! I was able to do some shopping early this morning, got the dinner to the table all at one time, cleaned up afterwards and ate dessert—all before 4 pm! Soon it will be time for leftovers—my favorite part!
I also have to share that Sara from Madison Adoption Agency (MAA) asked how things were going with Xi Fan’s process. I told her that our agency contacted the CCAA earlier in the week, but hadn’t heard back from them by Wednesday. Sara wasn’t satisfied with that answer…she sent Ming, their Chinese contact, to advocate for us with the CCAA. I am SO THANKFUL that she is on our side!!! I will certainly share any news that we receive! Please keep us in your prayers!
All my best,
Amy

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

No News is…No News


Another week gone by with no word from the CCAA. My agency’s China coordinator was in contact with the CCAA but they had no decision for him. I don’t know if this means that they may not approve this adoption, or if they just don’t like to be pushed into a decision. I thought for certain that we would know by today. By the time Monday rolls around we will only have 1 ½ months to complete this adoption. No wiggle room here!
So, although I didn’t receive the news I had hoped for, and two of my daughters are halfway around the world, I am still surrounded by my family that is active in loving each other, living on a street where neighbors still look out for each other, and have a hope of a life eternal in glory with my Father and my King.
Happy Thanksgiving!
All my best,
Amy

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Still No Word


We have paperwork signed, translated, and ready to send! Now we just need to hear from the CCAA.
Dave says that he won’t start pulling furniture out of the girls’ rooms until he hears the official word. Then we will keep ourselves busy moving furniture, posting it on Craigslist, stripping wallpaper, and putting a new coat on both the girls’ rooms. They will be sleeping on mattresses on the floor and using clothes out of storage containers for a while…but if Hailey’s clothes actually make it somewhere other than the floor, it will be an improvement!
On a side note, I had the opportunity to fast from coffee again, this time for another adoptive family that is going through an emergency adoption. Mary will be traveling over Christmas, and is flying through all her steps at breakneck speed. I had the joy and privilege of approaching the throne room of grace on her behalf today, and I thought of her often as my caffeine headache reminded me of what I did without! If you would like to join me in praying for Mary, she would really appreciate it!
All my best,
Amy

Monday, November 23, 2009

Waiting for a Word

Last Thursday the CCAA was supposed to decide if Xi Fan’s referral could be transferred to our agency, but as of Friday evening, we still have had no word. If I am not mistaken, they were going to also going to let us know if we could do the second adoption at the same time. These are pretty big decisions, and although there is no real reason for denying this adoption, we know that it isn’t a “sure thing”. I have been fine with not knowing all the way up until today, and now the doubt is creeping in. I know that God has ordained this adoption; if I didn’t believe, I would be riddled with anxiety. God is bigger than the boogie man, Godzilla, the monsters on TV, and any doubt that may sway me from standing firm in my faith of God’s will for our family.
Hopefully we will have a positive word by tomorrow!
Believing Him,
Amy


PS On a side note, Hailey did really well at state yesterday. Unfortunately, her ambition and adrenaline made her jump the gun on her start, so she DQ-ed for her 100 back, but she was still the fastest freshman in the backstroke there! Too bad they don’t medal by class…Her relay team finished 9th overall. It was a great first time showing at state—and she’ll have three more years to improve!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Hailey’s Going to State!

Ok, so it is not adoption-related, but I just have to share!

My sweet 14 year old daughter is competing in Ypsilanti today at the state level for swimming! She is in the medley relay swimming backstroke and in 100 back…the fourth freshman girl to ever make state from Hamilton! I am so proud of my sweet thing!

Here’s to a great swim, Hai! Make some bubbles!

All my best,

Amy

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Early Morning Blessings


After another night of little sleep (who can slumber when there are rooms to reorganize, names to decide upon, and “gotcha” days to envision?!?) I gave up and went downstairs early. As a matter of habit, I checked my e-mail. To my utter amazement, I had received countless messages of people all across the US that said they were praying for me, that they had been praying for Xi Fan for several weeks, and praising God that she now has a family. One person blessed us in a very tangible way and donated to our account…I have never met this person face-to-face, but she has now invested in the Kingdom by helping bring this little girl home!  Through the day I was blessed again and again. Never before had I felt washed in God’s love through the outpouring of kind words and actions! 
As I continue to work through addendums, applications for grants, and parenting plans, I feel energized by my “sisters” who have come alongside me and have been praying for me. Thank you.
All my best,
Amy

New Address

Hey Everyone, as you might have noticed, we've moved to a new address! Yesterday I was playing around with it, so if anything weird happened... it's probably my fault! Anyways, we're now 'stable' and we'll be staying at fathman6.blogspot.com for now. If you go to the old address (fathman5.blogspot.com) then you will be redirected to this page, so you won't have to worry about not being at the right one!

Thanks,
Austin-Web Designer, brother of 3 (and 1 exchange student), soon to be brother of 5 (and 1 exchange student) =D

Monday, November 16, 2009

It’s Official!!!

We are LOA for Min Zhi and frantically paperchasing for Xi Fan!

Xi Fan turns 14 by January 20, so we will travel before then!

I just was granted the possibility to become the mom of 6 in the next 9 weeks!!!

All my best,

Amy

Pins and Needles

That would barely begin to describe how I feel…plus a side of butterflies that travel all the way to my heart. It is hard to wrap my mind around the idea that I may soon be a mom to…dare I say…six!

Remember that little girl I mentioned before, the one who is in danger of ageing out? We have been in prayer all weekend for her.

On Friday I talked to someone from the agency that has her file, and was told that we would have to put another dossier together in two weeks (!!!) in hopes to have her in time. Gulp! ALL that paperwork again, in expedited timing, and the expense of everything again…ok, what is the price of the life? I struggled to come to grip with that, and started my journey of prayer. Later I talked to the woman in charge of the agency and she said that there have been rare cases of being allowed to adopt two unrelated children on one dossier, and she thought that our situation would qualify! She also said that her agency has people in transit right now to China to work with orphans, and would personally petition our case with the CCAA! They have an excellent standing with the CCAA, which makes a HUGE difference! I was elated, to say the least!

Now the bigger hurdle closer to home…to get both DAVE and ANDREW to agree with the whole idea. Dave has, as I said before, agreed to pray about it, and has brought it up to the children. That certainly didn’t mean that he was willing to go forward himself! Knowing that his decision is not a momentary one but a forever one really made him deliberate for a long time. Andrew, on the other hand, hasn’t been too excited about the adoption in general, and the thought of ANOTHER sister brought out an adamant “NO WAY” from him. Gulp. Ok, God, it is in your hands!

Not knowing how long I would need to fast, I didn’t want to fast from all food because I still need to function as a wife and mother to my family. Instead, I have been fasting from coffee all weekend (if you know me, that is HUGE! Even David said that he knew that I was serious when I told him that I was fasting from coffee!) and praying non-stop. God even woke me up in the middle of the night for all three of the past nights for me to wrestle it out with him. At first, I honestly didn’t know if I wanted to go forward myself! The whole fear of the unknown was crashing down on me and the possibility of future guilt made me want to run. Then I remembered the biblical story of the sheep and goats, and the words,” Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? The King will reply: I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt. 25: 37, 38, 40. I remembered the story of the good Samaritan, and didn’t want to be like the priest or the Levite. I mean, if I didn’t know, if our situation wasn’t favorable, I wouldn’t feel the responsibility! But I do know, and our dossier is there, and there is a possibility; I cannot ignore her. And the worry and guilt about what might happen? That is what the Israelites did when they were standing outside their promised land, but some of the spies gave a “scary” account of the people that lived there. The Israelites let their vain imaginations run away with them and didn’t do what the Lord wanted them to do. Although they were later forgiven, not one of them were able to enter their promised land. I don’t want to be standing outside my promised land, wishing that I would have trusted instead of feared!

Once God squared it away in me that I wanted this girl, then I started to pray fervently for Dave’s and Andrew’s hearts. I knew that I couldn’t change them, it had to be from God alone. Dave and I talked about it at great length Saturday night, and he admitted that he felt that I would hold it against him if he decided not to go forward with the adoption. Praise God that HE already worked through that with me, and I told Dave that I was at peace with submitting to his decision. After all, if I was right and Dave was wrong, he would have to answer to God! By Sunday morning, Dave said that he was behind the adoption!!!! Later in the day, while sharing with Andrew that this little girl, although older than he, would only be 1” taller than him, AND, although she is older, the language barrier and transition to US schools would put her behind. I then asked him if he could choose a grade for her, would he want her to be in a different grade than him or the same one…and after thinking for a few moments, he said that the same grade would probably be the best for her…so HE is officially on board! Otherwise he wouldn’t want to share a grade or a house or a family or anything with her! Ever since that moment he has been asking more questions about her, slowly warming up to the idea!!!

That brings it up to today. Madison Adoption Agency (MAA—love them!!!) is contacting my agency to work out the details. Although we thought that I could have MAA advocate for us in Beijing, it actually won’t work because of the different agencies but same dossier. Therefore we need WACAP to agree to take the girl’s referral and to push this through the processes. I am also praying that they will not make us pay full agency fees, as the other costs without agency fees add up to over 10k as it is.

SO, that is where we stand at the moment. I should be hearing back within the hour about what was discussed. If we get this second girl, we will need to be in China by January 19; by January 20 it will be too late. Without this second girl, we would be traveling February, maybe March. Will you please join me in fervent prayer about this process?

All my best,

Amy

Friday, November 13, 2009

WE GOT OUR LOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE GOT OUR LOA!!!!!!!!!!!! We got the phone call tonight! We're all doing the happy dance!

Day 88

No word again on the home front regarding Min Zhi. Now I am beginning to wonder if the delay was for a purpose.
I NEED YOUR HELP!
There is a girl that will turn 14 mid-January that no one has started adoption proceedings on. There have been alerts put up all over the adoption yahoo groups about this girl. She is healthy, just in jeopardy of ageing out. I have seen her for months on the lists, but never thought that she was meant for us. Now we are thinking that we may be meant for her.
PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING ABOUT XI FAN!
I don’t want to make a decision based on emotions, because I want to save the world. I also don’t want to make a decision out of fear, as that will keep me from doing anything. I want to discern what God’s will is for us.
Dave started shaking his head at me when I first brought this up, called me nuts, and then ignored me…which is fine, as I show him photos of kids I would love to add to our family all the time. He then said that he needed to pray hard about it. Last night he started talking to the kids about her. I talked to the agency about her today, and found out all that needs to happen in the next three weeks…
PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD’S WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT…AND for Him to be abundantly CLEAR about his will. I really don’t want to have division regarding this girl—but I also don’t want to know that she aged out and we were in the position to do good to her.
All my best,
Amy

Monday, November 2, 2009

Day 77

I feel the need to get the day count out of the way, so I can continue on with everyday life. It is always in my mind, my thoughts, and my plans. I am trying HARD to not to fret over it, b/c all the worry in the world won’t change it one bit. I cannot manipulate it in the least way, so I must learn to accept it as totally out of my control. I know that the LORD has it all worked out, and nothing is too big for Him. I know that he wants to set the lonely into families, and I am praying that he will move the hearts and hands of the men involved to get that letter of approval here. That said, my heart continues to leap into my throat every time the phone rings…
We had a very unexpected surprise this weekend! While visiting his mom in Xian last spring, David briefly met another woman volunteering in Starfish Foster Home that was from Australia. Making the off-hand comment, “If you are ever in our neck of the woods...” David offered a place to stay to Tracey. Fast forward to September: I get an e-mail from Tracey saying that she WAS going to be in our neck of the woods…could she and a friend stay for the last weekend in October? Friday was a day of preparation, of course, and since I didn’t know either woman from Eve, I was a bit nervous about how the weekend would play out. I can honestly say that I felt like we entertained angels!! Tracey and her friend Nicola were wonderfully sweet, entertaining, and fun! The kids ALL loved them as well. We had busy schedules, but were all allowed to go our ways and still have great times of fellowship. Saturday night wrapped up with movies and pizza in the basement, crazy photos in the family room, and singing musical songs by the piano and guitar until almost midnight! The older kids convinced them to sing for their Sunday school classes before they left, which was so fun!!!
Tracey talked to me about the adoption process in Australia, and she made the comment how LUCKY we are to be expecting our letter of approval this EARLY in the process. She knows people who have been waiting FOUR years for a child. Australia doesn’t like SN kids, as it is a governmental-run health care system, and their adoption process is typically more time consuming than ours (GASP!!!). So, I was reminded that it is all how you look at it; I am trying to look at it with God framing this whole process.
Blessings,

Amy

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

We’re Open!

As of yesterday, our storefront is officially open! There are six kinds of fair-trade coffee, plus t-shirt, hats, etc. Everything purchased helps orphans all over the world, not just our little girl in China. Please take a peek and spread the word! http://www.justlovecoffee.com/FathmanFamily
In case you were wondering, we are on day 71 of our wait for our LOA. PLEASE join us in prayer to bring our little girl home! God sets the lonely in families…I know that he desires the same for Min Zhi!
Blessings,
Amy