God Stop

In Beth Moore’s bible study, Believing God, she describes moments worthy of remembering what God has done as “God Stops”. Let me share what HE has done for us.

As my 40^th birthday rapidly approaches, David set up a night away in a Hampton Inn in Holland. Between the fact that we were 30 minutes from home and our kids and the fact that he was able to use his hotel points accumulated from work travel, it worked wonderfully for us. Far enough to not do laundry, close enough to respond to any emergencies that might have popped up, and FREE! Anyway, when David went to the hotel room early to set it up he grabbed a Holland Sentinel newspaper from the front desk for us to read later. We cancelled our newspaper over two years ago as a cost savings measure and haven’t read one, especially a Holland Sentinel, in that time. Fast forward to about 11:00 that night when we are getting ready for bed—I start reading through the paper. Intrigued by a front page story, I follow it to page 2, then start skimming page 3, then page 4, then OH-MY-GOODNESS-DAVE-COME-LOOK-AT-THIS! WE are on page 4!!! There was a 14” story smack in the middle of the page about the family and community behind Min Zhi Monday. I had spoken to someone from the paper about possibly putting something in the local section about Min Zhi Monday for free advertisement. Little did I know that it was going to be an official story, complete with quotes from all the businesses that are coming alongside us.

Now, if you consider how long it has been since we have read a local paper, and how long it has been since we have been in a “hotel just the two of us”, and the fact that we didn’t even know that there would be a story covering our adoption of our daughter, it was a moment that we just sat in awe of how God brings things together. We continue to trust that HE will bring us together with our daughter with as much flair as he has shown us thus far.

Praise be to God!

Went Out with Pink Posters, Came Home with Abundant Blessings!

In preparation for our upcoming fundraisers, I sent my boys out to post the hot pink signs around town. Although they have posted them on lamp posts, in storefront windows, and on message boards in the past, I also wanted to have them posted in the local churches. Two of the three Reformed churches in the area just accepted the posters, but for the third one, Austin had the opportunity to talk to the head pastor. Pastor John Byker had adopted a daughter from Vietnam through Operation Babylift back in 1975, and he also has a son who has adopted from Haiti as well! After talking for 10 minutes or so, Pastor Byker then prayed over Austin for another 10 minutes! Not only did he bless my son (and me!) through conversation and prayer, he has committed to bless us by posting our info for Min Zhi Monday on the overhead announcements before both services this Sunday, he will include the info and a photo of our daughter in their electronic newsletter, and has invited us to take part in their Sunday night service this weekend! He will introduce us to their church, pray for us, and make a verbal announcement about Min Zhi Monday!

We are floored, we are humbled, and we are blessed!

Big Weekend

We have a garage sale planned this Friday. Marcia Kwantes and I spent hours last week pricing stuff—er—treasures in my garage. We had hoped to hold it last week Friday, but a rainy forecast had us postpone it. We will be having it at the North Pole Ice Cream Shoppe on M-40 in Hamilton, as our garages are rather out-of-the-way. Hopefully we will have a good turn-out.

We will have “Min Zhi Monday” on the 31^st of August. Four local businesses: Hamilton Food Center, Trestle Stop, Shear Style, and Hamilton Family Eye Care have agreed to donate a percentage of their daily proceeds to our adoption. If you are anywhere in the area, please come by and tell these wonderful business owners “thank you!”

Unexpected Surprise

Last week I received an e-mail from a woman in Ohio. She said that she saw my signature line on a posting on a YAHOO group, and recognized Min Zhi’s name. This woman, Mary, proceeded to explain that she adopted her daughter, Miao Zhan (Mariah) from Wuzhou, China, 4 months ago, and that Min Zhi was her daughter’s best friend! While she was picking up Miao Zhan she took a bunch of photos, and to my delight, Min Zhi was in many of them. It was SO GOOD to see her playing as well as posing for photos!

Apart from a handful of e-mails and playing phone tag, I haven’t been able to talk to Mary more about her experience yet. But, as Mary said, we’re family now, so I KNOW that there will be time to talk, share, and get together for fellowship once Min Zhi gets home. Who would have thought that these two little girls would be adopted halfway around the world and still be able to stay in touch with each other?!?

Our God is an awesome God!

IT’S OFFICIAL!

We are REALLY, truly, and 100% DTC!!! Our Dossier is on its way To China!!!
Doin’ the Happy Dance!!! YEA!

IT’S THERE!!!

I just received notice from our agency that THEY RECEIVED OUR I-797 (immigration approval) TODAY!!!!!!!
PRAISE THE LORD!!! It got there overnight from Chicago!!! Now we are anxiously awaiting the next step…
(check back tomorrow!!)

AUTHENTICATION—CHECK!

I received word from the Chinese Consulate in Chicago that our authentication was DONE and would be mailed out TODAY! Praise the LORD! I am dancing…even while I type, I am dancing on the inside! Now we need the USPS to move that envelope to our agency in rapid time! Can I dare to hope that we will be DTC (dossier to China) in the next few days? Please pray with us!!!