Four Days Until Flight!

We are in the home stretch! Only 4 days until we leave! It seems surreal.

This past weekend we had the pleasure of being able to visit extended family members—many of whom we haven’t seen for 4 years! It was great to see everyone again, catch up on each other’s lives, and laugh at the kids acting like kids. I was VERY surprised to find out that some were reading this blog—thanks, Diane! Dave is also trying to find a way to get Joel and Juliann over to Thailand after hearing their hearts for missions…which goes to show that you should be careful what you say to a “quick-start” personality! J

We haven’t heard yet whether or not our paperwork was approved for our article 5 in Guangzhou. We literally need things to be approved in a day and the mail to move quickly in both Guangzhou and Beijing. On paper it doesn’t work to get everything done in time, but God is bigger than that.

Thanks for standing by and behind us in this time!!!

All my best,

Amy

Make a Choice Already!

I LOVE GOD! My heart is overflowing with His praise! HE ALONE IS WORTHY!

It was quite an afternoon—

After being talked down to and brought to tears by our senator’s office, I was rather down to say the least. During a very “therapeutic” session of shoveling snow off our roof, God reminded me that HE hasn’t changed, even if our circumstances have. So I lifted praises to the heavens while standing on my rooftop.

Later, while shopping at a local food center I saw a girl we used to drive to Wednesday night church. In an inaudible whisper God spoke to my heart: Talk to her. Simple enough, I thought, so I stopped and chatted with this teenage girl. It was only small talk, but I was able to ask her about school and sports and other various things.  A few moments later while I was checking out, this girl got into line right behind me. She was only carrying a small sandwich from the deli, so I saw it as an opportunity to chat again. Once again, the whisper came: Buy it for her. It wasn’t a request, mind you, so I obeyed and told the person checking me out to add her sandwich. This girl quickly refused to let it be scanned, but I had the amount added to my bill to cover it. Feeling pretty good that I had obeyed, I told the girl goodbye and turned to leave. She ran after me, saying that she had to talk to me—and was rather distraught. Back in August we were TP-ed  and she admitted to me that she told the culprits where we lived and to being there while we were “decorated”. Bless her heart, her face was all blotchy, her eyes were watering, and she looked miserable! It was at that moment that I realized why God had been whispering to my heart…I had the profound joy of forgiving her and bringing her into a bear hug. I even forgave her if she had TP-ed us, just in case there was anything that she was not ready to admit. J When I said goodbye for the final time and saw her slip around the corner I knew that the small talk, emotional connection, and a $3.19 sandwich was just the appetizer for the main course. On special for today was a healing of the heart.

I am SO THANKFUL that He started the process on the roof—had I been inward focused, I might not have seen her, or felt like I had time to talk, or refused to buy the sandwich. Praise God that he got my heart in the right place so His blessings could flow!  And then, once I returned home… (see next post!!!)

All my best,

Amy

It Still Sits

NVC still has our paperwork and has not uploaded the information yet.

When I called last night, they knew me by name and said “we have your information right here.”

“Has it been uploaded yet?”
”No.”

“May I ask why?”

“Policy.”

Call me crazy, but it doesn’t seem like it is about policy at all. It is about a girl named Xi Fan, who may be stuck in China after all.

But I will not lose my hope! I will NOT lose my Hope!!!

Clinging to His promises,

Amy

Attention All Prayer Warriors!

We are in need for you to intercede for us!

Unlike the last post, our second call to NVC did not go as well.

Our case was not even listed as an adoption case, so I praise GOD that He prompted me to call.

The woman I talked to tonight told me that it would take to 5 business days to “scan and send” our information to Guangzhou. Never mind that it is already supposed to have been scanned yesterday. Never mind that this is an expedited age-out case. Never mind that we need this information to be approved in Guangzhou, have a courier deliver it to the CCAA, and have them approve it again for the proper paperwork to be available to complete for Xi Fan by Jan. 19th. I was told that they will send it NEXT WEEK.

We have contacted our state senator and our congressman via e-mail and phone (left a voice mail).

Our case worker at WACAP is contacting NVC to see if there is anything she can do.

And now we wait. And pray. And pray. And pray.

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.  Isaiah 40:25-26

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68: 5-6a

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks,he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. James 1:5-7

All my best,

Amy

Paperwork Update

Our paperwork was put into the computer yesterday at NVC but has not been cabled yet. I let the poor, unsuspecting woman who took my call the urgency of our case and how we need EVERY DAY to get everything done before Xi Fan ages out when she said to call back tomorrow. She now encouraged me to call back tonight. J Time for this wheel to SQUEAK!

Until then…

Amy

Angels All Around Us

I am still struggling with unbelief—we are up to 1/3 of our matching grant! There have been SO MANY people who tangibly have supported us, not to mention all of the prayer support we have. I mean, I have supported people I don’t know in the past, but nothing near how we have been blessed—there have been several $100 donations PLUS a $1000 donation…by someone whom I have never met! That on top of the $5000 we hope to receive from our Christmas angel—I have never know such generosity. This is something storybooks are made of!

It seems so meager to say THANK YOU, but I don’t want to miss the opportunity to do so. THANK YOU to ALL of our angels! We appreciate each and every one of you!!!

Eight days until take-off!

Less Than Two To Go!

I can’t believe it…we will be in Kunming two weeks from now! Hopefully we will have Xi Fan and paperwork completed so we can stop the countdown clock. We have our tickets to Shanghai purchased as well as our tickets to Kunming. After that we will have to be flexible. Since we will probably have to travel before Travel Approval (TA) and certainly before Consulate Appointment (CA), anything can happen. BUT>>Xi Fan will be safe with us! And we plan on getting Min Zhi by Wednesday, so our new additions will be complete!
I had a few people ask how they could stand by us in this time. I know I mentioned our Christmas Angel who promised us a matching grant of $5000, but I failed to include how to donate. Checks can be made out to:
Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
**In the memo section please write "Fathman 939"

If you would like to donate online, please visit the website at http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/ and on the left hand side click, 'make a donation'. Then click the yellow box that says, 'make a donation'. This will take you to PayPal. Again, please put in the item description: "Fathman 939". Paypal does take a small fee, but know that all the funds received by Lifesong after that go 100% to our family.

You will receive a tax receipt for this gift of love.

Additionally, a beautiful woman (yes, another adoptive mom!) has offered to stand by us during our last few weeks here. She sells multicultural books, gifts, etc from her website. Please check out her items at http://thebarefootbookstore.com/. There is a button at the bottom of the page for Fathman Family Adoption Fund. She has some beautiful books there—perfect for a cold Michigan winter’s night!
We are so thankful for all of our blessings—God has given us so many beautiful people to walk this path with us.

All my best,
Amy

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

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!

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.

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

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

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