Longings and a BIG love

So many of you have seen that our friends are in China right now getting their 2 boys. I am so excited for them! Literally every time I pray, I turn into a puddle of tears. It makes me long for the day that we will get Lily Hope. What will it be like, what will I feel? Its such a joy being able to be a part of our friends journey to their boys! 

Yesterday I was driving and was struck with 2 things. 

First, its totally the Lord that I love our daughter so much that we have never met. The Lord is knitting our hearts even now. I was amazed at the amount of love that I have for her. That we have for her as I shared with Dan last night. 

Second, I was struck with some shortcomings I have that the Lord gently pointed out that will need to change before we get Lily. Believe it or not, our Cat has taught us some things about it. So Barnabas, (the encourager) you have encouraged us to be better parents. I know there are a ton of things daily that we will realise when we get Lily Hope, but for now, I am content with what the Lord is doing. 

We are awaiting photos from the agency we sent a cake and photo album through. The orphanage will  have a little birthday party for her with her friends. Its amazing that it will be the first time she will see our photos! As soon as I get them, be sure to know that I will post them here. 

We are in awe of the support of our friends and community. We are awaiting to share about what Camp Humphrey's collected to bring Lily Hope home! Stay tuned! 

For now, let me share a little about our Lily Hope.  We do know in September she will be getting an exam in China for an update! 

She is currently at The Social Welfare Institute of Fangchenggang City

 Police Station of Dongxing City got a note saying a abandoned baby girl with cleft lip and palate was found on the gate of Lilong supermarket.  A red packet was found beside the girl, who was labeled the DOB: Aug.15, 2009. After long time of searching, both the born parents and relatives of the child were not found. On the same day, Lily Hope  was sent to Fangchenggang City Children’s Welfare Institute.

The current update on her size: 

90cm, 12kg, 47cm head, 51cm chest, 13cm foot

We look forward in sharing more when we get more! 

Thank you for joining us on this journey to bring Lily Hope home! 

Happy 5th Birthday Darling Daughter

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

Lily Hope! 

We are excited to see photos of you enjoying the birthday cake we sent you, and for you see us for the first time in the photo book we sent you! We love you! 

Timeline

I wanted to share with you the timeline basically of what we are going thru with adopting our daughter.  This will also give you sense of all that is involved. 

Sending love and some musings of the journey

I think one of the biggest things with the adoption process is hurry up and wait. Its time between different paperwork frenzies to let God chip away at the impurities and prepare you more for the journey ahead. 

Its similar to being missionaries and raising support. Its going through the waiting process so you can see the Lord provide so that in those hard times you can look back and say, God provided and this is His design for us. He did call us to this.

Lily's birthday is this Friday, and a friend of ours gave us a link to the company they use to send packages, birthday cakes, etc. This company will also give you updates of your child. So last night we ordered a birthday cake for Lily, (they will have a little party for her) and a photo album (photos of us) along with a letter. What a beautiful thing to be able to do. We will post some photos as we get them. We are so grateful for the sheer amount of support people are lavishing. 

Below see the photo album! 

( I believe it says My album of love)

We are awaiting our final draft of our home study along with our Dossier that has to authenticated again. It is said, if you can adopt thru China, you can adopt thru anywhere. Its the most strict place to go through.

Dan and I are so excited for the journey, and know that our lives will change. We can't wait. What a joy to be able to get some outfits while I was visiting family in the states. It made it a bit more real. I think its amazing that our relationship with Lily started with a photo and seeking the Lords guidance if we were called to be her parents. 

Below an outfit! 

My next post will be about the incredible blessing of a community coming along side of Lily Hope to bring her home! Yes, our Camp Humphrey's VBS children and community raised funding to bring Lily Hope home. Also they were able to learn about adoption and why that's God's heart.

Stay tuned! 

Facebook Auction

Gearing up for the next auction, September 1-5. If there is anything, or any service you would like to donate, please let me know. We are hoping to have about 200 items, or services. All you have to do is give me a photo and the winning bidder will be in contact to you about shipping. 

The last auction was enough to do our home study, and the fees with getting all the paperwork and medical stuff done. 

We are so very grateful for all of you joining in with us on this journey to being Lily Hope home! 

Homestudy progress, LOI, and new photos

We met our social worker in St. Louis while here in the USA. Our walk thru of our house in Korea will be August 2nd as well as 2 more interviews.  We have an approved LOI (letter of intent) that China has approved. WE now wait for the home study to finish, and then we move forward. Please pray for that while we wait for the finished home study. 

Meanwhile, enjoy some of our news photos of Lily Cathryn Hope Haas. 

can't wait to be able to do her hair and get a cute hair cut. 

She does look so cute in piggy tales!!

She has grown a little from the Last photo. (see below)

 

(older photo)

Thank you for going on this journey with us. 

Also, something amazing has happened that blows us both away. Camp Humphreys VBS is raising funds to bring Lily home. When we were told this was going to happen, both Dan and I were completely speechless. Really we had and still have no words. We have just tears. 

One thing that the Lord pointed out to my heart that when I was watching the Steven Curtis Chapman conference for his foundation for families adopting I would see videos of families that had there whole church behind them. I thought to myself wow, we will never get that. Lord, that would be amazing, but I am content Lord is however you are willing to work. 

Little did I know HE was weaving a unbelievable story of bring Lily home! 

ALL PRAISE GOES TO THE LORD!!! 

All we are required to do is: 

Psalm 46:10  " Be still and know HE IS GOD" 

So, here we are, in stillness knowing the Lord is at work in a way we can not even fathom. 

Homestudy and tid bits

Begin the Paperwork! Yes, the paperwork is underway!!! what does that mean? The first part of many of paper cuts and countless times of filling out our name, birthdate, our desires, hopes, history,,etc.. has commenced!

We are so excited as things get a little more real each day! But, the process is far from over!
In July Dan and I will be heading to the states, (I to visit Grandma who paid for the ticket, and Dan to go to classes for seminary for a week) and while there we are able to meet with our social worker who only lives a few hours from where we will be!!! Praise God! This means we do not have to pay for their airfare, and other expenses!!!! This is a great blessing and provision from the Lord!

So please pray as July 6th and 7th is when we meet with him in St. Louis! While we are also gone he will be flying to South Korea to walk thru our house, (with the help of friends who are letting him in).
With that, as soon as all the background checks and things come in, hopefully the home study will be approved and we will then be able to apply for grants, and move into the next phase!!!!

Please be in prayer!!!