Jehovah Jireh

God has STILL got this!

The song "Somebody's Praying" is running through my head!  I've had myself a good cry and praising God session and I'm ready to share some details.

I posted this on Facebook, but I've gotta put it down here for posterity's sake.   I am sorry if anyone who reads this blog is tired of hearing about the money issue.  Anyone who has been through a private or international adoption knows that the money issue is just huge.  I can honestly say that the only reason we don't have a house full of adopted kids is the money issue.  We started this process with a call from God, knowing that He would have to provide cause we couldn't come up with $30,000 in less than a year.  The money issue is where Satan has attacked.  The routine and unexpected expenses of life didn't slow down.   Washing machines stop working, grocery and gas prices go up, cars slip on the ice and damage wheels, oil pans leak and brakes need replacing.  That's not God being mean, that's just life (thank you, dear hubby for always reminding me of that).

A few days ago, I noticed that our van is leaking oil AND the front brakes started making a grinding noise.  Took it to Danny's Auto Repair (the best around, by the way), and the verdict is $400 and something.  I was really bummed.  We are less than 2 months from needed a huge final payment to travel to China.  I had a moment - you know those moments - "God, what are you doing???"  Then I had a better moment - "God, I know you're not surprised by anything.  I know I can trust you.  Will you take care of all the financial needs, please?"  Still bummed, but knowing.  Posted bummer news on Facebook.  Got some perspective checks from some friends ;)  Left Facebook to look at the online bank account - gotta find $400 in the budget.  See "Pending Transactions."  Click on it.  Matt's annual bonus is there.  Look at the amount - look again - IT IS DOUBLE WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING!  YES, I SAID DOUBLE!!

These funds will be going straight to our adoption account as soon as they officially hit the bank.  This does not complete the money we need, but it gets us WAY closer. 

I know that the expenses of life won't stop and Satan will keep attacking where he knows I am weak.   Today was a reminder to me that God's provision and timing are perfect.  Hmmm...did my last blog ask for those things? 

"Thanks" will never be enough for the prayers of godly people who love us enough to carry us to the Father. 

Keep praying, friends, God is listening.

"Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD is my provider. As it is said to this day, “In the LORD’s mountain it will be provided.”   Genesis 22:14

Happy Birthday, dear Samuel!  God is going to bring us together.

~Martha

One more step

In the world of adoption paperwork, today is another big day.  The approval from the National Visa Center saying that we can bring Samuel into this fine country has been sent to the US embassy in Guangzhou.  That means in two weeks, Lifeline Children's Services will have our Article 5 (I have no idea what that is, but I know it's a big deal) couriered to the Chinese adoption officials.  THAT will trigger our travel approval within 3 to 4 weeks of that date.  That puts us on track for April travel.

I learned recently that April travel to Guangzhou, China can be complicated.  Guangzhou plays host to a huge international trade show from April 15 to like May 7.  This makes booking hotel and travel very difficult.  We've been told that if you are fortunate enough to get those things booked that they come at a premium price.  Of course, we want to get to our son asap AND taking the girls out of school in May would not be optimal for sure.

I know I always ask, but we believe wholeheartedly in the power of prayer, so will you pray for God's perfect timing in travel arrangements?  As always, please continue to pray for His perfect provision as well.  We have a grant application and zero interest loan application awaiting approval should He choose to use those things to help provide.

Tomorrow is Samuel's fifth birthday.  That gives me a twinge of pain in my gut.  So want to be there.  I pray the gifts we sent to him arrive and he understands that he is loved, wanted, and anticipated. 

The knowledge that it's his last birthday without his family makes me smile big!  

~Martha

Thank you!

So Matt told everyone the news of our LOA.  Remember that acronym?  It's like the Chinese adoption authorities saying, yes, you officially can have this little boy.  What's next?  More paperwork!  We signed the LOA, added US government immigration paperwork to it, and sent it back to Lifeline Children's Services.  Lifeline will forward those documents to the USCIS (immigration services).  In approximately 3 weeks, we should receive provisional acceptance.  In the meantime, we are applying for Visas to go to China.  After that...more steps.  I'll fill you in when they come.  My brain can only handle one step at a time ;)

After the elation of receiving LOA, I will again admit to some panic setting in.  Why?  I opened up the fee schedule to see what comes next monetarily.  Now is when the big bills start coming. 

We are very grateful that we received a $1,000 grant from Oklahoma Hearts for Adoption recently.  We have had some incredible friends contribute to our fund in recent months as well.  Humbling and amazing!  It is all safely tucked in our adoption account.

Such great gifts and I still seem to have the propensity to panic.  As I looked at the big bills this week, I had to say a prayer that I've read in the Bible (Mark 9:24), "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief."   I know He CAN provide, I've seen Him do it miraculously.  I find myself asking why He would do it for me?  I know, unbelief.   Humbling. 

This morning, God gave me what He knew I needed.  The sweet lady that takes care of the financial day to day at the church brought me an envelope.  She then waited to see me open it because she said she loves to deliver good news.  We received a card with an anonymous gift of $500.  I'm telling you it was like God whispering to me, "I've got this.  I've really got this."  I am assuming that whoever our anonymous donor is reads this blog.  I hope so because this is our sincere thank you!  Not only have you helped us get one step closer to Samuel, you have been the voice of God speaking into my life, "I've got this."  My prayer today is that God will bless your generosity beyond what you can even imagine.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Humbling again.

For those of you who have donated financially - a little or a lot - thank you again and again.  For those who have prayed us to this point - thank you again and again.  Please keep praying.  We have a financial mountain looming and God has told us to trust Him.  Honestly, we have tried to get a few fundraisers off the ground and they just seem to fall flat.  Maybe it's because we haven't tried hard enough.  Maybe God wants to make sure that everyone sees His provision had nothing to do with anything we do.  I'm not sure.  But I know He led us here and he has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  For whatever reason, God has chosen us for this precious little boy and He will complete this.

"If you have a problem that you absolutely cannot solve, don’t worry about it because that qualifies you for a miracle from God." - Joyce Meyer

Have I said thank you? 

~ Martha

Leaving the Wilderness!!!!

This last Sunday, our awesome pastor at OBC, Scott Palmer asked us how the adoption process was going and where we were at in it. Trying to sound super spiritual and such, I likened it to the Israelites wonderings in the wilderness. After our dossier went to China, we had done everything we could at that point. There was no more paperwork, no more discussions with our adoption agency – all that was left was to wait. So that’s what we’ve been doing…. waiting and waiting and waiting… No calls from our agency – they had nothing to report. Cricket…Cricket… Families who had sent their paperwork in quite some time after us got their final approval (LOA) BEFORE us, while we waited… Tumbleweed…Tumbleweed…

Well, we are ecstatic to report that today we received word from our agency that our LOA has arrived!! Sitting in Full Moon Café eating lunch together, the moment was so surreal – kind of like we’d received our pardon from the wilderness. There was much fist-bumping, hugging and crying. Martha was even a little emotional too!

So what does this mean? Number one, it means that we have FINAL approval. No more nagging worries that we would be turned down for some stupid reason (i.e. my bald spot is too big – who knows??). Number two, it means that the wheels of the process are going to start turning again. We will rejoin the paper chase for travel approval (TA). Paperwork to be completed, visas to be obtained – all of the final steps to obtain TA. Third, it means that we can actually narrow down our timeframe for traveling to China – which is looking like it will be mid to late April.

Finally, and most importantly, we are a huge, giant step closer to being united with our son! Now we can let ourselves dream for real. We can actually picture the day we finally meet Samuel. I know he will never truly understand all of the hopes and prayers that have carried us to him, but we do. And we thank you all so much for standing in prayer with us!

Well, that’s all for now. We’re gonna go celebrate.

The promised land lies ahead!

~ Matt

New pictures of our boy!

 

We sent a care package to Samuel, complete with pictures of his family and money for a cake to share with his friends.  Boy, did they buy a giant cake! 

I noticed a white face in the crowd.  Another adoptive family was visiting the orphanage.  Hoping and praying I can find them, cause they were taking video!  I also noticed it was this adoptive father who was showing Samuel the pictures of his forever family.  Thank you!

SO EXCITED!!!!!!

Book a vacation and help bring Samuel home

We have been given a great opportunity.  An awesome family member of ours, Sherry Magness, is a travel agent for Disney.  She has graciously offered to split her commission with our adoption fund for any travel booked through her from our referral.  This service is costs you absolutely nothing.  Please share this with anyone you even think might be looking at a Disney vacation.  Make sure they reference the Meadors' adoption fund.  Sherry will take great care of you!

 

We don't just sell Disney vacation packages out of a brochure. We customize each Disney vacation for each family.   We have built Mickey's Travel based on honesty and integrity and we always will provide you with a choice and the information to help you choose what is best for you and your family.

513-759-0981

sherry@mickeystravel.com

www.mickeystravel.com/sherry

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LID!

We have received notice from our adoption agency that our dossier was officially logged in 11/13/12.  We waited a month for that news because of a paperwork issue that thankfully has been taken care of.  Now we begin waiting again, for that LOA.  This part of the wait will very tentatively be 30-90 days.  I'm telling Santa that's what I want for Christmas!

One step closer to Samuel!