Hearts of Adoption: January 2015

Unexpectedly, 68 days later, and very welcomed we have received our Letters of acceptance for both boys!!!!! This paper is usually noted in the computer system by the C government that it's on it's way. But this time it just showed up on the door step of our agency in AL! And today (Tuesday) it arrived on our front door for our signature. It's half in Chinese and we just smile because they will be in our arms so soon! Check the box "We accept the adoptee mentioned above" and sign your name and date! Now it is signed and overnighted back to the agency!

Most likely we will travel in March at this point if things go according to the normal time frame. Please pray for continued paperwork as it moves now to the US immigration and then to the National Visa Center. Then unto the US embassy in C. An article 5 letter is then issued and sent onto the CCCWA where travel approval is given to our family! Then we book our plane tickets and leave immediately :).

Now, Most families come down to crunch time with finances. We have blessed by many donations. First the boys closets are almost complete ALL WITH DONATIONS! Praise God!!! We had given all the older boys clothes away years ago, not knowing God would have us Adopting TWO boys, but he is faithful to provide for our family! I love to see how the body of Christ comes together to bring our sons home. On the financial front we have only a little over $13,000 to close the gap for our travel expenses. Our in country Travel time may be up to three weeks, as we will be in each boy's province to "meet them and adopt" for up to a week. Then unto the Guangzhou for the consulate and medical appointments. I look back to Huahua's gotcha day just a year ago and wow, what an incredible joy and blessing we are allowed to be called these two boys' parents! Please pray how you might walk along side us as we close the remaining financial need.

Two ways to donate financially:

1. On the home page of this website.

2. Checks to “Lifesong for Orphans"

(Oehlhof #4819) to assure it goes to the correct account.

Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans

PO Box 40

Gridley, IL 61744.

And there are T-shirts still available too!

While we have been anxiously awaiting this LOA, we have been busy with a family of four children, celebrating Justin's 11th birthday and busy with the boy's basketball season. We enjoyed our Christmas vacation spending lots of family time playing our new games. Huahua receieved two Olaf's for Christmas!

Last year Ryan and I were in C. for Christmas adopting our daughter. It was special to be home with her and the rest of the crew this year. Although part of me felt empty, as we knew our sons were missing this year!

Our candlelight service at church was very special as celebrated the true meaning of our savior's birth. I was on high alert with four children with lit candles praying they didn't start the woman hair in front of us on fire!

This little girl loves to make cookies and EAT THEM!!!!! ANYTHING chocolate calls her name!

The girls love to sing songs off of you tube!

Sorry about the orientation of the picture, but this guy is beyond ready for his brother! Sleeps every night with him right in his bed. I sure hope Feng Nianjie likes Jackson this much! Jackson already declared he will probably be sharing his bed with him. Just a little insight on how big his heart is for this adoption. Jackson knows the personal struggle of physical pain and he yearns to walk beside his brother during his surgeries/ rehab/ and healing. I love this guy's heart! If I had only known where God would have taken our family through Jackson's diagnosis 8 years ago maybe my heart would not have ached so much for him, but maybe that was the pain God walked us through to open our hearts to rely solely on him, so we could later open our arms to all these children.

The girls braved the ear piercing this past weekend. Jordan wanted her ears done for quite some time. And while at the mall her best friend arrived-- so special! Jordan cried a bit when her ears were pierced, and then the little one said, she wanted to do it too, and would not cry, She didn't, she screamed....only for a minute. Now she's so proud of herself!