Miracles Happen... Even Today!

Today I was asked to help out in Primary and give a brief testimony of how God is a God of miracles and how miracles are still brought about today when we have great faith. Wow!

So, it got me thinking about how many miracles have happened in our lives in the past year. How do you sum this up in 10 minutes - actually ended up only leaving me with 5 minutes. I've been pretty humbled just thinking about it.

Most of the miracles have involved Lacey's adoption and I know without a doubt that God planned for her to be our daughter. There's no other way to explain it. When I prayed with incredible faith, I saw doors open and things happen that could never have happened before. And because I am weak, I still had moments of doubt that the adoption might not work out.

I want to share a moment with you today. I've been a bit hesitant to share it because it was such a spiritual moment and I don't take these things lightly. But, today I feel like there are others out there waiting and wishing that they can have a bit of hope, that perhaps their adoption wishes might be fulfilled. I feel like today is the day to pass on the hope....

One day this winter, I believe it was in late February, I was so discouraged and worried that everything would fall through with the adoption. Gerry was working a seasonal job and if the court process didn't finish up soon, we may run the risk of not being able to adopt Lacey. Our paperwork had been in Taiwan since January and we hadn't heard anything. I was so fearful and stressed out.

I couldn't sleep at all. I tossed and turned. Finally I decided to get up and do something else. That something else turned to praying. I poured out my soul to my Father in Heaven. I pleaded and begged. Finally I picked up my scriptures. I opened it up and let the pages fall open. They fell open to Romans and a verse really stood out to me.

Romans 8:15

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

It was just what my soul needed. I had no idea there was a scripture about adoption. To me this scripture was telling me that God was saying "let go of your fear, I put the desire in your heart to adopt, and everything will all work out, have faith."

Everything did work out and we know have our sweet Lacey in our family. Today as I reminisced about all the miracles this last year, I am ever so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who loves his children - including me and wants us to be happy. And... I'm so thankful to have Lacey. :)

We are So Blessed!

I just have to share with you some great blessings we received today! International adoption is not cheap. In fact there are lots of hidden costs that add up. Money has been tight this year and for most people looking at our situation, they think we're absolutely crazy to spend the money during this crazy economic time. When we decided to adopt 3 years ago, it was not about money. It was about making a difference in the world by adopting an orphan and giving them a family. What better thing can you do for someone?
We felt "called" to adoption by God and he has blessed us for it.
Today is a prime example. I was going through paperwork trying to find everything I needed to get our taxes done. I was getting pretty discouraged looking at all the tax info. While pulling some info off my computer, I got an email that money was being transferred to our account from a personal loan we gave out a while ago. What a huge blessing.
Not even a hour later, I could not find some tax info.that I needed. I was going nuts. In the process I came across a $2000 cashier's check. Now tell me, who loses a $2000 check? Not me, I'm very money conscious. It was a check we got when we bought our other house 18 months ago and was a refund for the interest rate lock deposit.
I think in the excitement of moving into the new house, I put the check in with the paperwork and totally forgot about it. Can you believe I came across this check? Anyway, I called the bank and they said it was still good. So, between the money gotten today, it is almost the exact amount we need to pay to finalize the adoption!
God is great! Coincidence? I think not!

Within the 90 Day Period for a Referral

Great news! This afternoon I got a phone call from FEC that said we are now within the 90 day period of getting our referral. I am so excited! What a long journey this has been. I called Gerry and told him and then I called Glenda and my mom. The boys are excited, but not overly as it still seems so far away for them. We went out to celebrate at our favorite Chinese restaurant. My fortune cookie said, " Happiness is around the next corner, wealth down the street." Bring it on!

Earlier this week, my cousin Glenda got matched up with a 4 year old boy to adopt. She has one snag in that the father has to sign the paper to relinquish his parental rights. We are praying that it all works. She switched over to a US adoption after she encountered some huge snags with her Kazikstan adoption. It was a nightmare! Glenda's car is all packed and she is sitting by her phone ready to make the trip from the Midwest to the South to pick up her child. She can get the call any minute. This is her first child and she can't wait to become a mother.

We have enjoyed doing this adoption journey together and we are both elated.

Our Taiwan Adoption Journey

Hi,
I figured it was time we start our adoption blog. My name is Krista and my husband and I are currently on the wait list for a Taiwan adoption of an infant girl. I remember having feelings that I would like to adopt someday starting about my first year of college. At one point in college, I almost went to Russia to work in an orphanage for 6 months. I was so close to going, but didn't go. While deciding to make that decision, I really began to have strong feelings towards adopting a child someday.
We have been blessed with 4 beautiful, healthy and amazing biological boys. However, we feel there is still one more child to come to our family. So, in January of 2007 we began the process of International Adoption. We have a cousin that adopted from Taiwan, so having watched their process, we prayed about adopting from Taiwan and have felt really good about it. So we began our journey. On April 16, 2007 we were officially placed on the Taiwan Adoption waiting list with For Every Child.
The last update we received said they estimate a referral around September. We are trying to be patient, but it is so hard. We are supposed to get an update when we are estimated to be within 90 days of receiving our referral. So far, no luck but hopefully soon!