Hey guys!! So sorry for the lack of posts. This process just takes a little bit of time and we don't want to overwhelm everyone with updates unless we actually have info! :) Anyway...so here it goes!!
HOME STUDY COMPLETE:
We finally have completed our home study...whoohoo!!...(took 6 months this time, 7 months last time around.) We are waiting for our social worker to finish it up so we can begin compiling our Dossier - More paperwork! :) We did FINALLY get Mark's parents fingerprints straight. Whew...it was a little touch and go there for a bit...but it got worked out! Praise God!! :)
BEING MATCHED:
We don't have any new info regarding being matched yet with our little boy. BUT...we did get a very encouraging email from Lifeline this week that I wanted to share with you all. We anticipate that it will not be long before God shows us our precious little son!! Here is the note we received:
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The Lifeline Team is having an amazing time in Chongqing
and tomorrow will travel to our new orphanages in Fuling and WanZhou. We have
seen several of the children whose files we have received and are preparing to
match. We appreciate your patience as we continue to receive updates on
children, have our questions answered about them and progress with the matching
process.
On another encouraging note, we have received
word that we will be receiving files from a few more of our partnership
orphanages in the next few weeks. We are so excited to see files continue to
come in. Please remember that matching will be a process occurring over several
weeks, not just one matching event. We are confident that we will have
referrals for our families, we are just unsure of the timeframes at this point.
Your social worker will be contacting you in the next few weeks for an update
on your family's status.
Give thank to
the Lord, for He is good,
For His
steadfast love endures forever;
to Him alone
does great wonders,
His steadfast love
endures forever.
Psalm
136:1&4
The Lifeline China Team
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This is VERY EXCITING NEWS and we look forward to being matched. We know it is in God's hands and timing and we pray that HE direct the hands of the Lifeline Team to the child that He wants in our family!! We will definitely keep you all posted!!
FUNDRAISING:
Our fundraising has been going wonderful!! Thank you ALL SO MUCH for helping us with our $50 Family Photos, and our bracelet fundraiser...AND now to the Kids Kloset Consignment Sale!! We don't have the final amount yet of all that was donated there...but we should have that amount very soon!! We will keep you posted and be sure and let everyone know!! God is SO FAITHFUL and never ceases to amaze us in His hand of provision!! As you can see from our fundraising "thermometer" to the right...things are doing well!!! We love every time we get to raise that bar!!! It is just an immense faith builder!!!
One thing we are SUPER EXCITED about is we have a Children's book coming out in October that we will be selling on Amazon.com as a fundraiser. We wrote the story about 4 years ago...and our friend Stephanie Presley has just finished with 17 original illustrations that absolutely bring this book to LIFE!!! We are diligently working on the book daily now and hope to have it ready for everyone to purchase in early October!!
We will be sure and post the link here so you can go directly there to purchase one if you'd like. Its a wonderful gift for Christmas, or even for November - National Adoption Awareness Month!! We cannot WAIT to share it with you all!! It is SO exciting!!
ALL FOR NOW:
Thats it for now!! Hopefully we will have another good update in a couple of weeks. We truly look forward to seeing the face of "our brother." (Thats what we all call him now, until we learn who he is and pray about what we will call him.) We promise to keep you posted!!! Y'all...let us know if you have questions!! Thank you again for following our journey and for praying for us each step of the way!! This is indeed a blessing for us to be on this journey!! Have a great weekend!!
Mark & Buffi
