Time to go!

Flights are booked!!  I'm not packed but I have piles and lists everywhere. We leave early on June 1 and arrive back June 17.  June 5 is GOTCHA DAY!!  Our visas were taken into the Consulate in Houston on Friday and are expected back by the end of this week. What an adventure!

Happy Mother's Day 2017

So Close!

Our visa applications are now in Houston and Brad will NOT have to be finger-printed! We are set to have Article 5 pickup on Monday, May 15, so Travel Approval could come any time from 3 days later to 2 weeks later. In the meantime, we are getting doctor appointments done that we might not have time for later and finishing up with school around here. We also have sweet evidences everywhere that someone little is coming: a stool to reach the sink in the bathroom, a booster seat at the dining table and even a "Lottie potty". All we need now is our Lottie. Please pray that our time is used wisely as we wait and that it goes quickly and smoothly!

This was a timely read. We are thankful for our "tribe". <3 span="">

"You WILL need people to love you through this next year....You need people who are going to really pray for you around the clock. This is a battle for a child’s heart and you need support."Prayer

>12 hours later...JOY comes in the morning

See how good God is....look what came in my email this morning! (Our final update from the agency/orphanage with measurements, and all!) She's holding up how many months left until Mommy & Daddy come to get her! Thank you, Jesus!

32.5" tall
23lbs.
5.5" little foot
18 teeth
=
100% precious!

And before this...in a post by an adopting friend....

"The waiting itself is beneficial to us; it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission and endears the blessing when it comes."- Charles Spurgeon "

"In trusting the Lord in the waiting we demonstrate a faith that proves his presence is sweeter than any gift. And in time the waiting will cease and we will find what we've wanted all along- more of God himself." -Journey devo

Waiting, trusting ~ in His Presence ~ no better place to be.

Thank you, God for answering a night of questions and frustrations with some sweet JOY.  Isn't He good?

Adoption FAQs

FAQs
When will you travel?
It's still looking like we'll travel the first week of June.

Are you excited? 
It's not the first emotion I'm feeling. It's really hard having your baby all the way across the world. I'm not as much excited as really anxious and ready...and yes, I'll be patient and yes, I know it'll "go fast"...I'm just saying it's hard. When I was on the other side looking in on the adoption process, I never would have guessed there would be so many overwhelming emotions involved.
The best answer is: "I just want to be in China right now."

We've been blessed with so much, so when I'm asked if we need anything I literally cannot think of anything. Then late at night, when I can't sleep....I think of things toddlers might need that our house no longer has... 

Thanks for listening, friends. I'm so very blessed that you're sharing this journey with us. I hope to do a happier post soon, when the sun is shining and I've had some sleep. 

Timeline Guesstimate

My Guess at the Timeline:
I realize these adoption terms are like a foreign language and if you're truly interested in what each means you can research it. I only know bits and pieces myself, but basically these are the steps we're waiting for until we travel to China and I've put approximate dates (total guesses based on others' dates and numbers right now) so you can see how close we are. I'll update with the actual dates as they come.

I800 approval on 4/19 *actual date 4/18
GUZ a week later on 4/26 *actual date 4/25
RTF on 4/28 *actual date 4/26
Art 5 drop off on 5/2 *actual date 4/27
Art 5 pick up on 5/16 - now maybe 5/12?
It's very possible that we could have TA as early as 5/19!
This is when we would apply for visas.

So... we could be leaving 6/1 with a *Family Day* of 6/5 (or 6/12) !!!

FYI: We stay 2 full weeks in China -near Hong Kong - and then bring home the USA's most adorable new citizen, who becomes so as soon as her precious little toes step foot on our soil.

*Family Day (also called Gotcha Day) is the day we meet her and she's put into our arms.  We will celebrate her Family Day every year as the day she became a part of our Forever Family.

Again, this is a completely hypothetical scenario but I am having fun watching the averages on other adoption pages and can't wait to see how close we get!  Yes I'm very excited and yes I'm kind of a nerd 🤓

We Have Smiles!!!

Recent update sent April 6.  I can't stop staring.

Adoption Process Praises

Finally on Friday...NEWS! Our Dossier has moved to the final stage, which means our LOA has been issued and our agency is just waiting for it to arrive there! She's coming soon! 

The answer from our caseworker that EVERYONE wants to know is here. 

WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO TRAVEL???

Drumroll please: End of May/early June is not a guarantee, but a pretty good estimate!!!

WOOHOO!!!!
Here's a sweet picture from when she was a baby but I think it expresses best how I'm feeling today!

Adoption Grants

Filling out grant applications is much like the home study process, so it's best to have a place (I used google docs.) where you can copy and paste much of the information.  Some are online, most are handwritten.  It takes endurance but I'm praying it's all worth it in the end.  Just as you may apply for many scholarships for college, don't expect to get them all.... but the more you fill out, the more apt you are to receive something and everything helps bring your baby home!

So here is my list gathered from those who've gone before me in this process, as well as research.  I am not going to take the time to link the websites here because I figure if you've gotten all the way to my little blog, you can probably find your way around a search engine to find them.  Be sure to read all of the requirements for each before you waste time filling them out and yet don't even qualify. (Lesson from experience)

I also suggest some sort of a running file folder system for pending applications you print out and a list to keep track of when you mailed etc.  I like clipboards, so I have 1 now that just needs 1 bit of info so I have that info needed on a sticky note.  I have another clipboard with a printed application that I'll begin next because it's deadline isn't until the end of this month.

Start with the 2 big ones...then save all of that info for others that will only vary a tad in their own ways.

• LifeSong for Orphans
• Show Hope (Steven Curtis Chapman's)

• Chosen and Dearly Loved - connected with LifeSong
• God's Grace Adoption Ministry
• JSC Foundation 
• Gift of Adoption - requires a $50 fee to apply
• A Child Waits - I did pay the $20 apply fee for this one.
• Forever Families
• Families Outreach
• Lydias Fund
• Sowing Roots
• Karen Kingsbury - wants you to wait until you're in the final stages
• Rollstone Foundation
• Trusting Him Adoption
• Joseph's Dreamcoat aka Orphan Outreach
• Eph320 -opens in June
• FBC Livingston Adoption 
• Katelyn's Fund
• Baptist Minister's Adoption Fund - NAMB 

The experts say that the best tip/advice they have is to email and ask these organizations if they've received all of the application information they need from you.  This proactivity shows your need and puts your name in someone's eyes.  Most importantly, be sure to pray for favor with each and every ministry that you apply to and praise God for how He will provide, no matter which way He chooses.

Step 7, Day 18

This little diagram below is a great visual of the steps to Lottie. We are sitting directly between steps 7 & 8, waiting for LOA (China's approval) which is generally the longest wait from what we hear. As we wait, we've done 9.5 hours of adoption training online, applied for more grants, made more salsa and now we work on filling out the next step (I800 paperwork).  

DTC 1/17
LID 2/9
Waiting for LOA....Day 18...
#LovingLottie

Kingdom Salsa

 

It was an amazing day set up by a sweet church family to help bring Lottie home!

Saturday, many vendors came and gave their entry fee to our adoption fund.  

Some even gave a percentage of their sales.  This total was $2000!!

Our adoption ministry at church, P1:27, also worked to sell concessions all day.  Moriah loved taking orders and worked all day to help bring her little sister home!  That total was $500!

Right there, the match was made. (See the earlier post!)  Praise God for Lifesong and Tapestry ministry of Irving Bible Church.  We are so grateful!!!

And then there's salsa.

Salsa, people!  It's not famous or special.  

It has nothing to do with China, but it is very popular in Texas!

It just happens to be something I enjoy making, giving and some people apparently like it!

I sold 32 jars on Saturday and placed orders for 25 more.

We made $1000!

Wow.

God is blowing me away with how He's using His people to give to bring our daughter home!

Isn't it just like Him to use unlikely things like salsa and ordinary people like us???

We are humbled and honored to be a small part of Your kingdom work.
I cannot wait to meet this baby girl You have for us.

A MATCHING GRANT!

The biggest challenge is not opening our hearts and home to a child, but it is finding the finances to make this happen. The estimated total cost for the adoption is around $30,000.  Yes.  That is a big number.

But...Our God asks us to pray big prayers and He will move mountains.  
We know God is faithful and is leading us to trust Him.  So that's what we're doing....daily.  

Please pray and consider helping us in one or two ways with our adoption. If you have already given, we humbly thank you.
1. Please pray God would tenderly care for our daughter and her orphanage until we can bring her home, and prepare us and our other children for the upcoming changes. Pray God would heal her and protect her!
2. A local adoption ministry in our area called Tapestry of Irving Bible Church, has partnered with Lifesong for Orphans and committed an Adoption Matching Grant of $2500 to help pay our adoption expenses!  We are so grateful!  Will you please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us meet this matching grant and cover the remaining amount needed to bring our child home? Our goal date is May 31, but funds will be accepted until the adoption is complete.

Our Story Here

Please make checks payable to "Lifesong for Orphans". In the memo, note "family account 6646" and "family name Martin" to assure it goes to the correct account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley IL 61744. Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all US administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption. Another option is to give online. Go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select "Give to an Adoptive Family." Complete the online form and fill in "Family Account Number, 6646" and "Family Name, Martin" fields.
In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor's suggested use. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request. Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

Thank you for investing in the Kingdom through prayer and finances; it will be an investment with an eternal return! 

A Lottie Update

After a very long 4 days of checking email after Chinese New Year ended, we finally got some news! 

We made it to the next step and our Dossier is Logged-In (LID). Now we can watch it go through the next steps like translation and review to LOA (Letter of Acceptance) which should take 2-3 months. It's always good to hear we've crossed another step.

We also got a precious little report from the orphanage about our baby! 

1) Please provide current measurements: [Basically, she is only a bit under the average for a 3 year old stats. Most important to know is that she wears a 7 or 8 toddler sized shoe! Anyone have some their little girls have grown out of?]
2) We sent pajamas in our care package. Were they too big or did they fit?
yes, fit good [Yay! They were 18-24 months from The Children's Place]
3) Has she been spoken to about adoption and does she know she is being adopted?
we told her but maybe she is not understand that clear , we are teaching her now ,
4) Does she sleep in a bed or crib; does she share with another child?
she sleep in her own crib and share room with other kids ,
5) What seemed to be her favorite thing in the care package we sent?
toy dog 

This does a waiting mom's heart such good. My friend Deborah and I were just texting about how weird a feeling it is to miss someone that we've never met. I do miss her and cannot wait to hold her and kiss her and hear her little voice.

1.23

January 23rd = Quite a day in the history of the Martin family

1998 - Luke, our first baby and only son, came into the world at 1:11pm to 24 year-old kids who didn't have a clue how blessed we'd be 19 years down the road. #Lukesbday19

2013 - Grace went for her first colonoscopy after losing 21 pounds and we finally got an answer to what was causing all the havoc in her little body:  Crohn's Disease.  (How thankful we are that she has had very few symptoms since the removal of her colon in November of 2014!)  #nocolonstillrollin

2017 - As we wait for LID/LOA/TA (translation: the process we are waiting for to get word we can leave for China), we celebrate our sweet girl's birthday.  We don't know how they decided on this date as her birthday, but yes...it's also her brother's.  Luke & Lottie's Chinese name also mean the same thing:  Light.  I believe this means they will have a special connection.  Thankful that our agency's liaison in China could send her a birthday party complete with cake for all her friends and that we got pictures back today - which brought tears of JOY as well as a great longing to be with her. #Lottiesbday3

Prayers

Hooray!  Our Care Package arrived!!!  It came apart in the mail, so I received this picture to see if this was everything and it was!  I was so thankful that even though the package it was shipped in came undone, everything in it stayed intact.  Praise the Lord for watching over the little things.

We are officially DTC - or Dossier To China - for more definitions and steps in this process see this link.

Today, I subbed in a preschool class with 2-year-olds.  I got there in time for lunch and then nap time.    I sat down by 2 little boys on their nap mats and rubbed their little backs.  The boy on my right fell right to sleep.  The boy on my left...said over and over and over "I want my mommy."  

At first I answered him and it'd go something like this:

I want my mommy.....I know, buddy.

I want my mommy....She'll be here soon.

I want my mommy...I know you do and right after nap time, she'll be here.

I want my mommy....Me too, buddy.  I love my mommy, too.

After about 10 more rounds of this, I told him I was sleepy and closed my eyes to rest.  (An age-old tactic I'd used on my active little boy who turns 19 next week.)

 As I sat there for the next 20 minutes in the dark rubbing sweet baby backs, I prayed.  

I prayed for my baby across the world who would've been sleeping in her bed, since it was the middle of her night.  I prayed that she'd have peaceful dreams and warm blankets.  I prayed that when she awoke someone would be there to meet her every need.  I prayed that she'd feel loved.  I prayed that as she opened our photo album and looked at our pictures that God would warm her heart to begin to see us as her family.  I prayed that God would put someone in her life that would whisper in her ear and assure her...."Mommy will be here soon...She'll be here soon."

I'm thankful for God's promises that He will always be here for us and that He is coming again.

Prayer always gives me more peace.  I highly recommend it.

Wait, Watch, See 2017

Open my eyes, that I may see  glimpses of truth thou hast for me;  place in my hands the wonderful key  that shall unclasp and set me free.  Silently now I wait for thee,  ready, my God, thy will to see.  Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!  2017 - Watch and see what the Lord will do! Everywhere I turn, God seems to be repeating to "Watch" and "See" what He will do!  I see these words with my spirit and am ignited inside, like the warm hearts of those who walked with Jesus on the Emmaus road.  I'm waiting.  Watching with anticipation and an ever-growing faith in a faithful, loving God, I wait.  He shows me daily another part of His character.  A new piece of Himself is written on my heart and I'm thankful.  I'm honored to be chosen for this walk with Him.  I'm blessed that He even thinks of me, let alone speaks to me. Let me be clear and real.  Adoption is hard.  It's process daily sets you next to a standard that cannot be matched, yet somehow through His divine grace and goodness, He keeps moving us forward in it.  The world's reasons we shouldn't adopt outweigh the Spirit's reasons we should.  There isn't time to blog the daily miracles I've been privileged to see.  (There's that word again.) I'm currently feeling Moses' excitement after he prayed, "Show me Your glory!"  I'm waiting daily for answers to prayers that only He can see in process.  I'm getting to know El Roi, the God who sees, very well as I pray for my daughter across the world.  I know why God says that He "will make all [His] GOODNESS pass before" me in Exodus 33:18; because He is good.  That's WHO (not what) He is and I'm finding that out with each day that I wait on Him, hidden behind the Rock...that shadows a dry, thirsty land... Today, I'm blessed to sit here...in the depths of His love...covered with His hand. Exodus 33:18 Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!" 19 And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion."  He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, That shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, And covers me there with His hand, And covers me there with His hand. Currently waiting for (for what seems like a loooong time): A little care package to arrive. Our Dossier to be sent to China. Grant organizations to provide funds for next steps. The Cowboys to win against the Packers - just checking to see if you're still with me. ;) Praying, waiting, watching...

Happy 2017!

This is going to be an exciting year for our family and our country!  We had a wonderful time in Kansas seeing family and friends.  It stretches my heart to spend time with my loved ones.  They remind me that I'm blessed to have come from a heritage of faith and inspire me to "keep on keepin' on"...as my Grandpa Hutson used to say.  (A country pastor's translation of Paul's words in Philippians 3:14 - Press on!)

I think my favorite thing about Christmas is watching my kids eyes light up, but even more than that is how much my husband loves it.  He loves everything about Christmas.  This year Brad had a very sentimental Christmas.  His Dad's wonderful guitar was refurbished by a good friend.  It was the guitar Papa got from his roommate after betting that he'd marry that girl across the room, when he first saw Brad's Mom.  (Those charming Martin men are the confident ones, aren't they?)  

I framed this beautiful picture and gave it to Brad for his office.  How much more precious this verse has become to my heart this year!

My sisterinlove got married in a surprise (to her kids and mom) wedding on Christmas night.  I'm so happy she's happy and in love with such a great man that I look forward to knowing more as my brother.  

Here are some updates from the last post on our Adoption Journey:
1) We are awaiting authentication and should be DTC by the end of next week!
2) Lottie's friends are home and it's so sweet to watch their timid, unsure faces turn to BIG SMILES! We are so ready to see our baby smile, too. Keep praying for her as I'm sure she misses her little friends. 
3) The care package has arrived in China and should be in HER hands by the end of this week! 
4) 2017 Grant applications are beginning to show up on websites, so I'm filling out paperwork again. 

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a stranger when she heard we were adopting. She said she always wanted to adopt from China but heard it was TOO expensive! "...Yes, it's expensive..." I replied, "but God has provided every penny and she is so worth it to me!" 

Here is the picture I received from our friend who just got home and an update that melted my heart, my favorite gift given a few days before Christmas: 

"She was just precious! She followed us downstairs to the directors office and listened to everything. She has the sweetest voice. She said mama, baba, thank you, bye bye while we were there. (in Cantonese) Just know that she is absolutely precious! She was wearing squeaky shoes. She is well loved there too!"

2017...I'm ready for you!

Adoption Journey Update

Here are some things we are doing on our adoption journey, along with some praises and prayers you can pray:

1) Waiting for our Dossier (important documents about us including our home study) to be authenticated, which includes watching the 4 checks clear in our bank account that we sent to get the official stamps of approval. Praise God for the funds covering all of these checks!
Our next big step in the process is DTC (Dossier To China)!!
Since the holidays close everything down in both countries for the next few weeks and then the Chinese New Year begins at the end of January, there isn't much we can do but wait....and pray.
2) We follow the stories of and have met through Facebook 2 other families from our agency that have adopted girls from Lottie's orphanage. We know them because we recognize their girls from videos and pictures we've seen of Lottie with them. One is in China now and her husband has the flu! Would you pray for them with me? I've also been praying for Lottie even more than usual, as she must miss her sweet little friends. We have decided to make sure we get our girls together at some point, now that we've met. What a precious reunion that will be!
3) We are tracking the care package we sent to Lottie and her caregivers from the usps app, which left on December 16. It took us a while to get the weight correct because we wanted to send so much!  :) Please pray that it arrives safely. It's so good to know God cares about the littlest details and has his angels watching over our special deliveries.
4) Waiting to hear back from grant organizations: We did receive 1 rejection letter, but we still have 4 out there and 2 or 3 that we can't apply for until their 2017 applications are updated, so I keep checking those websites, and am confident God will supply our every need.
5) Lastly, Moriah and I have been studying the culture and country of China. We have a pinterest board together that we pin fun and interesting things we'd like to see in China or customs that are different from ours. Her favorite thing to tell others - "If we burp at the dinner table in China, they will see it as a compliment for their good food, instead of bad manners, so we can burp as much as we want there!"  Oh my, what a dainty little girl! ;)

Merry Christmas from the Martins!  Here are some our favorite family picture outtakes that show my kids at their REALest! :)  xoxo

Loving Lottie

Have you ever waited and waited for something so long and with such anticipation that you're preparing your heart and even your surroundings just so the waiting would answer soon?! 

Today I read that the word Advent comes from the Latin word "Adventus" which means "coming" and I just knew this exciting news was coming soon...so I painted 2 rocking chairs pink. One for Moriah and one for a little girl we've never met but already love. Then the phone rang. 

She's coming. Might be May or June but she's coming. #LovingLottieSomeday I can tell her that this rocking chair was painted when I found out she was coming home. Now, I can't wait to show you a picture of her in it. 

What a perfect time to celebrate a child that brings us hope for an eternal home with Him!  #Jesus

12 Lies to Prepare for When Adopting

Anytime you're praying about something God may be calling you to do, the enemy will throw his lies in your head to keep you from God's will.  Trust me.  If it doesn't happen before the home study, you will definitely be tested during it.

Here are some of the lies to prepare for:

You can't even be a good parent to your biological children, how can you be a good parent to an adopted one?

It's too expensive.

You are not organized enough for all the paperwork.

You're too old.

You're not physically fit enough to run after another child!

You're not mentally stable enough to handle the instabilities of a formerly institutionalized child.

You're not spiritually strong enough to deal with the struggles of adopting.

There are plenty of other Christians that can take care of the orphans.

You already have too much on your plate to start that long road.

Life will never look the same.

What if my adopted child doesn't love me?

What if I don't love my adopted child?

Therefore put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.  Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:13

My husband once said in a sermon, "If you listen to the 'what ifs' of the enemy, you'll never be ready for the 'what could be's God promises in His Word."

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.  Ephesians 6:18

My friend, Lauren, who adopted from Uganda earlier this year, says "In our journey, I had days where I scheduled time to be alone and just literally lay on my face before Him crying out.  It was good for my relationship with the Lord and for building my faith.  A lot of times it started with 'I know you're bigger than this and you will provide, but help my unbelief.'"

Not everyone is called to adopt, but I believe every Christ-follower is called to do something based on James 1:27.  If you are praying about adopting, don't be afraid to ask for prayer.  Find others who've walked this road and are still standing firm after the battle.  Read every book you can find, but especially equip your thought life with God's only offensive weapon, His Word, and be ready to use it!