Amazing

As I sit here, I'm not really sure what I want to write, but feel like I need to.  We have had a wonderful couple of weeks of progress and I wanted to make sure I share and say thank you.  First, let me start by saying thank you to everyone who has supported us by sharing all of our facebook posts and emails and have gotten so many people to share in our journey and to be a part of our raffle!  It has been overwhelming to watch people we have never met be willing to share their money with us to bring our baby home and follow in our journey.  I really can't tell you what that means to us, I'm feeling more than blessed with all of this.  When we started this journey, we believed we were on the path that had been set out for us, and we believed that if we followed where we were being led, then God would give us the resources we needed to finish his plans.  We have had a few detours in the plan, and we have lost more money than I can think about without wanting to cry, but truly, He is providing for us, and it is through people that are willing to open their hearts to us, whether they know us or not.  Right now, we have about $12,000 left to pay for, which includes the travel expenses and orphanage donations (which is really the only money I will very happily give), and more fees to our government and China.  It's still a little overwhelming, but definitely in the "doable" range, and getting closer and closer to doable every day!

In addition to this raffle and the upcoming online auction, we found out just yesterday that we have been approved for a matching grant of $3000 through Lifesong and our church.  What an awesome blessing!!!!  What this means, is that people can donate (tax-deductible) through our Lifesong account and whatever is donated up to $3000 will be matched.  So, if we get $3000 in donations, we will have $6000....wow, awesome.....I will put this information on the bottom of this post if you would feel led to donate to our account.  Truly, what we need the most is for everyone to keep praying.  We feel it, I promise, and can say that I really feel like prayer is the ONLY thing that is holding me together through all of the ups and downs of this process!

So....we still can't post pictures of our little one....but I can tell you that we have hit a couple very important milestones in the process, and we are making progress, little by little.  We have gotten our PA, which means that China has given us pre-approval and they will review our file in regards to this specific child to see if they will approve us (there really is no reason we can see they wouldn't, but it's still up to them).  We have also gotten LID, which means they have all of our paperwork, and it will be translated and the full review will be done.  We don't really know how long that will take, since they have a new system and there's no "normal" now.  it used to take 2-4 months, and we are of course hoping for a quick as possible!!  We still have a chance to get her home before Christmas, so that is our prayer right now.  As soon as our next approval comes (LOA), then you will see some beautiful pictures right here!

One other update...we have been praying about the second of our little ones, and feel like right now isn't the right time.  We don't know for sure if we will be called back later, but if we are, we will go to get her.  We plan to focus on Lainey and getting her settled and all of the potential medical care she needs, and getting her adjusted to having a family.


Lifesong info:
Give by Check 
Please make checks payable to
 Lifesong for Orphans. 
In the memo please note your gift preference with Family Account Number and Family Name: Ashe #3732
 Please mail checks to:
 Lifesong for Orphans 
PO Box 40 
Gridley, IL 61744
 
Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all US administrative and fund-raising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners).  That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the need…helping orphans.

Give Online
 1. Go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate 
2. Select Give to an Adoptive Family 
3. Complete online form and fill in Family Account Number & Family Name Fields
 
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Individual donations $250 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax- deductible receipt.  Receipts for donations under $250 will gladly be sent upon request. Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.
If you have any questions about donations please contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org.

35 years....wow....

Well, it's my last night as a person under 35....I seriously don't know how I got this old!!  I've never been a person to really make a big deal about birthdays, and I figure I feel old every morning, so I'm not sure tomorrow will be any different!  I've also never really had a list of things to do before I was 35, or anything like that, so I can't really go through and "check-off" things that I wanted to do.  I'm pretty certain that any list I may have made years ago would not have had all of the things on it I have done in these past 35 years!!  I can't even say that I never thought I would have this life....because I don't think I would have dreamed up my life in my wildest dreams!  I think at this point God looks down on me and says....hmmm...now, lets try this!!!

To say that my life is fairly unique I think is probably an understatement, but truly I feel like even though most people look at the things I have done and would say they were wonderful things to do for others, I can honestly say they have blessed me more than I could have ever imagined.  I would have never imagined that I would be a southern girl going to a baptist church, and listening to Christian music on the radio.  I never thought that "falling" into a nursing career would lead me to such an amazing gift of being able to pursue my passion while being paid.  I would have never guessed that the guy that was a total goof ball and totally turned me off would be the most perfect mate I could have imagined.  I mean, seriously...a girl with a 4th of July birthday married to the pyromaniac that loves fireworks??  who else could have orchestrated that but God himself??  I always thought that I would have children, but no way could I have known the joy that they would bring to my life...until you have them, you can never know.  And, when I thought I would have children, pretty sure it never crossed my mind that I would carry children for others.  Who could have guessed that being blessed with easy (well...mostly) pregnancies would allow me to bless and be blessed by 3 families and 6 children??  Pretty sure no one saw that one coming!!  I would not have said never to the idea of adoption years ago, but I think I always saw it as something you would do if you couldn't have children...hahaha, how wrong was I??  And here I sit looking at a picture of the most beautiful little girl living halfway around the world who has no idea that I pray for her everyday and can't wait to have her in my arms...who else but my God??

I think the biggest thing I have learned in these 35 years is that sure, I can make some plans...but then I can also laugh and say, okay...whatever You say!!  I am a control freak at heart, and I try to keep it together, but I am slowly learning to let go just a little and enjoy the ride.  Obviously His plans are far greater than anything I could ever imagine for my life, He has shown me that time and time again!  I am okay with being older, with being a little wiser, and a little closer to who I'm supposed to be.  I am so excited to see what the next 35 years has to bring.  I can't even name all of the blessings that I have been given, and it really does overwhelm me sometimes to think about.  I am so thankful for the blessings that may have been painful at the time, but have proven to be some of the greatest things in my life.  I'm sure that as I sit here and think about what those next 35 years will bring, He is up there just laughing and saying...you ain't seen nothing yet!!!