Plugging Along

I know it's been almost a month since I've posted an update, but we're still plugging along! In the past month, we've gotten our dossier documents together and sent them off for translation and authentication, waited for and went to Atlanta to get our biometric fingerprinting for Homeland Security, have been applying for adoption grants, and trying to learn more about Crosby's special needs and how we can best meet those, along with general end-of-the-school-year busyness! Josh also started a new job last week, and we've still been working on building out the kids closets here at the house. (We did all the finishing on our house after drywall to save money, so we're still finishing all kinds of projects around here.) Super news: we received our approval notice from USCIS yesterday, so our immigration documents are being sent off today for county/state authentication! That came faster than we were expecting, so it was definitely an answer to prayer. We are hoping and praying that we will be able to travel and bring Crosby home in November or December, and right now that is looking very promising! Sooner would be AMAZING! 

Please be praying that we would receive some matching grant funds! Matching grants would give our friends and family the opportunity to give tax-deductible donations towards our adoption costs that will then be matched be a not-for-profit organization. If you aren't familiar with the adoption process, you may not know how incredibly expensive it is. We expect our total costs to be about $36,000, but we expect to get some of that back through the adoption tax credit ($13,840). Of course, we still have to pay those additional funds up front and then we'll get them back in future years against our tax liability. Adoption costs include agency service fees, orphan care fees, administrative fees for all the agencies involved, liaison fees, translation fees, fingerprinting, training, couriers, visas, attorney fees and travel costs. Most people are really surprised that when you break down all the fees...the official adoption costs paid to China are just a small part of the cost. We are not a family that makes six figures, so that number is HUGE for us. Fortunately, we serve a BIG GOD! He has always, always, always provided for us, and we know He will be faithful to do it again. Whenever we have laid what we have at His feet for His purposes (our loaves and fishes), He has multiplied them. We work really hard to live within our means, save money and be good stewards, because we recognize that all we have is a gift from God. We buy second hand clothing and forego the toys, so we can cover our crazy medical bills (which are about to get even higher) and still give sacrificially. We are incredibly grateful for all that we have, and we know we have more than most. I don't say these things to toot our horn; I just want you all to know that we don't take your financial gifts lightly. We know that you all work just as hard as we do, and we promise that anything you end up giving will go directly towards our adoption costs. We will keep you posted on any grant opportunities! We expect to hear more in the next month or so.

Until then....thank you for your continued prayers!

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. - 2 Corinthians 9:8