Trying a different path

It's now been a year that we have been waiting to bring a second child into our family. We have had our ups and downs, but we have held on to God's faith. The past couple of weeks have been great with the teaching and gospel that God has provided. He seems to provide exactly what we need when we need it. One of my favorite verses in the bible reads: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.

God is going to bring us a child.

I titled this post, Trying a different path, because we have decided to begin working with a Christian Adoption Consultants. Our only delay is that we must raise the $1950 fee due with their application to begin. This organization works with agencies all over the country and will help us through all aspects of the adoption. Here are some of the reasons they say families should use a consultant:

Here are some of the Benefits for using Christian Adoption Consultants:

• Shorter wait time - Our adoptions typically take less than 6-10 months! (This sounds good to us.)
• Referrals to Multiple agencies in adoption friendly states.
• Financial advice - Knowing the resources you have available to you as an adoptive couple will help you make sound, wise financial decisions and save you time and money.
• Education and guidance for your adoption - Our individual consultations and step by step reference manual will guide you from your first questions about adoption until your adoption is finalized.
• Higher level of protection and security from adoption fraud - Let the experts advise you on the warning signs and help you find the right agency and adoption situation for your family.

We are looking at ways to raise this fee and the remaining amount needed to complete our adoption. We know that whether it is a small fundraiser that raises $10 or a bigger one that raises $1000, it is all because of God and I know that He will give us EXACTLY what is needed and when.  His plan is perfect and He has a plan for our family. We just have to pray believing, trusting and FULLY having faith that it will be His perfect plan. "But let him ask in faith, nothing  wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." James 1:6-7

Your prayers, thoughts, suggestions for fundraisers, donations or just being there for us are all greatly appreciated. We can not do this alone and we need the prayers of those we love.

More later,

Mandy

Bearing it all with Patience

Patient is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint. I can say that I truly believe that definition is correct but I am not always patient. As We move closer to the one year mark we are dealing with the wait in our own ways, some more patient than others. The hardest part of this is to watch Clayton want something so bad and not know the best way to explain to a seven year old why we are still waiting. I know His plan is perfect and He wants us to bear it all with patience. I read today 1 Corinthians 13. It was perfect for how I was feeling. Here is part of what I read (click the link to read the entire chapter):

1 Corinthians 13 (KJV)

⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

¹³ And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

We are depending on God's love to provide for us exactly what we need. Not what we want and when we want it but what God wants for us. That is all that will work. We are still in the waiting process and trust in God and His plan. We have given our profile to an attorney in Louisville with the hopes of her being able to match us with a birth mother.

We have redone our profile to match Matt's job change. Yep you heard right, he recently took a new job!! He is now a Commercial Vehicle Inspector with the KY State Police - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement division. He has been in training a lot lately but we are glad for the change as he is now home at night. We are excited for this change!

Another recent development is that We have been approved by Lifesong for Orphans to utilize their adoption account for tax deductible donations. Any donation made to them will assist our adoption and will also be tax deductible. To make a donation to our Lifesong for Orphans account, please follow the directions below:

Checks should be payable to ―Lifesong for Orphans. In the memo, note ―family account number" and "family name" (Lawson#3554) 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 U.S. administrative and fund-raising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.

o To pay online go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select ―Give to an Adoptive Family.‖ Complete the online form and fill in ―Family Account Number‖ and ―Family Name‖ fields. Note PayPal charges an administrative fee (2.9% + $.30 USD per transaction). Your donation will be decreased by the amount of this fee. 

o NOTE: 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. 

o "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.

 

As we continue through this process your help is greatly appreciated. What we need most is your thoughts and prayers for God's will to be done.