August

Things are moving along here.  Taylor is off to college this week so this is probably our last family pictures as a family of 8.   Can't wait until there are two more in the family shot!

Our paperwork is still moving at snails pace and we are not even 100% sure it is where it needs to be so we are working on that.  Hopefully everything is on track and we are on to the next step soon.  We don't need anymore delays.

School starts back next week.  I am not looking forward to the kids going back.  I have enjoyed having them home but both girls are excited about their teachers and ready to go back so that is good.

The adoption and life has been pretty hectic and crazy.  So much paper work and things to do with the adoption.  Larry is saving his vacation for our trip so we haven't had a break this summer.  It will all be worth it in the end though.

We have had to deal with some difficult things lately too.  Satan doesn't like adoption and anyone that has adopted will testify to that.  Usually you start hearing stories how the second people sign papers to start the process, Satan shows his ugly self and causes problems.  We have had it happen to us quite often, you can feel the negativity and Satan trying to derail things.  We usually just figure that we must be headed in the right direction if he is so upset.   It continues to happen and is getting pretty personal though and that is harder. 

With the past two adoptions we have chosen to keep things private and not put our life out there on an open blog.  There are unfortunately people that are not only not happy for us but will do anything to bring us down.  People we stay away from and do anything to avoid drama and interaction with.  But, our legal system allows you to take anyone to court and then even if you are innocent you have to hire and prove it to the courts.  No matter how ridiculous the charges are.  Even though we don't have time from drama and would never do things to intentionally hurt someone others don't live the same way and get sucked into the evil easily.

Putting our story out there has made us vulnerable and fund raising has as well.  We knew this could happen yet we feel like God has been present through this adoption as well as our last two.  I think we have a story to share.  We hope that if people will hear our story and think if we can adopt 4 with specials needs they can adopt one.  If even one child gets a family because our story is out there then it is all worth it.

It is hard but worth it.  I thank God daily for all the blessings he has given us.  I pray constantly for protection over our family.  It does hurt when people that should be close to us aren't standing by us but we can't control other people.  We see it happen and are dealing with it now.  We just will continue to distance ourselves from anyone trying to harm us or our family.  Again it isn't always easy but with our adoptions and maybe because they have special needs, we have to be so protective of our family and we are.

We need all the love and support we can get.  Bringing home our girls will be wonderful but the reality of bringing home orphans at 5 and 9 with special needs won't be easy.  We are ready but the extra negativity around us has to move on.  The people in our lives causing it need to as well.  We have gotten a huge wake up call with all these adoptions on what really matters.  We now know what God is calling us to do and that is a great feeling to be doing it.  But we need support and can't do it alone.

Please pray for us that we won't be under attack any longer.   That people close to us will see the truth and quit following the darkness.  We don't have the energy, time or money for it.

This morning I woke to new pictures of Meilin on FB.  Seeing her or Molly is all it takes for me to refocus and keep our eyes on what really matters!  We got LOA a couple weeks ago for two very special girls.  Makes sense that Satan doesn't like it but our God is bigger than he is and we will be bringing them home as soon as we can! 

Pray for protection over our family though.  We need it now and all the way through rest of this adoption!