Photo shoot

We received our updated home study (1 of the 2 documents we are waiting on) Wednesday and promptly (literally met the mail lady at the driveway, got in the van, and drove to the shipping store) overnighted them to immigration. We now await LOA; we are on day 19 (of a 30 - 120ish day wait). China has a holiday this week, so the adoption part of the government is shut down this entire week.

We are able to send a photo album to Maeve. In some instances, the staff will show it to the child...we have no idea if she will get to see it. (We feel someone showed the album we sent to Maren to her as she kept the album close when we arrived home...we will never know for sure). We had a little photo shoot this week in our living room (see below). We put the photos in a soft photo album and shipped it to Oregon (where our adoption agency is located), and then they ship out packages to China every Friday. We pray she will get to see it in order to begin preparing her for the big change.

Every day is harder to wait knowing our sweet girl is halfway across the world; however, it is a calm assurance knowing our Father is watching over her and nothing is out from under His watch. Please continue to pray that God would prepare her heart for the big change she will undergo as she leaves everything familiar; pray for someone to care for her and love on her.

Waiting Game

We are currently waiting for 2 documents:
1) our updated home study: this comes from our adoption agency; we had to have it updated for our new home; we are hoping it arrives early this week and then we forward it to the U.S. immigration
2) LOA is a document from the Chinese government: this document can come to us in 28-170 days; we are fervently praying we are closer to the 28 days (for reference Maren's came in 52 days); the sooner this comes the sooner we get to head to China (the time it takes to receive this document determines if we travel in January or later)

Please pray for these documents to come speedily. Ultimately, we know God has His timing for every detail...including how long Maeve waits for us to come and get her. Pray for us to rely on this and not revert to worry and anxiety over the arrival (or lack of arrival) of these documents.

On the home front:
Our children are super excited about finally seeing a picture of Maeve. Maren has called her, "my Maeve." We have begun preparing her that mommy will be in China for 2 weeks to pick up her little sister. She talks about her "little sister" repeatedly throughout the day. Examples, "my little sister like scoop snow with me," "my little sister need Candyland puzzle...small one...for Christmas," "my little sister like orange watch." This might be a sign of Maeve getting some "extra support" for decision-making (a.k.a. bossing) from her big sister, Maren.

We appreciate the encouragement and support during this waiting time!

Introducing...Maeve Boatman!!!

We received "THE call" on Tuesday around noon. The China team asked if we would be willing to review the information of a little girl with all 4 limbs affected by deformity, and we said, "yes"! Later that afternoon, they sent her information and picture via email. We submitted the paperwork to adopt her that night. 

She is almost 11 months old (younger than we imagined; however, we are thrilled with whatever God has planned). Michelle and Mora will travel to get her in January or February (if all the paperwork falls into place as it should). 

We have prayed for God's will, sovereignty, and timing to be at the forefront of this adoption. In January of this year, we believe we were to start the paperwork to adopt again. At this time, we had many unknowns: we were not sure where we would be with jobs, finances, etc...however, the known was this: "Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." Isa1:17. God has created a passion in both of us (and our children) to take up the cause for orphan justice; and to our family, one component is adoption. 

Ways to come come along side our family and be a part of God's work in this adoption: 

*Please join us in fervently praying for Maeve: for her to feel His comfort and peace as she goes through lots of transitions and for adequate nutrition and interactions with caregivers. 

*We ask you to pray for our family as we prepare for the trip and Maeve's arrival; pray for us to rest in His provision of the details and finances. 

*Unlike the first adoption, we believe God desires us to humble ourselves and allow our faith community and family to have the opportunity to join this amazing journey of His (not ours)...letting God use His people to ease the financial need...so He may receive the glory.
We will be posting opportunities on this blog, so check back for more information. 

We are overwhelmed that God is allowing our family to once again see with our eyes the beautiful picture of redemption that adoption portrays...for we too are adopted...into His Kingdom as Children of the one, true God.