Blessed

            Feeling blessed by what God is doing in our lives and family through the adoption process!  In the last 1-2 weeks, we have been so encouraged by the number of people who have decided to support us financially!  It has been amazing to see God so faithfully providing for us!  Praise God that we are getting closer and closer to what we need!  And thank you so much to those who have supported us so far!!
            We have now sent in 3 grant applications.  Please pray that God would provide for us through these.  Pray that God would work in the hearts of the people reviewing our application and incline their hearts toward wanting to give to our family.  Continue to pray that God would keep us trusting in Him, as we apply for more grants and begin to start compiling and preparing documents for the dossier.  Also, pray that our I-600A application would be processed and approved smoothly and quickly.
            At our church, the women's Bible study has been reading an excellent book by Russell Moore called Adopted for Life.  If you haven't read it, I would highly recommend it.  I just finished reading the 4th chapter that talks about if you already have children, to involve them and teach them in the process:
            If the Spirit is drawing you toward adopting, think of the opportunity you'll have to share the gospel with your already-here children. (p. 108)  Gather your children around, and let them share in the joy of what God is doing in your family.  He's allowing you to join him in his plan for yet another child to grow up hearing the story of Christ, with a family that names the name of Jesus.  God's fitting you into his purpose, 'that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.' (Ps. 102:18) (111)
            It's such a blessed thought to think about how God is already working in our family to teach us about the gospel through this adoption!  And as we hear Ethan and Emma talking about and praying for their new brother, we are thankful that they are seeing the gospel.  And, as God is fitting us all into his purpose, we pray that our children would grow up joining us in praising the Lord!