We received a new picture of Brayden on Friday, thanks to another family who were there visiting "Z" (Brayden's orphanage) last week. This is what she wrote in her note to me:"Zhong Yong is so handsome :) and seems very eager to have a family. I say that because he seemed happy to have his picture taken..very bright eyed! Other boys around his age were huddling around Ms. Zhong when we were taking Zhong Yong's picture asking, "Have you found a family for us yet?" So heart breaking. But I am so happy that Zhong Yong has found his family!!!!! :)" So nice to hear that he seems happy and is doing well but I can't help but picture that image of the other boys hoping to hear they have a family too. Oh how I wish things were different. I wish families were on a waiting list waiting for a child to become "available" instead of children on waiting lists wishing, hoping, praying that they get word that they too have a family finally! I wish more families would step out on that sometimes scary branch and adopt a child. This is the ultimate "not being picked for the team" and no child should have to get passed over again and again hoping for someone to take him/her home. Please pray for these children.
These pictures do however make the wait for travel a little bit easier (even though we haven't waited even near what some families wait, by any means, it is still hard knowing you have a child a half a world away). We are currently just waiting for USCIS (Homeland Security/Immigration) to give us our approval so we can send our paperwork to China. We are only at day 28 of what is usually a 60 day (or longer) wait, so we still have a ways to go. We did however, go today to the always exciting Immigration Office to take our finger prints. That experience is just as exciting as the Social Security Office...maybe more exciting. Glad that part is done and behind us.
As we wait we still continue to fundraise. Honestly, I am so tired of fundraising (and I'm sure our friends are tired of hearing about our fundraising efforts) but we still need thousands of dollars to be able to travel to China and bring Brayden home. We received a large grant from JSC Foundation which is a HUGE blessing but after doing our taxes we found out we will not be receiving the large refund we received last year, so thank God we received that grant. We are still waiting to hear on another grant from Show Hope so hopefully that comes through. My dear, sweet friends are holding a boutique for us on February 25th and the proceeds will go towards our adoption. Then hopefully the last thing we will have is our Both Hands Fundraiser which is coming up on March 10th. This is one that I am super excited about because it is not only raising money for our adoption but also helping a widow at the same time! You can find out more about this fundraiser by clicking here. Feel free to share this site with others as well!
I have no doubt that God will continue to provide for this adoption, He has a way of doing things like that!
Please continue to keep us and this adoption in your prayers.
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