LID

Oh glory day!! Our sweet social worker called me yesterday afternoon and said we have a LOG IN DATE!! WoW!!!! It took just 8 short days!!! It got done before the Chinese New Year and I gotta say ... YIIIPPPPEEEEE!!! Excitement doesn't quite  describe my emotions.  It has now hit me  that I better get my butt in gear. I mean I thought I was already in gear and the reality of it being on us before we know it has hit and i feel overwhelmed slightly at thinking of everything that needs to be done before we travel. Now our SW told us it can take 90 days for our LOA which is our letter of approval from china however I've also heard it may go a lot quicker than that considering we are already matched. Someone commented that 55 was the average and a sweet lady that is about to travel said hers took 25 days!  25!!! Did you hear me?  We were LID on 2-6 which  means we are already 13 days into the wait!  From LOA we travel within 3 months! I could seriously burst into tears i'm so excited. I just keep fighting them back. lol  We are moving full force with our fund raisers. Once again we are hitting every single craft show that is available for us to hit. We DON'T have all our funds yet so that kind of adds to our stress. We've been amazed at the out pouring of our friends and our church members at what they have been willing to do for us. Even our family. My parents have give from the get go, and still continue to support us however they can. Wes' mom gave us a good bit of support too!  Wes' brother and wife gave us mattresses for his bed which was a huge blessing that we didn't have to buy those. My sister has tried to sell every thing I've made to all her co-workers and they've been wonderful. We are so blessed to have these people here for us. We can't wait to share that one moment in the airport with our family when they too can meet Reece face to face. Oh man, I'm going to be crying the whole time! If you feel like you'd want to donate for our adoption we have a link you can go to. It's tax deductible for you so that's a plus. Many many thanks to those who have been supporting us all along. We love you and we couldn't do this without you and without your prayers. God has been so awesome in this adventure of ours (he always is) and is teaching me so many things. Still teaching and humbling me in  many many ways. Glad to be on this road and glad I get to share it with others! Can't wait to give you the LOA news!!!! Looking forward to it!

http://adopttogether.org/williamsadopt/

DTC BABY!!!

We were DTC on 01/29!! Oh yess!!!! I was doing the happy dance. Such exciting news!  What that means is all of our paper work... our home study, immigration.. everything that has been approved from our consulate is now been sent to the China consulate for approval. Our next big waiting process is our LOA  which is a huge deal because we know we travel within a couple months of LOA. Which is acceptance from China. Big deal! The anxiety has set in.. "realness" is here and I find myself fighting back tears  a lot. But good tears. I just can't wait to hold my sweet boy. Even if he's screaming his head off.. I know in my heart, it's changing his life for the better!  I'm so excited for that moment. This is been a crazy ride so far and I know the ride is bound to get crazier.. We haven't even traveled yet. I just keep remembering that God has plans. He knows what's before us. He has it under control. I have complete faith and trust in how he's going to direct our paths. Please remember to keep praying for us and for Reece. We love you all and are so thankful for those of you who are praying and for those of you who have helped us financially. You guys are awesome! Every single dollar is one more we didn't have. We thank you for that! Our site is still up for we have a long ways to go still. It's tax deductible  also so you should get a receipt through the adopt together site.  Love you all.. will update you when it's time!


http://adopttogether.org/williamsadopt/

While we wait for everything to be authenticated for China we just wanted to update you on our fund raising goals. We do in fact have a long way to go. In fact we need just under $20,000. That's still a lot BUT we also know how mighty our God is and we believe that he will make it happen. He's made it happen thus far. We've worked very hard but every time, God has blessed our efforts. We've been amazed . What we have going now is our new challenge. We are asking that 300 people give $25 toward our adoption. It's a lot really if you look at the big picture. That's a huge chunk of change all together but broke down, it's not so big person to person. $25 wouldn't even feed our family of  6 at McDonalds! Would you please consider helping us in this way?  Even if you don't have $25, the donation site takes as little as $1. You can be totally anonymous too. We don't have to know who you are. God knows and we know he will bless you for it. Everything that you donate is tax deductible too.  This is our son, we just want to get him home and we do need help from a lot of people. I don't mind asking and I don't mind doing fund raisers. Adoption takes on a whole new meaning when it's YOU. When it's YOUR child you're fighting for. When it's YOUR baby that you know needs medical attention. It's all different. We love him  so much already we just want him  in our arms! Adoption is not by any means cheap... it's really not but you have to understand why I guess. I agree they could probably drop some prices on things.. but everything that is put into it.. it really is a LOT of work and then having to send things back and forth to China, having things authenticated, doing finger prints, back ground checks and so forth, passports, visas.. consulate fees.. travel fees, medical fees,  it really adds up quick!   I want to thank EVERYONE that has helped us thus far. There has been total strangers who have donated to us and we are so very grateful. We are grateful for everyone who has donated and who has come to our craft show after craft show just to buy  because of what we are doing. Their heart is so big, they just keep giving. I cherish them. God is teaching me many things about people.  I'm seeing peoples hearts for who they are .  I thank God for my lessons I'm learning every step of this process.  It's defiantly worth the journey.
So again I'm asking would you please consider helping us with our challenge if you can. Please pray for us. Pray for our family, pray for God's protection on Reece. We will continue to update you every step of the way.  We love you all so much! Here is the site to go to for donations.   /http://adopttogether.org/williamsadopt/  Adopt together is a wonderful non profit  organization who is committed to helping families raise money for adoption. I've spoke with them and they really have a heart for what they are doing. They are there to help us every step of the way and we are so grateful to be a part of what they do. Check them out on their site.
 THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!

LEAPING FOR JOY!!

What an amazing last few days! Had a wonderful wonderful message a church that I really needed to hear. Church was PACKED OUT. Guess I wasn't the only one who needed that message.  Went into this week with a whole new outlook.

We have a new donation site available for those of you who can help us financially. The good news is, it's TAX DEDUCTABLE!  Here's the link     http://adopttogether.org/williamsadopt/ . Please don't ever think you can't make a difference. Even if it's $5, then that's $5 we didn't have.  We SO appreciate your help. More than you can ever imagine!!

On to me leaping for some joy. My sweet Maegan went and checked the mailbox today and what did I see in her hand? HOME LAND SECURITY... OH YEAHHHHHHH... GOT OUR IMMIGRATION!! I'm thrilled to the bone. One step closer to our sweet boy! Now to get our papers ready to send to China!! WHOO HOOOO!!  We are so excited! The next excitement you'll probably hear from me will be DTC! That would be Dossier to China. That's a huge step in getting our baby. That will be in a few short weeks and I can't wait for my turn to claim it!!

As always I'm going to ask you to please continue to pray for us. We have a LONG road financially. Please also pray for Reece. Praying for him tonight for warmth and a loving hand from his nanny at the orphanage. Praying God gives him peace and prepares his little heart for the change that's coming in his life.
Will talk to you all in a few short weeks!

CHRISTMAS TIME!

So much exciting things have happened since my last post!  God knew how heart broken I was at Thanksgiving and he has calmed my  fears and let me know my baby is ok! Not long after I wrote that post I found a group on yahoo for families that are in process and families who have already adopted from Reece's orphanage. How exciting! As I started going through albums these people had posted I found several pictures of Reece! Oh I was just beside myself looking at them all!  I also got in touch with three ladies, all different families who told me about his orphanage and about Reece! Even more exciting. My fears were laid to rest. Not only was I informed that the people in his orphanage CARE for these precious children they are taking care of, but they are also excited that Reece has a family waiting!!  One sweet lady got in touch with me and said when they were there getting their son, they met Reece and she actually went to get info on him, for he had such an impression on them but they were told he had been matched. That would be US! I'm so happy and thrilled that he had that impression on them! He worked his charm! I'm so thankful for all the new information I've received and so thankful God showed me that he IS in fact ok. He's taking care of him.

Just  wanted to update everyone and share my heart as we go into the holidays. We FINALLY sent immigration off TODAY! Praise the LORD!!  That was a little more drug out than I expected and honestly a month later than I expected but I know God has a reason. Glad it's gone right before Thanksgiving.  Now we wait to hear for our approval and all paper work then gets sent to China.

    As we get closer and closer to the holidays, my heart is so heavy , saddened and happy at all once. I never knew how emotional this process would be when we get to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I knew the process was going to be difficult.  I was warned it would be a emotional roller coaster but you honestly can not get the full grasp of it until your right smack in the middle of it. I mean, when Wes and I were going through invitro, yes it was a draining emotional roller coaster for 6 years!  After having multiple miscarriages you get very anxious, tired and to the point where you just want to call it quits.. God had a different plan. The emotions you go through is life changing and God has taught me many many lessons from that chapter in our life. Well, here we are again. A new chapter.It's exciting, scary, very emotional. I can't  find the right words to explain the feelings that are there.  We have been so incredibly busy trying to do every kind of fund raiser we can think of to raise money. I'm so committed to do whatever it takes but as I get closer to the holidays I can't help but to cry almost daily. My heart aches for Reece so much right now. I wake up thinking about him, praying for him and shedding many tears. I often look at the clock and think 13 hours ahead and imagine what he would be doing at that moment and he has not a clue he has a mama wondering and dreaming about him. Longing to hold him. I'm so saddened at the thought that we are here, carrying on a normal life fixing to celebrate with family and friends the best part of the year and my baby, my Reece is alone, in a orphanage. I have no clue if anyone loves on him,  no clue if he's hungry or is he being fed regularly, no clue if anyone is striking him because he's making too much noise. I'm so longing to hold him and protect him and give him everything he so much deserves. My heart hurts that he is alone. His heart does not know he has a mama and daddy who are desperately trying to get to him by next summer. The emotions are overwhelming. This is all things I didn't expect to feel an go through really. I knew we'd be anxious but my goodness it's a lot to take in.  God is once again teaching me many many many lessons.  I have no choice  but to totally lean and depend on God because he's the one in control. This is a area that even if I wanted to take the reigns... I can't. That's very hard. I can not protect Reece right now. Only God can. I pray constantly for God to wrap his arms around Reece and give him peace where he is. To protect him from harm until we arrive safely to get him. Everything in this journey is a total faith building process and I have to admit it's very hard lessons. But I'm defiantly up to the challenge. There is nothing that God can't handle, there is nothing too big for God. I am comforted in the fact that this is Reece's LAST Thanksgiving and Christmas without a family. That is the most wonderful thought for me! That this time next year.. he will be here with us. He will not be stuck in a orphanage and age out at 14 with no hope for his future. He has a family!!  So for now, I cling to God as I'm suppose to. Knowing that he has set us on this journey and knowing that God never gives us more than we can handle. Knowing God is protecting my sweet baby, knowing that God has this!  Please continue to pray for us and to pray for Reece too. We love you all an are continually grateful for those who have been supporting us. So glad to know such wonderful people!  Hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Want to help?

Wes and I have actually been entertaining the thought of taking Courtney and Hannah with us to China. In order to do this, yes it will cost us MORE MONEY!  But I keep thinking about how we talk to these girls about  God's wonderful works and how awesome would it be for them to go and experience this with us?  Not only to witness God first hand in the middle of China with Reece, but they will also be seeing other families all at the same time going through the same thing we are. They get to go and witness what the orphanage is like for themselves and see what it all means. I know it would touch their heart just like ours. So please be in prayer with us that God leads us in HIS direction. We want to follow the Lord's path, not our own.
   A thought for someone out there that may want to help us and really just don't know how besides praying. We want your prayers for our family and for Reece first before anything! We thank you for them and beg you to keep praying. We need the prayer  tremendously. If there is anyone out there that has  "flyer miles" with their credit card and they are just adding up and you really have no plan for them.... we will need tickets to fly to China!  Round trip we're looking at $3500-4000 PER PERSON. We don't own credit cards or we'd be trying to do it ourselves. SOOO if any of you out there would be willing to help in that area  for a ticket and feel led to do so.. that would be awesome!  We will not travel until June or July so there is plenty of time to rack up on points with Christmas coming! ha ha  Just wanted to throw that out your way just in case of the chance that anyone is willing to do that. Never know till you try. Thank you all for your on going support for us. We value each and every person that is praying and that has helped us thus far. We are truly grateful for everything! Words just can't express!