March 21, 2014: Josiah 13, Nathanael 8, Luke 6 . . .Isaac 11
ADOPTION! Click our family picture to go to our adoption fundraising page.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
In Manila
We made it to Manila on time with no problems. This will be the shortest post ever because we are exhausted and have our big day tomorrow - going to Ma-ma's Hope Haven Of Norway to meet Up with Isaac. They call it Entrustment Day. We will post more tomorrow!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Waiting in St. Louis
So far, Josiah is enjoying our experience! Waiting at our gate for 2 hours .... With Dunkin' Donuts ... Isn't too bad!!We are on our way!
The last 5 emails from Isaac's social worker have been very emphatic that he is very, very and really, really, and very much excited to see us soon! We can't wait to get there!
Monday, June 9, 2014
Travel in Two
Just TWO MORE DAYS until we embark upon our crazy and long travel adventure to the Philippines!
We are flying from St. Louis to Detroit (1.5 hours) to Nagoya, Japan (13 hours) to Manila (4 hours).
We will arrive in Manila on Thursday evening at 10:00 and on Friday, June 13 we will have our Entrustment Day at Isaac's orphanage at 10:00a.m. From this time on, he will be with us and we will spend a few days in the Philippines doing some fun things, seeing some sights, and attending church together.
On either Monday or Tuesday we will have our final appointment with ICAB (the adoption board) and we will be ready to fly back home on Wednesday, June 18. Because of the time change, we will also be arriving home on Wednesday, June 18.
We are grateful to be at this place and are anxious to get the show on the road!
We met Jazhel (Isaac) when he was here in America on August 3, 2013 . . .now, just 10 months later, we are ready to bring him into our family - forever! God has left us speechless throughout this process as He has coordinated so many details as only He can. Our friends and family have loved us in so many ways, affirming God's call to adopt Isaac. We pray that we will be strong and patient and understanding and flexible and faithful through all the changes and joys and challenges that lie ahead. We believe that God will use Isaac's life in a huge way for His glory! We don't know exactly what that means yet, but we can't wait to see.
Check back for new postings this week as we share what we are up to with our new son in the Philippines...
Gotta' go; there's still packing to do!
****karen
We are flying from St. Louis to Detroit (1.5 hours) to Nagoya, Japan (13 hours) to Manila (4 hours).
We will arrive in Manila on Thursday evening at 10:00 and on Friday, June 13 we will have our Entrustment Day at Isaac's orphanage at 10:00a.m. From this time on, he will be with us and we will spend a few days in the Philippines doing some fun things, seeing some sights, and attending church together.
On either Monday or Tuesday we will have our final appointment with ICAB (the adoption board) and we will be ready to fly back home on Wednesday, June 18. Because of the time change, we will also be arriving home on Wednesday, June 18.
We are grateful to be at this place and are anxious to get the show on the road!
We met Jazhel (Isaac) when he was here in America on August 3, 2013 . . .now, just 10 months later, we are ready to bring him into our family - forever! God has left us speechless throughout this process as He has coordinated so many details as only He can. Our friends and family have loved us in so many ways, affirming God's call to adopt Isaac. We pray that we will be strong and patient and understanding and flexible and faithful through all the changes and joys and challenges that lie ahead. We believe that God will use Isaac's life in a huge way for His glory! We don't know exactly what that means yet, but we can't wait to see.
Check back for new postings this week as we share what we are up to with our new son in the Philippines...
Gotta' go; there's still packing to do!
****karen
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Blessed to Be Fully Funded!
As of today, May 13, 2014, we are excited to announce that we are fully funded for our total anticipated adoption expenses! It is only through the generosity of our family and friends that we are at this point, and we are humbled beyond belief at the outpouring of love and support from so many.
From the beginning of this journey, from that first day we met Jazhel (Isaac), we believed God intended for us to embrace him as our fourth son, and asked us to completely trust Him with this one. So, we trusted, not knowing how all the details would fall into place, not knowing how we would fund the process . . . and He proved, once again, that He is indeed trustworthy, without a doubt!
We are grateful for your prayers and for letting God nudge you to share generous financial gifts to bring us to his point!
Isaac has one more appointment - his Visa Interview - this week, and that should be the final piece to finish the puzzle . . .we will be making travel plans very, very soon!
****karen
From the beginning of this journey, from that first day we met Jazhel (Isaac), we believed God intended for us to embrace him as our fourth son, and asked us to completely trust Him with this one. So, we trusted, not knowing how all the details would fall into place, not knowing how we would fund the process . . . and He proved, once again, that He is indeed trustworthy, without a doubt!
We are grateful for your prayers and for letting God nudge you to share generous financial gifts to bring us to his point!
Isaac has one more appointment - his Visa Interview - this week, and that should be the final piece to finish the puzzle . . .we will be making travel plans very, very soon!
****karen
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Isaac's Visa Appointments
We are getting so close to our travel dates, it's hard to believe!
Isaac has an appointment Friday, May 9 for his Visa Medical visit. Then, two weeks later, on May 23, he has his Visa Interview. If all goes well for both appointments, they will call us and tell us we can make travel plans!
SKYPE! Skype has been amazing. We have talked with him four times already, and each conversation gets better and less awkward . . .we are getting used to each other's languages (with the help of adults there), and coming up with things to show each other (pictures, drawings, etc.) and share with each other (music, Tagalog learning program, etc.). This communication will make our arrival at his doorstep less intimidating for all of us!
:)
****karen
Isaac has an appointment Friday, May 9 for his Visa Medical visit. Then, two weeks later, on May 23, he has his Visa Interview. If all goes well for both appointments, they will call us and tell us we can make travel plans!
SKYPE! Skype has been amazing. We have talked with him four times already, and each conversation gets better and less awkward . . .we are getting used to each other's languages (with the help of adults there), and coming up with things to show each other (pictures, drawings, etc.) and share with each other (music, Tagalog learning program, etc.). This communication will make our arrival at his doorstep less intimidating for all of us!
:)
****karen
Sunday, April 6, 2014
UPDATE on Adoption Funds!
WOW! – we do not have the words to express our gratitude for the support we have received concerning our adoption of Jazhel (Isaac)! So many have helped us, prayed for us and with us, and given generously toward our expenses. Thank you for this amazing outpouring of love!
To date, we have just about $21,000 toward our total expenses! Our fundraiser itself totaled approximately $8000 in gifts, and we have been receiving other individual donations since December. The grant we received from Brittany’s Hope Foundation was $4000. All these together have brought us to this amazing total.
We anticipate a grand total cost of $25,000 -$27,000 by the time all is said and done and he is officially adopted. This includes upcoming travel expenses and also adoption lawyer fees once we have had him home for 6 months.
Our best guess is that we will be traveling to the Philippines in June – maybe late May, at best. We are waiting for more information back from US Immigration, and Jazhel is currently going through his final Medical and Visa appointments so that he will be all ready to go and they can plan travel dates for us!
We are anxiously waiting to get a date and time for our first Skype session with him!
THANK YOU, Thank You, Thank You!! We can’t say it enough!
****karen
Our Adoption Fundraiser
The food was incredible - it was all donated by friends; the fellowship was sweet. So many helped plan, set up, serve, clean up, etc. and we are so thankful for their incredible help.
The evening included music of praise to God for His salvation and His faithfulness! The band was two guitars, one banjo and a djembe - INCREDIBLE, as was the sound of praises raised to Him in one voice.
We all (yes, adults included) enjoyed the Magic Show by the Amazing Dudley!
Thank you all for loving Jazhel (Isaac) in this way and for being part of God's plan to give him a forever family!
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