It was about a year ago to the date that we sent in our our application to adopt. Geesh. SOOO much has changed in that year.

1) The original time frame was 9-14 months. Silly us...we thought that by this point, there was a good chance we'd already be there and back with our kid. Ha! Now we're looking at November-January (which is really okay...God knows what He's doing).

2) Erin went on a life-altering mission trip to Rwanda. She got to experience the culture and even visit the orphanage. Despite her best efforts, they were able to restrain her from sticking a kid in her suitcase (ummm...that's a joke. Dear lovely people of Rwanda who may be reading this and making decisions about whether or not we should adopt, please know that she would never do that). God did some rather remarkable things in her and through her on that trip. What an amazing country and people.

3) We decided shortly after that trip to adopt 2 children instead of one. After seeing and falling in love with the kids there, and thinking through what would be best for the children, it seemed pretty obvious that it was what we should do...even though it would be harder raising 2 and would add even more $ to our needs. We just do what we're told.

4) God has absolutley blown us away with how He's provided for us financially. It has been unbelievable (and quite emotional) to have friends and family, our church and our former youth group kids pour out their love on us. With adding a second child to the mix, our needs rose to around $30,000. Even though I'm in ministry and all, this was still going to be tricky. We really didn't have any idea of how God would pull it off, but we dove in anyway because it's what He wanted. Not only has He used the people in our lives to bring that amount to a mere $7,800 we have left to raise, but He's made a dramatic change in our personal finances as well. We've got a long way to go, but we're actually making progress for the first time...ever....which is a MUST with the kids coming and all. Honestly, it all happened once we really and truly made the conscious decision to turn all of our possessions and money over to Him. We got serious about using any and all money above our basic needs to help others...and ever since, God has poured out His generosity. It just took a rather (seemingly) dramatic step of faith.

Please continue to pray. It means everything to us.
Here's what we need prayer for the most:

• Patience to trust in God's timing as we wait.
• God's guidance of our paperwork...to get in the right hands at the right time, and for their government to approve us (our next step).
  
• Wisdom to know how to raise our kids (we really don't know what we're doing...)
• Our kids safety and for them to somehow sense that they are loved, by us and by God.
• The remaining $7,800 we need to raise.