Birthday Wishes

Frankie turned 10 on August 10th. His birthday was one of the things that had caused us to first know of him. That is the same birthday shared with my dad. It's with mixed emotions that we face the day, missing my dad so much, but so excited for Frankie to have his special day. This birthday was the first time he has ever gotten to celebrate his birthday. He told us it was the first time he ever got a birthday present or cake. He was so excited! He wanted an ice cream cake that had vanilla and strawberry ice cream and a soccer ball on it. Josh had helped me pick out his birthday gift. We started the day off with a little bit of a struggle when he opened his gift and started saying "why did you get me this?! this is not what I wanted!" I watched Joshua's face drop. He was so excited for Frankie to open the present thinking he had gotten exactly what he wanted. Well, I have to say it started out rough, but was all up hill after that. The day turned out great. Joshua worked hard at making sure his brother's first birthday was the best. They love each other. Frankie was disappointed that "father" wasn't going to be home for his birthday. We tried explaining that life on a tugboat can be hard and that dad would sometimes miss out on a lot of great things he wishes he could be here for. He was so cute in making sure there was cake saved for Michael. He was very serious when it was time to sing and blow out the candles. I caught his expression in a few pictures and was curious about it but never asked. As days went by, I kept making a note of how well each day seemed to be going,  commenting on how much fun we were having. At night, I love tucking my kids in. I even dreamed about getting to tuck Frankie in once he was home. Well, it hasn't gone the way I had dreamed it would. Matter of fact, most nights he refuses to get in the bed, rather he kind of lays side ways with his head hanging off one side and his legs hanging off the other. He knows it kind of bothers me, cause I never get to see him looking cozy in the bed like the other kids. I make a comment about how it doesn't look comfortable , but I let him be. I know this is a ridiculous thing. Well, all of a sudden when I checked on him to say good night, he's was in the bed. I let him know how happy it made me to see him looking so comfy in his bed, and he has continued. So, now, what happened yesterday. (I am still very emotional). Frankie is always talking. He is very much a chatter box. He asks questions about everything and just talks pretty much non stop. All in english I have to add, because I think that is just amazing. But yesterday in the middle of everything, he says to me, "Have I been good? The last few days have things been good with me?" I stopped everything to look at him and answer him, "Yes,... yes, it's been great." He said, "That was my wish on my birthday when I blew out my candles." My eyes filled up with tears immediately. I was so.... actually I still don't know what to say. I don't know if I was sad because that was his wish, or happy because he cared, or just totally moved that that had come from his heart. He cared, and he let me know he cared. And then he actually held my hand. The other day we were out and some one slipped their hand in to mine as we were walking. I just figured it was one of the other kids....and when I looked it was Frankie! He hadn't done that since shortly after coming home. These moments make me cry. I am just so happy we are starting to have them! Maybe he's going to start to like me after all. :) I'm feeling very hopeful.

Happy Times

I shared all our struggles. Openly. I want people to think about or be aware of things I didn't give much thought to. I also, want to be able to look back and see how far we have come. I hope it is alright that I was totally honest. I don't want to scare anyone. Things have moved very quickly. He is only home around 4 months. And wow! I have to share some of the amazing, wonderful, good times, where Michael and I have looked at this beautiful boy that is overflowing with joy. The thought of all that has happened in his life in such a short amount of time, and to see the smiles, smiles that didn't exist in the pictures we received from the other side of the world. To be able to be part of such an amazing thing, is such a blessing. He is our son. And he is finally home.

With a fresh cup of coffee in hand I am determined to bring this blog up to the present.  I would have to say one of the toughest things we have dealt with, is something I don't remember giving any thought to at all. I focused all my thoughts on how I was going to love Frankie and build him up, make up for lost time. He arrived seeming very confident and sure of himself and his new surroundings. I prepared for possible tantrums and behaviors. Didn't see any of that. What I didn't give much thought to was discipline. I can not believe how difficult it is to try to discipline a child through a translator or with a language barrier. I have to discipline him. He can not be allowed to be mean with out correction. But oh boy is it difficult, extremely time consuming and frustrating. When disciplining my children I put a lot of effort and thought into my choice of words. Well, that takes on a whole new meaning when half the time you don't even know what the translator is actually saying. That has probably been the single most difficult thing. Although his language has come a long, long way, we still struggle in this area.  And we have been dealing with the struggles involved in religious beliefs. I have been confronted many times with the screams from my other children that Frankie is bowing to statues, or telling them that flying monkeys are god. He has felt it is his job to teach his siblings about what he considers to be god. Which is very opposite who we know as God. Whewwww!  That's all I can say about that. Now personality differences. Before I say this, please take into account I am in the middle of this at this time, and emotions can run high. It's a struggle. It can be very challenging. But not with out hope. And I never question where we are. I know beyond a doubt this was God's plan. I know we are suppose to be a family. I wanted this child home more than anything in the world. I am so grateful for all the miracles and people that got him here and made this a reality. At times I see glimpses of what will be. I think I wasn't aware previously of the possibility that God could have a plan of doing a work in Michael and I, and I guess the kids too, that we were not aware of. I believe Frankie learned certain behaviors through life in the orphanage. He is very strong. Thank goodness. Other wise I don't know how he could have survived what he needed to. He looks out for himself. He never learned what it meant to be part of a family. This includes always putting himself first. Taking the biggest and best of all food, toys, and what ever else is put before the children. I have adjusted how we serve meals, and have provided for him to have great amounts of food. We have revamped how we do most things. Yet it can still be difficult. The kids get upset, and have a hard time understanding why he doesn't think like a team, and only looks out for himself, at a cost to them. Being an adult that understands where this is coming from, it can still be difficult when you are in the midst of it. So I totally get it and understand why the kids are having a tough time with this. He also tends to try to play family members against each other, and will try to get others in trouble or upset. I think that is how you got ahead in the orphanage. Where as my kids that I have raised since birth or shortly after do not understand the "the throw the other under the bus" mentality, so they are hurt by these behaviors. We work daily on reminding him to not say words that will tear someone down, but rather choose words that will build up. I think he is so use to doing this he doesn't even realize how often he says things that hurt. Other times he seems to enjoy that he has that power to do so. He also has the power to build, but so far he uses that in a manipulative way. There is hope in the midst of the storm. There are glimpses of what can be. He loves being part of a family. He never thinks about going back. Doesn't want to. Thank you God. He has amazing survival skills. He can adapt to all situations. I have taken for granted all the years of building qualities in my children, I am so proud of them. I see the difference God has made in their lives. And I know He will do the same in Frankie's. I wish it was going to happen over night. But I realize that is a ridiculous thought. We are making up for almost 10 years. I am very grateful to be given this opportunity. I am grateful beyond belief that God has chosen us to take this journey. Growth is never without struggle. God has a plan. Michael and I didn't give a thought to the possibility that God would be causing us to grow as well. This has been a very humbling journey. I have become very aware of my short comings. I have been out right disappointed in myself at times. I have admitted, "I had no idea I could be this immature". Well, God is pulling those things out, piece by piece. Frankie is not the only one going through God's perfecting fire. We are where we are suppose to be. And we are in His hands.

Adjustments

O.K., now where did I leave off. We were all home. Frankie was loving me, and being so appreciative for everything. I would get big hugs in the grocery for buying him bananas! Life was seeming pretty great. But he did not take to Allie. Allie is my daughter who is also from China. She had probably been the sibling most excited about her new brother coming home. He was from China like her.....she was telling everyone, and she couldn't wait for him to be her brother. I have to admit, I was also very excited for her to have another family member that was Chinese. When he got home she tried so hard to help him with english and getting his needs across. He did not take to this and the more she tried to help him the more he pushed her away. He began to pick her out as a target....and she began to feel his rejection. This caused her to begin having difficulties at school, need lots of extra loving from mom and dad, and overall she began to be sad, then angry. The more Frankie saw he was upsetting her, the more he pushed the limits. He tends to do that still with all of us. If he knows he is upsetting you, he likes to continue with increased determination and joy. He adores Joshua. Which truly is a blessing from God. They have become brothers. But even still if Frankie is doing something that is annoying Josh and Josh asks him to stop, Frankie's response is to get a big smile and do it all the more. Which can I  admit, can be very frustrating. We reached a low point one afternoon, when Frankie got angry at Allie and charged her and began punching her. We quickly intervened....explaining to him that we do not hit and it would not be tolerated, and I have to say he has not hit anyone again. A huge success! His personality is to be very stubborn. I am thinking this trait enabled him to survive his life in the orphanage. He has shared many difficult stories of how hard things were in the past. He is a very brave boy. He doesn't let anything stop him from doing what he wants to. His special need of limb difference is non existent. There is nothing he can't do. I strongly recommend anyone ever considering adopting a child with this type of special need, absolutely do it. They will encourage and inspire you beyond imagine. I had put a lot of thought into what kind of clothes I bought him, including running shoes that didn't have ties. Well, he even ties shoes effortlessly.  I would say the only thing he can't do is tie those little ties inside sweat pants which can be annoying for any of us. So, as the honeymoon stage began to end, I began to have daily interactions with Frankie's teachers as he began refusing to do what he was suppose to do in school. He took things that were not his, refused to sit when the other kids were sitting, and refused to try to do the work. This was always followed up by an evening with the translator trying to discipline through the use of a machine that I was never really sure was saying what I thought it was saying. When we discipline Frankie he shuts down completely. That remains to this day. He refuses to speak, and not really sure he is even listening at those moments, although the use of translators is down to a minimum now, (only 4 and a half months later!) Amazing! I would never have imagined he would pick up English this quickly. All the things I was prepared to struggle with, aren't a struggle at all. Although he wasn't always doing what he was suppose to he continued to love going to school so we let him. But I have to admit, I couldn't wait for summer break. I was feeling we desperately needed time for bonding with in our family. I needed to focus on just that. I reached out for help a couple of times from our adoption agency FTIA, and was given very helpful guidance and advice. I have to say again they are truly wonderful and I am forever grateful to them. I could get really emotional when I think of how they have been there for us before and after his adoption. I am going to post a few pictures of our new son shortly after getting home and will give an update shortly that will bring us up to the present. Thanks so much for following.

A lot of catching up to do.

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted anything. I have wanted to get back on here....to keep a journal to look back on, maybe learn from....to encourage others taking the same path we have chosen.... and just maybe as a means for helping get through the tough spots. And there have been tough spots. I can write this openly because some day when Frankie looks back on this he will no doubt agree there were very tough spots. Maybe it will some how help him, or all of us to read about our journey of becoming a family, with all the lumps and bumps along the way. The trip to China went well. We made our way around and Josh was an awesome helper and grew into an amazing young man right in front of me. Not sure what happened or why but we saw him grow up a bit during that trip. Frankie happily arrived. He was not the shy fearful boy needing encouragement that Josh and I had both anticipated. Rather he was a very happy, very talkative, boy with a take charge personality. He immediately wanted to take charge, of....the hotel room, the computers, the tv, the food.... And the adjustments began. Josh had a very tough time. He's quiet, kind spirited, and doesn't like to be in the limelight. Suddenly his new brother was bringing attention to our little group....and emotions started to show. By the end of the trip I started to see glimpses of hope of this new brotherly relationships, but we were all ready to be home. I wasn't in denial and had already given Michael a heads up that our room plans back home were going to need to be changed and we would be relocating the girls to give Frankie his own room to let Josh keep his space. Two weeks in China sharing a hotel room made Joshua reconsider what he previously thought was a cool idea, was not so much. So shortly after getting home....desperately needing some rest and bonding time....we began redoing the new rooms. Although the rooms are long done....and working out well, the pace has not slowed down yet. After being home for about 2 weeks Frankie was so eager to attend school that we allowed him to go. We are so blessed with a wonderful school, principal and teachers, they made sure he did well, and he absolutely loved it. We began what I now think of as the honeymoon stage. Although I wondered if it was just a stage...I saw this extremely happy, grateful boy, that said "I love you mom" all the time, and figured we were not going to see all those things we had prepared for and prayed about. Michael was having a little tougher time with the adjustments of another new personality in the house, but even that started to smooth out and all was working out really well. (To be continued)

In a few hours we'll be on our way!

It's been a very full day. We packed, then repacked, then packed again. Just couldn't get things down to 44 pounds in the one suitcase. Finally, it weighed in at 43! Joshua's is under. I am down to having practically nothing but I have the needed gifts, things for Frankie, and food for Josh so he doesn't starve while we are there. The suitcase was about 16 pounds by itself. So we are ready. Here we go. We prayed together tonight, and Allie cried through the whole prayer. She's very excited about her new brother finally coming home, but not so happy about her big brother and mama leaving to go get him. She wanted to go too in the worst way. I wish so much we could have all gone. Then I would be a lot more relaxed. But the main thing is, I'm going to bring our son home! We keep thinking about how Frankie must be feeling. I wonder if they have told him yet that we are coming now. It's been such a long wait. We love you Frankie. 2 Tim 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Packing?

Time to start getting everything together. All the paperwork is in order, I hope. I think I have everything I need. Time to get it all together in one place so I can start to pack. The dining room table is full of papers, medications, converters, and all kinds of things that I want to make sure make it into the suitcase. So, what are the chances I can fit everything I need without going over the 44 pound goal?

HOME

5 more days until travel!!

 5 more days to go. I'm feeling a little pressure, but a whole lot of excitement. Still so much to do. I think I am becoming over come with post it notes. I've got a few full pages going as well since the post its just can't hold all that needs to be done. Michael is working right up until the day before we leave so he is able to stay home and take care of the girls while I'm gone. All the paperwork is finally done and organized and ready for the trip. Hopefully it's all good. I'm starting to get things ready to begin packing. Michael reminds me all the time of our frantic pack the night before leaving to bring Allie home. I will not do that again! I got a little suitcase weighing thing. I do not want to run into trouble with over packing. Enough for 3 people for 16 days in 2 suitcases not weighing over 44 pounds, hmmmmm, and this has to include food for son number one who otherwise may starve in China. As hot as it was in the summer, I'm kind of wishing that was the weather so the clothes would be lighter. I can't stop thinking about Frankie and how he's feeling. I wonder if they have told him when we are coming? I wonder if he is excited or nervous. I hope he's not too nervous. I hope he is not angry with us that it has taken so long. As long as it has been, and believe me it's been long, we actually did really good on time. We are almost 1 year to date from when we started the adoption process. I wish I had time to go over the training we were required to do. That was so long ago. We are praying his adjustment goes well. He is so brave to be doing this. A good friend prayed with me tonight. In her prayer she asked that when Frankie got here somehow God would prepare him so that things seemed familiar, almost like he'd seen things before. This touched my heart and it brought me back a few years when I first saw his picture. There was something that connected us to him. It could only be God. The picture he drew of home when they asked him if he wanted to be adopted. I still have that hanging on the refrigerator with the other kids art work.  I pray that miraculously when he gets here he somehow recognizes this as home. 

You Over came

Well Frankie, if your mom could stop crying long enough to type I would like to leave you a message. On August 10th 2003 a great miracle happened. You , my beautiful son were born. Today, we'll never forget, God blessed us with another miracle. With one week to travel to bring you home, God provided the remainder of the finances needed in a very large grant from "A Child Waits". God heard you. When you said you wanted a family, and we said we wanted you to be our child. He heard, and they helped us. This is such a huge miracle! You see there are so many people that love you and care about you with out even having been blessed to meet you yet. You are precious and so wonderful. Through this there have been so many people praying for you, caring about you, and working so hard to make this happen. Never forget how blessed we are. Never forget how faithful God is, and how much He loves you. Never forget to give back and help others when ever given the opportunity to. I am in awe today, of God, and of so many wonderful people that have so unselfishly given and worked hard to help us bring you home. This has been a very long year....with a lot of work...and a lot of lessons. In a week your brother and I will board a plane to travel very far. Have I mentioned I don't like to fly. (I know I have to everyone around me....often). We are coming to bring you home!!!! That is a very good thing!! I love you!!!

One Year

Although he's been in our hearts for a long time, and we've been praying for him for what feels like forever, it was one year ago today we took a giant leap of faith and believed God would provide the finances needed so that we could become Quan's family. Now in under 2 weeks Joshua and I will be traveling to China to finally bring him home.

2 weeks!!

With 2 weeks to go, for the first time, I am coming apart at the seems a bit. Feeling a little stressed. I'm really nervous. Not about my beautiful son, I can't wait to finally meet him and to have him home! That could not come soon enough. I do have some butterflies. I mean I hope he likes me. I know he'll love Michael. But I am actually really nervous about the travel part. I am such a home body. It's ridiculous. I am really venturing out of my comfort zone. I always dreamed of going back to China. Just in my dreams I was never going alone. I really love this child. And my new son, can you imagine what kind of butterflies he must have. I keep telling myself, if he can do what he is about to do, I certainly can do this. I realized tonight that we are not going to be in the same part of Guangzhou that we were the last time and I had a melt down. Not really sure why. But I was kind of gearing up for getting there, which is the last part of the trip, because it would be familiar. I do not like the unknown. And getting on a plane to Korea, finding a connecting flight to Beijing, several flights around China before leaving Guangzhou with my sons to find all the connecting flights again, until we are finally home. Nothing familiar in that.  Hmmm, Getting home. That's when all the unknowns start for our new son. And it's not just for a few weeks. He will be learning a new language. New everything.  Everything is unfamiliar. Oh my very brave boy.  This adoption has been a walk of faith. Knowing we are suppose to be a family. Knowing this was God. Now with the trip, I have to trust and believe, God's got this. He has to equip me to leave my comfort zone. I pray for His protection over us. I pray He brings peace to Frankie's heart. I pray that this is a blessing and growth opportunity for Joshua. I pray for God's protection over our home, that He keeps the girls, pets, and Michael well while we are gone. I pray for Selah.   That is my dog Selah, who is a French Mastiff, with a lot of "issues". We have Copper, Maddy, and Chrissy, who were rescues, and then Selah who is our "non rescue" rescue. She is afraid of everything and everyone including Michael, and never leaves my side. She's my very high maintenance baby and I am seriously concerned how this is going to work out with her staying home with Michael. Allie is having a very tough time with my leaving. I can't even think about being away from the girls or I'll cry. Oh boy. So... I was thinking I will tell Allie I need her to look after Selah. Hopefully that will help both of them, and me. O.k. now I am babbling. I told you....the seems started coming apart tonight. With that note......2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Good night all.  :)

Soon...

So, we are almost there. We know when I am leaving, we have the flights, and the inside China arrangements are being made. We have under four weeks. As I am rushing around to get everything done...(still so much to do) I was thinking I will need every bit of the time to get everything done. Then I checked the weather report in Jiangsu and saw it is 19 degrees right now. Then suddenly the time can't come soon enough. I pictured him all bundled up in his bed, and once again, I want him home so badly..... Very soon.

Frankie

I know our children have all been chosen by God to be ours.We had nothing to do with the huge blessing of  Joshua and Hannah. And then when we received our referral for Allie, of course she was our daughter and we eagerly sent back our acceptance.  And now with our forth child, I feel strongly that he too was chosen by God to be ours. The part we have in this is so small. Of course I thought he was beautiful when I saw his picture, and looked at him thinking any one would jump at the opportunity for this child to be their son. But we were not in a position to adopt. The finances were not there. It was God that kept nudging at my heart to not lose track of this child. When ever I would cancel his picture, I would quickly go back and retrieve it, because I felt I needed to have it there. I had to know that he had a family and was alright. I asked everyone to please commit to praying with me for this child to have a family. I put on a bracelet and promised myself that every time I looked at that red bracelet it would be a reminder to me to pray for this beautiful boy known as "Jaxon". I promised to not take that bracelet off until he was safely home with his family. Well, that was well over 2 years ago, bracelet's looking a little rough. But my boy is coming home very soon!!! I am so blessed that God has chosen us to be his family. And yes I know beyond a doubt that God did this. Not just because I love this child so much already. But because there has been so much miraculous proof that this could only be God. Miracles, every step of the way. Thank you God for the blessing of allowing us to be FRANKIE's family. I am so humbled, so blessed, and so grateful.

TA!!!!

We got our travel approval!!! I had been checking the computer all day. When an email came from FTIA saying that they hadn't received any TA s this week,I told Michael, well, it's not going to be this week, hopefully Monday, and I shut the computer off. A while later, around 3:00 the phone rang. I went to answer it and saw FTIA on the caller ID. I almost couldn't breath. When I heard Betty's voice I knew it was good. She told us she had news!!!Our TA arrived! I told her how I had been checking the computer and saw the email. She laughed and said "I guess I posted that a little too early". Who would ever think it could arrive that late on a Friday with the time difference. I posted our great news and then it started, other TA's started coming in! Still praying for a few that didn't get their's yet. It is a very tough wait on a parent's heart. But I have to say. I hung up the phone and started crying, then screaming, then crying again. Then my knees started shaking. Then more crying. I am so excited!!! And scared.... about the trip. Reminder: I am not a traveler. Reminder #2, we are still short some finances. Reminder #3 GOD IS IN CONTROL. This is what we've been waiting for. But now, I have a lot to do, in a relatively small amount of time. We have to finish up paperwork. We need our VISA's and final paperwork loose ends. We have to get everything ready for the trip. Work out details with Michael's work schedule. We are off by 6 days from the original plan that would have worked out a bit better for Michael's job. But I have to believe what ever time it is , is what it is meant to be. I am going to try to pack light, but I still need to get Frankie socks, a hat, and pajamas, toothbrush. I need to get all the meds recommended together just in case, a case of granola bars for Josh in case he won't eat the food in China. I have to have everything set for the girls at home. Allie is having a tough time with the thought that I will be gone. :( I can't think too long on that or I will start crying. I hope I am not forgetting anything. Now I have to coordinate my lists. I am going over any tips I can find. Feel free to offer advice! I still need to figure out how I am going to stay in contact with home. I am very technically challenged and from what I hear it can be difficult from China for those that know what they are doing.I can safely say... I have no idea what I am doing. I still need to get a converter, or is it an adapter.....I rest my case. O.K. ......breath..... We are so close to getting him home! I still have to get the gifts. A great friend has helped us out by giving us some of the gifts that were left over from when they brought their beautiful son home. A huge help!  I have to get an app to help transferring American money to China's. O.K. so maybe I need another list!!! Thank you so much for everyone's prayers. Please be praying I get to China, around China, and home safely with my boys. I never thought I'd be going back without Michael. Please keep Frankie in your prayers. This is such a huge step of faith for him. To leave everything and everyone he has ever known, to go with a total stranger, that doesn't speak his language, to somewhere so far away that he has never seen. Oh, my boy. He must be very brave. Please pray for him. Thank you so much. We are almost there! I will keep you posted.

God's awesome plan for our precious boy

I am feeling very humbled and in awe of how God is working in Quan's life, and ours. It is beyond miraculous how everything is happening. We are so close to having him home. This has been humbling and unbelievable. Only through God. I am so grateful to those that have also welcomed this little boy into their hearts, praying for him, and helping us get him home. When I have a while I want to document every detail of this whole journey. Because I don't want to forget all the many, I don't know whether to call them signs, that God has done through out this entire thing to show that He is the orchestrator of everything happening here. It's all about HIM. I am so humbled. And thankful.

News Report

I continually check the weather in Jiangsu to see what it's like where Frankie is. A report came up saying that China is experiencing one of the coldest winters in decades. That really got me upset and made me cry. I so wanted him to be home before another winter.   I can't wait to get there. Why does this process have to take so long!!!

LOA & Article 5

The CCCWA has our article 5 and LOA. TA'a have been coming through pretty quickly so this means we may have our travel approval in less than 2 weeks!!! Oh my gosh!!! I'm not going to panic. It's all good. We are still missing some of the finances. Mainly the very large orphanage donation. I am by no means complaining about that. They desperately need it. I've seen the difference it makes in the children's lives. It is their main source of providing for all the needs of the children. They have been taking care of Frankie for over 9 and a half years. I bought him a coat and it arrived today. It is pretty cold where he lives, similar to our temperatures, and from what everyone is saying they don't have heat. Or they don't turn it on that often. The picture I have of him from last winter, he was inside, bundled up, but still looking so very cold. It's become a thing for me, that one of the first things I want to do.....is make sure he is warm! So when I was told I should probably bring a coat for him, I was very happy to get one. I also got him the coziest, warmest, pullover. The kids all love their blankies from when they were babies, this shirt is just like a comforting warm blanky. I still need to find him a hat and gloves. I hope I can find them with everything being on clearance already. Great for the budget though. It's all been about getting the money to complete his adoption. It is such a huge amount of money. If I think about the whole sum it would be overwhelming. Only through God. We knew we heard Him in this, and He has been so faithful. Miraculously. God has a plan for this little man. And we are so blessed that He chose us to be his parents. So I am not going to panic now. Be anxious for nothing.....that's getting a bit more challenging with time running down. But the thought of how close we are to finally meeting him and having him home. That is so wonderful.

Article 5

Our article 5 has been picked up from the US consulate in China. We now wait for our TA, which I think could be here in 3 or 4 weeks. There is so much to do. And still so much money to come up with. I am getting a little nervous......but very excited! I can't believe we are finally getting there. Michael and I were talking tonight, planning, as best we can, and I said the next time you return home from work is more than likely the last time you will be home before I go to China to bring Frankie home. Whheewwww. That put it into perspective. And then the butterflies started.  I have a lot to do!!! I wish so much he could know how close we are to coming. We don't know how long ago he was told about us, but we found out he knew this past July. So that is a very long time ago.  In about a month we will be at the one year mark from when we started. I just hope he is not getting upset with us because it takes so long.  And I really hope he hasn't given up that we are coming. I can't imagine how long this must feel like to a child. The children are getting so excited. They are telling everyone at school and planning for Frankie's home coming.

Jeremiah 29:11

Years ago we hung a plaque that has always been on the center wall of our home. It is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you.....plans to give you a hope and a future". This scripture has meant so much to us as a family. We have believed this and prayed this over each of our children. I began praying this over Fu Quan, sometimes in tears as things were getting very difficult with his adoption. As things began to seem impossible I prayed this and Michael and I refused to give up. Michael would say we are not suppose to give up, just try harder. Nothing is impossible with God. About a month ago, we still needed about $18,000. I was really starting to get desperate. I called everyone and reached out to everyone I could think of for suggestions and prayers, I didn't care how desperate I looked or felt. We have to get him home. I called  Show Hope, FTIA. Show Hope prayed for us and suggested I call the American Christian Credit Union. Then Betty helped us also and gave us the information for two groups that help families bring their children home. One was A Child Waits, the other was the Jeremiah 29:11 Project. I immediately felt God's peace and assurance that one way or another everything would be O.K. and we would come up with exactly what is needed to bring Fu Quan home. Fast forward one month.....The American Christian Credit Union has given us a loan for part of what we need, and we just found out today that The Jeremiah 29:11 Project is helping us with a grant!!! Praise God!! We're still not there, but we are closer!! We are about 12,000 closer than we were a month ago!!! Circle prayers....praying hard, refusing to give up!  With about 2 months to go, we are very hopeful. All the prayers are working. God is good. The support we have felt from everyone amazing! Thank you so much. We are so close to finally having him home!!! It's been such a long time. I can't wait to finally meet him! To see the personality behind those photos! To tuck him in at night! To know he is safe, very loved, and our son.

Quick Figuring

So I've been doing some calculating. Our paperwork arrived at the consulate on the 2nd, is due to be released on the 16th as an article five. Then we wait for our TA!!! So, with all the figuring I am doing, I'm guessing we will be going to China to bring Frankie home somewhere in the last week of Feb. or first week in March. With there being only 28 days in Feb., March 1st would be perfect. And we've only had one needed document expire. I need to get moving to do another power of attorney. Seems simple......but...... after getting one, it has to be certified through the county, then the state, then the Chinese consulate. So I best get moving! We are on the final part of this very long endeavor to bring Frankie home. His grandpas aren't with us anymore to see him make it home. But I feel some how they know. It won't be long, now. Still short in finances. Kind of very short. But no where near where we had been. I've been doing a lot of figuring with that too. It's hard not knowing what airfare will actually cost since that is such a big part of the expense. But no matter how I look at it we seem to be around 6 to 7 thousand short still. I am very concerned about the $5600 needed for the orphanage donation. I still don't know how we are coming up with that. That is such an important part though. They need that money. I do have a peace about everything. It's been so amazing to see God's provision through this whole process. He's been amazing, and so faithful. So I can't question or doubt now. This little boy is suppose to be with us. We knew it then, we know it now. We've come this far. Not going to stop now. Good morning precious Frankie, it's 10pm here, but 10am in Jiangsu. Love you