And then there were 4...

They said it wouldn't happen. They said we should just focus on wrapping everything up and look forward to bringing Easton home.

What they didn't know was that we never stopped praying... and God answered our prayer.

WE FOUND A LITTLE GIRL!!!

Now, let me back up and tell you the whole story...
A while back I posted about how the likelihood of us finding a girl was really slim because we had found Easton on the Special Focus list and they don't like to make those children wait. Typically, girls get snatched up so quickly, so the wait time can be pretty long for them.
We were fine with that. We knew that Easton was to come home with us and we started really focusing on him: getting his bedroom ready, buying clothes, and wrapping our minds around raising a little boy.

Well, one weekend, we received an email from an advocacy group in China about a little boy (cute as can be!) who needed a family so he could have the heart surgeries he needed. We felt lead to learn to more about him but had to jump through a few hoops because he was not in our agency. We were getting so excited to learn about this little boy and the thought of having 2 little boys! Wow!

But, by time we jumped through all the hoops, he was already under review with a different family. God had closed that door- what felt like, right in our faces! We were disappointed but knew that he just wasn't meant for us.

So, we basically just stopped looking. They said that if we were to find a girl (which is what we'd been hoping for- a boy and a girl), that she would have to fall in our laps. One day I was bored at work and decided to look at the agency website. She was there, right there in front of me! I sent her info to Brian immediately. He wasn't 100% at first. I think it was just nerves, but by the time I got home he had come around and told me that if she was still available the next day, we should request her file.

Obviously she was still available or I wouldn't be writing this post!!

We requested her info and she is just beautiful. Again, we can't share any information yet, but we knew (again) that she was ours. She actually has a real special need: low muscle tension with some motor delays. She's 2 and not walking and we think not talking yet. Our hope is that with some extensive PT, OT, and speech therapy she'll be running circles around us and talking our ears off in no time!

I'm sure you're wondering... her name will be Phoebe! Ah! I love it!

Then we found out we will have to stay in China an extra week! 3 weeks in China! Holy cow! I'm already stressing about that! But it will be worth it in the end and that's what I have to keep reminding myself. No, we do not have a travel date yet. We are finally sending our dossier to the agency this week and I will post again when I hear anything.

So, we need your prayers.
Prayers that China receives our dossier with open hearts and officially approves us for both children.
Prayers that God will provide and we will be able to raise the remaining funds necessary (2nd child fees! Whoa!)
Prayers that we are awarded the grant we are applying for.
Prayers that we will travel safely and that all 4 of us will remain healthy.
Prayers for wisdom when dealing with Phoebe's condition.
Prayers for strength: going from 0 kids to 2 toddlers... it will most definitely take an act of God to get us through that!!

We will be holding 1 more fundraiser as soon as we get the official approval! Stay tuned.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for all the love and support thus far. We really could not have made this journey without the gifts, donations, and prayers along the way.


For He chose us in Him before creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.
Ephesians 1:4-6

Until next time...