I think it's safe to say, first of all, that money is tight. We are saving every penny we can for this adoption. We already basically lived paycheck to paycheck, but now it's pretty much day to day. It's life. We've accepted it for this season. But, it's been difficult for sure.
First, a group of ladies at my church who do a bible study together were praying about what kind of ministry project they could do together this spring, and ended up choosing to bless our family! They planned an Adoption Celebration and shared a list of needs for our upcoming trip with our family and friends.
Visiting with family and friends
The celebration was this past weekend and it was A-MAZ-ING! We had over 50 guests, fabulous home-cooked Chinese food, and we were blessed with many needed travel items, along with enough cash to get most of the rest of what we need!
We still have people contacting us saying that they weren't able to come, but still want to help. It was a fun celebration with like-minded friends and family, and I am very grateful this group of women blessed us like they did. I know how much time, energy and money went into this celebration! We are so thankful for them.
We asked guests to fill out 'good wishes' or prayers for Frannie and Finn.
My mother-in-law plans to make a 100 Good Wishes Quilt for each of them.
Look at all the fabulous stuff we were blessed with!!
Anyway, I had three different women contact me about sheets after my post! One was an adoptive family who had switched to bunks and had two sets of full sheets. We have two full/twin bunks and expect to co-sleep on them with Frannie and Finn! She had a girl set and boy set, pillow covers and quilts included! And guess what....the girls sets matches our entire girls room! Only God. She said she had been holding onto them wondering what she would do with them and decided she must have been hanging on to them for us!
Another lady is a local mom of a number of little ones who had a few sets of twin sheets she was holding onto. She, too, thought we must be the reason she had hung onto the sheets so long. So, now we have nicer sheets to put on the kids' beds! Such a silly thing, but God cares, and it was neat how it all came together.
Another cool story... I saw on Facebook that a church family was doing a garage sale She has a son a little older than Finton. I messaged her to see if she had any 3T/4T boys clothes in the sale so I could come by. She said she did but she happened to leave those boxes of clothes accidentally at home. What are the chances? She generously gifted us those clothes stating she must have left them behind for a reason. We are really short on 3T stuff and the clothes were perfect! Just a few months ago another church family had gifted us with a ton of 4T clothes, too! God has taken care of us even in all these little details!
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippines 4:19
I seriously could keep typing all night!
I'll end with one more story.
One of my daughter's best friends dances with her weekly. The dance program is a good 30 minute drive away, and since I had two girls in class on two different days, this friend's mom offered to take my daughter weekly to save me gas money. She did this for about half the year and then her job changed, and I started taking her girls to dance every other week for her. It's rehearsal week and we are tag-teaming taking the girls almost every day. Tonight she gave me a little note to thank me for taking her girls to and from dance. She also gifted us with a gas card. She had no idea that this week we had planned out our meals, spent the rest of our money and truly didn't have enough gas to drive to and from dance this week. But, God did. Such a small, small detail in our every day lives. But, He knew and He cared and He provided.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
John 14:1
I know He's trying to teach me. Teach me to let go. Trust. Give it all to Him. Lay my burdens down. The enemy knows my weaknesses and He's putting up a good battle in my heart. I am so stressed over finding Miracle nursing care and figuring out this last $12,000. I honestly can say I haven't let it all go yet. I am trying to balance trusting God while still doing my part. And I'm walking all over His toes in the process. But, I'm trying.
Funny thing is, in the midst of this nursing chase, Miracle's bouts of seizures, fundraising and travel plans that are all stressing me out, we've been contacted by three different grant agencies. We were awarded a $2000 grant already, had an interview for a $4000 matching grant today and have an interview scheduled for a $3000 grant on Monday!
God is just reminding me over and over that He has gone before me. He has this taken care of. He knew our deadlines for funds before we did. He knew our nurse's schedule before they did. It's so hard to let go in my humanity. But when I think of how big He is, I feel so silly for holding on so tightly. I'm trying, I really am.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Thank you for your continued prayers for our family!
They are so appreciated and needed at this time.
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