Busy Week~

Lets start off at the beginning of the week! On Monday the 21st, I called to speak with our agency about some things. They informed me that, as we spoke, they were uploading more WC to be reviewed. I quickly looked and requested the file for MA281 (SFY). Things unfolded so quickly! They called me while I was having lunch at the park and said we were the first to request the file and they just emailed it to me. I tossed my lunch onto the floorboard and rushed back to work! The diagnosis was a vision issue, so I quickly sent the info to all my optometrist friends! Jack and I discussed it and decided to proceed! That night, we wrote up our LOI, emailed all the neccesary paperwork and photos to our agency. Their Beijing staff was standing by to translate! We were thrilled! Tuesday we were on cloud nine! Then on Wednesday, someone emailed me and said they knew someone who had video of SFY if we were interested! Are you kidding? Heck yeah! So we go to church and we're teaching the youth a bible verse by erasing words and repeating it until they know it. That verse? And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28. So when we get home... I have an email from the lady with video's. Turns out, they were able to review SFY's file with their agency and noticed the only diagnosis listed was the vision. They wanted to make sure we knew about the other issues. WHAT??? SFY also has CP and DD. We watched the video as our hearts crushed. She struggled to walk and keep her balance. We knew that this was more than we were willing to take on. As selfish as it sounds, we want our daughter to run and laugh and play baseball.... This wasn't our dream. We quickly got in touch with our agency and withdrew our LOI. It was heart wrenching. But things happened so fast and I was so excited that I had prayed that if this wasn't God's will, He was going to have to stop it. He did! And we know that all things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose! So this wasn't our daughter, but I believe that God has a daughter in mind for us, in His timing. And I know what He has planned is better than anything I can plan for myself. And so we wait....

Happy Birthday ZL

Last week we reviewed a file for a little girl in GeJiu. We decided not to pursue with adopting her, but she is heavy on my heart anyway. She is such a precious little girl and today is her 4th birthday. I pray she finds her forever family and this will be the last birthday she spends in the orphanage. Happy Birthday ZL, sweet girl!
Now, could it be? Maybe! We'll see! Stay tuned!
His... -JMS

I guess you can tell by my lack of posting that we've been pretty busy!

Jory lost his first tooth April 3rd. It started out pretty devastating, but then it was no big deal when it finally did fall out and didn't hurt!

Group180 is preparing to participate in the:

The closer it gets, the more I realize just how long 30 hours really is! But the truth is, 29,000 die each day due to hunger, disease and poverty. Just $1 can help feed and care for a child for a day. That's one day they don't have to worry about wether or not they will eat.

We are going hungry so others can eat. We will feel the hunger of those who don't have a choice about their own circumstances. Pray for our group, it's going to be tough and we don't even want to attemp this without God. It's through Him that all things are possible. Not by might, nor by power, but by HIS spirit. And His spirit lives within me, so I think I can do it!

Been A While...

Wow! Been a while since I've posted. We've kept busy, so I'll try to catch you up to speed!

Jacen and Jory colored Easter eggs at Grandma's house! We do this every year at her house because she has a bigger kitchen counter! They really enjoy this!

Jadeth got some new sunglasses for Easter. He's looking all cool and like he just stepped out of a magazine! I love this picture of him!
It was soooooo cold Easter day! Jacen, as usual, didn't wear a coat so he had to wear Grandpa's! Here's a shot of him by Grandma's bottle tree!
Here's Jory freezin' and huntin' Easter Eggs! Did I mention how cold it was Easter Sunday?!

Nothing new on the adoption front! I'll be glad for summer, Jacen and Jory will both play ball this summer, so we'll keep busy! Jack has got a new body on the race car and is anxious for racing to start. We will have plenty to do to pass the time so we don't sit around and obsess about China.