What to Expect When Samuel Comes Home

Dear Friends and Family,

It is with great anticipation and excitement that we write this letter to you. As you know, Laura will be traveling to China Friday to finalize our adoption and bring home our son, Samuel! We are deep in the trenches of preparing for his arrival. We feel like a big part of that preparation is to prepare YOU for his arrival as well. There are so many unknowns and we love all your excitement and questions about his homecoming. We feel it will be beneficial to Samuel if we can be open about our expectations of friends and family upon his arrival. 

We have gone through extensive training with medical doctors, psychologists, therapists, and social workers. We have learned what we can expect from adopting an orphaned child, as well as how to cope with expected behaviors. In the first 14 months of his life, Samuel has experienced great trauma. He has experienced abandonment, medical issues, and no family to bond with, just to name a few. Being institutionalized has a major impact on a child’s development. We expect our son to be delayed in many areas.

One area that will need our immediate attention will be attachment. He has never learned to have a trusting bond with a mother and father and he will have to learn this attachment, just as a newborn does. Our parenting of an adopted child will look completely different from the way we have raised our biological children. This may change after a year or so but it is essential that we make sure he has learned proper attachment before we altar any of our parenting. What will this look like? 

In order to create a healthy attachment, Seamus and I must be the primary caregivers for several months. Only we can feed him, give him a bottle, change his diaper, and provide his basic needs. Samuel will likely sleep with us at first (we NEVER let our biological kids do this). He will basically call the shots. If he wants something, we’ll give it to him (within reason, of course), in order to build trust and an environment where he knows he can rely on us. Discipline will be taught later, just as it would with a newborn. A good way to view this is to think of him as an infant. Because he never had the experience that a properly cared for newborn does, we will have to train him as though he is a newborn. Again, any rules that we have had with our bio kids are basically thrown out the door. They had the opportunity to connect with us from birth, and Samuel has to start from the beginning.

Laura will be home with Samuel for an extended period of time, and will rarely leave the house with him for several weeks. As eager as we know you are to meet him, we have a few requests. We ask that if you have something to give him, you give it to us first, and we will pass it on to him. We ask that no one hold him until we feel that attachment bond has been established. I am planning to carry him in a wrap so that when we do go out, people won’t be tempted to hold him. We are excited that so many friends are already talking about play dates with our sweet boy. Please know that we absolutely want this to happen, as soon as we are able. 

There are numerous ways you can help, upon our return. Our older kids would love some play time, or maybe you could help with an errand or a meal. I promise to be open about what we need when we return. So many of you have already offered such wonderful care and we really appreciate that!

We have extended an open invitation to any of you who would like to greet Samuel home at our airport return. We welcome a beautiful reception like this! And we welcome plenty of hugs! I know everyone will understand why they can't hold him just yet. Plus, his daddy isn't going to let anyone have him once he finally gets his arms around him! If you would like to be a part of this special day, please message me and I'll add you to a closed FB group where all our flight information is published.

The time frame on all this will greatly depend on Samuel’s progress. We will continue to communicate with you, as progress is made and new phases can be introduced. If this sounds extreme to you, it did to us as well before we were completely educated on the needs of an internationally adopted child. I realize we may upset someone but our son’s well-being is of utmost importance to us right now. We can’t expect you to understand why we are implementing this “cocoon” phase but we are grateful if you can just love us through it. Please fire away with any questions you have. We are happy to answer anything! And please, no question is a dumb one. Believe me, we’ve asked them all of the professionals. Asking about the unknowns will ultimately benefit Samuel and your relationship with him. Our social worker, Logan Gibbons, has also offered to answer any questions from our friends and family. We would be happy to share her contact information if you request it. She is a professional who is experienced in this area, and has a very good understanding of the protocol we are implementing.

We long for the day Samuel can forge meaningful relationships with our friends, when he will be running around with your children and getting big hugs from each of you! Thank you for your understanding until we are comfortable with the hugs and other social interaction. We are grateful for the love so many of you have poured out on us and we are comforted knowing that you will walk alongside us when Samuel comes home!

With love in Christ,

Laura and Seamus


Below is a letter that our international adoption pediatrician prepared. It's a generic template but helps to explain our situation from a professional prospective...

  

Burdensome Weight. Redeeming Relief.

Weighty day.

We worshipped with our church family this morning. The joy it brings to be in communion with other believers is a reminder of why we should be there every Sunday morning. The joy in itself is weighty. Every Sunday. But today there was more. It's the last Sunday I'll be in this place of worship, with these precious brothers and sisters, for many weeks. This family has been so supportive of our call and has carried us through what they recognize to be kingdom work. I love my people at New Covenant Presbyterian and I will miss being there for awhile.

I have been in communication with other adoptive parents over the past couple days, specifically discussing where our children came from. Hard places, y'all. Really, really hard places. The discussion, although none of it surprising, has been very heavy on my heart. I believe God has put this on the forefront of my mind this week because of my prayer. He is preparing me for the darkness I am about to witness all over again.

I am never at liberty to share any child's personal story here but I can tell you that these children come home with unimaginable stories. Many seem fine and then open up years later about the abuse they experienced while institutionalized in China. Horrendous descriptions of neglect, physical abuse, rape, torture. I am reminded, through these heart-wrenching stories, of why we are going to get Samuel.

These stories make me angry. I am a hater of injustice. Sin destroys lives and I want nothing more than to remedy this brokenness through God's redemptive gospel. These stories (that aren't stories at all, rather the real lives of my cherished friends and their children) push me to be a lover of justice more than ever before. God's justice reaches down to the oppressed and rescues into an eternal life of love and safety. He does this through me and through you, giving us immense power by the Holy Spirit to do things we never thought we could. I am eternally grateful that he chose us to be His hands and feet for Emily, Ru, and Samuel. HE rescued them. He rescued us! We are all orphans in a deplorable hell without His grace. Praising Him today for that truth. Praising Him for the redemption He offers to the beautiful children who come home from horrid places. There has been no greater privilege or joy on earth than to be an instrument for these image-bearing children.

There is weight (and excitement, of course) in knowing I am getting on a plane in 5 days to travel to the other side of the globe. A side where many hate Jesus, and in turn hate me. Will I be safe? Will Samuel be okay? Will he have scabies or giardia? Will God allow me to shine light in the darkness? Will I leave China having had an effect on the glorification of God there? Will my luggage get lost? Some questions more important than others. Nonetheless, lots of unknowns. And that's okay.

The weight. The joyful weight at worship, the unbearable weight of knowing what happens to children in the darkness, the confusing weight of the unknown. Christ Jesus has it all. It's all His plan, my life is His. The weight is lifted when I am reminded of this truth. I am grateful that He continues to burden my heart for the darkness within China. I don't ever want to stop fighting for them. And in 5 days, I get on an airplane to fight for a special one in particular! Samuel, I can't get my arms around you quick enough. Mama and Baba are coming for you, loved and cherished son of God!

Quick, important note... We are fully funded for this adoption! We received a very generous donation this week that brought our fundraising thermometer where it needed to be in order to travel. Phew! We had no idea how that would ever happen but God sure knew. And we trusted that. Thank you, Jesus!

Travel Approval

So many emotions stir when you get this close. It feels like yesterday we brought Emily home. All the same feelings of excitement, gratitude, nervousness, come rushing fresh again.

We received that coveted call today. Our social worker informed us that we have TA! This means China has granted us travel approval to come scoop up our bundle. Sweet Suzi and I fly out the evening of Friday, August 21st. All things are in order. Sorta.

Of course, we are now trying to get things in order here. We are busy in school so the kids don't get too far behind. We want to give them the time off while I'm in China and also several weeks after we get home. What a neat opportunity we'll all have to be hunkered down at home together while Samuel learns to adjust and attach. Besides school, I'm busy packing, completing paperwork, buying gifts for Chinese nannies and officials, organizing babysitters and meals, tying up loose ends at work, and just snugglin' my babies while I can.

Our fundraising thermometer has been steadily rising, thanks to so many who are loving on us. On Monday we received an unbelievable donation of $2,500! God provides at just the right moment. We still have a couple thousand to go but we are almost there! The remaining funds are needed for some travel and spending money while in China. We are sure this final chunk will come right when we need it, either through a donation or personal savings. We really didn't know how we would pay for this adoption but we knew God would provide if He'd called us to it. Once again, He proves faithful!

In less than 3 weeks, Samuel will be safe in my arms. No longer an orphan. Our journey has been an incredible one, with twists and turns we never expected. But God knew. He has always known that all the events up to now would lead us to Samuel. His plan is perfect, even when we can't see what He's doing. And we are humbled to be a part of His unfolding kingdom. It's true that "Great people don't do great things... God does great things through surrendered people."

If you would like to pray for our family, there are some specific requests that we would love lifted up. Please pray for safe travels as Suzi and I venture across the globe and through different parts of China. Samuel needs prayer as well. We know this will be a huge adjustment for him. Will you also keep our entire family close in prayer? Seamus will be home with our 4 kids. We have an amazing support network and lots of help that we are so grateful for. Nonetheless, I don't expect it will be easy for any of them. We are so very thankful for your prayers!

Feel free to share our FB page with anyone you think might like to journey with us to China. I do plan to write here but will post most updates at www.facebook.com/lomanadoption. Hard to believe I'm typing this again but... HERE WE GO!

I Have a Prayer

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." (Luke 9:23-24)

I have a prayer. I have a deep desire for my time in China.

Yes, I'm praying for safety. I'm praying for Samuel, and for my family back home. I'm praying that God would complete and fulfill our adoption of Samuel and bring him home to be with us forever. But I want more.

I want to be reminded that Jesus is more than enough, all I need in this life.

I want to see the world through His eyes while I'm there. I pray that He would expose me to the worst, show me the pain like never before. I pray He breaks me over it.

I want to see "real" and I want to feel a fraction of the compassion that Christ has for these souls.

I want to remember the darkness I see in China, long after I leave that burdened, beautiful country.

I want to leave China different than when I arrived. I want to be changed forever. Again.

Then use me, Lord. Use me as a tool for your justice, Father. Rid me of myself. Make me brave.

Tear my heart in two that I might desire to sacrifice everything to make you known.

I have a prayer. And I'd love for you to share it with me.

Happily Ever After?

Samuel has lived through more trauma in his first year of life than any child should experience in a lifetime. I think we sometimes take this for granted, assuming that because he's young, he hasn't been affected. Unfortunately, that's just not true. It's not true for any of them. These children feel the brunt from the moment they are abandoned, sometimes way before.

Samuel was born with a visible special need, one that stigmatized him in China. His birth mother immediately decided she couldn't handle it. So he was left in the grass for someone to find. He was admitted to an institution where no one knew his story, his background, his name. When he cries, his mom isn't there to soothe him. If someone hears his cry, a nanny, a stranger, someone may or may not care enough to respond. He lives in a place with hundreds of other babies. Even if the workers there do care, it's simply impossible to meet even his basic needs. Statistics (ones that I'd love to forget but can't) estimate that over 50% of institutionalized children are abused physically or sexually (Jesus, please envelope Samuel with your protection). We can't ignore the fact that even at one year old, his life has been no cake walk.

So when I hear, "Aren't you so excited?", my immediate response is, "of course!" I can't wait to get my Samuel lovin' arms wrapped around his little body. There's no place I want to get to faster. But I can't shake the reality of what's really about to happen.

Gotcha days are not glamorous. It's not a "happily ever after" moment. He doesn't know me. I am just another stranger to him, someone who will pluck him from everything he's known for the past year. Whether that scenario was okay or terrible makes no difference to him. These children are only comfortable in the atmosphere they know, even if it's not what's best for them. We know this adoption offers redemption. Samuel does not share this perspective. When I arrive at the civil affairs office to meet him, I will tear his world apart, once again. He will experience tragedy on a very deep level. He will grieve. And it will be evident. Anger, confusion, fear, sadness are all emotions he will relive.

I remember so clearly the levels of grief our sweet Emily had to endure. She cried so hard when we took her away. She screamed. She trembled. She cried herself to sleep. Then the painful days of zero expression on her face. Then a laugh! It was 2 steps back, one step forward for weeks, even months, but we held on to those forward steps. Eventually, she was taking 2 steps forward, one step back. In less than a year, it was clear she knew where she belonged.

I am well aware of the darkness I am about to enter. It won't be the first time I've caused an incredible feeling of loss for a child. It will be painful for me to witness. I will grieve with him. He will experience a sense of abandonment once again. He will have to learn that he can trust us. And we know this miracle of attachment will come to fruition in time. We will be patient and we will teach him that he can trust us always. It. Will. Happen. But there's a lot of hurt that has to come before the healing can begin.

Am I daunted? Not a bit. This is one kind of pain I welcome. I pray often that the Lord would burden my heart for what burdens His. He has answered this prayer by blessing us with the ministry of adoption. To be the rock that Samuel has never had is a privilege beyond anything I can explain. The pain it brings is a beautiful blessing. There is no greater satisfaction than to whisper in the ear of a crying, scared orphan, "You are chosen and wanted. I love you and I will never, ever leave you. And your God has promised the same." Hard? Sure. But what part of leaving a helpless child in the pit of despair is okay? It's just not. And I'm forever grateful that I get to be God's vessel, His hands and feet, as HE rescues His precious Samuel.

Nearing the End

I love to write almost more than anything. I'm able to express my thoughts much more clearly than I am through word of mouth. It's where my heart is revealed. It's where I feel comfortable exposing myself. I'm saying all this to simply say I miss it. This season of life is unbelievably busy, no matter how much we commit to keeping it simple. And busy is good! We are blessed beyond measure to be given a multitude of responsibilities for the furthering of His kingdom. But things like writing go by the wayside when you are flying through life at mach speed. Anyway, I'm glad to be here.

Our adoption journey is plugging along quite nicely. We received our LOA (letter of approval) from China, which basically states we have been granted full permission to adopt Samuel. The next step involved was submitting an application (i800) to US Immigration requesting citizenship for Samuel. We are currently waiting for this approval. Our travel estimate still seems to be on target for mid-August.

I will be traveling to China alone this time. It was a hard decision to make but we believe the best one for our family. After we adopted Emily, we said that if we do it again, either we're all going or just one parent goes. The price tag for 6 of us to travel to China is more than we could stomach. Don't get me wrong, if money wasn't an issue, we'd all be on that plane headed for "didi" (little brother in Chinese). God has prepared me well for this journey around the globe. It's possible that a special friend, who works at an orphanage in China, will be able to meet me and help throughout my travels. We'll know for sure after our travel dates are confirmed. And if not, we have an amazing agency who will pair me with an English speaking guide. These guides work directly for Lifeline and are trusted and well-known throughout our adoption community. I am very comfortable traveling to China alone. My tenacity and skepticism should serve me well. ;)

God has been so faithful in providing the finances for this adoption. We are only about $5,000 away from being fully funded! We don't plan on having anymore fundraisers before travel. We are certainly grateful for any future donations to help bring Samuel home but we have no doubt that God will provide the funds another way if donations are not in His plan. We saved quite a bit over the past few months and will continue to tighten our belts where needed. I am certain it will happen!

The next few weeks will involve more paperwork and lots of stalking the mailbox and email. We'll be sure to keep you posted on our progress (feel free to like our FB page at www.facebook.com/LomanAdoption for more frequent updates). I'm also beginning to plan and pack for the trip. It's hard to believe we're almost at the end... the beginning of a new journey, really. If you would, please pray for our Samuel. We are asking God to protect him and keep him healthy until I can get there. As always, your prayers are coveted and appreciated!

Facing Reality

As I get closer to travel, I have begun seeking advice from other families who have traveled to the same orphanage to pick up their little ones. Over the past week, I've been in touch with many people who have offered information and pictures about Samuel's orphanage. We were thrilled to get those 3 pictures of our son smiling. But the realities about his "home" are very hard to digest.

The fact is, he lives in an overcrowded institution run by a Communist government. This is not news to us. We are well aware of the reality that exists in China for the millions of children who have been left to fend for themselves. In some ways, we didn't have to face it as much with our adoption of Emily over a year ago, because she lived in a foster orphanage (Harmony House) where they truly did their best to care for her.

Here are a few things we've learned this week, none of which are surprising but all of which deeply pain my heart.

Most of the children at this orphanage have an intestinal, parasitic infection called Giardia. It's awful. Just google it. They do not test for or treat Giardia at the orphanages. Many of the children have had it for so long that their bodies become accustomed to it and are asymptomatic by the time they come home. Chances are Samuel lives with this.

His orphanage has no central heat. The winter was rough. We don't know if they have A/C in the scorching summer heat.

Children with blankets on them in the "play" room

Samuel was born without his left forearm. We are confident that with therapy and practical use, he will learn to function just fine. For now, it seems his lucky fin is simply being covered up. I doubt he is receiving any assistance in learning how to use it. I'm hopeful he will make up for lost time when he comes home, as they all do with their unique special needs.

There's no getting around the simple fact that most of these institutions are filled with hundreds of overcrowded rooms.

One baby room at Samuel's orphanage. We hope mattresses are put in the cribs before the babies are returned.

Other common ailments in the orphanages include scabies, head lice, malnutrition, even scars on ankles from being tied to their cribs. We don't see any evidence that Samuel is affected by these. We pray daily that God will protect him from disease and abuse. It's hard to consider what he may be going through but it's a reality. These realities don't scare us away. Quite the contrary. They drive us.

I'm not trying to be Debby Downer here. I write plenty of posts about the redemption we see offered to many of these children. But we have to face reality. They don't have a voice. I have to be their voice. We have to be their voice. It's all an injustice. One look at these places, one look in to the eyes that barely survive here... it's plenty to convince us that we will never stop fighting. It's too important to the kingdom of God. They are His most treasured ones.

We must go in to the hard places. The price paid for not going is just too high, y'all. And these children don't deserve to pay that price.

Yes, my heart breaks over the conditions Samuel may be experiencing. Hiding from it won't bring justice for him. We will fight every single day to get there as quickly as we can. His life is worth everything to us.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

We recently received an update from Samuel's orphanage. It included an email with a small amount of information and some precious pictures. We were given growth data and some answers to other questions. We may or may not be able to trust the validity of these answers but we were happy to hear, nonetheless. The pictures though... they were game changers.

I have to be honest. I've loved Samuel since the moment we saw him. I loved him right away because I knew God called him to be our son. But I never felt an emotional connection to his first pictures. So often, the pictures included in these kids' files look like mug shots. The children tend to look empty and stoic. It usually isn't until these children come home that an amazing transformation takes place. It's true that real love changes a person physically.

Whether or not he's receiving proper care, we'll never know. But these recent pictures show life in our boy's eyes. To see that smile, those 2 front teeth, those handsome features... melted my heart. We are one month in to our LOA wait and this new glimpse of Samuel now makes the wait harder. I am so very grateful for this new perspective that God has granted me. It may not seem like a big deal but these pictures are an amazing blessing for this family who, so desperately, wants to connect with our son. They are all we have right now.

 

From Fear to Faith

Fear. What an ugly word. What a disgusting power it has over our lives. It is the devil's stronghold, his darkest lie. He loves to use it to the detriment of God's plan.

Anyone else lie awake at night, head spinning, thinking about all the things that could go wrong tomorrow? I do. And ya' know what? It's sinful. God detests my fear. It takes my focus off of Him. It says my faith is weak. Fear blinds me from truth.

I know pride is at the center of every sin but I'd like you to consider for a minute that fear always accompanies pride. Fear is powerful. Adam and Eve made a choice to be their own gods. They believed the lie that God wasn't enough. I'm certain that without fear, they would have completely trusted their God. That slimy serpent snuck into Eve's innermost, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God." (Gen.3:4-5) I can hear Eve thinking to herself after she's heard the lie. "Hmmmmm... I wonder if God's really who he says he is. I'm afraid He may not follow through. Yeah, He's always provided in the past but who knows? Plus, I really want this yummy apple. I can totally do this my way." Anyone ever share those very thoughts? (insert huge hand raise from me)

Maybe we don't say outloud that we don't trust Him. Maybe we don't conciously think we believe it. But we do. We believe the lie. Every day. We're afraid. We're afraid God isn't who he says he is. We're afraid he won't provide. We're afraid he doesn't really love us as deeply as he says he does.    

"Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew they were naked." (Gen.3:7) Believing Satan's lie always leads to shame. Always. Do we understand that this life is a war? Friends, we are literally in the midst of spiritual warfare. Satan is fighting for us to carry our shame, hold on to our fear. His battle is for our hearts. Fear and sin are still very present in our lives. We battle every day but Christ has risen to the challenge and already won the war! We need only embrace that truth to experience real freedom. Fear and shame should not hold us any longer.

For those of us who believe the lie daily (throat clear), there is also grace daily. And this grace is way more powerful than anything Satan thinks he can kill us with. You see, the cross of Jesus Christ eliminated our shame, it covered our sin, it forgives our doubt and fear. We are made new every day. The cross, His blood, covers all. Moreover, the resurrection proves that Satan has been defeated. We live in victory! We can live in peace, y'all. With no fear. With no worry. The cross and the resurrection are proof that He is in control and that our lives belong to Him. If you belong to Christ, you are a child of the light and darkness shall not overtake us! (John 1:5)

What are you afraid of? What keeps you up at night? Why is your answer to God's plan for you today "no"? The landscape of God's call on our lives is vast and various. We operate as one body, each with a different part and purpose. He calls us to different ministries, each for the same cause of course... to bring Him glory, to make Him known. God has made it clear to our family that the ministry of adoption is where He wants us, so this is my heart here (You can apply these same questions to whatever area God has ordained for you).

Wanna know what I'm afraid of? I have no qualms about sharing the weakness of my flesh because God's power is made perfect in weakness. I'm afraid we won't raise the money we need for this adoption. I'm afraid to hear the comments from people who don't really understand what we're doing. I'm afraid we can't afford a 5th child. I'm afraid Samuel will have a cognitive disability. I'm afraid he will be ostracized because of his missing arm. I'm afraid I won't know how to love him through that. What if I don't have an immediate connection the way I did with my others? I'm afraid my husband and I will have even less time together. I fear how my 4 children could be affected by this adoption. I'm afraid of what could happen to me while I'm in China.

These fears can be paralyzing. And ya' know what? Fear blinds us from truth. We literally can't see reality when we are afraid. I hear Satan in those fears I've confessed to you. "Hang on to your wordly possessions and passions. You will surely not die from these things. They will bring you great comfort and control." My fears are many and the lies ring loud in my head. But. My faith prevails. Seamus and I are taking the leap, day by day, trusting that God's will for our lives is bigger than our limited understanding, bigger than our carnal desires. We have decided that He knows best. He loves us too much to let us fall. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matt.10:29-31)

When I remove the blinder of fear (which can only happen by reminding myself of His work on the cross) I realize what's true. The worst consequence of my fears has no eternal effect on my soul. When I ask myself, "What if Samuel is sicker than we think he is? What if we can't afford to send our kids to college? What if I die in China?" my answer is... So what? No, seriously. So what?! Even my life is worth saving just one lost soul. Radical? Maybe. Consider it. What price is too high to be God's hands and feet in saving souls? The answer is simple. There is no price too great. Our fears are what complicate the answer. They are what stands in the way of us being God's vehicle to His precious world.

One step back for a second... I'm not saying we shouldn't use wisdom in discerning where He wants us. It's important to pray about what it should look like for our faith to be put in to action. I'm betting God wants me in my children's lives for many years and that I probably play an important role in their upbringing. ;) But I can't let fear control me. If God has called me to China (which he clearly has), then I trust He will provide in my safety. And if I do die, then God has ordained that too and I am sure He would continue to provide in giving Seamus every support needed to raise them on his own. Hard? Of course. Again, the cost is often great but never too high for His glory to be made known. The point is that we trust His plan and follow His lead, never doubting His goodness and promise to provide. Y'all, it is freeing to not feel like we have to be in control of every detail of our lives.

I sound brave, right? Ha! I continue to fear but His mercies are new every day and I am constantly reminded to let my faith win the battle over fear. Seamus and I are far from perfect in our faith but grateful for the daily renewal of our souls. Our faith, the faith that is a gift from our merciful God, overcomes all fear. God is love and there is no fear in love. No. Fear. In. Love. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." (1John4:18) The only fear God calls us to is a deep understanding of who He is, an awe over His holiness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." (Proverbs 9:10)

Let go, Laura. Let go, y'all!! Rise up! Live a life of freedom. A life that honors Him. A life that has no regrets, no boundaries. Not out of obligation or guilt. Not a life of charity but of gratitude, deep gratitude for all Christ has already done for us. I don't know about you but I sure can't wait to see the face of God one day as he tells me, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done."

Friends, this life is but a vapor. It is seriously done and over with in the blink of an eye. There is no sacrifice on earth  that's not worth receiving the untouchable joy that God brings to us when we follow Him. There's no border scary enough to keep us from living for Christ. To trust and not fear is hard. Very, very hard. Life doesn't get easier when you pick up your cross and hand all your idols over to The Lord. But the freedom that comes. The joy. It's irreplaceable. And it brings everlasting life. I'm hanging on to that promise, not the false lies of this world. I'm moving from fear to faith. Who's in?!

 

The words to this song are so poignant. I love it...
"I've counted up the cost, and you are worth it... I don't need safety as much as I need you. You're dangerous but Lord you're beautiful... I'll carry my cross because real love is not afraid to bleed..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2TxahqbSbU

Waiting for Samuel to Come Home

It's been awhile since my last blog post, I know. While we are working and waiting for Samuel to come home, we are obviously very focused on every day life here. "Busy" doesn't begin to describe my life and although I am incredibly grateful for all God has led me to, I have little time to focus on my personal passions, including writing. ;) Sooooooo... I'm thankful to have 5 minutes today to share just a tad of what's going on.

Where are we in the adoption process right now? As you know, we submitted a letter of intent for sweet Samuel and China issued us Pre-Approval. He is ours, designated solely for our family and waiting for us to come get him. Our dossier (fancy word for our entire life on paper) is in China. It will take a couple months for them to issue us LOA (official letter of approval). So right now, we're in a waiting period. Once our LOA comes, we'll be looking at several weeks that include scrambling and more paperwork before we travel. I'll be sure to update here when we receive LOA. That's a major milestone in the process and always a huge celebration for adoptive families.

We are hoping to receive some updates and new pictures while we wait but this adoption is very different from when we were pursuing Emily. You may remember that Emily was in a special place called Harmony House where we were able to Skype with her periodically and speak directly to her caretakers. Ru was in a similar setting. Both were unique situations that we were very thankful for. Samuel is in a government-run orphanage. While we have been told that this orphanage is one of the better ones in China, we still can't be in direct contact. We can request pictures and information but may only receive one or two updates between now and travel. We'll be grateful to hear anything and will be sure to share with you!

In the meantime, we're exploring some fundraising ideas that may help fund our adoption. We have about $10,000 more to raise in order to bring Samuel home. We know God will provide, as He always has. We have a few ideas and will share them with you as they come to fruition. Will y'all please rally around us and help us to raise the last chunk of change to bring our baby boy home?

One fundraiser that seems to work well is t-shirt sales. We have already placed 2 shirt orders and the response has been great. I recently inquired on our FB page if anyone would be interested in a 3rd order and we feel like it'll be worth it. We will begin taking orders today and will place one big order in a few weeks. This time, we have 4 shirt options! If you didn't get in on the first couple orders, we will still offer the original brown super soft tee. Many of you requested a brighter, summer color shirt so we are adding coral and light blue options. Your 4th option is a V-neck tee in silver. All 4 options will have the original graphic on the front and are the same super soft fabric. Here are pictures of the options (picture of light blue coming soon):

The t-shirts are $20 each. The silver V-neck is $22. If we will be shipping them to you, please add $4 per order. All shirts come in adult sizes XS - 3XL (coral, light blue, and brown shirts go up to 4XL). To place your order, you can pay through Paypal using my email address lauraloman@yahoo.com (or just click on the "Donate" button on the right of this page). Please be sure to enter your color choice with size in the notes, as well as your shipping address. If you'd rather pay with cash or check, that's fine too. You can email me for our mailing address.

Our goal is to sell 100 shirts for this order. I know this is lofty being our 3rd order but we can do it! We would be so excited to meet this goal and be one step closer to bringing home Samuel. If you haven't purchased a shirt from us yet, now's your chance! If you've already ordered a brown shirt and would like a different color or style, we'd be grateful for your second t-shirt order! Another way to help is to share our shirts on FB.

We'd love for you to link in to our journey directly by praying for Samuel and ordering a shirt from us. We'll be sure to keep you updated if we hear anything about Samuel. We'll also keep you posted on our progress in raising the funds needed to bring him home. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for all your support!





"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Phil.4:8-9)