FAITH LIKE A CHILD

Waiting is one of the hardest things to do. We've tried to stay busy by painting Katie's room, decorating, and putting her furniture together. Still, there is a helpless feeling that goes along with waiting. This week we finally received some news. Our Article 5 letter should arrive at the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) today. The Article 5 letter was issued by the US Consulate on Wednesday. It states that we are "suitable adoptive parents" and that Katie will be "allowed to enter and permanently reside in the United States." In two to six weeks, the CCAA should be issuing our Travel Approval (TA). As soon as it is received we can plan the trip to China to bring Katie home! This news has made everything feel very real. We are really going to China and coming home with our little girl!

On Wednesday we received an estimate on travel costs (approximately $10,000) and I'll be honest... I freaked out a little bit. Brenda and Bryan get to see me at my best and at my worst, so in the midst of my sticker shock, Bryan said matter-of-factly "God has provided everything so far. He'll take care of that too." Bryan didn't try to figure out exactly where the money would come from. He didn't worry about how quickly the funds would be needed. He just had faith. His faith isn't blind, though. We've seen God do amazing things all along this journey. Bryan simply trusted that God would continue to act in the same way and finish what He started. I have a lot to learn from my son. One day I hope my faith is as simple and strong as his.

SHOCK AND AWE

God is still blowing us away with his provision. You would think we'd be used to it by now, but every day he continues to remind us how awesome he is. As Brenda was preparing to walk out the door to mail off our visa applications for the trip to China, a dear friend came into her office with a shower gift. In the card was a financial gift that matched the amount we have to pay today. God's time is always perfect. He knows exactly what we need and the moment we need it. Not just with financial needs, but with emotional, spiritual, and physical needs as well. The outpouring of love from our church, our family, and our community has been humbling. As we were reminded at Camp Kaotik, God is GINORMOUS!

Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! (Matthew 6:8)

Encouraging News

Yesterday was a day full of good stuff! We received the letter from the US Department of State we've been waiting on for the past week AND we received notice that we have been approved for a $2,000 matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans / Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Ministry. This weekend our friends from Camp Kaotik included our adoption costs in the camp offering. God continues to provide for the financial needs we are facing. We still have a long way to go, but we know that God is doing something bigger than us. Please begin praying for Katie's adjustment to her new life. We will be taking her from everything she knows. Pray that we will be able to help her through her grieving period and help her experience joy in her new forever family. If you feel led to provide financial assistance toward our matching grant, you may send it to:

Lifesong for Orphans

PO Box 40 / 202 N. Ford St

Gridley, IL 61744

Please include the following in the memo section of your check: preference Longley / #1742 adoption.

*Note: In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor's suggested use.

CRIB NOTES

Brenda and I attended our travel meeting this week! Lots of information to sift through, but it feels like we are getting closer and closer to bringing Katie home. Thanks to the ladies in Brenda's Friday morning Bible study group, Katie will have a crib to sleep in when we finally get her home. When I walk past her room it seems too empty. Still, the adoption is beginning to feel very real.

This weekend we'll get to spend time worshiping with some dear friends at Camp Kaotik. Keith Coast, Brent Weber, and Jagee Melton are amazing people with hearts for helping kids worship and grow in their relationship with God. I can't wait to attend camp with them next year and introduce them to Katie Joy!

Manger - Check!

We're nesting. Last weekend I went into the attic and located Bryan's old crib, worked it awkwardly down the ladder and put it into Katie's room. The only thing I was missing was the instructions for putting it back together. I went to my office at church to google the model number so I could print off some directions. That's when I learned that the crib had been recalled. There was a warning saying to stop using the crib immediately. There was no fix available. "Just great," I thought, "another unexpected expense." A couple of weeks ago I had ordered some new cribs for the church nursery. We needed a fourth for the Mothers' Day Out program and the ones we had were pretty worn down. This morning I was putting one of those cribs together when some ladies from the Bible study Brenda leads came in with a brand new crib as a Christmas gift for Brenda. Over 2,000 years ago God provided a bed for Jesus in an unusual way. Now he has done the same for Katie.

Another Approval

We received our I-800A approval last night. Our I-800 was sent out this morning. We're looking at two weeks' wait for that paperwork. Bryan received approval from his school to travel with us yesterday. Things are moving along. Please continue to pray for us as we prepare to bring Katie home!

Clutter For Katie

Today an Alsbury small group led by the Tim and Jenifer Newton held a garage sale at church to help us bring Katie home. Once again, we're blown away by God's provision. We praise God for the incredible blessings he has given us through our church family. Garages are a little emptier so our home can be a little fuller. Thank you to everyone who has allowed God to work through them to help us go to China and bring Katie Joy home to Texas!