GOD IS GREAT!

So... I have to give an update ALREADY for my yesterday's post. 

Recap - we received our referral (THE EMAIL) on September 3rd. We were told then that we were still waiting on the birthday certificate and the waiver of the mom's rights (given several years ago). 

Jacob and I have been praying for this since then.  Well... this weekend I started to get anxious and fearful about it because it wasn't here STILL. So, I started praying specifically about it... then I asked others to pray specifically with us. 

Yesterday, not an everyday thing, Jacob and I spent some time in the morning in prayer together, asking God specifically for those forms and for Eric to be here by Christmas. 

All day... we got nothing from the social worker. 

Last night at the college service (Please note - our college service isn't your typical group - it's a close knit group that prays for each others "stuff"), I issued an invitation to anyone in the group who felt the strong need for prayer. Some of the students requested we stop and pray for them... so we did. Then, Jacob spoke up. He's not one to out right ask for prayer in a group, so I was excited. He just told the group that we were frustrated. We want our Eric here by Christmas (OR BEFORE) and were really just needing these 2 forms. It's frustrating when, in our mind, it's a simple task to send a form they should have readily on file. So, one of our students (who has been with us since 7th grade) prayed for us - sweet moment in itself. 

After college was over and after chatting a while us some of the students, I decided (for some reason) to check my email.  And there... in the inbox, sent at 6:13pm (before church services started) was an email from our social worker indicating that she had received the form and we could send our LAST paperwork for our Eric!!!! WOOHOO!! 

AWESOME.  So, like Daniel (that I'm studying)... I felt like the Lord was saying:

As soon as you began to pray, a word went out...

Daniel 9:23

For some reason yesterday, I just knew that God was working on our behalf.  In my journal, I wrote down some words from the Daniel Bible study I'm working on - thanks Beth:

"As many times as you've prayed before, TODAY may be the day when God sends the answer so swiftly- so divinely - that you are windburned."

Amen. BOOM SATAN! 

There is no reason to doubt our Lord. He is so good. He is so faithful. Pray. Prayer is a powerful tool. Thank you so much is joining us to pray for these forms. Intervening for Eric!!!! 

So what's next:

We will send our LAST paperwork off TODAY! 

Those forms could take up to 5 weeks to be approved. 

Once approved, we will (I am almost positive) get our court dates (aka TRAVEL DATES) at that time! 

Then... we will go get our boy! 

Praying him home... 

yard sale time

We are so blessed. I am reminded - even if I have to remind myself - how amazing the people around us are and how faithful our God is. And... even when we can't see the actual movement of His hand... He is always working on our behalf.

So, this weekend we went to the B'ham to have a yard sale. We had a LOT of stuff!!! It was awesome. We did it Friday & Saturday. Friday's weather was PERFECT!!! I mean... PERFECT! We started early... unloaded my mom's whole house basically and started with customers about 6:45 AM! We went strong all day. 

*The black blob in the picture above is Jubi :)

We got to meet lots of people, tell our/Eric's story to many new faces, and we got to be with our family... which blessed my little heart! 

Saturday... we knew it was a very big chance for rain. I was trying to "pray it away"... do an "anti-rain dance"... or something... but the rain came. We turned the YARD sale into a GARAGE sale. 

Although we didn't have as many customers, it was AMAZING and so good for our hearts to see the people who came out in the pouring rain to hug our necks/hand us a check. It was amazing. People from our church growing up, others who have experienced the LABOR (in the best way) of adoption, and just people who knew our story.  They stood in a garage, filled with stuff, just talking about life and encouraging us on our journey. It was good...  

Over the entire weekend - with people buying stuff at the yard sale, people giving us checks even though they couldn't make it to the sale, and from a cake auction my mom-in-law helped with - WE RAISED OVER $2,000 TO HELP US BRING ERIC HOME!!! AMAZING!!! Doesn't that make you just wanna jump and sing? ME TOO! 

So... thank you.  Jacob and I have had such a hard time of how to say thanks... a "Thank You" is so not enough. I can't wait for us all to meet Eric. To hug him. And for you to love on him too. His smiling face will be the best Thank You we could offer.  So... keep praying.

Specific prayers we are praying right now:

- We need Eric's birth certificate and the waiver of rights from his parents (from 11 years ago)! Once we have those, we can submit our LAST papers for his visa... and then we can go get him! 

- Pray for Eric's heart. Pray that he knows that he is loved beyond measure by the King of the universe... and his new parents waiting for him in Troy, AL. 

- Pray for the people working with our case. Pray blessing over their lives and that they would hurry it up. :) 

- Pray that Eric would be home by Christmas.  That is my heart's goal!!! What a fantastic Christmas that will be here if he's here! 

I know prayer is powerful.  God is longing to be gracious to us... to unite this family together.  And He answers and responds to His people praying... so please join with us in praying our Eric home! 

How abundant are the good things

    that you have stored up for those who fear you,

that you bestow in the sight of all,

    on those who take refuge in you.

Psalm 31:19

And... I made my first meatloaf. I used my Aunt Sue's recipe... I've never eaten anything bad my aunt made so I thought it was a good choice. And... drum roll please.... Jacob ate 2 servings! :) YAY! I am not a meatloaf fan... I would prefer some yummy salad than a loaf of meat... but it's Jacob's favorite. So, after 3 1/2 years of marriage... I gave in and made it.  success. 

Have a great week. 

Sponsored.

Hi there! Hope your weekend was as festive as ours.

This was last weekend at the Troy vs. Savannah State game, but I thought it was cute. :) We have fun together and that's good.

LOOK AT ALL THESE AWESOME PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LOVE ERIC!! We have been overwhelmed by the amazing gifts people are sending to us and Eric. It's amazing. We don't know how to so thank you, but we KNOW God will bless. 

We got to see these awesome people this weekend. The Morgans love the Dobsons! :) 

My sweet Nanny and Pawpaw have continued their crazy journey to health. Pawpaw contracted aspiration pneumonia and had to go back to the hospital after a few days in rehab.  He got a new fire in him, started walking around on his command, and will hopefully be heading BACK to a rehab facility today! YAY! Want that man to get better... he's the BEST I know. 

Parker's birthday party was this weekend... since we have basically to be part of the Knick family, we got to go! :) and BATMAN showed up!! BATMAN, aka one of our youth who is obsessed with dressing up like Batman, made this 4-year-old's dream come true!! :) 

B.A.T.M.A.N.

Saturday night was Andrew's party with his family! He is an old man... the big 3-0! 

Happy birthday Knick boys! 

Now... onto something that blew my mind and spoke to my heart -

Jacob and I are filling out our VERY LAST PAPERWORK set for adoption!!! O thank the good Lord! One of these forms, the i864, is for the sponsorship of Eric into the USA. We are filling in the blanks that Jacob is the initial sponsor for Eric to come home. We have to fill out ALL our financial information, every penny and asset, DEBT, etc. accounted for on this form. 

So... SO much during this adoption process has reminded me of Christ's amazing love and adoption of us.  This form hit me... to the point of near tears - 

Jesus Christ is our sponsor, like Jacob is Eric's sponsor. Jesus signed His name saying that He was taking responsibility of our entrance and right into His kingdom... just like Jacob is taking full responsibility for all that Eric is and his citizenship here.  Jesus looked at our SIN, our debt, our assets, our NOTHING... and decided that He would pay our debt, He would take all of our past, our future, our family lineage, our orphan-state, and bring us into a forever home... accounted for in His family.  This form shows that we are taking ALL of Eric - his past, his orphan-state, his life - and claims that WE WANT HIM as ours!! Jesus did this for us in a much larger way.  He sponsors us to enter heaven. He stands in our place and says... "I take responsibility for this man/woman's wrongdoings... he/she is mine. I know them well." YES! We are sponsored! We are adopted! We are forever a part of His family. We get a NEW life. A NEW balance... FORGIVEN! He looks at us, with even more love in His eyes than an adoptive family could imagine and says "I WANT YOU! YOU ARE MINE!" 

Oh... what a Savior we a have! 

Also... a lyric in an old song spoke to my heart yesterday morning: 

Mold me and make me

After THY will

While I am WAITING

YIELDED and STILL

Yes... this is my prayer. While we are waiting. Completely still. Completely yielded to His moving us... I am begging that He refine us into His image. For us to learn what He is teaching us. For us to be the parents, son/daughter, friends, ministers, employees, prayer warriors that we have been made to be. 

On the HULK roller coaster!

Yep... my head and heart have DEFINITELY been on the HULK roller coaster this week. I became an emotional wreck for a while. With work, new God things, a son on the way, and just life craziness... I'm feeling a little something like this:

First... what's next with the adoption - 

PRAISE GOD for getting THE EMAIL on Tuesday! Wow! He is awesome!!! Can you believe it?? It's finally official! He is OURS and we are HIS!! We are just waiting to get him!!! 

Now, our acceptance letter for the referral has been sent to Belize along with a letter requesting for communication to start between us and Eric!! YES YES YES!!! When approved, we can email with him, SKYPE him, and send him letters!! OH HAPPY DAY!! Can't wait to see his precious face on that screen!!! 

Next, we will send a form called the i-800 that specifically requests ERIC to be granted a visa for the US! Hip Hip hooray.  This typically takes about 4-5 weeks to process. 

Then, we will receive an oracle (or something like that... I was too excited to pay attention) from Belize requesting us to come get our boy! :) I'm not sure how long this takes... because... Belize is on it's own timeline ya know.  

While that is going down, for Alabama requirements, we have to do our annual homestudy update - new medicals, new home tour, etc. And pay the money to update it... woo hoo. 

So... as of right now, we are still fundraising for the homestudy update fee and the travel fees! I am so thankful for so many who have been apart of our "puzzle" of fundraising by purchasing puzzle pieces. Seriously... every dollar makes a difference!!! Look at these awesome names of love and sacrifice for the sake of our son!! SO blessed! They are $10 a piece if you want one for you and/or your family! 

What has already been purchased vs. what's remaining 

 I know some people read this on their phones, so if you don't see the DONATE button in the top right, CLICK HERE! 

Now... to other news.

Please be praying for my sweet PawPaw. He has been in the hospital since last week... for open heart/bypass surgery. He's having a hard time getting back to 100%. The doctors believe he may have had a small stroke last night as well.  Just ask the Lord to love on him and my family. I know those caretaking are EXHAUSTED. They all just need some Holy Spirit BOOST!  

But... look how amazingly precious my grandparents are!!! I love them. 

Also... it's football season if you didn't know.  Me and the hubs went to the home opener here at Troy... vs. UAB. I was a bit conflicted... Troy pays the bills... but I LOVE MY UAB! But... UAB lost... in overtime. It was heartbreaking. Whatev... life goes on. 

 Have a great weekend y'all! 

THE EMAIL!!!!! THE REFERRAL!!!

THE EMAIL has finally arrived!!!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! I knew God was preparing us... SO... we definitely need travel money now! 

THE EMAIL... that we have been waiting for since February!! The email that I have stared at the computer for... refreshing the Gmail page every few minutes for... praying for... crying for... being angry for... THE EMAIL!!! THE REFERRAL IS HERE!!! 

I have referred to it as the FREAKIN' email if you have been around me for a time... either way... the FREAKIN' EMAIL IS HERE!!!! YAHOO!!! 

Today has been a whirlwind (more on the other stuff later), but I received the call that it was coming while I was scarfing down some yummy chips and spinach dip (thanks mom!).  I answered the phone... and I KNEW! Our social worker said, "Your referral is ready!" And I just screamed back "WHAT?! WHAT?! YES!" She told me she would be sending me THE EMAIL within minutes!! AHH! 

I hung up with her and all I could say was... "BOOM SATAN!" Haha! Why was that the first thing out of my mouth? I don't know... maybe it's because I was studying with Beth this morning (Beth Moore that is) about Satan being a lion waiting to devour us and our plans God has for us.  So...  BOOM SATAN! 

I hung up with her and called Jacob. He answered and before he could get words out, I screamed "OUR REFERRAL IS HERE... GET HOME NOW!!! IT'S REALLY HERE. I NEED YOU TO BE HOME NOW." He was frazzled and super pumped... but on his way. Andrew, the pastor, was driving so I knew they'd be there QUICK! haha! 

I just danced around the house... wanting to puke... and pass out... and shout... and scream... and cry... and laugh. And just saying "THANK YOU GOD! YOU ARE AWESOME! YOU ARE FAITHFUL! YOU ARE CRAZY! YOU ARE GOOD!" and then shouting some more and dancing and saying "I don't know what to do...!" I'm soooo glad there are no hidden cameras in our house... 

Jacob finally got home... and we opened THE EMAIL!!! AHH!!! 

Bad news first... there are no pictures yet! :( But we have his story. Yes, his story. I'm not going to share all of it with you. That will be his story to share - his past, his journey, and his life. I do want to share with you some of the most amazing sentences I've ever read.  Eric, OUR SON, was interviewed about being adopted.  This is what he had to say: 

"Eric appears to understand the concept of adoption.  He expressed that he knows and remembers the Morgan's from when they came to Belize to visit the institution.  Eric explained that he would like to be adopted by the couple. Eric is overly excited with the information of being adopted."

"Eric stated that he would love to be adopted and live in the United States with his new family." 

"Eric expressed interest in communicating with his new parents." 

O my heart!!! O my heart!!! I have no words... just JOY! To know he knows. To know he is excited. To know he is ours!!! 

We called our parents and family (Mrs. Christina had the best reaction... hands down!)! We texted our friends! We celebrated! 

So... answers to questions that are in your brains right now:

WHEN do we get him?
We have to do a few things more for paperwork - accept the referral (DUH!), one more form to clear Eric to come to the U.S., and then we'll get a document from Belize with the travel dates. PRAY that this paperwork goes through quickly and smoothly.

I thought the travel dates came with the referral... but as is with everything else... there's a few more steps in between.

Our social worker said he will be HOME before the end of the year! What a very merry Christmas we will have! We are hoping to travel in November to bring our boy home! 

What about Ziggy? Weren't there 2? 
We never really explained this very clearly.  We were APPROVED for two through our homestudy, but it has always been a decision of Belize to give us a referral for just Eric or for Eric plus another child.  So, our referral is for Eric, no "Ziggy." We are ECSTATIC to get Eric... that's been our heart the entire time.  If we were "given" two, we were going to jump on that opportunity.  So, we are a family of 3 - Jacob, Anna, and Eric Morgan (plus 2 dogs)! Oh... the joy!!! 

What do we do now? 
We pray that paperwork goes through quickly.
We pray for Eric.
We pray that money comes in (Donate button is in the top right if you heart desires to help)
We pray for all orphans and orphanage workers and people touching our paperwork... pray they are blessed and move quickly. 
We pray that God is glorified!!!