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| #6!!! |
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| Mom & Dad with the birthday princess |
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| Happy Birthday, Esther! |
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| After a full fun-filled day at home, the sick birthday girl finally retired on our bedroom floor :) |
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Esther's 6th Birthday!
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Adoption Update-Article 5!
So, Lord willing, we will be en route to China in a month. Our Article 5 went through and now we are simply awaiting our TA (Travel Approval). Suddenly things seem to be on fast-forward! The famed nesting instinct has kicked in (it always does when my babies are 8+ months gestation & this time we're at 11+ months!) and a few closets are seeing the light of day for the first time in years. Ben is painting as I type. (Yes, I think the nesting instinct affects husbands too. I just cannot imagine why?!!!)
In the next few weeks, we simply ask for your continued prayer covering over the trip, our new little one, our tribe we'll leave behind, and that all of our hearts will be prepared for whatever God has for us in the season to come. And really, the adoption journey will just be beginning when we arrive home. More Jesus. Less us. Amen.
As for The Refresh Conference Ben and I attended a few weeks ago, we were the rookies in attendance, yet we were absolutely blown away by all that God had for us to learn & experience that weekend. There is a great blog post about it from an amazing adoptive momma here: http://ourpreciousjewels.blogspot.com/2015/03/refresh-2015.html We so appreciated all of the speakers who spoke the raw truth of the many joys and challenges of adoption and how God's grace covers it all. I can only imagine how much more we will have to glean from it a year from now at Refresh 2016!
Lastly, I do want to mention that we have been so incredibly grateful to have received financial help from many (thank you from the bottom of our hearts!), including a couple of Christian adoption ministries. These ministries receive donations from those answering God's call to help with orphan care, but not necessarily called to adopt themselves. In turn, such ministries aid families who are called by God to adopt, but need financial assistance. We want to thank Show Hope, IBSEN Adoption Network, and LifeSong for Orphans (see below) for their ministries and their hearts for orphan care! Please look up these organizations if you have time. If God is placing it on your heart to help with orphan care, you can donate and/or advocate for these ministries.
Frankly, it is impossible for my puny brain to fathom that there are well over 140 million orphans worldwide. http://www.toomanymillion.org/ ; https://abbafund.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/how-many-christians-would-it-take-to-adopt-all-the-orphans-in-the-world/ Yet, it is so encouraging to witness how God is using His family, the Body of Christ, to make a difference for His kingdom one child at a time. Sometimes this is through adoption and sometimes it is through Christians setting up loving orphanages, care centers, sponsoring children, or foster homes where these precious kids are often given an education and most importantly, hope. That is, learning about a God who loves them and desires for them to be a part of His forever family through the saving grace of Jesus!
As for our adoption, we are getting very close to meeting our financial needs with just expenses in China left. We have some in-country expenses to cover such as getting a Visa for our son at the US Consulate, Chinese passports, a significant orphanage donation (required), doctor appointment, and travel expenses. We are praising God again for His continued provision as LifeSong for Orphans has recently given us a matching grant of up to $2,500. We hope to match this amount to help with the remaining costs by April 20th or earlier.
Again, first and foremost, we covet your prayers and ask that you only give to our personal adoption fund if the Lord leads you to do so! : )
ALL donations over $50 are tax-deductable. You may receive a receipt for a lesser amount upon request. Please make a check out to LifeSong for Orphans. On the memo line please write: #5038 Shook
Mailing address:
LifeSong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
Another option is to give online. Go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select "Give to an adoptive family." Complete the online form and fill in "Family Account Number" and "Family Name" fields. (see above)
LifeSong has been blessed with partners that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG foundation and other partners). 100% of your donation goes to our adoption.
Okay, I lied....just one last thing...no really....I came across this quote I had once read several years ago by Anne Graham Lotz, ya know, Billy's daughter?
"If all you ever attempt is that which you know you can do or have the resources for, how will you ever discover what He can do?"
Amen?!!! Ben and I would have missed out on so many amazing plans God has had for us if we had limited ourselves to our thinking, resources, and what "makes sense" in our finite minds. Rather, He has asks us to step out in faith and trust Him; the One who is all-knowing, infinite, and still multiplies loaves & fishes. All glory and thanksgiving goes to our Savior.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
Thank you. We love you-
Jo, Benjamin, & the Tribe
In the next few weeks, we simply ask for your continued prayer covering over the trip, our new little one, our tribe we'll leave behind, and that all of our hearts will be prepared for whatever God has for us in the season to come. And really, the adoption journey will just be beginning when we arrive home. More Jesus. Less us. Amen.
As for The Refresh Conference Ben and I attended a few weeks ago, we were the rookies in attendance, yet we were absolutely blown away by all that God had for us to learn & experience that weekend. There is a great blog post about it from an amazing adoptive momma here: http://ourpreciousjewels.blogspot.com/2015/03/refresh-2015.html We so appreciated all of the speakers who spoke the raw truth of the many joys and challenges of adoption and how God's grace covers it all. I can only imagine how much more we will have to glean from it a year from now at Refresh 2016!
Lastly, I do want to mention that we have been so incredibly grateful to have received financial help from many (thank you from the bottom of our hearts!), including a couple of Christian adoption ministries. These ministries receive donations from those answering God's call to help with orphan care, but not necessarily called to adopt themselves. In turn, such ministries aid families who are called by God to adopt, but need financial assistance. We want to thank Show Hope, IBSEN Adoption Network, and LifeSong for Orphans (see below) for their ministries and their hearts for orphan care! Please look up these organizations if you have time. If God is placing it on your heart to help with orphan care, you can donate and/or advocate for these ministries.
Frankly, it is impossible for my puny brain to fathom that there are well over 140 million orphans worldwide. http://www.toomanymillion.org/ ; https://abbafund.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/how-many-christians-would-it-take-to-adopt-all-the-orphans-in-the-world/ Yet, it is so encouraging to witness how God is using His family, the Body of Christ, to make a difference for His kingdom one child at a time. Sometimes this is through adoption and sometimes it is through Christians setting up loving orphanages, care centers, sponsoring children, or foster homes where these precious kids are often given an education and most importantly, hope. That is, learning about a God who loves them and desires for them to be a part of His forever family through the saving grace of Jesus!
As for our adoption, we are getting very close to meeting our financial needs with just expenses in China left. We have some in-country expenses to cover such as getting a Visa for our son at the US Consulate, Chinese passports, a significant orphanage donation (required), doctor appointment, and travel expenses. We are praising God again for His continued provision as LifeSong for Orphans has recently given us a matching grant of up to $2,500. We hope to match this amount to help with the remaining costs by April 20th or earlier.
Again, first and foremost, we covet your prayers and ask that you only give to our personal adoption fund if the Lord leads you to do so! : )
ALL donations over $50 are tax-deductable. You may receive a receipt for a lesser amount upon request. Please make a check out to LifeSong for Orphans. On the memo line please write: #5038 Shook
Mailing address:
LifeSong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
Another option is to give online. Go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select "Give to an adoptive family." Complete the online form and fill in "Family Account Number" and "Family Name" fields. (see above)
LifeSong has been blessed with partners that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG foundation and other partners). 100% of your donation goes to our adoption.
Okay, I lied....just one last thing...no really....I came across this quote I had once read several years ago by Anne Graham Lotz, ya know, Billy's daughter?
"If all you ever attempt is that which you know you can do or have the resources for, how will you ever discover what He can do?"
Amen?!!! Ben and I would have missed out on so many amazing plans God has had for us if we had limited ourselves to our thinking, resources, and what "makes sense" in our finite minds. Rather, He has asks us to step out in faith and trust Him; the One who is all-knowing, infinite, and still multiplies loaves & fishes. All glory and thanksgiving goes to our Savior.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
Thank you. We love you-
Jo, Benjamin, & the Tribe
Monday, March 9, 2015
Dad's Birthday!
A couple of weeks ago, my Dad's birthday arrived. This year his birthday was different. We went down to Aunt Julie and Uncle JR's house while Mom and Dad attended the Refresh Conference. It's a Christian conference for foster and adoptive parents at Overlake Christian Church. Lillian, Sören, Esther and I had a fun day with our aunt, uncle, and cousin. This included a few rounds of hide-and-seek outside, playing with Elin, and a hike through the forest surrounding their house. After their full day at Refresh, Mom and Dad returned, and we spent the rest of the evening eating pizza and pie, celebrating Dad's birthday before we had to drive the long way home.
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| Happy Birthday Dad!! |
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