Prayer Requests

In the days ahead, I would appreciate your prayers for a number of things in these final days of the journey to Molly.

Prayer Requests:
1. There is a slim chance we could leave for China as early as Feb. 2. This date would be especially significant to me as it is the 2nd year anniversary of Dennis' death. I'd love to have a new memory attached to that date.
2. Flights - I can't book flights until we have travel approval from China - about two weeks before we would leave. Please pray for prices to be reasonable and available for the dates we want to go.
3. Continue to pray for the final financial needs to be met.
 4. Most importantly, please pray for Molly as she prepare for the loss of everything in her life that is familiar.

Thank you all for your part in Molly's journey to our family. I see God's hand in so many of the details. Just recently China stopped granting any waivers to their rules. Had that been in place a few months ago when I requested to be matched with Molly, I would not have been able to adopt her as I needed an waiver due to my age.

Each one of you is part of her story as you have upheld us in prayer and supported me in so many ways. Thank you.

Almost Done

On January 12th my documents will be picked up from the consulate in China and then all I have standing between me and bringing home Molly is a travel approval from China. It is very likely I will be able to leave for China on Feb 9 and get Molly on Feb. 13.

Merry Christmas Molly

Merry Christmas Molly. This will be your last Christmas without a family. I love you and can't wait to meet you in person in a few months. Next year you will know about a Savior who came to earth to provide for your redemption.

Documents in China!

My documents will be delivered in China for their final review on Thursday. Usually this steps takes two weeks but with the holidays in there it will most likely be three weeks. The last step after that is a travel approval from China. Please pray the travel approval comes before Chinese New Year so I can travel right after the holiday.

Molly's VISA

One more step down. I got my case number for Molly's VISA today and filled out her VISA application also. I need one more piece of paper from them and then the paperwork heads to China for the final two steps before I can go get Molly. It is getting so close.

Praying for Grants

Will you all please pray for the grant applications I have submitted recently. Travel is around the corner (even though it seems like forever) and I really need to raise the rest of the adoption money. I mailed one grant application a few weeks ago and two today. Please pray for favor with those reviewing the applications.

i800 Approval

One more step done - i800 approval yesterday. This is immigrations approval for Molly to enter the country.

Today I had a phone conference that went over the details of the actually adoption trip to China. It really makes it seem like the trip is coming up quickly. Can't wait to get to China and bring Molly home. :)

Molly and Jade

Another Mom who is adopting from Molly's orphanage just sent me this picture. I LOVE IT!

Waiting for Immigration

My immigration approval should come early this week. Please pray this step happens according to normal time frames. I am so ready to be in China and get Molly and each day is agony. If things slow down at some point, it will be so hard.

Pictures

Another family was video calling their daughter at Molly's orphanage and guess who else was there? And she sent me a screen shoot! Her expression is priceless!

Pictures!

One of the things that keeps you going during the wait to bring home your child is updates and pictures. Molly has grown two inches and gained over 10 lbs. (I'm guessing her earlier weight was wrong as it was much too thin for her height.)

VISA

Brooklyn and my VISAs were picked up yesterday and will arrive in the mail today. One more step done. Next week our immigration approval should move to the VISA center for Molly's VISA processing. By Christmas, all of the paperwork on this side of the world should be done and the last two steps in China will happen in January. We hope to be leaving for China around Feb. 10th if all goes smoothly.

Can't wait to have his sweet girl home with us.

Crunch Time

It's crunch time. The reality of how close I am to leaving to get Molly came home today when I received an email about a travel meeting conference call. This is the meeting where the core information about travel is discussed. It is next week!

It also made me acutely aware of the financial needs that still need to be met. There is about $7000 in fees alone while we are in China. Another $8000 more in travel expense. (The cost of flights could increase that estimate a bit.) Last week I paid my final fees to the agency and that was over $3000.

PLEASE consider helping bring Molly home by giving an end of year, tax-deductible gift to help cover the expenses I still will have to bring Molly home. You can give at www.purecharity.com/hierl-family-adoption All gifts given through this site are tax-deductible. Thank you so much for your gifts.

Timeline

At this point in the process of adoption, timeframes become much more predictable. There can always be unforeseen delays and with both countries celebrating holidays over the next few months, anything can happen. With that said, here is a potential timeframe for the rest of the process. (Don't worry about what each step means. If it is in the US it is part of immigration and the VISA process. The steps in China are a final review of all paperwork and an invitation to come and get Molly.)

Immigration approval - US - 12/14
GUZ - US - 12/21
RTF - US - 12/23 or 24
Article 5 Drop-off - China - 12/28
Article 5 Pick-up - China - 1/13 -17
Travel approval - China - 1/25
(Chinese New Year Jan 27-Feb. 2)
Leave for China - Feb. 9 or 10
Family Day (When I get Molly) 2/13
Home - Feb. 25 (this date will likely change by a day or two in either direction)

Please pray for each step to move smoothly and quickly as the holidays and staff vacations can really slow things down. Its getting so close and I can hardly wait to meet her.

Answered Prayer

Answered Prayer - I did get an update on Molly this week. Thanks for praying. It did not have new height and weight measurements but did have a foot measurement. I have height and weight from last summer so I can go from those if needed, although my agency is asking for those as well. I'll take a best guess size and safety pins for if they are too big. That worked well with Brooklyn.

The update also did not include new pictures. :( The agency is asking for those as well.

She Knows

Molly knows about us. Her care package arrived at the orphanage last week. :) Please pray for her as she processes through this information.

i800 in Texas

Prayer Request of the Week - The last update I have on Molly is from last spring. I absolutely need an update at this point of her height, weight and foot size so I can know what size clothes to take along to China in a few months. The agency has been requesting this from the orphanage for over a month now. Please pray that it comes very soon. (I'd also love some new pictures of her too.)

Tomorrow the immigration paperwork will arrive in TX for processing. If all goes well, they should approve in about two weeks. Please continue to pray for smooth processing through the rest of these steps.

LOA - Letter of Acceptance

Five years ago today, the document from China arrived that allowed us to adopt Brooklyn. Today, the same document arrived for Molly’s adoption. I love how God arranges things like this.

China Said YES!

I just heard from my social worker and China has approved the match to Molly. I should be traveling to bring her home her in 2-3 months.

So, here are some pictures of my adorable daughter. The ones where she is in green are from a Sept. 2015 and the ones where she is in a brown vest are from May 2016.

Please Pray

Will you please join me in praying for news from China this week. I'm waiting on a LOA - which is China's full approval of the match with Molly.

Urgent Prayer Request

Prayer Warriors - We saw amazing results of our prayers last week for Molly's file to move and it more than moved, I have pre-approval from China.

NEED PRAYERS AGAIN, PLEASE - There is a guardianship letter that China "sometimes" asks for but not always. I have it in-process but it will take weeks to finish before it can even be sent to China. SO - please pray they don't ask for it and issue their final approval (LOA) right away. It could come this week if they don't want that letter. If it comes now, I could be leaving in February to bring Molly home.

BTW - as soon as I have LOA I can share her pictures with you. Can't wait to do that.

Shirts

I'm selling these shirts to help raise the $20,000 I still need for the adoption. If you are interested in purchasing one, please PM me for details.

Immeasurably More

Ephesians 3:20-21New International Version (NIV)

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Several years ago I heard an awesome sermon on this passage and how God does "beyond our beyond" when we ask Him. In other words, we can even begin to think of what He is able to do.

I was reminded of this today when I received the call from our social worker. I'd asked you and some other friends to pray specifically that Molly's file would move out of the province and onto Beijing this week so it could begin the review process on the federal level. I assumed this would take several more months before I could ask to be her mom.

God chose to go "beyond my beyond" and not only was it out of the province, it was also available for me to submit my Letter of Intent asking to be her Mom and even one more "beyond my beyond", a pre-approval from China was issued! God is so amazing.

So what's next you might be asking. Good question - I will be waiting for China's final approval of our match. This could take a few days to a month. Part of determining that could be a letter that they may request. It is already in process but it could take a few weeks for all the approvals. China does not always ask for this letter so you could be praying they don't ask and just approval my request to be Molly's mom.

Once that approval arrives, it will take about 2-3 months for the last of the paperwork to be approved from immigration in the US and China to invite us to come and pick up Molly.

Please pray for the rest of these steps and for Molly's heart to be prepared for becoming part of my family.

I'll be able to share pictures of her as soon as I have China's final approval on the match. She is adorable

Pre-Approval from China

Thank you all for praying. I just heard from our adoption agency that Molly's file is in Beijing AND they have issued a pre-approval of our match. I'd expect a final approval in the next month. Thank you all for your prayers!

Please Pray Specifically

Will you please pray for Molly's file to move on to Beijing this week? I had hoped to be submitting my request to adopt her in November. That is unlikely but her file needs to move on to Beijing so I can move forward. Would you please partner with me and pray specifically for her file to be processed and move to Beijing this week? Pray for the person in charge of it to make the completion of her paperwork processing a priority.

Disappointing News

Today I learned that Molly's file did not head to the province for processing until the middle of September. This would explain why we have not heard that it has moved on to Beijing for processing yet. It could be done any day or it could take a few months yet before it moves on. Please continue to pray that it will be processed quickly and move to Beijing. Most likely we will travel in later winter or spring but each step has its own possible delays or quicker handling that we anticipate. I know God's timing in all of this will be perfect.

Retail Therapy

So, when you are waiting on news about your adoption and you are sick of waiting, what do you do? Shop, of course. Couldn't resist picking up some jackets at Walmart today. It may be spring before she is home, but winter will come again. But, I'm hoping she is home by the end of winter (in Wisconsin that can be April) and will wear them yet this winter and spring.

Painful

Sometimes the waiting for news, any news, on the progress of a file for the child who is already MY DAUGHTER in my heart is painful. I mean real, physical PAIN. I just want to hear something - especially that her file has moved onto the federal level in China to be processed. Please pray for news that it is moving to the next step of the process.

Still Waiting

I'd really like to hear something about the file for the little girl I am trying to adopt. Last anyone knew, it was at the provincial level for their approval. Its next stop will be Beijing for their review. After that, I can officially ask to be her daughter.

Please pray I get some news on her file's movement this week. It would be so nice to know it is moving forward.

Holiday

China has been shut down this week for a holiday. They will be returning to work over the weekend. Please pray that Molly's file moves from the province's approval process and to the national level for their approval in the next few days. Thanks everyone.

Care Package

In a week the Gladney team will be heading to China to visit the children in their partner orphanages. They won't be at the orphanage of the little girl I am adopting but are going to take a care package for her. Their in country representative will keep it until China has processed her paperwork and said yes to our match. He will then send it to her at the orphanage. Brooklyn and I had fun shopping for the items that are in it but the most important item is the photo album that will introduce her to us.

Please pray for the team as they travel. Also, continue to pray that paperwork and approvals come in a timely manner.

I Said Yes

Waiting - if you are ever involved in an adoption, waiting is something you do a lot. I'm doing it again.

In regards to the little girl whose file I reviewed last week; my response - YES! So now I'm waiting. Her file is going through processing in China and will be ready in 2-3 months. Then I can officially submit my request to be her Mommy. China will most likely take a few weeks to say "yes" to my request and then a few more steps with immigration in the US and China before I can travel. Brooklyn and I will travel to China to get her after all of that is done. We are thinking it will most likely be late winter or early spring.

I can't share pictures until China says yes so you will have to wait awhile. However, the little girl who keeps repeating the English words in the video below, that Gladney posted on their website, is becoming very special to me. I have watched this video a lot recently. ;)

Please pray for
1. rapid processing of all steps of the paperwork
2. for China to say yes
3. for the finances I need to complete the adoption (www.purecharity.com/hierl-family-adoption)
4. for patience along the way

https://www.facebook.com/gladneysuperkids/videos/1574470026184181/

A Video

OK, so Gladney, my agency, just posts the cutest kids on their FB page - OK. ;) OK Check out the little girl in this video who keeps saying the English words. OK. ;)

Had a chance to talk with the staff at Gladney today. The file of the little girl I am considering will take months before I can offically ask China if I can be her Mommy. Please pray for the processing to go smoothly and quickly. OK

https://www.facebook.com/gladneysuperkids/videos/1574470026184181/ 

I Want to be Her Mommy

Update on the file I am reviewing.

The file I reviewed yesterday has some processing steps in China to complete. It needs approval from the province and from the CCCWA (China's adoption governing agency). This will most likely take a few months at best. At that point, Gladney will be able to submit my request to be matched with her. From that point, it will take another 3 months or so until I travel. So, most likely we are looking at early spring.

This presents a huge prayer request, my home study is good for one year which will end in mid-April. I need to have finished the adoption by then. An update is possible but the agency who did the home study went out of business so it makes getting an update a bit more complicated. Please pray for fast handling of paperwork now and in the steps after approval.

All of that to say, yes, I want to be her Mommy.

Finally - A File is Here

I can't say much at this point beyond that I have a file of a little girl I am reviewing. Pray for the process and for wisdom.

I have been at peace for a long time that the file Gladney would present to me was my daughter. I am really not stressed at all over this. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in all of this.

Waiting on a File

Gladney, my adoption agency, is waiting for a file of the little girl they hope will be a good match for me. The file is currently being translated so they should receive it very soon. Will you please pray that it comes through this week? China has a major holiday the first week of October. Basically everyone there is not working that week. The good news is that often people will try to clear out their work before the holiday. Please pray the file gets completed and sent to Gladney before the holiday.

Praying Specifically

I've been praying specifically and expectantly recently as I see so often a lack of faith in the way I pray. God is so much bigger than my prayers sometimes indicate.

In regards to the adoption, one area that I have been praying about is the possibility of traveling to China over Christmas to bring home my yet to be identified daughter.

Traveling over Christmas, while not desirable for many families, would be so cool for us. You see, with both Dennis and Mom gone, Christmas is very different and frankly, it is hard. So much of what made our family traditions, passed away with them. So, something totally different is very appealing. In addition, it would mean Brooklyn would miss far less school for the trip.

However, we do have 3 furry family members and getting a house sitter or a kennel at that time of year is impossible. On a fluke, I called the kennel we use to see if they had anything open for the days we are on school break. The girl who answered did not think they did but checked anyway. Guess what was the one kennel they had open - a double dog one for our dogs to share and a kitty condo too. And, to make it even better, I can cancel up to 14 days prior with no penalty.

Will I use it for the China trip? I don't know but that is what I am praying for.

Prayer List:
1. A match to come through in the next few weeks. This would make it possible to send a care package with the team heading to China in October.
2. Travel over Christmas.
3. $20,000 to cover the rest of the costs of the adoption.

Please Help

As many of you know, I am adopting. The cost of adopting is high but the reward is great. Will you partner with me in giving my daughter a family? All donations given through the site below are tax deductible. I need approximately $20,000 at this point to cover agency fees, in-country fees and travel expenses. Thank you for any assistance you can give me.

https://www.purecharity.com/hierl-family-adoption

It's Killing Me

Waiting for a match is going to kill me I'm sure - at least that is how I feel today. Most days I am doing OK. Each day past is one day closer to seeing her face. Still hoping for a match very soon so I'll be able to send a care package with the team in early October.

I'd love to be able to travel over Christmas but that too requires a match soon. I actually booked a kennel for the pets for Christmas. I was shocked they still had an opening. The good news is I can cancel up to 14 days prior. If it turns out that I'm not near to traveling to China at Christmas, Brooklyn and I are planning on getting away and spending the time with some friends. It just feels like we need a different Christmas this year. With both Dennis and Mom gone, Christmas is very different anyway. Hopefully, we'll be using that kennel reservation for our trip to China.

Please pray specifically for the file we are waiting on to come very soon. Also, I need about $20,000 for in country fees and travel expenses. Pray for God's provision in this area as well.

Still Waiting

Another week and no match. Please pray with me. I trust God in the timing but He also tells us to ask Him for our wants/needs.

I've been learning lately to pray specifically and expectantly so here is how I have been praying. I am praying for a match so that when my agency goes to China in October they can take along a care package for us and I'm also praying that we could be in China for Christmas. This would allow Brooklyn to miss less school. In essence, that means I'd need a match in early September at the latest so that China could approve the match before they leave.

On a side note, you might wonder what is holding up a match. Gladney, my agency, is waiting on the files of some children they met on their trip to China in Spring. Hopefully they arrive very soon.

While I'm Waiting

I feel like I'm endlessly circling the airport, waiting to land.

At this point, all my paperwork is done and reviewed in China and just sitting there waiting. On this side of the ocean, I too am just sitting and waiting. Waiting for THE file to be identified that contains all the information on the little girl who will be my daughter so I can submit my formal request to adopt her.

Why the wait? Because my agency is also waiting, waiting for files to arrive from China about the children they met on their spring trip. Orphanages need to submit a file on each child that is available for adoption. Preparing those files and submitting them takes time.

So, I wait. Most days I wait fairly patiently but other days, I get really tired of waiting. I remind myself then that God has her in His hands and His timing will be right.

In the last year, I have learned a lot about praying specifically and expectantly. For instance, earlier this year I was praying to have my fingerprint appointment come on Tuesday as that was my day off last year. Not only was it on a Tuesday, it was for the exact day and time as some friends so we went to the appointment together. Anyway, there is another specific prayer request I have right now.

My agency staff will be back in China in early October. If I have a match by that point, I will be able to send a small care package with them to give to my daughter. It would include a photo album to introduce her to us and help prepare her for her new family. (Brooklyn still has the album we sent her.) Please pray with me for a match and approval before this trip.

So, I'm waiting.

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

Photo Album

What does an adoptive parent do when all the documents are done and in China and all she is doing is waiting to be matched to her future daughter? Why, she does a photo album of course! This photo album will go to my future daughter to introduce her to our family and show her pictures of me, Brooklyn, the pets and our house. Now - one more verse of "Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match..."

To Be Matched

Another big step is completed. My dossier documents have been reviewed by China and are now classified as "to be matched". This means that as soon as my agency identifies a specific child and I approve the match, it will most likely go very quickly through China's formal approval of the specific match. From that point, it will take about 3 months before I will be in China to complete the adoption.

So for now, I am trying to patiently wait for the match. Frankly, I am doing pretty well in that category. From the beginning of this adoption, I have felt strongly that the child God has for me was going to come through a match provided by Gladney, my agency. God has got the child in His hands and the timing for all of this is in His control.

Please continue to pray for the matching process and the remainder of the funds I need to have for the in-country fees and travel expenses.

What God Orders he Pays For

When God called me to adopt again, I started saying, "What God orders, He pays for." I did not have the funds just sitting around to do another adoption but God's call was clear, and to do anything less than obey would have been wrong.

I keep seeing God provide along this journey. I had a yard sale that exceeded my expectations. I saw things sell that I thought I'd have to pay a salvage company to haul away. It was amazing.

Earlier this week a friend had called and asked if there was a good time to stop by. We had a great visit but his request to stop by was so he could give me a check.

Thank you Lord for your provision along the way and miracles you are performing to make one less child an orphan.

Out of Translation

OOT or Out Of Translation. This means my dossier documents have been translated and are being reviewed in China. When this is done their status will change to "to be matched" and will wait until I submit a request to be matched with a specific child.

I'm waiting for a match to that child from my agency. They should be getting some files soon so hopefully in the next few months I will know who will be joining our family.

Please keep praying for the matching process and for the finances to cover the fees while in China and the travel expenses.

Yard Sale

The last few days have been crazy.

Over the last few months my brother-in-law, Don McEvoy, has been helping me go through Dennis' tools and electronics. Dennis had a lot of stuff. This week was the yard sale to sell these things. It was a guys dream sale and it has gone so well. I advertised it as an adoption fundraiser and it has done really well.

It has been fun to meet some nice people and to share what God has done and is doing in my life. We opened the sale on Wednesday evening for friends and family and will close it tomorrow. I had people ask me today if there was another sale in the area because there was suppose to be a huge one around here. I chuckled to myself about this. It had been huge but so much has sold it isn't anymore.

My friend Laura Stevens Helwig and her daughter Kayley helped so much with the sale. They were here super early on Thursday to help with set-up and Laura was back again today. She also posted items on a for sale group she uses and many items sold because of her posts. Thank you Laura and Kayley. My friend Nancy Petak kept us well fed-she is an awesome cook. George Petak and Steven J. Schmitt made sure we had shade by lending us their canopies too. Bret Clardy just happened to be at our pre-sale on Wednesday at the end and stayed to help haul all of it back into the garage for the night. Thank you to each of these friends for your efforts to bring home my little girl.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match!

Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match... That is my theme song right now as I wait on a match with the little girl who will be my daughter. My documents are in China and currently being translated. They will then be reviewed and approved. After that they will sit there until a specific child has been matched to me.

Frankly, it is like watching paint dry. Mostly though, I'm patient with the process. I spoke with my agency and they said it could be up to six months before a match but they also said they tend to be very conservative in their estimates. God's timing will be right and I keep reminding myself of that on a regular basis.

Until then, Brooklyn and I have been busy painting and doing things around the house. This week is a huge fundraiser/yard sale. My brother-in-law, Don McEvoy has shouldered much of the work for the sale. It is a sale full of tools, electronics, collectibles, housewares, furniture,... Please pray for good sales and good weather. I have to raise the money for our travel and the fees in China. A good estimate is somewhere around $12,000-$15,000. Those numbers scare me but God will provide.

Thanks for your prayers for me and for the little girl that will be part of my family - all in God's time.

LID

LID today! This means my dossier documents are officially in the Chinese system to begin their formal review and approval. Now I wait for a match to go with these documents.

The Room is Ready

'Brooklyn and I painted the bedroom for her new sister last weekend and tonight did decals.

DTC

DTC stands for dossier to China. As of today, all of the paperwork I have been working on is done and on its way to China. This is a huge step in the process.

Dossier with FedEx

My last dossier document is in FedEx hands on its way to my adoption agency. By this time next week it will on its way to China along with the rest of my paperwork. Thank you Nancy Farrell Petak for riding shotgun and giving me some company on the trip to Chicago and back.

Off to Chicago

My i800a approval arrived yesterday. Took it to the Sec of State this morning and she said it would be done by 10. Changed plans for the rest of the day and headed to Chicago after I picked it up. It will be done on Thursday but I can't get there till Friday to pick it up. Off to my agency on Friday and hopefully DTC late next week.

I think my theme song from that point will be Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match...

Chicago Here I Come

So excited. Dropped off the immigration approval at the Secretary of State office this morning and it will be ready by 10 today so I can get it to the Chicago consulate yet today. Road trip - here I come. I can run back down on Friday and pick it up and by the end of next week everything should be heading to China!!!

Immigration Approval Arrived

My approval letter from immigration arrived today. Off for state certification tomorrow and then off to the Chinese consulate in Chicago. Getting so close to having everything ready to send to China. This is the last piece of paper in that process!

Next Steps

For those of you not familiar with the adoption process, here is brief overview of the next steps in the process.

Immigration sent their approval for me to bring a child into the country. It goes out today via FedEx. I hope it arrives tomorrow. On Monday it will go to the Wisconsin Secretary of State for authentication and then next week I will take it to the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. I hope to be able to take it down on Tuesday and pick it up on Friday but that will depend on the delivery of the actual document yet this week.

After I get it back from the Consulate, it will go to my agency and they will send it to China. China will review it all at that point.

While all of this is happening, Gladney, my adoption agency, is working on finding a child for me. Once they have found a child that will be a potential match, I will review her file and if I approve the match, her file and my documents will be matched together. If China approves, it takes about 10 more weeks to finish up the last of the approvals and I would head to China. The very earliest would be late fall but it all depends on when the match is made.

Please keep praying for the matching process and for the finances needed in these steps of the process.

Immigration Approval

I just heard from immigration and my approval is going out via FedEx today! One more step done.

What is Happening?

I haven't posted here in a bit. So, where am I at with the adoption? At this point, I am waiting on immigration's approval. It should arrive in about 2 weeks. I will need to do some authentication with it and then send it to my agency. All of my paperwork will then head to China where it will be translated and reviewed.

While that is happening, I am also waiting on a match with a child. My agency is working on finding a child that will meet the criteria I have been approved for. When they find that possible match, I will be given her file to review and accept or deny. If I accept it, my documents that are in China will be matched with her profile and China will grant (or deny) the match. If granted, I will travel to get her about 8-10 weeks later.

So, right now, I am mostly waiting and praying for God's direction and timing.

My brother-in-law and I have been working diligently to prepare for a yard sale to raise money for the adoption. I'm also sorting and emptying the office so I can paint it and make it a little girls room. I'm really close to that goal.

Please pray for:
*The right match to be clear to my agency, me and Chinese officials.
*Patience as I wait.
*Smooth processing of all steps of the adoption.
 *My daughter - Pray that God will prepare her heart to be part of my family.

A Hard Decision

I faced an incredibly difficult decision this weekend and I want to thank all of you who have been praying for me.

On Friday, I had a phone conference with the staff who had been with Molly, the little girl I am adopting. What I learned was very hard to hear. Her file that I had reviewed and had our doctor review, did not show the full extent of her needs. Without going into detail here, her needs medically and developmentally were extensive. I needed to take it all in, get counsel from people who know me well as well as people who parent kids with multiple needs, and pray.

After all of the above, I knew the answer was that as a single parent, I could not be the parent Molly will need. It was very hard to admit this.

I am so thankful for Gladney, my agency, who are incredibly supportive. Their words to me where about making sure the right kids are in the right families.

If you know me from the adoption community, you know I advocate for agencies meeting and evaluating the kids they place and this situation is exactly why that is important. Had they not met Molly in-person, I would not have had this information until I met her on the day she was adopted.

So, you are probably wondering if I'm not going to be adopting. I am definitely still planning on adopting. In the next few months I will complete the US side of the adoption paperwork and send it to China where it will be translated and processed. At some point, Gladney will find a child that will be my daughter. I am not sure on how quickly this will happen. God has that timing in place and I'm going to have to trust Him and learn some more about waiting on Him.

Please continue to pray for:
*Brooklyn and me as we let go of Molly. It is not easy.
 *Molly that a family will be found for her that is able to give her the help she will need.
*The right match for my family and patience as I wait.

I know not everyone will agree or understand this decision but please trust me that it was not made lightly. It was agonizing. Please be kind and supportive in your comments. I need your gentle care and compassion at this time.

Moving Forward

Lots going on this week. My dossier documents are back from the state of Wisconsin and will head to the Chinese consulate in Chicago next. This group of papers is what will go to China to finalize my adoption of Molly. When my approval comes from immigration it will need to got through these two steps as well.

On Friday, I will have a phone conference with the staff from Gladney who where just with Molly last week. They will give me updates on how she is doing. They met with the doctor that has taken care of her.

They will also have more pictures and videos of her. They visited a lot of kids while they were in China so it will take a bit to get all of these sorted out and sent to families. I can't wait to see them.

Prayer:
1. Fingerprint appointment to come through on a Tuesday so I don't have to miss school.
2. Financial supply - I don't have all of the money for this adoption but I'm trusting God to supply. (I will be having an amazing "guys" yard sale in June. My brother-in-law has been helping me sort through Dennis' electronics and tools as well as other things to get ready to sell.)
3. Overall protection - we have had numerous financial things happen since starting the adoption and this last weekend I was sick too.
 4. Molly - prayer for her to stay healthy and for her to be ready to be part of this family.

Comparison

Here is a fun comparison. The family picture is from 2012, about 6 months after Brooklyn's adoption and the one of Molly is from this week.

Visitors and Pictures

Best ever gift before going to bed, a new picture of Molly from my agency. They are in China visiting the kids and are with her today and tomorrow.

Immigration

The next step of the adoption process is underway. My i800a has been sent to immigration. This is an application to be eligible to bring a child into the country. Currently this step is taking around 50-60 days. Somewhere in that time frame, I will need to go to homeland security and be fingerprinted.

Home Study is Done

Gladney's Superkids team is in China visiting children and helping at the orphanage. It is one of the reasons I love the agency I have used for our adoptions. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. They have a very full schedule. It was on one of these trips that they ran into Brooklyn in a hallway. They were not suppose to meet her but God had other plans.

On a personal note, they will be at Molly's orphanage the 21st and 22nd. Can't wait to get some first hand reports on her as well as some pictures and video. I'll post them when I have them.

Since I gave away all of Brooklyn's clothes, people passing things on to me or telling me they will be as they clean out closets is such a blessing.

Brooklyn helped me pick out some decorations and a quilt for Molly's room. Tomorrow my brother-in-law, Don McEvoy, is coming over to help me sort through some of my storage. This will help me get ready for a rummage sale but also provide a place for things I currently have in our office. I need to empty the office so it can be painted and made into Molly's room. It may seem early to do this, but it really helps me get mentally ready for the new child and gives me a place to go with some of things I am gathering for her.

Stay tuned for information on the rummage sale. This will be a very guy friendly sale as it should include tools and electronics. It is time to sort through some of Dennis' things. I know he would love that the money raised will go to bringing another child home and change her status from orphan to daughter. My plan is to have it shortly after school gets out in early June. If you have items you would like to donate to help bring Molly home, just let me know.

My home study is done and hopefully will be on its way to immigration yet this week. It needed to go to Illinois for a signature from the caseworkers supervisor and then it will be ready to file. This step is taking about 60 days right now.

Keep praying for Molly. She does not know she is getting a family yet but God can be preparing her for this transition. My best guess is another six months before all the paperwork is completed and we can go get Molly.

First Room Decoration

I made this for Molly's room. First thing hung in her room.

Prayer Request for Protection

Prayer Request. Please pray for protection for us. I've noticed a pattern among many adoptive families that when they commit to adoption, stuff starts happening often with physical and financial implications. This happens at a time when finances are tight anyway. I know that God wants us caring for the orphans and when we follow His plan, Satan is not happy. My daughter would have never heard of Christ but now loves him deeply.

We have already faced this. My normally healthy pets have all been to the vet in the last month for various things raking up some nasty expenses. Brooklyn has been sick and I'm having a nasty knee problem.

So, as you pray for the adoption, pray for protection for us and for the finances needed for this journey.

Home Study

So excited to learn that our home study should be done this week. I wasn't expecting it until the end of the month.

Here She Is

Please meet Molly Grace Xiangguan Hierl

The Paper Chase

If you see me a bit blurry eyed and frazzled lately, it is probably because I have been spending a lot of time filling out paperwork both for Gladney, the agency that is handling my adoption and Lifelink, the agency that is doing my home study.   I am so glad I kept copies of all of this from Brooklyn’s adoption.  It has definitely helped in completing some of the many documents I need to compile.

Last week was an interesting week.  I saw a posting for a little girl from Taiwan.  I contacted Gladney about her and requested if they would ask about an exception to single parent adoption restrictions.  Taiwan did say they would consider my application for her but there was already a family in process of trying to adopt her.  In addition, the process is very different than China and there were many points at which the adoption could be denied.  After discussing this with several people, the one clear message I was receiving was that it would not be good for Brooklyn or me to go into an adoption that had so many chances of not being completed.  We do not need another loss at this point.

So, I am continuing down the path to an adoption from China.  This week I had my first visit with the home study case worker.  In addition, I will have fingerprints done for an FBI “Rap Sheet”.  We didn’t have to do this step with Brooklyn.  I will have fingerprints done again for Homeland Security when I apply to immigration to bring my daughter into the country. One thing you lose in the process of an adoption is any sense of privacy.  Fingerprints are only the tip of the iceberg but the end result is so worth it.  I’m hoping to have my home study done sometime in April.  Most of the other paperwork for compiling the documents I need to send to China is in process.  

The most amazing news from the last few weeks came as a total surprise to me.  I had dropped off my taxes with the accountant a few weeks ago.  Needless to say, with Dennis’ death this year, they were a bit complicated.  The accountant and I both assumed I’d be paying in this year.  Yesterday he called to set up an appointment to pick them up.  I asked him how much I’d be paying.  To my great surprise, I am getting a very nice refund.  This will go directly into my adoption fund.  I am so excited to see how God is supplying for the costs associated with the adoption.  

I ran across this on Facebook and love it:

God Never Gives you a dream that matches your budget.   

He’s not checking your bank account; He’s checking your faith.

Please keep praying for:

• The process to go smoothly.
• Complete clarity on identifying the little girl who is supposed to be in my family.
• The little girl's heart to be ready to be part of a family.
• God’s continued provision financially for the adoption costs.