DONUTS! GET YOUR DONUTS! And some other stuff while you're at it!

Yesterday, our Sunday School class hosted- is hosted the right word?? Anyway- a GARAGE SALE FOR JOY! I have never seen so much stuff including a boutique of designer clothes, courtesy of Kelly's closet. The kids even sold donuts and o.j. I'm actually shocked at how many people bought cold donuts. Speaking of cold, it was freezing with arctic blasts of wind but it didn't keep anybody away. Of course, for the mere drama of it, the girls wouldn't tell us the total until Sunday at church-over $2,500. Over the next week almost another $1000 was donated to the cause. I've seen these people in action before, the hands and feet of Jesus to anybody and everybody, so I wasn't surprised by their service and generosity. However, we were most definitely humbled and grateful that the blessing was directed towards us.  

  

What Happens in Vegas Hopefully Doesn't Stay in Vegas

We mailed our marriage license today to have it authenticated by the Chinese Consulate for Nevada. I had no idea it had to go to a different embassy but because we were married in Vegas, it can't go to the Consulate in Houston like everything else. When we had our marriage license certified by the Nevada Secretary of State, it took six weeks before it was returned to us. I actually was worried our marriage was only legal in Vegas (I've watched too much TV in my life).  I hope this doesn't take 6 weeks because I was hoping our LID (log in date) to China would be the end of January.

Can we have another serving of paperwork,please?

We received our home study last night and due to Santa Claus, have not had time to review it. It just gets us one step closer to getting our Dossier in China and in turn one step closer to bringing our baby home!

Help is on the Way

I have made this necklace to represent our journey and to help defray some of the expenses associated with this adoption. If you would like to order one, I can have it in the mail tomorrow. They are $12 each. Just go to my etsy store @ http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheJoysofLife  to order and pay. And thank you for sharing in our JOY!

 

Crazy Good

"May the God of hope fill you with all peace and joy as you trust in Him." Romans 15:13

And trust is exactly what we have been called to do. Here's our story...
Sixteen years, two boys, and one husband with a very busy work schedule - that was my life! Anyone who knows me knows that I have never felt our family was complete, and my prayers were always that God would either change Steve's heart or make mine content.  

For many years, God has been working on both of us, but separately, toward the path of adoption. However, it wasn't until last year when God brought Steve to a job more suitable for our family that we began to realize what or who our family was missing. And so begins our journey!

For as long as I can remember, I have tried to make "joy" the theme of my life (although I am not always successful), because it is not dependent on my circumstances, but on an internal peace created by a relationship with Christ. Steve and I both feel "Joy" is the perfect name for this third little person God is putting into our lives. We will call her Le which is Chinese for "JOY." So, prayerfully within a year we will be matched with a little girl and be headed to China to bring her home.

Much love,

Steve, Neely, Will, and Luke