We know it has been a while since we have posted, but we are learning with this process, it is often hurry up and wait. We have completed everything required of us to complete our home study, and now we are waiting for it to be finalized with our social worker and working on our immigration paperwork. We went to a wonderful class at the International Adoption Clinic the end of October and gained both practical insight for when we come home as well as what to expect when traveling. We also met with the social worker over the China program at our adoption agency and just loved her. She was so helpful and encouraging. We so look forward to the point where we are matched and can see our sweet little one's face for the first time. What a blessing that will be!
We have very exciting news! Some very dear friends of ours have created a 2013 calendar that is focused on adoption. It contains BEAUTIFUL pictures of adopted children from around the world that they photographed themselves just for this calendar, as well as orphan statistics and prayer points each month for the country featured that month. They have given us the rights to this beautiful calendar to contribute financially to bringing our sweet little one home. We are so in awe of their love, generosity, and support. Thank you beyond words Mark and Buffi! We love you and your sweet family and are so happy to be on this journey with you.
You can purchase this amazing calendar at: https://www.createspace.com/4049601 . Please check it out and order one for yourselves and your friends. They will make a great gift for anyone. They can also be purchased on Amazon at:
http://www.facebook.com/l/1AQHcQ7clAQEHxsZpO_0MJJ12KuKPseXr0uspSqdB4roccA/www.amazon.com/UNabandoned-Calendar-Planner-Adopted-Children/dp/1480252026/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header
The cover picture should be on Amazon soon. We will also have copies available to purchase directly from us.
Also, please check out the amazing book, Miracle in the Land of Wu, written by my sweet friend Buffi. It is a sweet and touching, fictional story of adoption. One guaranteed to touch your heart. It can be purchased at: https://www.createspace.com/3929858 and on www.Amazon.com . This beautiful book is helping them bring their sweet little boy home from China.
Thank you all for your prayers, support, and encouragement.
All our love,
Frank and Tonya
Friday, November 23, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Yard Sale
What an amazing day! Our God is so great and so faithful! The yard sale this morning was amazing. We had so many wonderful friends help in so many ways. We had 2 entire trucks and trailers full of items as well as our van. It all sold! Really, every last item. I had been trying for over a week to get a charity or thrift store to come pick up the leftovers after the sale, and every one kept telling me no. Supprisingly, when the sale was over, what little we had left we were boxing up, and a man pulled up and bought it all! PRAISE THE LORD! I love to see God show up!
To all of you who helped set up, who donated items, and who stayed with us through the sale, you were a special kiss from God to us. Thank you to all of you! Your love, support, and encouragement is such a blessing to us. We are so humbled to know that our sweet little one has touched your heart so deeply that you would so generously and selflessly help us bring her home. To say "thank you" doesn't even come close to the overwhelming emotion in our hearts. We pray God's abundant blessing over each of you as you have so generously blessed us.
Through this sale, God provided far beyond our human expectations. This was truly a faith building and faith encouraging experience. He never ceases to amaze us!
Blessings,
The Bohlingers
To all of you who helped set up, who donated items, and who stayed with us through the sale, you were a special kiss from God to us. Thank you to all of you! Your love, support, and encouragement is such a blessing to us. We are so humbled to know that our sweet little one has touched your heart so deeply that you would so generously and selflessly help us bring her home. To say "thank you" doesn't even come close to the overwhelming emotion in our hearts. We pray God's abundant blessing over each of you as you have so generously blessed us.
Through this sale, God provided far beyond our human expectations. This was truly a faith building and faith encouraging experience. He never ceases to amaze us!
Blessings,
The Bohlingers
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Home Study and Yard Sale
Home Study:
We have completed our third appointment with our social worker and just have a little more paperwork to do before we can do our fourth and final visit with a social worker at our adoption agency in Birmingham. We have an all day class coming up the end of October at at the International Adoption Clinic at UAB and medical exams scheduled for the whole family within the next 2 weeks. What a busy time!
Yard Sale:
Next Saturday, September 22, and amazing group of friends will be helping us with a yard sale. We will be raising money for us and other families that are currently in the adoption process. If you have any items that you would like to get out of your garage or attic and would like to donate them, please let us know. The yard sale will be at LifeGate Christian Center 1091 Old Railroad Bed Road, Madison, Alabama, from 7am-12noon. Stop by and check out all the great items that will be for sale. Thank you LifeGate for allowing us to use your parking lot and thank you to all our friends who are helping with this sale. You have deeply touched our hearts.
Blessings,
Frank and Tonya
We have completed our third appointment with our social worker and just have a little more paperwork to do before we can do our fourth and final visit with a social worker at our adoption agency in Birmingham. We have an all day class coming up the end of October at at the International Adoption Clinic at UAB and medical exams scheduled for the whole family within the next 2 weeks. What a busy time!
Yard Sale:
Next Saturday, September 22, and amazing group of friends will be helping us with a yard sale. We will be raising money for us and other families that are currently in the adoption process. If you have any items that you would like to get out of your garage or attic and would like to donate them, please let us know. The yard sale will be at LifeGate Christian Center 1091 Old Railroad Bed Road, Madison, Alabama, from 7am-12noon. Stop by and check out all the great items that will be for sale. Thank you LifeGate for allowing us to use your parking lot and thank you to all our friends who are helping with this sale. You have deeply touched our hearts.
Blessings,
Frank and Tonya
Monday, July 30, 2012
Slow and Steady
Our first home study went wonderfully! We have been working on more paperwork so that we can complete our second home study, hopefully in August.
Things feel as though they are going so slowly right now. Paperwork is so daunting. Just when we think we have made some progress, we get overwhelmed again by all we have yet to do. Please pray with us that God will divinely provide time for us to get everything done. It is a daily challenge to juggle homeschooling 3 children, their activities, work, and life's many responsibilities as well as tackle all our adoption requirements. We have just returned home after some much needed rest and time away with family, and have jumped back into school so that we will be prepared to travel to China whenever the call comes. (next spring or summer hopefully)
We press on knowing that God has a sweet little one for us, and that His timing is perfect. Thank you so much for your continued prayers, encouragement, and support. God is so good and has blessed us with so many wonderful friends and family members whose prayers sustain us.
Blessing,
Frank and Tonya
Things feel as though they are going so slowly right now. Paperwork is so daunting. Just when we think we have made some progress, we get overwhelmed again by all we have yet to do. Please pray with us that God will divinely provide time for us to get everything done. It is a daily challenge to juggle homeschooling 3 children, their activities, work, and life's many responsibilities as well as tackle all our adoption requirements. We have just returned home after some much needed rest and time away with family, and have jumped back into school so that we will be prepared to travel to China whenever the call comes. (next spring or summer hopefully)
We press on knowing that God has a sweet little one for us, and that His timing is perfect. Thank you so much for your continued prayers, encouragement, and support. God is so good and has blessed us with so many wonderful friends and family members whose prayers sustain us.
Blessing,
Frank and Tonya
Friday, June 1, 2012
Peace and Progress
God has so graciously covered us with the peace of His presence lately. We have made some progress with our home and great strides in our paper work as well.
Last weekend we completed our online 10 hour Hague Compliance Training! Yeah! Our amazing friends Mark and Buffi Young are also in the process of adopting, and they needed to do the class as well, so we did it together. They actually spent the night on Friday so we could stay up late and get an early start on Saturday. After 10 long hours the 4 of us joyfully printed our certificates of completion. Doing the class with them made it so much more fun and enjoyable than it would have been to do the class alone. Plus, they brought a wealth of information and wisdom to the experience, since this is their second time to adopt from China. We are so very blessed that God has intertwined our lives with theirs. We feel so privileged to be on this journey of adoption with them. They brought their amazing 3 children with them who played with our children. The 6 kiddos played beautifully and had a blast together. They think we should all move in together. I love children!
We have completed reading The Connected Child , which is a great book. We have another book and one more all day training session we need to do with the International Adoption Clinic in Birmingham.
The big news is that we start our home study JUNE 12. So glad that it is finally just about here. We have such peace about the timing of it. God is so good. We are so thankful for the way He orders our steps. Our heart's desire is to stay in alignment with His perfect will.
Please be in prayer for us as we have a sense in our spirits that things are about to really start moving fast. Your prayers, support, and encouragement are such a blessing to us. We daily thank God for all of you who are praying us through this journey.
Blessing,
Frank and Tonya
Last weekend we completed our online 10 hour Hague Compliance Training! Yeah! Our amazing friends Mark and Buffi Young are also in the process of adopting, and they needed to do the class as well, so we did it together. They actually spent the night on Friday so we could stay up late and get an early start on Saturday. After 10 long hours the 4 of us joyfully printed our certificates of completion. Doing the class with them made it so much more fun and enjoyable than it would have been to do the class alone. Plus, they brought a wealth of information and wisdom to the experience, since this is their second time to adopt from China. We are so very blessed that God has intertwined our lives with theirs. We feel so privileged to be on this journey of adoption with them. They brought their amazing 3 children with them who played with our children. The 6 kiddos played beautifully and had a blast together. They think we should all move in together. I love children!
We have completed reading The Connected Child , which is a great book. We have another book and one more all day training session we need to do with the International Adoption Clinic in Birmingham.
The big news is that we start our home study JUNE 12. So glad that it is finally just about here. We have such peace about the timing of it. God is so good. We are so thankful for the way He orders our steps. Our heart's desire is to stay in alignment with His perfect will.
Please be in prayer for us as we have a sense in our spirits that things are about to really start moving fast. Your prayers, support, and encouragement are such a blessing to us. We daily thank God for all of you who are praying us through this journey.
Blessing,
Frank and Tonya
Monday, May 14, 2012
Quick Catch up
We have been blessed to have Frank's parents visiting last week and this week. His dad has been helping us with some home projects. We are so thankful for all his help.
Still diligently working on paper work. We have plans to do some of our online required classes the weekend of May, 25 and 26 with friends who are also in the process of adopting. These classes will probably take most of the weekend to complete, but we are so thankful to have good company while doing them. Hopefully our children will all play well together and us two couples can accomplish what we need to accomplish.
Going to call our social worker TODAY to set up the start of our Home Study. We are so excited! Please be in prayer for us as we finish up this round of paper work, book reading, and classes, and prepare our home. Your prayers are so precious to us.
Blessings,
Frank and Tonya
Still diligently working on paper work. We have plans to do some of our online required classes the weekend of May, 25 and 26 with friends who are also in the process of adopting. These classes will probably take most of the weekend to complete, but we are so thankful to have good company while doing them. Hopefully our children will all play well together and us two couples can accomplish what we need to accomplish.
Going to call our social worker TODAY to set up the start of our Home Study. We are so excited! Please be in prayer for us as we finish up this round of paper work, book reading, and classes, and prepare our home. Your prayers are so precious to us.
Blessings,
Frank and Tonya
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Diligence and Dreams
I know it has been a little more than a month since our last post. We will try not to let it go that long again. Because it has been a while, this post will probably be long. Please read to the end, because The Dream is the best part!
Diligence: We have been working diligently on a number of projects that have not left us much time for blogging. We have painted the living room and hall bath with the help of Tonya's mom. The 1/4 round that goes down between the moldings and floors is standing up in the family room, still needing painting and installation, but we are getting there. Every little bit helps prepare our home for our home study, which we are on track to begin the middle of May.
We are continuing to tackle adoption paper work as well. Neither of us are especially great at paperwork, but we are doing our best. We are currently working on our autobiographies. When we began that project we thought it seemed simple enough, but as we began to answer all the required, leading questions, it has "snowballed" into pages of writing. And we still have more to go. Please pray that we get time to finish these soon, and, even though neither of us are writers, that we will be able to give comprehensive autobiographies that address all the required questions.
We have also begun some of our required reading. We are currently reading The Connected Child. It is a wonderful book! We are learning many great ways to interact with all children, not just our adopted child. Definitely a recommended read for all parents and people working with children, not just those adopting; although it will be a very valuable tool as we parent our child not born into our home.
Neither of us are very gifted at fund raising, but several months ago we began praying that God would give us opportunities to earn the extra finances needed to make this adoption move more quickly. We know He has called us to it, and we trust His provision, so we have been patiently and diligently seeking His will about what we can do in this regard. As always, His timing is perfect. Out of the blue, a few weeks ago, Frank was asked to begin doing home visits for a heart patient 3 times a week. What a blessing!
We have also been praying about starting a home business for close to 6 months now. We just had not received the "go ahead" from the Lord. Everything we considered just didn't seem to be the right fit. About a month ago, Tonya was praying that God would send something fresh and new to us if we were to continue pursuing a home business. THAT DAY, in the mail, we received a house warming gift from Frank's sister and bother-in-law. It was a NORWEX household cleaning kit. It is amazing! You can clean your entire home with tap water, so your home is not just clean but healthy and chemical free as well. It also saves a ton of time and money spent on cleaning chemicals. We felt the Lord say, "Here is your something fresh and new, and it completely fits you. I was just waiting for you to ask me for it." So, Tonya had her first launch party last week, and our home business is in full swing. Please ask us about it if you are interest in learning more.
The Dream: We believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We believe that He still speaks to His people just as He did in the Bible. One of those ways of speaking is through dreams. This beautiful, prophetic dream was given to our darling 9 year old daughter. God loves the faith of a child!
She woke up with a very concerned look on her face and expressed that she had had a dream. Tonya automatically assumed it was a bad dream and scooped her up and said, "Sweet girl, I am so sorry you had a bad dream. Would you like to talk about it?" Our daughter looked surprised and said, " Oh no mommy, this wasn't a bad dream, I think it means something!" She continued to explain that in her dream our family was standing on a bridge over a river. As we were watching the water, we noticed what looked like a log floating towards us. As it came closer, we realized it was a Moses-like basket containing a baby boy, and his name was "Will". We, of course, scooped him up and then noticed another basket floating our way. This one contained a baby girl. No name was assigned to her. We, of course, scooped her up too. As we looked up to see where these babies were coming from, we saw a woman up stream with her arms open wide as though she was sending them purposefully to us. Our sweet daughter looked into Tonya's eyes and said, "Mommy, I know adopting our baby is God's will. But maybe, God has more than one baby for us."
This still brings tears to our eyes and continuous hope and encouragement to our hearts. We know, with out a doubt, that no matter how long this journey takes us, or what obstacles we encounter, we are doing exactly what God has called us to do. And, we will gladly work diligently to receive as many children as He wants to give us, trusting His provision every step of the way.
We apologize for the length of this post, and commit to post more often, even if it must be brief. We continue to ask for your prayers as we take this journey towards God's heart of adoption.
Diligence: We have been working diligently on a number of projects that have not left us much time for blogging. We have painted the living room and hall bath with the help of Tonya's mom. The 1/4 round that goes down between the moldings and floors is standing up in the family room, still needing painting and installation, but we are getting there. Every little bit helps prepare our home for our home study, which we are on track to begin the middle of May.
We are continuing to tackle adoption paper work as well. Neither of us are especially great at paperwork, but we are doing our best. We are currently working on our autobiographies. When we began that project we thought it seemed simple enough, but as we began to answer all the required, leading questions, it has "snowballed" into pages of writing. And we still have more to go. Please pray that we get time to finish these soon, and, even though neither of us are writers, that we will be able to give comprehensive autobiographies that address all the required questions.
We have also begun some of our required reading. We are currently reading The Connected Child. It is a wonderful book! We are learning many great ways to interact with all children, not just our adopted child. Definitely a recommended read for all parents and people working with children, not just those adopting; although it will be a very valuable tool as we parent our child not born into our home.
Neither of us are very gifted at fund raising, but several months ago we began praying that God would give us opportunities to earn the extra finances needed to make this adoption move more quickly. We know He has called us to it, and we trust His provision, so we have been patiently and diligently seeking His will about what we can do in this regard. As always, His timing is perfect. Out of the blue, a few weeks ago, Frank was asked to begin doing home visits for a heart patient 3 times a week. What a blessing!
We have also been praying about starting a home business for close to 6 months now. We just had not received the "go ahead" from the Lord. Everything we considered just didn't seem to be the right fit. About a month ago, Tonya was praying that God would send something fresh and new to us if we were to continue pursuing a home business. THAT DAY, in the mail, we received a house warming gift from Frank's sister and bother-in-law. It was a NORWEX household cleaning kit. It is amazing! You can clean your entire home with tap water, so your home is not just clean but healthy and chemical free as well. It also saves a ton of time and money spent on cleaning chemicals. We felt the Lord say, "Here is your something fresh and new, and it completely fits you. I was just waiting for you to ask me for it." So, Tonya had her first launch party last week, and our home business is in full swing. Please ask us about it if you are interest in learning more.
The Dream: We believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We believe that He still speaks to His people just as He did in the Bible. One of those ways of speaking is through dreams. This beautiful, prophetic dream was given to our darling 9 year old daughter. God loves the faith of a child!
She woke up with a very concerned look on her face and expressed that she had had a dream. Tonya automatically assumed it was a bad dream and scooped her up and said, "Sweet girl, I am so sorry you had a bad dream. Would you like to talk about it?" Our daughter looked surprised and said, " Oh no mommy, this wasn't a bad dream, I think it means something!" She continued to explain that in her dream our family was standing on a bridge over a river. As we were watching the water, we noticed what looked like a log floating towards us. As it came closer, we realized it was a Moses-like basket containing a baby boy, and his name was "Will". We, of course, scooped him up and then noticed another basket floating our way. This one contained a baby girl. No name was assigned to her. We, of course, scooped her up too. As we looked up to see where these babies were coming from, we saw a woman up stream with her arms open wide as though she was sending them purposefully to us. Our sweet daughter looked into Tonya's eyes and said, "Mommy, I know adopting our baby is God's will. But maybe, God has more than one baby for us."
This still brings tears to our eyes and continuous hope and encouragement to our hearts. We know, with out a doubt, that no matter how long this journey takes us, or what obstacles we encounter, we are doing exactly what God has called us to do. And, we will gladly work diligently to receive as many children as He wants to give us, trusting His provision every step of the way.
We apologize for the length of this post, and commit to post more often, even if it must be brief. We continue to ask for your prayers as we take this journey towards God's heart of adoption.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Pressing In and Pressing On
The last few weeks have been at times one overwhelming challenge after the next. We are going to have to complete some added paperwork, which will include added expense, as well as an interview with some selected U.S. government personal. This is because of some medical decissions we have made based on religious beliefs. We are declaring that as God's people we walk in the favor of God and man and that God will work all of this out for His Glory as we submit to the convictions He has laid on our hearts. We are still sorting through exactly what is required of us by law, but making progress every day.
We are continuing to tackle paperwork as well as prepare our home. Several months ago we moved into a house that provided us a lot more square footage, but it was definately a "fixer-upper". We have been painting and renevating, and have a lot more we would like to complete before our in-home home study, not to mention the yard work. Thankfully the weather is improving and we are able to tackle some of those projects.
As we prepare, we continue to press into the Lord, listen to His voice, and submit to each direction He gives us. We have had some amazing friends, who are in the process of adopting their second child from China, not only continue to offer encouragement to us, but share their fundraising ideas with us as well. They have given us 100 bracelets with two sayings on them. One says, "I support adoption," and the other says, "What if....I say yes". Meaning, what if we all said "yes" and stepped out in faith, beyond ourselves, to do what God is calling us to do. This world would be totally changed for the Glory of God! We are selling the bracelets for $5 each. We want to thank them with all our hearts. Their family is such a support and encouragement to us. We are so thankful God has blessed our lives with their friendship.
We have had many amazing friends offer so much support and encouragement to us during this time of waiting and preparation. You all are being used by God to inspire us to continue in the calling He has placed on our hearts, despite added obstacles and discouraging situations. One amazing friend sent us a quote we just have to share. "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." If we could do this ourselves it would be for all the wrong reasons. We prayerfully and obediently seek Him daily to qualify us for this amazing destiny He has placed on us. To God alone be all glory and honor.
Please continue to pray with us as we tackle our paperwork and home renevations. We will let you know when we have the home study scheduled. Planning, preparing, and believing for it to be early May.
Blessing on all of you our dear friends and family.
We are continuing to tackle paperwork as well as prepare our home. Several months ago we moved into a house that provided us a lot more square footage, but it was definately a "fixer-upper". We have been painting and renevating, and have a lot more we would like to complete before our in-home home study, not to mention the yard work. Thankfully the weather is improving and we are able to tackle some of those projects.
As we prepare, we continue to press into the Lord, listen to His voice, and submit to each direction He gives us. We have had some amazing friends, who are in the process of adopting their second child from China, not only continue to offer encouragement to us, but share their fundraising ideas with us as well. They have given us 100 bracelets with two sayings on them. One says, "I support adoption," and the other says, "What if....I say yes". Meaning, what if we all said "yes" and stepped out in faith, beyond ourselves, to do what God is calling us to do. This world would be totally changed for the Glory of God! We are selling the bracelets for $5 each. We want to thank them with all our hearts. Their family is such a support and encouragement to us. We are so thankful God has blessed our lives with their friendship.
We have had many amazing friends offer so much support and encouragement to us during this time of waiting and preparation. You all are being used by God to inspire us to continue in the calling He has placed on our hearts, despite added obstacles and discouraging situations. One amazing friend sent us a quote we just have to share. "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." If we could do this ourselves it would be for all the wrong reasons. We prayerfully and obediently seek Him daily to qualify us for this amazing destiny He has placed on us. To God alone be all glory and honor.
Please continue to pray with us as we tackle our paperwork and home renevations. We will let you know when we have the home study scheduled. Planning, preparing, and believing for it to be early May.
Blessing on all of you our dear friends and family.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Waiting Room
Sunday night as we were going through our adoption manual for what seems like the millionth time, we came across a small line on the medical form that we had never noticed before. How had we missed this? We had looked at that form probably a dozen times! Without delving into a controversial subject, we will just say that it was in regards to something that God had brought to our attention 9 years ago. This is something He had spoken very clearly to us and we believe and trust that He impressed upon our hearts the right thing to do for our family, and we have continued to obey this conviction. This one little line seems to counter that conviction. We have consulted our social worker, and are waiting for some definitive answers. She believes that there are ways we can handle this and be able to continue in the process of adoption.
Our hearts ache. We spent some very sleepless hours last night in prayer. At this point, we feel God telling us to wait. That sounds so passive. It conjures up visions of a hospital waiting room where everyone is sober and sedentary. Praise the Lord, His waiting room is not like that. Yes, there will be plenty of moments where we will need to just "be still before Him, and know that He is God", but being still and knowing are action verbs. Actions that bring the peace of His presence into every situation.
So, what is the plan? Well, at this point, we feel the Lord telling us to pray and prepare. We will continue to prepare our home, our family, and our paper work, and we will wait on His voice to tell us to move forward. We do not have His peace leading us to begin our home study today, so we will wait on Him. We will be lead forward by His Peace. We trust that our Father in Heaven has this worked our perfectly, and that His timing is perfect. We do not wish to force His hand by running forward without His Peace. Our Pastor said something on Sunday that is still resonating in our hearts. "God is more concerned and pleased with our submission and obedience in the process than He is about the outcome of the assignment He has us on." Wow! This is what it is all about for us. We will be submissive and obedient to God alone throughout this journey. This journey is unique to our relationship with the Lord. There is no way to compare it or try to formulate it to how someone else's journey took place. Our one small little corner of His great picture will be unique as is everyones. This is what makes His picture so perfect and beautiful.
Please be in prayer with us that God's perfect will and His perfect timing will come to pass. Pray that we will undoubtedly hear His voice guide us and that His peace alone will lead us. We so appreciate your prayers, encouragement, sensitivity, and understanding. Just a little side thought that keeps running through my heart: "Maybe she's not ready for us to come get her yet."
Trusting in His Grace, Peace, and Timing.
Frank and Tonya
Our hearts ache. We spent some very sleepless hours last night in prayer. At this point, we feel God telling us to wait. That sounds so passive. It conjures up visions of a hospital waiting room where everyone is sober and sedentary. Praise the Lord, His waiting room is not like that. Yes, there will be plenty of moments where we will need to just "be still before Him, and know that He is God", but being still and knowing are action verbs. Actions that bring the peace of His presence into every situation.
So, what is the plan? Well, at this point, we feel the Lord telling us to pray and prepare. We will continue to prepare our home, our family, and our paper work, and we will wait on His voice to tell us to move forward. We do not have His peace leading us to begin our home study today, so we will wait on Him. We will be lead forward by His Peace. We trust that our Father in Heaven has this worked our perfectly, and that His timing is perfect. We do not wish to force His hand by running forward without His Peace. Our Pastor said something on Sunday that is still resonating in our hearts. "God is more concerned and pleased with our submission and obedience in the process than He is about the outcome of the assignment He has us on." Wow! This is what it is all about for us. We will be submissive and obedient to God alone throughout this journey. This journey is unique to our relationship with the Lord. There is no way to compare it or try to formulate it to how someone else's journey took place. Our one small little corner of His great picture will be unique as is everyones. This is what makes His picture so perfect and beautiful.
Please be in prayer with us that God's perfect will and His perfect timing will come to pass. Pray that we will undoubtedly hear His voice guide us and that His peace alone will lead us. We so appreciate your prayers, encouragement, sensitivity, and understanding. Just a little side thought that keeps running through my heart: "Maybe she's not ready for us to come get her yet."
Trusting in His Grace, Peace, and Timing.
Frank and Tonya
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
What is on our Hearts
We would like to take the opportunity to address some things that have been on our hearts. We have been hearing God's call in our hearts to adopt for several years. There were times we just flat out said, "no", because we did not have it in ourselves to take on something so big. Then we came to the realization that adoption is God's heart and that we were not to answer this call in our own strength. This was not and is not about us. It is all about Him. Our job is to be faithful and continue to move forward 1 step at a time as He makes His will plain before us. He is going to change this sweet baby's life and our lives and others' lives through this journey He has us on. He has placed in our hearts an ache for our child on the other side of the world. If one of our biological children was waiting for us on the other side of the world would we not do everything we could to get to them? We feel the same way about this precious little soul.
God's Word says that true faith is a faith that cares for widows and orphans. We know that not everyone is called to invite an orphan into their homes. We would never try to tell another person what God's calling is for them. That is a very personal thing. Our heart in sharing information on this blog is that others who hear that same call will be encouraged to step out in faith, and that our family in Christ will join with us in prayer as we walk through this sometimes difficult and trying journey. There is a lot of ups and downs and paper work. Tonya's Dad used to say, "anything worth doing is never easy." So true. God does not promise that our lives will be easy and problem free. We are told in His Word that "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart for I have overcome the world." We are so thankful that Jesus has overcome the problems of this world so that even in difficult times we can have peace, knowing that our Heavenly Father has it all under control. So we will cheerfully press on in the calling God has for us, giving Him all glory and honor.
Yesterday we began a new "business" that we are calling Muffin Mondays. Tonya is making some of her healthy, yummy but good for you muffins and Frank is taking them to work to sell to co-workers on Mondays. Everyone was so excited and supportive knowing that this is one of our ways of raising money to adopt our sweet baby. Thank you to everyone who purchased muffins. We appreciate your kindness and generosity. Please pass on the information and if possible, plan to have breakfast at work next week as well. Your love and support is so encouraging to us. You are all such a blessing.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers and encouragement. We daily pray blessings over you and are so grateful for your uplifting words of encouragement and prayers.
God's Word says that true faith is a faith that cares for widows and orphans. We know that not everyone is called to invite an orphan into their homes. We would never try to tell another person what God's calling is for them. That is a very personal thing. Our heart in sharing information on this blog is that others who hear that same call will be encouraged to step out in faith, and that our family in Christ will join with us in prayer as we walk through this sometimes difficult and trying journey. There is a lot of ups and downs and paper work. Tonya's Dad used to say, "anything worth doing is never easy." So true. God does not promise that our lives will be easy and problem free. We are told in His Word that "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart for I have overcome the world." We are so thankful that Jesus has overcome the problems of this world so that even in difficult times we can have peace, knowing that our Heavenly Father has it all under control. So we will cheerfully press on in the calling God has for us, giving Him all glory and honor.
Yesterday we began a new "business" that we are calling Muffin Mondays. Tonya is making some of her healthy, yummy but good for you muffins and Frank is taking them to work to sell to co-workers on Mondays. Everyone was so excited and supportive knowing that this is one of our ways of raising money to adopt our sweet baby. Thank you to everyone who purchased muffins. We appreciate your kindness and generosity. Please pass on the information and if possible, plan to have breakfast at work next week as well. Your love and support is so encouraging to us. You are all such a blessing.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers and encouragement. We daily pray blessings over you and are so grateful for your uplifting words of encouragement and prayers.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Where We Are In the "Process"
We will ask your forgiveness in advance for this long post. There is a lot on our hearts that we feel lead to share with you.
Last Sunday at church, an amazing lady came up to Tonya and pressed some money into her hand and said, "I want to help with your adoption. I wish I had more to give you, but... I just hope that this helps." Tonya was moved to tears by this precious lady's love and generosity, as well as her obedience to the Lord when He placed our child on her heart. There was no way to express how much we needed to be encouraged that day and there still is not words to describe how in awe of God moments like these make us.
If that experience was not enough, there was a young lady about 12 years old who was standing with Tonya during this exchange. Afterward, she asked Tonya if we were trying to raise money to adopt our baby. Tonya told her yes. She asked a few more questions and then with the most tender and precious heart said, "I have a bunch of beads at home. I could get together with your girls and we could make jewelry and sell it to help you raise money." As Tonya hugged her and cried again she told this young lady what an amazing person she is and how she had so encouraged Tonya. With such a genuine heart she explained why she wanted to help. She said, "My parents helped me by loving me and adopting me, and I want to pass that on and help someone else." This makes us sob just to write it. God is so good. Because of her sweet parents' obedience not only her life is changed, but so many more will be as well, because of her desire to "pass it on." The awesome greatness of God in this situation is just beyond description.
Well, all that to explain where we are in the "process". We are scheduled for our home study to begin on February 28. This will be the first of four meetings with our social worker. We are trusting and believing that our God is faithful and He will supply our every need as we obediently walk in faith in accordance to His calling.
Please pray with us as we wait on the Lord for His provision. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support.
Last Sunday at church, an amazing lady came up to Tonya and pressed some money into her hand and said, "I want to help with your adoption. I wish I had more to give you, but... I just hope that this helps." Tonya was moved to tears by this precious lady's love and generosity, as well as her obedience to the Lord when He placed our child on her heart. There was no way to express how much we needed to be encouraged that day and there still is not words to describe how in awe of God moments like these make us.
If that experience was not enough, there was a young lady about 12 years old who was standing with Tonya during this exchange. Afterward, she asked Tonya if we were trying to raise money to adopt our baby. Tonya told her yes. She asked a few more questions and then with the most tender and precious heart said, "I have a bunch of beads at home. I could get together with your girls and we could make jewelry and sell it to help you raise money." As Tonya hugged her and cried again she told this young lady what an amazing person she is and how she had so encouraged Tonya. With such a genuine heart she explained why she wanted to help. She said, "My parents helped me by loving me and adopting me, and I want to pass that on and help someone else." This makes us sob just to write it. God is so good. Because of her sweet parents' obedience not only her life is changed, but so many more will be as well, because of her desire to "pass it on." The awesome greatness of God in this situation is just beyond description.
Well, all that to explain where we are in the "process". We are scheduled for our home study to begin on February 28. This will be the first of four meetings with our social worker. We are trusting and believing that our God is faithful and He will supply our every need as we obediently walk in faith in accordance to His calling.
Please pray with us as we wait on the Lord for His provision. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
What It's All About
Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by the greatness of this endeavor. We know we are so very small and incapable of making this happen ourselves. This will only happen through the Grace of God and His Divine Intervention.
The other day as we were setting up a separate checking account for adoption expenses, the gentleman assisting us with our account mentioned that he had always been interested in adoption and that this was something he and his wife had been talking about recently. As he asked questions and we began to share what God had placed in our hearts, we were reminded that our journey of adoption is really not about us. It is about the Heart of God and His Purposes and Plans. By His great Love and Grace and through the great sacrifice of our Saviour Jesus, God has adopted us into His family. Our minds can not begin to comprehend all of God's purposes and plans. Our small part is to daily be obedient to what He has called us to do and know that there is no such thing as coincidences. Each moment and encounter is a divine appointment. When things do not happen on our timing, they are still orchestrated perfectly in God's timing. So we continue to prayerfully move forward into this calling, trusting that God is sufficient for our every need and that His Purpose and Plan will come to completion in His timing.
To God alone be all Glory and Praise.
The other day as we were setting up a separate checking account for adoption expenses, the gentleman assisting us with our account mentioned that he had always been interested in adoption and that this was something he and his wife had been talking about recently. As he asked questions and we began to share what God had placed in our hearts, we were reminded that our journey of adoption is really not about us. It is about the Heart of God and His Purposes and Plans. By His great Love and Grace and through the great sacrifice of our Saviour Jesus, God has adopted us into His family. Our minds can not begin to comprehend all of God's purposes and plans. Our small part is to daily be obedient to what He has called us to do and know that there is no such thing as coincidences. Each moment and encounter is a divine appointment. When things do not happen on our timing, they are still orchestrated perfectly in God's timing. So we continue to prayerfully move forward into this calling, trusting that God is sufficient for our every need and that His Purpose and Plan will come to completion in His timing.
To God alone be all Glory and Praise.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A Seed Is Planted
Sometimes, God gives us the beautiful privilege of seeing a small portion of His grace and mercy in our past tears and pain. As we began to examine our life and the God moments that have brought us to begin this journey for our sweet China baby, we became aware that this journey began with the breaking of our hearts. Nearly 16 years ago, shortly after we were married, our precious niece and god-daughter MacKenzie went home to be with Jesus at only 17 months of age. We were truly heartbroken. Much like the earth must be broken up before seed can be planted, God in His infinite wisdom saw that the broken state of our hearts had prepared us for the seed He was to plant in our hearts. Only a month or so after MacKenzie's passing, we were watching a Children's Miracle Network telethon to raise money for the hospital in which she had been treated. There on the TV screen was the face of a precious little orphan boy from Russia who had been brought to the area to be treated for the same disease. They were hoping to find a "forever family" for him while he was being treated. Our hearts ached, we wanted to bring him home and love him so badly, but it was not God's timing. This ache came from the planting of the seed of adoption in the fertile brokenness of our hearts.
From that point on it seemed as though God kept bringing people into our lives who had adopted children or fostered children. He began to allow us to see these precious little ones as He sees them - priceless treasures of the King of Kings. As the seed grew, so did the ache to make sure that every child we came in contact with knew that they were wanted and treasured by the King, and that He had a special destiny for them that no one else could ever fullfill. Through seemingly small encounters, God began to make us more and more aware of the sweet orphan children in China that have no one to tell them that King Jesus desires them to be one of His beautiful treasures and that their worth is unmeasurable. Whether it was a college professor who spent summers in China and loved to talk about it, or the faces of the many Chinese children who are now part of American families that continuously cross our path, He has turned our hearts toward China.
And now, He has brought us to this point where we have to step out in faith if we want to see this seed blossom and become a harvest. God has faithfully nurtured and watered the seed He planted in our hearts so long ago. We feel Him telling us that it is about to burst forth into beautiful bloom if we are willing to place our eyes on Him and walk by faith. If we don't, it will wither and be lost forever. I pray that you will join us on this journey to bring our sweet baby home and witness with us the blossoming of this seed of adoption. Thank you in advance for your prayers, support, and encouragement as we step out in faith and watch God do greater things than we could ever hope or imagine.
From that point on it seemed as though God kept bringing people into our lives who had adopted children or fostered children. He began to allow us to see these precious little ones as He sees them - priceless treasures of the King of Kings. As the seed grew, so did the ache to make sure that every child we came in contact with knew that they were wanted and treasured by the King, and that He had a special destiny for them that no one else could ever fullfill. Through seemingly small encounters, God began to make us more and more aware of the sweet orphan children in China that have no one to tell them that King Jesus desires them to be one of His beautiful treasures and that their worth is unmeasurable. Whether it was a college professor who spent summers in China and loved to talk about it, or the faces of the many Chinese children who are now part of American families that continuously cross our path, He has turned our hearts toward China.
And now, He has brought us to this point where we have to step out in faith if we want to see this seed blossom and become a harvest. God has faithfully nurtured and watered the seed He planted in our hearts so long ago. We feel Him telling us that it is about to burst forth into beautiful bloom if we are willing to place our eyes on Him and walk by faith. If we don't, it will wither and be lost forever. I pray that you will join us on this journey to bring our sweet baby home and witness with us the blossoming of this seed of adoption. Thank you in advance for your prayers, support, and encouragement as we step out in faith and watch God do greater things than we could ever hope or imagine.
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