Our Journey to "Sholey"

Our journey started on September 30, 2010 when our daughter called to tell us about "A Night with The Chapmans" (a concert with Steven Curtis Chapman and his family sharing their story of adoption and healing)

We (William, me, Ashley and her husband Shane) went to the concert and that is where God forever changed our lives.  William and I claimed the verse 

James 1:27

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.

 From that night on God has given us a LOVE to share that only HE can give. We cannot wait until that moment when we meet Sholey face to face. 

To me, the adoption story is amazing because it is exactly what God has done for us through Christ.

 October 17, 2010

William and I spent time in prayer and seeked counsel from our Christian friends to make sure this was God's will for our lives. We then shared with our children our plans to adopt.  God has spoke to us in many ways confirming that adoption is what He had planned for us.  The time has gone by so fast through this adoption process. There has been so many amazing ways that God has shown His direction for William and I. This experience in our lives will be one we will never forget because of God's comforting assurance. 

 February 1st, 2011

We began filling out our 10 page questionnaire. On February 15 our formal application was approved to adopt. 

May 7th 2011

Our "Home Study" began with interviews at Bethany Christian Services.  Along with all the paperwork to fill out.  

June 9th, 2011

Our "Home Study" in our home was approved.

July 16th 2011

We received our passports and started putting together all of the needed documents.  This also included going to the doctor many times.
July 22, 2011
Mailing off our I-800A form


August 2nd, 2011
We received our I-797C appointment notice to have our finger prints done for our Immigration approval and William, Colby and I traveled to Memphis on August 24th, 2011

August 27th we had our all day adoption class
and on September 14th we received our U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Approval in the mail!!!  NOW, we are getting our Dossier ready to be mailed to China and hopefully they will have it by the end of this month. We then will be closer to the moment we meet our little girl 
"Sholey"

It Has Been Exciting Around Here...

Colby & Bethany are Engaged!  

He asked her to marry him after church on August 21st on the school bus where he asked her to go out with him four years ago. He planned it so well and even audio recorded it.  Colby had our real good friend that is a photographer hiding taking pictures. 

(We will share those later on our blog)

Here's her beautiful ring~

Bethany's family, we have been so blessed with such a wonderful family to become a part of, we are thankful. 

We had lunch and enjoyed family time.

William and I are so excited for the two of them.

How blessed we are.  
God has so blessed us with our children and their soul mates.

These are the little cakes I had made for dessert!

Keeping Busy...

We went to the beach in Gulf Shores for a week and had a relaxing time.  This is just one of the pictures we took while we were there. 

Staying under the umbrella was our way of relaxing with a book and enjoy the breeze.

This is my family...

(from left to right): Bethany, Colby (our son), Shane (our son-in-law), Ashley (our daughter), and William & I 

We couldn't leave out Pa & Ma (William's parents)

Colby and Bethany

Shane & Ashley

I love this picture of Shane & Ashley 

I love this picture too of Bethany & Colby

We're about to go out to eat, getting a quick picture

of all four of us. 

Our last night at our favorite place.

Our kids love swinging, and enjoying their 

last night here.

I just love God for Beth Moore

God just seems to know what we need when we need it and I'm so thankful that He is my Savior~
This was my devotion from this morning and wanted to share...

She said to herself, "If I can just touch His robe, I'll be made well!"  Matthew 9:12

Perhaps like me, you have grievously failed God in the past.  Perhaps like me, your prior confidence was unknowingly in your own ability and determination to stay on track.
Then cast yourself today entirely upon His ability to succeed and not yours.  Blind yourself to all ambition except to Almighty.  Grab onto the hem of His garment and find the healing and grace to go where He leads.  In the place you will be equipped to do the impossible.  There you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

~I just love that God is using our family and I look forward to the impossible, but possible because He said we can and I know that He will equip us for the journey ahead~

Our Fun Loving Family

This is one of our church directory pictures which we chose to put in the directory.