Thanksgiving

We sit here a mere 7 months from the time we felt called to adopt another child, in incredulous surprise that yesterday, we got The Call to fly to Moscow to meet our waiting child.

It is the sweetest of all surprises at the best of all seasons. We're amazed at how perfectly God has provided for this adoption. Family and friends have generously supported us through financial donations, and God has richly blessed Travis' business this last quarter of the year in ways that we never imagined.

Yesterday we shared the good news with our family. Anya is very much looking forward to having a sibling. After we told her we would soon be meeting her brother or sister, we asked her if she was excited, and she replied, "Yeah, because I don't want to be by myself"! And this couldn't be a more true statement. We won't know any information about our child until after we arrive in Moscow, but Anya thinks we'll be adding a girl to the family.

We are very humbled by the support we have received from many of you, and we know many of you are praying for our family. We ask that you would continue to pray for us in the following ways:

1) That our child would be healthy and receive a good report of health.

2) That the transition to our family would be relatively smooth and that there would be a healthy connection between our two children.

3) That we would have the wisdom to know how to help our child as needed and to establish a strong bond with our child.

4) That the grant we applied for will be favorably reviewed and approved (the review is scheduled for December).

Thank you. Travis and I are floored at the perfectly calculated and speedy nature in which God has provided for us to help build a family. Our hope is that each one of you will experience the miracle of God's provision (if you haven't already) when you have nothing but faith to see it through. This adoption process has been like a runaway train, and often we have wanted to put on the brakes. But, the financial need is always fully satisfied shortly before we need it, and we are left believing that this is the only way God can show His hand working in all of this. It's nothing short of amazing.

We leave for Russia on December 11th, and of course we will post details (without a picture per the necessary restrictions) as we learn more. Thank you again for all your prayers and support. They are greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten!