I remember when I was expecting Hartley life seemed so busy it was hard to believe we were expecting again. Even though we were beyond thrilled to be expecting a little baby girl and we prepared for her, it wasn't until we were in the OR that it all began to feel real. Another baby was really coming! Yesterday was much like that feeling. I knew Wills was coming home and we've been working hard towards that goal for several months now.. When that email came though it was like the OR all over again. Another baby is coming!! And soon...
This process has been different, his timeline different, fundraising different. Life is just different. I've come to respect this process as totally different then Molly's process. The first time I watched the calender and counted days, this time I just haven't. Maybe because I know Wills is in an amazing place and that he's OK or maybe because I know that he really is going to come home, and certainly because I have seen and see that the Lord has him in his hands safely waiting on us.
Saying Yes to Wills so soon after Molly meant that the Lord was really going to have to show up and show off to make this happen. One thing that was really important to Tommy and I was that the whole family travel this time. Tommy and I have never been on a couples weekend away and up until this past year I had never left my children. This past year we have all been separated a.lot.. Myself and especially my children are not used to that. Especially my oldest. Saying yes to Wills also meant praying like crazy that he would make a way for us all to go. Will it be easy? No way.. Expensive.. You bet! A little crazy... Oh yea.. BUT we need to be together as a family.. My boys need to see the other side of adoption. They need to see where their siblings have come from and more fully understand the magnitude of their past. Their hearts have already been stirred and they now need to be broken for the fatherless. We truly believe that the Lord is laying the groundwork for life changing , heart changing stuff to happen in China. Our children, just like yours live a life of entitlement and privilege. It's time for it to come full circle for them and we pray that it will be memories that last a lifetime. Praying that he will use this trip to instill in them a love for the fatherless and China! A deep desire that as they grow they will seek out opportunities to serve those around them and tell of the Lord's goodness and provisions to bring their sister and brother home.. Will you join us in praying the Lord shows up big time for the boys especially?
I can't say where it's come from yet but this week alone, after a long dry spell with many "No's" coming from grants.. We received $17,500.00 in grants yesterday. All.in.one.day... The beginning of the day we didn't know how we'd take everyone or how we'd pay for our in country cost.. We were preparing our hearts to not take the boys and arrange care at home. Just hoping and praying we'd have enough to go ourselves! Taking everyone increases our in country cost but quit a lot. We also need an extra adult to travel with us to keep everyone safe. Flights alone are quoted at $15K!!!! for May... We pray they aren't that high but we have to shoot high and pray to come in low.. I don't know final numbers for sure yet and won't know for a while, I am scrambling for passports now for the boys and filling out visa applications. We feel good about this being enough to take everyone and the extra adult but won't know for sure for sometime still. Please join us in praying that we're through fundraising and that God whiling this would be enough to take everyone along.
This is a busy season for the Gotbeters.. Saying yes to Wills meant we were really out of space in our home. We've been here a decade and have loved our house. Tommy and I have touched every surface literally in this home and have added on. We have thrown dozens of ahem..largish parties here in our big backyard and every single one of our 5 babies will have come home to this house. This was our first house and we have loved it. Sadly we are just now really out of space. Having gone to China I feel silly saying that because I have seen just how much space we really have! The Lord has been speaking to me though and asking me to make room. Room for guests, room for potential foster children.. It's time to make room! We've been looking for a while and have explored endless possibilities. Adding on, building, new construction and more! We were very close to adding on again until we found a 1 story ranch in a great location that seems perfect for our family! We need to add a master bed/bath on and re do this house but it is a one story ( great for two babies with spinabifda) and has amazing potential. A big back yard still for our pumpkin parties and other things that are important to us in this stage of the game. The house has been owned by a precious older couple and has been extremely well kept up! It reminds me a lot of my aunts houses growing up and I love it! So.... in the midst of preparing for China we are getting ready to list our house! Timing is not ideal and it's a little tricky but we are believing that if this is meant to be the Lord will work out all the details. Here's how we need you to pray. We need a contract on our house very quickly.. and a good one! As soon as ours is listed we are making an offer on the new one. We'd like to close before we leave and here's the kicker.. we need to rent back for a month of so from the new owners. This other house needs work, we don't want to have to file a supplement 3 to change our address and not sure if you rememeber we are leaving the country!!! YIKES! And having a 5th child.. Major transitions and jet lag to come.. So.. please join us in thanking the Lord for his provisions and his plans.. Pray for sweet Williams and all that he is about to endure. He is very loved where he is and loves his nannies very much. This will be very hard for him. Pray for our family that everyone would stay healthy and happy as we prepare and travel and for our house situation. We are fully trusting that if this is meant to be it will work out the way it needs to.
We can't thank you all enough for your love and support for Molly and now Wills. Our God is more then able my friends...
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