done...finished....waiting...heart hurts

Our paperwork is on it's way to immigration in California...went from Wash. DC, to now in California. but this is our last leg....My prayer is that we are home before thanksgiving! What a lot to be thankful for in that area....

I just had a Facebook conversation from a great guy in Liberia. He checks in with us nearly everyday. He is having either liver or kidney challenges, and his medicine, which seems to be something natural is expensive for him. Liv52. Not sure what it is, but $15.00 is to much for him. So Wayne and I have been talking about what we could do to help him. His symptoms seem to be more kidney related. But doctor said liver...

Anyway, this gentleman, whom some of you have gotten friend requests from...I promise he is harmless. He is one of the few friends we have made over there who has not asked us for money. He was inquiring about Hope Blooms. I told him what we are doing, and that we hope to facilitate adoptions from Liberia in the coming new year. He said he knows of many people that want to place babies for adoption. It is common for the dad's to leave mom's. There was one gal pregnant when we were there, I am guessing she is one of them that he mentioned. But many people were raped during the war and cannot or are having a hard time caring for the children they now have. We have a full orphanage...but no orphanage.

I long to have Shadrack here. I long to help others families find forever love of children. And my heart hurts for those families that are making these selfless decisions...because as a mother, I know this isn't easy for them.

My mind is reeling on where I can get the funds...to have an orphange running well, we would need 2500-3500$ a month.

God can and will provide inside of His perfect will. But I feel like this needs to happen yesterday...so I am having a hard time feeling patient!

I know there are a lot of you who may read this and simply do not understand what it is we are doing. I know many people in our families are unsupportive. I challenge you to dig in your Bibles and see what God commands each and everyone of us to do. This isn't just a Wayne and Shannon thing. This is something we are all called to care about. And I am not saying everyone should adopt. Because not everyone should. But we are all called to help in some way.

I am waiting for our friend to send some pictures of children needing homes.....It will be a process to get this under way. Hope blooms won't even be licensed until January or February. But we can start working on this now~

Shan

BUMPS; SET BACKS; DISAPPOINTMENTS; PRAISE

I sit here and think of this journey. My heart is broken in a million little pieces...not just for a one year old Liberian boy, but for my other children going through their many challenges...growing pains, bad decisions, and the lessons they learn along the way.

Broken pieces from those that say they support you...but when asked to help in one way or another...the answer is no.

Broken for our country in general.

But I am reminded that through this muck, it is growing me. It is helping me to see how to be a better person through these disappointments...
On one of our local radio stations the topic today is to call in and something good in your life! Well...three things popped into my head...amongst so many more...

First, some of our family has been soooo supportive of this journey. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Through prayer, finances, listening ear, encouragement. We truly are thankful for YOU~! I couldn't possibly name all of you...because I am sure I would forget. But know that we truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts...

Second, a friend who went above and beyond that calling of a friend...who is like our family! She offered a no interest loan for $5000.00. No questions asked. She offered it knowing where our hearts were/are. And when I don't post an update on here...she always asks....She is a big cheer leader for us and Hope Blooms. She gives without expecting in return. She was actually surprised and disappointed by the last post of FAQ, that people would actually ask those things. If you don't have a friend like this....find one! Everyone needs someone that they can count on....and I don't mean for finances...I mean for the friendship!

third...last week, our attorney received a phone call from the Adjudicator...(immigration). There were three things he was concerned about. Something with our insurance, which we have gotten back. A letter from Liberia...which we are assured it will be emailed today...who knows...ans lastly a co sponsor...To put it simply...because nothing with this process is simple, if something were to happen to Wayne and I, who will take over the care of Shadrack...so just some reassurance on their part. I asked my friend and she didn't even think about it...she knows our hearts. She knows our passions, she knows US! She said yes without even seeing what she had to do. I had nearly all her paperwork the next day. She even dared me to not follow through so she could have Shadrack....There is no chance of that!~!!

So, yes, this is all a mess. It is taking longer than we ever could hope for. We long to head to Liberia and snatch up Shadrack. We are frustrated when we have to email the orphanage several times with the same question and receive NO RESPONSE BACK.....but we are so blessed beyond compare to those of you who are supporting us...no matter what....If only I could live a little more like you. Thanks for being a roll model to us....to our kids. To people who don't believe in what we are doing. We can all learn from you...

So the update....all of our paperwork from two sources is ready to send to our attorney. The third from Liberia, hopefully that will come today. But I am surely not holding my breath. Then we have about a weeks time to wait on the mail....and we are pretty sure we will have a YES we can get the Visa. We will then make an appointment with the US Embassy in Liberia. Then we can book a flight...We are so excited for the day of landing at MSP..and seeing friends and family greet us and Shadrack. I DREAM OF THIS DAY!

Pray our government shutdown doesn't delay us getting Shadrack's Visa. We almost feel like we should get our kids Passports and go camp there until we get the Visa. If only life were that simple!

Shannon...for Wayne too!