Leavin...on a Jet plane!

And here it is.........
The news we've been waiting for......
Finally after many long paper chases, fundraising, and anxious prayer filled months........

We are going to get our girl!!!!!

Please be praying for us as we make final preperations! Pray for all our children as they face the big changes ahead. And pray for travel mercies. Thank you!!

Big News

Well Here it is.....the BIG NEWS POST! I have been so busy it's just silly, but it has been a lot of good busy and so I am fine with it. Busy for the sake of busy is no fun, but busy with purpose and fulfillment is ok anyday. We started a requirement to our schedule in the midst of the busyness that I recommend to any family, especially if you are in a busy stage in your lives. We have a family night every week. A night with dinner, and a game, and dessert. This night is non-negotiable.  Because, if we just say, we'll do it later.....it never happens. This has been wonderful and really helps us keep our priorities at the front of our focus.

First for those who want to know how our girl is doing.....

She is doing wonderfully!!! 

Speaking in full sentences.

Making Art work (which we were blessed with pictures of)

Making music

And READY to go home!

And don't you agree that she needs a bow in her hair? Cute little bobs demand bows, I think. But at least the orphanage has the adorable tights thing down.

Next, in big news......WE ARE FULLY FUNDED!!!! If you didnt notcie by our thermometer on the right, God provided ABOVE and beyond in perfect timing......from the most unexpected source. Do you want to hear a little snippet that will give you goosebumps? A few weeks back we had to send off a check that would accompany our dossier being submitted to "Andrea's" country. We sent off the check and waited, and waited, and waited........It did not arrive! I called the post office. I called the bank. I called our adoption agency. It was lost, and we could not proceed without it and there was nothing anyone could do for me. Bank said we had to wait 90 days to cancel it, post office didnt have a way to help, and we were just stuck and panicing. So, as God has taught us to do extremely clearly through this adoption, we got on our knees. Surrendered it to Him, again. The next day I recieved a call saying that we had been awarded a grant I had applied for several months back for exactly the amount we needed. Dossier was submitted without a second delay. The check arrived back home several weeks later...in pieces. I guess it got stuck in a sorting machine. 

He is so good isn't he?

I am SOOO grateful to all the financial support we've recieved. So many steps of faith from others that I don't take for granted. Times when someone has gave, sacrificing maybe their coffee that week, or a few meals out. Times when someone said "God just would NOT leave me alone about this" and gave above and beyond. Times when someone has donated, and donated again, and donated a third time just to get us there. Even a donation that propelled us to that last bit from someone who barely knew us, but was touched by a little girl that needed a home. And someone who puts countless hours in marathons to bring orphans to their families. Thank you! From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! She is coming home, not because of us, but because of the church that stepped up! Lets keep it up church, by saying yes to adoption, to reaching out to the lost and hurting communities, to missions, and neighbors, and love. It's all there, waiting for us.....just ask Him where he wants you. 

And Lastly big news? Our Dossier was accepted, we in turn accepted their proposal, and we are OFFICIALLY matched with our little girl and awaiting a court date! The finish line is IN SIGHT. As soon as we know our travel dates we will let you know! Will you partner in praying with me for the final steps?

1. That we would recieve a court date quickly? (before christmas would be amazing, but God's timing is perfect....just soon!)

2. That our kids would be surrounded in love and comfort while their Mommy and Daddy are bringing their sister home? They have never been away from us both for so long before (about 2 weeks)

3. That we would not encounter delays in country. A possible government shutdown could create issues at the American Embassy and thus arriving home.

4. Pray for our daughter as she transitions to the radical changes she will soon experiance. That we would bond, that the language barrier would be easily sorted out, and that she would feel LOVED and at HOME as part of our family.

5. That this story, along with so many others would spark change, in the way we live, our perceptions of the world, and the mission God has for us...wherever it is!

Thank you friends! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! We cannot wait to introduce you to the new Bradford family!

Sincerely, Dale and Carrie

Disneyland and Jam

I have been gearing up for a big post with lots of big news!! I may have more information by the end of this week so I am waiting just a little bit longer......but I have so much to tell you. SO MUCH TO PRAISE GOD FOR. One of the most amazing transformations in my heart through this adoption, was the practice of always having praise on the tip of my tongue. He's done so much BLATENT obvious blessing in this adoption that it would be impossible to attribute it to anything else! And he has been telling me, now do that with the rest of your life too. Maybe I'll look a little extreme because of it, but he has been whispering to me over and over, you need to have my praise on the tip of your tongue ready to pour out in all things. Do not be afraid to praise Him for what he has done in your life, from the redemption on the cross, to the cup of coffee you had with Him this morning. He is delighted in your devotion. I promise you it will transform your life.

In the mean time, I came accross this wonderful story from the man that did so much fundraising for our girl. I am blown away by this girl's heart (ksl.com
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=26978024#oLGozlsm9v5pSem0.03)
 at the age of seven! And it wasn't even her family that adopted! I'm telling you, this has a ripple effect. Oh, that our kids would see the amazing privilage it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus and pursue it, even if it requires sacrifice! How free, peacefilled, and joyous their lives would be if they learn this! Of course there is the balancing part of teaching this, without the type of pressure that can lead to resentment, but I guess thats why that cup of coffee with Jesus every morning is so important. Anyway, I hope this encourages your heart today. And my heart, is dancing....cause we are in the HOME STRETCH of Mama soon! Please pray with us!

Cry, Do Happy Dance, Tell Everyone How Good God is.......Check!

There is a lot of Praisin going on at the Bradford house tonight. Cause sometimes, God just shows off all His goodness. Sometimes you just get goosebumps, cause it's all Him and as I stand back, and watch him move in my life, my family's life, my daughter's life........really do I deserve to have My Daddy's touch so close, so big? The Master and Designer of our Universe?

No, I don't........but He calls me His own. He cares about my family. He is delighted in our obediance even when others would prefer us be spending our time in other ways. And He cares VERY much for this precious girl. 

So today, we get a little bit closer to being fully funded, and we realize that if we don't get our Federal Approval soon, we may not be bringing her home before Christmas. "Andrea" knows we are coming, and how hard must each day be? Expecting to finally have a Mama and Papa, and yet no one comes? So the Hubby and I praise God for his work, and agree to start praying fervently for our approval to come soon. We aren't supposed to get it for another month. It takes two months they said. But we know God has been all over this adoption, we trust his plan, and so we ask for him to do something big. We hang up. He goes back to work, I go pick up my oldest from school. And my phone notifies me I have an e-mail. 

Congratulations, You have your Approval............one month earlier than expected......not even an hour after praying. 

Cry, do happy dance, call hubby, hug kids, and thank God. 

Oh friends, He is so good. Good today, because He loved us enough to let us see his hand at work. Good yesterday, when we were uncertain, because he was there beside us. Good five years ago, when painful trials led to radical changes in the things we focused on, or more specifically WHO we focused on. Cause He was there, and He used that for our good. 

Praise Him today, trust Him today, and be brave enough to ask Him today. He has good plans for you. :-)

Much Love,

The Bradfords

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Blowing out the candles for their sister!

We made a traditional cake from her country
in honor of our girl.

Yesterday was our sweet girl's birthday. I had so hoped to have her home before then, not wanting her to spend one more birthday without a family.......but such is the nature of adoption. It takes time, and a lot of work! Our last report, with the words "Mama Soon" keeps me busily notorizing papers, writing essays, and praying like crazy. I can't imagine what she must be feeling, knowing her Mama and Daddy are coming yet every day no one turns up. We are SOO close! I only have 2 documents left to finish up our dossier! Unfortunatly we are still a bit short on funds. Will you pray with us, that God would provide the last little push? We are SOOO close to being fully funded that it's terribly exciting and scary at the same time. Thank you again for following our journey. We are so very blessed by every word of encouragement, ever prayer, and every bit of financial support.

Sincerely, Dale and Carrie

PS- We have picked her middle name. :-) When we are able to tell you her first name, we'll announce it.

RODS Racing

I just wanted to high light a ministry today and bring a little awareness to them from my blog. This wonderful ministry is the biggest earthyly reason we are able to bring our "Andrea" home. They have worked so hard for so many orphans over the last year, all inspired by their precious son who has Down syndrome. He works so hard through out the year and even when its exhausting and painstaking he pushes forward to bring one more home. Finances are by far the biggest obstacle in adoption, and his understanding of this, and deep desire to help those little ones who have a bleak future without adoption is such a blessing! We all have something to do while we are here, so find your passion and attack it with gusto! If you would like to read more about RODS racing you can follow the link HERE. What a great ministry to support of you are looking for something to bless. Enjoy looking at those cute faces on there!

Off and Running!

I am so excited to have news for you in this long overdue update! First of all, I want to thank everyone that came out to Juju Berries to support our adoption! I thought a few friends would come and we'd enjoy a little icecream but I was completley blown away by the amount of people that came in for icecream that night for us! Many even told us they were having their icecream before dinner, just so that they would have time to squeeze it in! :-) Sounds like a good plan to me. We were there for three hours and we never had a moment where there wasn't someone enjoying a sugar high for us. We again are so grateful for the wonderfully supportive community that has invested in us and our little girl.

Secondly in big news, OUR HOMESTUDY IS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whew! I feel like I could do a victory dance through the streets. Though it took much longer than expected we are beyond excited to be moving foward finally and are extremely grateful to all the hard work our social worker put in. When we signed our homestudy her and her husband let us know that they had prayed over our family that morning and that really touched us. Prayer is the biggest part of this process, and we are so thankful for all of those who are covering us in it. So now that the homestudy is done we feel like we are off and running! We submitted our USCIS application on friday and await their approval while we compile our dossier. Once both are done, we send it off to our girl's country and then we will be meeting her finally! This time is the most crucial time in fundraising for us. In a very short amount of time we have to raise the remainder of our adoption costs. God has provided exactly what we needed just in time so far and we know he is faithful to do the rest. We are extremely blessed by any little bit that you may feel led to send our way. Any amount donated will go towards dossier costs, fasciltator fees and legal fees. If you would like to donate find the paypal button located underneath the "thermometor" on the right. Between your generosity and our own savings over 15% of our adoption has been paid for! Once we recieve travel dates, all our remaining expenses are covered! This time in between is our crucial time for funding. Please pray with us that we will not encounter any delays as we raise the funds and finish the paper work. She is ready for her Mama.

And third, is the best news yet! We got a wonderful update (and some BEAUTIFUL pictures that I desperately wish I could share with you!) on our precious little girl. This sweet family is there right now meeting their own son for the first time. I am so happy for them and cannot wait to be in their shoes. She has been kind enough to spend some extra time with our little girl and give her some extra love from us. Apparently she is quite the chatter box and top dog of the orphanage. She is playful and made sure to instruct the other children when they were out of line! She is anxiously waiting our arrival and was walking around saying "Mama soon, mama soon!" Oh my heart completely aches to make "Mama soon" mean "Mama now". Regardless I am SOOOO grateful for this update. When we first started our adoption process we had learned that "Andrea" was barely speaking, with just a few syllables here and there and seemed to be struggling some. Each update since has been better and better. She is getting better services because of our committment, and this last one it seems she is just flourishing. Personality plus, and happy as a clam waiting for her Mama. What a good God we serve, to provide for her in such amazing ways, even before we've met her! 

So how fast can this Mama run? Lacing up those Nikes now, and with some help and support these next few months, we will be sprinting straight there!