MLJ $500 Grant & Adoption Update

I'm finally back online after many days without internet due to the storm this past Sunday night.

First, I want to let everyone know about a $500 grant MLJ Adoptions is offering:

MLJ is offering an opportunity for new clients to receive grant monies throughout the month of July. The first 10 families who submit an application, application fee, contract and initial payment will receive a $500 grant to be credited toward their second payment. We understand that the adoption process is expensive; it is our hope that the cost never hinders those parents who feel called to adopt.

$500 might not seem like much in the grand scheme of adoption costs but I've said it before and I'll keep saying it . . . every little bit adds up to provide for payments that are due and God is the Great Multiplier! So, go for it!

Second, please keep praying for our I-600 approval to come in the mail. I talked to the officer working on our case last Thursday (a week ago). She told me that if I faxed her a couple documents she could get our approval sent out. I woke Abram up from his nap and faxed those babies within the hour! But I am still waiting for the approval in the mail.

On the bright side we received new pictures of our kids this week, which was a wonderful gift! They all continue to look like they have grown (thanks to MLJ's awesome foster program - they are getting good food and great care!). There were a few pictures of all three kids together. In her email to me with the pictures Sonja said, 'From what the staff is telling me they are all already acting like sisters and brother!' And they look like it in the pictures. It is so wonderful to see them all together! There were also two individual pictures of each of them. The best part of it all is that Isaiah is SMILING for the first time! We have received several pictures of him since we were referred to him last October and he never smiled in any of them. It made my heart happy to see him smile. He and Abram are going to be quite the pair. My guess - judging by how the shirt Isaiah was wearing that we sent him fits - is that Abram and Isaiah will be pretty close in size.