Step by step...

We are taking what seems to be tiny steps forward in the exchange student process.  We have contacted 3 schools on our area for her to attend.  Only one of them already has exchange student approval. One is looking into seeing what needs to be done and we have a meeting with the third one to see if they are interested in going any further with this.

I'm at a place in my life that I never thought I would be; trying to bring an orphan from China here as exchange student.  It never occurred to me to do this; yet, there is such a great feeling trying to help another person.  Thinking of how she has blessed or family already; getting us to look outside ourselves, outside our country.  Getting us to step outside the box in expanding our family.  What a great feeling this is. I hope through this blog that I am able to help others reach beyond their comfort zone. 

There have been many twists and turns in my life so far.  I got married later than I thought I would.  I had children later than I thought.  I have one child in heaven.  So many things turned out differently than I thought it would.  I can't tell you have grateful I am that I was not the leader in my life.  I owe everything I have to God.  I finally gave the handlebars to Him and began riding in the back of the tandem bike.  It has been a wild ride.  
Even though we had three biological children, we felt like someone was missing.  That we were meant to have another child.  We waited and waited.  Our youngest was five yrs old and we had all but given up.  When, two years ago, a friend tells me about someone she knew who needed to give her unborn child up for adoption.  We were elated.  Even more so when she chose us to be the parents of her child.  He was born that summer...two months after we heard about him.  He was such a surprise for us.  We went from a family of 5 to a family of 6 in two months.  And I'll tell  you, I am not a young one anymore.  I had thought I was too old for a newborn but I would not change a thing.  Well, maybe a bit more sleep but nothing else.  He is a joy to have.  Oh, he is a handful, and is constantly climbing, jumping, running and kicking balls all over the place.  He does not stop until he goes to sleep.
So, we had been going along very happy and content with our lives for about 18 months.  When, a friend mention New Horizons for Children.  A hosting program for orphans.  They were starting a new program in China and needed families to welcome these children into their homes for 5 weeks.  The purpose of these programs is to help the children learn English, be loved by a family, and to learn what hope is. We were nervous and had not really ever thought about the Far East for adopting children; but we thought we could do anything for 5 weeks.  My family welcomed a beautiful girl into our home.  She fit in so nicely.  She and my daughter became instant BFFs.  My son's, all 3 of them, love her too.  Well, the 5 weeks were over so quickly and it was time to send Lisa back to China.  We packed her suitcase, backpack and purse to the brim.  I am really not sure how she was able to carry all that weight.  At the airport we cried and hugged and waved for as long as we could.  We knew then (well actually soon after she came) that we needed her to be part of our family.  That she was actually part of our family, she just happened to live half a world away.  We knew we wanted to bring her back here on a more permanent basis.  As I said before, she was 14, and China has a silly rule that this makes a child too old to be adopted.  We had to find another way to get her here.
Well, we are off on our next adventure, as God would have it.  If it were not for Him we would not have met our beautiful daughter, Lisa.  We are now gathering information on how to get her here on a student visa.  If we were independently wealthy, this would not be a problem. We happen to be a family of 6 (for now) living on one modest income.  We home school our children, so, me working is not a viable option.  We are trusting God to provide.  Trusting Him to bring our daughter home.  Please pray for us as we are on this journey.  Pray for strength and wisdom for us.  Pray for Lisa to have a prosperous life.

God Bless
Cheryl