Many of you have been asking for updates and I am so sorry to have taken so long in between posts. This has been a long month (since our last post). Andy has gone to New Zealand for an interview, come home, been offered the job in New Zealand and accepted it, given notice at his job in Corpus Christi, we all had horrible colds (that we shared with our pastor, Granny White, and Auntie Susan), had a BIG garage sale and moved to San Antonio. In fact we are still unpacking (well, I am anyway). It has been crazy--even for us! Oh, and how could I forget to mention...we are adopting another baby. In the middle of all of this we got a call from the Methodist Mission Home that Olivia's birth mother is pregnant again and wants us to adopt the baby. This baby is due one week after Olivia's first birthday.
This news was a total surprise for all of us as we just saw Christina last month. She knew then, but was not telling anyone as of yet. The day after we finalized Olivia's adoption she called the Mission Home to tell them the news. They waited another month to share it with us. We were surprised, thrilled, anxious, dumbfounded, sorry for Christina, happy for us, wondering how we can make it all work, and marveling in God's timing all at the same time!
We have really felt God's hand on us through all of this lengthy process with the "call" to New Zealand. We have been blessed beyond belief by this opportunity, getting to know the church and the people, and looking forward to starting this new phase in our lives. The timing of all of it has worked out perfectly, with no help from us, and we have been reassured (by the Holy Spirit) all along that it is God's will. Even when it became clear that we needed to take the time for rest in San Antonio before the move, we knew that God was a part of it. The church in Corpus Christi has some major financial problems to deal with, as well as, major spiritual issues to deal with. You could call them growing pains--it is change, which is always hard for a church. Our pastor there is being moved and the church is struggling to find it's identity as a small church that is on the verge of becoming a big church--maybe. If that makes any sense at all. After a lot of prayer and talks with our pastor it became clear that the right thing to do was to leave now, rather than at the end of the summer when we had planned to move to New Zealand. Youth ministry being such a relational ministry it seemed wholly unfair to continue building relationships with the kids when we knew we were leaving and the church needed some financial rest. So, we are on "sabbatical" whatever that is in San Antonio. The real blessing is several months of time to visit with dear friends and family before we move.
Fortunately for us we got the call about the new baby before we moved into a one bedroom apartment (as planned). The sabbatical does not effect the new adoption. We kept our insurance (we weren't going to do that, but then we all got sick). And we have found out that the adoption will be finalized at placement because of our pending move to New Zealand. This baby is a sibling and we have just been through the supervision process, so they don't need to repeat it. It is in "the best interest of the child" for it to be finalized right away. After many discussions, tears, and prayers the Mission Home has given us a $10,000 scholarship off of our $22,500 fee and we have already raised $4,500. We have additional money coming from tax refunds and rebates, and we are applying for grants everywhere. It is just a glorious reminder to us of what God can do when we let Him.
Last night we were able to take Christina to church with us at Community Bible where my sister and her family attend. The girls and and Lee Ann were in the program. It was just lovely--really good! Christina enjoyed it. She got to spend time with Olivia and us. Then we all went to dinner. It was so nice. Olivia is still at that age where she doesn't want to go to strangers, but she smiled, flirted, and played with Christina. Like what we experienced last year, being here for the pregnancy and birth of the new baby will be such a blessing. It means more time together for Olivia and Christina and even the new baby come August. This is a huge blessing and gift for all of us involved. We think that after the birth and finalization the next week (we hope) that Andy will go on to New Zealand to start the new job and look for a house for us. We will wait on the new baby's birth certificate and passport (about 6 weeks), then apply for immigration. We hope that we will be able to join him in 3-4 months (after the birth). Do I have any volunteers to fly over with me and the babies? Andy being there a head of us will actually help with the immigration process.
Sadly, very very sadly, we are saying goodbye to our doggies. As much as we love them, and it is very much, we just can't take them with us and two little babies. The cost of moving the three dogs would be about $6,000 or more if we use a professional pet transport company. So, my sister has volunteered to take Larry (in Indiana)--say a prayer that this new home works out. Skeeter had a new home, but is coming back tomorrow because it doesn't seem to be working. We think that Mom will take Honey back (she was hers to begin with and they love each other very much). That leaves us looking for a new home for Skeeter. Please be in prayer (seriously) for us as we grieve letting them go and as we seek out new loving forever homes for them. They have been our family for over four years and they are precious beings!
I guess that is all the news that is fit to print today.
With much love to everyone--Andy, Bonnie & Olivia
This news was a total surprise for all of us as we just saw Christina last month. She knew then, but was not telling anyone as of yet. The day after we finalized Olivia's adoption she called the Mission Home to tell them the news. They waited another month to share it with us. We were surprised, thrilled, anxious, dumbfounded, sorry for Christina, happy for us, wondering how we can make it all work, and marveling in God's timing all at the same time!
We have really felt God's hand on us through all of this lengthy process with the "call" to New Zealand. We have been blessed beyond belief by this opportunity, getting to know the church and the people, and looking forward to starting this new phase in our lives. The timing of all of it has worked out perfectly, with no help from us, and we have been reassured (by the Holy Spirit) all along that it is God's will. Even when it became clear that we needed to take the time for rest in San Antonio before the move, we knew that God was a part of it. The church in Corpus Christi has some major financial problems to deal with, as well as, major spiritual issues to deal with. You could call them growing pains--it is change, which is always hard for a church. Our pastor there is being moved and the church is struggling to find it's identity as a small church that is on the verge of becoming a big church--maybe. If that makes any sense at all. After a lot of prayer and talks with our pastor it became clear that the right thing to do was to leave now, rather than at the end of the summer when we had planned to move to New Zealand. Youth ministry being such a relational ministry it seemed wholly unfair to continue building relationships with the kids when we knew we were leaving and the church needed some financial rest. So, we are on "sabbatical" whatever that is in San Antonio. The real blessing is several months of time to visit with dear friends and family before we move.
Fortunately for us we got the call about the new baby before we moved into a one bedroom apartment (as planned). The sabbatical does not effect the new adoption. We kept our insurance (we weren't going to do that, but then we all got sick). And we have found out that the adoption will be finalized at placement because of our pending move to New Zealand. This baby is a sibling and we have just been through the supervision process, so they don't need to repeat it. It is in "the best interest of the child" for it to be finalized right away. After many discussions, tears, and prayers the Mission Home has given us a $10,000 scholarship off of our $22,500 fee and we have already raised $4,500. We have additional money coming from tax refunds and rebates, and we are applying for grants everywhere. It is just a glorious reminder to us of what God can do when we let Him.
Last night we were able to take Christina to church with us at Community Bible where my sister and her family attend. The girls and and Lee Ann were in the program. It was just lovely--really good! Christina enjoyed it. She got to spend time with Olivia and us. Then we all went to dinner. It was so nice. Olivia is still at that age where she doesn't want to go to strangers, but she smiled, flirted, and played with Christina. Like what we experienced last year, being here for the pregnancy and birth of the new baby will be such a blessing. It means more time together for Olivia and Christina and even the new baby come August. This is a huge blessing and gift for all of us involved. We think that after the birth and finalization the next week (we hope) that Andy will go on to New Zealand to start the new job and look for a house for us. We will wait on the new baby's birth certificate and passport (about 6 weeks), then apply for immigration. We hope that we will be able to join him in 3-4 months (after the birth). Do I have any volunteers to fly over with me and the babies? Andy being there a head of us will actually help with the immigration process.
Sadly, very very sadly, we are saying goodbye to our doggies. As much as we love them, and it is very much, we just can't take them with us and two little babies. The cost of moving the three dogs would be about $6,000 or more if we use a professional pet transport company. So, my sister has volunteered to take Larry (in Indiana)--say a prayer that this new home works out. Skeeter had a new home, but is coming back tomorrow because it doesn't seem to be working. We think that Mom will take Honey back (she was hers to begin with and they love each other very much). That leaves us looking for a new home for Skeeter. Please be in prayer (seriously) for us as we grieve letting them go and as we seek out new loving forever homes for them. They have been our family for over four years and they are precious beings!
I guess that is all the news that is fit to print today.
With much love to everyone--Andy, Bonnie & Olivia
What? It's a chicken...
This chicken can sing and dance!
That was fun! Do it again!
Dad and the boys take a nap
What am I supposed to do with this?
Is this some kind of a joke?
The texture is unusual...
Hmmm...this isn't bad...
Why haven't they given me this before?
Larry loves the baby!
Larry gives Olivia some sugar
Ooooo that's funny.....
Happy Baby!
