Time for my semi-annual update, he he. Actually, I feel pretty fortunate to have the time to sit down and update at all! Our schedules are fanatically insane with no end in sight, sigh. Our weekends are usually booked solid with swim meets. (Morgan joined the local swim team last fall and the other 2 boys will join in a couple of months) Our weeknights consist of driving him (or sometimes letting him drive us) to his 2 hour practices every evening at our local junior college. I’ve also reluctantly agreed to help my big sis with her junior high cheer squad again, although I definitely am not putting in nearly as much time into as she is or as I have in previous years. I love helping, though, but just wish I had more time to give them. The squad has once again qualified to compete next month at state this year!!!
Since my last post, we’ve had some exciting events occur in our household. While we were in China, we learned that Ava’s foster program was started and sponsored by Holt International. We were told that without their sponsorship, all the orphans would’ve spent the first part of their lives in the small orphanage. A woman in our travel group encouraged me to contact Holt once we returned home to see if they had any early info on Ava. Well, I let time get away from me once again, and kept putting it on the backburner. We also were told by Ava’s docs that the foster program probably saved her life. She was most likely in a much cleaner and attentive environment where they would’ve noticed signs of infections much more quickly. Around last September, I decided to sit down and write to Holt to see if Ava, by chance, had any US sponsors. We soon received a letter back saying that she indeed had several US sponsors, but their policy did not allow them to release any information to us. They said we could write a thank-you letter to the families with our contact info and they would forward it on to them.
I guess it was a few days later when we got our first response. We were sitting at home and Chris was doing a routine check on our emails. We had one from a sponsor family!!! With tears in our eyes and shaking hands we read and re-read their message……they were not only from Illinois as well, but about 20 miles from us!!!!! What???? We couldn’t believe it…..we began calling everyone we knew and telling them. We also immediately made contact with the family and began to prepare a time for our first meeting. This family had attended a “Newsong” concert in Marion, IL in Dec. of 2008 where the band told the crowd of their mission with Holt to find sponsors for orphans all around the world. The Perry’s had heard of the sponsorships at other events, but had never felt led to pursue it. As they passed sponsorships packets through the audience asking for sponsors, the Perry’s saw Ava’s face and knew that that night was different. God was urging them to listen and they did! Cathy took the packet to her girl’s mission group she led at her church and together they raised money to send to Ava until they learned a few months later that she had a new family. They heard nothing else until they received our letter.
We were able to finally meet in November and were also able to meet with the mission group at their church. It was an immediate connection….almost like we had known one another forever!!!! It was just another affirmation of God’s hand in every aspect of this journey. He continues to show Himself over and over!!!
We forwarded our story to the band that started it all, “Newsong” and we were asked to share our story at their upcoming concert. So, in early December, we had the privilege of sharing the stage with the band and our new friends, the Perry’s as we told the crowd the story of how the Perry’s took a step out on faith that led to an outpouring of God’s blessing!! About 100 orphans were sponsored in the two nights we spoke!!!
We also received a letter from another sponsor family from up North. They sent us the best Christmas present of the year……baby pics of our sweet Ava!!!! Ava had been asking me over and over why I only had baby pictures of the boys and not her…..not anymore!!! Our family photographer even said to bring him the pictures and he will do his best to turn them into portraits!!!
Christmas was another huge success at our household this year. Santa was very generous to some well deserving kiddos!! We are all ready for the snow to stop and look forward to summer weather once again, even with all the added chaos summer brings. It also means our annual Disney trip, so we are most definitely ready!!
Ava still sees her neurosurgeon once a year for a check-up and her urologist twice a year. She has been the picture of health this last year and for that we are so thankful! She has begun asking for a little sister, which hasn’t been totally ruled out, HA! We continue to look forward to all that God has in store for our “little” family!
Yep, Santa's been here....the stockings
Our gift laden droopy tree
Waiting not so patiently
C'mon, Mom, are you ready YET????
Gettin' ready to tear into Santa's gifts!!
She couldn't get enough!
Waiting to go onstage, a little nervous.
Sharing Ava's story at "Newsong" concert
Chris shares our story
Ava's Sponsors, the Perry's
Night 2 of the concerts
Our Christmas Angel
Our evening with the Perry's
Ava meets the girls who helped sponsor her!
Birthday girl!
Her only request, pink and purple icing
Dec. 5...Ava turned 3!!!
Trick-or-Treating with big brother, Buzz!
My red-headed Chinese girlie!
First High School Homecoming posing with
Morgan's first swim meet
