Homestudy approved!!

I am so excited to report that our homestudy was officially approved today!  When we first began this process, we were so overwhelmed with all there was to do so it's so nice to check off these big steps.  Now we will file an application with US Immigration.  This process can take anywhere from 30-90 days, so we most likely are going to need to ask China for a 3 month extension on the date they gave us to have our dossier to them.  We feel so blessed to have the $720 for filing and the $170 for fingerprinting.  We also already have the $450 we need to get all our paperwork authenticated by the right departments.  This leaves us with an immediate need for our 2nd agency fee of $2350 and our CCCWA (China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption) fee of $775.  When we have the money for those two fees, we will be able to send all our paperwork to China.  We are SO close! 

I have just begun to jump into the crazy waters of adoption grant applications.  I can definitely say that after this adoption is complete, I will never want to fill out another piece of paperwork again! :)  We will apply to as many grants as we can, but there is no guarantee that we will receive anything.  We are completely relying on the Lord's provision and the generosity of those He calls to bless us with funds.

I just want to say thank you so much to you all for continuing to share in this incredible journey God has called us to!  I will leave you with a recent picture we received of our sweet Asher.  His smile melts my heart and I can't wait to see it in person.