KELL YEAH!!

One of the first things we learned about adoption is that the fees are substantial...SUBSTANTIAL!!  Dan Cathy has said, "A God-inspired dream will never fit into your checkbook or calendar.".  We have a God-inspired dream that doesn't fit the checkbook.  Part of what makes it so sweet is the sacrifice.  We have to rely on God to provide.  We have to trust that he will.  He is always true.  Most families that adopt cannot afford it...like us.  There are many ways that adopting families find the funds.  There are grants, loans, fundraising, letter writing.  I have seen some creative ideas to reach the goal.  If you are considering adoption and the financial aspect is holding you back, don't let it.  If God is calling you to do it, he will provide.  There is lots to learn and lots of support in the adoption world.
We started with good old fashioned cutting corners, eliminating unnecessary expenses, beenie weenie dinners.  So many expenses are unnecessary compared to the lives of these orphans.  I love watching my kids come to that understanding.  It's so great when they pass up something they want and say, "We should use that money for Kell" and then we slip that amount into the ziploc bag in the kitchen that collects "Kell money".
Doug put together a fundraising bracket for the men's college basketball playoffs.  Thanks to all who played and GOOD LUCK to those of you who still have teams in the tournament.

Now there's the KELL YEAH t shirt sell.  Our friends at SportsPrint in Marietta printed the shirts for us.  They did a great job so call them for all your printing needs.  Had to get that plug in!  We are selling them for a minimum $10 donation.  Email me if you would like to buy one. berryptc@comcast.net
I cannot tell you how humbled and grateful we are for all who support us in many ways in our journey to Kell.  You all have a part in changing a life forever.

"WAIT"-Nobody's Favorite Word!

Waiting...that is what we're doing right now.  Our home study and I800A are somewhere on someone's desk in a US immigration office.  To them it's another piece of paper that they will get to when they get to it.  To us it's Kell Berry in China who needs to get to Peachtree City PRONTO!  The wait there has just recently increased.  Not sure why.  I talked to a friend yesterday who finally got through that step...7 weeks!  Oh, I need patience now!  That is one thing I pray for.  To use this time wisely to prepare for this sweet addition to our family.  I pray that this time is used to prepare him, as well.  I send lots of pictures of the everyday things of Berry life...baseball games, kids playing, even Kroger!  I want everything to look familiar when he gets here.  Included in my reading this week was Hebrews 10:36:  "Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will.  Then you will receive all that he has promised."  Perfect!

but, God...

Encouraging words from my friend, Andrea.  I love this.

but God...it's too darn hard
"follow me" Matthew 9:9

but God...what if i fail miserably?
"follow me"  Matthew 8:22

but God...what if i feel like what you're calling me to do is too challenging?
"follow me"  Matthew 4:19

but God...I have everything right here and things are good in my life
"follow me"  Matthew 10:38

but God...how can i step out of my comfort zone?  what if...
"follow me"  Matthew 16:24

but God...it will cost money and so many sacrifices will have to be made
"follow me"  Matthew 19:21

but God...i am weak, tired, and weary, lacking faith, discouraged
"follow me"  Mark 1:17

but God...there is so much at risk.  what if my family and friends don't support me?
"follow me"  Mark 2:14

but God...what about my family and their comforts?
"follow me"  Mark 8:34

but God...my faith is smaller than a mustard seed
"follow me"  Mark 10:21

but God...i don't know if i can do this. i don't know if i have what it takes
"follow me"  Luke 5:27

but God...can i trust you in this? really? can i?
"follow me"  Luke 9:23

but God...i don't want to walk on the water right now. i like it where things are calm
"follow me"  Luke 9:59

but God...can't you see that my family is happy with the way things are right now?
"follow me"  Luke 9:61

but God...how can i know for sure that I have heard your still small voice?
"follow me"  Luke 14:27

but God...you listening? how will this all come together?
'follow me"  Luke 18:22

but God...think you could give this assignment to someone else? please?
"follow me"  John 1:43

but God...what if things fall apart and my world comes crashing down?
"follow me"  John 8:12

but God...i'm afraid of failure
"follow me"  John 10:27

but God...give it all up? seriously?
"follow me" John 12:26

but God...(insert reason not to do something)
"follow me"  John 21:19

but God...(insert one more great excuse)
"follow me" John 21:22

Sound familiar?  Excuses, excuses.  All very valid, of course.
Ok! Ok!  I get it, Lord!
God, you are trustworthy, dependable, good, kind, loving, patient, abounding in grace and mercy, faithful and true is your name.  How can I possibly not trust you with everything I have?

"Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."  Luke 9:23

Even when the road is hard and things make absolutely no sense...I will follow you...

...simply because you said so...

Moving Along!

Those days when there is nothing we can do but wait are really hard.  And we have lots more of those ahead!  Good news is we finished the home study and I have just returned from mailing our I800A!!  We are sending it ahead of the final home study report.  Just going to the post office made me feel like I was doing something that is in my control.  Now it's another long wait!   Did I say I was in control?  I keep forgetting!  It's not me, it's God!  Why is that so hard?

Above is a picture of the first care package for our Kell!  There are small gifts for his foster parents and foster sister, also.  He gets the all important candy, a baseball (of course),  Braves gear (gearing up to be a home town fan!), a photo album of his new family, his new home, his new dog.....wow!  That's a lot of changes for a little guy!  I pray he will not be overwhelmed by it all!

Also pictured is my new friend, Henry.  I was directed to him by a friend.  He works at a local family owned chinese restaurant.  Henry knows mandarin and can translate the written words.  I found that even though some immigrants can still speak the language, they have forgotten the thousands and thousands of symbols used in writing it.  What a difficult language!  Henry was so gracious to me.  He translated a stack of labels for pictures in the album amd a couple of letters.  He refused payment even though I told him he hadn't seen the last of me and my translation requests!  His only request is that I bring Kell to the restaurant.  Oh, I will be there!  Kell will miss his noodles like I missed my grits...that's where I got the name of the blog!

The package will be hand delivered next week by a family who is going to Dongguan to bring home their precious 6 year old daughter (thank you!).  I hope his heart is happy!  I pray that daily.  I sometimes go into my children's rooms when they are sleeping...aren't sleeping babies sweet!?  I pray for them while they are peaceful and quiet.  At many times during the day when I pray for Kell, he is sleeping on the other side of the world...peaceful and quiet...and I can't wait for him to be sleeping in his new room, in his new house, with his new dog on the floor, with his forever mommy praying for him.