Urgent Prayer Request

Our TA is arriving TODAY..YAYAY!!!

But all of the Sept. CA's are booked except for 1 slot that is probably already taken.  If we can't travel in Sept., we will be delayed AT LEAST month.  Travel in Oct. is very expensive because of the holidays trade fair...we can't afford to travel then.

Please pray for favor with the consulate today.  I'll keep you updated!

ALSO, DON'T FORGET...THE RAFFLE ENDS IN 10 HOURS :)

2 days left....

The HUGE raffle our friends are hosting for us is ending in 2 days...

the drawing will end on Sept. 1 at 7pm (pst)

CHECK IT OUT HERE!!

64 PRIZES!

UPDATE...THERE ARE NOW 66 PRIZES!!

TWO DISNEYLAND PARK HOPPER PASSES HAVE BEEN ADDED!

ONLY $5 A TICKET!

YOU CHOOSE THE ITEMS!

Also......

GIVEAWAY FOR SPREADING THE WORD

We are getting soooooooooooooo close...every $5 helps!!!

Before the Morning....

Just really holding on to these truths...the truths that there are things that I can't see and that my God is working it all out beautifully! The truth that beyond this waiting there is great joy!!

Our TA has not arrived, yet. It was shipped on Friday and we have not received it, yet. Every one else that is after us has either received their TA last week or just got it yesterday or today. It looks like most, if not all, of the Sept. CA's are booked so I don't know what that is going to mean for us. Just keep praying. Thank you!

I am missing my boy so much it hurts! I feel like we are so close yet so far away!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you wonder why you have to,
feel the things that hurt you,
if there's a God who loves you,
where is He now?

Maybe, there are things you can't see
and all those things are happening
to bring a better ending
some day, some how, you'll see, you'll see

Chorus:
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
and you know where you're going,
you just don't know how you get there
so just say a prayer.
and hold on, cause there's good who love God,
life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
but you'll see the bigger picture

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning
yeah, yeah,
before the morning,
yeah, yeah

Once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
memory, memory, yeah

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

com'n, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the hurt before the healing
the pain you've been feeling,
just the dark before the morning
before the morning, yeah, yeah
before the morning

Christian lyrics - BEFORE THE MORNING LYRICS - JOSH WILSON

Please pray....

Another UPDATE: Because of a few emails I've received, I wanted to clarify something....we thought we were leaving Sept. 2. Our TA did not come when the other Art. 5's with our date came last week. It should have come last week but it didn't. We have reason to believe that it hasn't been mailed out, yet and we also have reason to believe that the consulate dates for all of Sept. are almost full, again. We think there are a few spots left at the end of Sept. If our TA arrives next week, we hope to be able to secure one of these Sept. spots. The major problem for our family if we have such a late CA we will have to be in-country for 3 weeks because of the holiday. There are several reasons why 3 weeks in China will be very difficult for our family!! If we have to wait to travel in October, we are not sure that we can afford it...the rates will be much higher because of the Oct. holidays. We just miss our little guy and want him home asap!! Bottom-line...there is a lot going on & we are just asking prayer for peace and God's perfect timing. Thank you sooo much!

UPDATE: You prayers are so beautiful to me and the Lord is definitely answering your prayers of peace. I promise it's nothing major...just a very disappointed mama because our timeline may be radically changed. We are confident in the Lord's timing and His perfect plan. So while my heart is very sad and disappointed, it is very hopeful of all God is going to do!!! I know my Lord is right here, with me, giving me His amazing peace and reassurance that He has carried us this whole way and He is not going to leave us now. I am so thankful for a hubby who's peace and trust is so strong. I love you babe and am blessed by your calm love and trust...especially when I'm wigging out :)

'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming'
The JOY is coming SOON...this I know to be true!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can't really share all of the details but will you please be praying? I sure wish I could but I can't, I just need you to pray! Pray for favor for our travel approval and consulate appointments. My heart is very, very heavy right now.

Unbelievable!!!

My friend, Alida, has been working very hard to gather donations to hold a raffle for us. You will not believe how the Lord has blessed her efforts!! It's absolutely amazing!!

There are 62...YES...SIXTY TWO prizes AND YOU get to choose which prizes you want a chance at winning!!!

You have to check it out HERE!

I woke up this morning with a heavy heart knowing that we still need just about $6000 to travel and the reality that we could travel in 3 weeks. You wanna know what my verses were today in my quiet time??

Be anxious for nothing, but by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God; and the peace of the Lord which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts through Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7

AND

And God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil. 4: 19

My precious son, God will provide a way for us to come & we can't wait to see how He is going to do it! We love you!

When exactly...

did we become parents of a TEENAGER??? Our precious babe is 13 today. I honestly am not sure when that happened.

I'm surprised at how emotional this birthday is for me...okay...so I know everyone says it goes by fast but MAN...It REALLY does fly by!!!

I'll never forget the joy of discovering that I was pregnant with you and rushing to daddy's work to tell him. I burst into tears as I was trying to tell him. He thought something was wrong because I couldn't even talk. We wanted you for so long and I couldn't believe that the Lord had answered our prayers.

My precious son, you are an amazing young man of God! Your heart for your siblings is awesome...you are a fabulous big brother! God has some incredible things in store for you and we can't wait to see you be used by Him. We are very proud of who you and who you are becoming! We love you so much! HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY! You are now officially a teenager...ahhhh!!!!

Article 5

UPDATE: I have confirmation that our Art. 5 has been picked up!! Yahoo!!!

Our Article 5 will be picked up very shortly...in the next couple of hours. YAYAYAYA!!!!!!!!!

This means that our offical wait for travel approval has begun...did you hear me...we are NOW waiting for our TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!!!

I honestly can't believe it...the time is coming!!! TA's have been coming exactly 2 weeks...YES... 2 W-E-E-K-S from Article 5...that's 2 weeks from today :) Prayerfully we will travel THAT week!!!!!!!!!!

Our boy will be in our arms soon!!!!!!!!!

Prayer Requests:
~That our TA will be here in 2 weeks or less & that we can secure an early CA appt. (consulate appt...our whole trip is based around this date)
~That the $6000 we still need will come
~That our sweet boy is being prepared for us
~That our other kiddos will be ready for us to go

"There is hope in Your NAME!!"

We trust you completely, Father & can't wait to see all that you are going to do in the next few weeks!!

Crazy Love Challenge

A very precious mama, Linny, over at A Place Called Simplicity has once again amazed my heart with her love for the orphan....her love for adoptive families....her love for her bloggy family! Her hearts greatest desire is minister to the orphan and she loves to help them home!! Her family is a beautiful example of all the Lord has called us to be!

Linny has opened her blog for a Crazy Love Challenge. It's a way for families to share about the journey that they are in the middle of...the journey of bringing their child home. LINNY...thank you for allowing us to share about our family and for opening your precious blog to help the orphan and their families!!!

We are coming close to the end of that journey and the beginning of a new one. We are so close!!!

So, here's the scoop on this crazy, awesome journey to our Solomon!!

~Article 5 will be picked up from the consulate on August 16 (next monday)
~It will be taken to the CCAA and we will wait for TA (travel approval)
~If things continue they way they have, we should have TA by Aug. 30th and travel ASAP...prayerfully that week!!!!!

Soooooo we could be leaving in less than 4 weeks!!!! We are still $6500 away from being able to board the plane. Bottom line...if we don't raise the rest of the money, we will be delayed in bringing our sweet son home until we have the funds. If we don't travel in September, we will be delayed until LATE November because of all the Chinese holidays. Sooooooo...if the Lord will's, we need to be leaving early Sept.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
~Prayer...the most important need...pray for our sweet son, our family, and God's continued provision
~Shop...LOL...BUY Solomon shirts...BUY Solomon beads...it's not too early to be thinking Christmas gifts folks :)
~Puzzle...SPONSOR a puzzle pieces for Solomon's Prayer Puzzle

Little by little and sometimes Big by big...God is providing through each of you and just look what He's done...we are almost there!!

SOLOMON BEADS HERE!

SOLOMON SHIRTS HERE!

SOLOMON'S PRAYER PUZZLE HERE!

Just look....

at what we got today...an update on our little man...he is getting so big!

He is 38" tall and 33 lbs.  Shorter than the girls by 2" and the same weight as baby C.  Ohhhhh, I can't wait to hold him!!!!!!!!!!!  The second picture cracks me up...we have a couple where he is making this face..it's kind of a "What, who me...I'd never do that."  

Urgent Prayer Request

9/10: Your prayers and love have been a precious to us. The Lord has heard each one & has answered them! From the entire Richards family...Thank you so much!!!!!!

9/9: UPDATE: Praise the Lord...we just got home from Hemet...Caleb is home SAFE with my in-laws!! Please continue to pray for the aftermath of all that has happened! Thank you sooo much for praying!!!

9/9: no news, yet!

9/8: My brother-in-law has just filed a Missing Person's Report for my sweet nephew! We are asking you to please pray for his safety as he could be in great danger and God's guidance as the Hemet Police Dept. and CPS try to find him.

If you hear anything, please call the Hemet PD or let us know asap.