Something's Happening here...

We are almost set to send off our i800a.  In the adoption world, this is our preliminary immigration paperwork.  Basically, we are petitioning the US gov't to allow us to adopt a child from China.  Once we get the go ahead from China regarding our dossier and the like, we will then repetition them for adopting our specific Charlie.  (Insert plea to all young peoples to NOT get an alcohol possession ticket because it will become a giant thorn in your side when doing things like this.  It will require calls to clerks of courts, emails to lawyer friends, and letters overnighted to specific court houses because these tickets get wiped out of systems and then you'll also have to explain again and again that you were an idiot college freshman.)

Also, let it be known that God is at work through many many friends of ours.  Our living room is slowly becoming stacked to the ceiling with items for our yard sale.  And we haven't even finished emptying the attic of all the stuff donated by our families.  Henry's preschool even donated all the toys they decided to get rid of to Charlie's yard sale.  Once again, what a joy it will be to tell Charlie of all the folks who loved him here.

In addition to dropping off toys, clothes, furniture, books, and electronics, my friends are also volunteering to help at the yard sale.  A family is going to host a lemonade stand because they want their kids to be a part of making an orphan a son.  My buddy Ann has requested to be in charge of all the weird people that inevitably show up at yard sales.

With each price tag affixed to an item, I am reminded that it is not just our family that God is growing, but His Kingdom.  This is what God does.  He uses people to love one another.  He sets the lonely in families.  He does not leave us as orphans, but adopts us into the largest, loudest, most loving family in the world.

We are grateful.

Clearly, there is room for one more kiddo in this sleepover bed.  And to top it all off, when Grace requested Henry sing to her, he broke out with the following song, "My Charlie lies over the ocean, My Charlie lies over the sea..." and then Gracie joined in to finish it up:
"Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my Charlie to me, to me!"