God Has Moved Mountains!!!

Amazing things have been happening that I haven't had a chance to tell yet because of the ridiculous TAX AUDIT we've been in the middle of. 95% of adoptive families are being audited after we were all promised this tax credit!! It is keeping families from paying off debt incurred from last year's adoptions that many of us took on because we knew it was being reimbursed to us. This is an outrage and many people are calling their congressman to speak up on behalf of adoptive families.
OK for the good stuff.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Ps 34:8. I have seen and I am taking it all in!!!!!
If you look back on previous posts you see our Mickey Mouse raffle that helped us raise the $890 to file our I600A for Addison's visa. All the money was raised in just 2 days and it was received by USCIS March 3rd. We needed to move forward to rescue Addison before she was transferred out of the orphanage, but we didn't have the money to do so. My agency has worried that we wouldn't receive USCIS approval in time for us to get to Addison. However,God said yes you can move forward and He provided,so we could send the I600A!!
We were fingerprinted at USCIS on Friday April 8th, and on Wednesday April 13th my agency called with another cry for URGENCY that our dossier needed to be in Ukraine by April 21st! What!, I responded. We were just fingerprinted on Friday how can we do that? Well, after much prayer and a few phone calls. WE HAD OUR I71H Friday April 15th one week from when were fingerprinted!!!!!!!!! We serve a LIVING and MIGHTY GOD! I never believed it could be done. I have doubted from day one if Addison was ours because I couldn't understand in my FEEBLE mind how we could ever get to her as quickly as the agency was asking. I have doubted my Heavenly Father's Grace, Mercy and Love for me and Addison. I am so ashamed of how I have put God in a box!
He did, however, know I needed confirmation that He was saying YES, go NOW!!!
On Monday April 18th our dossier was mailed overseas after many trips to notaries and to Chicago for Apostille's. It arrived in Addison's country Wednesday April 20th!!!!!!!!!! One day earlier than asked for. Another miracle!!! God is not asleep! He is working and He is relentlessly in pursuit of the fatherless,which includes US. We were all fatherless until the day we understand we were a sinner and asked Jesus to forgive us and cleanse of our sin. We became an adopted Son or daughter because without the pure sacrifice of God's own Son to pay our debt of sin we would lost,hopeless and FATHERLESS. Ephesians 1:5 Orphans no matter what country they reside in are fatherless, and they are lost and hopeless without the hands and feet of Jesus(those who have been rescued from HELL by the Grace of God). Who will bring them hope if Christians don't.
I am learning first hand that God will take our, YES, Lord break my heart for what breaks Yours and He will do the rest!! Paperwork, money, your fears,your doubts, it is nothing to God. He already did the work on Calvary.
IT IS FINISHED!!!!!
Our dossier was submitted on April 28th and we should travel to Eastern Europe in 4-5 WEEKS!!
Does God care about Addison born January 4,2007 and does He know her by name? YES, HE MOST CERTAINLY DOES. Does He want us to reach out to those who have NO HOPE? YES, HE MOST CERTAINLY

Are You Bringing Hope to the Hopeless

Overcoming Obstacles

It's been a while since the last post because we've had a few hurdles to jump. Our computer died around March 10th, so we were completely out of touch. We just got up and running again last week. At the same time the computer went out, so did our well. We were without water for days. Then this past Friday no water AGAIN! This time there was leak in one of the well pipes. They just finished repairing it today!! I've heard lots of stories similar to this of other families who are trying to adopt children and give them a Hope and a Future. Jer 29:11 Seems like everything comes at us trying to discourage us. The world would say, you can't possibly add another child when you keep having all these problems. But Jesus said,".. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33 We do need to support each other when hard times come because we need to help one another identify who is sending the trouble. It's definitely NOT our Tender Heavenly Father who says, "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him." Ps 127:3 We continue to move forward to rescue Addison mowing down the obstacles with thehelp of the Lord. We are being fingerprinted this Friday for our I600A. We know He will provide even when we can't see how. We stand on His Word in Heb 11:1. Read it. It's a great reminder of what Faith really is.

THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!!

We have a winner!! C. Johnson won the Mickey Mouse 2000 figurine!! Mickey was put in the mail and is on his way to the winner. Thank you to all that felt lead to donate. We do not take it lightly! We are so thankful!!!


All the money we needed to send our I600A was raised in just 2 days!! I was able to send everything off this evening,and it should be received by USCIS Thursday! WOW! Thank you to everyone who was used by the Lord as a tool of blessing!!

All praise and Glory to my Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is the All Sufficient One!!!!
We asked and the Lord answered in HIS way.

We are continuing to lay Addison's needs before Him knowing that He has a plan for her life. It's a good plan with a hope and a future! Jer 29:11. He knows her current situation more than those who are keeping us informed. So, we are placing this journey in His hands, and when I try to do things in my own strength, I pray He will gently remind me to Trust Him.

We ask for continued prayer for Addison and our family. Our desire is for her to have a family where she is loved,comforted and cherished. The reality of that happening in her country is slim to none. She's already been abandoned because she's HIV+, and a foster family over there could return her in a month's time like an unwanted puppy. We love her and want what God wants for her, so if there's a family with all their documents ready that could get to her faster and spare her, we would step aside. However, if she is to be our daughter, we pray nothing would hinder us from getting to her before she is moved i.e money and time spent waiting for needed documents. We move forward as God provides in awe that we get to be a part of this. We have been blessed by the miracle of adoption and we have seen on a daily basis what Irina has lost without the love, comfort, security and guidance of parents. Everyday she asks the same question, "mom why do you love me so much"? I guess she struggles to understand a mother's love she's not yet had. Everyday she asks her dad the same question," dad how long you work"? She has to know how many more hours until he comes home. I guess it is because she finds security in the dad she never had and doesn't want to be away from him. Everyday she rocks herself to sleep and sucks her fingers at 9yrs. old. This is hard for me to even talk about because it breaks my heart so. The thought of her never being held as an infant or comforted by a mother's touch when she was scared, kills me. That is why I stand in awe that I am the one God has allowed to love this precious child, and that is why we are running as fast as we can to get Addison, so she doesn't have to endure anymore time without parental love and care.

We Need A Miracle!!!!

Please pray for our precious Addison and for God to move to a mountain!!!
We were notified last night that her orphanage is under orders to move 2 children a month into foster care. Once moved a child would not be available for adoption anymore. Last month it was her that was to be moved,but having sent 1 document saying we desire to adopt her they were able to keep her at the orphanage. The bad news is they can't keep her much longer. We need a miracle! We need an I71H ASAP so our dossier can be in their hands ASAP. We haven't sent the I600A yet because we are waiting for the funds to do so. We are trying to sell furniture on Craig's list to raise some funds because we have nothing to pull from after our last adoption. We don't know what else to do. But God does. He owns the cattle on thousand hills. He knows everything and He is in control. Even though I feel out of control. We are asking for prayer. Please pray for God's will in our lives and Addison's. Where do we fit into her future? Are we her parents? If so Lord, remove every obstacle and make our path straight!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

The Allens are adopting again. Our precious baby,Addison, is waiting in Eastern Europe. We need to get there fast. Addison turned 4 in January. At that point she should have been moved to internat, but since we filed paperwork for her prior to her birthday, she remains in the baby house. But not for long. We need to move rapidly to bring her home. If you wish to be a part of this blessed miracle, please participate in the following giveaway.

For every $5 donation using the button at the top of this blog, your name will be entered into a giveaway for the 'Millennium Mickey On Top of the World Mickey Mouse 2000' figurine. This is an exclusive membership item. While this give away has an expiration date of midnight 2/28/2011, donations can be made anytime and are appreciated.

Everybody's doing great!

We are all getting cabin fever! Ready for all the snow to melt and the temperature to rise above 30 degrees. Everybody seems extra energetic since we can't go outside and get their wiggles out. So, we got the sing, dance and shape up kids video out the other day. That seemed to help some. We are ready for Spring!

Seth turned the corner and is completely potty trained at 2 1/2! He just did it all on his own! Now, that's a gift from the Lord esp. being a boy! Amy was 2 also and pretty easy, but not even this easy. No more messes everywhere from accidents. He just runs to the potty now without even being asked if he has to go! I'm thankful for this.! If you are a mom with little ones, I know you'll understand my excitement.

Irina and Amy started Russian school a few weeks ago. We didn't want Irina to lose her Russian esp. since she is speaking so much English now. She hardly ever says anything in Russian these days. Even when I try to say something she'll say, "Mom, speak English". She's funny. I tell her I want to be like her and I want to try. So, Friday nights we drive to Naperville and we get to speak Russian together. I love it because she can't tell me to stop, while at Russian school. Amy is learning so much too. I can't believe all she has learned from being around Ira these past 5 almost 6 months.

I can't believe Ira has been home almost 6months. It seems like longer because it's like she's always been here. It is amazing to see how much she has changed. Sometimes I am stopped in my tracks at the miraculous work of God in her. I ask myself. How can a child willingly get on a plane with someone they've only seen a few hours a day for a few weeks that doesn't speak the same language and go home with them? Who do I know that could endure such uncertainty?Who would have that much courage? The answer is Irina Elizabeth Allen! I am so proud that she came in spite of her fears. Because believe me she was scared. She cried to the orphanage workers that she didn't want siblings(now she loves her siblings ,but she would still like us all to herself). She cried to her friends that she was afraid to learn English(now she speaks and understands English). She cried because she couldn't comprehend how I could be her mother when we didn't understand each other. She cried because she didn't like me(now she whispers in my ear"I love you mom"). She has struggled with a lot of fears since being home. Everyday is a better day. Each day is a progression from the day before. Someday I will open my heart and share what I've been privileged to watch unfold. Right now my heart is so enlarged. I stand in awe and there are no words.

I am so proud of Ira and all the children for their open loving hearts . Children really are resilient! These kids are amazing!

This is a picture I should have posted sooner. This is the day Irina was reunited with her 4 friends in America. They all lived together in the same orphanage. Now they are together again, adopted in America, and live only 1 hour away from each other! The look on their faces when they saw each other was priceless!! When they all said good-bye to each other in August they didn't know if they'd ever see each other again. Look how GOOD GOD IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!