Most of you know some of this story... some know none of it... but none know all of it (including us... yet:). Check it…
"Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us." James 1:27, NLT
So back in February, we heard about this new program in China where if you'd only been home with your child for a year or less, you could use your inch-thick stack of paperwork again to adopt another child w/special needs... but of course, Sam had been home for 12.5 months. What!!?!... we're so dun!! Ok, ok, it's only 2 weeks over, and I know it's absolutely insane, but let's just see if they'll make an exception. How cool would it be to be able to bring another child HOME and not have to do all that paper work again? That's like pregnancy without the pregnant part!
While we waited (for-ever) for the exception decision, we found a sweet little 2.5 yo boy named YiNan (pronounced Enon) and fell in love. ♥♥♥ Also while we waited, we realized that MD law requires a new homestudy anyway (half the paperwork, half the wait) and of course, we'd need new immigration approval (half the wait), so it wasn't quite as cool as we'd thought. And by the time they said no (now 14 mos), we were already in love and committed to bring young Davey home. ☺ It really wasn't that much savings in time - or money - afterall, just effort, and how could we live with ourselves always wondering what his life would've ended up being (what our lives would've ended up being) if we had been too busy to make the effort? So, off we go on what seems like for us, the perpetual paperchase (homestudy, immigration, birth certs, marriage cert, background checks, employment, physicals, etc). Do we think God used a "bait-n-switch" scheme on us? - absolutely not - but we do know He used it to get us looking again... we were so DONE. Sam's been our "caboose" since before he even got home... really, we were done!
So, about 2 weeks later, God started poking again. So you can't use Sam's paperwork again… ok, but why not use David's paperwork twice!??!?!... and that would be all in one trip too (now THAT's time AND money savings!).
What are You trying to do, God!!?!? Adopt TWO?!?!? Don't You know how may kids we already have?!?!? Do You know how many seats our van has!!??!? Yes, He said... I know all that, and I have a plan. Do You know how many shoes we need for all those cute little toes running around our house??!? How about college?... and weddings?? Oh, and don't You know how old we are??!! Yes, He said... I know all that, and I have a plan. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Part of His plan includes a change in the adoption tax law, in that we're getting a huge tax refund this year (better than half the adoption costs!). Part of His plan also seems to be fundraising - so here we humbly are.
If you think you'd like to help financially, our agency is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (and belongs to the ECFA), which means it would be tax deductible for you. You can do so by clicking here, https://www.awaa.org/forms/payment.aspx, using the dropdown to choose "Eternal Family Program," and putting "Benton family" in the Notes box. Thanks so very, very much for considering it.
We're also planning a huge yardsale on Saturday, 6/25 - so if your spring cleaning left you with some "junk" you'd like to part with, we'd be happy to help out (we'll even pick up:)... and if you're local to us, please stop by to pick up someone else's "junk" for the cause.
But even more important than these, please, please pray for us. Please pray for Davey, and Andrew too. Please pray that they're both warm and well fed, loved on daily, and that they'll know their Momma and Daddy are coming... just as soon as we can. Please pray for our family - that our kiddos won't think we've absolutely lost our minds (and that God will keep us from doing so). Please pray that God will indeed provide the funds to get these boys home. Please pray we'll be able to properly care for our kids and their needs. Please pray that our paperwork will get done in a timelier manner than it's been so far. Please pray that we'll find out who Andrew is soon, and that he'll live in the same city/province as David. Please pray for all the orphans in the world, over 143,000,000. We can't adopt them all (we're done [again;]), but we can pray for them all. They each have a very special place in God's heart. "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families..." Psalm 68:5-6a NIV
Thanks again for caring enough to care,
Bill and Toni, etc, etc, etc
www.cantwaitbentons.blogspot.com - guess we'd better get this thing cranked up again too
