October 31, 1517

Blessed Reformation Day!

Today we celebrate Martin Luther’s nailing of his ninety-five theses to a church door in Wittenberg, setting in-motion the Protestant Reformation.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:8-9

shiver me timbers!

Fall Party at Preschool

Trunk-or-Treat at Church!

a little about Qingyang, Gansu province (China)

China is one of the most remarkable, beautiful places that I have ever traveled to -- the rich culture and breath-taking landscape are unlike any other place in the world!  We are so proud to have a son from this region.  And although we've never been to Gansu province, I have been reading that it is even more enchanting.  Our little boy is from Qingyang City (which means celebration), however when we travel to his province we will stay in the capital, Lanzhou.  This is where we will have our Gotcha Day.  With a nanny and the orphanage director, little Judah will take a 6+ hour van ride from Qingyang to Lanzhou...and, then be plopped into our arms.  I expect it to be a traumatic day for him.

(images courtesy of...the internet)

All of our paperwork should finally be the hands of China's adoption officials, who will submit to us our approval to travel!!

monday's call to worship

Jesus Paid it All
Elvina M. Hall (1865) / Kristian Stanfill

I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness watch and pray
Find in me thine all in all

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord now indeed I find
Thy power and thine alone
Can change the lepers spots
And melt the heart of stone

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
It's washed away! All my sin! And all my shame!

And when before the throne
I stand in him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead
Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead
Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead
Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead 
Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead
Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

adoption rocks :)

We had a great time last night with our African Fellowship families...families home with their children...families waiting for court dates...families just starting the paper-chase!!  We are so excited about the new friends that we've made -- we look forward to all the new families who will be joining us next month!!

Pic: Ben, Micah (holding a pic of baby Andrew, his mom is waiting for their court date) & Gizatu!

Ethio-Africa Fellowship, 10/15!!

Tomorrow night we're hosting an Ethiopia-African Fellowship at our home!  There's no agenda for the evening...just the opportunity for our families to hang-out!  We meet the 3rd Fri of every month (so mark your calendars)!  If you'd like to join us and want more info, email me here.

Also, a {big} congrats to our silent auction winners!  And Thank You to all who participated! 
We raised $500!!

updates {travel & auction}

I've had tons of questions about when are we going to China!!!  Well, that is a great question!  But, here's what we know:

-our I-797 Notice of Action (this is our US visa approval to bring Judah to the US) was forwarded to the US Consulate in China last week
-the US Consulate in China gives our paperwork (Judah's visa application) one, final stamp of approval -- then they forward the papers on to the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs)
-once the CCAA receives our paperwork from the Consulate, they send our travel approval to our agency
-with travel approval in-hand, our agency begins coordinating our travels to/in China -- we will leave for China 2-4 wks after travel approval
-the above process should only require a few weeks!!

Our silent auction is going well!!  You can scroll-down, or, click here to check it out!!  Bidding ends tomorrow night at midnight!

monday's call to worship

Be Thou my Vision
Written by Dallan Forgail (8th Century)

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

a family and their pumpkin

silent auction

Below are 2 items featured in our silent auction! 
Thank you for taking a peek!! 
Feel free to re-post this on other blogs or facebook!!

Here's how it works:

• If you're interested in an item or would like to place a bid, leave a comment or email me at alisafmartin@yahoo.com.  I will keep this post updated with the current/highest bids for each item (as well as the bidder's initials). 
• The auction will close Tuesday night, 10.12.2010, at midnight -- the highest bid wins, and I will notify the both winners on Wednesday morning. 
• All proceeds from this silent auction will go toward bringing our son, Judah Fu Xue, home from China (prayerfully in Nov)!!

    Item #1 - painting  

"I will bless the Lord at all times." Psalm 34:1

This 16x20 painting was donated by artist Ashley Anderton.  Ashley is an adoptive-mom & devoted Follower of Jesus. 
Click HERE to follow Ashley's blog!!

current bid: $125 (ma)

    Item #2 - quilt     

"Creation to Resurrection"
This 55x74 quilt was donated by another very special adoptive family! 

current bid: $150 (sw)

yard sale report!

Our yard sale was a huge success!!  Our goal was to raise enough money to cover Micah's expenses for our trip to China (~$2500), and we reached our goal!!  We are thrilled!  We COULD NOT not have done it without all the generous contribution of "stuff" from our church family -- nor, could we have reached our goal without our precious friends around the world who gave monetary donations!!

Thank You!!!!!!

*******

...all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

*******

We have a final fundraiser that will begin this week -- it's a silent auction on our blog -- look for the items to be posted tomorrow evening.  This time we are raising funds toward the orphanage/adoption fees owed in China...~$7000.  We certainly don't anticipate raising all that we need -- just wanted you to know how it will help!!!  The orphanage fee is actually around $5000, and helps fund China's social welfare institutes--the what/where that many Chinese boys and girls call home (includes care-givers, food, medical care, and other basic necessities).