When Angels Rally

I have posted before about my Grandparents and their home in Camarillo. In May of 2012 we had received and accepted Jacob's referral. I started to plan a fundraising event in anticipation of our first trip to Russia. From the moment I started working on the fundraiser to the day of the event was only 3 weeks.

My parents happened to meet my aunt and uncle at the Camarillo house during this time for a "spring cleaning effort". It had been our family's intent all along to keep Grandma and Grandpa's home as it was for a vacation home. But I received a call from my mom asking if they brought a moving truck full of furniture home if we would have somewhere to put it for the sale. I could hardly believe my ears. I resisted at first not wanting anything to change. I was irritated that they would "get rid" of Grandma's things. But my aunt said something that has stuck with me since that day: " I think this is what Mom would want us to do to help Kimberly get her baby home."

My parents, aunt and uncle ended up clearing out the entire house. And in that three weeks that we took to prepare, over 24 other families made large donations to our sale. In total, over $5,000 was raised in our single-day event to bring Jacob home. The added miracle was our sale took place on one of the hottest days of the season with temperatures hitting 109 degrees. I cannot imagine what would compel that many people to come outside to a yard-sale event in the heat, other than heavenly help.

As we inch closer to our travel to Ty in China, we are seeing God's army at work again. We recently sent out an invitation to friends and family to share our story through GoFundMe on Facebook. Some of our friends shared. And a couple shared some very touching words in their posts that lifted us up.

Tonight when Brad arrived home from a 13 hour work day, I decided to play a "mama card" and slip into a hot bath leaving daddy in charge. My mouth is sore from having two of my needed root canals and I needed a break to let some motrin settle in.

Just as I turned the water off Brad asked through the door if I had gotten the mail today. I had not. A few minutes later I heard the door being unlocked and Brad came in holding a small handwritten note out to me. It was from a friend of ours who's husband had passed away not long ago. It read:

Dear Kim, 
I hope this helps with your adoption. I am very inspired and touched... [My husband] "told" me he wanted to help you, so I'm just sending this on behalf of him!
Good luck with all your plans
Love

I looked up at Brad to see tears streaming down his face as he held out a check.

It didn't hit me until Brad left the room. But this man who I knew in life had found a way to bless us from the other side of the veil. And I was overwhelmed.

I don't believe people on this side of the veil can truly understand what an impact their obedience to spiritual promptings can have. Our friend who wrote the letter did not know the day I was having. She did not know the circumstances of the day that made the timing of that letter so powerful. She does not know our personal finances or the significance of the amount the check was written for.

She is not the One who has heard our prayers. But she is one of the many that Heavenly Father is using to answer them. I love being able to feel the angels rally.

The Year of the Horse

Friday, January 31, we celebrated Chinese New Year. This is the year of the horse.

In Chinese astrology, Horse year is considered a fortunate year that brings luck and good things. Magical Horse has supernatural powers, is heroic, strong, and can even fly! A white celestial cloud Horse is sacred to the Chinese Goddess Kwan Yin. Her white Horse flies through the heavens, bringing peace and blessings. Horse is a hero in China because important battles were won due to the power and strength of the Horse.

We gave each of the kids, and my niece, red envelopes.

We even sent red envelopes to Ty and to his 3 friends.

The night of the 31st we attended a dinner celebration at my school.

I have been studying Mandarin Chinese for a little over a year now and attend a class each Friday night at the Sacramento Mandarin School. We are hoping to enroll Ty with me when we arrive home in an effort to maintain a part of his language and culture.

At school each of the classes created a poster for the New Year and preformed a song, poems or lucky phrases.



My class sang Dāng wǒmen dōu zài yīqǐ (The more we get together). 

Drew had learned the song with me at home and was so excited to come up with our class to sing with us. Be warned, he is holding his own microphone so it is a bit loud...

I am am excited to have this fun new holiday to celebrate in our family. Xīnnián kuàilè!! Happy New Year!!