Translation Please!

And thank you!  Today (02/09/2017) we received an email from the adoption agency saying that the dossier has been translated and is awaiting review.  Woohoo!  It's always nice when I decide to sit down and blog to have a new update. Speaking of translation-Adam has been working on Mandarin lessons.  I am so impressed, it is NOT an easy language to learn at all.  We obviously want to be able to communicate with Fang Tao and others when we are in China.    It hit me the other day as we entered the month of February that Fang Tao has just spent the last January of his life without a forever family.  That was such a deep and wonderful thought!  Thank you Jesus.   Since we haven't received any photo updates from the last one a couple of weeks ago,  here are a couple of pictures from when Fang Tao was a little fellow.

 Isn't he just adorable?

Our adoption journey story continued: At the very beginning of last year we made a cautious inquiry about adoption.  We also, very casually, mentioned it to the kids.  Nothing in concrete, no promises, just feeling things out a bit. God knew that we were about to hit a bump in the road to adoption. We knew that what we were facing meant any talk of adopting was on hold indefinitely.   We both continued to pray, read, ask questions.  And God continued to have our paths cross with other adoptive families.  So thankful for how the Lord works.  We found out in May that Bethel was going to do a huge Find My Family push for all their sweet kiddos throughout the month of June.  Each day for 26 days in June a different child was going to be featured.  At this point, God had done a major work and we were back to seriously seeking God for clear direction about adopting.  We were also praying that God would provide a family, the right family, for Fang Tao.  His feature day came and went, we persevered in prayer.  It became pretty clear that God had found the right family for him-US!  We talked to the kids and our families and in August of last year  we crossed the YES line and began the process.  We had peace and we were in agreement.  So thankful God took us through this process, we have seen His hand all over it.  We trust Him to continue to provide.  So there you have it.  You are up-to-date with how we got here!

                                                         Look at his chubby cheeks!

Interesting Info: I have started an Introduction to Braille class.  I am not reading with my finger pads, but learning the "sighted" version.  I do hope to progress to where I would be able to read with my fingers.  It is a six dot cell system that blows my mind at the simplicity and yet the complexity of it.  Thank you Lord for helping Loius Braille invent this gift all the way back in 1809! It has gone through many varied updates throughout the years.   UEB (Unified English Braille) was officially adopted in the US in 2012.  It includes, letters, numbers, math, computer codes. So far I know all of the letters and numbers.  I need to work on the punctuation.  I am learning Uncontracted Braille right now-which is the simple alphabet, numbers, punctuation and some special symbols.  I've got a long way to go, but I love the challenge and I have always loved learning something new.

If you have a moment and want to watch something interesting (and clean and overall wholesome) simply click this link.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fTBsW7kdo4

Ways to pray for the Harris Half-Dozen:
*Please pray for God's perfect timing in the review of the dossier.
*Please pray for God to continue to keep Fang Tao safe.
*Please pray God be preparing each one of us for this life change.
*Please pray that all we need financially will come in.

Thank you so much,
The Harris Half-Dozen

Progress

Well, I must first start with some very exciting news!!!  On January 12th (Adam's birthday) we received an email that the agency had received our last two documents from the Houston Consulate-completing our 13 page dossier.  On January 13th we received an email saying our dossier was on it's way to China and now we needed to wait for our official Log in Date (LID).  January 16th-China received our dossier and on the 17th we were officially logged in!!!!!  Things got a little bit loud in the car when I read the email to Adam as he was driving.  We thought we would be waiting about two weeks from the time our dossier arrived until the LID.  We are in a waiting pattern for the dossier to be translated and read over and approved so we can take yet another step towards bringing him home.Then, we received the most precious photos of Fang Tao.  Oh my!! That smile.  He is opening Christmas presents that we sent On December 4th!!!!

In the last blog post I began the story of our adoption journey, today I will continue.  We had been sponsoring Fang Tao for a little over a year when Adam said he dreamt I had a baby.  Like I was in the delivery room having a baby.  I jokingly said something about Fang Tao.  A few nights later, as I was doing the dishes, he asked me how serious I was when I said that.  I told him that "it" came unexpectedly for me. We both prayed for him on a regular basis individually and  I remember the moment in October that I felt I was praying about him not just for him.  It was a bit scary, honestly.  What did that mean?  And for Adam, he had wondered when we started sponsoring him, if this might be the road for us.  Regardless, we knew God was up to something far bigger than us.  We initially sent an email-carefully wording it so as not to raise the hopes of anyone,"we just wanted more information." WOW!  We talked and prayed and read and prayed and talked to a couple of families that have adopted.  We just weren't sure about crossing the YES line just yet...to be continued.

Interesting bit of info: If you are wondering what a dossier is, well, let me tell you.  According to Miriam Webster Dictionary, Dossier  -file containing detailed records on a particular person or subject.Our dossier contained 13 documents all about us!  I gathered the necessary documents over the course of 2 months. Marriage license, birth certificates, police records, home study, physicals and a physicians detailed report, financial documents, passport, 8 photos showcasing our family, fingerprints, immigration and citizenship paperwork....I think that was it??!!  Our home study actually required all of that plus more. Then, once you get all of the originals, etc everything must be notarized.  Then, everything that is notarized must go to the Secretary of State office (Texas for us) to be certified.  That office must verify every notary is legal and up to date.  Then, all of that must go (via courier or personally walked in) to the Houston Consulate to be authenticated-they must verify that the SOS is actually true and correct.  And many of the documents have a shelf life of 6 months-meaning you need to work hard and fast.  So, now that you know about that process-you can go take a nap.There may not be physical labor involved in bringing this child home, but there is a different type of labor. And it is well worth it!!!

We are so thankful for every dollar that has been donated towards Fang Tao's adoption.  We are also very thankful for everyone who is praying.

Ways to pray for The Harris Half-Dozen:
*Please pray for peace over Fang Tao.
*Please pray that God is preparing his heart, mind, and body.
*Please pray for God to lead us to the right and best resources.
*Please pray for God's timing in the paperwork and the travel date.
*Please pray for God to prepare all of us for this transition.

Thank you so much,
The Harris Half-Dozen

How Did We Get Here?

I thought I would take the opportunity to share the beginning of our adoption story.  This seems like a good time as we are waiting on more paperwork to go from point A to point B.

We began sponsoring Li Fang Tao in August of 2014.  Adam selected him from a picture and description on Bethel's website.  Bethel is located in Beijing. He felt like he sounded very similar to Jack~very exuberant and full of lots of energy!  Perfect.  We sent monthly support and began praying for him regularly.  We received a few updates here and there for the first year and a half.  And then...... to be continued.  

~Here is a little bump for sponsoring children in need.  When we not only look at a child's picture and profile, but really SEE them- experience true empathy and dare I say even feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit!! To answer by sponsoring is an answer to prayer and fulfilling a great need-education and food and medical, etc.  Sponsorship coupled with prayer makes so much difference, an eternal difference!  I know that our prayers are being heard by our loving Heavenly Father!   Please take time to consider sponsoring a child. There are many wonderful organizations out there. Take time to pray and think it over.   See if this is something that the Lord is leading you to do.  I'll step off my soapbox now.~

What a difference sponsorship has made in Li Fang Tao's life!!!

Apparently he really, really likes bubble wrap!!!

He's such a joyful boy.  I love seeing his smile.  We can't wait to hear his laugh and see his smile for ourselves.  

Interesting bit of info:  According to Google Maps: Bethel is located approximately 7,100 miles away. That is really far away.  So glad that our Heavenly Father is watching over Him.

Ways to pray for the Harris-Half Dozen:

*Please pray for health over Li Fang Tao-mental, emotional, physical.

*Please pray for his transition into our family, that it be smooth.

*Please pray over the grants we submitted, we should be hearing back fairly soon.  (And again THANK YOU to all that have given!)

*Please continue to pray that God prepare each one of us as we take this new journey.  Pray God prepare us individually as He knows we need and as a family unit.

Thank you so much!

The Harris Half-Dozen

He Has Our Heart

Oh my!  So much has transpired since our last blog post. Every day that passes is a day closer to our son.  We submitted paperwork for our last set of finger prints and we had them done on Friday, December 16th.  Then on Friday, December 23rd we received our I800A approval.  That means nothing to most of you, however, it is a very important document and the last one we needed to secure in order to begin the last steps for all of the paperwork that will be heading to China sometime in January.  That is H-U-G-E.  He has our heart and the Heavenly Father has all of us!

I must stop here and say THANK YOU to those of you who are standing with us in prayer.  We know it is paving the way.  We'd also like to say THANK YOU to those who have so generously given of your finances.  We are humbled and so very grateful for everything.  We did reach the matching grant goal of $1,000.00 on Reece's Rainbow-thank you!  God is providing, however there is still more we need.  (If you still need to make a year end tax free donation, please click on the Donate button there to the right.  It works best on the computer -mobile devices seem to have issues- and goes directly to Edward/Harris account and you will receive a confirmation email indicating that.)  THANK YOU so much!

Here are a few pictures we have received from the adoption agency recently.  They are like gold to us, each one a treasure.

I have to share a funny story that we received with our update.  Fang Tao attended a concert and "During the concert, an acapella group sang a slow, solemn version of "Silent Night."  Fang Tao got really excited because he knew the song and he shouted out, "Oh, SILENT NIGHT! YES!" in English. It was pretty funny."  Oh my word, that story makes me laugh every time I read or think about it.  And it made me tear up when I first read about it because that is a song I sang to my kids often before going to bed.  I cannot wait to sing it to Fang Tao.

I will leave you with a few ways you can lift up the Harris Half-Dozen in prayer.
Please pray for:
*God's continued financial provision.
*God's hand on these last important documents and their timing in going to China.
*Fang Tao to have no fear, but rather a determination and courage as his world changes in a few months.
*Fang Tao to have health, spirit, soul, and body.
*For decisions and resources we need here

Thank you again, from the depths of our heart, for every prayer prayed, every dollar given, every encouraging word.  You are part of this journey with us.  HE has our hearts-let us thank HIM above all.


Blessings from the Harris Half-Dozen

While We Wait

Two things are true about adoption: 1.) There is a TON of paperwork and 2.) There is a TON of waiting.  Adam and I both catch ourselves checking both Facebook and our emails hoping for a new picture of Fang Tao.  I told Adam yesterday that I will be so happy when I don't have to wait on someone else to see him, because he will be here!  I am so thankful for our wonderful agency that does a fabulous job of keeping us informed and send photos and updates.

From March 2014

Our family would also like to express our sincerest appreciation for those who have donated to Reece's Rainbow to help us reach our matching grant goal.  We have a few weeks left to reach that $1,000 matching grant.  Please note that by clicking the button to the right (on the blog) ensures that you are donating directly to the Harris/Edward fund.  You may also access the following link and it too will go directly to our fund: http://reecesrainbow.org/112995/sponsorharris-4 .  For some reason it does not seem to work on mobile devices correctly.  Again, thank you so much for your generosity and all donations to Reece's Rainbow are tax deductible.


~Ways to pray for the Harris Half-Dozen this week:
Please pray for:
*God's continued financial provision for the adoption.
*God's hand to be upon every document that needs to be processed.
*Patience as we wait.
*Fang Tao's heart to be made ready to join a family.  Although God did create us to belong in a family, pray for  the transition as being part of a family will be new for him.


God bless,
The Harris Half-Dozen

Matching Grant Opportunity

We are so excited and blessed to announce we have a matching grant of $1,000 and we have until December 30th to match.  You can make a tax deductible gift by clicking on Donate over there on the right hand side.  You can also click the following link and donate: http://reecesrainbow.org/112995/sponsorharris-4  and there is an option to write a note, please type Harris (Edward) Grant.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask us.  Thank you in advance for your generosity in helping us bring home our son!!

We're Adopting!!!

I realize that most already know this exciting news from the Harris family, it's just really fun to proclaim!  We are all very excited to welcome a new Harris in 2017.  This blog will be our story, the one that God is writing.  His story is exciting, full of adventure, promises fulfilled, needs met.  All for His glory.  We look forward to sharing it with you.  We will be posting pictures, fun facts about China, and also ways to pray for Fang Tao and our family and ALL that lies ahead.  Thank you for reading.

The Harris Half-Dozen