Amazing weekend!

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Here is a link to our fundraiser to bring little Z home.  If you aren't local, please consider donating to our auction/raffle.  You can email or comment on here if you have anything you would like to donate.  If you are local, please consider coming to this event.  It should be a lot of fun!

This week, we should hear from Immigration for our fingerprint appointments.  We were told we can go in early to speed the process along by a couple weeks.  A couple weeks means possible a couple less weeks that Z has to be in his orphanage.  We will do anything to save him from any more time without a family.

This weekend was AMAZING.  We met a family that many of your have heard us talk about.

www.marianaorphanfund.blogspot.com

I contacted Stephanie back in July (on a whim) requesting information about Z.  She happened to work for an adoption agency that had his file or access to his file.  We quickly became friends.  I told her about my daughter, Hannah's mission of Hannah Hopes and she loved how God was working and just knew HE had a plan for our family.  At that time, we were not ready to commit to adopting.  BUT, we prayed and she prayed.

Stephanie is a person that I consider an amazing prayer warrior for our family.  She is one of the key players for making Hannah Hopes "popular."  Since she posted about Hannah on her blog in September, over 1000 animals have been collected, tagged, and distributed to children who needed comforting!

Stephanie also is my role model.  Her LOVE for orphans and her willingness to spread the word about adoption is amazing.  She has adopted four beautiful girls from Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Bulgaria.  She and her husband are also hoping to bring two more beautiful little girls home this summer!  Stephanie is very knowledgeable about adoptions so if ANYONE is considering adoption... I would strongly suggest you contacting her through her blog.  In fact, her and another dear friend of mine are hoping to open up an agency of their own soon :-).

Being around her family and spending time with them this weekend at the adoption conference was truly a blessing.  Her girls all came from orphanages similar to the one that Z is in.  I could see what LOVE can do for a child.  All of them are thriving, happy, and just plain beautiful.  I am so excited to see what LOVE can do for Z!

We were able to get a picture before they packed up and left the conference.  Stephanie and her husband Brian  have made a change for these 4 children.  I thank the good Lord for Stephanie and her encouragement for our family so we can make a change for one also!

(Stella was at the conference with us, but she was to excited to go back to her classes after lunch so she missed the photo opportunity)

Visit Steph's blog to learn more about this amazing family!

www.marianaorphanfund.blogspot.com