Linking Up With A Place Called Simplicity

I follow an inspirational blog called A Place Called Simplicity.  Linny, the mama, has a heart for the orphan, and is doing a linkup to help adopting families.  If you feel led to donate, you may make contributions through the Reece's Rainbow button on the right. 

1.   Tell us a bit about the child you are adopting - including this treasure's age and name {Please post a picture if allowed.}

This is our sweet Katie girl.

This picture was taken over a year ago.  Katie turned 2 in September.

2.  Is the child you are adopting considered "Special Needs"?  

Yes, Katie has limb differences.  She has club foot and amniotic banding syndrome.  She will need a prosthetic foot and serial casting/surgery upon coming home.  She may also need some surgical revision on her affected fingers.

3.  What country or geographic area are you adopting from?

China

4.   Have you adopted before?

Yes, this is our second special needs adoption from China.  Our daughter, Hannah, also has limb differences.  We also have 7 biological children.

5.   How close to travel are you?

I anticipate travel in May or June.

6.   Do you attend church regularly?   If so, what type of church is it?

Yes, we've been at Impact Community Church for 9 years next month.

7.    Do you tithe with each pay {at least the scriptural standard of 10%}?

Yes, we have been faithful tithers since early in our marriage.  

8.  This week, did you participate in any way with the day of Praise, Prayer by giving praise on the link and then posting your request?

Yes, I posted both a praise and a prayer, and I took some time to pray for other prayer requests as well.  

9.  Have you read the entire Deadbeat Dad series?  {Yes or No}  Please read it in full, so you can better understand the heart of God for stewarding the money He has graciously gifted us with. 
It is a four part series and can be found here:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Yes.

10. How did you hear about this Link up we are having? 

I'm a blog follower.  I've actually been looking forward to this since the last Linkup.

11.  Is there anything, briefly, that you would like to share with our orphan-lovin', God-honorin', Jesus worshippin' bloggy friends reading this?

We have such a neat story of how we happened to be matched to Katie, which you can read here.  I just want to say thank you for your prayers and support.  We're very excited to welcome Katie to our family, and I'm so thrilled to watch God work in our family.

Oh, and one more thing!  If you can't adopt, for whatever reason, have you thought about getting involved in Safe Families?  We are a host family, and I love it, but you don't have to host to help!  You can provide respite care, or transportation, or be a liason between family and hosts, or help out with supplies...  These are not adoptable kids, these are just kids whose families are going through a hard time and need a little help.  It's an awesome way to keep kids OUT of the foster care system.  Sorry, is my passion showing?  I could go on and on.
   
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Finally, understanding that each gift received through this "Response Time" has been entrusted generously for our use from our loving Father, we promise, in the unlikely event that we would be unable to or decide not to adopt the children we are advocating for, we promise to return all of the money gifted to us as a result of this link to International Voice of the Orphan so they can, at their discretion, give to other families currently adopting.      

{Please place your initials on the line.} 
Yes, I will submit__SB____             No, I am unable to submit to this ________