China Bound

I just dropped the two littles off at school and am currently perched on our couch pecking away at this keyboard and eating the last leftover pizza Josh Kelley and I snuck into the house late last night.  When I’m emotional I tend to eat so hence the pizza at 9am.  It’s hard asking for help, but also sometimes it’s just a must so we throw down our pride and reach out for help.

God is simply insanely good.  His ways really are vastly different than ours.  His thoughts so much greater than ours.  Josh Kelley said the other day casually in the kitchen while preparing dinner, “Could you have ever imagined our life like this…”  I got teary eyed.  Never.  We have been through hard, rough times, but it is far sweeter than I ever ever imagined and grabs my heart daily.  I feel honored to do this life.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

There are 5 kiddos who call me momma…4 are all mine and 1 is not…and turns out there is a sixth in China who will call me momma as well.  We are adopting the sweetest 3-year-old boy who has a complex heart defect.  We have been on a fast and furious journey to him and are hopeful to have him home by the end of 2016 and in the tender care of our trusted pediatrician and cardiologist.  We have gathered and filled out paperwork…homestudies, dossier, hours of late night training in the dark while our kids watch movies…which usually take months in less than 2 weeks time.  We have kissed envelopes of paperwork goodbye and prayed they arrive safely.

We love this child and simply cannot wait to get him home.  Long ago familiar feelings of anxiousness have been trying to creep in while we wait for paperwork to process and governments to do what they need to do…all the while knowing our kiddo who has a very special little heart is waiting.  Every morning I wake up and tell God I surrender it all.  Every last piece of this life I laughably call mine.  I name each thing out loud always including my 4th sons’ name.  Take every last piece of this life Jesus and make it yours.

When I think about him and what is ahead for him and the loss and grief and heartache I cry and pray to God to just take every last piece of it.  Make it His.  Carry our son.  Carry us together.  Be what we absolutely are ill-equipped to be.  Mend and heal and restore.  Bring joy and attachment.  Fill each of our hearts with empathy and compassion like we could never imagine.  Fill the spaces.  Bend time and make us a family.

This adoption has been very different in so many ways than our Ethiopian ones.  #1 on the list is financials.  We are having to pull off the funds in just a few months we would normally work and raise in a years time.  So we are asking for help and there are several ways to participate.

1.  I’ve set up an online shop HERE.  There are key fobs sets, a few pieces of art and I’ve made my online Bible journaling class available.  Every penny will go directly to our adoption process.  I am going to be working to keep the store stocked and will also have stationary and Sasquatch Design Society tees available soon.

If you are a past Bible journaling class attender, if you enjoyed the class would you mind sharing about the online class and linking my shop ???  Getting the word out is going to be crazy helpful and I would just kiss your face off if you could help by sharing.  And maybe you just love your key fob or art or you just want to help us spread the word, please feel free to share my store until you’re blue in the face 🙂  www.pitterpatterart.bigcartel.com

2.  Our Noonday Collection party taking place in September will benefit our adoption.  Our family will receive 20% of all purchases!!!!  This is so great.  This means you get to do your purposeful purchasing and not only are you partnering with women and families around the world, but you are also partnering with our family to help bring our new little guy home.  Win/win.  So mark your calendars for Sunday, September 25 from 2-4pm.  You know I will feed you well and hopefully you’ll laugh until you snort.  And I’ll probably hug you.

If you can’t make the party, no worries.  You can shop online HERE and we still receive 10% of your purchase.   Just make sure at checkout Laura Kelley is your hostess and Rebecca Daniels is your ambassador.  Let’s all think Christmas.  Too soon?!?!?!  According to Josh Kelley, it’s never too soon to discuss Christmas.

3.  All custom orders and Bible journaling classes will currently go towards our adoption process.  This will not remain, but while we are working to raise these funds this feels like a logical move.  So if you’ve been thinking about placing an order (art, key fobs, name pillows, etc) or booking a Bible Journaling class, now is your time 🙂  Message me HERE or email me at pitterpatterart at gmail dot com and we’ll work out all the details.

And 4.  This one is hard for us because sometimes it’s just not easy to ask for help, but our adoption agency partners with GoFundMe and so we have an account now.  We have realized we cannot do this alone and like I told a friend the other day about a totally different subject, “There is nothing wrong or embarrassing about knowing we need help and asking for it.”  So if you feel inclined to give you can check out our page HERE.  Again, all the money will go directly towards our adoption process.  We will absolutely not be buying cookies or pin wheels or pizza with the funds.

And again, if you would share that would be amazing.  Getting the word out is half the battle.  www.gofundme.com/kelleyfamily8

Lastly, would you pray with us and for us?  Would you pray for our boy and his heart.  Would you pray for the change that is coming for him and us.  Would you pray for the loss and grief he is going to experience.  Would you pray for God to prepare him and us.  Would you pray God would again do what only God can do.  Above all else, we absolutely covet your prayers.

So thank you in advance.  Thank you for reading, considering, helping, sharing and praying.  We’re going from 7 to 8 and could not be more thankful to God.  He is good and mighty and He alone makes what feels so impossible possible.  We cannot wait to watch Him do what only He can do.  And even if no money comes in…even if nothing sells…even if no one chooses to share…He is still God, He is still good and we’re still bringing home a son!  Another small human is going to call me momma and I do not take that for granted for one second.

Happiest of Mondays!

17 Comments

  1. So happy for you and your growing family! We have three little boys adopted from China. My heart skipped a beat with excitement for you and your precious little one who is waiting. I will be praying for your family. Big hugs!!! 🙂

  2. we have 4 kiddos from China–3 from Henan and 1 from Anhui- i have such a soft spot for SN kiddos from China– congratulations!

  3. How exciting! I love reading about your family. We have a son from Ethiopia and a daughter from China too. Love how God weaves our families together, even in unexpected ways!

  4. Hip Hip Hooray! How exciting! Congratulations on adding a new son to your family!

  5. Theresa Douma says:

    I never comment, but love reading! Congratulations! So exciting for you all! Hope things go smoothly!

  6. Judy Baker says:

    Laura I am so happy for you guys and for your new son! He will be loved mightily I know! We will be praying for you all!

  7. Laura! This is the BEST news! I’m so excited for you!!!! Praying hard for your family -I’ll see you at the Noonday party, I’m sure! – Emily (Cindy’s daughter)

  8. Your heart, your family, your LOVE amazes me. Thank you for sharing your huge news. Before discovering your blog, I never realized the other side of adoption and the sadness of that side. I will be praying for you family! What a blessing you and Josh are. A huge incredible, home giving-Jesus sharing-cookie eating blessing.

  9. Dear Laura — I am so excited for you and the Kelley family. I can’t wait to see and hear all about your new little one. And I want a PRINT! It’s sold out. Which is great! I’ll keep a lookout. Love you with all my heart. xoxo tere

  10. Lori Gettelfinger says:

    Congratulations!!! I will be praying for you and so amazed by your journey. I am so glad that you and Brooke and Josh are friends and I know you through them!!

  11. Y’all are amazing people and you’re raising amazing people. Thank you for making this world a better place!

  12. YAYYY!! So excited for all of you!! Looks like all of bloggy land is excited, because I headed straight over to your shop and all the key fobs are sold out already! 🙂 haha – that’s awesome!

  13. Blessings to you and your growing family. Today and always!

  14. So crazy, beyond excited for you and your family!!!!!! Congrats to you all-can’t wait to see his little face in your arms!

  15. AMAZING! So excited for you and the little guy that’s about to become a part of your awesome family!! Sending you all the good vibes on this next step of your journey!

Trackbacks

  1. Fri-yah! says:

    […] I have a gift card that is literally burning a whole in my pocket.  I pretty much need that Mary Poppins bag for fall.  It’s beckoning to me.  And mark your calendars for Sunday, September 25 from 2-4pm because I’m hosting a Noonday party.  I will always get behind this company because it is legit and genuine and true and coming along side women and families all around the world.  They are my total jam.  Also 10% of sales go directly towards our adoption process.  We are so excited about adding another sweet son in the mix.  You can read more about our boy and our journey HERE. […]

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