A New Day -- with prayer requests

Hello everyone.

I just wanted to share that Gary and I (though still waiting on Hannah -- probably another year or two, depending on the CCAA) have decided to start the adoption process for our 2nd child. We may get them about the same time, or we may get the "2nd" one about a year before Hannah. We want more than 1 child and know that we are not getting any younger, and that many adoptions are not allowed after a certain age.

We'd like to have our "2nd" child for a year before Hannah so that he/she has time with us by themself before Hannah comes. We haven't decided on a gender or age of this child. We also haven't totally decided on if this child will be domestic or international. We do want Hannah to have someone else that "looks" like her in the family. But, thankfully at the same time, I have Aunt Sadako, Ruth, Tonya, and Sherman for that as well. Please pray on our decision with us. We know that the child we receive will be the one that is to be ours, but we also need more direction from God as to where this child should come from.

At the same time, we also want to say that we're not fully convinced that God is NOT going to give us a biological child as well. Things on this front have also been hopeful, but we will not be fully relying on this either. It was always our intention to try and have at least one biological child, as well as adopt "several" other children. This "2nd" adoption may be our last, depending on finances and God's call/timing.

On the topic of financing, we have been very fortunate. We qualified for a grant from Shaohannah's Hope that will cover the orphanage donation. I changed school districts this year as well, so the money that I make from the pay increase has gone straight to Hannah's adoption. We have been able to cover the costs of her adoption almost fully at this time. We only have our plane costs left to be covered. I'm still hoping that we MAY get blessed with frequent flyer miles. I've found out that Hannah's ticket, alone, will cost at least $700 (one way). Our tickets, which we want them to be premium economy for the return trip with Hannah, will be about $8000. We don't know how much we'll be saving if we go regular economy on the trip there, but are going to find out as the trip gets closer.

Since we are doing the 2nd adoption, we will be starting to put money towards that instead of the plane tickets because it is such a long time away. We've already heard that our hotel costs will be rising before that (China hosts the Summer Olympics in 2008), so even though the rest of the money has been raised, there will probably be more needed before it's all over. Instead of me putting it aside continuously right now thinking I'm done and then have it go up anyway and frustrate me, I'd rather be using it towards the 2nd adoption until we get closer to Hannah's trip and can get an update on hotels, airfares, etc.

We're also praying that Gary gets a full-time teaching position for the Fall. We'd have to pay for his internship with the 1st paycheck, but then after that, we'd have his money to go towards paying some of our bills off and the 2nd adoption costs. I have NO CLUE how much he'd bring home, as a 1st year teacher, each month but I know that it'll be more than what we have now. We'll also be looking at more fundraising opportunities to help finance the 2nd one as well.

In any case, we'll be a family (not just a couple) soon. We look forward to play dates, hanging out with cousins, and going to the park with our children. I think they are going to love playing together and being a part of each others lives.

Have a wonderful day, we have a lot to pray about, but are having a great one ourselves.

Terri for The Casebier's