Our Beauty

Last weekend, Lily was in a beauty pageant at her school.  She asked for weeks to be in it, so we borrowed a dress and reluctantly agreed.  In her 15 years, Mary Ashtyn has only been in two pageants and I'll admit they aren't my favorite.  Like every parent, I think my children are the the best and the brightest.  It's hard when a panel of judges doesn't agree with me :)  Allowing Lily to be in this pageant scared me.  I wasn't sure I could stand to let anyone judge her...she gets enough of that as she rolls along in the mall or anywhere else she goes.  I was scared for her to be compared to the other girls and be hurt.  I prayed about it A LOT.  As I prayed, Lily talked about the pageant and grew more and more excited.

On pageant day, I took her to get her hair done.  She was so excited!  

She couldn't stop smiling at herself in the mirror...she loves getting pampered!

After arriving at the school and getting Lily's dress on, she looked perfect!

This would also be around the time I realized what a horrible pageant Mom I am...I didn't bring a brush, hairspray, or even lipstick!!  As I left Lily to get to my seat, I reminded her to have fun and we talked about how pretty she and all of her friends were.  I sat down to watch, so worried about my Lily's tender heart.

Then, my sweet girl rolled onto the stage.  Her beauty and grace took my breath away.  She sat up so straight and tall, stared those judges down and gave them her sweetest smile.  I melted.  Lily Joy was absolutely perfect.  I realized it didn't matter what any judge said or who won, my beautiful little girl can do anything!  

Our Lily won First Alternate!!!  It was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen.  We were cheering and going a little crazy and she just sat staring at her trophy.  It was amazing!! A week later, her trophy is still sitting in the den right beside her.  She tells people that she almost won :)  What a dream come true for a little princess who lived in an orphanage until 2 years ago.  A little princess who walked just as tall as anyone else in the pageant that night and proved once again that wheelchairs and weakness don't matter.

 Love that both my girls were First Alternate in both of their very first pageants!!

 Mary Ashtyn 5th Grade 2010

Lily Joy 2nd Grade 3/21/14

LOA!!!

It's official...the long wait is OVER!!  Our LOA (Letter of Acceptance) arrived at our agency today.  Ava Frances will be home before we know it.  There will be several little approvals to wait on now...I800, Article 5 Drop off & Pickup, TA (Travel Approval) and CA (Consulate Appointment).  These don't take long at all!!!  Seriously, y'all...we are almost BamFam6.

I was just about to post my fears about raising the final $8,000.  How I know that God won't let us down, but today has been a day of doubting and fear.  Then, my sweet little Lily says out of the blue, "I'm so glad I have a family".  I realized that's all that matters...Ava will have a family!!  We will have another miracle to love!!  Ava will know the love of a family and most importantly the love of our Savior!!  We are doing exactly what God intends for our family. 

So, we're waiting to see how God works out the last of the financing...fully trusting that He will. 

Pray for Ava as she lives her final months in the only home she's ever known.  Pray that God prepares her heart and mind for the changes that are coming.  My heart breaks for our little girl, adoption is beautiful...but it is born from brokenness.  She'll leave her nannies, her friends, her language, and her country.  So scary for a nine year old.

Pray for us as we prepare for Ava.  We desperately need to raise the last of the adoption costs.  We've had 10 people commit to helping by donating $50.  Some have given much more and some have given less, we appreciate EVERY donation.  We still need 150 people to donate.  Please prayerfully consider helping get Ava home.

Click here to donate

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  (Phil. 4:6-7)

Ava Frances Fang Bamberg...Coming HOME Soon!!!

Sweetest Voice

We have loved our sweet Ava and her big 'ole grin for almost a year now.  We've seen videos of her doing daily living activities (getting dressed, washing her face) and watched her zoom around with her walker.  We've loved her because we felt God calling us to be her family.  It's been a really exciting time in our lives as we wait for her to come home.

There has been one little doubt that has worried me...we had no clue about Ava's personality. She has obediently completed every task on the videos with that sweet smile on her face, but we haven't really had a glimpse of the real her.  She has not spoken one word in the 17 videos that we've seen.

Today, I fell in love with Ava...head over heels, completely in love.  No doubt, no fear!!  This girl is all Bamberg.  We got a new video and well, WOW!!  There are no words to describe our sweet baby.  You'll just have to see for yourself....

 http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNjg2Njg2OTM2.html

How cute is she???  Ava starts off reciting some poems.  Then she is asked her favorite food.  It takes several seconds to come up with her answer...chips!!!  We also got to ask a few questions.  Her nannies report that she loves her forever family and has no worries or questions about us!  I wanted to know how to comfort her if she is upset.  Their reply, hold her and feed her snacks.  Oh, my girl...just like her Mama!!  Guess we'll be stocking up on lots of chips for Miss Ava :)

As we fund raise and worry about raising enough money to actually get Ava HOME, it was amazing to get this video today.  Perfect timing, God's timing.  Isn't He good, all the time?!?

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.  (Zephaniah 3:17)

 

So Close!!!

Seven months ago, we made one of the scariest decisions of our lives.  We obeyed God's calling to add a fourth child to our family, making us BamFam6!!  Seven months ago, we knew that it would take around $40,000 to bring Ava home.  Seven months ago, we were certain that we couldn't afford another adoption.  It seemed impossible...it's been difficult...but it's almost done!!!

Our family and friends have been begging and pleading with us through so many fundraisers.  You sweet people have bought over 200 Sassy Frass shirts!!!  You've bought chances on beach vacations, quilts, and free photo sessions.  People we don't even know have called our agency and given anonymous donations, others have generously donated to our fundraising sites, still others have shown up at our jobs and handed us cash.  It has been overwhelming and has humbled us beyond belief.   How good is our God?  HE IS AWESOME!!  The things He has taught us about trust and humility through this adoption are amazing

We could be a few weeks away from getting our LOA (letter of acceptance)!!  From that point, we just have a few more steps to go before travel.  If everything continues to go as planned, we will travel by late May/early June!!!! 

We have watched our adoption debt slowly decrease until now we only need around $10,000 to bring Ava HOME!! 

I am longing for the day when this sweet little girl with the smile that melts my heart is in my arms...sitting between us in our family pictures.  Friends, we need your help this one last time!!  Please, please help us.  I am tired of begging for money and I'm praying this will be the very last time :)

We are asking 200 people to pledge just $50 to bring Ava Frances Fang HOME, HOME, HOME!!  If you can help, please click here to donate your $50.  If you would rather mail your pledge, please email me at mashmommy@bellsouth.net for our home address.

We are so very close, please help us finish this journey.  Pray with us that will be fully funded SOON so that Ava won't have to wait any longer for her family.    We can't do this without YOU!!

All our love,
Trent, Kristie, Mary Ashtyn, Reece, Lily & Ava

Photo Fundraiser

As we move closer to travel for Ava, we are overwhelmed by the support from our friends and family.  We could not have made it this far without the constant prayers and encouragement.  Last week, a local photographer contacted me because she has heard about Ava.  Although we have never met, she offered to help bring our sweet girl home.  We are so thankful to Misty Beams at Captured Photography.

Please visit Misty's website and check out her gorgeous work.  If you'd like a chance to win, please click on one of the links below, just be sure to mention you'd like to be entered for the Photo Session.

Click here for our Pay Pal Account through our You Caring site

Click here for our tax deductible donation site

Ava's Quilt

Now that we are logged in and getting so close to bringing Ava HOME, we have several new fundraisers!!!  We have been so overwhelmed by the support we've been given so far.  We are praying that we'll travel in June and are anxious to have this adoption fully funded.  God has shown us time and time again that He will provide.  His plans include caring for the orphans and we firmly believe that He has always intended for Ava to be a Bamberg. 

Our newest fundraiser is a chance to win this beautiful handmade double wedding ring quilt...

For every $5.00 donation, your name will be entered to win!!

Click here to make your donation...thanks for helping bring Ava HOME!!

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  (John 14:18)

LID!!!

We were Dossier to China on January 22.  A few days later, everything closed for the week for Chinese New Year.  We were prepared to have a longer wait due to the holiday.  Did you hear me shouting for joy today when I checked my voicemail??

We are logged in as of today!!!!!!!!!  Faster than expected and we are so excited to be a big step closer to Miss Ava Frances.    This means that our dossier is being translated and reviewed and we'll be officially accepted to be Ava's family in the next 3 months.

Every step of the way, God is proving that nothing is impossible!!  Please pray with us that our paperwork is processed quickly and that our adoption will be fully funded when China says it's time to come get our girl!!

We are still busy with several fundraisers and our donation sites are still open.  Please consider helping us if you can...

Click here to make a donation to help bring Ava HOME...Thanks so much!!

OR

Click here to make your tax deductible donation for our Ava...we appreciate it so very much!!

Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.       (David Platt)

Her name is Ava and she deserves to have a family.  Pray with us and help us bring her HOME.  We love her so much and long to hold her in our arms and show her what it means to be loved forever.