Year at End

Can you believe its almost 2010?!  We are amazed at the blessings and changes the past year has brought and can hardly wait to see what the new year will bring!!!!

Our last set of interviews went very well.  We really enjoy our time with our social worker, Rhonda.  She is a delight and so encouraging!  After our interviews, we were able to take advantage of Bethany's yearly open house and snoop around the office and Bethany house (housing for birthmothers who are in need).  We continue to be impressed by the staff and focus at Bethany - just another confirmation that we're working with the right people!

Now that our various Christmas travels are over, we have thrown ourselves into overdrive to prepare for our Home Safety Check on January 8.  Rhonda will come out to make sure our house is "safe" according to California's foster home checklist.  There are only a few "big" items that we need to carve time and money for (pool safety, fireplace screen, cleaning supplies/medication re-housing).  We are trying to take the opportunity to reorganize the house in general!  *whew*

Thank you to all our family who continue to express support and encouragement.  It is a joy to share our journey and we depend on your prayers!  Thank you thank you thank you!

Interviews On the Horizon

This Friday, Ben and I will be heading down to Modesto again for our last round of interviews!  Our last interview was joint, but these will be individual interviews lasting about 1.5-2 hours each...whew!  While the process is intense, we have really enjoyed working through some of the questions Bethany Christian Services is asking.  "What did you first notice about your spouse?  What attracted you to him/her?"  "How is your marriage different now that you're past the honeymoon stage?"  "What events in your life helped shape who you are?"  "What are your family goals?  What are your personal goals?"  Very thought-provoking and valuable areas for us to wander through after 6 years of marriage (almost....6 year on 12/27!).

As we mentioned, the other big praise is that we have all of the $2500 we need for our next deposit.  PRAISE THE LORD!  In fact, we had so many people spontaneously give out of their generosity, that we have some money to spare and set aside towards our next payment!  Our God is a BIG God.  Thank you for helping and supporting us.....

We'll keep you posted about how the interviews go this Friday.  Pray that the weather is clear enough for us to get out of our driveway (its still icy from Sunday night's storm!) and to drive the 1.5 hours safely to Modesto.  Pray for our birthmother as she may be conceiving our child any day now (doesn't that give you GOOSEBUMPS?).

Merry Christmas from the Cains!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Thank you for supporting our family through this adoption journey.  We are thankful that the Lord has placed each of you in our life!  May our Gracious Father bless in the new year!

Love, Ben, Ashley, and Ethan

The Lord Provides

We are overwhelmed.
Things are coming together!  The checklist is getting smaller and our troop of prayer warriors is growing.  We sent out an update to ask people to pray as we tried to meet our next deadline on Dec. 11.  The biggest hurdle is that we need an additional $1000.
We shouldn't be surprised, but God has provided the money!  It is so humbling to receive such generosity from friends and family...THANK YOU!

Our home study should be complete by January.  Two exciting things about its completion: we will be an approved Bethany adoptive family (YAY!  we can get on the waiting list!) and we can begin applying for adoption grants!  While we will still need to pursue fundraising, we are praying that the grants will help us meet the next two financial deadlines.  They are quite a bit heftier than our previous deadlines so we are thankful for the option to use help!

Thank you for your prayers and support!  Keep praying....God is faithful and good!