Here we go again!

I am overjoyed to share with you that Tom and I received Pre-approval today from

China for this sweet boy! 

While he certainly does not look it, according to his paperwork, he will turn 14 on January 1, 2012.  On this date, he will no longer have the chance to be adopted by his forever family.  So, once again, we find ourselves racing to China to bring home another blessing.  The saving grace here is that a good deal of the paperwork is already completed and that will save us about 2 months of processing time.

So, have we lost our minds?  No, not yet...  Have we forgotten that we just got back?  Not a chance... Don't we need time to adjust?  Yes, that would be nice...  How will we pay for this?  However God chooses to provide. 

Have we covered all of your questions? 

No, we're not crazy, and no, we are not out to "save the world". (Although would that we could!)  We are an everyday family who wants to honor God will our time, talents and treasures and we are convinced that for reasons that are not ours to know right now, God has asked us to step forward and stand in the gap for these two boys.  Our boys. The boys that He has chosen for us.  Every bit as much as he chose Tommy for us.  I doubt there is a single person out there who has ever met me that would say that I am a spontanious, let life happen kind of gal. Quite the opposite,in fact.  I am only now learning to trust God will all of my "plans". LOL  But, for someone who has a compulsive need to plan out every minute of every day, I can tell you that when you know that you know that you know that God is calling you to do something, the only possible response is "yes, Lord".  (I am not a fan of big FISH!) 

So, away we go back into the craziness of paperwork, deadlines and the occasional panic attack!  We ask that you each hold us up in prayer and that you pray for our son (name to be determined).  Pray that he would have peace about his pending birthday until he is notified of our arrival and pray for each of us, our sons included, that we would be prepared for yet another major change. 

Now, back to that sweet face........

Here he is when he was turned over to the orphanage.... This is the child they determined to be 8 years old at the time....

I know, I know....8?  More like 4!

As you can see, he was born with clubbed feet and once he was taken into the orphanage system, he was sent to the hospital for corrective surgery.  He spent 80 painful days in the hospital.  From what we are told, he was quite a brave soul pushing himself to the limits as he worked through his physical therapy.

This is what his feet look like now....

He is growing into a very handsome child and I can't wait to see what God has in store for him now that he is coming home to a permanent family who will love and care for him. 


 As with Colin's adoption, nothing is ever guaranteed and this timeline is tighter than before.  Pray that all will go according to God's plan for us and for him and that we can make it in time. 

Love,
The Rylands, Tom, Angie, Colin & Tommy