Gottcha Day! ❤️

After the years of paper work, and thousands of miles & many, many prayers....by God's grace there we stood holding our Son, Bo!

Please Pray for Bo

While trying to rest again after waking at 4am --through all the excitement of this being "Gottcha Day", I was hit again with the reality of the tragedy that marks the beginning of this amazing adventure for our Son. How with every hour that passes that brings us closer to Him, is also the dwindling of time that He has left with the world and the people; the "family" he has ever known up until this point. 

  We know what's to come, we know the living God who has orchestrated out this day before time began & yet my Precious Son at only 15 months is so small and can not comprehend what is about to happen. He doesn't know how much we love Him yet or that there is a whole community of people and extended family that are waiting and longing to meet, know and love on him. 

  Pray for us to have wisdom and grace to help him today, to love him in Christ beyond what we are capable of on our own. To be sensitive to His needs and to know how to bring him comfort through this time. Please pray for his heart to receive our love, and for him to be strong and courageous!! 

Today is the day Bo will join our family!!

15 mths today!!

Son, we love you so much and can't wait to meet you tomorrow!! ❤️

It's go time....(hopefully)!!

  Our bags are packed and lists have been checked again and again. Now all we need is the random ice storm to clear out of our way! 

    Lord willing we will be taking off from B'ham tomorrow March 6, at 6:50am! Thank you for all the prayers being poured out on our behalf. 

  The last few weeks have been filled with so many to dos and preparation that it all is just beginning to hit us that we really will become a family of 6 on MONDAY!!! 

  

Pray Pray Pray!

As our family prepares to board a plane on Friday, we want to take a chance to express our deep appreciation for your love, prayer and support through our adoption journey thus far, but especially over the last three months. We are humbled by God’s grace through each of you in the ways that you have come along side us and encouraged us. We have been amazed to watch how God has used His people to help us meet a goal that we thought was insurmountable. 

We are truly in need of your prayers. Many of you that have adopted overseas know better than we do how to pray for us, our children and Bo as we go and return home.  Please join us and boldly petition our loving God on our behalf. Below are a few specific prayer requests that we hope you can lift up while we are in China.

Travel – we fly out early Friday morning and three flights later (after a brief stop in Dallas and one night in Hong Kong), we will land in Bo’s province. Pray for all things travel and especially for our little ones on the long 17 hour flight.

Health  - pray for all of our health while we travel. Graham has an ear infection, so please pray for swift healing ahead of our Friday flights.

Gotcha Day – we will meet Bo on Monday March 6^th. Please pray for this day to be as peaceful as possible. Pray for our hearts and for wisdom to know how to best meets Bo’s physical needs.

Bonding – pray for us all to bond well with Bo, but especially Jennifer.

Orphanage visit – on Thursday we will drive out to Bo’s orphanage. We expect this to be a difficult day, but pray that it would be a sweet time for our family to develop memories of Bo’s time at the orphanage and to get to know his care takers.

Medical Appt – pray for Bo’s medical appt. Pray for his health to be strong.

US Consulate Appointment – pray that all of the paperwork required for Bo’s Visa approval will be correct.

Abigail and Kayleigh - One of the reasons we wanted to bring our girls with us was to allow them to experience a different culture and see firsthand the urgent spiritual needs of so many in China. Pray that through the many experiences and encounters on this trip that even now their little 4 and 6 year old hearts would be able to recognize some of those needs in this different context. Pray that God would birth in them even now a desire to one day impact the nations for Christ. Pray that our girls and Graham would quickly bond with Bo.

Most of all, pray that Christ will be glorified as we travel to meet and bring home our son.

Thank you for your prayers!

Josh and Jennifer

Flights are Booked!

On March 6th, after a short flight from Birmingham to Dallas, our family will then board a plane for a 17 hour flight to Hong Kong. We will leave the USA as a family on 5 and then, Lord willing, return as a family of 6 on March 18th. Our hearts are excited and anxious as we prepare to travel and meet Bo. Please pray for our travel preparations, the many flights (six total, I think), our time in China and for our bonding with Bo and as a family.

We are logged in & packing up!!!

Today we received our US consulate appointment confirmation for March 16th which means we will be flying out on March 6th & holding Bo in our arms on March 9th!!!!! Thank you, thank you so much for all your prayers please continue to pray over our travel and Bo's huge transition. 

Travel Approval Received!!!

Bo, were coming soon!

To God be the glory, We have surpassed our goal!

When we received Bo's referral over Thanksgiving, we were overwhelmed with how we would ever be able to raise enough support to travel to China in March. While we had confidence that God had called us to this child in his sovereign timing; the amount was so great and time frame so short there was just no way we could rescue and bring Bo home on our own. BUT GOD....

As of our February 1st fundraising date, we not only met our goal but surpassed it and raised $21,700!! Words can hardly express how we have been truly amazed to watch God at work through His people to provide not only what we needed but more than we could have imagined. We are humbled by the prayers and support that have surrounded our family over the last two months, and rejoice in God's perfect faithfulness!  Thank you for loving and serving our family so well. We are forever grateful & are Praying you too will be blessed in return for your willingness to give and all the sacrifices made.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4-7‬ ESV)

Coin Drive Report!!!!

 

1 - Great God
2 - Praying parents
3 - Believing & Excited children
70 - Bills
1200 - Nickels
1500 - Dimes
1660 -Quarters
4,900 - Pennies
-----------------------------
= $745

Thank you to all the friends and family that came out to Veterans Park for a warm afternoon of fun in the sun! Abigail and Kayleigh had a blast & were amazed to see all the change that was collected  to help bring Bo home! What a blessing it was as parents to watch their delight in the fact we serve a Big God who answers prayers.!!

Excited to soon fill these shoes!!

     This week our Article 5 will be picked up and sent to the CCCWA

who will then issue our travel approval which is the very last legal

step in order to get our consulate appointment and purchase our plane

tickets!!!! 

    As a family, God has faithfully led and sustained us through this 

Adoption journey with all it's twists, turns & surprises. We feel so unworthy 

& inadequate of this calling; yet here we all stand together eager for the 

next chapter to this wild adventure to begin! Thank you for all your continued 

prayers and support that encourage us to be steadfast. 

"The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by 

prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to 

God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your

 hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭5-7‬ ESV)

Updated Photos of Sweet Bo

Coin Drive for Bo

We have been hearing Mommy & Daddy talk about how God is using people to raise money to help pay for the adoption of our brother Bo. We love him already so much & want him home to play with us. Since we don't have jobs we started collecting coins we would find around the house or car, & put them in a jar for Bo. Then we thought how many more coins we could collect if we asked all our friends to help. So with all the cold days coming in January when your stuck inside and want something fun to do ask your Mommy and Daddy if you can go on a coin hunt to help us bring Bo home faster. 

     You can collect coins for the whole month of January and then either give it to us whenever you see us through out the month (like school or church) or bring it on Saturday January 31 to Veterans/Spain Park 1-3pm & we can also play together!

Thank you!

Love,

Abigail, Kayleigh & Graham Dowis 

Praising God & next steps...

It has only been 1 month since we accepted Bo into our hearts & we have been truly amazed by all God has done & so quickly to get us to this point. Especially by the generous giving by many of you that has already brought us to over half the funds needed before we can travel.  We are ever so grateful for the sacrifices that you have made to help us bring our son home!

Currently we are nearing the final few steps needed before we are granted travel approval by the CCCWA in China. We have submitted our I-800 paperwork and are awaiting approval from US immigration. (This is the process of the US provisionally approving Bo to be a US citizen through our adoption.) Simultaneously, we have submitted the applications to the Chinese consulate for our China Visas. Lord willing, we should be traveling to meet our sweet Bo by March. Now the hard part... WAIT.

After an intense paper shuffle following our acceptance of Bo's referral, we are now at the point where we have to wait for a series of government clearances on both sides of the ocean ahead of our travel approval from China.  Please continue to pray for Bo and his health. Pray our family would be united soon and that Bo would transition and connect well with us.

We are so excited and give God all the glory for the amazing story He continues to write & how He is knitting our family together. Thank you for all your support and prayers that are being poured out for our family; it has meant so much for us to witness such a great love.

Report from orphanage received today:)

We recieved an update from the orphanage today. Bo is doing well! Please continue to pray for him as we wait. As I saw this picture I could only hope he was looking out the window anticipating his new family!

LOA received!!

Praises to God!

Tuesday December 9 we received our "Letter of Acceptance" another huge paperwork check mark getting us one step even closer to wrapping our arms around our little man!!! 

Happy Birthday Son!

Sweet Bo, we are sad we couldn't be with you earlier in the week for your 1st birthday. We pray you felt loved from afar & are happy your nannies received your package to give you a small celebration. Looking forward to all the years to come & to celebrate as a family! 

Bo's Sweet Smile

So thankful to see a smile on his face while playing at orphanage.Please continue to pray that Bo will be loved and well taken care of until we can get to him and bring him home!

Introducing Bo Dowis

Over the last year as a family we have been praying for God to make His name great in our home and He is proving himself faithful to do just that! For years now He has been sowing in us a passion for adoption that began after nearly 4 years of infertility & then was fueled by having the opportunity to serve in orphan ministry in various contexts around the world. This journey has repeatedly challenged us in our obedience to answer the call & reminded us that God alone is writing the story of our lives. 

Last week, we received a call from our adoption social worker that we will never forget. She had a file she strongly felt led to share with us even though it was much earlier than we expected. We then received and after much prayer accepted a referral for an 11 month old adorable little boy with a cleft lip and cleft palate who has quickly captured our hearts. By God’s grace we have absolute trust in His timing of this referral and so we are very excited to introduce you to our newest son, James Boaz Dowis, "Bo".

​Following our referral, we learned that most of our paperwork has already been approved in China at a really fast rate. This means that a process that usually takes 4 or 5 months should now be completed by the end of December and our agency expects that we will then likely have the approval to travel and bring Bo home by the end of February. Completing all the remaining necessary steps in order to adopt Bo and bring him home this quickly will be a challenge, however we are trusting in God by His amazing power to bring our family together.

The estimated total cost for Bo’s adoption is $35,000. By God’s grace we’ve been able to pay the initial $15,000 over the last year, but now that we are matched with Bo, we will have to pay the remaining $20,000 before we can travel to China. We realize this is a huge task, but our God is much bigger. So we boldly ask for your help in the following ways in order that we can bring Bo home.

1.      Pray. Please pray God would tenderly care for Bo in China until we are able to bring him home; that God would prepare Abigail, Kayleigh and Graham for the transition, and that God will give us wisdom, discernment, and insight as we help Bo adjust physically and emotionally.

2.      Give. Our church family at The Church at Brook Hills (through Lifesong* for Orphans) will match up to $3,000 via an Adoption Grant for use towards our remaining $20,000 of adoption expenses. Will you please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us meet this matching grant as well as cover the remaining adoption expenses to bring Bo home? Due to timing of when funds are due, we have set a goal to raise 100% of remaining expected expenses by February 1, 2015, however funds will be accepted until our adoption is finalized.

Options for Donating to our LifeSong Account (all Lifesong* donations are tax-deductible and go directly to our adoption expenses):

·       Online: Give by clicking here: Dowis-Paypal LifeSong for Orphans Link or Go to lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select “Give to an Adoptive Family.” Complete the online form and fill in Family Account Number: 4726 and Last name: Dowis Fields.

·       Mail: Please make checks payable to “Lifesong for Orphans. In the memo, note “4726-Dowis”to assure it goes to the correct account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744.

·       Other: Donations such as Frequent Flier miles, yard sale/craigslist proceeds, etc.

To hear more about our adoption story and for updates on our journey please visit our blog at dowisdwellingplace.blogspot.com. Please let us know if you have any questions and feel free to share with others that may share our passion for adoption.

Blessings and Merry Christmas,

Josh, Jennifer, Abigail, Kayleigh & Graham

*Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fund-raising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to our adoption.

In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use. Individual donations of $250 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $250 will gladly be sent upon request. Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

Magnolia Tree Climbing

Mommy Sandwich

Love these moments!

Adoption praises!

  Just like in God's timely fashion ... The very day we went into the hospital (July 31st) to prepare for Graham's birth we also received an email that our papers had been approved by the consulate and sent to China!

   Then unexpectedly quick... We then received our " LOGGED IN DATE" on August 13!! 

   This means our papers are translated and officially ready to begin the matching process in the eyes of the china govt. However, per our agency, our papers will just sit until Graham is at least 4 mths old before we begin to match. ( which is okay with us as we adjust to being a family if 5 before 6)!

   We just ask for your continued prayers for our Son in china & his care takers.  It's very sobering as we tend to our newborn's needs to wonder who's taking care of our other Son halfway across the world. Though I will say it provides an always present reminder to pray with each diaper change and feeding I provide to Graham asking God to provide these things to Him! 

The girls..

So 2 1/2 weeks after Graham arrived we began homeschooling!! What were you thinking? Yes I have asked myself that a few dozen times with all these postpartum hormones :) But we felt called to do it this year and so though maybe not the best timing...with encouragement from some dear friends & learning to be flexible we are making it and now well into third week are beginning to adjust and share some sweet moments.

We apologize for lack of updates😊

It's been a busy summer but that's no excuse. First off .....

With grateful hearts we want to introduce 

Graham Solomon Dowis 

born August 1st!!

And yes.... It's been a while month so...

Thank you for all your prayers. We are all well and slowly adjusting back to life after a month of false labor before his arrival and then the fall schedule kicking into high gear just a few weeks after his birth; which unfortunately included a whole week of illness that hit our whole crew. 

But we have survived and recovered praise The Lord!!

Another Exciting announcement....

News on adoption.....

A change in plans for us BUT assuredly not for God....

      With recent changes in Ethiopian requirements and governmental holds it was projected that what originally was going to be a 1-3 year wait will now be More like 3-6 years. So with the extended time period as well as continued talks of certain in-country agencies working towards closing international adoption all together in Ethiopia, we took a few months to think through what would be best for our family. In the end it really came down to us reopening our hearts to any possibility and asking our agency "where is the greatest need right now?" (You might be surprised by the answer) :)

    Therefore after MUCH prayer and discussion we have officially made a transfer and are now pursuing and seeking to adopt from China. And The biggest news is It's a BOY!!!!! :)