The China EXPRESS - Adopting Sadie Zhi Xia

Troy is a real estate appraiser and developer in Bellingham, WA. Heather is a stay at home mom to her 5 (soon to be 6) awesome children. Cameron is 13, Chloe is 11, Marissa is 9, Bryce is 6, and Luke is 3 (he was adopted from Ethiopia a little over a year ago). We live in Lynden, WA.

Our adoption journey started 5 1/2 years ago after reading an article in a magazine about Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman. God began 'speaking' to our hearts about the orphan crisis everywhere we turned, we could not escape the harsh reality just as Proverbs 24:12 states, "...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act." Without a doubt, we felt God calling our family to adopt. A year and a half later we filled out paperwork to adopt from China. Approximately a year after that, while attending a Shoahannah's Hope fund raising event in Franklin, Tennessee, God spoke to each of us individually yet on the same day that we needed to adopt a special needs child. We began down that path but quickly felt all doors closing for us at that time in China. We began praying for God to show us SPECIFICALLY if He had a different plan for us. Soon after, our precious friends the Hollemans introduced us to little Luke (Uriah) in Ethiopia. They had contemplated adopting a little boy but felt God had a special little girl for them. After much prayer, we decided to go down the path to bring Luke home! It was quite a switch from a little girl in China and took quite a bit of adjusting to! Our wonderful children were open to whatever God had planned for us. God has grown us and stretched us in so many positive ways through this journey. His plan is the perfect plan.

Our hearts are heavy for the 143 million orphans worldwide. Troy has helped establish Families of Hope adoption fund for Christian families who cannot afford the costs of adoption. Donations are always welcome!

On June 25, 2010 we received a call from Bethany adoption agency that they had a China referral for us for a 2 year old little girl with a hole in her heart. After much prayer, we accepted the referral on July 13th, 2010. Just recently we have been informed that on Wednesday, August 25th, Troy, Heather, Chloe, and Marissa are leaving on a plane for China to adopt Sadie! We will miss the boy side of our family dearly while we are gone!!!! We are so thankful to know they will be in loving hands with their grandparents while we are away. Sooooooo many friends have offered to help while we are away and we are eternally grateful for you all as well!

Our Adoption Timeline

April 2008 - Our friends the Holleman's, let us know about AWOP (the African Widows and Orphan's program), and we saw our first picture of "Uriah".

May 2008 - We received our first video of Uriah.

June 2008 - We made the decision to suspend our China adoption and make application to a new Adoption Agency to adopt from Ethiopia.

July 2008 - We attended a two-day seminar at the AWOP headquarters in Spokane, WA on adopting children from Ethiopia.

July 2008 to October 2008 - An event known as the "paperwork chase."

October 2008 - We receive our official referral to adopt Uriah.

June 2009 - We pass our court date in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

July 2009 - We receive our Embassy Date of August 4, 2009, and we book our flight to Addis Ababa!

July 28, 2009 12:55 PM - Leaving for Addis Ababa!

August 7, 2009 - Returned home from Africa with Luke Mamush Uriah Muljat

June 25, 2010 - Received a call from our adoption agency that we were getting a referral for Zhi Xia, a 2 year old little girl with a hole in her heart.

July 13, 2010 - Accepted the referral for Zhi Xia Muljat and decided as a family to name her Sadie!

August 25, 2010 4:00 PM - Troy, Heather, Chloe and Marissa leaving for Beijing!

September 11, 2010 - We come HOME!

The China EXPRESS - Adopting Sadie Zhi Xia

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