Our thermometer just jumped up $1000!! Yipee!!! God is Good!!!!
Thank you to whomever donated a big portion of that!
We are getting closer and closer to having the funds for Trip #1 where we will get to meet our child!! Oooo, I cannot wait until that moment!!!
I have nothing profound or exciting to say today. I just wanted people to see that we have bumped up our thermometer accordingly. If you click anywhere on that thermometer it will bring you to a breakdown of where our fees are allocated.
Our travel fees are based on a humanitarian rate offered by the travel agency. This is the best price that we have come across thus far. It is also based on prices 6 months to a year ago so I am sure our estimates are rather low.
We also have not factored in updating our homestudy because it will be a year soon (it needs to be updated every year) and childcare for the two trips. Child care is a bit ambiguous right now. It really depends on when we get matched and when our travel dates are to take place. Ideally, summer holidays would have be perfect. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't look like this will be the case since summer holidays are quickly approaching.
I don't know...I always had this gut feeling that we would be in B* over Christmas holidays... I guess we will see what happens :)
I am really excited about our next FUNdraiser happening June first! If you are in the area we would LOVE for you to come out to this event!
It is a Poker Tournament. YOU DO NOT NEED to know how to play!!!! There are CHEAT SHEETS! There is NO GAMBLING of your own money. The coordinators of the even just ask for a $20.00 "Buy-in" (a spot to play/donation to the fundraiser). You are given a certain amount of fun money! Spend it all at once or figure out how to outsmart your tablemates (yep, I made that word up ha ha)!!! The hubby will be BBQing (I should probably tell him that ha ha). There are prizes! I really hope to see some people there (or it will be a really boring game by myself).
If you cannot make it out, I have heard that they are accepting donations! There have been a couple of people that have already gone this route and I just want to give a great big THANK YOU for their support! We are really truly amazed at the love that people have for this little girl to find a FOREVER FAMILY!!!! AHHHHH, I can't wait to MEET HER!!!!
There is a Facebook Event page for the Poker Tournament. If you need the details, leave me a message here, talk to me in person, FB, etc.
Have a super wonderful fantastic day!!!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
A Blessing from Heaven
I was talking to my Grandma a couple of days ago. She just turned 80!!! How cool is that?!?!? She asked me about the adoption and the fees, etc. After keeping her in the loop, we basically ended the conversation with her saying, "You never know, that money may come down from Heaven". (I told her that is EXACTLY where the funds have been provided...). I couldn't have had more awesomeness when it comes to "finding" the money for these CRAZY adoption fees!
Fast forward to today...
Monday mornings are a constant struggle for us. They are very very difficult. There is too much going on in a small amount of time. I despise Monday mornings very much. Today was no different. Today 3 out of 5 kids are sick with something. I woke up with a horrible migraine and the cat must not have been feeling well either as he pooped all over the stairs. Gross (I'm sorry...but that was the picture of our morning). We were late for school. The bell rang and we were no way close to being out the door. It was the kind of morning that I could have cried but was too tired and rushed to have to deal with tears on top of everything else!
As we left the door, our morning took a total 180!
My brother showed up with a latte out of the blue (and if you know me...you know that I LOVE coffee!!!!). Because we were late, he caught me getting into the van. He then OFFERED to take the sick kids so that I could go into work without them ANDDDDD He WILLINGLY and LOVINGLY without a single complaint cleaned up my stairs!!!!! Ummm....he is on my #1 list right now!!!!!
and then it gets even better....
SOMEONE GENEROUSLY donated to our adoption fund and left it at church!!!! I don't know who you are but let me say this:
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
I don't know if you read this blog. If you know who donated the funds please give them a great big hug from us!!! We are so grateful! See Grandma, money came down from Heaven!!!!!
Also this week, a couple of WONDERFUL people I kickbox with set up a FUN (no gambling) Poker Night FUNdraiser for us on June 1st! If you are in our area COME OUT and join us for a night of laughs and food and fun!!! We are excited because the last fundraiser we did like this (for someone else) it was A BLAST!
If you are praying for us! Thank you! We (of course) are hoping to be MATCHED! Somewhere out there is our daughter!!! Come out, come out where ever you are! Ha ha!
Please continue to lift us up in prayer. The funds are trickling in and we are SOOO very humbled!!! Please pray for our daughter and that we get matched with her! Please pray for our family to remain patient while waiting. Please pray for the B*lgar*an Government as they are holding elections soon (this may or may not affect our processing time). Please pray for all orphans and the people who care for them. Please pray for the people who have adoption on their heart and need the extra push to follow their calling.
Thank you friends! Thank you so very much! May God Bless Each and Every One of YOU!
Fast forward to today...
Monday mornings are a constant struggle for us. They are very very difficult. There is too much going on in a small amount of time. I despise Monday mornings very much. Today was no different. Today 3 out of 5 kids are sick with something. I woke up with a horrible migraine and the cat must not have been feeling well either as he pooped all over the stairs. Gross (I'm sorry...but that was the picture of our morning). We were late for school. The bell rang and we were no way close to being out the door. It was the kind of morning that I could have cried but was too tired and rushed to have to deal with tears on top of everything else!
As we left the door, our morning took a total 180!
My brother showed up with a latte out of the blue (and if you know me...you know that I LOVE coffee!!!!). Because we were late, he caught me getting into the van. He then OFFERED to take the sick kids so that I could go into work without them ANDDDDD He WILLINGLY and LOVINGLY without a single complaint cleaned up my stairs!!!!! Ummm....he is on my #1 list right now!!!!!
and then it gets even better....
SOMEONE GENEROUSLY donated to our adoption fund and left it at church!!!! I don't know who you are but let me say this:
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
I don't know if you read this blog. If you know who donated the funds please give them a great big hug from us!!! We are so grateful! See Grandma, money came down from Heaven!!!!!
Also this week, a couple of WONDERFUL people I kickbox with set up a FUN (no gambling) Poker Night FUNdraiser for us on June 1st! If you are in our area COME OUT and join us for a night of laughs and food and fun!!! We are excited because the last fundraiser we did like this (for someone else) it was A BLAST!
If you are praying for us! Thank you! We (of course) are hoping to be MATCHED! Somewhere out there is our daughter!!! Come out, come out where ever you are! Ha ha!
Please continue to lift us up in prayer. The funds are trickling in and we are SOOO very humbled!!! Please pray for our daughter and that we get matched with her! Please pray for our family to remain patient while waiting. Please pray for the B*lgar*an Government as they are holding elections soon (this may or may not affect our processing time). Please pray for all orphans and the people who care for them. Please pray for the people who have adoption on their heart and need the extra push to follow their calling.
Thank you friends! Thank you so very much! May God Bless Each and Every One of YOU!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Slow and Steady Wins the (adoption) Race
Slowly and steady our adoption funds are going up, up, up! What a fantastic view!!! We have almost everything for our referral fees, B* agency fees and travel #1. At least we can meet our child now... although, we may be sleeping on the street and starving ha ha!
We were also told by our agency that they have increased some of their fees again. This will affect us when we need to get our homestudy updated after a year... Yipee! More money to find. ARG!
We have come across some amazing people in the adoption world. Simply amazing, selfless people. Individuals who sacrifice so much to fund adoptions, advocates of adoption that raise awareness and/or funds for other families, and all around giving people that WANT to help orphans find families!
Honestly, before we embarked on this journey, we didn't see the plight of the orphans from a global perspective. We were just open to the idea of growing our family with children that needed families. We were especially drawn to children with special needs because they are the most overlooked. After researching orphans with special needs, and the lack of care and dignity these precious humans receive, we were more drawn to advocating and adopting internationally.
We know this is a huge step of faith. We (I) often get sucked into the material ideas and possessions of our society. Some days, I just don't know how individuals and families can just let go in utter faith. I am working on this, but embarrassingly, I often fail.
Some days I think I have it all planned out... we will patiently wait for the child God chose for us, we will have the funds as needed, we will travel, fall in love, everything will go swimmingly, our daughter will join us, we will live happily ever after, the end.
MOST other days are not like that in my head....NOT.AT.ALL. I am impatiently waiting, bitter, antsy, snappy, mad that there is such a HUGE orphan crisis, mad that this takes so long to be a family, mad at everyone involved because there are many "logistics" that aren't logical in Canada, jealous of families that find their children, scared that we will have to sell an arm and a leg to fund this thing, petrified about travelling, scared that our daughter will be too much for us to handle (yep, I said it out loud), scared about catching some kind of parasite (yes, I am actually quite concerned about this ha ha), and just generally questioning my ability as a parent.
Through all this mental torture, I can still find a small window of peace. I think that there are people praying for us still because often times when I just want to throw in the towel and move on, something/someone reminds me that this isn't about me at all! This is God's will. His plan. He is using US. We are blessed to be given this opportunity...humbled that God's plan involves us...all we have to do is be obedient, listen have faith and follow His lead :)
I wonder what else God has planned for us?
What does He have planned for you??? Are you being called to be obedient and step out in Faith? Are you aware of something that needs you to act accordingly? What is on your heart? What have your eyes seen that cannot be undone?
We were also told by our agency that they have increased some of their fees again. This will affect us when we need to get our homestudy updated after a year... Yipee! More money to find. ARG!
We have come across some amazing people in the adoption world. Simply amazing, selfless people. Individuals who sacrifice so much to fund adoptions, advocates of adoption that raise awareness and/or funds for other families, and all around giving people that WANT to help orphans find families!
Honestly, before we embarked on this journey, we didn't see the plight of the orphans from a global perspective. We were just open to the idea of growing our family with children that needed families. We were especially drawn to children with special needs because they are the most overlooked. After researching orphans with special needs, and the lack of care and dignity these precious humans receive, we were more drawn to advocating and adopting internationally.
We know this is a huge step of faith. We (I) often get sucked into the material ideas and possessions of our society. Some days, I just don't know how individuals and families can just let go in utter faith. I am working on this, but embarrassingly, I often fail.
Some days I think I have it all planned out... we will patiently wait for the child God chose for us, we will have the funds as needed, we will travel, fall in love, everything will go swimmingly, our daughter will join us, we will live happily ever after, the end.
MOST other days are not like that in my head....NOT.AT.ALL. I am impatiently waiting, bitter, antsy, snappy, mad that there is such a HUGE orphan crisis, mad that this takes so long to be a family, mad at everyone involved because there are many "logistics" that aren't logical in Canada, jealous of families that find their children, scared that we will have to sell an arm and a leg to fund this thing, petrified about travelling, scared that our daughter will be too much for us to handle (yep, I said it out loud), scared about catching some kind of parasite (yes, I am actually quite concerned about this ha ha), and just generally questioning my ability as a parent.
Through all this mental torture, I can still find a small window of peace. I think that there are people praying for us still because often times when I just want to throw in the towel and move on, something/someone reminds me that this isn't about me at all! This is God's will. His plan. He is using US. We are blessed to be given this opportunity...humbled that God's plan involves us...all we have to do is be obedient, listen have faith and follow His lead :)
I wonder what else God has planned for us?
What does He have planned for you??? Are you being called to be obedient and step out in Faith? Are you aware of something that needs you to act accordingly? What is on your heart? What have your eyes seen that cannot be undone?
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