Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
Search This Blog
Showing posts with label adoption expenses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adoption expenses. Show all posts
It's finally happening! We are finally going to Ukraine!!! We have a date for our SDA/DAP - the appointment in Kiev where they match us with two particular children. We've booked flights and made lodging reservations. It's all a little surreal. But we are so excited to finally see the kids!!! In order to protect our family's privacy our blog will not be updated with travel information until we get home. If your our friend on Facebook you may ask to join our secret Becoming Twelve Facebook group to follow our journey. We just ask that nothing posted there is shared publicly. In other news: We have another teen driver. Our Lora passed her written exam on her first try. However, driving on the road - not just in the yard, proved more difficult than she expected. But practice makes better. We will wrap up our CHANGE DRIVE soon - I will post here about that. Donations may still be made to our matching grant with Promise686 (which is doing very well), or to ABBA Fund, directly to our agency, or to us. Links and addresses below.
Facetiming siblings
Promise686 grant virtually here or via snail mail by noting for the 342Brown Family Promise686 19 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Norcross, GA 30071 ABBA Fund virtually here via snail mail by noting for the HEBrown Family ABBA Fund PO BOX 868049 Plano, TX 75086-8049 Our Agency: Family Connections, Inc. Note: to the Harold Brown family P.O. Box 5555 Cortland New York 13045 Our mailing address: The Brown Family PO Box 854 Franklin Springs, GA 30639
We are thrilled to announce that about
the same time we received our approval from Ukraine we also learned that
Promiss686 approved an Adoption Matching Grant of
$3000!
Promise686, www.promise686.org,
is a non-profit adoption and foster care ministry dedicated to expanding God’s
Kingdom by helping to bring the fatherless into loving Christian homes. They
match dollar-for-dollar up to the first $3000! Thus effectively multiplying the
impact of your gift. Any amount raised above this will be channeled
specifically toward Andrii and Anastasia’s adoption
We believe that the
impossibility of this is all part of God’s plan and that He, through His Body,
will provide. Our prayer is that all will see His Glory as He brings these
young people to be part of His family through our family.
If you have the ability to help financially, please see the information below.
Please include “Brown
Adoption” in the memo section
Mail checks to:
Promise686, Inc.
19 Holcomb Bridge Rd.
Norcross, GA 30092
*Note: per IRS
guidelines, Promise686 maintains complete discretion and control over the use
of all donated funds, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.
**As of publication of this blog post over $13,000 has been invested in adoption expenses, we still owe $14,200 in Ukrainian International adoption fees, and are saving for our travel expenses. For more info on expenses click here.
As I was contemplating this post I was reminded of two things: 1) I can find no evidence of our Father speaking to people in cow (although He did "open the mouth of the donkey" - Numbers 22:28 - I wonder who was more surprised, Balaam, or that pitiful donkey. Bless her heart.)
2) A fun song. "The Worship Song Song," which pokes fun at modern "church music." One lyric is "here's another out of context verse about hope!" It makes me laugh. And number 3 (cause I just thought of one more), some of you may just be joining this long blogerific adoption journey and have no idea we had cows. You're like, "what cows?" So to clarify, we do NOT have cows. (yet) Cows have been rather.... symbolic...in this and other financially daunting ventures in my life. You can read all about that in another post here. And what cows and God and money have to do with each other - at least in my mind. Simple as it is. So here's the story, then the breakdown. Along with all the normal mama things I think about all the time, all things adoption are constantly on my mind as well. And I've been noticing cow, goat, and sheep pastures for many months. MANY months. I find them peaceful, enchanting, and greatly encouraging. And "the cattle on a thousand hills," and God's promises and faithfulness are brought quickly to mind. Last weekend a majority of the children joined me for our annual Mother's Day outing. And of course we passed many pastures. But the one that most stood out as we drove was a huge pasture of beautiful green, rolling hills, some big shade tress and miles of fancy fence. But where were all the livestock?
These are not the actual cows we saw, just some world wide web cows from an online English news paper I know nothing about. They're just cute.
We went around curves and over hills. The pasture was huge! The grass wasn't very tall. There had to be some animal somewhere. Then, just before the pretty fence ended all the cows were gathered near a gate. And my little heart said, "Oh, He's gathering them together." As much as I'd like to know exactly (everything) how all this adoption stuff will pan out, it is enough to know Who does. And that He hasn't forgotten. He's just out gathering cows. So as we wait we trust. And blog. And transfer records to google sheets so we can share all the nitty gritty boring bits with the curious, nosy, concerned, or math snobs. Plus, we've asked on repeat for HELP! So we should be clear about what we need help with. (Total transparency) And this will be a good place to send folks. As I mentioned in the last post these helpful spread sheets are posted on the right hand side of the blog home screen (of your on a PC) under the heading "Pages." On a phone you'll find a drop down search bar under the header. Gosh! That's clear as mud! (Took my mother several minutes on the phone with me to find it on her computer - sigh) So I'll just leave them linked below as well. So, to sum up, the cows are coming. We don't know how they'll get here. But we don't own them anyway. Love ya! PS - no word from the far off kids this week. Keep praying for good health and opened borders. Google Sheets Expected Ukrainian Adoptions Fees - this is the simplified version of the estimated need. Where there is a variable or range (like travel or mailing cost) we estimated in the middle. Adoption Expenses - this is everything that has actually been paid to date. All the things (minus fundraisers - those are shared as we go) Adoption Grants - this is my personal spreed sheet of where we have applied or plan to apply soon. (I have no idea why it's green or how to fix it - I'm very new to all the google doc things). This has already proven helpful to some adopting friends.
Just got word our dossier has been submitted to SDA (aka the great Ukrainian powers that be). This is where we get approved or rejected (and if rejected, we alter and resubmit).
Pray for all that - correct paper work, government officials, and our dear facilitator who has “followed” our story since the beginning.
And pray for these grant people to get on the ball and for new opportunities for us to fundraise in the midst of all this shutdown mess!
I feel a little like a scared contestant on the Price is Right, “Come on Big Money!” 🤣
I’ve created some google sheets to help explain the financial bits. If your on a PC they are linked under “Pages” at the bottom right of the home screen. On a mobile device go to the search bar near the top and find them there. And I’m working on Another post about all the money things and I’ll link the sheets there also.
Here's an overdue update about our Mother's Day "flash sale" of the Fly Home Fundraiser prints - we raised $250 in just few hours. Thanks to everyone who got something pretty for their mama! AND... (drum roll)... this week received another grant from Katelyn's Fund for $3000! I cried.
They sent us the nicest note - HUGE encouragement! I'll share it here (so one day I can come back and cry again).
Dear Harold and Erin,
We wanted to share with you how very blessed we were by your testimonies and trust in Him during the interview time together last week. We were moved by your willingness to share with us and know that He is going to continue to work and give you wisdom and strength through all of this. We were struck by your desires to listen to His voice, to follow His plan, and to see His kingdom go forth, we were blessed as you shared how He is growing and stretching you and showing His faithfulness during this time. We are confident He has such a good plan for your family, and loves the ways you both serve Him so selflessly. We know that He will show His faithfulness to you.
We were struck by your genuine faith, your desires for your children to know the Father as their personal Lord and Savior, your commitment to follow His plan, and your persistence to examine ways to live for Him. We love your hearts and the ways He is creating new ways for you to know Him. You have a powerful story to share of His speaking and leading. He loves the way you are listening for Him, that you are living in new ways to grow in Him…we trust He has and is giving you discernment in decisions, He is faithful. We will continue praying for each of you, for His grace, wisdom, and presence.
It is with joy, we share, that we have approved your family for a $3,000 grant, which will be sent directly to your agency.
It was followed by some directions for getting it to our agency and whatnot. Fun stuff. That is the biggest grant that fund doles out - so it's a huge deal. What encouragement! Praying a few more come in. Several have contacted us that because of this virus mess their meetings and doing are postponed until into the summer months. God is providing. There's still a lot going on. Even when we feel like it's standing still. He is moving. Please continue to pray for Andrii's health, he continues radiation and his platelet count was very low this week.
Learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.
Isaiah 1:17
I'm looking for a way to share info - like grants and expenses and timelines - perhaps google docs. Look for that soon. Maybe. Hopefully.
Last week was busy in our adoption journey. But WOW! How God moved the processes along!!!
Monday we parents had our medical exam for the dossier. We are healthy and free of certain diseases. Donations took care of this expense. The doctors office was a delight to work with even though we need those forms in triplicate. It’s not uncommon to have to have these papers re-done - and that’s what we’ll be doing this week. Big THANKS to Dr. Raber and his staff at Lighthouse Family Practice.
We also have to have another paper re-done. Thanks to our sweet realtor Theresa Jordan for her help.
We’re very thankful for sweet people who exhibit God’s long-suffering patience with this paperwork.
Near the end of the week we commented about waiting on several things/papers that are totally out of
our control, like immigration approval and FBI clearance. On Friday, Dan the agency man voiced concern that the way we submitted for our FBI clearance could take forever to get back (well, he said 14 weeks - but right now that’s forever). But it only took 2 weeks!!! When we checked the mail after lunch our FBI clearance was there!!!
I was able to get those in the mail him that afternoon.
Then Saturday, while relaxing with some of the children, what should come (that could have taken 75 days but came after only one month)? Our USCIS (immigration) approval!!!! We have approval from the United States to “adopt 2 child/ren from Ukrine."
And that's when I may have cried.
Ava was over, she caught it all on film (or whatever you call snatching up your phone and clicking).
We were so worried about how to get the USCIS to expidite. We fretted. We made calls. We worried other people. But all our effort was for nothing. God had better plans.
Somehow, all 9 of the "already here" children were home Saturday night. So we had pizza and celebrated and watched a movie.
No now we continue to work with our agency to finish up our parts of dossier and keep fundraising and hoping for grants and look forward expectantly to how God will continue to work in this process.
Yesterday, I was sent 1 Samuel 12:16 and today we have LOTS of good news to share! 🤩
First, wonderful news about Andrii!
He saw a physiologist for 3 days and is feeling much better. He’s also eating “normal food in pieces” and likes the hospital cafe and enjoys “cheesecake fries” (I have no idea what that is but can’t wait to eat it with him!)
“His girls” (nurses) report that he is more relaxed.
He had an MRI on Friday, so we are waiting on those results.
But the best news is for a few days he got to go back to the center where he and Anastasia live!
(The picture is from today!)
To date, all of his uncovered medical needs have been covered by donations! 😍
Second, we had a great call with our adoption agency guy, Dan, yesterday evening. He is started on our dossier and we should have something dossier related to work on by Wednesday.
He also mentioned another place we can request the process be expedited! Which is great!
But that also means we need these funds ASAP!
Which brings me to the third and fourth pieces of good news.
3. To date we have applied for 6 grants. Two more to go out Monday and one more ready but waiting on a letter from our social worker (homestudy gal).
And number 4, if you know us on Facebook you may remember the beautiful birds on hymns fundraiser our friends the Cogan family was doing. Yes? No? Well, as of this morning that is being set up and we should have it ready to go soon. It’s really beautiful! And with Valentines, Easter and Mother’s Day coming up will hopefully do very well.
This particular post may be boring for many of you. Sorry. Just skip it. For other's it will be an answer to many questions. Many thanks to Google for the images. Several sweet and interested folks have asked "Now what?" or "Isn't it paid for yet?" (sometimes it's us asking those questions) and some have sweetly suggested that we list each goal - we'll try to be more forthcoming.
Currently, the USCIS* and FBI is $1115 and is met. And as of this writing they have been mailed off! WOOHOO! Now we wait on USCIS to respond.
While we wait we aren't going to be sitting still (except for the parts we literally have to sit still for). We have lots to do! Here's whats to come (followed by a glossary of weird words and an expected cost list): 1) Grant* writing. I've already researched many grants that we may qualify for and now that we have the homestudy* we can actively pursue those. If your looking for me, I'll be in the basement writing grants.
2) Building the dossier*. Which includes new medical exams and test and other fun things, having it all apostilled*, and mailing it to Ukraine.
3) Continue Fundraising for Agency Fees, Ukraine Fees, Expected In-country fees , and travel expenses. 4) Continue to update you pretty people. 5) Stay the course! And continue to scrimp and save while we pray.
Glossary
Apostille (pronounced “ah-po-steel”) is a French word meaning certification. ... The Apostille is attached to your original document to verify it is legitimate and authentic so it will be accepted in one of the other countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. In GA it's $3 per document. dossier/ˈdôsēˌā,ˈdäsēˌā/ (pronounced "dos-see-A") noun; a collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject.
grant noun; a sum of money given by a government or other organization for a particular purpose. homestudy noun; an assessment of prospective adoptive parents to see if they are suitable for adopting a child. USCIS noun; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Expenses to come
(this is not exhaustive, and does NOT include things already covered):
These are also our next goals. $3,250 Agency Fees, Family Connections (most of this has been paid, update to come) *$12,000 Ukraine Fees (2 siblings) (this covers facilitators, translations, and legal fees) - this is our current fundraising goal - and the biggest one yet! $1000-1500+Dossier preparation(this would include updated and in-depth medical exams, fees for other documents we may need to create, getting EVERYTHING apostilled, and mailing the whole thing to Ukraine) $4680 In-Country Fees (this includes an orphanage gift, birth certificates, passports, & US embassy fees like Visas and medical exams. We may also have the added expense of any required medical for Andrii while we are there) $15,480-$27680Estimated Travel Expenses depending on how many times we must travel to Ukraine, and the cost of transportation, room and board at the time of travel) We are trusting that whatever is provided will be exactly the right amount. God is a great provider.
Current Ongoing Fundraisers
Click on colored words for links. Abba Fund - tax deductible gift, Abba Fund pays directly to service provider. Please specify "for the HE Brown family" in the comments online, or in a note with your check. Bonfire T-shirts PayPal - paid directly to us. Please specify "adoption" Family Connections, Inc. - this is our agency. Any money received over their fees will go toward Ukraine fees or travel expenses. Kathy's Kreations on Facebook (just made up that name) - the "Morgan cousins" supplied us with lovely things they crafted to help us raise funds - Hair scrunchies, headbands, lanyards, & dog bandannas More to come!
Since the "big facebook fundraiser" in December I've had several people ask if we can just go get the kids now, why aren't we over there already, what are we waiting for? So I thought we should clarify a few things (plus a few pictures at the bottom of what we were doing 1 year ago today). First, a $5000 fundraiser is HUGE and so very helpful, and we are so grateful to all who gave to meet that goal so quickly! The total expected cost of the adoption is about $47,000. With what we've raised (and paid out so far) we still have a long way to go. So... look for upcoming fundraisers - we've got ideas and willing to hear any others and always happy for helpers! Or give here or here or directly to our agency here - be sure to specify on each that it is for the HE Brown family adoption. Second, we have the added expense of in-country medical bills. Part of that $5000 is for that. And we aren't counting our eggs till they are in the basket. Facebook takes about a month-ish to pay out. And we aren't sure how it will be split. Third, there's LOTS of red tape. And all the tape has fees attached. So here are the next steps. That red tape. Our prayer is for favor with government officials and speed. (This next part is pretty boring... and clear as mud. Sorry. You can totally stop reading now and do something fun.) Homestudy Agency Approval Now that the homestudy is finished our adoption agency, working with our homestudy provider and a facilitator in Ukraine, attempt to make it as near perfect as they can. Wording matters. This normally takes 4 weeks - but they know the situation and are working to make it happen somewhat faster (however the Christmas holidays slow things down). USCIS Next we get the homestudy and some other official things and send it all to US immigration (INS/USCIS) to get approval to make two Ukrainians American citizens. We, all adults in the home, will have to get FBI fingerprinting done at an FBI office. USCIS approval is averaging about an 8 week wait. We hope that our case will miraculously move FAST - but we've got the down-low on moving this along too. Dossier Then we compile a dossier (a pile of all the things plus some). This will require us to update things like our medical evaluations and a few other things. This is then gone over with a fine tooth comb, we have it all apostilled (which is fancier and more official than having them notarized) then send the whole shebang to Ukraine. SDA Ukraine facilitators have the dossier translated and submitted to those who decide to accept or deny us or ask for more information (though I can't imagine what we haven't divulged already). "They" decide if they want to let us have their young citizens and invite us to come to an appointment (SDA) to "pick out" some children. At this point we travel. (Ukraine is really a "blind adoption state" which means there's a slim chance we won't get them because you can't pick them til this appointment - though normally you get who you want. That's also why I must be careful to say publicly "hope to adopt them" rather than "will adopt them"). This timing will depend much on Ukraine holidays and the whim of whoever receives our dossier. But facilitators are in country to help the process along. Court and Custody Then they (Ukraine) set a court date (often at minimum 2 week after SDA), then after court and the release of the decree you wait 30 days to take custody. However, because of the situation we can ask for waivers so that we may possibly take custody immediately. Coming Home Once in our custody we assume all legal and medical in country and have to take the kids to medical and VISA appointments with the US embassy to get to bring them home. It may take several days or several weeks before we can come home. Fees And each step has fees. Lots of fees. And those fees and travel expenses are the cost of the adoption. I've said before and I'm sure I'll keep saying it because I continue to be amazed, though the financial expense is overwhelming to our finite minds God is providing for each step. We currently have just enough for the USCIS and FBI set aside and see the funds for the parts slowing gathering. We felt very strongly at the beginning of this process to not use loans but try our best to fund raise and see what God would do through His people (and a few who don't claim Him but love what we are doing and feel lead to give). HE gets all the glory!
Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
We love talking about our children, those here and those to come... please feel free to comment any questions you might have, we'll try our best to answer them. Plus it gives us something to do while we wait.
Love ya!
P.S. This day last year was a fun adventure to Babyland General Hospital, Home of the Cabbage Patch Kids - which was really hard to translate. But the magic of seeing mother cabbage "give birth" explained everything. (we were missing Elijah).
Another sweet cousin is trying to plan an adoption fundraiser for us and asked for information and a breakdown of the cost of the adoption to present to her church and local businesses.
The total funds needed is an overwhelming amount.
But we determined at the beginning, with God's help, to eat this big elephant one little bite at a time. And thus far, God has been faithful to supply. He is always faithful.
The first week of December we needed to send the agency $1300, we were a little short, so we sent what we could. And we were pretty spent, totally out of ideas for quickly raising more. Then the phone rang. By the weekend we had two more small fundraisers to do. The difference was made up. The $1300 was covered, with change left for the ongoing fundraisers (headbands, wreaths, and such).
Cow painting by Mary Beadles - given to Jorja last week at a fundraiser
Earlier this year, driving to some adoption/trauma training, I passed some peaceful rolling farmland. Hills full cows to my right, a multitude of sheep to my left. And I was reminded of how God could keep the lights on. It reassured me to keep moving forward and pursuing these kids.
This week, I passed a pasture with just a few cows and immediately thought, "Oh look, He sold some cows."
I woke up Friday, to the official diagnosis for Andrii, "stage four malignant brain tumor with metastasis in the spinal cord." (Talk about adding wood to the fire!)
We had about $200 in the Abba Fund and $136 in the bag (my fancy way of keeping adoption funds separate is a big ziplock bag - don't be jealous of my organizational skills). And I shared publically about Andrii.
Within hours we were overwhelmed with love and support and the way people who don't know him or us are being God's hands and feet.
Enabling our desire to bring them home.
Helping the orphans.
Being used to set the lonely in family.
Gathering those cow auction profits.
Oh how He loves us! All of us. All 12.
(And Stephen too - which makes 13, but I'm not changing the name of the blog).
I'll stop typing now.
*curtsy*
*** This is NOT a plug for the prosperity gospel. It is our little finite minds and hearts attempt to remember to trust a totally trustworthy, infinite, eternal, creative, doer of the impossible, God and Kimg of the entire universe to care for us. We are but sinful dust. We are totally undeserving of any good. Yet He cares for us. He carries us. He loves lavishly. All glory and praise and honor belong to Him.
If desire were dollars or wings we'd be in Ukraine.
We desperately need prayer. Support - of all kinds.
Last week we found out that "our boy" had a brain tumor. Today we have been told that he has been in the children's hospital for 4 days, today he was officially diagnosed with "stage four malignant brain tumor with metastasis in the spinal cord." He has begun chemo. They believe it is inoperable.
We don't even understand all those words. We are researching each one. We have more questions than we can give voice to.
Oh to be by his bedside, holding his hand.... calling him "mine."
We cannot play the "what if?" game.
Only the "right now."
And right now... he should have a Mama and Daddy and family with him, comforting him, encouraging him...
And "our girl"... what must she be thinking? She's not as fluent in English as he is and communication is limited. She needs a Mama and Daddy and family with her, lots of hugs, encouragement, comfort, understanding....
They need love. And we want so badly to lavish them with so much love...
We are so close. We have "official" people there now advocating for him. For them. For us.
Funding continues to be a seemingly insurmountable hurdle. But God....
He who has call you is faithful, HE WILL SURELY DO IT.
1 Thessalonians 5:24
In the spirit of total transparency, thus far we have paid in over $5000 in adoption fees, the total estimated expenses is at least $43,000. So we just need $38,000 more (and we laugh and pray and fund raise and strategize and pray and trust God who loves them even more - because that number seems ridiculous - and more than many people make in a year).
Update: The agency we hosted through is hosting a fundraiser and it’s amazing! See it here.
Thoughts swirl and hearts hurt.
Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
Psalm 82:3
As I'm writing our younger 4 children came in just now and offered to give up any Christmas presents - we just all want them HOME. Help us bring them home. Help us call them son and daughter.
This is the picture of those beautiful children we hosted. Those children we hope to make our own.
When we told them we wanted to adopt them, he said, "Both? or just her?"
"Both child. We want you both."
If you have come into our foyer in the last year you might have noticed this large Folgers canister which was lovingly decorated by Lora when we’re raising funds to host Andrii & Anastasia. We just kept adding to it when we said yes to adoption.
We drop change in it as we clean out pockets and purses, and it holds all the “in-between cash” (that money waiting to go to the bank or to the post office to become a money order to pay some fee).
We need to send in fees to the new agency (Family Connections) ASAP and we’re $38 short. So we got out our closet jars - we’ve been collecting in those a LONG time!
(That penny jar was nearly full, the shorter jar... not so much since we started collecting for fees.)(there was also one dead stink bug - unfortunately we can’t get much for bugs)
So we rolled coins. We ran out of penny rollers and still have half a big pickle jar of pennies - and wound up rolling a few dollars extra worth. (They will now be the in-between cash).
We do have a small fundraiser this weekend - I'm helping a dear friend and fellow homeschool mom sale her jewelry for a percent of the profits. She over booked herself to be at two Christmas bazaars.
We are also trying to think QUICKLY of one more to hold at a Christmas Bazaar we could join last minute. Several others are already doing baked good and hot chocolate... I wasn't as crafty as I'd hoped and my imagination isn't running at full capacity lately... so I need ideas. * Update: we’ve been donated some lovely handcrafted items!!! Woohoo!
If your church or group would like to do a change drive for us in the new year to help with raising adoption funds and/or travel expenses that would be FANTASTIC!!! Just send a message or leave a comment and we'll talk! Funds can be donated directly to our agency or to the Abba Fund. (if you do donate please specify that the funds are for the HE Brown family).
When we are waiting on something good it seems to take forever!
But when we have something to do (or that we should be doing) the time flies by!
Blogging will be an easy way to keep everyone up to date. (If you actually do it).
I'll be good at blogging. (Nope - sorry).
Here's the possibly lengthy catch-you-up post. (not totally in chronological order).
Since my last post was about a patriotic quilt (seriously thought I'd updated LOTS since then), I'll start with:
The quilt sold via eBay. But not for as much as we had hoped. We are very grateful to Aunt Carolyn for her donation of the beautiful quilt and to the eBay-er who was delighted to use it in redecorating.
We have since been posting lots of little things on eBay (member erbr_2337) to help raise funds and in the process have gotten to know our sweet postal worker better. They are the most helpful people for shipping anything as cheaply inexpensively as possible. And they are just super sweet.
Photos and college by Jacob
We did have one more yard sale that had shoppers waiting on us when we arrived at the crack of dawn. The unsold treasures lived in the basement until I couldn't stand it anymore and "organized." Some things went on Facebook Marketplace, some on eBay, some to the thrift store. (And, for the sake of total honesty, a few treasures we are using).
Currently, there's a box in the dining room and two in the basement of posted and waiting to be posted items. I got my house back and an extra job.
A sweet friend, Elena, did a Tupperware fundraiser. It was delicious.
Tomorrow we are having a Krispy Kreme sale before (and possible after) church.
100 dozen doughnuts = 1200 doughnuts
Pray for hungry folks with $7 and a sweet tooth to drive by.
We did this last year to help raise funds for hosting fees and more than doubled our investment. So all those eBay sales have been invested in doughnuts.
Of course we still take donations any time in person, snail mail (message us for the address), via PayPal, or for tax deductible gifts through the Abba Fund.
Fundraising is FUN. But exhausting. And I'm running out of creative ideas. Matter of fact, I'm not feeling very creative at all. In any area.
But we have been encouraged this month. We can finally see the light at the end of this homestudy tunnel. We had been waiting (for over 6 months) for one piece of paper, a certain background check, to be sent to our homestudy agency. They had requested it several times. Finally, after several phone calls it arrived. So now we make sure all our boxes are checked and get our original documents together and wait again.
Fall Birthday People
Next steps (hopefully), apostillizing the documents (they get stamped as "fo'real" legal papers), USA approval, and extreme grant writing. (Plus holidays).
In more personal news:
Over half the family had birthdays - Jorja, Autumn, Gene, Erin, Jacob, and Elijah.
And the biggest news (drum roll) after a blur of preparations and bridal showers,
Ava and Stephen tied the knot!
It was beautiful. They are beautiful.
The only thing we wish was different (okay, they only big thing) was that the two new children could have already been here.
Here is a video of just a few of the pictures from the wedding events:
So that's the short version of the last some-odd months.
Today it has been one year, one month and ten days since we first opened out hearts and homes to two wonderful, beautiful, smart, sweet, funny, energetic young teens. Orphans who want a family.
Pray things hurry along from here and provision is made for all expenses with the least amount of stress.
Pray for Gene and I. God is refining us, our household, our finances, and our marriage.
And pray for our two "heart children" who are also waiting - they are ready to come home! Pray God would protect them and redeem this time and place people in their lives to shine His love to them.
We have another teen driver. Our Lora passed her written exam on her first try. However, driving on the road - not just in the yard, proved more difficult than she expected. But practice makes better. 
