Some random new happenings

Hey everyone!

If you have been checking in with us, you will have noticed that we just about met our first goal of $5,000. Wahoo! Isn't that exciting?! Thanks to all of you very much that donated money and have been faithfully praying. God has been so gracious through all of you and we are truly appreciative!

Here are some new updates since the last post.
We got our medicals done, passports sent off and signed our life away on our International contract and payed the first program fee. It has really been a whirlwind of emotions for me lately as I wrap all the paper work side up and begin to just wait on the LORD to work it all out.

Currently we still have a couple more home study interviews to go, wait for everything we sent off for to come back and then when all that is finalized in the next couple of months, we'll send it all off to India and wait for our baby referral.

Which brings me to my next comment.... At the time we send off the paper work to India, there will be a whole new set of fees. So, I have removed the donation tracker from the first goal and placed a new donation tracker up for our second goal. I have posted a deadline of June 15th, but this could change either way.....we could need it sooner or later, depending on how fast the LORD pushes all the approval through. I'll keep you posted.

For now, we wait to see how God moves to provide the next financial goal.

as a quick side note, several of you suggested that I set up a way for people to make online donations. I have provided that opportunity on the right hand side of the blog. You can click the donate button and use your credit card right from the blog. This is a handy and convenient tool for those of you that are looking for "quick and easy".

This is it for now.
Many blessings to you all,

Some Updates

Thought that I would update everyone!

These are things that have happened since my last post.

1. We are officially approved by International Agency!
2. Set up Bella Account!
3. Got passport pictures!
4. Got our first set of fingerprints
5. Ordered certified birth and marriage certificates
6. Had our first Home Study Interview!

The interview went great! I love our social worker and hope it will be a great process as we move forward in our interviews.

Ok, off to work on my autobiography!

Sea of Fees

Hey everyone!

Well, we’ve come to one of the hardest parts of this Adoption Journey…. “The financial aspect”. Now that the adoption is taking off, we have jumped into a sea of fees. Currently, some of the fees we are facing are mandatory parenting classes for International children, certified birth/marriage certificates, criminal history checks/fingerprints, visa Passports, immigration filing and International Agency service fees. In order to complete the requirements above as well as, the home study, foreign document preparations, etc…we must submit payment ASAP. Once the requirements have been met and courses/paperwork completed (which is roughly around 3-4 months) we begin the wait for our baby referral.

Some of you have asked how you can help in the adoption process. If you feel as if the Lord has led you in the direction of helping financially, that opportunity is certainly available at this time. Currently, outside of prayer, this is the most pressing need. Jeff and I are going to open up a checking account tomorrow for adoption donations. All donations will go into that account and will be used for adoption fees only. So, if you would like to donate, we would be glad to accept your donation! I would like to note that once the Home study has been completed and is approved, we will then be eligible to apply for grants!

To help you see our needs and to help you pray through any amount the Lord might be leading you to donate, I have posted a donation tracker on the blog, which will list “current fees to-be-paid” as well as, how much has been donated to-date. The tracker will also serve as a visual for you, in knowing how to pray for us! I would encourage you to check the blog for updates and or subscribe (if you haven’t already) so that you can join us in this journey and witness how the Lord is meeting our financial needs and goals. Please know that we are not just looking for “big” donations. Every dollar counts for something in this process so whatever the Lord lays on your heart is greatly appreciated!

In addition to the tracker, I have also created a tool for you to use to help us with spreading the news of our adoption and financial needs. There is a button on the right side of this blog, which can be added to any blog and or web page. Simply copy the HTML code and paste it on your blog site and or web page. This button will link anyone who clicks it directly to our site and will allow them to get involved.

BTW….if I haven’t told you yet and you haven’t already seen the button; you’ll notice that Jeff and I have picked a first name! (We decided we needed another “B” name in the family since I am overrun by “J’s”!)

Thank you so much for your love, support and prayers for us in this journey. It means so much to us. We can’t wait to see how God brings it all together!!

Blessings,

Decisions

Great news!

We have finally decided on a International Agency! We made the decision yesterday. The funny thing is....is that the agency we have decided to go with was not even in our list of agencies to consider. The LORD surfaced this one unexpectedly. I love a good surprise!

We have turned in our application and will wait for our approval to come which should be by next week. Informally we are already approved, but we must wait for the formal approval before moving forward in their program.

Now for the greater news.....We are first in line for the India program! No waiting list! I am so, so excited about this. It is such a blessing!

On the local front....we've started our home study process and our very first meeting/interview out of the 3 we are supposed to have is next Wednesday!

So, things seem to be in full motion. Praise God! I am elated at this progress.

I know we've still got such a long journey, but it feels real now!
Thank you for your prayers!