Application Done

I'm embarassed and excited to say that we finally completed our adoption application for a waiting child. Embarrassed because God put adoption on my heart months and months ago yet it has taken me so long to finally apply through an agency. Excited because we're getting the ball rolling and have requested to view some information about a particular little girl and maybe some other children that would be a good fit in our family.




Ryan also informed of how much we have saved up. When I shared that amount with my mom, her reply was that we haven't saved very much. Well, in the big picture of adoption, it isn't very much. In regards to our monthly budget, I'm excited that we've been able to save! I have a feeling that with starting the process officially, I will be more apt to tighten the belt on spending and save for the adoption.



Woo hoo!

and of worthy note: this picture is a huge over exaggeration of the application forms :)

FUNdraiser

As I've thought recently about using a more expensive agency, I've also thought in general about the money needed to fund an adoption. I've had a few little things in mind to craft and sell for funds. One project is still in its gathering and preparation stages and I've not made one item yet but have a bag of supplies ready. The second item came to mind as I searched over and over for a black baby doll for Bethany only to find one on the internet for way more than I can dish out and decided to make her one. I have made two to date but have yet to put faces or shoes on either of them. That will take time to perfect I'm sure.

The third idea I came up with is a Dinner and Auction. I'm hoping to get my divine food friend to help me out with the meal portion (she has done some amazing stuff with my Sweetheart Supper). Charge a few dollars over the cost of the meal for people to come in. In addition to that, there would be a silent auction in another room. The items, I hope, will come from donations. I made a list of the things I love - some of which are handmade items from friends/family and some of which are purchased. I'm hoping to get some of both. As I made the list I figured why not ask some local businesses (though they're not buddies of mine) to participate. The more I thought about it, the more I thought about doing an online auction so that friends and strangers abroad could participate.

Visiting with a friend about the idea, she suggested I start the auction online and the ending bids of that would be the beginning bids at the Dinner. That's an idea as well. I have yet to decide exactly what I'll do but I plan to ask friends and family and businesses in the coming two weeks if they'll participate. The donation part is critical. So, if you would pray for God to encourage people to participate through donations and then again through purchases I would appreciate it. Also, if you have something you would like to donate and I don't specifically ask you, please let me know. Thanks.

One Thing is For Sure

As most of you know, I've been really up in the air about making decisions regarding adoption. There are multiple agencies and countries with varying requirements and issues. Which one is perfect for me? I have yet to find that answer. So I began searching the waiting child lists and have found that the children on that list don't fit our criteria (the part about Scott being the oldest). So I was back to square one.

Do I wait 7 more months when I will be 30 and eligible for other countries?

Recently I decided that the experience of a larger agency would be worth the extra money. So at this point, I'm going to trust God to continue to provide as He sees fit.

The past two weeks I've been eager to sit down with Ryan and get the application filled out and sent in. I don't want to wait any longer, especially if we have to wait to be matched with a child. With the recent weeks events, we haven't had the time. My dad flies in on Saturday and I'm hoping that we can find time while he's here to let him watch the kiddos while we focus on paperwork for a few hours.