God's People

God's people have shown themselves STRONG..... once again.  I am in awe.

If someone would've told me even 1 year ago that we were going to commit to an international adoption I would've NEVER believed it... EVER!!!

If someone would've told me 3 months ago we would be bringing home 2 BEAUTIFUL blessings, I would've NEVER believed it..... 

My God is my PROVIDER...and PROVIDED he has-- in amazing ways.

What 1 thought has been going through my head today is the "mighty" human effort Jason and I have given to fund this adoption (online auction, yard sale) have brought in funds, but NOT near the funds we needed..... What REALLY brought in funds?   Not us-- NOT US AT ALL..... It was GOD and GOD alone turning the hearts of HIS people to these orphans.   Not to US , NOT TO US AT ALL....

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.     Job 37:5

God has turned & softened so many hearts to these orphans-- to these children we want to bring home and make part of our family....  

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

Psalm 133

God has caused HIS people to pour out their financial blessings to our FAMILY so that we can GO and bring home these children.

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.  Titus 3:14


Today we woke up at 5am to head out to a yard sale.   It was a long hot day (I am only awake due to sheer adrenaline).   Yet it was a day where once again our church family SURROUNDED us with their physical love.   One family kept 2 of our toddlers ALL DAY... Many came and helped us set up our MANY MANY MANY donations.... we had so many things donated it was amazing!!!  We had many also come to help us tear down in the DOWN POURING RAIN!!  And I mean RAIN!!  We have people helping us dis purse the extra items that did not sell.   It was just an amazing testament of God's people showing LOVE in ACTION.   We thank you--  we cannot wait to share with our children the OUT POURING of love you expressed to help bring them home.     We cannot WAIT to introduce you them and them to you.   We have such a wonderful church family, we are blessed.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  1 Timothy 6:17-18


Was the yard sale a success... Yes it was... because it showed our FAITH that God was going to provide... we needed to act in faith...and so we did.    They yard sale was not very busy.   We had things priced very inexpensively  (we really wanted to sell a lot and not have to be left with a lot, plus that was the goal-- to sell a lot  :)  )    So we acted in faith... and we had out yard sale.  We were able to fellowship and share with brothers and sisters in the Lord and they were able to exercise their faith that GOD is GOOD and he truly is the one who places these lonely children in families.

But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds;
rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families,
    he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.   Psalm 68:  3-6

 

 

So yes it was a success....   Because GOD made it a Success-- once again in ways that were FAR above MY WAYS.....    Our grand total for the day was $1,613....   $239 was yard sale SALES.... the rest was TUCKED in envelopes in our cash box.... from God's wonderful mercies.....  And we are PRAISING him and GIVING HIM the GLORY!!!!

 

Praise be to the Lord,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.

The Lord of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalm 28:6-9

One More Special Blessing?

One More Special Blessing is the name of this blog, right?  Whose idea was that anyway!?!?  LOL

In all seriousness I totally remember thinking I will call this "one more special blessing" but I hope no one holds me to it!!  :)

I was praying this day would come and we are so close I can FEEL IT!!! 

We are "pre committed" ( lol not really a term, not really a true term) but we are getting ready to make the OFFICIAL COMMITMENT to another SWEET SWEET little girl whom we have slowly grown to love....(well some slower than others)  

I (Denise) have been falling in love with her for awhile.   Jason really really liked her and could see her in our family, but the money was not even here yet for Carter... how could we EVER do 2?   How?? Pray.. Ask... Seek....   FIND!!!    SO after much prayer and many heart palpitations we are in love and ready to bring HER home too!!!

Sunday evening Jason was ready-- he was ready to raise the funds for Carter and go get HER too!!   Oh the excitement was so high!!   The next day we found the EXACT "loan" we needed to get a LOT of our expenses covered.   (Just want to clarify we are NOT going into debt for this adoption.   Jason's employer will be giving us $6,000 PER CHILD for his company's "Adoption Benefit Program"... so we were able to get a loan for $12,000 which will be paid off  as SOON as we get these children HOME!!   We cannot take any loan that would cause us debt or interfere with our ability to take care of these children once we have them home.)

The one thing we are just trying to PIN down for sure is childcare-- because it could mean a bit longer of a trip.   We have 2 possible options and we are just praying that one of them may be the option we need.   If you have any other options-- PLEASE let me know.  

I hope to make it known to the WORLD who SHE is very soon!!!

As I was washing my walls today (it is a bit intimidating thinking about someone living in my home for 3 weeks... they aren't just dinner guests... they are going to be IN MY HOME!!) lol  anyway I was thinking about the response we would receive when we tell people we are bringing home a second blessing...  this is the song the Lord brought to my mind.....

Nourishing Food Giveaway- Fundraiser

If I have not already shared this news with you-- you are lucky-- because I get excited and talk and talk and talk!!  LOL

Seriously.... when I first saw adopting parents do "giveaways" and fundraisers I saw them havig ALL kinds of AWESOME prizes... (Ipods, I phones, Big Screen TV's and more)  I could NOT compete with that..... and a dear friend told me  "Denise, do what *YOU* know...."   That is not what your friends are "into"....

So after time... the Lord really helped this "Nourishing Food" giveaway come together... and I mean COME TOGETHER!!   The donations that were made for this giveaway are WAY above what I ever imagined!!    

I am so thankful for these prizes....

Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil 1 qt.

Best of Grain Free Meal Plans Volume 1

Best of Grain Free Meal Plans Volume 1

Best of Grain Free Meal Plans Volume 1

US Wellness Meats $50 gift certificate

GNOWFGLINS 1 month membership

Get REAL for Kids e-cookbooks (4)

Get REAL for Kids e-cookbooks (4)

Get REAL for Kids e-cookbooks (4)

Get REAL for Kids e-cookbooks (4)

Get REAL for Kids e-cookbooks (4)

Nourishing Our Children Ebook

Nourishing Our Chldren Ebook

Kombucha Scoby

Pickl It Jar

Pickl It Jar

Homemade Lard soap

Homemade Lard soap

Homemade Lard soap

Traditional Food Preparation: Basics and Allergy Free DVD from Maureen Diaz

Nourished Baby E-book from Mommypotamus

Nourished Baby E-book from Mommypotamus

Green Pasture $100 coupon

Green Pasture $100 coupon

GAPS book and Cooking DVD

I am SOOO thankful for these two "worlds" to come together...

I am excited for some of my "foodie" friends and "Foodie bloggers/businesses" to learn about Reeces' Rainbow and the children than need families so very much and also just the situation that exists in Eastern Europe and other countries that many do not realize exists.

I am so excited for some of my adopting friends and myself to learn more about "Nourishing" our children as they come home so very malnourished and in need of health from the inside out.

Of course... I am excited to raise the funds to bring Carter home SOON!!!


Want to learn more and register to WIN some REALLY great prizes????
Find out more here:   (and please spread the word)!!
Collins Nourishing Giveaway Fundraiser

Blessed be the Name

This song fits where we are.... we are Praising Him for the GOOD and for the "not what we would've wanted".   

We are SOOOO thankful our "Homestead Auction" is over!!  Thank you to ALL of you who doanted items, Thank you to ALL of you who bidded on items and Thank you to ALL of you who shared our auction with others!!!

We raised $495!!!  Whoo Hooo.   That is almost Carter's passport fee!!!  (I like seeing each item we "need" crossed off the list).

We are so very thankful!!!

We had 2 VERY minor set backs today.  

The first being Jason's car broke down this morning.  At work this morning it would not start, we have no idea why.... it was towed to our local garage and Monday we will know more, hopefully.   We are fully at peace... it is very interesting how at peace we are actually.   I kind of feel like "oh this means we are close"   only because I have watched several families prepare to travel and it was amazing some of the setbacks they had 3 weeks or less before traveling, washing machines, dryers breaking, constant illnesses in children at home, cars breaking down and more... I really felt like "wheww this must mean we are close!"


We had a door close for a loan we thought about applying for to help cover the amount of money we are going to receive from Jason's employer when Carter gets to the US.    We thought about applying for a low interest adoption loan but there were some road blocks so we are considering this door closed, and that is okay...  even for the best!!  God is watching for our best interest. 


We do request your prayers for one grant/loan we applied for (again just for the amount we are going to get from Jason's employer for their adoption assistance program) and after receiving an email from them this week... they are on a 2-3 week back log in processing..... (which will cut us super close).   Plus she mentioned there is no guarantee that they have funds.... they may only be able to help by sending out a letter to our friends / family.   (we have already mailed letters, we will not do that again) so we are praying--- for God's will...... if it is what we are to do/have it will come together.  Again... a peace.....


THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have been so supportive lately and sharing sons story.... we are so blessed by our friends.... THANK YOU!!!

Where WE are in process

After the last post -- I wanted to start a new one just to give an update on where WE are in process.

When we choose Carter we chose him because we fell in love with him and felt he was OUR son....beyond any doubt.   We still believe that and have since fallen madly in love with him....   However he is in a country that is a *BIT* unpredictable in timelines and things.... it can be a bit frustrating (not yet, but when in country).


So we were "submitted" to the countries authorities on August 2nd.   We were thinking it would be 6-8 weeks before traveling.... however it seems things MAY be running a little faster right now.  
For example some families that "submitted" the week before we did, received their DATE in country in 5 weeks!   So what that means is there is a CHANCE we could receive our "magic phone call" next week (I was more thinking Sept. 5th) and could travel in close to 3 weeks!  (I was originally thinking last week of September / first week of October.... hmmm could be MUCH SOONER than I had thought.   BUT---  with things in this country-- things are really "unkown" until they are "known".  If that makes any sense at all.

Either way we just keep plugging a long... I have a "to do" list a mile long.   I am just working my way down that list step by step.

Also in the waiting time we are doing our best to raise the funds we need to travel.  If you look at the Finances tab at the top of my blog you will see always where we are, I try to update this 1x a week.  

We will be wrapping up our "Homestead Auction" this Friday August 24th!!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANKYOU to all who donated and all of you who bidded on items... It wouldn't have been an auction with out you!!!


We will be starting a new Nourishing Our Children "Give away" on Monday.  Ahhh.. okay  I am beyond tempted to open this much sooner, but I won't.  We'll finish the auction first.   However... BE ready, if you are into Nourishing Foods in ANY way, you will LOVE this auction.  Some of the prizes include ($200 Green Pasture coupons, $50 US Wellness Meat gift certificate, Pickl It Jars, One month membership to GNOWFGLINS course, DVD's and MANY popular ebooks!!)   I will have a link here August 27th, unless I cannot hold out and open it on August 24th!!  :)

Lastly, on September 1st we will be having a LARGE, hopefully VERY LARGE yardsale.  A lot of local families have been gathering items to donate and we will be having a large yardsale to help raise funds to BRING Carter Home!!!   **If you live local, we are looking for more items to sell AND it looks like we REALLY need help the day of the sale....if you can come please do!**


I really feel a peace, that if we can get one of the 2 no interest loans we applied for to help us cover the $6,000 we will receive from Jason's employer as soon as we get back to the US, we will be in REALLY good shape for traveling!!   PLEASE pray, that if it is His will this will all work out.


One last area I need to ask for help is, with some childcare.   We will be having Denise's mom come and stay with the children.   However there a few days that Denise's mom needs to tend to another obligation.  It will be from the hours of 11am-11pm on 3 days (Monday, Wednesday, & Friday)  every other week.  If you think you could help us in this way... PLEASE let us know.....

He moved a mountain today.....

Oh my what a wonderful day....  I hesitate even posting this only because I have heard so many sad & discouraging updates from adopting families today.  The enemy is MAD.....he does not want this children to be saved, and put into loving homes that is for sure.

However, today MY GOD reigned..... yes He did.  He bestowed a VERY GENEROUS gift to us by way of our church family.   Yes, our pastor has been preaching about the Sanctity of Life.  Today he ended the "series" with ways we can help protect and keep the sancity of life.  He ended it valuing the lives of those children who have been abandoned.   The tears started then, thinking of our dear son, and how terrible it must have been on his mother to abandon him... I do not know how a person can do this, but I am thankful his life was SAVED, and I am THANKFUL he is going to be placed in our family very soon!   My pastor mentioned many times in history when abandoning children was a common place.  I didn't realize all those instances existed.   I am thankful yet heartbroken that God has NOW made me keenly aware of these situations..... of children who are left for nothing..... they are completely unvalued by society.   I am thankful for my pastor making such situations made public from the pulpit.  (He also mentioned helping and valuing life in other ways/areas, including helping in nursing homes and euthenasia that is occuring for these elderly members of society who are also being de-valued as humans, and helping with crisis pregnancy centers where the goal is to SAVE lives of the unborn. and many other ways).

I could go on & on, but I really just wanted to express my DEEP DEEP THANKFULNESS to my church family..... a family of beleivers like I have never experienced before.   We attend a Family Intergrated Church.   We at this time, are a pretty small family of covenant beleivers, consisting of 10-12 families total.  Yet this famiy of beleivers comes together in such BIG ways when there is a need.  Whether it be due to a family in a health crisis, widows in need of fire wood, or work done around their home, or many many other reasons....this group of beleivers STANDS UNITED and STRONG.   Their GENEROUS gift is so much more than I could've ever dreamt of imagined.   It is a huge statement in their belief that LIFE IS SACRED..... LIFE IS SPECIAL, even Carter's.  

I am blessed and oh so thankful.   All I can do is PRAISE the LORD, and Ask Him to ABUNDANTLY bless these families that have given so much to ours.

What a process....only with God is this possible.

I think back when we decided that yes indeed we did feel the call to adopt a child.  I remember looking through the listings thinking, HOW could you EVER choose a child?   This is why the Lord doesn't let us choose our children.... it is hard.  And I still belive he CHOSE Carter for us.  It really did CLICK for us when we saw him.   In everyway.  (I pray it clicks when we meet him as well, and just as fast).  The Lord made it plainly clear this was to be our son.   It wasn't difficult at all once the LORD made it clear.

I then thick back to when we called the homestudy agency and I dreaded and feared greatly the "BIG IN HOME VISIT"   How scared I was for that--  how much I thought that list of things to gather and do was IMPOSSIBLE!!  But we made it...  the Lord brought us through and looking back it doesn't seem very impossible or difficult at all.  

Then... whew...I thought the biggest mountain of all was that DOSSIER packet!!  HOW in the WORLD would we ever have ALL those papers gathered, completed, NOTARIZED and THEN APPOSILLED??  That was impossible.... or was it?  No, it was not...the Lord granted us favor with many people to expidite that proess.  (incuding our notary who just was so joyful when she saw us and asked us many questions from her heart).   Once again....God leveled that mountain for us, and now that we are through, it doesn't seem it was THAT impossible.

Yesterday I came to the flat out realization.... this "fund raising" was SURELY THE BIGGEST mountain EVER, and NEVER would *I* be able to do this.    And as I watch the calendar tick down (about 7 more weeks till we should travel)  it makes me want to DO DO DO DO, so this was actually a very hard realization.   Nothing I did, not amount of auctioning, no amount of paper work (applying for grants/loans, etc) was going to be enough.  

WHEN we have our Adoption FUNDS in FULL-- it is going to be a SUPER NATURAL act of GOD.   It is going to come from Him and no where else.  I am just spinning my wheels.   That does not mean I can sit back and eat bon bons, I know that... but at the same time I am wasting a LOT of time that needs to be used other places.  (preparing our hearts here, spending time with my children around me, keeping these home fires burning.  )  

I need to be STILL and LISTEN and FOLLOW God's leading.   I need to REST and TRUST in him.  For me that in itself is a MOUNTAIN.....  I like "control" I like a "plan" I . ... I... I....  oh right... this is not about me.  It is about GOD-- it is about SAVING Carter... it is about God

God sets the lonely in families.    Psalm 68:6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;  Proverbs 3:5

So, although this seems to be the biggest mountain EVER, I am trusting.  I am waiting....

I am so very very  thankful for those of you that have responded to God's leading and donated to our Carter FSP fund.     It means so much.   

THANK YOU SO MUCH to whomever donated $10 last night.... EVERY BIT REALLY does help!!

BIG NEWS!!! Sumbitted

We were "submitted" today!!  What does that mean?  It means all our papers and forms were received in country, translated, notarized (again) and WHO KNOWS what else....(Our in country team worked HARD this week getting this done...and I THANK THEM!!) 
and.... well I'm not sure what else....  but ths is GOOD NEWS... only one more IMPORTANT phone call-- and that will be our phone call with our APPOINTMENT to receive our son's "referral" in country!!  Once we receive THAT phone call we ROLL!!  (well in about 2 weeks we will roll).
I do feel some "nesting" kicking in!!!  I am just so thrilled!!! 

Not to mention our FSP grew again today!!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to whomever you are!!  We are SOOO thankful!!! 

Please continue pass the word about our "auction".
I do have 2 more fundraisers "in the works" maybe one will be made public later tonight and the last one closer to September.

I also hope to get a better financial breakdown/picture of where we stand.  Oh to hear from Lifeline (the agency we applied for a matching grant or non interest loan) would be SOOO good right now......  if it is HIS will that this be the path we take.

Dossier MAILED & THANK YOU!

Today was a GOLD STAR DAY!!  One that will be remembered for years to come in this process!!

We mailed our ENTIRE DOSSIER to "said country" today!!!  YEAAAAAA
What does that mean?  Well it means they will finish translating it and then they will "submit" it to their authorities...and we WAIT... lol    How long?  To be submitted a week or 2, or.....   And then... well-- let's just take it step by step.  I will come back with the next step when we are there!!

Bottom line-- we need to get BUSY raising Carter's Randsom!!  Yes we do!!    And SOMEONE was soooo kind and added funds to our FSP today!!  Who EVER you are-- THANK YOU!!!!!  I squeeled to hubby on the phone when I saw it!!  THANK YOU !!!!

Prayer Requests....

Oh wow.. what a week.... I thought it would be and it really is!!

SO excited for dear friends who are IN COUNTRY right now...they meet 2 of their 3 sweeties yesterday!!  Can't wait to see pics!!!  Yahoo!!!!   SO exciting even sitting here-- watching and listening to their 'stories'!!

So excited for 2 families that are traveling to CARTER's orphanage just got their "Offical" invites to travel... not sure when-- they are not sharing dates, yet... most likely Mid August!!  (they are packing so it must be close!!)

PLUS-- Laurel-- remember dear Laurel at the beginning of my blog??  Her family received TRAVEL DATES today TOO!!!  YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Oh yeah-- we have some families gonna "light it up!"!!!  

I have a few prayer requests on our end too...

1-   Please pray we have submitted an application for a matching grant from Life Song... that would be so helpful with our funding!!

2-   I think we are DONE with documents for our Dossier!!  Yeaaa  I need to get an approval on the notaries I received today and then Jason will run them to Harrisburg to get Appositled tomorrow-- and we will then MAIL THEM TOMORROW!!!!!!!!  Ahhhh  really??  That would be AWESOME!!!

3-  I am now in my "fund raising" mode-- trying to come up with ways to help BRING CARTER HOME.     Lord willing, I will have our give-away up and running August 1st.   I also have another neat idea in mind, after I check with a family in our church to see if they would help me out in artistic area....

If any of you have ANY ideas, PLEASE let me know.....   Not sure if anyone does bake sales any more... (most people I know are GF!! LOL)  Any ideas would be great just to toss around and see.   Most of all, Please Pray-- GOD can make a way where we NEVER saw a way!! 

 I know that--I've seen that-- I beleive that!!



Very BIG week....

This is going to be such an exciting week (I pray).

Tomorrow we are headed out to do an important part of our adoption process.  We will be driving 2 hours 1 way to do this...and we PRAY for favor with those involved.   Please pray if you would that we would have favor and safe travels.

Then if that goes well-- we should hopefully have many documents to finish notarizing and then apostilling...and LORD WILLING-- could we be ready to mail things to "said country" by August 1st?  (that is the goal in my head....but I am waiting as well as I can on HIM).

***IF we were to submit by August 1st... we would travel to country in 7-9 weeks from then..... so October/November?  And really that is so very tentative... anything could come up with our paperwork or the country.....  but I know some have asked-- when will you be traveling and getting him???  And that is our VERY tentative timeline.  We will not know the REAL date until about 1-3 weeks before we LEAVE!!   Yes that is right, we will have a very short time to pack and be ready with plane tickets to GO!  SO those weeks will be very busy raising funds and preparing our home (and kids at home, how will I leave them i am still not sure) and packing.....  we will not be bored, excited yes, bored NO. 

It is also a SUPER big week because I have a few families that I "KNOW" that are in "SAID country" RIGHT NOW!!  I thought they were not leaving until NEXT week-- but they got there Saturday!!   Whoo Hooo  That is so exciting!!   I haven't seen any pictures yet, but I am hanging on every word on their travel and meal excitement!!  lol   One family HOPEFULLY will SEE CARTER!!  Oh I hope!!  How exciting!!   And to think in 5-6 weeks there will be MANY LESS ORPHANS!!!!

Also, my dear friend and family the Suttons are traveling in 6 days to their SAID country-- to meet their son!!  They still need $400 to travel...so if you feel led, please consider helping them.   And if you are REALLY excited about adoption and THE BIG PICTURE of ADOPTION check out these AWESOME wrist bands she is selling!!  I love them.  Joshua has worn his since the day we bought ours.  (mine was lost by a toddler) but we are ordering more for our family...... they are SOOO cute!!

You can order them or make a donation here:

Suburban SOLD and LOOK at this picture!

It is a good thing, it is a sad thing.   We did sell the Suburban today.  For $800 less than what *I* wanted for it.  We really had little choice.  The bill for the inspection which showed it needed new brakes, shocks, rotors was $1600!!  So we either sell the suburban, take that $ off the top and put the rest into our adoption fund OR we-- EMPTY our adoption account (and not even that much) and pay for the suburban and PRAY it sells later.

Jason felt this was our best move.  So when the guy called back again TODAY we dealt with him..but he is DEFINILTY a USED CAR SALESMAN!  :(

As we drove it to meet him into town.... I called Jason on his sell phone because I was getting a bit of cold feet...(I do that often) and I said "wont you miss this suburban-- it is probably the nicest vechicle we have ever owned..."  HIS REPLY  "Yes, I will miss it but not near as much as I would miss have Carter as my son!!"  (and he gave me the THUMBS UP!!    I *LOVE* THAT MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 And YES-- LOOKIE!!!!   I found the original picture of THUMBS UP!!!
The young man in the middle was adopted June 2011 and his mom found me on FB and shared SHE is the one who took this picture of Carter-- here he was saying GOOD BYE to his friends.... how sad that must be for all of them..  BUT--  Lord willing...all three of these guys will be with their FOREVER FAMILIES by the end of the year.  The cute boy on the far right is also being adopted!!    Yeaaaaa

So that is where we are--  and just in time to pay for our I600A & Passports (of which I think we may see if there is a RUSH option)

The Ransom is being RAISED!!!

The last 2 days I have been chasing my tail-- working on getting what I thought would be a seemingly easy passport for Jason and I.

First I was told I needed a new Drivers Licence due to my address not being the correct one (even though I have the official address update card to go with it).  

Then I was told no, I did not need a new DL...(but I think I am still going to make it a priority to get one just to make this whole process go smoother.

So then I gathered our birth certificates got copies of our DL's and headed to the Post Office for our Passports--  and -- NOW-- they say we do NOT have the right "OFFICIAL" "RAISED SEAL" Birth certifiicates!!  So I have to get both of ours "ordered".

Ughhh I thought the passports would be the EASY part...


Well last night after some last minute cleaning up for our HOME STUDY TODAY!!!  I sat down to check out some blogs and fb updates-- and when I went to THIS blog to find my favorite blog upates-- I SAW IT!!--   SOMEONE HAS DONATED OUR FIRST PART OF CARTER'S RANSOM TO FREEDOM!!!!!

I have not even posted the official-- we are offical post yet-- and sharing our "need".. because I wanted to wait till after today's home study....   but SOMEONE has already STEPPED UP!!

This is one point I want to make ABUNDANTLY CLEAR--  ANY DONATIONS made toward this adoption are not "REALLY" for Jason or I--  they TOTALLY 100% go to FREE CARTER to COME HOME to his FAMILY!!  With out help it will be an impossible task-- but I know we are all called to "look after the orphans and widows in their distress".    That was a shift for me when I first heard about some of these adoption blogs-- I wasn't sure what exactly was going on-- but then someone shared it with me this way-- we are not "GIVING $$ to the family"-- we are GIVING $$ to RAISE the RANSOME to BRING THESE KIDS HOME-- it is giving $$ to FREE these children.   Some are set on not giving $$ to the "other" governments and I "get that"-- but you have to SEE the BIGGER PICTURE--- it is about these children coming HOME to FAMILIES that LOVE THEM-- and WANT THEM!!

As a matter of fact there are a few families that right now are MUCH closer to traveling that WE are still trying to help....we cannot do TOO much-- but these children are SOOO close to coming home-- how can we not help their families GO GET THEM??

These families NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW...

Maxwell Charlie & Rebekah need help to come home later this summer.... you can donate here or you can check out their SUPER AWESOME SILENT AUCTION here...


I also have a DEAR DEAR MOMYS' friend who is hoping to travel yet this June/ July to bring home their son.... you can see their updates and donate HERE to bring home Benjamin home!!!  They also have a Raising the Ransome blog (very similar to my cyber yardsale)  HERE....


So if you are at all moved in your heart to HELP these orphans but are not called (YET)  you can do so much to help these families who are READY to GO and GET their children very soon!!  

**PS:  I say yet-- because I 100% believe this is a ripple affect -- I beleive when families accept the "call" to adopt and others watch and pray-- there will be others who are "called"-- it is amazing how we can be humble and obey God and he will work.  I cannot tell you how many people I have read have adopted or are VERY VERY CLOSE due to Susanna's Blog (The Blessing of Verity)--   Why?  Because their family was humble and OPEN to God and to SHARE their story...    I was just thinking last night-- I pray God uses our family to make a RIPPLE for HIM and for these children who SO VERY MUCH need RESCUED!!

Sewing up those purse strings... he will provide

I just had to jump on here, as I want to share each and every step the Lord leads us on... today is a SUPER EXCITING DAY!!

First-- we did send in our "commitment paperwork to Reeces Rainbows" for a special little boy.  I cannot share who, yet... and even when I do I do ask for prayer that all is well with him when we arrive in his country.  (more about that later).

I just have to share that GOD has moved mountains in our finances already!!   Today we paid our FULL homestudy $1400 & our committment to RR (and love offering) $1275 & Jason told me today I REALLY REALLY NEED tires on my van, badly-- like they keep getting low on air-- so we added up our funds and GOD IS GOOD.. there was still enough left over to get those tires on as well (only 2 but that is all we need right now-- and that is how MY God works-- he supplies my EVERY NEED!).   We still have a balance in our NEW ADOPTION account so we can proceed with other 'government' agency fees (USCIS, and others) as soon as I receive the go ahead and well of course the LIST I need to collect!!  lol

But I just have to share-- GOD IS GOOD!!  ALL THE TIME!!   GOD IS GOOD!!

He is meeting our every need-- we REALLY didn't know if we would have enough to pay all our fees & get tires-- let alone have a balance left!!  GOD IS GOOD!

PS:  We also had a gentleman stop and look at our suburban.. (it is parked at the end of the driveway)-- I am not too anxious on this-- because we do not "NEED" $7000 right NOW-- but I DO believe when we need $7000 it will sell-- and HE will receive ALL the Glory!!!

Today made me go back and read 1 Kings 17..

Moving right along

Today was a great day!!!

God has moved little mountains-- and is showing us that every step (even smaller ones) he will lead and guide and provide a way.

Funny enough-- somehow my radio dial was changed in the van today and in my many hours spent there-- I heard not 1 but 2 radio programs about "Special Needs" families.  (none about adoption) but still.  One was with Joni and friends and the other one I don't remember who the host was but it was about a family with a son with CP... it was very encouraging to listen to.

We opened a checking account just for this adoption.  We do not want to get things criss crossed and we will probably have to hook pay-pal upto our account and Jason HATES pay-pal and does NOT want it on our family account... we've had major hacks and lost $$.  So that was good.

We are getting closer on the homestudy-- only 5 more hours of education & waiting on the guardian form to be returned to me (notarized)!!!


THEN---- we also are filling out the commitment papers on a SPECIAL LITTLE BOY!!!   Funny enough we decided on him in our hearts LONG before I sat down last night and researched his diagnosis....  it will all be okay-- I trust that--  God has laid this boy on ALL our hearts...and truthfull-- most diagnosises it seems are either wrong or due to the childs circumstance in the orphanages. 

I cannot make the BIG ANNOUCEMENT YET-- I have to wait for RR to receive all our paperwork and funds-- then when they set up our account-- I CAN ANNOUNCE it FOR REAL!!!!!!  (hopefully with in 2 weeks)

PLEASE do not forget about our online yardsale-- STILL praying the suburban sells.   It seems all the goats have sold!!!  (well one is sold but not picked up or paid for yet-- so we wont count that $$ yet).  

Just had to get a quick update out.....

The Lord give and taketh--Blessed be the Name

This song was so dear to me--- and yet so hard for me to sing and proclaim after the loss of 2 babies 5 years ago.... but this song came to mind last week when one of our "fund raisers" went sour--  we had sold a goat and made a nice profit on her $300 but the new owner called thinking the goat was not well-- but after giving a few Vitamin B shots we took her back-- and the next day she snapped back!!  She is healthy and doing well-- and THANK THE LORD--  the new owners DO want her back and maybe a friend to help keep her company from getting "home sick"! 

We are still very much "in this process" with our hearts-- very much....

We have NO definite direction on which child, but we are really just looking and PRAYING to find a social worker/ agency that is "large family friendly" to do our homestudy.   Obviously, if you do not "get" or "agree" with large families you are not going to get a "good" homestudy.   We have friends at our church who adopted years ago (7-8) and they had a WONDERFUL homestudy done by a sw that deals with Mennonite and other "plain" families-- but unfortunately she is no longer doing sw...she is doing other things.  :(  I think once we find a good SW we will MOVE forward.

We are still praying our Suburban sells-- that will really help so much!!  But I have FULL FAITH-- the day that Suburban sells-- is the day we will *KNOW* w/o a doubt WHO our CHILD IS!!  SO I am patient-- but excited!!

I have one little girl in my heart and mind-- and I contacted a family who just went to her EXACT orphanage last month to BRING HOME 2 BLESSINGS!!   She responded back to me via fb that I could call her and she could share MUCH information with me.   I so want to call-- but am waiting on DH-- because I KNOW if I call-- my heart will have MORE strings TIED to her TIGHLY!!  Oh I hope so though!!

Remember that fleece?

Well--  Jason talked to his HR rep at work-- and they have an ADOPTION ASSISTANCE "program" which will reimbruse adoption expenses for sn children for $6,000!!!   Now this is AFTER you have your adoption certificate-- but still-- Jason said he feels MUCH better about taking a 401k loan or life insurance loan "KNOWING' he has a way to pay it back right away..... !!!!  WOW!!!

PS:  He also sent me a picture of the CUTEST little girl on RR last night!!!  When I woke up and saw the email he sent-- my heart swoooned--   now we cannot adopt her-- she is in a region that says we have TOO many children... but still-- it is the little things that makes my heart LOVE that man SOOOOOO MUCH!!!

Asked God for my "Fleece"

Yes, part of my doubt (a small part) was wondering HOW on earth we would EVER raise the $$ needed for this adoption.  (most of my feelings were due to physcial issues) but some of it was financial...  anyway  As I was praying this morning I was asking the LORD to please show me if this is HIS will for us-- to make it clear to us--  bring Jason and I together in ONE MIND and that our finances would grow so we could move forward....

WELL-- CAN I tell you we now have $800 in a jar!?!  REALLY?  (well truthfully $200 of it is our refunded non-refundable application fee from the HS agency) but still.  And -- I can't say for CERTAIN-- but I do think another  $300-400 is on its way (due to selling another goat this weekend) so that would EASILY be our homestudy (1/2) and to pay the application fee again.

And really-- we didn't even SKIMP to much for this- we were able to get 2 new tires on Jason's car and pay off a SMALL credit we had.... so I am so excited---

We are not making a MOVE yet-- but we are continuing to pray-- and listen---as we are not sure if maybe we should change HS agencies to one that was recommended to be more Large Family Friendly... or what HE wants.....

I think Jason and I will start taking some online trainning /classes for our HS next week.  I think that will be very eye opening.

We do still have 1 large item to sell (our Suburban) but I really feel in my heart-- GOd is NOT going to let that sell until we are READY to make the MOVE HE WANTS us to make-- until we are ALINED with HIM..... PRAYING that happens SOON.

****EDITED to add ALL of our clearances have come back today (EXCEPT ONE that I forgot to sign...but I returned that yesterday)...

AND our references are coming in (the HS agency told us that)..... so really things are still moving ahead..and my heart is glad..........   

Left on our HS todo list--  Online courses, guardianship form and  1 clearance for me that was returned yesterday-- oh and everyone's physcials which are schedueld for the 16th. I never canceled them.   I dread this though- our dr. is not very large family friendly...and I'm sure he'll give a BIG sigh when he sees the "form letter" he needs to complete for each of us.   Not to mention the one form letter says EVERYONE is up to date on immunizations...my 3 youngest have taken a SLOWER route than "normal"... curious to see how this goes!?!   BUT-----EVERYTHING ELSE IS DONE!! 

Oh and another $800 to finish it up !!  

The meeting makes me EXTREMELY NERVOUS THOUGH!!  EXTREMEMLY!!!  I am not one that welcomes social workers into my home-- devulging all the financial info and other info was EXTREMELY hard for me too-- NOT something I would normally EVER do.... but for the Lord..... he keeps my heart in peace-- AS LONG AS I am focused on HIM... (I feel very much like Peter walking on the water OUT TO JESUS---)

Fundraising - Cyber Yardsale

I started a separate place to list my CYBER yardsale items--- I don't want this blog "weighed" down with that stuff... but PLEASE PLEASE check...it out-- let me know if you see something....

Cyber Yardsale


It would probably be best to email me if you are interested in anything...
jdzcollins@yahoo.com

I am flexible with prices--- but PLEASE remember this is not just to get rid of things-- this is to RAISE funds to BRING HOME a child who DESPERATELY NEEDS a LOVING HOME and FAMILY!!! We want to be that HOME & FAMILY.

Getting the Ball Rolling

So that leads us to this week.....

After doing a bit of reading on different blogs and so forth and really remembering some things that Susanna and a few other (MOMYS friends)  had said about agencies-- I looked into "About a Child" to use as an agency.

However AAC is in California-- and we MUST use an PA agency to complete our homestudy... and I saw on AAC's website they recommended "Adoption Related Services" in Shrewsberry, PA as a good agency to get our Home Study (HS) through.  So I called and she gave me LOTS of information.   Inicluding that our cost for the homestudy will be $1600 for a Hauge country.  I will gather documents and then set up an appointment for a home visit where everyone wil be interviewed indiviually and a breif inspection will be done.  10 days later I should have a rough draft to review nad make any corrections and then we wil Finalize it and be HOMESTUDY APPROVED!!  Total time frame-- Agressive= 4-6 weeks

So she emailed me a prelininary application, we filled it out and sent it in with our $200 application fee...(gotta love application fees)
To which she received the next day and sent me the "Official" Homestudy packet -- 25+ documents!!  Can you say OVERWHELMING!?!  Please begin praying-- we really do need GOD to move mountains with the finances.    We are already selling a few "abnormal things"  (goats, subruban, etc)....  but I cannot do this-- GOD must lead-- I must LISTEN!!

Anyone who KNOWS me KNOWS I have it all in spread sheet form in a check list fashion with status and completion dates READY to be checked OFF!!  *****That said-- I DO KNOW this HAS to be  GOD thing-- HE HAS TO WORK-- I have to FOLLOW--