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

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.....

COINS for Carter

One more option to HELP us bring Carter home.....

Originally I thought we'd have children do this-- as my kids have LOVED filling up our Mason jar for Carter.  (don't drop a quarter in this house-- they will swipe it and put it in the jar.  Today Stephen saw some change in my purse and said "MOM, why isn't that all in Carter's jar? "  As you can imagine it went RIGHT IN!!  LOL)

So this is our next "scheme" (lol inside joke) to raise Carter's Ransom!!  

IF each family (let the children take some ownership maybe, print a picture of Carter and tape it on, that is what we did)  and lets start putting aside COINS FOR CARTER....

Winnner--   Whomever collects the MOST change (please take it to a coin counter, or count it yourself) by September 5th will WIN........  some European Chocolate!!!!!!! (I think I have some coming back with a friend next month, if not I will bring some home for you in October!!) I'm told it is AWESOME!!!! 

 The children will win 10% of the total winnings in the form of a Timberdoodle gift certificate!!!  So if we raise $900-- the children will get a $90 gift certificate!!  Sound good????  (one prize total)

PLEASE do comment here and let us know you are collecting so when the 5th rolls around we are sure we have everyone's change counted......

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.

Screeechhhhh (brakes applied quickly) HOMESTEAD Auction straight ahead...

Yes, I am re-vamping our "big fundraiser" for Carter.

After hearing all the neat goodies people have offered for our "give away" I realized some are pretty "feminine" and some are not-- and what if a guy's guy wins a signing time dvd?  (lol, that would be funny, but much better in the hands of a mommy with younger children).

So we are going QUICKLY switch things over to a silent auction...with a GRAND prize given after collecting the names of EVERY person who bids (and as many times as you bid.... so if you bid 10 times but do not win any of the items... you STILL get entered 10x for the BIG prize!!)  Hmmm sound good?

Also after talking with a dear friend about my friends & neighbors and what we are "into".   I think we may STRETCH this out a bit-- and open it up to HOMEMADE, Homestead, gifts.... yes, so if you make something, if you bake something,  if you raise something, if you GROW something and you would like to donate it (you can ask for a minimum bid, please help me decide this) PLEASE DONATE it!! 

How neat could this be!!    Of course if someone donates a goat, or a chicken or something-- we will NOT be shipping it to Florida!!  LOL  So some long distance people will have to stick to mail-able items!!

I think this could be VERY unique-- and a LOT OF FUN!!   It's not Tupperware, it's not Pampered Chef-- this is going to be a DOWN HOME auction!!

PS:  Homesteading books are welcome too.. I know some have mentioned a how to sew book and another homesteading type book!!

Send me a comment or email with your willing donations!!!  Let's show them how WE do this!! 

I am excited now-- I had a VERY BAD evening (eyes still swollen from tears) but I am up and EXCITED NOW!!!  Thank you all!!!  (And especially my dear friend who called me at 11:30pm to speak words of encouragement to me... THAT is a good friend!!)  I am blessed!!

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:

USCIS and Fundraising Update

Well we have received our passports in the mail this week.  That is great news because we had about 5-8 documents that needed the passport number and to be notarized and then appostiled ($15 each, remember.... :(  )   But atleast we are ready to go with those.

Then I just received our USCIS biometric fingerprint paperwork-- so Monday we will head to the location and get that done.... :)  HOW EXCITING!!

In other good news-- we are getting ready to have a BIG GIVEAWAY to help raise funds to BRING CARTER HOME.   The giveaway will run August 1st- August 30th.   The BIG Grandprizes will consist of ONE of the following:  $150 Cabella gift card, 2 Hershey Park Tickets, Ergo baby carrier OR $150 Pleasant Hill Grain gift card. 

I would love to have some other prizes-- if you would like to donate something you make or any extra gift cards or such that you may have I would LOVE to add them to our prize list.  Please leave me a comment if you would like to donate a prize to our give-away.   

I will post more about the giveaway next week once I have all the prizes ready to go!!!! 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have some extra $ to help an orphan right now, may I suggest a dear friend, The Sutton Family-- they are traveling in 7 days... the still need $450 to travel--  PLEASE if you are able-- Donate and help this family meet their new son!!

http://blessingseternal.blogspot.com/2012/07/a-huge-praise.html

Passport- CHECK!

So Wednesday Jason's birth certificate finally came-- so Thursday morning we headed to the post office to apply for our passports!!!  I cannot tell you how very nervous I am to travel.  I do not travel well..... (I have only ever flown 2x and was HORRIBLE) but I just pray the Lord will see us through.... let alone traveling INTERNATIONALLY!!!   Yikes.... applying for the Passport made it all come even more "real" in my mind!! 


Next step-- wait 2-3 weeks for the passport to arrive and then fill out about a dozen more forms (maybe less) w/ our passport #'s-- get them notarized-- get them aposttiled and HOPEFULLY our USCIS approval will be done by then-- and we can FINISH our Dossier!!!!  

WOW!   I am praying August 1st we can have it all DONE!!

Considering a fundrasiers/giveaway/raffle of sorts-- stay tuned.....  I am thinking something foodie-- I know some on RR boards would love a Ergo giveaway-- so we'll see.  We can only afford 1 "large" item--- the other mention was a dehydrator-- I do think that would be pretty popular-----

If you by chance have anything you make or have that you would want to donate for our fundraiser-- please let me know..... I'd like to have 1 "big" prize and 4-5 other prizes too.....

GOLD STAR DAY!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!! I600A SENT

Oh my goodness what an AWESOME DAY!!!

I was able to mail off our I600A form!!  What is that?  It is a form we had to fill out to apply for US citizenship and Immigration services for an orphan.    (Basically it is approval from the US to adopt as far as I can tell).
So we mailed that off with $890 (some of that is for some fingerprinting we will have to get done)

THEN-- I was able to pick up  my Dr.' forms which were a MAJOR headache-- but I do believe are DONE!! 

So now tomorrow Jason will run some more papers to Harrisburg to be apostilled.
(An apostille is a special seal applied by an authority to certify that a document is a true copy of an original.)  See that gold seal.. each one costs $15 we will need about 48 documents appositlled!!

Then we will MAIL off ALL our documents that do NOT need Passport #'s to OUR COUNTRY TOMORROW!!!  YES-- OUR FIRST OFFICAL mailing to "said" country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  For translation!!  (which we have to wire $500 over to begin).  Sounds easy enough-- yeah-- I was at 2 banks at 2:30 this afternoon and NEITHER could get the wire done before 3pm (when the Federal Reserve closes, I guess?)  so Jason will try HIS hand at it tomorrow.

THEN...........

that means-- until Jason's birth certificate comes (around July 11th) we are DONE chasing papers.   Once that comes we will MARCH over to the POST office and get a RUSH on our Passports.   That they say RUSHED will take 3 weeks.... THEN we fill out a few more EASY forms (yet forms that need notarized and appostilled (at $15 each)) and THEN-- we are DONE with our DOSSIER!!!

We are SO CLOSE!!

However-- I asked about the time frame-- and the time frame from submitting our Dossier to traveling-- 8-10 weeks!!  Those will be LONG WEEKS (with HOPEFULLY minimal forms to re-do).

That said-- 8-10 weeks to raise our remaining FUNDS will be probably cutting us SUPER close!!  

But maybe not--  I jumped on here to post our udpate only to find SOMEONE(s) added $200 to our FSP fund!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHO EVER YOU ARE THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!

You have no idea how my heart skips when I see that growing...... that will be our traveling $$  (air fare and lodging in country).

It is so neat how this is all coming together bit by bit--- not too fast-- not too slow.... PERFECTLY!!

Moving right a long!! I 600A!! Homestudy

Little updates..we are plugging along.

I received our rough draft home study Friday at 7pm!   I have made some changes and my state side coordinator has made some changes we are waiting on one more "pre approval" and then we can submit and get a FINAL draft HOPEFULLY THIS WEEK!!!

Since we are so close my state side coordinator sent me the I600A form!!  How exciting!   And thankfully we do have the funds for that.  $890 (including 2 biometric fingerprinting).

We also have a $500 fee we need to wire over to "said country" for their help in processing and "pre approving" forms and translating forms.  THAT-- we need a little help with.

We also did get another call for the Suburban.  We thought we would ask $7000.  (that is the "good" private party value on KBB),   We had one offer for $4000 but there is NO way because Jason just had new shocks, brakes and roters put on last week so we have a $1200 bill before we can even SELL it now.  :(    However today a guy called and offered $5500.  I would REALLY like to see closer to $6k, but he is in "re sale" so he is looking to buy and re-sell on his lot... so I see why he offered $5500 HE will then sell on his LOT for $7000.   So now to decide--- take the offer or wait....   I was REALLY REALLY planning on the Suburban to pay our Adoption fees of $9000 (when we get in country)....  decisions decisions.....  If we sell it for $5500 we will only clear $4300.    Pass on this offer and get another one....maybe??? 

So that is where we are still paper chasing some documents.  Waiting forever for Jason's PA birth certificate.   Waiting for an employment letter that needs notarized, waiting for a new rental agreement with our landlord notarized, waiting for a few documents that need CAREFUL attention and notarization and licence copies from our family doctor (PRAYER is the only thing that will make that all happen with no problems). 

So now I get it-- we are in the "Hurry Up and WAIT" phase of things.


_------------------------------------------------------------------------

BUT PLEASE---  all those small hurdles I mentioned above do not seem big at all when you consider what TERRIBLE HORRIBLE BEYOND WORDS ordeal this family is in the middle of  See HERE....

PLEASE PRAY for this FAMILY!!!

Here is their latest update...

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!!

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.....

Almost there....... (with the Home Study)

Can you believe our "to do list" only has 3 more things on it??

1. Medical forms for EACH family member...... have I mentioned how much I dread this?
2. Guardianship form- filled out and notarized ..... dreading this too.... choosing who will be the guardian of our child/children should anything happen to Jason or I.....
3. Adoption Education!  Our HS agency did email me some things to read that we could count as "PART" of our Education!!  I think we need 10 hours.

THAT's IT!!  WOW!!

Hoping Wednesday to be able to make a COMMITTMENT to a child!!  SO EXCITED!!!

Tuesday we will have another goat sold and maybe a 3rd, if the lady who emailed me follows up!!  :)  :)  :)

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!!

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.