What's going on...

     Yesterday we paid our $200 and registered for our 10 hour online Adoption class and we have 8 weeks to complete it. I thought we'd get to do it together but each of us have to take this class separately and then will both receive a certificate at the end. I did about two hours of it yesterday and it has some really neat video clips and information. I look forward to moving forward and learning new things! We are waiting on a family coordinator to be assigned to us so we can continue to move forward and start the home studies. We have typed up a letter to send out to our families and friends asking them for prayers and donations. It is hard to ask for money when we know everyone is in the same financial hardship as us but we also know it doesn't hurt to ask! So, if you don't receive a letter from us in a week or so and would like one, please send us your address and we will get one to you! We ask that you please keep praying for us on this journey and we will continue to keep everyone up to date! :o)

Crafting for Adopting

I know most people have already seen this on Facebook but I wanted to put it on the blog for those that might not have! Allan and I have started making crafts and are trying to sell them to raise money for the adoption. So far we have made lots of earrings, cross-stitched bookmarks and picture frames, and wooden picture frames. Check out our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crafting-for-Adopting/332534806771114 when you have a chance. Also, we'd love to hear your (Positive) comments about the blog, about the crafts or just in general! Thanks! :o)

What the money is going to...

I've had a few people asking me why it costs so much to adopt and where all that money is going so I thought I'd post it so you can see!This is the website that I copied it from: http://www.awaa.org/programs/ethiopia/cost.aspx

APPLICATION & DOSSIER BUILDING

Application Fee

$250

1st Installment of Program Fee

$1,500

Home Study (varies by state)

$1,200 - $2,500

Additional Home Study Documentation Prep. Fee (varies by process)

$0 - $100

Home Study Visit Travel Fees
(could include mileage, etc. based on current federal mileage rates)

$0 - $200

Adoptive Parent Training (2 adults)

$175

Documents/Background Checks/Miscellaneous
(varies by state and number of states previously lived in)

$100 - $1,000

USCIS Fee & Update Fee + Fingerprinting

$890

Notarization, Certification & Authentication (varies by state)

$400

DOSSIER SUBMISSION & WAITING

Courier Service

$150

2nd Installment of Program Fee

$2,000

Post Adoption Report Deposit
(fully refundable if all post-adoption reports are returned on time)

$1,000

Dossier Service & Translation

$800

1/2 International Program Fee (1 child) •••

$3,750

REFERRAL & TRAVEL

International Specialist Consultation (varies by specialist)

$100 - $400

3rd Installment of Program Fee

$1,500

Post Adoption Administrative Fee

$385

1/2 International Program Fee (1 child) •••

$3,750

Trip 1 - Airfare (2 adults; prices will vary by season and location)

$2,400 - $4,000

Trip 1 - In-Country Travel Package (2 adults) ••••

$1,400 - $2,500

Trip 1 - Visas (2 adults)

$40

Trip 2 - Airfare (2 adults; prices will vary by season and location)

$2,400 - $4,000

Trip 2 - Airfare
(1 child; prices will vary by season, location and ticket - ie: lap pass or child seat)

$250 - $1,000

Trip 2 - In-Country Travel Package (2 adults) ••••

$1,000 - $2,000

Trip 2 - Visas (2 adults)

$40

Visa/Embassy Fee (1 child) •••••

$404

POST ADOPTION

Post Adoption Visits (varies by state)••

$600 - $1,300

Post Adoption Visit Travel Fees
(varies by state and location from social worker)

$0 - $300

Random Babble

     Since my last blog, the Lord has blessed Allan with another job. We are so thankful and blessed and will continue moving forward.  We might not understand why things happen but we are trusting in the Lord's plan for us."Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding, Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3: 5-6

     I have made a total of 48 earrings now and actually sold my first 2 pairs today!! Yay!!! It came at a perfect time because I have been feeling very discouraged lately. Allan has been very busy making cross-stitch bookmarks, decorative crosses, etc and we actually had our first sale of a bookmark on Thursday! Yay! We are so thankful for the help! Please check out our face book page "Crafting for Adopting" we have pictures of everything on there! I'm about to start working on some Valentine's Day picture frames and decorative birdhouses and hope they turn out well! My hope is that more people will be willing to donate if they are actually receiving something instead of just giving money. 

     We so desperately want to bring home our child! In our adoption papers we have requested a young child ranging from 0-2 and we did not specify a gender. So, we are eagerly awaiting to see the child that the Lord has picked out for us! I'm so ready to become a Mom and a Teacher. To provide a child with a loving home, to teach them manners, respect and most importantly about their Savior Jesus Christ. I've dreamed of being a mom since I was a child and have always wanted to be a wife and a stay at home mom.  I've always had a passion for children and I enjoy teaching and spending time with the 2yr old class at Church every Sunday; but at the same time it makes me want a child that much more! Kids bring such a joy to my life and I am beyond ready to start a family of my own! People who have been blessed with children, with the opportunity to have a family don't realize the pain and hardship that couples face when it doesn't come so easy for them. Even Hollywood makes it look so simple to become pregnant on the first try! I'm just trying to put my point of view out there but unless you are in my situation then you really won't understand what it is like. It is difficult to see everyone around you being pregnant, having a child and then getting pregnant again later while you are still trying for the first, or a couple who is going to try for a child and gets pregnant on the first try. Anyways, I keep babbling on but what I'm trying to say is I have been selfish all this time in wanting a child of my own, when there are so many kids out there without homes, without Moms and Dads. Allan and I can be that family to a child who otherwise wouldn't have one and we can have a child! It's a win-win situation! I have put my faith in the Lord and know and trust that his plan will work out, it is HIS plan not OURS.

     Lucky for me, this is my blog so I'm allowed to babble! :o)

Beading for Baby

SoOoO...What do you think of these earrings??! They are for sale!  I started making them tonight to try and raise money to bring home our child. Would anyone like to buy them?? I will be making plenty more and hope to sell them all! Let me know, if you are interested! :) I'm really excited about this!!

A bump in the road

Happy New Year everyone! :o) I'm looking forward to what God has planned for us this year! We have hit a bump in the road to adoption but we aren't going to let this get us down. Allan lost his job on Friday morning, but we are trusting that God has something better planned for him. I have to admit it wasn't easy hearing this news; he loved his job, had great insurance, great pay, lots of vacation time, etc.. But, I just have to say GOD IS AWESOME! He has given us both a peace about this and honestly it has encouraged us to continue moving forward with the adoption. We are not going to let this small bump in the road discourage us from our dream of bringing home our child and starting our family! We continue to downsize anything we can to save as much money as possible, but we still desperately need financial help. We were blessed with another donation yesterday and are so thankful!! Every dollar we get brings us one step closer to bringing home our child! We are keeping our heads up high and moving forward! :o)