Upcoming Fundraisers

We have a lot of fundraisers coming up.

Our t-shirts will be here in a month or so, they are $20 and you can pre-order them right now. If you're local, you can go by Pal's Coffee + Company in the mall and pre-order there. If you aren't able to get to Pal's, you can mail me a check and I'll make sure the size/fit you want is saved for you! You can contact me through Facebook, or leave a message on this blog post with your email and I'll get in touch with you about how to buy a shirt.

At the end of April we're hosting our 2nd online Adoption Auction. Our 1st auction raised $900, so our goal with this auction is to break $1,000. We already have over 30 items donated and would LOVE to get some more donations in before the auction starts at the end of the month. If you're interested in donating something, let me know! The auction will take place on Facebook, and you can join the fun right here :)

This summer we'll be hosting a benefit concert. So far we have one act scheduled to play, but are looking for 2-4 more artists/musicians/singers/etc to play, so if you or anyone you know is good at those things, and has time to spare for one Saturday night in June, let me know. That night our t-shirts will be for sale, as well as some yummy baked goods and handcrafted Pinterest projects ;)

We're hoping to be featured on Give1Save1.com sometime this summer. A friend of our's is working on our video to submit with our application, which you'll be able to see if/when we're featured. The premise of the website is that everyone can afford to give $1 to help save 1 child. It's a fantastic website, run by a family who is currently in the process of adopting themselves, but started this website to help others adopt too. So awesome.

We're also looking into a few different local eateries who will host fundraising nights. We'll keep you updated on that!

Last thing- we are applying for a grant from Show Hope. We had a miscommunication with our agency that we thought might be a huge setback, but we got it figured out and should still have the application in by the deadline (April 30th). There is a 90 day minimum wait period after the deadline, so we won't know if we're awarded any grant money for a while.

So, that's it on the fundraising front. Lots going on! It's exciting that we're starting to see things come together a little bit. Please keep us and our little girl in your prayers, along with all of our fundraisers coming up.

Home study finalized!

We had a fun morning... the girls had their first Easter Egg hunt of the season, and when we got home I checked the mail.

junk mail, more junk mail.... some Similac coupons (no idea why we started getting these again, no one here has used formula in a year and 1/2!)... and what's that under there? Besides the dirty table... and even dirtier chair (these were a hand-me-down... note to self: NEVER buy dining room chairs with white seat cushions. It's just a terrible idea). I digress... it's our finalized home study!!!!! *happy dance*

Something I read...

I stumbled on this post while browsing through Pinterest for adoption fundraising ideas. It's a post about what happens "after the airport." After the adoption is final, and you're all home as a family... and it's "the end." (But as this post says, it's nowhere near the end)

Tonight my heart just breaks reading this post thinking about our little girl. Really for all of the orphans everywhere waiting for a family.

I keep trying to think of something more to say, but that's all I've got tonight.

So close I can taste it!

The home study is REALLY close to be DONE! *happy dance* We had our last meeting a couple weeks ago. We were waiting on the FBI to clear us, which takes FOREVER, but we finally got that back a couple days ago (yay! we're not felons!). Now we just need to fax those papers to the office, along with the certification from our online training (I forgot the website was down last month and I never got to print the certification for the last class). Those are the Last. Two. Things! Woohoo!!!

I've had several people ask me what's next, and a couple people thinking that we're done with the heavy lifting and just wait now. Unfortunately, no. We still have a LONG road ahead of us. After the home study is finalized we can move forward with our adoption agency. We still owe them a good chunk of money before that can happen too- $3200. So, after we pay that we'll start working on our dossier. Basically a boatload of paperwork that will be sent to the Congo on our behalf, along with our home study. After this is reviewed by them, we'll be put on a referral waitlist. When we get up to the top (which can take a year), we'll eventually be matched with a little girl.

After we accept a referral, our case will go to court in the Congo (this takes a month or longer). After the court approval there is a 30 day wait period to make sure there is no family that wants to contest the court's decision. Next we file a I600 (more paperwork), which takes a month or so to get approved. Next we request an appointment with the Embassy in the Congo. They'll issue a visa, and I believe this is when we will travel there. While we're there, we will receive a letter from emigration allowing the child to leave the country. We'll be there 1-2 weeks, assuming nothing goes wrong.

So, like I said... long way to go. At least another year, possibly longer. Some of these things don't take long, but you have to have the money to move forward before you can do the next thing on the list. Right now we haven't paid another other than the home study fees. We're still looking at around $17,000 which does not include travel expenses.

As far as fundraising goes, we have a couple things in the works. We just hosted a yard sale, which brought in $400. We are still working on t-shirts (they'll be $20 each if you're interested!), and we are eventually going to be a featured family on a fundraising website. Now that our home study is (almost) done, there are a few grants, matching grants, and low/no interest loans we can start applying for, which we will do. Any other suggestions? :)

Fundraiser next month

We're hosting a big garage sale next month (March 17th) to raise money for our garage sale. If you're interested in helping out, you can get all the details on the Facebook event-

http://www.facebook.com/events/144766038978013/

For those who aren't local, we'd really just appreciate your prayers as we attempt to raise some money. Thank you so much!

Home study visit

We had our first home study visit on the 30th. It was really laid back, no real reason to have been nervous about it (even though I was). Our social worker was really nice. She lives in the same town we do, and actually went to the same college Andrew and I went to, so we talked about that some (she has children our age, so the college changed a lot from the time she was there to when we were there!)

We went over the orientation form for the home study, basically just going over what the next 2 visits would look like, what paperwork we still had to turn in, and she answered any of our questions.

There was a LOT of paperwork still to do. So after she left Monday night I made a long to do list, and the next day we got to work. I filed our taxes yesterday, which helps with 2 things. We have to include our most recent tax return in our home study AND our refund will be paying to finish the home study (costs $900 to get started and the other $900 is due at the end). Yesterday we also called to set up a vet visit for all 3 of our animals, doctor's visits for Andrew and myself, and made phone calls/emails to references to get those in. We have 4 references that aren't related to us and 2 that are (one from each side) asked to write a "letter of support".

Today the stars aligned. Andrew closed at work (so he didn't go in until 3pm), the girls were at school, and the baby I watch during the day wasn't here today, so we took advantage and got a lot of errands done (and a lot of money spent ;) )

After we dropped the girls off at school, Andrew dropped me off at the dentist. This wasn't adoption related, I just had a cavity I had to get filled and added to the "lots of money spent" part. While I was there, Andrew went and dropped off the forms at the girls' pediatrician that they need to fill out and fax in. Then he headed over to drop off the 911 record forms that they'll mail back to us. He also picked up a copy of our marriage certificate, then I was done and he came to pick me back up.

After the dentist we headed to Pak Mail to get our fingerprints done for the GBI (Georgia) background check ($34 per person). Next we went down to the jail to get our FBI (federal) fingerprints done. This was only $5 for both of us to do it, but then we'll pay $36 when we mail it in to them.

We also picked up birth certificates for Andrew, Alexis and Kaitlyn. We got 3 copies of each, just in case we need more. They're $25 for the first one, but only $5 for additional copies at the same time, so we figured we'd get a couple extra just in case. So $105 later....

I'll have to mail away for my birth certificate, since I wasn't born in Georgia, so that's still on my to do list.

After all that craziness Andrew and I still had time for a quick lunch before we had to pick up the girls from school (they go to a 3 day/week preschool 9am-1pm), so we tried out a local BBQ place (Troy's BBQ for local readers). We've heard great things, but have never been. It was great! Not great for my diet, but taste wise... great!

Still on our to do list before the 21st-

• get our FBI forms notarized
• mail in our FBI fingerprint forms
• mail away for my birth certificate
• replace the battery in one of our smoke detectors
• double check that all of our cleaning supplies are locked up
• make sure all of our references get mailed in
• get letter from Walgreens verifying Andrew's employment/salary
• print our Will and get it notarized

I *think* that's it, but our actual to do list is in the car, and it's raining really hard... so we'll just say that's it.

We just got back from the vet to get all of our animals up to date on their vaccinations... $300 later, they're all mad at us and our bank account is empty ;)

Speaking of money... on the fundraising front, we have a couple things coming up, hopefully soon! Our tshirts should be ready in the next month or so (we have to finish paying for them, which requires our tax refund too), and the website that we're going to be the "featured family" on will hopefully be sometime in March. They've announced all the family's for February and we aren't on that list, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll make the cut for March. They pick the families to be featured based on their need and where they are in the process. We obviously need the money, but there are other families that are leaving next week/month to pick up their babies and still don't have the money needed. OR they have already brought their children home, and have debt because of it.

If you have any ideas about how we can fund raise in other ways, please let me know! As soon as our homestudy is complete we'll be able to apply for several grants from different organizations, so I'm looking forward to that phase... lots more paperwork!

Finally, please keep us in your prayers! This is a long process, but we're trusting in God's timing with everything and leaning on Him to provide. Thank you to everyone for your support!

Another edition of FAQ

We have our first home study visit scheduled for one week from today! We've answered lots of questions since scheduling this and I'm hoping to answer some of those questions here for anyone else who might be wondering, but haven't had a chance to ask.

Q. What does it mean to have your first "visit" scheduled?

A. We will have 3 visits with our social worker. This first visit is very informal, she'll come over and see our house and talk to us about the rest of the process. We'll talk about what paperwork is still required of us (lots), what to expect in the next 2 visits, and things like that. She's already told us that before she comes for the 2nd visit that she likes us to have all the paperwork finished, so that could be several weeks. I believe by the 3rd visit we'll have to finish paying, but that shouldn't be an issue since it's almost tax refund time! The 2nd visit is when the social worker will sit down with Andrew and I together and separately to ask us a million personal questions. Not looking forward to that one, but I was referred to this particular social worker and heard that she's really nice, so hopefully it won't be too rough.

Q. How much longer is the adoption process going to take?

A. A long time. It really depends a lot on how fast we can get all the paperwork sent where it needs to be, all the documents in we need (birth certificates, etc), and of course how quickly we can come up with the money to move on to the next thing. Right now we have $900 left to pay to the home study agency.

Q. What happens after the home study?

A. Well, first the home study has to be approved, and then we have to complete a dossier, which is basically a bunch of paperwork that the Congolese government requires of families that want to adopt. After that we'll be put on the waitlist for a referral. How long we wait for a referral depends on how many other families are in "line" ahead of us- age/gender/etc. Eventually we'll be matched with a little girl that's in our requested age group, and if we accept the referral our case will be presented to a local court in Congo for their approval. Luckily, we don't have to be there in person (most countries require this now, which adds a lot to the cost). After the court approval we have to wait 30 days to make sure there isn't a blood relative or something of the child that wants to appeal the court's decision. After ALL that, we'll file a I600 (more paperwork), that takes a month or 2 to get approved. After the I600 is approved, the Embassy will process a visa and then we have to get a letter from the Congolese government that says the child is allowed to leave the country. As far as I know, that last step happens while we're there with our little one (Hannah... Natalie... we're undecided ;) ). Travel time is estimated to be 7-14 days.

Q. How much money do you still have left to raise?

A. Lots. We still have $900 to pay to the home study agency, and $14,700 to our adoption agency. And then we also have to pay all of our travel expenses which are expected to be about $3,000. So yeah... that's a lot of numbers. After we get through the home study process we can start applying for grants, etc. We'll keep you updated.

Q. Are the shirts here?

A. Not yet, but they're ordered! I ordered 100 shirts, so if you want one, I have one for you! I got lots of different sizes- everything from a kid's XS to an adult XXXL.

I hope that answers some questions people have had!

PLEASE let me know if you have any other questions. I know I still don't have all the answers, but I'm learning a lot as we go forward in this process. Our next "to do" is another big stack of paperwork (what else is knew?)