He did it! As of Monday, April 7, we are fully funded. God has provided!
Between the Bring Em Home Chili Cook Off and the blessing of a sizable tax refund check, we have crossed the finish-line of our fundraising. We are financially ready to travel to bring our son home! Now we just need LOA (letter of approval) and TA (travel approval). It looks like we will travel in June.
We are so excited!
Friday, April 11, 2014
Bring 'Em Home - the final event
Saturday, March 29, was our biggest and final fundraising event for this adoption. The Bring 'Em Home Chili Cook Off was a success! All together this event raised $2,793.00.
To read more about this event go to www.bringemhomechilicookoff.blogspot.com
To read more about this event go to www.bringemhomechilicookoff.blogspot.com
Saturday, February 15, 2014
How are you doing this?
I have heard this question many times since my last update. Starting 9 months ago with $0 and now being over $22,000 into this adoption doesn't make much sense. People seem to assume that we just have a lot of money sitting around. One of the most common statements I hear from others is,"You guys are so amazing! We could never afford to do what you are doing!"
Every time I hear this I get uneasy. I want to put my hands on people's shoulders and shake them while yelling, "But we're not! And we can't!" But instead I smile awkwardly and repeat my response of, "We're not the ones doing it." But the words just don't carry enough weight.
We are not doing anything amazing. God is. We have agreed to work hard, to move forward in faith, and to move beyond fear, but nothing we are doing feels particularly spectacular. Heavenly Father is the one bringing the miracle.
For those of you curious about what adoption finance looks like to a family with no money previously set aside, skim over this list:
change for china $18.50
cash donations $60.00
unplanned refund check $602.58
secretary of state check $25.00
ipad sale $150.00
Mary Kay party $91.25
change for china $26.09
budget savings $1750.00
change for china $22.51
garage sale $747.07
jewelry sale $209.00
donated jewelry $140.00
change for china 20.07
birthday cash $100.00
yard sale $620
change for china $19.07
honey-do-helpers $822.67
change for china $9.88
yard sale $227.70
honey-do-helpers $502.00
Chosen marathon $2503.25
Mary Kay open house $340.00
change for china $34.51
recycling $28.00
garage sale $293.49
honey-do-helpers $410.00
maxim respite care $90.43
recycling $35.00
change for china $21.44
This list goes on and on.
So far in this adoption we have had $3,662.26 in unexpected monies just "show up" in our mailbox. This includes things like a check from an overage in an escrow account, unexpected reimbursements, planned expenses coming in lower than expected, having something break under warranty and being able to replace it for less and contribute the difference, etc. These have all been what some people would call "tender mercies."
We have been able to sell personal belongings to the tune of over $600. We've been able to generate over $2,500 from making cuts in our personal budget over the past 9 months. And we've been blessed with over $3,800 of side business through our business Honey-Do-Helpers.
Our fundraising events have been successful and full of blessings. Garage sales and other events have generated over $2,500.
Participating in the Chosen Marathon generated over $2,500 for our adoption.
We are literally watching the money we need come in pennies at a time. Change for China was our very first fundraiser and it has contributed over $250 in pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters. Just a couple months ago I asked our family members to set aside their recyclables for us. Once a month or so I take the collection to recycle and watch as again, pennies, dimes, nickles and quarters add up. All together our 4 families have created over $77 just by not putting our drink containers in the trash for two months. I have learned in a very literal way that every penny counts.
When we began this adoption we did so on a leap of faith. We could plainly see that we "could not afford" another international adoption. But we knew this was what we were being asked to do. So we moved forward simply asking that He show us what to do. "Just bring us the work" was our prayer. We have stood ready and willing to do anything He leads us to. But He has done so much more.
We watch in awe as our friends, family and even perfect strangers unite around us to bring this little boy home. We have been brought to our knees by the faithful actions of our friends and family. We thought this journey was about our leap of faith and our own obedience. We have been awe struck to see the ways our Heavenly Father has brought so many others into this story.
We cannot afford international adoption. But God can.
Every time I hear this I get uneasy. I want to put my hands on people's shoulders and shake them while yelling, "But we're not! And we can't!" But instead I smile awkwardly and repeat my response of, "We're not the ones doing it." But the words just don't carry enough weight.
We are not doing anything amazing. God is. We have agreed to work hard, to move forward in faith, and to move beyond fear, but nothing we are doing feels particularly spectacular. Heavenly Father is the one bringing the miracle.
For those of you curious about what adoption finance looks like to a family with no money previously set aside, skim over this list:
change for china $18.50
cash donations $60.00
unplanned refund check $602.58
secretary of state check $25.00
ipad sale $150.00
Mary Kay party $91.25
change for china $26.09
budget savings $1750.00
change for china $22.51
garage sale $747.07
jewelry sale $209.00
donated jewelry $140.00
change for china 20.07
birthday cash $100.00
yard sale $620
change for china $19.07
honey-do-helpers $822.67
change for china $9.88
yard sale $227.70
honey-do-helpers $502.00
Chosen marathon $2503.25
Mary Kay open house $340.00
change for china $34.51
recycling $28.00
garage sale $293.49
honey-do-helpers $410.00
maxim respite care $90.43
recycling $35.00
change for china $21.44
This list goes on and on.
So far in this adoption we have had $3,662.26 in unexpected monies just "show up" in our mailbox. This includes things like a check from an overage in an escrow account, unexpected reimbursements, planned expenses coming in lower than expected, having something break under warranty and being able to replace it for less and contribute the difference, etc. These have all been what some people would call "tender mercies."
We have been able to sell personal belongings to the tune of over $600. We've been able to generate over $2,500 from making cuts in our personal budget over the past 9 months. And we've been blessed with over $3,800 of side business through our business Honey-Do-Helpers.
Our fundraising events have been successful and full of blessings. Garage sales and other events have generated over $2,500.
Participating in the Chosen Marathon generated over $2,500 for our adoption.
We are literally watching the money we need come in pennies at a time. Change for China was our very first fundraiser and it has contributed over $250 in pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters. Just a couple months ago I asked our family members to set aside their recyclables for us. Once a month or so I take the collection to recycle and watch as again, pennies, dimes, nickles and quarters add up. All together our 4 families have created over $77 just by not putting our drink containers in the trash for two months. I have learned in a very literal way that every penny counts.
When we began this adoption we did so on a leap of faith. We could plainly see that we "could not afford" another international adoption. But we knew this was what we were being asked to do. So we moved forward simply asking that He show us what to do. "Just bring us the work" was our prayer. We have stood ready and willing to do anything He leads us to. But He has done so much more.
We watch in awe as our friends, family and even perfect strangers unite around us to bring this little boy home. We have been brought to our knees by the faithful actions of our friends and family. We thought this journey was about our leap of faith and our own obedience. We have been awe struck to see the ways our Heavenly Father has brought so many others into this story.
We cannot afford international adoption. But God can.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Face lift
I'm sure you noticed the look of this blog has changed. The race is over and now it's time to prepare to fly! We have about 4 short months left to prepare for our travels to China! Our sweet boy is getting excited to meet our family. And we are making the final push with our fundraising.
Here's the latest fundraising update:
To date we have raised over $22,940.00 toward our adoption! That is one BIG exciting number. To look back and realize we really did not have a penny set aside for this adoption 8 months ago and to realize where we are now is such a blessing. God is good.
We have about $9,795 estimated expenses left to go before our son steps foot in the United States. Here's the breakdown of our estimates of what is left:
-$340 visas for Brad and I to enter China
-$3600 airfare
-$950 in-country transportation and guide fees
-$1,500 hotel
-$2,000 remaining program fees
-$550 medical exam for Ty in China (required for embassy and consulate to exit the country)
-$300 possible vaccines
-$230 visa for Ty to enter US
-$325 courier fee for paperwork in China
Most of these monies will be needed at the time of travel. Obviously our visa fees and airline tickets will happen shortly before we leave, but pretty much everything will be needed in about 4 months when we board the plane.
So the fundraising wheels are continuing to turn. We are coming, little boy!
Here's the latest fundraising update:
To date we have raised over $22,940.00 toward our adoption! That is one BIG exciting number. To look back and realize we really did not have a penny set aside for this adoption 8 months ago and to realize where we are now is such a blessing. God is good.
We have about $9,795 estimated expenses left to go before our son steps foot in the United States. Here's the breakdown of our estimates of what is left:
-$340 visas for Brad and I to enter China
-$3600 airfare
-$950 in-country transportation and guide fees
-$1,500 hotel
-$2,000 remaining program fees
-$550 medical exam for Ty in China (required for embassy and consulate to exit the country)
-$300 possible vaccines
-$230 visa for Ty to enter US
-$325 courier fee for paperwork in China
Most of these monies will be needed at the time of travel. Obviously our visa fees and airline tickets will happen shortly before we leave, but pretty much everything will be needed in about 4 months when we board the plane.
So the fundraising wheels are continuing to turn. We are coming, little boy!
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