Since finding out this amazing, life-changing news about Alma, we have been busy. For those who may wonder what our adoption process is looking like so far, take a peek into our frenzy...
1. The day I found out we were expecting Church kid #4, I began filling out applications. One for our placement agency (Carolina Adoption Services) and one for our homestudy agency (God's Children Adoption Agency.) It took me a total of around 3 hours to do both.
2. Along with the GCAA application, we had to include our fingerprints, which had to be done at the police station. Thankfully, there's always a helpful officer on duty no matter what time you show up. We went on a Sunday afternoon and it was quick!
3. We've also been planning fundraisers.
We ordered our 1,000 piece photo puzzle, that will be a visual reminder of how each donation puts more pieces of the "puzzle" (which is a huge photo of our little Alma)of our adoption together. You can donate $23 to have a piece dedicated to you, and when framed it will be double sided, so we get to see all the love that was poured out that helped bring her home. (Photos to come)
Another thing we did (I keep saying we, I should be saying I, many adoptive moms, I think, can relate!!!!) was order a 250 business type cards with our adoption info and blog address on it, so if you would like a stack to pass out, or just one to keep in your purse or on your fridge, let me know!!
The ice cream social is being planned! The date will most likely be a Friday in May! It should be super fun and is open to all!
We're going to be making change collectors, to be placed in homes, offices, businesses, anywhere where someone might be so kind as to throw some lose change into a jar (photos to come). When it's full, just let us know and we'll come pick it up! If you would like a container or two, let me know and I'll get it to you ASAP!!
4. There is one adoption grant I can apply for, and plan to apply for more. Our experience with this in the past has been pretty great, however, most will not allow us to apply till we have our updated homestudy, which we will not have for at least a few weeks. Most of the fees will be due before we'll ever hear back about grants, so we are just not going to count on that for right now. But it could help with travel fees, which could be up to $16,000 total.
We were very blessed to receive two very generous donations just within the first few days of finding out about our new daughter. To those who have given and plan to give, we cannot thank you enough. Thank you and God Bless you!
If you haven't already, please share our blog with your friends. The more who know, the more that can be involved through support and prayer and...
Other ways to help...
~pass out our adoption cards
~place a coin donation collector in your home, office, workplace etc.
~pray, pray and pray some more!!!!
~volunteer for the ice cream social coming in May
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Quick Prayer Request
So in looking over our fee structure, I have found hope and a challenge. Please spread the word and pray for us. I'm not asking those to give who can't, but being willing to help in any way you can (volunteering, praying, passing out our adoption cards) as we set about earning the "ransom" for our daughter will be a wonderful blessing to us and her.
Looking over what is due and when, I realized that the bulk of the fees will be due in a rather short amount of time. The first set of fees we have ALMOST covered, praise the LORD! And by the time our dossier(all the documents that will go to Uganda) is ready to be submitted, all the rest of the fees, aside from what we will need for travel, will be due. So, in the next three months, we need to raise about $7,000-$8,000.
The good news is that the rest of the time we would only have to raise funds for travel, probably around $10,000-$16,000. Still a large amount of money, but really the last third of our fundraising needs.
SO, please pray that the fundraising that we do is blessed!! We are thinking of doing an ice cream social at our church, but are sure of NO details yet. We're just praying about what would be fun for our church and community to participate in, but that would also be beneficial in bringing our girl HOME!!!
Also, we are putting together a photo puzzle of Alma. If you wish to have a piece dedicated to you/your family you can donate $23 (it's a 1,000 piece puzzle)and your name will go on the back. When we're fully funded, the puzzle will be totally finished, framed front and back so we can see all those who have contributed. If you would like to "buy" a puzzle piece, please click the donate button on the right or email me at Chicamia84@msn.com for our mailing address to send a check, or for any questions.
Looking over what is due and when, I realized that the bulk of the fees will be due in a rather short amount of time. The first set of fees we have ALMOST covered, praise the LORD! And by the time our dossier(all the documents that will go to Uganda) is ready to be submitted, all the rest of the fees, aside from what we will need for travel, will be due. So, in the next three months, we need to raise about $7,000-$8,000.
The good news is that the rest of the time we would only have to raise funds for travel, probably around $10,000-$16,000. Still a large amount of money, but really the last third of our fundraising needs.
SO, please pray that the fundraising that we do is blessed!! We are thinking of doing an ice cream social at our church, but are sure of NO details yet. We're just praying about what would be fun for our church and community to participate in, but that would also be beneficial in bringing our girl HOME!!!
Also, we are putting together a photo puzzle of Alma. If you wish to have a piece dedicated to you/your family you can donate $23 (it's a 1,000 piece puzzle)and your name will go on the back. When we're fully funded, the puzzle will be totally finished, framed front and back so we can see all those who have contributed. If you would like to "buy" a puzzle piece, please click the donate button on the right or email me at Chicamia84@msn.com for our mailing address to send a check, or for any questions.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
We're Expecting...To Bring Home A Girl!
Hello Family and Friends,
We are thrilled to announce that our prayers for a 4th child have been answered! On February 14th I saw a photo of a little girl in Uganda. I wrote a letter to her orphanage and waited for 2.5 weeks to hear back. We were the only family inquiring, but they wanted to be very sure about us. When I saw the email in my inbox saying for me to call Allie, the Uganda adoption worker with CAS, my heart began pounding and I was literally shaking, not knowing what the news was going to be.
The call was brief but contained wonderful news. It's a girl!!!!
"A" is 3 years old. She's never really known what it's like to have a mama and daddy. She has sickle cell anemia, which makes her life harder, but not necessarily shorter. She looks like a sweet, darling little girl. I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait to be her mom.
As you can see, if you take a gander to the right, we have lots of work to do. We need some prayer warriors out there to take up our cause, because aside from a whole pile of money to raise, we have lots of paperwork to get through (I've done about 2-3 hours worth since we got the news....yesterday.) However, we are absolutely convinced that if this little girl is meant for our family, the Lord will show up in amazing ways, giving us strength for the journey and the keys we need to open each door. He is good, and He is great. We're praising Him for this hope-filled answer to prayer.
To make a donation that will go directly towards adoption fees and/or travel please click the donate button at the top right hand side of the page, or email me at chicamia84@msn.com.
We are thrilled to announce that our prayers for a 4th child have been answered! On February 14th I saw a photo of a little girl in Uganda. I wrote a letter to her orphanage and waited for 2.5 weeks to hear back. We were the only family inquiring, but they wanted to be very sure about us. When I saw the email in my inbox saying for me to call Allie, the Uganda adoption worker with CAS, my heart began pounding and I was literally shaking, not knowing what the news was going to be.
The call was brief but contained wonderful news. It's a girl!!!!
"A" is 3 years old. She's never really known what it's like to have a mama and daddy. She has sickle cell anemia, which makes her life harder, but not necessarily shorter. She looks like a sweet, darling little girl. I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait to be her mom.
As you can see, if you take a gander to the right, we have lots of work to do. We need some prayer warriors out there to take up our cause, because aside from a whole pile of money to raise, we have lots of paperwork to get through (I've done about 2-3 hours worth since we got the news....yesterday.) However, we are absolutely convinced that if this little girl is meant for our family, the Lord will show up in amazing ways, giving us strength for the journey and the keys we need to open each door. He is good, and He is great. We're praising Him for this hope-filled answer to prayer.
To make a donation that will go directly towards adoption fees and/or travel please click the donate button at the top right hand side of the page, or email me at chicamia84@msn.com.
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