It's Not Mine

Sometimes I can be stubborn. Shocking, I know. :) While researching adoption I came across many ideas for fundraising. One was to have a garage sale. No way. No thanks. Not interested. In my mind I had some very good reasons to NOT have one:

1. It's too much work.

2. We don't have enough stuff to sell.

3. We won't raise enough money to make it worth all the effort.

4. I don't even know how, I've never done one on my own before.

5. I can't handle the unorganized mess.

6. I just don't want to.

Well, those reasons were just not cutting it. That gentle nudging was happening again. I could tell God was calling me to do this and that He didn't think my reasons for not doing one were good enough. I'd like to say that I decided to obey God with a cheerful heart, but that wouldn't be the truth. I think I decided to be obedient because we had sent off our adoption agency payment and our checking account was at a frightfully low amount. I knew God would provide. I would do the garage sale, but I was expecting it to make maybe $600 or $700. 

In an earlier blog post I mentioned that we would be having a garage sale. People started asking if we wanted items donated to the sale. Sure! Why not? And so people started bringing things... a little here, a little there. And before I knew it my garage was getting full!

Here is a picture of everything out on Friday morning (yes, I know the canopy is leaning. Don't worry, we fixed it!):

 

We also had a snack stand that my daughters and niece helped with:

After a week of preparation and two days of the sale, God made it clear that this was indeed what we were supposed to do. We prayed that we would be amazed and make $1,000.00. He provided $1,600.00 on Friday alone!!! Friday night we looked at what our next payment would be, $2,412.50. We then decided to start praying that God would provide that amount. And as of today I am so blessed, thankful and excited to share that we have raised $2,196.28!!!!

Blown away. Amazed. Tears in my eyes. Completely in awe.

I know that number is still short of what we will owe. And I'm completely at peace about that. We still have a few items in our garage that we are trying to sell on Craig's List. I believe that once those are sold we will have all we need and more to set aside for our classes and training we will be starting soon.

It is so incredibly humbling to allow people to help us, to accept their gifts and donations and know we could not have done this on our own. I cannot say it enough, but we are so incredibly thankful for everyone who donated items, helped organize, let us borrow tables, baked treats, came to shop, and prayed for us.

We still have a long ways to go in raising the funds we need to complete the adoptions. God is faithful. God provides. God is good. And my stubbornness... that was a waste of time!

In God We Trust

We received our first cash donation! A whopping $0.25. :) But seriously, that quarter has taught me so much today. Let me rephrase that. God has used that quarter to teach me so much today. Going in to the adoption process I had always felt a strange peace about how the financial aspect of it was going to work out. I've had this peace deep in my soul.

But then our first payment was due. Before we could move forward we need to send our agency a payment. Suddenly my mind began racing. What if we can't raise all we need? What if the grants we apply for are denied? What if our fundraising ideas don't pan out?

This morning I went running with my friend Elena. I cherish those mornings, working through life as we run. This morning we ran right past a quarter. Elena saw it and handed it to me, jokingly saying she was donating it to our adoption fund. That was the huge donation I was referring to before. After we parted ways to head home and start our days, I took that quarter out of my pocket. I looked it over and over. It's just a silly quarter. But I kept thinking on how our money has "In God We Trust" printed on it. Why am I suddenly doubting that God is big enough to provide? He always has. I have never been without. If God is calling us to bring these children home. He will provide!

Trust. God. Money.

Thanks God! I've got it! Papers are signed. Payment check written. And it's in the mail!

I know I've written before that we are having a garage sale (July 18-19) to help raise funds. I just want to share that God has been so good in providing items to sell that have generously been donated by family and friends. Others have offered to help with the kids while we run the sale. And even others still who are making some yummy snacks to sell. We are so very thankful.

Another opportunity has come up through a sweet family member of mine. She has offered to help us raise money through Thirty-One Gifts!  Check out the cute stuff at www.thirtyonegifts.com. If you need gift ideas for Christmas it's not too early to start shopping! But don't buy anything yet!! Purchases made through her during August 1-14 will go towards our adoption. I'll post more details soon.

I am still so very thankful for all the prayers! If you're looking for another way to help support us, come by the garage sale July 18-19 or do a little shopping at Thirty-One Gifts in August. :)

Application Approved!

Our application was approved! We heard back from our agency in just over 24 hours! All five of us had gone to Salem to pick up some groceries from Costco. It was Friday, June 27th 2014. They had samples out so Tyler, Haley and Penny stood in line waiting for some sort of chicken product to try. I took Logan in the shopping cart to get some milk when I heard my phone chime that I had a message. I took my phone out of my purse and listened to the message. I could feel my eyes welling up with tears as I was listening, it was our agency telling me we had been approved! Logan was looking at me funny, probably wondering what was wrong with his mom. :) I hung up my phone and gave Logan a big hug while telling him we'd been accepted into the Haiti program. We can bring his brothers or brother and sister home! Tyler and the girls found us and when I saw Tyler I felt like I could start crying. I told them the exciting news and I'm sure all the other shoppers are wondering what in the world is going on with us. :) Those moments will hopefully forever be stored in my memory. The excitement and emotion were so strong I can't even imagine how I am going to feel when I actually get to meet my children! I have been telling myself that this will probably be the fastest thing to happen, so don't get used to it. Nevertheless, it was time to celebrate with a little sparkling cider!

This past week we had a nice break from the intense research, decision making and application process. Our agency social worker was out of the office for the week so we couldn't really move forward at all. We were emailed a 165 page document about the program, fees, training, and process we will be involved in over these next months and years. I think it was a good thing that was all we had to do last week because it was a lot to read!

On Thursday we went up to the house Tyler grew up in. His brother lives there now, but a lot of his dad and mom's things are still there. Tyler's dad said he would donate some things to our garage sale fundraiser so we started going through the garage. I feel like in some ways this is how Tyler's mom can be part of bringing our children home. It's pretty amazing how many memories come flooding back by just being at the house.  I was able to see this hydrangea bush that Caron loved. They will forever remind me of her. I miss her.

We spent a lot of time this week with our kids swimming, playing games and enjoying time with friends and family. We had a fantastic 4th of July and went to watch Frozen at the park on Saturday night. I love summer and the fun small town activities we get to do. I keep thinking about how fun it will be to share these moments with all five of our kids.

Now I eagerly anticipate tomorrow. I will be close to my phone all day waiting for our agency to call and tell me what our next step will be. What paperwork do we need to gather? What training do we need to start? What appointments do I need to make? I can't wait to get started!!