So many people have asked us what the next steps are.
How was hosting? How are you guys? Well hosting was difficult,
wonderful, challenging, and amazing all wrapped into 5 short weeks. I
will say hearing him call us Mom and Dad was amazing! “Mommy where are my
flip flops” (insert strong accent).... Heart melting! Daddy's
home.... and watching him run to give a hug. Hosting has forever changed
our lives and our children’s lives as well. One night Caden was lying in
bed listening to music. He came into our room so upset just crying his
heart out. He told us the song "Kings and Queens" (music video below) had been playing and he just
realized that there are more children who need homes. There are more kids
like his brother who need a family. His words were “How can we help.
We need to do more!" We just held him and all cried.
The other day I had a coupon for a store. I told the kids that we
were only going to get what we absolutely needed. I prayed before going
in asking for God to help us be wise with our money. We do this often as
a family but that day it hit Libby! She honestly needs a pair of shoes but I could
not get her to pick out anything that day! When I hear her praying she
asks for God to help us spend our money carefully! She is 6. I am
amazed by her. Everyday Lexie ask where is he? It still stings
every morning! We are going through the motions of daily life but
everything is a blur. My heart just hurts. We are all exhausted and
it is going to take some time to find our new normal.
What are the next steps? We have gotten everything
into our agency for review this week. They are going to get our paper
work to his country where they will start the process. This will take
anywhere from 8-16 weeks. PLEASE pray papers move fast! We will get
an invitation to the country and have only a couple of weeks to get plane
tickets and an apartment rented. Our first trip we are going to take our
3 children with us. We will have to stay around 3 weeks. We hope
that we will be allowed to bring him back with us after our first trip.
Then a couple of months after the first trip Ryan will have to return for
a court hearing thankfully it will only be about a 2-3 day trip. Then our
third trip everything will be finished. That trip will be about 1 week.
Once in the United States we will have to get things done here. My
head spins when I try to thank about it all. We are so thankful that we
have the funds to send off our paperwork. After next week our savings is
gone. I have to be honest there is a part of me that is worried. We
are going to apply for grants, loans, and fundraise like crazy. We have
about 3 - 4 months and are trying to fund $20,000. I cannot say enough GOD
has amazed us already with how HE has provided for this whole process.
We are very thankful for everything. Our friends, families, and
church family have been so supportive and encouraging. There are people who
think we are completely crazy and that's ok. It hurts but we truly
believe that GOD has called us to this adoption. We are going to
follow this path that has been laid before us. I'm sure this sounds like
I am getting all "churchy” that is not my intent. I believe with my
heart that we are to do this! The other night I was with a wonderful
group of women and we were praying. One Mom shared that God has in
trusted us with his children because we will fight for them, stand up for them,
encourage them. We are ready to fight for him. I love this child so much
but GOD loves him more. He loved him before I ever knew his name.
I am thankful and honored to go on this journey...
Amazon, coffee, Origami owl, Issak's Family fun,
garage sales, pizza fundraiser, cupcake fundraiser, T- shirt fundraiser, and a
silent auction.
How can you help! You can share our journey. Not
only will it help us but you never know who might be interested in hosting!
We want to do more and help other children who need a forever family.
We are going to have a silent auction. If you have something that
you would like to donate to our silent auction please let us know. We are
thinking gift cards, tickets, homemade items, food (another family had a well-known
lady in her town offer to make a meal or desert for the winning family).
In a few weeks we will be able to take any donations that you can make
for our Garage sale. We have had a family offer to have a garage sale in
their town in our honor. Would you be willing to arrange one in your
town? Issak's Family Fun is a great place for the entire family.
The owners have offered to donate 10% to our adoption. You will need this flyer. We have a fellow host mom who has graciously offered 50% of her
proceeds for Origami Owl jewelry sales. Ryan signed us up the other day
for coffee. They have K-cups for you keurig users. We will profit
15% - 30% off of every order. Using our Amazon link will allow us
to earn 4% -7% of your purchase. I know it’s a pain to use our link.
Ryan put it on our blog to help make it easier. Or you can bookmark
our link. We are also the chosen family for Worthy of the Prize . Roughly $5 of every keychain wristlet sold on their site through the month of August, and $10 of every Chosen necklace purchased will be donated towards our adoption fund.
Coming soon:
We will be doing a pizza fundraiser. We could
use help with taking orders, making, and delivery. Friends are graciously
helping us with a T- shirt fundraiser. We have been in contact with a
bakery who has offered to do a cupcake fundraiser for us as well.
There is no way we can thank everyone enough for their
support! We are deeply touched and moved by everyone. When
people we know and even those who we don't know share our blog, use our
Amazon link, send us cards, leave prayers and scripture on our answering
machine, emails with prayers or words of advice, take our children out for a
special day, and my sister who cleaned my house. We are greatly blessed
to have all of you in our lives. You are on this journey with us. I
thank GOD for all of you. The other day, while we were hosting, I
was out at the skating rink with the kids and casually talking to this lady.
She was a friend of a friend and then she said wait you are the Henry's
wish. LOL It was great to meet her! I didn't even get a chance to
catch her name but thankful for her kind encouraging words. This
little guy has no idea how many people are praying for him. Thank You for
being the hands and feet of Christ to our family.
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