So....it's been a few weeks since I last posted! Chad and I have been super busy with our adoption adventure, and lots of things have happened that I can't wait to share with you, so here goes....
Home Study
We have completed two out of three home study visits with Ms. Donna. Our final visit is scheduled for February 22. For this visit she will come to our house to do our "home inspection". As I mentioned before, this is the visit when she ensures our home is safe for a child. We have a checklist of items that we need to complete to "pass". Some of these items include: having proper space for a child, working smoke alarms, a fire extinguisher, a safe outside environment, adequate exits in each room, child safety locks, etc. During this visit, she will sit down with Chad and me individually to address any concerns we may have regarding adoption and parenting. Once our home study is complete, we will then be ready to present to birthmoms. This is the part of the journey that is the most exciting and nerve wracking!! At this point it is all in God's hands. We will continue to fundraise and wait for a call from Ms. Lisa, our adoption attorney. When she calls, it will be to present us with a birthmom. She will give us any information she has regarding due date, medical history, expenses, etc; then Chad and I have to decide if it is the "right situation" for us. If we agree this is a good fit, then our profile book will be presented and we will wait to hear if we are chosen. The crazy part about adoption is that in a "normal" situation, a couple would have 9 months to prepare for a baby. With adoption, you never know how much time you are going to get. It could be 6 months, 3 months, 1 month, or no time at all. This makes it super tricky. We have been told the only thing we "need to have" is a car seat. Ms. Donna told us everything else can be purchased at a 24 hour Wal-Mart!! The "planner" in me is dying inside!!
Jewelry Show fundraiser
I hosted a jewelry show at our house in Baton Rouge this past weekend. I tried to invite as many people as possible to attend, and we were super excited for all the ladies who were able to join us. A mother of one of my dear friends from high school, Shanna, offered to do a jewelry party in which she would donate 40% of her profit to assist with our adoption. We are so thankful for her generosity. The company is Premier Jewelry and, if you are not familiar with them, they are just a wonderful company with some great items. It is a Christian company whose focus is for women to succeed. They also use any profit they make to fund missionaries around the world. The jewelry show will be open until next Saturday, February 14. If you are interested in purchasing jewelry, it can be seen at Lisaking.mypremierdesigns.com with access code: Bling. If you would like to order please email me at [email protected], and I can get the info to Ms. Lisa.
Garage Sale Fundraiser
This has by far been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. When Chad and I decided to host a garage sale, never did I think of the impact it would have on us as a couple. What began as collecting items from a few close friends and family has opened doors and introduced us to some amazing people. We have gotten emails and donations from people I have never met- friends of friends contacting us wanting to clean out their house and give us all of the items they no longer need. One of the couples from whom we picked up items called me when we were on the way to tell us that their neighbor had come over and purchased the vacuum they were going to donate to us so they had the $20 to give to us. Another couple volunteered to load up their own vehicle on a Friday night and help us get the stuff back to Baton Rouge from Prairieville and unload it. Couples who are already struggling with their own fertility battle are donating items to help us out. It truly has touched our hearts.
As we have collected items, sorted through them, and began pricing them, Chad and I decided to go ahead and sell some of the larger items prior to the garage sale on Craigslist and Ebay to maximize our funds to meet our goal. This part of the process has almost become a second job. Taking pictures and posting them, answering emails, and delivering items has been exhausting. Through it all, we have met some unbelievable people and heard some great stories. We met a couple today whose daughter also struggled with infertility that is coming in town with her newborn from New Mexico to spend time with her parents, and they needed a bed for their guest bedroom. We met a couple last weekend who had just adopted two little girls out of the foster care system who not only bought a guitar for them, but they gave a generous donation, too. As tired as we are, God placed all of these people in our lives to help us keep going to reach our goal, and their stories have inspired us in so many ways.
The garage sale is still set in Baton Rouge for March 7. We are still collecting items so please continue to call, email, or text for pickups or dropoffs. Also, please tell your friends, family and coworkers. Due to the large response of family and friends down in New Orleans/Metairie, we are also hosting a garage sale at my parents' house at the end of March. Mom and Dad will be collecting items down there as well.
Raffle
We have had several people approach us about donating stuff to raffle. After the garage sales are over, we will begin focusing on this. If you are willing to donate something to be raffled, please let us know!
Here is how you can help us this week:
Pray for us as we wrap up our home study, and we are able to utilize Ms. Donna's great knowledge to gather all the info we need to carry us along this journey. Pray as we continue to fundraise. Pray that God gives us the patience and energy to continue these great efforts to bring home our baby. Also, pray for all of the wonderful people we have met along the way and the people we will continue to meet who have touched our lives in ways that we never expected!
Continue to pray for our sweet baby-to-be! Pray that God's plan is revealed to us in His own time! Thank you all so much for continuing to follow and support us! Have a great week!
Home Study
We have completed two out of three home study visits with Ms. Donna. Our final visit is scheduled for February 22. For this visit she will come to our house to do our "home inspection". As I mentioned before, this is the visit when she ensures our home is safe for a child. We have a checklist of items that we need to complete to "pass". Some of these items include: having proper space for a child, working smoke alarms, a fire extinguisher, a safe outside environment, adequate exits in each room, child safety locks, etc. During this visit, she will sit down with Chad and me individually to address any concerns we may have regarding adoption and parenting. Once our home study is complete, we will then be ready to present to birthmoms. This is the part of the journey that is the most exciting and nerve wracking!! At this point it is all in God's hands. We will continue to fundraise and wait for a call from Ms. Lisa, our adoption attorney. When she calls, it will be to present us with a birthmom. She will give us any information she has regarding due date, medical history, expenses, etc; then Chad and I have to decide if it is the "right situation" for us. If we agree this is a good fit, then our profile book will be presented and we will wait to hear if we are chosen. The crazy part about adoption is that in a "normal" situation, a couple would have 9 months to prepare for a baby. With adoption, you never know how much time you are going to get. It could be 6 months, 3 months, 1 month, or no time at all. This makes it super tricky. We have been told the only thing we "need to have" is a car seat. Ms. Donna told us everything else can be purchased at a 24 hour Wal-Mart!! The "planner" in me is dying inside!!
Jewelry Show fundraiser
I hosted a jewelry show at our house in Baton Rouge this past weekend. I tried to invite as many people as possible to attend, and we were super excited for all the ladies who were able to join us. A mother of one of my dear friends from high school, Shanna, offered to do a jewelry party in which she would donate 40% of her profit to assist with our adoption. We are so thankful for her generosity. The company is Premier Jewelry and, if you are not familiar with them, they are just a wonderful company with some great items. It is a Christian company whose focus is for women to succeed. They also use any profit they make to fund missionaries around the world. The jewelry show will be open until next Saturday, February 14. If you are interested in purchasing jewelry, it can be seen at Lisaking.mypremierdesigns.com with access code: Bling. If you would like to order please email me at [email protected], and I can get the info to Ms. Lisa.
Garage Sale Fundraiser
This has by far been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. When Chad and I decided to host a garage sale, never did I think of the impact it would have on us as a couple. What began as collecting items from a few close friends and family has opened doors and introduced us to some amazing people. We have gotten emails and donations from people I have never met- friends of friends contacting us wanting to clean out their house and give us all of the items they no longer need. One of the couples from whom we picked up items called me when we were on the way to tell us that their neighbor had come over and purchased the vacuum they were going to donate to us so they had the $20 to give to us. Another couple volunteered to load up their own vehicle on a Friday night and help us get the stuff back to Baton Rouge from Prairieville and unload it. Couples who are already struggling with their own fertility battle are donating items to help us out. It truly has touched our hearts.
As we have collected items, sorted through them, and began pricing them, Chad and I decided to go ahead and sell some of the larger items prior to the garage sale on Craigslist and Ebay to maximize our funds to meet our goal. This part of the process has almost become a second job. Taking pictures and posting them, answering emails, and delivering items has been exhausting. Through it all, we have met some unbelievable people and heard some great stories. We met a couple today whose daughter also struggled with infertility that is coming in town with her newborn from New Mexico to spend time with her parents, and they needed a bed for their guest bedroom. We met a couple last weekend who had just adopted two little girls out of the foster care system who not only bought a guitar for them, but they gave a generous donation, too. As tired as we are, God placed all of these people in our lives to help us keep going to reach our goal, and their stories have inspired us in so many ways.
The garage sale is still set in Baton Rouge for March 7. We are still collecting items so please continue to call, email, or text for pickups or dropoffs. Also, please tell your friends, family and coworkers. Due to the large response of family and friends down in New Orleans/Metairie, we are also hosting a garage sale at my parents' house at the end of March. Mom and Dad will be collecting items down there as well.
Raffle
We have had several people approach us about donating stuff to raffle. After the garage sales are over, we will begin focusing on this. If you are willing to donate something to be raffled, please let us know!
Here is how you can help us this week:
Pray for us as we wrap up our home study, and we are able to utilize Ms. Donna's great knowledge to gather all the info we need to carry us along this journey. Pray as we continue to fundraise. Pray that God gives us the patience and energy to continue these great efforts to bring home our baby. Also, pray for all of the wonderful people we have met along the way and the people we will continue to meet who have touched our lives in ways that we never expected!
Continue to pray for our sweet baby-to-be! Pray that God's plan is revealed to us in His own time! Thank you all so much for continuing to follow and support us! Have a great week!