More donations! God provides!

God is good and he is faithful! We gave an update at church on Sunday, and two families blessed us each with $1000 checks!!! Our remaining estimated total needed was $13,000. We also had someone give us $450 earlier this month, plus the $702 previously from the Bottled Blessings, plus $120 in change we received today!!!

Our Bottled Blessings goal = $1,500; we are only $678 from meeting that goal...my Bunco group is collecting change as well as Sun Orchard and JFCU. Some other friends and family are continuing to collect change as well...thank you to all of you.

Bottled Blessings is a fundraiser we used to help us meet the big goal...which now puts us at ....$9,728!!! Yea!!! Hopefully, we will get to leave sometime this summer to pick up our children! Will keep you informed... thanks again!

God Bless you all!

Adoption Bracelets!

Isaiah Himley is showing his support for adoption!

He is actively involved with Sun Orchard Nursery sharing

about the importance of adoption in our community.

Isaiah is also making ornate bracelets to sell,

and 1/2 of those proceeds goes to

Kingdom Works International

to help families defer the hefty costs of adoption!

So, big Kudos for Isaiah who took initiative himself to begin a fundraiser to increase adoption awareness! Thanks Isaiah!

Children's Hope Calls...

Today, I received a phone call from Sara at CHI and she wants us to get new Medical Clearance letters from our doctors. She stated that when you travel they expire within 6 months when they were written. Our medical exams were one of the first things we did when we started the adoption process...

Sara seems to think it won't be the length of wait that was first anticipated...10 months, remember? She seems to think maybe...just maybe -- sometime in August!!!! WOW!!!

Do you realize that is like 5 months away??? Haha...woohoo! Ok, so it may be Sept or Oct? But for some reason they want us to go ahead and get the medical clearance letters renewed...keep in mind they expire in 6 months...how exciting is that???

So, I'm bedazzled! There is lots going thru my mind...lists galore! We have to quit procrastinating concerning the grant applications; and do more fundraising. We need approximately $13,ooo. The costs increased as the number of siblings increased. God inspired this adoption; I know He will provide throughout. If we are unable to collect enough needed funds, then we will ultimately take an interest-free loan. We are beginning to try to really conserve where our dollars go. We cut off our cable. We are considering selling the Trailblazer for an older vehicle, possibly a minivan! So pray for us, to be as wise stewards and pray that God help us be creative in our fundraising approach! God is good...

Just think, these children, my children, are in Colombia right now...hopefully they are smiling and playing in the sun! Pray that we have no obstacles in the process and that it continues to move quickly! Thanks so much...

**We will be sending an update letter by snail mail soon with more details!

Thanks and Happy Wednesday!

DTC - Dossier To Colombia!

I am happy to report to everyone that our DOSSIER WAS MAILED TO COLOMBIA TODAY!!!! Time for celebration!! As we are another step closer to our forever family!

Our CHI Program Director told me the next step is for the dossier to be translated which will take approximately 2 weeks!

The next step will put our dossier in the hands of the government awaiting their approval to adopt! (Approximately 2 months!)

Then we will be placed on "the list" for a sibling group of 3 and we will begin waiting for placement of children fitting the description of the children we have requested or been approved for. (Approximately 6-10 months!)

Our CHI Representative stated she hoped we were placed with our children in 10 months!!!! However, WE BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE OUR BABIES FROM HEAVEN IN 2007!!! So, pray with us that God move things into place in both Colombia and Moss Point and help us get things in order here for our children that we may be able to care for them as they so need & deserve!


Sweet dreams!

Colombia Trivia

1. Who was the country of Colombia named after?


2. What do the stripes of the Colombian flag represent?


3. How long before we meet our children?

Well, for fun and just general FYI:

1. The country of Colombia is the only country named after Christopher Colombus.



2. 
   
   Two interpretatons: 1) The yellow symbolizes sovereignty and justice; the blue nobility, loyalty and vigilance; and the red valor, honor, generosity and victory achieved at the high cost of bloodshed. 2) Yellow: universal liberty; blue: the equality of all races and social classes before God and the law; Red: fraternity
   
   
   A very popular Colombian kids song says.... YELLOW is our gold BLUE is our vast seas (oceans) and RED is the blood that gave us our freedom...



3. Anywhere between 9 - 12 months!!! Our dossier hasn't left for Colombia, yet; however, the check included with the dossier has cleared & it should leave sometime next week!

Great Children Books on Adoption include:

• Shaoey and Dot
• My Family is Forever
• The Little Green Goose

News!

Email confirmed CHI received the final dossier docs today!

Ordered my first Adoption Tee from

Adoption Mama

Can't wait to sport my "Paper Pregnant" Shirt!

You can go to http://adoptionmama.com/registry.php?rgid=9&rguser=wendia and see other tees I've registered for.

Still collecting bottles with change, cell phones, ink cartridges.

Sent off first box of cell phones (had over 17 phones!)

Thanks for your support and prayers!

Final Documents Sent...

We finally received FBI Clearance & I 171-H Form; Sent remaining documents to CHI-Southeast Office on Friday...Scheduled to receive them on Tuesday and then proof, then off to Colombia!!! We will be given the official date they are sent and received in Colombia. Will post soon, if no revisions needed in dossier docs!

Time is ticking!

...almost "Paper Pregnant!"

Please continue to pray for our children, their birth parents, and us!

***We also received a surprise in the mail today! Thank you, Julie G!What a blessing! You will never know how much that meant to us and so encouraging...giving God the glory!!!!

The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
-Psalm 126:3-

****Also, we began participating in the CHI - Quilt Exchange program. Will update blog with more details later, but it is also an encouraging way to endure the wait!

Update - Bottled Blessings!

Last Sunday, Ben and I were surprised when our Pastor gave us a baby bottle that was anonymously given to him to pass on to us to go toward the Adoption Costs! The bottle contained $20 bills rolled up filling the bottle. The bottle contained $500!!!! WOW!!! Isn't God good?

Sun Orchard Nursery and Jackson County Federal Credit Union has also agreed to put an oversized baby bottle in their offices to collect change from people in the community who would like to support adoption! People are readily responding!

Thanks also to Melissa H., Mrs. Pat, Tammy & Therman, Cindy C., and Stephanie & Josh, the JFCU ladies, and our anonymous giver who all filled up bottles for us giving us a grand total so far equaling....$702!!!

Our goal is $1,500, the cost according to CHI that it would take to bring home a sibling. Remaining balance needed to reach goal: $798

Will keep you updated on the Bottle Fundraiser Success!