Need Some Organization

I told Ben while he was away that I would organize my Scrapbook Corner. I am a "stacker." I have "piles" in different places of the house. And...sometimes, when I'm cleaning, my husband says that I just move the pile! Haha! There might be a little truth in that... well, this little project has taken quite a bit of my time today! The kids and I went to Michaels to get some shelves and Walmart to get some Muslin to do a curtain over my other shelves to hide some of "stacks" under it giving it a neater appearance. So, I gave it my best attempt. However, there is still quite a bit to do. I have pulled out a lot of stuff from the shelves that needs to be either trashed or find a new home...

BEFORE PHOTOS

MY ADD KICKED IN AND HAD TO TAKE A BREAK, THIS IS WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS...HARD TO COMPLETE A PROJECT...I'M EASILY DISTRACTED OR GET BORED EASY!

THIS IS IT! MUCH BETTER THAN THE BEFORE PIC, DON'T YA THINK? THANKS, RENA FOR THE GREAT IDEA OF USING THE FABRIC TO COVER THE SHELVES! NOT SURE IF I DID IT RIGHT, BUT LOOKS "OKAY..." FOR NOW, ANYWAYS.

It ain't no Carmen Rose *wink*, but it looks a lot better than it did, at least! Carmen could have probably done her magic and made it look even better and saving more money than I spent! Man, I wish I had her creativity. Nonetheless, I have to use what I got, so this is what we get! LOL. A Surprise for my Hubby!

Update on Fees, Remaining Adoption Costs, & Status

First, I just wnat to say thank you to A. We received a $100 Blessing from A this past Wednesday! Thanks so much, A!!!! We will put this toward the next CHI fee of $500. We are only $300 away from that goal!

Remaining CHI Fees Include:
Referral fee = $500
Lawyer fee = $1200
Interpreter fee = $300
Paperwork fee (in country passports, birth certificates, med approval, etc.) = $600

Homestudy Agency Fees Include:
Post Placement Reports = $920
(Four reports are required at different periods of time after we adopt. Each report is $230. This must be paid before we travel.)

Travel Costs:
Approximate Costs for Airline, Hotel, Transportation & Food for about a month = $8 - 10,000
(We hope to fly directly to Cali when we go to Colombia. However, we will have to fly to Bogota from Cali to get the okay from the MD to allow her to come to the US before we can leave Colombia.)

The costs are real. It isn't always easy, but it is so worth it... to give a child a home, love and care for them... well, it not only changes your life, but theirs and the community around you. God is good, and He is faithful! He owns a cattle on a thousand hills, I've been told... and I know the numbers above- well, that's just "chump change" to him! How will we get it paid? Who knows! But we are confident and we move forward...

BUT HOW LONG WILL WE HAVE TO WAIT??? WHO KNOWS! I spoke with Nichole a few weeks ago to ask her if she heard if our dossier was approved. She told me there were dossiers submitted back in December that still weren't approved yet! It usually takes 1-2 months for approval. She said they are moving REAL slow and it might be because of a BIG conference that ICBF was having in July. After that, hopefully, they will get back on track. Regardless, we know that God is still in control, and a little more time for us and our daughter just gives Him more time to work in us what we need to have for when we meet each other...at least that's my prayer! We were told that it might be up to 6 -12 months after we are approved. With international adoptions, however, anything could change at any time! It might work out best for us the longer the wait... we are still need about $13,000 to make it to Colombia as a family, and with my job that I recently started...I will not be eligible for FMLA until Feb...so, I'd only be able to leave for about 2 weeks! So, as much as we would like to meet her TODAY, we do understand the logistics of things and have faith that God will work it ALL out in the end! Please pray with us that in the waiting period that our daughter is cared for...that she have someone there to wipe away her tears, someone to feed her when she a grumbly in her tumbly... and that God prepare our hearts for another little one in the Wood home! Thanks for listening.

Papi Left for Colombia Today!

Ben left for Colombia this morning! He is coordinating a team of Seniors from the FBC of Pascagoula to go down to Cali to help feed children and do a Bible School. Can't wait to get report back on our friends, Lala & Rocky from Cali! Love-Love them! As you can see, we had a few tears when Papi left! Andrew was also upset, but didn't let me get any photos of him... Diego and I tried to console them with hugs and McDonalds...Andrew cheered up after we got a sausage biscuit, but my tender heart, Tatiana still misses her father. Love my baby girl! Awe...

It was cool to see the team pack up and the young ladies going excited. It is about a group of ten Senior girls going, and they have been preparing for quite sometime. Please pray that they not only have a life changing event, but that they help make a difference in the lives of the little people they will touch. Also, please pray for their safety and health while they are away. God is already going before them...and preparing the way.

I wish we could have joined them, but I have to stay behind and work. I have some family coming to visit and stay with the children while I am waiting. We are really excited about Nana & Papaw's visits! Love my Nana and Papaw! They are the very best! Can't wait!

OH, and HOW COULD I FORGET??? We have a dear friend that was able to join Ben on the Colombia trip! Can't wait for reports when they finally meet up! Nate-dog Duewel is going to meet them in Miami! YAY! We love the Duewel Family, and I am happy that Ben will get to spend some time with Nate. I believe this is just the beginning of much more that God has in store for these two families! So, as I ask for your prayers for my family and the team, please also pray for Nate and his. Rena will be single parenting their four Colombian ninos this week. She's another SUPER Mami!!!

Diego and Mami!

Tonight, they sang songs, quoted verses, counted, named the planets, read stories and poems...very impressive!

Diego Graduates K-4

Diego graduates K-4 at Bethel Christian Academy 2009-10

Second Program Fee *PAID*

It's in the mail! Thanks to ALL those who made this possible! From the donations to the prayers! You are AWESOME! God is good! Did I say, GOD IS GOOD? We are SUPER excited with what HE has in store for our family... not only our family, BUT the future GOD CONNECTIONS! Love it when God works Miracles in our lives that cannot be explaine in any other way than to just say, "That was God!"

Woohoo! Well, it is exciting to report that we have enough money to send in our Second Program Fee, but their are many fees left unfortunately. We have the $500 Referral Fee; the Post-Placement Fees of $230 x4=$920; and then the In-Country Fees...Nichole, from CHI, is going to send me a list of those fees so that I can update the blog and just keep you informed. Informed...on how much the costs are and how it IS TOTALLY POSSIBLE to afford adoption through His provision - whether that be extra job opportunities, using coupons, or fundraising activities, or financial blessings from friends, family or even strangers... God is in it all! The question is... "Are you willing to take the risk?" Well, there's probably lots of questions, but that's the one that stands out this morning.

There's so much more I want to post, but seem to run out of time. But look for future posts regarding a friend's mission to make memory boxes for parents of stillborn children - so excited to share her story with you, the latest communication with Nichole from CHI about what's happening with dossiers in Colombia, and Ben's upcoming trip to Colombia...oh and what's a Memorial Box! All that and more! But for now, on to work!

Second Program Fee!

Check it out people... We have collected, earned and saved enough money to pay for the next program fee required by our adoption agency!!! Yay! We are super thrilled, and can't wait to get that check in the mail to CHI next week! Thanks again for all your support!

I just wonder... what is our little girl in Colombia doing right now...no, RIGHT NOW. Oh, I can't wait to hug her! Please Father in Heaven, watch over her and keep her safe. Please make this adoption journey and easy road for us, for her. We trust she is in YOUR hands at this time...

Results from the Garage Sale, Take Two Event

Well... drum roll...

It was a REALLY slow day compared to the day when we advertised two weeks ago. However, as we began to pack up, the last hour we sold nearly $100! ($60 to just ONE family!)

There were a few things that were picked up or are yet to be picked up by people who have not paid equaling about $85. The money we collected for items equaling $235. So, if we count and collect the $85, we would have collected...$320! Waahoo!!!

What about the leftover goodies??? We have separated most of the t-shirt and shorts from the clothing, and today, we have a group from the church that are going to a local soup kitchen to serve where they will distribute these. The other clothes and items will go to either another family hoping to adopt or a friend who is collecting things for a garage sale to raise money to make memory boxes for parents who miscarry. I've been contacted by one of the individuals already and will arrange a pick up time for next week.

So, thank YOU ALL for your prayers and donations! What a blessing to our family! We appreciate your continued prayer and encouraging thoughts!

Garage Sale, Take Two!

Ben is up and out the door by 6AM. The kids are still sleeping. I will wake, dress, and feed them at 7, and we will go up and join him. We are attempting to sell the remaining items from the previous garage sale to earn $250. ($250 would have been all we needed to make our previous $1,000 garage sale goal before the donation was given. We have over $250 worth of stuff left!) It would be fabulous if we could sell enough to cover the $350 need! Would love to write out a check to Children's Hope this coming week... yeah! =)

At any rate, if you're local, come check it out you may find something YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE! =) Or, just come and hang out with us! Not sure how much longer we will sell after we meet our goal. (I am speaking as if we will meet the goal, you see.) But drive by the Church, since we didn't put an article in the newspaper (another cost of $30, we decided against this time), we are moving all the tables outside the fellowship hall to gain visibility. Please pray that the right people drive by and stop...please pray that if there is opportunity to share to others that we don't miss it. We had the opp to pray for another lady the last Sat. and that was fun!

(If the internet is up this afternoon, I will update ya on the success! Thanks for following along...)

Another BIG Thank YOU!

A stressful day at work... checking voicemail... checking email...on the phone and WHAT? What's this??? Another payment verification from PayPal! What! Yay! $150, WHAT!!! OMG! Thank You, God! Thank you, N! So blessed... our family is. To have people that believe in us surround us... Thank you so much!

So, yes, it was a stressful day at work yesterday, but that turned around the whole day...and when I came home and told the kids someone had donated more money to help bring your sister home, Andrew said, "Oh, Wow!" Diego and Tatiana were super excited as well... and so, we reviewed how much more we needed to pay for this next adoption fee... and I sat in awe... to see how God has used people all around us and given Ben and I opportunities to work more to provide for another little one...to give another a home, a family, share His love with... and the seeds that so many have sown... yeah, when I reflect back on those things.... I sit in awe!

God is good! Have a great Saturday! Thanks again, N!

$500 Closer!

Yay! So, we are putting our money where our mouth is! God has given me "opportunity" to work extra shifts at the hospital to earn some "baby money!" So, over the past few weeks, we've been saving to make a big contribution. Anyhow, one day, I would like to write someone out a check like that and give toward their adoption...wouldn't that be cool? I can't wait for that day...

Now, for the weekend as mentioned previously, we have the $250 goal at the garage sale. After that we will only need $250 and we can send in the next check to Children's Hope!!! This is so very doable! Thank God for the generosity of those around us and those who believe us! We thank you! And, I thank God for a great husband who has been able to take care of the children while I could work extra to get that extra money! God is good, and He is faithful! He makes a way... PTL!

Busy Weekend Ahead...

Wow, it's ONLY Tuesday! I'm tired already. Busy day at work today, and Wednesday and Thursday will be just as hectic. Lots going on at church, work, and home. Please continue to pray for our family.

I LOVE the weekends! Some time ago, I stopped working as much on the weekends and tried to get all my extra shifts at the hospital during the weekdays. This allows me to really get to rest and spend time with the family to do "FUN" things! Like clean the house! Well, Diego doesn't consider that fun, but I love a clean house! Time to catch up on laundry and other Cinderella duties! We also try to do something fun with the kids. So that brings me to this blog post... this weekend...

We are going to start our Saturday at the Garage Sale at the church. Then, Tatiana has a classmate that has a birthday party that all of the children have been invited to at 2pm. By 6pm, we will be on the road to Mobile to watch a Bay Bears Baseball game with the kids and a few friends from their Sunday School! Quite a busy day!

Ben is concerned about just me and him with FIVE kids! I'm like "Oh! It will be SO much fun! I just can just imagine us walking down under the stadium and they are all holding our hands like one BIG family and the ewwing and ahhing!!! Doesn't that sound like fun?" I just get the look. =) Guess we'll find out soon. I'm sure it will be a crazy fun time!

Another thing special about the Bay Bears Game is that a portion of the proceeds to this game is going to Breast Cancer Awareness. Most recently, two friends of mine have been diagnosed with breast cancer. So, I have become very aware of its significance over the past few months. Please take a moment to remember and pray for anyone you might know who is a cancer survivor or is currently battling cancer. Sometimes, we like to put those things, those people, in the back of our minds because we don't know what to say or do for them. We want to make it better for them, but we can't. And, we can't. But we can stand in prayer for them. We can cry with them. We can just be with them. I am learning more and more how there is a battle in the mind and how a diagnosis like cancer or heart disease raises havoc on a person's mental well being. Sometimes, people just need someone willing to listen...

Then, of course, we'll have church on Sunday! Already looking forward to that Sunday nap...ahh! Well, hope all you in the blogosphere have a most wonderful week! I hope to post again this week to update our talley on the Adoption fee! Until then...

Garage Sale - Take Two!

This weekend we will attempt to sale the remaining treasures that we have at the church that were donated. We haven't collected as any more than what we had before. So, this weekend, our goal is smaller than last. We have a goal of $250! We have already made a $15 and $35 sale. So, we just need about $200 more! YaY! Ben has the early shift this weekend. Please pray that EVERYTHING goes quickly. We will donate what we have left to the church, homeless or freecycle. There are some things that if they don't sell could go to some needy families in the community we know. Because we have been blessed, we would also like to extend that blessing. So, look forward for another praise report this weekend!

When God Shows Up...

He sometimes likes to Show Out!!!

Wanna hear something beautiful?

We just had an anonymous donor make a $600 contribution to bring our daughter home!

God is good! We are so blessed by every act of kindness whether it is through a word of encouragement, or a donation of time or money that has been contributed to help bring our child home. Thank YOU for sowing these seeds into our family. May God bless you and your family. May the seeds you have sown multiply and you prosper a hundredfold!

And can I just remind you and myself about yesterday's post... my goal was to have this Program Fee paid for before the end of the month... People we are ONLY $1,000 away! Praise God! All things are possible!

Unexpected Blessings! and Personal Goals.

Thanks to the O Family for a surprise blessing toward the adoption! Yay! God bless! I got to take some great shots of their family today! I hope they like!

Last week, I shared a hope. Just want to document it again to keep it fresh on MY mind. I made a comment that I thought it would be great if we could knock out this next Program fee of $3650 by the end of this month. Please take your attention to the sidebar for just a moment... isn't that wild? How much money has been earned or donated within the last month and even the beginning of this month?!?!!

In the previous post, I questioned myself... was I too ambitious. Not sure what the need was then, but just a few days later, the remaining need is $1,600. We have 21 remaining days in this month! We can do this! I am excited about payday this week to be able to "bank" some money toward the adoption! Also, Ben is going to head up another garage sale with the remaining items we have. It probably won't bring in as much as we did the first time, but even if it were a few hundred, that would be nice! Once we pay for this Program Fee, there are a few various fees for the referral and some costs for post placement reports (that were supposed to be pre-paid, but the adoption agency went ahead and let me have the homestudy on good faith that we will pay for the reports before we go to Colombia -approx $950) that we will need to take care of before we start saving for the travel costs, including in-country fees.

So, goals are good! I look forward in seeing how God provides and in what ways He gives us opportunity to make/save money to help us bring our daughter home!

Happy day to ALL the ladies and lil girls in the world!

Today, at our church, we celebrated womanhood. We celebrated mothers and prayed over all the women present. On this day, I still have very mixed emotions...it is hard to explain. I always struggled with it before, because I never had children... but now, it seems like I struggle with it because I've never "had" children. I mean I still feel the pain. I feel bad when other women like me are excluded from things like "Mother's Day" and Mother-Daughter banquets... I hate those days, really. AND NOW, I think of the Mother that had to give up the opportunity to raise these beautiful children for whatever reason...and I feel guilty and sad. What does she feel like today? Does that make sense to any other APs?

This Mother's Day was a little different than last year. This week the children had decided they wanted me to buy a dress. When I discussed this with Ben, he agreed that he would watch the boys while Tatiana went with me to help me pick out a dress. So, on Saturday, when I was about to drop off the boys with Ben at the church, Andrew made a comment that Tatiana should get a dress, too! Tatiana said, "I'm not a mother!" Andrew said, "You're a girl!" Inside, I'm like, "Yes, you are a mother, already! God put that in your heart...that nuturing spirit that you have, so caring and loving! Yes, I want to get that girl a dress, too! It's OUR day!"

That may sound weird to some of you, but I DO BELIEVE that God puts that nuturing spirit, the spirit of a mother in every woman. Now, don't get me wrong, I do not believe everyone acts in that spirit. I believe there are hard, cold, abusive women that should never parent. However, I do believe that somewhere deep, down that beautiful thing God put within them lies dormant; it is concealed, because that woman has possibly been hurt, neglected, or abused herself, and just is not able to show that love to another in a healthy way. I DO BELIEVE there are a number of beautiful, caring women that are unable to conceive that have a strong desire and passion to parent, and those women, well, they are usually already mentoring and mothering other children all around them. I DO BELIEVE that those women make an impact on the world around them and the world beyond. I BELIEVE that we NEED those women to help us who have children at home to parent. We do! To think, we can do this solo, is a joke! We need each other! So, to me... today, this day, is to honor EVERY woman...whether she has given birth, adopted, or just mentors, whether she is young or old, whether she is the mentor or the one being mentored... God has chosen them. He chose them to make a difference!

HE CHOSE YOU! GOD BLESS!

Happy Birthday, Sebastian!

Birthday Song for our friend, Sebastian!

Happy Birthday, Sebastian!

For our buddy, ole pal, Sebastian!

With love from Mississippi!

A BIG THANK YOU TO A HIGH SCHOOL/FB FRIEND

Another donation! Woohoo! A friend from high school sent in $100 check to go toward the next adoption fee! Thanks so much, M! God bless you guys! (Her husband is in the military, and he just returned from a tour of duty. Don't forget to pray for all our soldiers, policemen, and firemen. They give up so much for our freedom and protection everyday...not just them, but their families, too!)

COMING SOON....

T-Shirt Adoption Fundraiser!

Yippee! I went to highschool with a friend who has recently opened up his business in graphic arts back in Louisiana. I am really happy with the design and can't wait to see them on shirts! Now just have to find a company to print inexpensively in order for me to make a profit toward the adoption. The shirts are generic so that when our adoption is complete we can pass on the design or continue to sell for other adoptive or prospective adoptive families...

Check out Donnie's website at www.donniebelldesign.com/pages/about_us.html

Over HALF WAY there...

Yippee! We have over half of the next fee required by the agency! Hopefully, we can have the rest of it by the end of this month! Is that too ambitious? LOL. Maybe not! We plan to try to sale the remaining goods we have at another garage sale next week. Ben is in charge of this one! Haha! Then, I hope to raffle off some massages from Nutritional Rejuvenation. I've never done a raffle, either... any tips? Didn't have a lot of response from the scrapbook night. May still do it, but it may turn into just a night of fellowshipping instead of making money for the adoption. I really think the Wii Bowling Tournament would be fun, and would be awesome if I could sell friends out of the area on the concept of hosting a party in their area in honor of adoption and us... I have done that for a family we know that were adopting and made over $250 for that family and we had a great game night! Other than that, I'm out of ideas.

I have 3 call shifts this week, and hope to get several calls. Had three on Monday night, so if I could get 3 on Thurs and then on Fri, then I could put between $300-500 toward the adoption. I don't mind working extra. I don't necessarily like it and would rather be with the kids and Ben, but if it helps us bring our daughter home... please pray that it be busy nights on Thurs and Fri! I'd love to be able to put up a post that we have collected all that was necessary for the next fee by next payday! That would rock! =) (That's in about two weeks!)

Yay! More Donations!

So, we have the $250 promised yesterday! Thanks, "you-know-whos!" You have blessed us... I'm disappointed I couldn't make it to the goal with the garage sale items, but thank YOU for hearing our heart and believing in us!

Also, Ben had the opportunity to speak at another church this morning. We actually shared their morning service. It was great to see a house full! We went to their church. In a few months, I think, they will be coming to ours. Bro. Jerry T and his wife are great people and have been an encouragement to Ben and I for several years. Bro. Jerry went to India with Ben a few times on mission events. Today, Bro. Jerry talked about missions program at his church and wearing African and Indian attire. I'm wondering if they've went to Africa before, and if not, what about Ethiopia? I have friends who are adopting there and traveling really soon...! Anyways, I digress... Ben was given an honorarium, and $100 will go toward the adoption and the rest to pay bills! Thank you God! That was an unexpected blessing... I love it when God does this.... now, I have something I picked up from the garage sale that I'm gonna deliver to another person, that I hope I can make her smile...Pay it Forward, right? Woohoo!

What a Day! Our Very First Garage Sale.

Andrew and Tatiana sold snacks including sodas and brownies, and cookies!

Almost there...

First, want to say thanks be to God for allowing us to be able to do this in so many ways...including...surrounding us with people who have supported us from long and have donated goods to this event and offering words of encouragement throughout the day (Thanks, FB peeps!)! Thank you to all of you who did donate to the cause. What a blessing!

Ms. Ellen and Me - were up too early, but believe it or not, had people at the door before 6am! We probably made the first $200 by 7:30a!

We made a total of $750.75! AND, there was a certain person who said they wanted us to get to our $1,000 goal so that person is going to donate the remainder!!! Woohoo! AND, when I was making posts on my FB status, I had a friend from highschool say she would donate $100!

My husband has this brilliant idea of trying to sell the rest of the stuff again in two weeks in another garage sale. THIS TIME- He will have to be the one to get up at 4am! I pass! Garage Sales are HARD work! But I can say that this did put a dent in our next agency fee! To see where we are in our progress on making the next agency fee, see the side bar. Thanks for everyone's support! I can't wait to see what God has in store next!