Some friends of ours who have adopted {TWICE!} were on the news the other night. Their precious boys are Tedi and Chernet. Check out their story by watching this short video! You can also check out their family blog ------------> here.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Puzzle Piece Update
I will be updating one post on this blog each night to update you all on how many puzzle pieces we have sold! Here's what YOU'VE done to help us so far!
UPDATE:
December 2, 2013 8:45 pm --- 537 PIECES SOLD :)
November 5, 2013 10:54 pm --- 532 pieces sold
November 3, 2013 7:05 pm --- 524 pieces sold (52% of the way there!)
October 28, 2013 4:18 pm --- 519 pieces sold
October 27, 2013 6:10 pm --- 514 pieces sold
June 1, 2013 10:39 pm --- 504 pieces sold
May 10, 2013 10:36 am --- 444 pieces sold
April 27, 2013 10:47 pm --- 437 pieces sold
April 20, 2013 10:07 pm --- 391 pieces sold
April 20, 2013 4:47 pm --- 387 pieces sold
April 12, 2013 2:38 pm --- 367 pieces sold
April 7, 2013 3:53 pm --- 359 pieces sold
April 5, 2013 10:03 am --- 355 pieces sold
April 4, 2013 10:28 pm --- 293 PIECES SOLD :) Guess it's time for the big announcement!!
March 28, 2013 7:21 am --- 228 pieces sold
March 26, 2013 10:06 pm --- 222 PIECES SOLD w/ an anonymous donor matching up to 103 pieces sold in the next WEEK!
March 26, 2013 6:28 am --- 203 pieces sold (20% of the way there!!)
March 24, 2013 11:08 pm --- 197 pieces sold
March 20, 2013 11:36 pm --- 129 pieces sold
March 16, 2013 11:15 pm --- 75 pieces sold
March 16, 2013 5:31 pm --- 54 pieces sold
March 16, 2013 7:30 am --- 9 pieces sold
"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18
UPDATE:
December 2, 2013 8:45 pm --- 537 PIECES SOLD :)
November 5, 2013 10:54 pm --- 532 pieces sold
November 3, 2013 7:05 pm --- 524 pieces sold (52% of the way there!)
October 28, 2013 4:18 pm --- 519 pieces sold
October 27, 2013 6:10 pm --- 514 pieces sold
June 1, 2013 10:39 pm --- 504 pieces sold
May 10, 2013 10:36 am --- 444 pieces sold
April 27, 2013 10:47 pm --- 437 pieces sold
April 20, 2013 10:07 pm --- 391 pieces sold
April 20, 2013 4:47 pm --- 387 pieces sold
April 12, 2013 2:38 pm --- 367 pieces sold
April 7, 2013 3:53 pm --- 359 pieces sold
April 5, 2013 10:03 am --- 355 pieces sold
April 4, 2013 10:28 pm --- 293 PIECES SOLD :) Guess it's time for the big announcement!!
March 28, 2013 7:21 am --- 228 pieces sold
March 26, 2013 10:06 pm --- 222 PIECES SOLD w/ an anonymous donor matching up to 103 pieces sold in the next WEEK!
March 26, 2013 6:28 am --- 203 pieces sold (20% of the way there!!)
March 24, 2013 11:08 pm --- 197 pieces sold
March 20, 2013 11:36 pm --- 129 pieces sold
March 16, 2013 11:15 pm --- 75 pieces sold
March 16, 2013 5:31 pm --- 54 pieces sold
March 16, 2013 7:30 am --- 9 pieces sold
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Our First Fundraiser!!!
Alex and I have been working on getting everything ready for our home study interview, but in the meantime, we are moving ahead and starting our first adoption fundraiser!! As many of you can assume, adopting a child is not cheap. But we also realize that many people are afraid of asking how much adoption actually costs without coming across as rude. Well, here is the breakdown of how our adoption fees are going to pan out. These numbers are the reality of the cost of adoption and why many couples who want to adopt are afraid or discouraged from doing so. We trust that God will completely take care of this financial burden whether it be through job security, me (Briana) getting a teaching job next year, generous donors, etc. He has placed this little girl on our hearts for a reason, and we trust that He will "see it through to completion."
Application to Agency: $250
Home Study: $2,000
Home Study Review Fee: $50
Agency Fees: $4,000
Dossier Notary/Certifications: $50 - $400
Authentication of Dossier: $450
Mailing/Shipping Expenses: $200 - $300
Translation of Dossier: $500
Communication: $200
Foreign Processing Fee: $9,900
Post-Adoption Service Fee: $1,000
Pre-Adoptive Education: $30 - $150
Round Trip Airfare: $1,500 - $2,500
USCIS: $750
US Immigrant Visa for Child: $380
Wiring of Funds Expenses: $135
Lodging, Meals, Miscellaneous: $1,000
Whew! It's hard not to look at that list and get nervous, but we know that anything is possible with God and that once this child is in our arms and in our family, these numbers will be such a small part of the overall process. Our God is greater than money, but I can completely empathize with couples that can't get past those numbers. I hope by the end of this journey that we will be able to share with others how God provided for us because He is the great Provider.
Now on to the fundraiser!! Our first fundraiser is a Puzzle Piece fundraiser! Alex and I have purchased a 1,000 piece puzzle that we are going to put together to hang in baby girl's nursery/bedroom and we forever want to be able to look at this puzzle and remember all of the people that helped bring our little girl home. We will be selling puzzle pieces for $5 each and if you buy a puzzle piece, your name will be written on the back of that piece so that our daughter will know the name of every person that helped bring her into our family. Hopefully after the puzzle is completed, we will have raised $5,000!!! That is such a big number to me, and I wonder how we will ever sell that many pieces, but again, I trust that God will show up in a big way. This puzzle will be framed and hung in little one's room with a clear back so we are always reminded of those that were a part of our journey. A "piece of the puzzle." If you would like to purchase a puzzle piece, please click the PayPal button on our page and you will be able to purchase as many puzzle pieces as you would like! You can purchase one for yourself, in honor of a family member or loved one... we have lots of pieces to sell!! :) Once you purchase a puzzle piece, please send me an e-mail and I will send you a picture of your puzzle piece with your name on it. After we sell 250 puzzle pieces, Alex and I will formally announce where we are adopting from!! A few people already know (so "Shhhh") but once we sell 250, EVERYONE is going to find out! How exciting. :)
We honestly cannot wait for whoever God has in mind for our family to be home. We understand that this process might take a little while, but we will be patient and wait on Him and His perfect timing. Please keep us in your prayers as we are in the home study process over the next couple months. We have so many emotions right now and appreciate everyone who is supporting us and thinking of us during this time. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!!!
Application to Agency: $250
Home Study: $2,000
Home Study Review Fee: $50
Agency Fees: $4,000
Dossier Notary/Certifications: $50 - $400
Authentication of Dossier: $450
Mailing/Shipping Expenses: $200 - $300
Translation of Dossier: $500
Communication: $200
Foreign Processing Fee: $9,900
Post-Adoption Service Fee: $1,000
Pre-Adoptive Education: $30 - $150
Round Trip Airfare: $1,500 - $2,500
USCIS: $750
US Immigrant Visa for Child: $380
Wiring of Funds Expenses: $135
Lodging, Meals, Miscellaneous: $1,000
Whew! It's hard not to look at that list and get nervous, but we know that anything is possible with God and that once this child is in our arms and in our family, these numbers will be such a small part of the overall process. Our God is greater than money, but I can completely empathize with couples that can't get past those numbers. I hope by the end of this journey that we will be able to share with others how God provided for us because He is the great Provider.
Now on to the fundraiser!! Our first fundraiser is a Puzzle Piece fundraiser! Alex and I have purchased a 1,000 piece puzzle that we are going to put together to hang in baby girl's nursery/bedroom and we forever want to be able to look at this puzzle and remember all of the people that helped bring our little girl home. We will be selling puzzle pieces for $5 each and if you buy a puzzle piece, your name will be written on the back of that piece so that our daughter will know the name of every person that helped bring her into our family. Hopefully after the puzzle is completed, we will have raised $5,000!!! That is such a big number to me, and I wonder how we will ever sell that many pieces, but again, I trust that God will show up in a big way. This puzzle will be framed and hung in little one's room with a clear back so we are always reminded of those that were a part of our journey. A "piece of the puzzle." If you would like to purchase a puzzle piece, please click the PayPal button on our page and you will be able to purchase as many puzzle pieces as you would like! You can purchase one for yourself, in honor of a family member or loved one... we have lots of pieces to sell!! :) Once you purchase a puzzle piece, please send me an e-mail and I will send you a picture of your puzzle piece with your name on it. After we sell 250 puzzle pieces, Alex and I will formally announce where we are adopting from!! A few people already know (so "Shhhh") but once we sell 250, EVERYONE is going to find out! How exciting. :)
We honestly cannot wait for whoever God has in mind for our family to be home. We understand that this process might take a little while, but we will be patient and wait on Him and His perfect timing. Please keep us in your prayers as we are in the home study process over the next couple months. We have so many emotions right now and appreciate everyone who is supporting us and thinking of us during this time. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)