What?!?!? You say?
In Chinese adoption when you get all docs sent to China, you become what they call "DTC" well, we are not quite DTC (dossier to China). We have sent our docs to Washington state where our adoption agency is located. They are in the process reviewing all docs, they will then go to translation (takes a few days) then, they will be sent to China...at that time we will officially be DTC!!!! We are sooo thrilled!
As you may know from previous posts, our fundraising efforts have not gone the way we planned. So a couple months ago we decided to "be still" and look for direction from God. Then a several weeks ago we were approved for a seedling grant from Brittany's Hope, if we raise $2,0000 they will match it. So we decided to contact Applebee's and have a Pancake breakfast. To make a long story short I invited everyone I knew, sent emails asking friends to invite friends. When about a week before I realized I was going to have much of a turnout I began to think...ok I guess I wasn't still long enough...I decided to pray to God that I was through with trying to do this, I told Him that He can do great things and I laid this down to Him. WELL.....I've come to realize that God is quite the showoff!!! Sunday morning came, 30 people (including kids) came for pancakes...with those figures we should have raised $135. The generosity that we were shown was AMAZING!!! At the end of 2 hrs we raised a grand total of $1,000 exactly!!! How cool is that????
I am in awe of God's presence in this adoption, we know that He wants us to be Mira's family!
So, the moral of the story is this, YOU can't but HE can!
Our family has been so emotional over Mira this past week, I think in part because we know that every dollar we raise is taking us closer to bringing her home. But I also think because there is so much mystery here. We have never been down this path before and we are imagining so many things!
As you can see we have a new chip-in, we have approximately$4,000 to raise for our travel expenses. Included in these expenses is my roundtrip airfare, Mira's one way ticket home, approx 12 nights lodging & in country travel by train, bus & taxi.
We have an amazing opportunity coming up on Oct 7th & 8th to hold a "Finish the Puzzle" event at a friends coffee house, see the EVENTS page for details. We are so excited to have this opportunity to spread adoption awareness & to the tell our story of how God brought Mira to our family.
If you feel led, please continue to spread our story and share our link to this blog.
Thanks!!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Baby Steps...atleast they are Forward!!!
So this has been an exciting week!!!
Tuesday I was greeted with a GREAT surprise when I opened the mailbox!!!
I-800 marked APPROVED~woohooo!
This was the official document from the US government stating we were approved to adopt Mira! This was a huge mile stone for us.
Next we had to get our entire dossier (huge stack of papers worth millions of dollars in time!) "certified on the county level" this was the easiest thing I have ever done! Literally walk into the Clerk of the Courts office pay $1 (yes JUST$1) per page, they printed off some slip of paper and said "Have a nice day!"
What's left??? Well, I need to do the same thing in Annapolis (hopefully on Mon) then I need to take the dreaded trip to Washington DC. When all of that's done I hope to have my docs off to be translated by 9/16...then, let the waiting begin!!!!! Waiting to get the Ok to go get our sweet girl!
Hold on, we're coming....I promise!
This week, as I was stalking blogs of other adoptive families, a lady said something that hit home for me....
When the paperchase is in your hands, every day you don't do something is one more day your child is in the orphanage.
God, I know this is in your perfect time but that doesn't make waiting any easier!!!
~Vanessa
Tuesday I was greeted with a GREAT surprise when I opened the mailbox!!!
I-800 marked APPROVED~woohooo!
This was the official document from the US government stating we were approved to adopt Mira! This was a huge mile stone for us.
Next we had to get our entire dossier (huge stack of papers worth millions of dollars in time!) "certified on the county level" this was the easiest thing I have ever done! Literally walk into the Clerk of the Courts office pay $1 (yes JUST$1) per page, they printed off some slip of paper and said "Have a nice day!"
What's left??? Well, I need to do the same thing in Annapolis (hopefully on Mon) then I need to take the dreaded trip to Washington DC. When all of that's done I hope to have my docs off to be translated by 9/16...then, let the waiting begin!!!!! Waiting to get the Ok to go get our sweet girl!
Hold on, we're coming....I promise!
This week, as I was stalking blogs of other adoptive families, a lady said something that hit home for me....
When the paperchase is in your hands, every day you don't do something is one more day your child is in the orphanage.
God, I know this is in your perfect time but that doesn't make waiting any easier!!!
~Vanessa
August 16th Update
We are coming down the home stretch as far as our obligations go, however this seems to be the hardest part~ being at the mercy of others (especially the government) is TOUGH!!!
Last Monday August 8th Greg and I went to Baltimore to get our final set of fingerprints done, we are now waiting to get a letter from the US government that says Mira can be a citizen of the US. After a few more "hoops" we will be sending our dossier to China. At that point, we will just be in the waiting game. The most popular question right now is: When??? My answer has to be: On God's time! This adoption has been entirely on God's time~ from thought to currently and I'm sure completion will be the same!
As for Mira, here's what we know:
A very close friend has a very reliable contact in China, she has connections to the orphanages. She contacted Mira's orphanage and they simply said they will not give an update until we have our travel approval :(
I have been in contact with another lady who recently went to Mira's orphanage, I was in great hopes that she would get to meet Mira but she did not.They were only permitted to meet the children that weren't considered adoptable. However, we did get to see photos of the orphanage & photos of the director. I have to say it is a brand new VERY beautiful building that she lives in....for now this is enough to comfort my heart!
I know initially when this adoption came about many people (including Greg & I)questioned our ability to pay for this. I want to give you a financial update, some may feel this is personal info but we feel it is important to be upfront with where we are as we need to continue to fundraise. As mentioned before this has ALL been in God's time!
If you look at my blog it only shows that we have raised $1700. I am unable to add in the money that is sent to us by check or cash donations. It has been SIGNIFICANTLY MORE!!!! We have also been blessed by a grant from Brittany's Hope, it is called a Seedling Grant. How this works is that if we raise $2,000 for them to continue what they do, they will inturn GIVE us $4,000. In order to raise this money we are having a pancake breakfast at Applebee's. Attached is a link to the flier, tickets are just $7/pp.
Here are the final figures of what we need to complete this adoption:
Orphanage donation: $5,000
Roundtrip Airfare: $2,000
One Way Airfare for Mira: $1,000
In Country expenses: $4,000 (hotel for 11nights, meals, trains, cabs etc.)
If you recall, the original estimate for costs was about $23,000. All other fees have been paid & we have a small nest egg in savings (thanks to MANY generous donations).
PLEASE note: THIS POST IS NOT TO ASK YOU FOR MORE $$$ I know many of you have already donated & for this we are grateful, it is merely to give an update. But also, there are a few ways you can help:
#1~ Please pray.... specifically that the next few months will go smoothly until we can travel to get Mira, that God will prepare her heart to accept us as her family, pray that her health is stable & remains that way to travel. Pray that my family will be healthy while I am gone & pray that the funds will come in to complete this adoption. Also, please pray for the caregivers at the orphange and for those children that are not adoptable.
#2~ Be A Piece of Mira's Future.... I know many of you have bought puzzles pieces and we want to thank you!!! I have even had some buy them to put "In Memory Of" & some with scripture references. Just to refresh your memory, by paying $10 for 1 puzzle piece you can have your name or family name put on the back of a puzzle that will be framed in a double sided frame & hung in Mira's room. That way we can show her just how many people it took to bring her home! If you wish to buy puzzle pieces you can do so by visiting my blog & using the chip-in on the right hand side.
~So far we have sold: 149 pieces....only 351 to go!!!!!
#3~ Flap Jacks For A Cause.... follow the link below to access a flier that you can view, print, email etc. In brief the details are this: Applebee's in Westminster Sunday September 18th from 8-10am tickets are $7/pp ($5.50/ticket will go to Brittany's Hope to directly benefit Mira) tickets should be purchased in advance by contacting me!
#4~ ADVERTISE.... believe me, I know in these economic times it is tough to find a few extra dollars BUT we can all help by spreading the word. With email, facebook & even old fashioned face to face conversations we can help! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!!!
Blessings~
Vanessa
Last Monday August 8th Greg and I went to Baltimore to get our final set of fingerprints done, we are now waiting to get a letter from the US government that says Mira can be a citizen of the US. After a few more "hoops" we will be sending our dossier to China. At that point, we will just be in the waiting game. The most popular question right now is: When??? My answer has to be: On God's time! This adoption has been entirely on God's time~ from thought to currently and I'm sure completion will be the same!
As for Mira, here's what we know:
A very close friend has a very reliable contact in China, she has connections to the orphanages. She contacted Mira's orphanage and they simply said they will not give an update until we have our travel approval :(
I have been in contact with another lady who recently went to Mira's orphanage, I was in great hopes that she would get to meet Mira but she did not.They were only permitted to meet the children that weren't considered adoptable. However, we did get to see photos of the orphanage & photos of the director. I have to say it is a brand new VERY beautiful building that she lives in....for now this is enough to comfort my heart!
I know initially when this adoption came about many people (including Greg & I)questioned our ability to pay for this. I want to give you a financial update, some may feel this is personal info but we feel it is important to be upfront with where we are as we need to continue to fundraise. As mentioned before this has ALL been in God's time!
If you look at my blog it only shows that we have raised $1700. I am unable to add in the money that is sent to us by check or cash donations. It has been SIGNIFICANTLY MORE!!!! We have also been blessed by a grant from Brittany's Hope, it is called a Seedling Grant. How this works is that if we raise $2,000 for them to continue what they do, they will inturn GIVE us $4,000. In order to raise this money we are having a pancake breakfast at Applebee's. Attached is a link to the flier, tickets are just $7/pp.
Here are the final figures of what we need to complete this adoption:
Orphanage donation: $5,000
Roundtrip Airfare: $2,000
One Way Airfare for Mira: $1,000
In Country expenses: $4,000 (hotel for 11nights, meals, trains, cabs etc.)
If you recall, the original estimate for costs was about $23,000. All other fees have been paid & we have a small nest egg in savings (thanks to MANY generous donations).
PLEASE note: THIS POST IS NOT TO ASK YOU FOR MORE $$$ I know many of you have already donated & for this we are grateful, it is merely to give an update. But also, there are a few ways you can help:
#1~ Please pray.... specifically that the next few months will go smoothly until we can travel to get Mira, that God will prepare her heart to accept us as her family, pray that her health is stable & remains that way to travel. Pray that my family will be healthy while I am gone & pray that the funds will come in to complete this adoption. Also, please pray for the caregivers at the orphange and for those children that are not adoptable.
#2~ Be A Piece of Mira's Future.... I know many of you have bought puzzles pieces and we want to thank you!!! I have even had some buy them to put "In Memory Of" & some with scripture references. Just to refresh your memory, by paying $10 for 1 puzzle piece you can have your name or family name put on the back of a puzzle that will be framed in a double sided frame & hung in Mira's room. That way we can show her just how many people it took to bring her home! If you wish to buy puzzle pieces you can do so by visiting my blog & using the chip-in on the right hand side.
~So far we have sold: 149 pieces....only 351 to go!!!!!
#3~ Flap Jacks For A Cause.... follow the link below to access a flier that you can view, print, email etc. In brief the details are this: Applebee's in Westminster Sunday September 18th from 8-10am tickets are $7/pp ($5.50/ticket will go to Brittany's Hope to directly benefit Mira) tickets should be purchased in advance by contacting me!
#4~ ADVERTISE.... believe me, I know in these economic times it is tough to find a few extra dollars BUT we can all help by spreading the word. With email, facebook & even old fashioned face to face conversations we can help! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!!!
Blessings~
Vanessa
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