tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91257679474384394102024-03-04T22:17:14.220-06:00Stitching my way to China for another daughterStitching my way to China for another daughter.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-39971307126245963892016-08-12T11:04:00.000-05:002016-08-12T11:06:39.406-05:00Hi Bloggersalutations Blogger
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<br><a href="http://engatesdereboque.pt/Chinese.php?nose=ve1td68zps80a">http://engatesdereboque.pt/Chinese.php?nose=ve1td68zps80a</a>
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<br>Take care
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<br>DawnDawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-65113350381376507562013-02-27T13:05:00.001-06:002013-02-27T13:05:15.255-06:00<a href="http://ricmarfenwick.com/system/public.php?eh=712&weq=80x=4&qpu=d92&sue=3&bhe=4992">http://ricmarfenwick.com/system/public.php?eh=712&weq=80x=4&qpu=d92&sue=3&bhe=4992</a>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-87884950034672823062012-09-06T11:49:00.002-05:002012-09-06T11:49:58.117-05:00Keeping it real<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Things are going really well. We are all settling in on US time (I hope) There is some jealousy with Ting and Em but I expected that. Em came up to sit by me on the couch and Ting HAD to come to the same and put her arm around me too. LOL It's nice to be fought over sometimes.<br />
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Sadly this picture is not first thing in the morning, it was bed time and I still hadn't had a shower that day. But this is the mom my kids see so I guess I might as well keep it real for the rest of the world too!<br />
<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-15344997995380808452012-09-03T23:20:00.001-05:002012-09-03T23:20:30.708-05:00Living the dream<h4>
I hesitate to post this post. We have been home for 10 days now and I STILL feel like I am living a dream. That one day I will wake up and no one will have any clue what I'm talking about when I mention Miss T in China. </h4>
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Even when things were hard in China, and they were REALLY hard at times, I still could not quite convince myself that it was happening. Things started to settle down with our newest princess by the time we got to GZ to start the USA side of the paperwork. GZ was familure from our first trip so it was almost like coming home in a way. I felt much more relaxed by that time as well as Miss T was not quite as angry at her new world. We were able to get out and walk around a LOT more and I think being outside really helped Miss T feel safe.</h4>
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We had our medical exam and TB test done so there was lots of time between those and when we had to be sworn in. This gave us a chance to visit the pearl market. That was something we didn't do the first time but I'm really glad we did this time. We bout pearls for both girls to wear at their weddings, They were only 60.00 US per strand and I'm not sure what they will appraise at but I KNOW they will appraise for more because it was a wholesale pearl market. There is no way we could ever pay 60.00 for a hand stranded pearl necklace anywhere in the US so I'm ok.</h4>
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The flight home was not too bad, LONG but not bad. The girls slept quite a way and by the time we got home they were pretty adjusted to the new time zone in just 24 hours. Mom and dad however are dragging.</h4>
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Our sweet sweet baby girl is adjusting so very well. Her CP is in the moderate range but she shows such potential in so many areas. I can't wait to see how far she comes!!! She also was shown love and nurtuing in her little life because she cares for her baby so lovingly! It warms my heart to know that someone loved her before I got the privilage of being her mom!!!</h4>
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I hope to have more update soon. If you are my friend on FB you know I'm pretty much up to the hour updating.</h4>
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Next task....getting over jet lag once and for all!!! This is really kicking my behind this time around!!!</h4>
<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-9773427185300920412012-08-25T18:56:00.002-05:002012-08-25T18:56:49.540-05:00HOMESweet home!!!<br />
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After one misadventure then another and well, another we finally made it home safe and sound last night around dinner time.<br />
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Ting and I slept 13 hours last night so while time of day isn't an issue for either of us, confusion and dizziness are a HUGE issue for me right now. Pray this will go away soon because I can't walk without leaning over and sometimes nearly falling.<br />
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Ting loves her new brother and sister that stayed home, in fact she will have a VERY hard time when biggest sis goes to the Bahamas in a couple months to begin her mission work again. :( She gives her the BIGGEST smile every time she sees her! She chatters up a storm in Chinese and is taking quite a few steps on her own already! I can't wait to see what she can accomplish with some therapy because she is a very independent spirit and I don't think there will be much she won't be able to do someday!! We have been overblessed with the children in our lives and I must say I don't know why I have been so blessed but am so thankful God chose me to be the mom to the best 4 kids in the world!!!!!!!!!<br />
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Thank you all so very much for your prayers and support over the last year while we raised the money we needed to complete our adoption. There are not words that can adequately describe how grateful we are! Ting is worth every grey hair, every sleepless night, and every tear that fell while we waited for her. She is the last piece to our puzzle and our family does indeed feel complete! I hope that one of these days really soon I can get to feeling better and can post more of the pictures from China but until then just know how much I appreciate your prayers!!!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-1888218969952583602012-08-22T00:50:00.002-05:002012-08-22T00:50:59.294-05:00Fell asleepYeah so I fell asleep early again last night.<br />
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I did want to leave you with one of my new favorite photos and the photo of our family in front of the Consulate right after we had the swearing in ceremony!<br />
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<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-78242360675768642832012-08-20T23:21:00.000-05:002012-08-20T23:21:16.160-05:00Consulate appointmentI wish I had more time to post Maybe tonight I can get a few photos up for you. Ting is adjusting much better every day!!!!!!! She is just amazing and so brave.<br />
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We had our consulate appointment this morning and it is all official. When she gets off the plane in Chicago in a few days she will be a US citizen just like her sister!!!<br />
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We are going to lunch now and to the pearl market later so if I'm not too tired I will be sure to get pictures of our beautiful girl and her amazing smile!!!!!!!!!!!!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-76823029116764219732012-08-18T03:11:00.000-05:002012-08-18T03:11:51.580-05:00Last halFirst let me apologize for not posting more. I wish I could say it was because we were having so much fun but adoption is not always sunshine and rainbows. We have some really great moments but we also have some hard ones.<br />
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Ting has really bonded with her daddy and doesn't like it one bit when he leaves the room. She is babbling more and more and hopefully someday that will be real words. She did say BABA BABA BABA and he said she said Momma too but I was in another room and couldn't hear it. I tell her Wo Aye Ni and she smiles so big, someone somewhere told her that before. Our guide swears she said it to Steve today too. I'm sticking with that she did say it! LOL<br />
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She is not fond at all of EmmaLi and has moments where she loves to be with me and moments when she would rather drink poison I'm afraid. But every day we see more smiles than the day before and I know we'll get there.<br />
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Today was the medical exam and TB test. Tomorrow is a free day and to be honest I really need that. When we arrived in GZ I have felt so out of sorts it isn't funny. I'm not sure if it is the change in altitude or what but my brain doesn't seem to be connected to my body anymore. I can stare at an object for 20 minutes and not know what it is. My friend Beth said she is having a hard time too so whatever it is we are both feeling it. We did the paperwork to prepare for our consulate appointment and we were both just frazzled and then all of a sudden it was done and we were like, oh that was easy. LOL<br />
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I pay by the minute for internet so I need to sign off. I don't have pictures to post today. I am just too tired to look through them to find something. I just wanted to let everyone know to pray for our emotional and physical health and for Ting's continued adjustment.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-5401974277416847742012-08-14T23:18:00.001-05:002012-08-14T23:18:42.504-05:00Not all sunshine and ladybugsI don't want to scare anyone but I also don't want to paint a picture that isn't true. Adoption is a beautiful thing...for the PARENTS. The children, however prepared or not prepared for the event, it is anything but beautiful!!!<br />
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She cries often for her nanny but tonight we got a smile. We take it one minute at a time and adjust often.<br />
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<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-81043908275763499532012-08-14T02:59:00.001-05:002012-08-14T02:59:07.294-05:00table for 6It is official, we have one more branch on our family tree. Miss T is now Aliyah (although we still call her TingTing and probably will forever if she wants us to)<br />
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We were worried about today and how she would react going back to the place where her world was torn apart but our guide called ahead and asked that the nannies not be in the room when she got there. I think this helped her little heart. <br />
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She does not want to be out of daddy's view and when he and Em tried to go for a walk she screamed the entire hour they were gone. As soon as they walked in she was able to calm down and fall asleep. I should have joined her though because I am exhausted right now.<br />
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We caused quite the commotion trying to buy strollers today. The other family and ours both need strollers since neither girl is able to walk on their own (well Ting is said to be able to, but she refuses to let her feet touch the ground) It's hard to carry a child who is not used to being held. The shopkeeper was running up and down the street from store to store to find us a stroller like the one she had in stock. In the end we got a great deal and a really sturdy stroller so it was worth all the fuss!!! I'm hoping she'll wear her new shoes tomorrow too because hers are falling apart and I want to be able to save them for her.<br />
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I think that about does it, my brain is still only firing on 1 cylinder so I know I'm forgetting something! <br />
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<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-58792238986188950512012-08-13T08:48:00.002-05:002012-08-13T08:48:52.649-05:00Forever begins now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have her, the grieving is HARD. I hope to post more later but for now I leave you with the first photos we got. Maybe in a few days they will include a smile too.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-28049405162149142912012-08-12T11:26:00.001-05:002012-08-12T11:26:51.740-05:00IN CHINAYAHOOOOOO. We are FINALLY here! Our 15 hour flight?...well it was actually 17 hours sitting on the plane. It was BRUTAL, I'm not going to lie. About 8 hours in I lost feeling in all extremities and was eating the seat in front of me. The worst part I think we paid for PE Plus but they had to move Em and I because they had us in the same row but not next to each other and Steve was in a total different row. If I had known that getting that fixed at the counter was going to move us back to the "cheap" seats I would have just begged people on the plane to switch. :( That 5 inches of room doesn't sound like much but let me tell you it is worth it's weight in GOLD if you can get it. I am praying that we can upgrade for the ride home. I don't think I can make it that long in the sardine seats again, especially not with 2 littles!!!<br />
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Ok I need to get to bed, it's after midnight and tomorrow is the big day!<br />
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till then!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-35712742030159750362012-08-09T10:58:00.000-05:002012-08-09T10:58:28.652-05:00Hello Everyone! My name is Peggy, and Dawn and her family are friends...well, kind of like family without the formal adoption. LOL<br />
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One year ago today we had no idea the next day we would get Travel Approval for our precious daughter, Rachel, from China. We hit a few snags with scheduling due to our daughter's province officials being unavailable, but we eventually made it and we met our daughter on September 19, 2011. It was the most beautiful, exciting, frightening, heartbreaking time of our lives! It's amazing what changes take place in such a short time! We love this little devilish angel and can't imagine life with her!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel ~ September 19, 2011</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We are excited to be adding another child to "our family"...Miss T! We can't wait to meet her, but first she must meet her forever family. We'll all be watching and praying for them, and if for some reason Dawn cannot post updates in China, I'll do that for her because if you are anything like me....YOU CAN'T WAIT until they get home! LOL<br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i style="color: purple;">~~~~ Peggy ~~~~</i></b>Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-50693964396564083662012-08-08T20:35:00.000-05:002012-08-08T20:35:02.892-05:00Leaving soonOh my, we are so close now. I really should be packed though, but sadly I'm not even close..Well I lied I am CLOSE but still too far away to be ready to leave.<br />
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God worked His miracles again and we were able to get the deposit back into our account after it somehow went into someone else's account. We were also able to get the overdraft fees credited back to us.<br />
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WHEW it has been a CRAZY few days. In the end though God prevailed and we were able to buy our tickets, book hotels, and start feeling the excitement that should have been ours from the beginning.<br />
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We continue to need your prayers for continued safety, health and travel mercies. Please pray for Miss T as well. She is about to have her world torn away from her and no matter how happy and excited we are, she at only 4 can't really understand what is happening to her. Please remember us often as you find yourself up at odd hours of the night (since it will be day time there).<br />
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I do plan to post a few times while in China. I know it will be hard to find time but it is the LEAST I can do to show the world that miracles DO still happen!!<br />
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Thank you again, whether you helped financially, or shared our blog with someone, or prayed for us, or just thought "wow, glad it's not me" All of you helped us get where we are, the thoughts, the prayers, they are all just as important as the money is so THANK YOU!!!<br />
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Next post....probably from China so stayed tuned!!!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-17487928005815132432012-08-04T13:22:00.002-05:002012-08-04T13:22:44.831-05:00Seriously Satan???Oh my gosh, seriously??? I do not know what plans the Lord has for Miss T but they must be HUGE. I mean the miracles that the Lord performed to even get us to the point of adopting her have been huge but Satan is not done messing with us. When will he realize that God is going to continue to get all the glory for this adoption and HE WILL WIN YET AGAIN?<br />
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This morning I was sitting down to pay regular household bills and needed to see when my husband was last paid so I could know how much I had in the bank and which bills to pay before we go and which to hold until we come home.<br />
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I log onto my online banking to see what the last date was and what do I see? A NEGATIVE balance of close to 4 thousand dollars! WHAT????? Yesterday seemed like a miracle because I needed to have a check redeposited as cash instead of the paper check it was originially done as. The paper check wasn't going to clear until Saturday and I needed it by Friday to buy the tickets. The girl did a reversal of the deposit and then registered it as a cash deposit. All was good, my computer showed the update and I was happy. I purchased my tickets for the flight and again I checked online and was a happy girl.<br />
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Who knew I should have made a screen copy of those transactions because today there is NO RECORD OF ANY OF IT, not the original deposit, not the reversal, not the cash deposit....NONE OF IT. What it does show however is the charges for the tickets which of coarse we do not have enough money to clear without that deposit.<br />
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I called the 800 number because I couldn't find this out at 11:50.....nooooo I find it out at 12:10 when the bank closes at 12:00. The girl at the end of the phone heard me bawling and probably didn't understand half of what I was telling her, but said I have until 4pm to get it straighten out on Monday before that charge goes through so you know I will be on the bank door step at 9am Monday without fail!!!!!!!!!<br />
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So again, Satan.........I don't know why you won't move on to another family THIS BABY GIRL IS COMING HOME, and SHE WILL KNOW ALL ABOUT THE LORD WHO GOT HER HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She will hear about Him from day one and every day for the rest of her life so GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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Please pray this will all be cleared up and not affect our tickets or travel!!!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-42470035466133000082012-08-02T20:08:00.001-05:002012-08-02T20:08:34.917-05:00I should be documenting thisI should have been documenting things as they have been happening because every day, no every hour things change!<br />
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I am so blow away by God's provisions for Miss T's adoption. I don't just mean the financial ones either. I mean the little God winks that she was ours all the way down to getting that loan/grant at the last minute. We are also so glad that we will be able to bring Em with us. Her anxiety levels have been off the charts this past week and I don't think she could have handled not going. Even with going things are going to be rough for her for a while. :( <br />
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Looks like we will be buying our plane tickets tomorrow and headed to China very soon. I don't plan to blog the entire trip. My goal will be getting to know my new daughter and surviving the heat in Southern China. I do promise to post a photo though for everyone to see once we have her. I will post when I get home for sure (I'll need something to do when jet lag kicks in and I'm up at 2am)<br />
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Now it's time to make my lists and shop for necessities! We are going to China!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-68416425141840105332012-07-31T16:28:00.000-05:002012-07-31T16:28:04.708-05:00THIIIIISSSSS CLOSEOk, we are soooo close I can smell jet fuel!!<br />
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We were blessed today with a 1,500.00 grant and a loan for 5,000.00 that with another friend who generously offered us a no interest loan for another 2000.00 means we are only about 500.00 short of what I believe will be the final costs to get to China! I am beyond humbled right now! <br />
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I will probably call tomorrow and get tickets put on hold that I can purchase on Thursday. OH MY GOODNESS I'm going to CHINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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We are going to be in debt for a long time but Ting is worth it!!!!!!! Heck I think I just paid off Kaitlyn's Csection a few years ago so what's another 18 years. LOL (KIDDING!!)<br />
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Wow, I have to pack!!!!!!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-48860923627543059362012-07-31T08:55:00.001-05:002012-07-31T08:55:42.313-05:00Breathe in breathe outI have to remind myself to do that, because honestly I can't remember right now.<br />
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All day I was worried about whether or not our TA would come. I started seeing so many others get theirs that I started to panic. So finally the call came and of coarse all the anxiety that comes with it. When will we travel? What will it cost? Will we have the money? You know all the usual stuff....Then at 11pm my phone rings and it is my China coordinator and she says we have your Consulate appointment (CA). This is BIG, this is the appointment that guarantees that Miss T will be a US citizen when we land back on US soil. Everything is backed up from there.<br />
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Our CA...........AUGUST 21st...........Great right? Well yes, sorta, you see this means we are in a PANIC of trying to figure out last second things because we need to be on a plane by Aug 10th or 11 and Yes I know tomorrow is AUGUST FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <br />
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BREATHE in BREATHE out........ I'm having heart palpatations, I'm sweating, and just generally FREAKING OUT right about now.<br />
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Please say some prayers for us, specifically that we will have the money to travel. That the money will be there when we need it to purchase tickets with at least a 7 day advance so they are not 4K a piece! Pray for my sanity. I am not good under pressure, I tend to go hide in a quiet place and wait for it to pass and I do not have time to do that!!! Pray for Miss T. Her world will be rocked in less then 2 weeks and she won't know what hit her. She does know she has a family but how much can a just turned 4 year old truly understand what that means.???? I know there will be pain in her heart to gain love and that's hard. Pray for Emma as well. This adoption is bringing out a lot of pain and grief for her. She talks about her birth family constantly and I try to listen and help her through it but I am so disconnected right now stressing over THIS adoption I'm not sure if I'm helping her process her own adoption enough. :(Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-12573404285445653812012-07-30T16:50:00.000-05:002012-07-30T16:50:05.634-05:00TAIt is official, China has invited us to come to pick up our daughter!!! I'm not sure what day we will be leaving but it's official!!!!!! <br />
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We are waiting to hear about a grant/loan this week as well, nothing like waiting until the last minute huh? YIKES I can't believe we are at this point and still short.<br />
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Another thank you goes out for everyone who has donated to our Chip In to bring Miss T home, right now we are over 2600.00. Praise the Lord!!! Thank you so much!!!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-84329140314926481902012-07-29T20:41:00.000-05:002012-08-03T19:54:58.359-05:00Thank you<div style="color: red;">
Check the bottom of this post often for new skirts as I list them </div>
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I want to say thank you to everyone who is helping us to bring home Miss T. I can not even begin to tell you how much each and every dollar has meant to us!!! It looks like our travel approval can come as soon as next week. (there were several travel approvals issued today that were only in process for 7 or 8 days) I do not know what we will do if ours does come that quick. The one thing I do know is that GOD knows how this will end. I have had a hard time the last 24 hours, I will not lie. I have spent a lot of time in just tears!! I have however felt your prayers and have been able to focus on what is important and that is Miss T. We HAVE to do what we can to bring her home and that now includes being "THAT" family, and I am ok with it. I am not proud, I am not happy but I understand that God wants us to be where we are.<br />
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That said I have been BUSY today sewing some skirts. I will be offering premade skirts for little girls for 12.00 each with 2.00 shipping for 1 and if you order more than 1 skirt shipping will be 1.00 additional for each skirt.<br />
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I have several fabrics that I am using up so once they are gone they are gone and I will not be able to get them back. I need to shout out to Robin Magana of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RedThreadStitchesBoutique" target="_blank">Red Thread Stitches Boutique</a> for the fabric as well as the pattern that I use to make them. Robin sells her pattern <a href="http://hopefulthreads.blogspot.com/2011/11/faith-hope-love-skirts.html" target="_blank">here</a> if you are interested in making some of your own skirts.<br />
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The first skirt I have is available in a size 4T <br />
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It is brown with teal colored leaves on the top and cherry blossom flowers with pink, purple, and teal colored centers. It is fun and funky all at the same time!<br />
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The next one is brown and gold and has bible verses and inspiratio.al words on the top and crosses on the bottom. I have this in a 12m size only.<br />
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Sweet pink and brown roses with stripes. I have this in a 4T<br />
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The ONLY dress I have left out of this photo is the ice cream/cupcake dress on the end. I will be making more dresses this week and posting photos very soon. Thank you very much for your interest!!</div>
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I will be listing skirts as I make them Thank you very much!!!<br />
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I have this in a size 4 and 6<br />
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I have this in size a size 6<br />
<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-83244072888720021962012-07-28T17:41:00.000-05:002012-07-28T17:41:11.271-05:00Not IF but WhenI have finally allowed myself to believe that we WILL be going to China next month. I actually have said WHEN we go to China in a conversation, not IF. I must say that is HUGE for me. I have been so apprehensive to say that, guarding my heart if you will. I have seen though that God has planned this entire adoption from day 1 and I need to just keep trusting HIM and not relying on my own understanding.<br />
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Last week we were the featured family in a Making a difference 1.00 at a time campaign. In just one week, we made $1928.00 I am BLOWN AWAY by the generosity of others in helping us bring our daughter home. We also have an application into a private foundation for the opportunity for a grant or loan or both. This would be the answer to so many prayers. Hopefully we will hear from them some time next week. Our Travel Approval should be here this coming week as well (maybe Monday) so we should know our travel days very soon! WOW<br />
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PLEASE remember my generous friend has donated some items that she is willing to give away if you donate to our Chip In and leave a comment here. We are so grateful for her generosity!!!!!!!!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-84947344482711032482012-07-24T09:12:00.000-05:002012-07-24T09:16:54.458-05:00Angels among us!I have been so blessed by all the people stepping up to help us bring Miss T home. It truly proves that there ARE angels among us!!!<br />
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My friend Sindy nonimated our family for a fundraising campaign called Making a difference 1.00 at a time. It litterally is make a HUGE difference 1.00 at a time. She nominated us just hours before we got the call that we did not get the money we had so hoped for from ABBA fund.<br />
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I also have another dear friend who has graciously offered some items for us.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Because I am not the one offering
these items please do not put any information in the Chip-in
instructions. The Chip-in is designated as for donations only, and if
they think I am selling things it will mess up my ability to transfer
funds until it gets straighten out. THANK YOU!</span><br />
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The first is a window cling for your car that simply says "Blessed by the miracle of adoption" She has 5 of these and the first 5 people to donate at least 10.00 via our chip in button here on the blog and then leave a message (it won't be published) with your email address will receive one.<br />
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Next is an adorable Gymboree-small panda hair clip (never worn) that can be yours for a 10.00 donation (there is only 1 of these so when it's gone it's gone). Please make a donation and then leave a comment here with your email address (again, it will NOT be published)<br />
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Next is a beautiful hand made (never worn) multi-loop Tolee hair clip. It can be yours for a donation of 15.00 to our adoption fund (again, only 1 of these)<br />
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<br /><br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-13593385585106273842012-07-20T10:14:00.002-05:002012-07-20T10:14:39.808-05:00Now what?I have been asking myself that question over and over and over again since last night. We had a plan to pay for the last of our expenses for the adoption. That plan was not to be. I decided we needed to try plan B. I've been stressing for a month now as we waited for the decision of a Christian foundation that does 0% interest loans to families who are also Christian and who are adopting. We found out last night we were denied. The letter says they have more applicants than money to share so they wished us luck, and with that our dreams came crashing down.<br />
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Here we are about 4-5 weeks away from when we are supposed to be IN China and we are short the entire amount of money it takes to get there. I never wanted to be one of "those" families. You know the ones who just blindly go into an adoption without a plan. The ones who blast all over the internet because they need thousands of dollars or they can't get their kid. I know ALL the criticizm of those families, I've been there, and I've probably said some of the same things. I then saw my own close friends in situations very similar. I hurt for them, I donated and prayed. Then we started our own adoption without a plan. I stepped out in faith and watched in awe as God provided at each turn. We never had more than enough, we always had just enough exactly when we needed it. When we started this journey my prayers were that if we were not her family that God would shut the door. I prayed and prayed that we would not be one of those families that needed thousands of dollars right before travel but yet here we are.<br />
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So what now? Honestly I don't know the answer to that. So many people are trying hard to pick me up and get me to fight the fight. I'm tired though, I'm soo tired, I have fought so hard at each and every step of this and feel like I'm out of fight. I don't think I've given up, I mean we are "this" close to having her home. I do admit though to feeling like this is impossible. We are figuring we need about 10K for us to travel. We do not intend to do any touring, no Beijing first. We originally wanted to take EmmaLi because she has such an anxious attachment, as well as we thought it would help "T" with her adjustment. I would still love to take her, I just don't know how we are going to get there ourselves at this point. I am trying in my head to figure out the least expensive way to do this. One way is obviously to postpone travel until mid to late September. If we have at least a 21 day advance purchase for the tickets that will save us several hundred dollars each ticket. We are still not doing any touring, will pack a suitcase full of Top Ramen and protein bars for meals if that will help. I hope it will. Another thing we are doing is begging. Yup turning into "THAT" family, we are at the mercy of everyone else to do what we started. We are on our knees praying that the Lord can move someone's heart to the point of donating. <br />
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Before we knew we were denied for the loan a sweet friend in the adoption community nominated our family for a fundraiser called Making a difference 1 dollar at a time. The idea is to literally ask for 1.00 from as many people as you can. It is run by an adoptive mom who is also weeks away from travel at this point. You can read our story on her<a href="http://www.makingadifference1dollaratatime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> blog </a>The total looks great, and it is but that is also starting from where our American Girl doll give away ended. We HAVE however raised close to 400.00 in less than 12 hours. If we can keep up that pace we will be able to start breathing again. Our family will only be featured for 1 week so PLEASE share our blog as well as <a href="http://www.makingadifference1dollaratatime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Angela's blog</a> with as many people as you can. If you can not give a dollar to our family, please become a follower of her blog and maybe you can help another family at another time. We truly will be getting to China on the generosity of others and the grace of our Lord!!!!<br />
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Lastly THIS is who we are fighting for. This is the latest photo we have of Miss T. We would love nothing more than to have her be the youngest of our clan!!!<br />
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<br />Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-46598412660427186482012-06-12T18:32:00.000-05:002012-06-12T18:32:54.842-05:00New day, new hopeI want to thank everyone for the kind words and prayers! Please keep them coming. I am really struggling with all of the unknowns right now. It seems we are so close but yet so far in so many ways.<br />
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Just to update everyone, I decided to re-plead my case to our pastor about the reference letter. It seems he didn't really go through my first note very clearly and without having seen the questionnaire himself he didn't feel like it was something the church could or should do. When he got the paper and read it and read that I do NOT want him to agree to take on the debt if we default but that he would encourage us to repay it by holding us accountable...not for them to be responsible.....he agreed to sign the letter.<br />
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Sooooo, we are applying to them tomorrow, (it took longer than I thought to fill out so I won't make the mail today) and pray that they have funds to loan us. It is just nice to have an option right now. Just days before things were looking like we'd hit a brick wall and now things are starting to settle and feel right again.<br />
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Our I800 application is all safe and sound at the TX lock-box and should be forwarded on to our immigration officer within the next few days. Once we have that approval we will go on to request a VISA for her to come into the US on and once we get that we'll be invited by China to come pick her up. That invitation is what our agency will use to contact the Consulate in China and set up the swearing in ceremony and we can pick up her Chinese passport with her visa sticker in it. So there are still a few more steps involved but these all have more predictable timelines. Looks like a few weeks between each step so I have a little time to breath and find something new to sew and earn some more money!!!!<br />
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I am working on a 100 good wishes quilt and for my first quilt I must say I'm pleased with how it's looking so far. I need a lot more squares though but here is what I've gotten together so far.<br />
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hmmm ok, not sure where the green lines are coming from but I'm not going to worry about it today. You get the idea of what the pattern I'm going for is. I want to make another block just like this one and then use rectangles along the edges of the rest of the fabrics I will use. It should be very close to twin sized at that point. I don't know how to do the backing and quilting yet but I'll figure that out when I get there I guess!<br />
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Again, thanks for the prayers and please keep them coming. We are not out of the woods yet financially and we are closing in on a deadline!!!Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9125767947438439410.post-35438736999732710942012-06-10T14:01:00.000-05:002012-06-10T14:01:19.800-05:00My mind is spinningI don't even know where to start. I guess I'll start with the news that our letter seeking confirmation, or letter of acceptance, or what ever you want to call it has arrived! We have been officially approved by China to adopt little T! I am still in a state of shock, I mean with so many things going wrong at so many of the steps along the way I was never really sure we'd get this far.<br />
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Our LOA/LSC arrived at our agency on 6/5 and arrived at our house on 6/6 In the Fed Ex envelope was all the important papers we needed to formally accept T's file and get started on the immigration portion of the adoption.....Or were they?<br />
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Of coarse I went over everything with a fine tooth comb and realized very quickly that the very same mistake that probably kept T from finding a family sooner was never fixed. That is that the English translation of her file was for another child. A child with a VERY serious possibly fatal disease. I was able to get a copy of the true translation for Ts file in March of last year so I knew it was available "somewhere". When I talked to our agency in August of last year to see if they would ask for the waivers we needed they went ahead and sent me her file so I could make sure I wanted to adopt her. (LOL) Well the file they sent me was wrong....still, which meant anyone else seeing her file was going to be getting that wrong information from them too. I ended up sending the agency the correct file. Now here we are 10 months after that and when I needed them to send me the file to send to USCIS it was STILL WRONG! This could have caused a ton of issues for our I800 approval but thankfully I still have the original file here and printed out a new one to send.<br />
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Then came the money part. I was thinking I had more money in the bank then I did (don't we always) and the letter from my agency said we owed 5900 that day. YIKES I don't have that! I went back and forth with them figuring out how to get that paid and found out we didn't owe 5900 that day we owed SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED....yup another thousand more. (they require a deposit of 1000.00 if you do not prepay all your post placement visits before you receive your child...we prepay them but only when the first one happens 2 weeks after we come home, so we have to pay another 1500.00 then and won't see the other 1000.00 for 5 years when post placement visits are done) Thank the Lord that we had 1000.00 left from our JSC grant, they requested the 4000.00 from Show Hope and I managed to scrape together the 1900.00 that was left. (not sure if I'll be eating anything for the next month or so but I got it out) <br />
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I should be excited right? I should be planning what to take to China, what to wear, all those fun things right? Instead I'm sitting here near panic again over the 10-12,000 we still need to be able to travel and the only 8 weeks or so to come up with it. Our original plan to borrow from his 401K was shot flat (they do not do loans from them) The second was to ask for an adoption loan from The ABBA fund which is no interest. Our pastor will not sign the letter without seeking permission from the entire congregation. I don't have time for that, it takes them (ABBA fund) up to 6 weeks to decide and who knows how long it will take this to come before the congregation, I need to pay for travel in 8 weeks if I expect to leave in about 10. I am only seeing the impossible right now. I mean, yeah God is in the impossible business but what does that look like? Where do we go from here? How does 10-12,000.00 just show up? I mean it's not like a stranger is just going to walk up to me and say, hey you look like you can use 12K so here you go. We don't have great credit so I'm not sure if we qualify for a "regular" adoption loan. We don't own a home so we can't get a line of credit that way. I don't know what we are going to do. Our last 2 fund raisers made less then 1000.00 total for 2 of them. I need a better idea AND FAST.<br />
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Please, PLEASE be in prayer for us. I always questioned how someone could go into an adoption so unprepared. I always wondered what happened if people didn't get the money they need. I certainly never imagined I would BE one of those people. I feel so horrible right now, what if we can't do this? What happens to little T if that last amount of money doesn't come in? I can't even let my brain go there because it's too scary but I have to. I have used up plan A, B, C and I don't yet have a plan D. If anyone has any ideas for BIG fundraisers, (I do appreciate offers for a sales party here or there but 40-50 after getting my friends on the hook to buy something they don't need isn't going to work at this late in the game.) I need them. If anyone knows of someone with an extra 10-12K just laying around who would love to donate it to our agency in our name (so they get the tax write off) let me know and I'll get our agency's name out to them. :D Other than that, just pray for a miracle, because that is exactly what it is going to take at this point.Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978912145507560865noreply@blogger.com6