Happy Anniversary!

A little late but better late than never.

One week ago Matt and I celebrated 13 years of marriage. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life and to be able to call him my husband and the father to my children. I truly believe that God knew when He made us that He made us for each other. We have always been around one another growing up and didn't know it. We had family that participating in things together, he played ball against/with my cousins, his nephew went to my grandmothers daycare. The world is just so small, but it was all in God's plan.

We have had our ups and downs but through it all God has been right with us and when we let him he leads us down the right path. Our first adoption brought us closer and I hope and pray that this process will do the same.

On the Adoption Front:

We are still patiently waiting. We are waiting for grants to come through hopefully this month. We are waiting for a birthmother to choose us for her child. We have reapplied for one grant that we know we weren't awarded. We are still researching grants and placement agencies. We are looking to expand our chances by applying to a few different agencies across the country to hopefully get a better chance in being chosen. The problem with that is with many of these agencies, their fees are much higher than All Blessings. So we have to work even harder to raise funds. But we know that God will bring us the right birthmother and right child. I continue to pray for her, even though I don't know her and if she crosses your mind, please say a prayer.

Our Current Fundraising Efforts:

Thirty One Order
We are taking up an order for 31 that we will get a portion of the proceeds. If you are intersted in ordering something please let me know. The new Spirit collection is 50% off this month and embroidery is still $5. Let me know if you are intersted in ordering. We will be closing the order on August 15th.

Benefit Dinner Planning/Organizing
We are going to start planning our spaghetti or chili supper very soon. Thinking that it will take place sometime in October. Lots of work to do to get ready for it, but I know it will be worth it. We already have a few auction items (Candleberry Candle basket & a Nice Brand New Kids Train Table) and are going to start looking at locations and getting other donations. If you know of anyone who would like to donate something or you would yourself, please let us know. If you would like to help us with organizing this benefit, please feel free to contact me and we will set up a time to meet and start planning.

Another Yard Sale
We will be having one last yard sale for the year. It will be September 15th. We are not looking for any major donations at this time. We have a TON of clothing left from the last yard sale, but if you have any household items, furniture, baby stuff or kids toys lying around, let me know. We would happy to take these things off of your hands.

And on with the Journey!

YAY!!! Good News on the Grant front!!!

If you can read the letter attached to the right then you can see that  we have been approved for a matching grant in total of $6000 from Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. The way this works is that we will be sending out letters to family and friends asking for donations to be sent to Hand in Hand. Once we get to $3000, they will match it dollar for dollar and we will have a total of $6000 to go toward our adoption process! This is so exciting and we are so very thankful to God for providing for this process.  We are sooo blessed!                   

This was part of the scripture that was read last night at church:

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."-Romans 8:24-25

Yesterday was just one of those days where I needed to let go and let God and didn't. :( I had taken so much of the worry of this process back and away from Him. I wasn't letting him have my worries and my stress. I was not depending on him. I know that we are only into month 2 of our wait and there are families out there that have waited for YEARS to become parents or for their little ones to come home to them, but it was one of those days that I was just down in the dumps. I was throwing one of those pity parties that wasn't any good. On my way home from lunch though I prayed and asked God to forgive me for taking these worries, that I had given to him, back. I know where my help comes from and I know that God would take those fears of this process and the worries that I have and His will would be done.

Today has been a different day and its all because of prayer. I can't see this child that he has planned for us. I don't feel it move in my womb, I don't have those natural things that come along with a pregancy. This child is growing in my heart and it is through faith that I know he or she will come to our family. I have to, we have to, have patience and wait upon the Lord. He is working on this and will take care of it in his time. I am so blessed and will wait upon him! He has shown today that He is for us and this adoption. He will continue to bless.

More information about our grant will be coming soon. As soon as our letter is approved by the grant agency I will be sending them out. Have a great night!  Oh and don't forget about our yard sale tomorrow and saturday. We have LOTS of good stuff. See our ad below:

Adoption Yard Sale Fundraiser

Owensboro, KY - 1702 Thistle CT.
July 27-28 - Friday & Saturday - 7 am to ?
Help us bring a child into our home. We are trying to raise the fees needed to pay for our adoption and we appreciate anyone that comes out. Our son will be having a Lemonade stand to help make him a Big Brother. Some please come out and atleast get a glass of lemonade and a cookie.

Great Back to School deals! Girls & Boys name brand clothes sizes 4-7 and tons of shoes. If you need some good, clean and like new clothes, come on by and we can dress your child for school.

Great work clothes for Men and Women sizes 8-24 lots of dresses, suits, dress shirts etc. Popluar brands like Eddie Bauer, Aeropostale, Lane Bryant, Dress Barn, Liz Claiborne. Shoes and purses as well.

Baby Items include Girls & Boy clothese sizes Newborn to 3T. Baby Girl bedding set, Evenflo Car Carrier with Base, Blankets, Bibs, Toddler Booster Seat. More Girls stuff than boys, but we do have a little bit of boys stuff. Baby Toys like new.

Playstation 1 with controllers and Games. Playstation 2 with all cords and games. Over 50+ games. Palm, Misc. CD's

Variety of Furniture, 2 Tv's, Shelf, Bar stools, Lighted decorator tree, fish tanks, and we are still finding MUCH MUCH MORE!"