Final Expenses for Layla's Adoption

Layla is already TWO MONTHS OLD!!!!! Time is moving quickly and she is growing and changing so much!!!! We are completely in love with her!!!!

Layla's adoption will be finalized when she is six months old, so we have four months left to raise/save the money we need for final expenses. I guess it's time for us to get busy!!!! (We have already been trying to save what money we can from our budget.)

Agency Fee ($5,200) ~ We have one more fee of $5,200 to pay to our adoption agency, Lutheran Family Services of Iowa, when the adoption is finalized at 6 months.

Attorney Fees ($1,100) ~ We will have an attorney fee of $1,100 for the legal work that is involved to finalize Layla's adoption.

Pay Back Interest-Free Loan ($5,000) ~ Because we only had eight days notice before Layla's birth (and the needed $10,200 agency fees needed to accept her placement with us), a family member loaned us $5,000. We would like to repay them as soon as we can.

That brings the total we need in four months to $6,300 and then the additional $5,000 as soon as we are able.

The company Nathan works for has an adoption-reimbursement program and we are anticipating receiving $5,000 from the company as soon as Layla's adoption is finalized. We would like to have saved the $6,300 we need and be able to use the company's reimbursement to pay back the loan. That would leave us "debt" free at the end of this adoption!!!!!

Nathan has begun the process of applying for an adoption grant and we will be continuing to look into a few other grant options.

If you would like to help us in some way, here are the fundraisers that we have up and going (we were just getting started with fundraising when we were contacted about Layla).

Soda Cans ~ If you are local, we will take your soda cans/bottles off your hands and redeem them for a nickel apiece.

Puzzle ~ If you would like to sponsor a puzzle piece for $10, we will write your name on the back of the piece and then add it to Layla's puzzle. (I have to be honest. We have had many pieces already sponsored, but I have not kept good track of the numbers and have not even begun to put them on the puzzle pieces OR put the puzzle together. But it is on my "to do" list :-).)

Donate ~ If you feel led to simply donate towards Layla's adoption, there is a "Donate" button on the right sidebar of this blog. Simply click on the button and donate that way.

I am hoping to get one or two more fundraisers up and going in the next few weeks. I know that four months is going to FLY by and we will be needing the money to finalize Layla's adoption and make her officially a part of our family!!!!!!

Fundraising Time!!!

It's time to start fundraising for our next adoption!!!!

If you missed the announcement, please click HERE to see it!!!!

This new adoption journey is going to look very different than Maya K's adoption from Ethiopia. The process is completely different and we don't have specific amounts of money that we know we will need for different "steps" in the process. Additionally, we have less income coming in (since I am no longer teaching) to be able to set aside for the agency and legal fees. We are confident that God has led us to begin this journey, and we are confident that HE will provide the money we need at the exact moments we need it!!!!!

Our first financial "goal" is $3,430. We are planning to sign up with Christian Adoption Consultants, and this is the amount we will need to begin the process. This organization will help us throughout the domestic adoption process and we are very excited to use their services. We are praying that this will also allow for a quicker match with a birth mother who is looking for a family for her child. However, this also means that we need to be proactive about raising/saving the money we will need for expenses and legal fees.

Soda Cans
We did this fundraiser for our last adoption and while it was not the most "money-producing" fundraiser, it definitely had the most participation :-).

If you live in our area, we will gladly take all your soda cans and bottles and redeem them. The nickel we receive for each bottle/can will go straight towards our adoption expenses.

If you do not live in our area, but would like to participate, simply save and redeem your bottles/cans and send us the money you receive.

Puzzle
We also did this fundraiser for our last adoption. (To read about it from then, click HERE.)

We are looking for people to "sponsor" puzzle pieces for $10. When a person sponsors a piece, we will write his/her name on the back of the piece and add it to the puzzle. When the puzzle is completed, we will glue it together and frame it. Our child will be able to look at all the names on the back of the puzzle to see how many people prayed for and helped us bring him or her into our family!!!!

PLEASE be praying for us!!!!! We have a journey ahead of us that might be long or it might be short. We honestly have no idea how God is going to provide financially for this process, but we are trusting that He will do it as He deems best. We know that we will be stretched emotionally, financially, and physically, but we are looking forward to the end result!!!!!

Fundraising Finale

Pam ~ We are still a couple thousand dollars short of what we are estimating that we will need for all of our travel expenses, so we still have a few fundraisers that you can participate in to help with our expenses. We are nearing the end of this long journey to our daughter!!!!

Pampered Chef ~ This is only an option until 9 p.m. (CST) tonight!!!! Go to www.PamperedChef.biz/DrucksKitchen and click on "shop online". Enter "Maxwell" for the first name and "Adoption" for the last name. We will receive 15% of your order to put toward our adoption travel expenses.

Soda Cans/Bottles ~ We are still accepting donations of your soda cans/bottles. We will recycle them and put the redemption money towards our travel expenses.

Photo Scanning ~ I will take your old photos and scan them onto a CD so that you have a digital copy of all your memories. Click HERE for more information.

Handmade Birthday Cards ~ We still have lots of special handmade birthday cards available for purchase. Click HERE for more information and for photos of the cards that are still available.

Just Love Coffee ~ We receive $5 for every bag of coffee purchased from our store. Click HERE to go to our Just Love Coffee store to buy some extra yummy coffee AND help us with our travel expenses!!!!

Soda Cans/Bottles Total

We have currently raised...

$801

...by recycling soda cans and bottles!!!!

 Leave us a comment and let us know if you guessed correctly!!!!! 

Fund-Raising Friday + An Adoption Update

Look at our thermometer!!!  Just LOOK at it!!!  We are now just $821 away from reaching our referral total!!!  (Insert SCREAMING here!!!!!!)  Our prayer has continued to be that God would allow us to have the full referral amount completely saved before getting our referral phone call and WE ARE ALMOST THERE!!!!  Can you guess what our prayer is going to be once that thermometer is FULL?!?!?

We still have $602 left on our matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans and we are praying that we might have that amount raised before our deadline of April 15th. 

*Make checks payable to ~ Lifesong for Orphans
*Memo Line ~ preference Maxwell/#1731 adoption
*Mail to ~ Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40 / 202 N. Ford St., Gridley, IL 61744
OR
*Pay online via PayPal ~ click HERE
*Make a note ~ preference Maxwell/#1731 adoption

We are also continuing to raise money via our "miscellaneous" fundraisers ~ soda cans, "Just Love Coffee" store, hand-made cards, and Faith and Grace quilts.  Just click on any of the names for more information on how YOU can help.

AND..............................................

I have an update from our agency (AWAA) on the adoption situation in Ethiopia.  You might remember that I told you HERE that Ethiopian adoptions were going to be reduced by about 90%.  We were VERY disappointed and yes, even a little discouraged by this news.  But we have been fervent in our prayers that God would work this situation out for His honor and glory and that His will would be done, not only in OUR adoption journey, but in the lives of the estimated 4.8 million orphans in Ethiopia.  You DID read that number correctly.  In 2005, the UNICEF estimated that there were 4.8 MILLION orphans in Ethiopia.  Six years later, that number is probably much higher.

On to the good news :-).  Here is the e-mail we received this past Wednesday from our family coordinator.

Dear Nate & Pam,

We are writing to update you on the current situation in Ethiopia.  While meetings between Ethiopian government officials continue, we have seen positive steps.  Within MOWA, there have been significant and positive personnel changes which have resulted in overall staff turnover and changes in the adoption unit.  This unit is now called the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affiars (MOWCYA).  We are hopeful and expectant that the new leadership will not only support processing an adequate number of favorable recommendation letters, but also implement policies that will best serve the children.  Due to the staffing changes, we anticipate much transition over the next few weeks.  However, we expect that once everyone is settled into their new positions, MOWCYA will work to process a higher number of recommendation letters than they currently are able to process.

We have continued to receive optimistic feedback and have seen that the Ethiopian government is very committed to adoption.  I hope this information is an encouragement to your family.  We will continue to update your family with any confirmed information we receive.


PLEASE continue to keep Ethiopia in your prayers.  God is working and we are excited by this positive news!!!

My Week

Pam ~ Time flies when you're crazy-out-of-your-mind busy you have a lot going on :-).  Here is what I've had going on.

Friday
Leave for work.  Work all day.  Get home, spend 5 minutes throwing pajamas and nighttime "stuff" into a backpack, and leave.  Arrive at sister-in-law's house around 5:30 p.m.  Spend the evening enjoying nephew and nieces, along with phone calls from spouse regarding the clutch going out AGAIN on his car.  Husband finally arrives at 8 p.m.  Reading and then wonderful sleep.

Saturday

My Snuggie :-)

Wake up.  Spend early morning cuddling waking up little girls, and getting cereal on the table.  Head for home at 8:30 a.m.  Arrive home.  Shower, start laundry, prepare for the day, final pickup around house.  Valentine gift from husband - SNUGGY!!!  Company arrives at 12:30 p.m.  Enjoy time of fellowship until 4:50 p.m.  Leave house at 5 p.m.  Evening spent with YACS college kids for a "Gingerbread House Building Competition."  Too much sugar consumed by husband :-).  Arrive home at 11:30 p.m.  (2 hours past our normal bedtime).

The winner of the Gingerbread Contest

Sunday
Church.  Friends arrive to spend lunch and afternoon.  Play Canasta and fellowship.  Friends leave at 4 p.m.  We leave at 4:15 p.m.  Take soda cans/bottles to Dahls.  More adoption money.  Church.  After church fellowship with YACS college kids.  Watch "Despicable Me."  Pick up friend's car for Nathan to borrow.  Arrive home at 11:15 p.m.  Go to bed.

Nathan and I with our new adoptive friends ~ Carmen & Garth.

Monday
Leave for work.  Valentine Party with students.  After school teacher meeting.  Arrive home at 5:45 p.m.  Stay home for the evening :-).

Tuesday
Leave for work.  After Care duty.  Arrive home at 6:25 p.m.  Make Oreo Salad.  Leave at 6:35 p.m.  Drop friend's car back at his apartment.  Drive to other friends' house.  Fellowship with pizza and silly kids.  Great conversation.  Arrive home at 10:30ish.  Go to bed :-).

Wednesday
Sleep in!!!!!!!!!!!  Wake up with headache.  Pick up Nathan's car from mechanic.  Start working on taxes.  Drive to hospital.  Check-in.  Wait.  Numbing, then "contrast" injected into hip joint.  Wheelchair ride with lots of people staring (probably not, but that's how it felt!!!).  MRI.  Tired.  Go home.  Sleep.  Headache still.  Soup.  Watch "Columbo."  Headache better. Finish taxes.  Read blogs :-).

Fundraising Focus

Soda Cans

We began this fundraiser on June 18, and since then we have deposited 9,570 soda cans/bottles!!!!  That is $478.50 in soda can money!!!  Soooooooooooo many people have been gifting us their empty soda cans and bottles, and we have been redeeming them for a nickel apiece.  Every nickel adds up :-).

We deposit most of our cans/bottles at our local Dahl's store.  They have a nice room with several  machines (+ a sink to wash our hands when we're done!!!) and we have had GREAT service there.  Dahl's will not take generic brand cans, so we also visit HyVee occasionally.  And then the leftover cans (which neither Dahl's nor HyVee will take) we take to a local recycling center.

We have made up to three trips in a week with my car STUFFED full of cans/bottles, and we often make one trip a week.  Our largest "profit" in one trip was $34.05.

Please keep the soda cans and bottles coming our way!!!!

Other Fundraisers ~ Homemade cards, African puzzle, Faith and Grace quilts, Just Love Coffee, Christmas ornaments

Fund-Raising Friday

Christmas Ornaments ~ This is your last chance to order some of these adorable personalized cross-stitched ornaments.  Click here for pictures.  My mom has been making these for us to sell {$10 each} and they can be personalized with names, dates, etc.  If you are interested, please send me an e-mail at hearts1982@gmail.com.  This is the last week to order any personalized ornaments.  Next week we will simply be selling any pre-made ornaments that are left.  Order yours NOW!!!

Faith and Grace Quilts ~ Check out this fundraiser my friend Karen is doing @ 27 Penguin Place.  Sponsor a quilt block for $10 and help us wrap our babies in quilts made with love!!!

Just Love Coffee ~ I posted on my Facebook yesterday about the Black Friday contest JLC is having.  Whoever sells the most coffee/products from their store will win 20 bags of FREE coffee!!!  Since Nathan and I aren't coffee drinkers, if we win we will gift those bags of coffee to anyone who helped by ordering coffee.  Today is the last day of this contest, so please go ORDER NOW!!!

Home-made Cards  ~ We still have several packets of cards to sell.  We are asking for a $10 donation for a packet of 4 unique and beautiful cards.  Please contact me at hearts1982@gmail.com or pay via our PayPal donate button.  Just specify if you would like a packet of Bday cards or All-Occasion cards.

Soda Cans ~ How many cans do you think we have deposited since July 12th {that was our first deposit run}?????  Post a comment with your best guess!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ We received a check in the mail this past week with some money from God!!!  We chose to use that money towards puzzle piece sponsorships.  Someday when our children ask us why God's name is on so many puzzle pieces, we can tell them about the many wonderful ways God worked to bring them home to us!!!  What a lesson in the faithfulness of our amazing God!!!

Thermometer ~ We are only $1387 away from being able to mail our dossier!!!  Thank you for all your prayers and please DON'T STOP PRAYING!!!

Fund-Raising Friday

Christmas Ornaments ~ Please click here to see pictures of these adorable cross-stitched Christmas ornaments.  My mom is making these personalized ornaments for us to sell.  We are asking for $10 each and many of them can be personalized with names or dates.  Just send me an e-mail {hearts1982@gmail.com} with your order and we will get them to you ASAP.  They would make great little Christmas presents for family and friends!!!

Tupperware ~ THIS HAS BEEN EXTENDED until Tuesday, November 23rd!!!!!!!!  If you were intending to order and time simply got away from you, the deadline has been extended!!!!  Simply click here to be taken to our Tupperware fund-raising page.  We will receive 50% profit from every sale!!!

Faith and Grace Quilts ~ My friend from college, Karen, is organizing this fund-raiser so please head on over to her blog, 27 Penguin Place, and read all about it.  She is having people sponsor a quilt block for $10 each and will be making each one of our children an adorable quilt!!!

Just Love Coffee ~ They have some new coffee flavors they just put on their site.  Including "Fa La La La La {Holiday Blend}" coffee.  This is another GREAT Christmas present idea for the coffee lover on your list.  Either click here or the button on our sidebar to be taken to our personalized coffee page.

Home-made Cards ~ Please e-mail me if you are interested in purchasing any of our packets of unique home-made cards.  We are asking for $10 per pkg of 4 cards.

Soda Cans ~ Keep them coming!!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ Would you be interested in sponsoring a puzzle piece for $10?

Donate Button ~ If you are interested in helping with our adoption expenses either via one of the listed fund-raisers OR simply making a donation, you may use the PayPal Donate button located on our right sidebar.  Or send us an e-mail {hearts1982@gmail.com} for our mailing address.

CHRISTMAS SHOP HOP ~ One of the adoption blogs I have been following is doing this really cool thing for Christmas.  If you are interested in purchasing Christmas gifts that will not only make your friends and family members smile, but also help bring a child home to their new family, please go check out this link.  She has begun what she is calling a Christmas Shop Hop where adoptive families can post links to what they are selling as adoption fund-raisers.  I am posting my blog there, so please go check it out NOW :-).

Fund-Raising Friday

Tupperware ~ Tomorrow is the last day you can order!!!  To be completely honest, we have not had very many orders and we would REALLY like just a few more!!!  Remember, we get 50% of all sales, and that 50% will go straight into our adoption fund.  Tupperware is such a GREAT product, so please go check out this link.  {It seems like the link doesn't always work the first time you try it, so please try at least 2 times before you give up!!!}

Christmas Ornaments ~ My mom has extended the deadline for ordering these personalized ornaments, so please head to last week's post and check out photos of all the different options.  She can personalize most of them with names, dates, etc. so just send me an e-mail with what you would like {hearts1982@gmail.com}.  Merry Christmas tree decorating!!!

Faith and Grace Quilts ~ My friend Karen is excited to start making these quilts for our little ones.  If you are interested in sponsoring a quilt block for $10 and helping us raise the money we need to bring our children home, please head over to Karen's blog ~ 27 Penguin Place ~ and check out the information.  Please contact Karen if you are interested.

Just Love Coffee ~ It's COLD outside!!!  How would you feel about settling down under a warm blanket, next to a crackling fire, drinking a nice hot cup of coffee?  How would you feel about knowing that your cup of coffee helped us grow our family?  Click here to go to our "Just Love Coffee" web page and order a variety of delicious international coffees.  Reminder: Christmas is coming!!!

Home-made Cards ~ We still have several packets of cards available.  Just $10 per packet for 4 adorable cards.  Choose from an All-Occasion pkg. or a Birthday pkg.

Soda Cans ~ My parents just stopped by yesterday and delivered several LARGE bags of soda cans that they have been collecting for us out in AZ {there is no money redemption in AZ}.  We are heading to deposit them tonight.  These cans will push us well over the $300 mark in soda can donations!!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ Our puzzle is continuing to develop.  I have sorted out the next several {60 or so} pieces to add, but now we have to wait until they are sponsored.  Will you sponsor a puzzle piece for $10?????

Thermometer ~ We are now at 63% of the money we need to submit our dossier!!!  Praise the Lord!!!  We still need to raise $2807, but we are working hard to trust in the Lord's provision.  Would you continue to pray with us that we would be able to raise that amount by Christmas????

Fund-Raising Friday

Tupperware ~ We have one more week {from tomorrow} for our Tupperware fun-raiser!!!  Would you please take a minute to look at the site here?  We get 50% of all sales!!! so even if you just purchase one item, it will add up quickly.  And, don't forget to think about the many Christmas presents you need to start buying.  Maybe someone on your list would like a nice new Tupperware _______ {you fill in the blank}!!!

Just Love Coffee ~ We are still looking for our first November customer.  This is another GREAT Christmas present idea for the people on your list who love coffee.  Please go here and check it out.  We get proceeds from any items sold from our page!!!

Home-made Cards ~ Would you like to help with our adoption AND get some adorable home-made Bday or All-Occasion cards????  Well, do I have something for you :-).  Each pkg has 4 unique cards for $10 each!!  E-mail me and let me know what you might be interested in {hearts1982@gmail.com}.

Soda Cans ~ We love soda cans!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ We would love to add some more pieces to our puzzle {hint, hint}!!!!

"Together for Good" Photo Shoot ~ I want to thank Erin for all her hard work doing photo shoots and editing as a fund-raiser for us!!!  Seven people/families took her up on this offer, and I want to thank all of them to for their donations toward our adoption.  Erin will no longer be available for photo shoots, so this fund-raiser is officially closed.  Thanks everyone!!!!

Fund-Raising Friday

Just Love Coffee ~ One of my co-workers purchased some coffee from our site, and this is what he had to say about it.  "As a coffee Connoisseur, I'll give my WORD that this coffee is the MOST AWESOME jolt you'll have had in years!!!  Try it...You'll like it!!!!!!"  If you are interested in ordering, please click the photo/link on the right side of our blog.  We get $5 for every bag of coffee you order.

Home-made Cards ~ If you are interested {$10 per pkg of 4 cards} please send me an e-mail {hearts1982@gmail.com} or use our "donate" button {just make a note that it is for cards and which pkgs you are ordering}.

Soda Cans ~ Keep 'em coming!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ I was hoping to have an updated picture for you this week, but I guess it's going to have to wait for one more week.  If you are interested in helping us put our African puzzle together, please sponsor a puzzle piece for $10.  Thanks :-).

"Together for Good" Photo Shoot ~ If you haven't had the chance yet, please go check out Erin's blog "Together for Good" and take a look at some of her beautiful photos.  Erin is still willing to set up a photo shoot with you {think Christmas cards!!!} in exchange for a donation of any size to our adoption fund.

Thermometer ~ We've reached and passed the half-way mark toward our dossier!!!!!!!!  Praise the Lord!!!

Fund-Raising Friday

Just Love Coffee ~ I posted about this new fund-raiser earlier this week.  We have had many people tell us what a GREAT idea it is, but we've only had one order!!!  Will you be next???  All you have to do is click on the link on the side bar of our blog.  It will take you to our personalized coffee page and you can order whatever and however much coffee you want.  We will get $5 per bag you order!!!

Home-made Cards ~ We are continuing to sell a couple packets of cards a week.  It would be GREAT if we could have them all sold by Thanksgiving!!!  Will you help us???  Please pass along the info about our unique home-made cards to people you know, and maybe even consider buying some yourself!!!  I know how many cards I run to the store to buy last minute before a Bday, wedding, or anniversary.  Why not stock up on some cards now {$10 a packet = just $2.50 per card!!!}.

Soda Cans ~ It was such a blessing to have a few people bring soda cans/bottles to our garage sale for us.  We have passed $230 worth of deposit money!!!  Thank you!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ Our puzzle was in pieces on the floor for a good portion of this past week :-(.  We needed our card table for the garage sale, and the puzzle broke when we tried to move it.  But we've fixed it and are waiting to add more pieces.  Just $10 to sponsor a puzzle piece.  We will write your name on the back and our children will always have a visual reminder of the many people who helped bring them home to us!!!

"Together for Good" Photo Shoot ~ Erin has been busy with several photo shoots these past couple of weeks.  But she still has some times available.  If you would like to schedule a photo shoot with Erin, she will give you a CD with all the pictures she takes in exchange for a monetary donation of ANY size towards our adoption fund.  If you are interested, please contact Erin via her blog "Together for Good."

Thermometer ~ I love updating our thermometer totals each week!!!  We are now just $158 away from the half-way mark!!!  I can't wait until it's FULL and we can mail our dossier to Ethiopia!!!

Garage Sale

pick up. unload. pick up. unload. 

sort. price. stay up late. get up early. pick up. 

unload. sort. price. tired. stressed.
signs. blessing. friends. care. paint. pick up. 

price. too much. more. even more. 

full. e-mails. more. sale. soon.

That pretty much sums up our week thus far.

Our garage/bake sale starts bright and early TOMORROW MORNING!!!!  Our garage is stuffed to overflowing and we are still getting messages from people who have more to bring us!!!  It's a GREAT problem to have, but we really and truly don't have room for any more!!!  If you live in central IA, PLEASE come by tomorrow or Saturday and buy stuff!!!  We have a few items for a bake sale along with some bags of Ethiopian coffee!!, our homemade cards will be available for people to buy, and we are going to have a place for people to leave soda cans.  If you are not able to come but you know of someone in our area, please pass along the info.  If you need our address, please send me an e-mail {hearts1982@gmail.com} and I will give you directions.

It has been a very tiring week, but God has been doing some amazing things and we are so excited to see the plans He has for this fund-raising sale.

{By the way.  I will not be doing a "Fund-Raising Friday" post this week.  I will post pictures and info. on the sale sometime next week, and catch you up on our fund-raising next Friday.}

Fund-Raising Friday....on Saturday

Garage Sale ~ Yep.  We're going to do it.  And we're going to do it NEXT WEEKEND!!!  What have we gotten ourselves into???  We are asking for people to donate items for our garage sale and are going to start collecting them throughout this next week.  We're hoping to completely fill up our garage and then be able to sell EVERYTHING!!!  This has been and continues to be a little overwhelming, but we're hoping to raise a few hundred dollars for our adoption fund!!!  If you have done a garage sale in the past and have any nuggets of wisdom to pass along to us, we would LOVE to hear from you.  And, even better, if you live in central IA and know us personally, and would be willing/able to come help sort, label, set up, etc. this next Thursday and Friday, that would be FABULOUS!!!!  We are going to have our sale on Friday from 8-6 and on Saturday from 8-12 noon.  Would you be praying with us for good weather and for lots of things to sell??

Bake Sale ~ We are also going to be having a bake sale along with our garage sale {I think??}.  Hopefully I can get lots of volunteers to help bake cookies, pies, cakes, and breads!!!  Would any of you who are in central IA like to help????  Just let me know :-).

Home-made Cards ~ Would you like to help our adoption fund AND come away with some adorable home-made cards?  They are only $10 a packet {$2.50 a card} and contain 4 unique and creative cards.  You can choose between an All-Occasion packet or a Birthday packet.  Or go ahead and get one or more of each.  We all use many cards throughout the year, so why not stock up now?!?!  If you are interested, send me an e-mail {hearts1982@gmail.com} or pay via our "Donate" button located on the sidebar.  Just make a note that it is for cards and specify how many of each packet you would like.  We are willing/able to ship them anywhere in the US, so don't let distance stop you :-).

Soda Cans ~ Keep them coming!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ Let's keep putting this puzzle together!!!  You can send me an e-mail {hearts1982@gmail.com} or pay via the "Donate" button.  Just make a note that it is for a puzzle piece.

"Together for Good" Photo Shoot ~ Erin is still scheduling photo shoots to help with our adoption funds.  She has had a couple of her shoots already {check them out at Together for Good} and has a few more scheduled.  If you live in central Iowa and would like to get some GREAT photos AND help with our adoption costs, please contact Erin here.  HINT, HINT ~ Think Christmas cards!!!

Would you be willing to help us out by passing along our fund-raising information to your family and friends?  The more people know about our fund-raisers, the more successful they will be.  And the more successful they are, the sooner we will have the money saved to submit our dossier {current goal}, to accept our referral, and travel costs for court and to bring them home.  Thank you for all your prayers!!!!

Fund-Raising Friday + A WINNER!!!!

Home-made Cards ~ We have sold 16 packets of our cards over this past week!!!  Praise the Lord!!!  It has been so encouraging to us to see so many people interested in this fund-raiser.  We still have 64 packets left, so there are plenty more for YOU!!!  Each packet contains 4 different and uniquely made cards, and we are asking for a $10 minimum donation per packet.  Just let us know how many All-Occasion or Birthday packets you want.  We are willing to mail these cards anywhere in the US.  You may pay via our "Donate" button, or e-mail me {hearts1982@gmail.com} to arrange payment via cash or check.

Soda Cans ~ This fund-raiser took an interesting turn this week :-).  A friend contacted us and asked if he could pay us 10 cents per soda can, up to 200 cans!!!  He needs soda cans for a project he is working on, and he figured he could get his cans quickly AND help our adoption fund at the same time :-).  We currently had almost 200 soda cans in the car, so we ran them over to him and let him take them off our hands.  What a GREAT idea!!!  Does anyone else need soda cans from us???

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ We now have 98 puzzle pieces sponsored!!!  That's almost 1/5th of our puzzle!!!  This picture was taken last Sunday, and does not include the most recent 6 pieces sponsored.  But you can see that the edge is finished and we have begun filling in the middle!!!  Thank you to everyone who has had a part in putting this puzzle together!!!  If you are interested in sponsoring a puzzle piece for $10, you may pay via our "Donate" button {just make a note that it is for our puzzle} or e-mail me {hearts1982@gmail.com}.

Together for Good Photo Shoot ~ Erin has her first TWO photo shoots scheduled for tomorrow!!!  We're so excited to see this fund-raiser up and running.  If you are interested in a photo shoot with Erin, along with a CD of all the pictures she takes and edits, in exchange for a monetary gift of ANY SIZE to our adoption fund, please contact Erin at Together for Good.

Thermometer ~ Our thermometer rose higher this week!!!  We are now at 23% of our total dossier goal!!!  Praise the Lord for His great and wonderful provision!!!

GIVEAWAY ~ Thank you to everyone who participate in our giveaway this past week.

 

And the winner is........

**Kristi**

Congratulations!!!  We will be giving these 10 beautiful home-made Christmas gift tags to you.  Thanks for all your prayer and support of our adoption!!!

Fund-Raising Friday ~ + A GIVEAWAY!!!

Home-made Cards ~ Are you a card person?  Do you like to give special cards to your family and friends?  Do you just buy the generic cards you can pick up at WalMart or do you like to make the cards a little more personal?  How would you feel about being able to buy some very nice and creative home-made cards AND help us raise the money we need for our Ethiopian adoption?

Thanks to Nathan's sister Heidi and the many wonderful ladies who helped her by making beautiful cards, we have 80 packets of home-made cards to sell.  ALL the proceeds will go directly into our adoption fund {we are currently working to raise the $7700 we need in order to send our dossier to Ethiopia}.

We have 50 packets of All-Occasion cards.  Each packet contains 4 different and unique cards chosen from the following categories ~ Get Well, Wedding, Thank You, Sympathy, General Friendship, and Birthday.

We also have 30 packets of General Birthday cards.  Again, each packet consists of 4 cards that are different and unique, made by a variety of creative ladies.

We are asking for a $10 minimum donation for each packet of cards.  That's only $2.50 per card!!!

Also, if you purchase 5 or more packets, we will throw in a FREE card {while supplies last}.  Why not go ahead and stock up for all those birthday and other special occasions that will come up in the next few months???

If you are interested in purchasing, please send an e-mail to hearts1982@gmail.com or pay via our PayPal "Donate" button located on the sidebar.  Simply make a note that it is for our card fund-raiser.

AND......here is the GIVEAWAY part!!!

We have 10 beautiful Christmas gift tags that we are going to GIVE AWAY!!!  We will put all the entries into a bag, draw a name next Thursday evening at 9 p.m., and announce the winner on our Fund-Raising Friday post next week.  Here's how you can enter.
     1) Become a Follower of our blog.  If you already are a Follower, just leave a comment letting us know that you would like to enter this giveaway.
     2) Post this Fund-Raising Friday post on your Facebook page.  One entry for each day you post.  Leave a comment here letting us know each time you post on Facebook.
     3) Link this post in your blog.  One entry for each day you link it.  Leave a comment here letting us know each time you link us.

WHO WILL WIN???????

Soda Cans ~ We want to thank everyone who has been collecting soda cans for us.  It is such a blessing to us to have people stop us and say, "I've got a bag of soda cans for you.  Where can I put them?"  Many, many people are having a part in helping us bring our children home to us.  THANK YOU!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ The outside edge is almost done!!!  Just 3 more pieces to go.  Then we can start filling in the middle.  If you are interested in sponsoring a puzzle piece for $10, please send an e-mail {hearts1982@gmail.com} or click on our "Donate" button.  Simply note that you would like to sponsor a puzzle piece.

"Together for Good" Photo Shoot ~ Are you starting to think towards pictures for Christmas cards?  If you live in central Iowa and are interested in a FREE photo shoot with Erin {Together for Good} and a FREE cd of the pictures she takes {and edits!!} in exchange for a monetary donation of any amount {doesn't matter the size} to our adoption fund, please contact me {hearts1982@gmail.com} or head over to Erin's blog and set something up with her.  Thanks!!!

Our niece, Esther, came over to help put the card packets together.  She was a big help by putting the cards together with their envelopes.

Our living room was a little messy as Heidi, Esther, Nathan and I worked to put the card packets together.

Thank you, Heidi, for all your hard work in putting the fund-raiser together for us.  We love you!!!!

Fund-Raising Friday

Soda Cans ~ Will you please help spread the word about our soda can fund-raiser?  If you are in central Iowa, please help us by collecting all the soda cans you possibly CAN {haha!!}.  Let's help the environment {RECYCLE} and bring some Ethiopian children home to us at the same time!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ If you have been thinking about sponsoring a puzzle piece {or pieces} but just haven't done so yet, please contact me {hearts1982@gmail.com}.  We would love to add your name to our children's puzzle.  Remember, just $10 sponsors one puzzle piece.  We will write your name on the back of a puzzle piece and our children will always have a visual reminder of everyone who helped to bring them home!!!

"Together for Good" Photo Shoot ~ If you live in central Iowa and are interested in a FREE photo shoot with Erin, along with a CD of all the pictures {she edits them!!!}, in exchange for a monetary donation to our adoption fund, please leave me a comment here, e-mail me {hearts1982@gmail.com}, or head over to Erin's blog, Together for Good, and set something up with her.  Thanks!!!

Homemade Cards ~ Coming Soon!!!!!

Thermometer ~ Nathan got paid again today {which included some of his overtime hours ~ he is such a hard worker!!!} and our thermometer has passed $1,100!!!!!  Praise the Lord!!!!!

Fund-Raising Friday

This has been a slow week in the fund-raising department.  The thermometer hasn't risen much in this past week, but that's okay.  Everyone has slow weeks :-).  Hopefully we will see a larger jump by next Friday!!!

Soda Cans ~ Since we made a soda can deposit on August 20th, we have brought in an additional $22.30.  Please keep collecting and gifting us your soda cans!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ We finally started putting our puzzle together!!!  As you can see from the picture, we almost have all the edge pieces sponsored.  Let's see if we can get the edge finished SOON!!!  If you would like to sponsor a puzzle piece {or pieces} for $10 each, please contact me {hearts1982@gmail.com}.

"Together for Good" Photos ~ Erin has three photo shoots in the works, and we are soooooo excited to see how this fund-raiser will turn out!!!  Erin will shoot a whole bunch of pictures and give you a FREE CD with all the rights to the pictures in exchange for a donation to our adoption fund!!!  If you live in central Iowa and are interested in scheduling a photo shoot with Erin, please leave me a comment here, e-mail me {hearts1982@gmail.com}, or head over to Erin's blog {Together for Good} and leave her a comment there.  Thanks!!!

Fund-Raising Friday

Soda Cans ~ We made TWO trips to deposit cans this week!!!!  And I just learned that my wonderful sister is collecting soda cans/bottles in her college dorm, so we will be depositing even more over the next few months!!!!  I would write a "Soda Can Cheer" if I had that talent, but I will spare you from my attempts!!!!

Sponsor a Puzzle Piece ~ If you read my post on Wednesday, you may have seen that I've been a little busy this week with school starting. So.........we still haven't started putting the puzzle together.  Maybe tomorrow????  Oh, I know :-P.  We're just waiting for more pieces to be sponsored so that we have more to put together!!!  Yeah.  That's the real reason we haven't started it :-P.  If you would like to sponsor a piece for $10, please leave a comment here, Facebook message or e-mail me{hearts1982@gmail.com}.  Let's get this puzzle started!!!!!

Mary Kay Adoption Fund-Raiser ~ We raised $118.76!!!!!  Thanks, Clisty, for generously providing this fund-raiser to bring our children home from Ethiopia!!!!!

"Together for Good" Photos ~ Did you get a chance to read Wednesday's post about our new Photo Fund-Raiser?  If you didn't, why don't you go read it right now!!!  And head over to Erin's blog Together for Good to let her know what you think.  I just can't get over her generous offer and willingness to help us!!!!  If you live in central Iowa and would like to have a photo shoot with Erin {your donation for the photos will go straight to our adoption fund}, please leave me a comment, Facebook message or e-mail me, or leave a comment for Erin on her blog!!!!  Thanks!!!!!

Thermometer ~ We have met our last goal and are started on the new one!!!  Our new goal is the largest yet ~ BY A LOT!!!!!  We need a minimum of $7700 in order to submit our dossier.  We know it will be more than that because we are adopting two children, but we don't yet know how much more than the $7700 we will need.  I'll just have to update it when we are told the full amount.  Let's fill this thermometer up quickly!!!!!