We Are So Blessed!!!

Wow.  We truly have some of THE BEST friends and family (and friends of friends and family!!!)!  Here is a recap of some of the AWESOME ways in which we have been blessed over the past couple weeks:

About one month ago we began the adoption process to Ethiopia.  When we stepped out on this journey, we were not AT ALL sure how we would pay for it.  It was truly a leap of faith.  Within ONE WEEK, we had gone from $0 to $8,000!!!!  $8,000 in ONE WEEK!!! 

Since then, we have had friends and virtual strangers donate money towards our adoption.  We have sold about 50 t-shirts, a local author of a BEAUTIFUL children's book offered to put money from every book sale towards our adoption, and Charles has been asked to photograph some family portraits.  Shall I go on???!??

This week, a good friend, Tember Heft contacted me about a new fundraiser.  She and her husband, Josh, make homemade, wooden children's stacker toys out of completely organic materials.  They are absolutely beautiful!!  Tember has offered $5 from every toy sold to go towards our adoption.  You can check out their site at  www.tickitackitoys.etsy.com  Thank you Tember and Josh!!!  <3



From TickiTackiToys

 

See?  I told you they were beautiful!!!  :)

I also have some wonderful sister-in-laws who are in the process of planning a SUPER FUN Ladies-Night-Out event in June.  More info on that to come....

Lastly, alot of good news coming out of Ethiopia!  For those who have been following the proposed changes to the adoption process there, it appears that no drastic changes will in fact be taking place as of now.  Child advocacy groups have joined forces with adoption agencies to work with MOWA (Ministry of Women's Affairs) in Ethiopia to come to agreements on how to adequately care for the needs of orphans.  Foreign staff on the ground in Ethiopia are reporting that MOWA has completed some staffing changes and are now working at full capacity to complete those adoption cases already in progress.  For new cases moving forward (this is us!!), it appears the original changes proposed by MOWA will not be implemented to the degree to which it was first intended.  We are excited by this news and are trusting that God will continue to be in control of the situation at hand.  Pray that He would continue to guide our steps through this VERY unfamiliar territory!!

As I write this, I am spending the weekend with my family at my parent's house on the Chesapeake Bay.  Can't wait to post some pics of our time here this weekend.  We are truly BLESSED!!  That's all for now!


Kirsten