While We Wait... Adoption Fundraiser

Fiesta...

Crazy over the super moon...

Dossier...

 As of May 1st, our dossier was complete with the last piece of paperwork, our approval for an orphan visa, from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  How exciting to gather all those pieces of paperwork, notarized and, in a few cases, authenticated, too, together.  Of course we had to scan and copy everything before sending the paperwork off in the mail.  Now the official wait for a referral begins.  Such an exciting time filled with expectation these last few weeks.  It could take anywhere from two to fours months, but we are thrilled to be waiting on a very important phone call or email introducing us for the very first time to the little one who will become part of our family.

Dress-up

There are countless pictures taken by my grandmother of my cousin Dana and I dressing up in my mom's dresses from high school dances as well as my grandmother's party dresses.  Remembering how much we loved getting dressed up in those dresses as little girls, my mom stashed away some fancy dresses that Laura and I once wore to prom.  Madeleine delighted in trying these on and modeling for the rest of us...

Family weekend at Fern Ridge...

Movie theatre birthday party...

Blessed!!!

Thank you to everyone who shared our story, purchased items from our ETSY shop, and donated during our week on Give1Save1! How amazing it feels to know that we have the support of so many people behind us.  While we still have quite a journey ahead, we headed to the post office during a sunny spell in an otherwise rainy Spring Break to mail off our I-600A form, an important next step in this process that moves us ever closer to a referral. 

In one week, we raised $1,845!  These funds will help us pay a big chunk of the next fees associated with our adoption (due next week!), bringing us one step closer to meeting our baby girl for the first time.  By the end of the week, donations came in from Canada, Morocco, Israel, and thirty different states:

1.  Texas
2. Michigan
3. Oklahoma
4. Kansas
5. Wisconsin
6. Oregon
7. Louisiana
8. Washington
9. Alabama
10. Georgia
11. Arkansas
12. Virginia
13. Pennsylvania
14. North Carolina
15. Indiana
16. New York
17. Tennessee
18. Kentucky
19. Illinois
20. Missouri
21. Ohio 
22. Colorado
23. Arizona
24. Massachusetts 
25. Florida
26. California 
27. New Hampshire 
28. Maine 
29. Alaska 
30. North Dakota

GIVEAWAY - Dutch Brothers Treats

 

Congratulations to the Dutch Brothers giveaway winner, Patricia Wyss!

As our week winds down on Give1Save1, we have one last giveaway to announce.  A generous friend donated a basket full of goodies from Oregon's own Dutch Brothers Coffee to help us end this incredible week.  The basket includes:

• 15 free beverage coupons
• 1 small travel mug
• 1 ceramic mug
• 1 tumbler mug
• 1 Dutch Brothers t-shirt

Here's how to enter: Help us reach our fundraising goal!  We're at $1642 right now. Every $1 makes a huge difference!  Donate any amount to our family through Give1Save1 by midnight PST tomorrow, 3/31. 

GIVEAWAY - Green Magazine Bead Necklace and Earrings Set

Congratulations to the magazine bead necklace and earrings giveaway winner, Julia Fay!

We are getting close to being able to pay our next big adoption fee outright- please help us share our story today, tomorrow, and Saturday!  We have received so many incredible donations from friends, family, and those who have found us through your links on facebook, pinterest, twitter, and email.  What an amazing blessing this week has been - so many people coming together to help our family bring our child home!  It truly takes a village - thank you for being a part of our adoption journey.

To celebrate, we have another giveaway today, since our magazine bead necklace giveaway was so popular, we thought we'd offer one more, this time a green magazine bead necklace and earrings from our ETSY shop just in time to honor Earth Day!  

 How could I not share a picture of our beautiful friend Caroline wearing her magazine beads - and the very first person to make a purchase at our ETSY shop?  To celebrate our week on Give1Save1, we are offering FREE regular shipping (use the code GIVE1SAVE1 at checkout) for all orders!

Help support reduce, reuse and  recycling efforts and give Ugandan women and their children hope of a sustainable life!

Here's how to enter: 

1. Help us spread the word! Share about this giveaway and our family's week on Give1Save1 on your blog, pinterest, twitter, or facebook – leave me a link in the comments below.
2. Want an extra entry?  Purchase any item from our ETSY shop to support the women in Uganda who make these beautiful sling bags and beads.
3. And for a third entry... Every $1 brings us closer to bringing our baby home! Donate any amount to our family through Give1Save1 by noon PST tomorrow, 3/30.

The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon, 3/30. Good luck! 

GIVE1SAVE1 Update: With just a few days left, we have been blessed with $1,400 in donations from Canada, Morocco, Israel, and 29 different states.  Can you help us add all 50 states to this list?

1.  Texas
2. Michigan
3. Oklahoma
4. Kansas
5. Wisconsin
6. Oregon
7. Louisiana
8. Washington
9. Alabama
10. Georgia
11. Arkansas
12. Virginia
13. Pennsylvania
14. North Carolina
15. Indiana
16. New York
17. Tennessee
18. Kentucky
19. Illinois
20. Missouri
21. Ohio 
22. Colorado
23. Arizona
24. Massachusetts 
25. Florida
26. California 
27. New Hampshire 
28. Maine 
29. Alaska