You Know You're Adopting When...

I almost forgot about this part of adoption...very important to know. Actually, I think I am going to start writing down things that have happened to us and others and make it a book...haha!

No, seriously. I have hear from others about this phenomenon, but lately we have really been experiencing it. It seemed to start once we were given dates. But, the enemy doesn't want us doing good and being obedient to what we are called in to. This past week, we had a wonderful time  at the Reunion and go home and realized my check engine light was on in my car- its a 2012 and I bought it new! So, a day off from work, a trip to the mechanic and $700+ later w have to find money to fix it. But guess what...God showed up! My church Outreach Committee stepped up and in and are taking care of it! I love my church- the way that they have always love me...warts and all! They do show the love of Jesus, and they are not perfect! Love my church family! Got that problem knocked down and on Monday, my car will be fixed!

 As we were waiting for that issue to be handled, my daughter became ill last night at work. She was having an allergic reaction and we couldn't figure out why. Got some Benadryl on board and left work and her tongue began to swell again! So, off to the hospital ER we went! We walked in to Chesapeake General and within 15 minutes, they had her in a room, IV started, and pushing steroids and antihistamines! They were amazing! She had an allergy to seafood and shellfish. She had eaten a piece of ham a minute or so before the reaction, so we thought that was it. After staying overnight for observation, we came home. I called the company that made the ham and talked to a lady there. It was a division of Smithfield and they have only pork in the facility. As we chatted, I was telling her how careful my daughter is and how they sneak stuff in all the time and you can never be too careful. She agreed and then began telling how there was a yogurt she had eaten and then read the label and it had TILAPIA! Are you kidding me? It sent bells off for me, she had eaten yogurt...is it possible? I asked her which one it was and we started comparing notes and sure enough...it was the SAME ONE! My daughter had eaten it yesterday morning and also the day before...I guess the amount was small enough not to hit her right away, but with the second exposure...BAM!!!  Let me tell you, MUELLERS yogurt does not label it right out. On the Fruit Up product, it is right in the ingredients. However, the others use 'KOSHER GELATIN" for a thickener....beware, it is made from FISH BONES! REALLY? And there is no alert for KOSHER GELATIN!!!! She is home now and resting but had a slight flare of tongue swelling earlier tonight. She is giving up a weekend trip with her friend to rest and recoup.

Guess what Satan? God has this too! You will not stop us for what He has called us to do. We already love this boy as our own and we will get him home. Please keep our family in prayer as we move forward. Pray a hedge of protection over all of our kids as we prepare to leave. Prayer for provision and for God math to be at work in all aspects of this adoption- God math is when He makes that money go further than is mathematically impossible.

Fundraising Never Ends!

    So, we left off with some fundraisers in the works. Let's jump in and say that our spaghetti dinner was a great success! I was able to have most everything donated and for decorations, I went very simple- Dollar Tree tablecloths and vases, I went to a wholesale florists and purchased some flowers to have on the tables. The sauce and pasta were donated by Ted Papfil of Norfolk Catering Company & The Norfolk Grille restaurant- THANK YOU TED!!!! The bread was donated through our church via the Day end Doughnation program at Panera Bread! And Salad and drinks were donated by friends! And last , but certainly not least...my new friend Candy and her jazz band came as a trio to provide the entertainment for the evening- FREE of charge!!!!!All told, we spent out about $45 and we were blessed to the tune of almost $2000!!!! Talk about being blown away! We had so many people come out to support us and our adoption of this young man. Friends from church, friends from our choir family (even one family that lives more than 30 minutes away), from our dance family...all came to show love and support for us and this young man they only know through our words. How could we not call that a success? God showed up again!

    The other fundraiser we were doing was a donation yard sale. Well, that was not as successful, but I saw families that didn't have much, come and able to get some thing that made them happy and realistically, I needed to get things out of the house. We made almost $50 dollars from it- but we got started late and it had been drizzling that morning. I am okay, because we will do another one.

    I almost forgot...when we came home from the spaghetti dinner, my mother had tried to call and sent me a message through Facebook Messenger. I didn't know she knew how to do that...HAHA! Anyway, she was calling because she was feeling bad and wanted to send us some money, but felt like we wouldn't be helped by it. WHAT!? I told her exactly what her money would cover and she felt relieved and put a check in the mail to us right away. See, she was worried that her donation wouldn't help and so, she didn't send anything! It is SO important to let people know what their donation amounts can help pay for! Her money will put a roof over our head for a day and food ion our bellies for at least a day. My son asked if he and his sister could do stuff to raise money after we leave and my answer was- SURE...ABSOLUTELY!!! I am so impressed with our kids through this because they just get it and want to do something bigger than themselves. These are the days that really make me see that what we poured into them over the years, it sunk in. I have been saving all these daily scriptures I get on my phone from K-Love, the ones that have spoken to me through the process or have encouraged me. One day, after the adoption is done, I am going to add them to this blog.

   So, I remember last time we were waiting to see if we would get submitted and we were racing the clock to beat the quarterly shutdown. well, the shutdown hit and....we heard crickets. I was so disappointed. But, I had to remind myself that this is NOT about me or my timing or my wants! God has this and has had it from the beginning! So, I began to help my friend with vacation Bible school at church ( I was a little disappointed because I was supposed to have been gone already) and decided to be busy and wait...patiently. UGH! There's that word again...Yes God, I hear you! And my mom "Jeannie, patience is a virtue." . So, as our anniversary approached (23 years), we were at the church doing VBS stuff(my 17 y/o daughter and I) and we ate Taco Bell and the next morning, July 10th we woke up sick with food poisoning! My phone rang a few times and my response was to throw it under the covers and go back to sleep. I finally woke up around 1:30 in the afternoon and thought I should check for messages in case anything important was happening. I had numbers I didn't recognize and let go to voicemail and a couple of texts and other messages. Well, one of the ones I ignored...it was Nancy. I still didn't think anything of it and thought let me get awake and then I will call her back. I called her back and whined a bit about being sick and she said, 'Well, maybe I can help. I just found out you guys got submitted the Thursday before the break!'. WHAT? 'And there's more, you have your DAP on August 5th!' I couldn't believe it!

    In the meantime, I had met some folks that we all thought we would travel together, but that's okay because we are going to get our son! So, now time is drawing closer and we still need so much more raised in financial support! Please keep us in prayer and donate if you can. We have to book our flights in the next few days and I know God has this!

Since we got our date, we have been to the Reece's Rainbow Reunion and met some folks that we knew online and others that we didn't know at all, got a couple of bumps in our FSP, but there is still more to go!