Buddy Walk DeLand and more!

It has been a super busy few days and I am whooped! :) 

We were honored to be present for our very first Buddy Walk and represented Reece's Rainbow while we were there. I had no idea what to expect but I was able to speak with several people about the foundations mission and it was awesome! 

We have begun work on our beautiful Festive Blocks and are going strong at about 20 orders! Shooting for shipping them all by the second of November. 

We are only waiting on our USCIS a approval and then we are on to our Country submission! 

Humbled

As everyone knows, I have had a few periods of utter stress during our process of adopting W. I know this is very normal. I know there will be days that I will question every tiny decision that gets made because in essence, each of them will effect this process in some fashion. I've had days where I just thought I was absolutely crazy and some days where I felt... Is this how Mother Teresa felt? (No, I am not comparing myself to her.. no where near that!)

The last few days however, I have felt wonderful. I feel good about things. The time is coming closer and closer. I am mailing off our last document needed for USCIS and that will likely be resolved and done in the next 2-3 weeks and then it will be time to submit our dossier to Ukraine and wait for a court date. This could move quickly or it could drag out. I don't know and it is out of my control and I have accepted that. 

I was very humbled this week during church service. I feel the Lord just laid it out for me that I am a lucky woman. I have an amazing husband whom would clearly do anything for me. I have two beautiful, healthy and intelligent children who may drive me crazy sometimes, but they are mine and they are here. Last week a church family had a SIX year old daughter die. Suddenly. To my knowledge she was not sick from anything. She was a happy and gorgeous SIX year old. I didn't ask for details, maybe I don't want to know or maybe I don't need to know. But I do know a family had to bury their daughter. I can only pray I don't ever have to do this in my lifetime. I have Parents (we butt heads about a lot, but they would do anything for me), Sister's and niece's that I care for so much. I have a lot of love that surrounds me and I am grateful for this. I have Angels in Heaven who I know fly down I-4 with me to protect me from all the crazy Florida drivers. 

I went to service last week with a Hard heart. I was upset that the church wouldn't let me use their dining hall for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser. I spoke with the office director and even though I felt her answer was a little snide, I can understand they have to be fair to everyone. If they let me use it then they have to let everyone use it. I was so angry they wouldn't give me the opportunity. Sunday morning I went back and forth, "Do I really wanna go today? I'm tired. I could use the sleep.", but I mustard it up and went. I enjoyed this week's service and so I went to my Pastor and told him. He began speaking with me a little about W and that he was sorry, but he did welcome me to print fliers and let everyone know the date and time. That was encouraging for me. He then said, "Let's Pray Together" and so he prayed with me right there in the front of the alter under the large Rose Window. I felt so blessed in that moment. He said to me, "The money will come. If it is God's will for you to be this boys Mother then it will happen". It is hard to feel so positive all the time because there is so much fighting against you. I know I am working hard. My family knows, and my friends. More importantly, God knows. 

This is what I have to trust in. I have to put my Faith out there and let the world know I am fighting for this boy. If someone feels led to help me then so be it and it will be appreciated far more then I could ever say. I believe in this boy and our decision. I believe we are meant to be his parents and his siblings and this is what is important. 

Blessings! 

Farmer's Market

This weekend the Hubster and I tried our hand at the farmer's market downtown. This was our first attempt and I had no idea what to expect. So Friday night I asked my Momma to take my two kiddos so I could prep and they wound up spending the night with her (say whaaaat? WHOOP WHOOP). Around 8 that night I began baking. Now I'll be honest... I can not cook worth a diddle, a few things, sure but for the most part Im terrible, BUT I can bake the crap outta some cookies and muffins! 

While I was slaving away in the kitchen my husband was in the garage with some last touches on his beautiful flags... Just wait to see them! We finally laid down to rest around 1 AM. Saturday we were up bright and early and headed downtown! 

We got all set up and say and waited for our first customer!!! .... And waited and waited. 

Things picked up around 11 and we sold some Banana Nut and Pumpkin muffins and a few other things. No sales on his flags which did honestly surprise me. He worked so hard on this and I know he would have been so proud if they would have sold. All in due time! 

I was so proud of him and the way he kept saying, "our son". He went on and on to people about Wetherby and how he was ours. I'm not sure I've heard him actually say it out loud to people and it just made me melt. So even though we didn't sell a lot we got to spend some much needed time together! Here are a few photos of other items. Feel free to message me with any interest! 

USCIS

Today's fingerprint appointment went very well. We showed up for our appointment and checked in. Then waited for a while for our number to be called. There were so many people there being printed for various reasons. Some were there to adopt like us and some are applying for citizenship status. Living the dream! We also watched a few moments of a documentary about being a citizen, but I did not catch the name of it. In the film they were traveling the states to interview folks working towards citizenship. There was even an interview with Gene Simmons, who is originally from Israel. 

I can't even describe how excited we are.  This is pretty much the last thing we are waiting on. One other document for USCIS and we will be approved, then off to Ukraine for translation and submission. My heart and brain could burst from pure joy and the usual stresses of fundraising. We still have $7500-$8000 to raise and our time frame is fast approaching. It will happen! The Lord will move mountains to see this through; I know he will. Since we could not take pictures inside the USCIS building here we are in the parking lot! 😁💜

Santa Letter

One of the ways we are raising funds is by working on our Santa Letter's. 

This is a great way to celebrate the Christmas spirit with your children this year. Each letter is personalized to your child or family by completing our form with a few pieces of information. 

Each letter will be signed, sealed and sent to the North Pole for mailing. Yes!! It will be stamped from the North Pole. This is a great stocking stuffer, and would be a great first thing to do in the morning after waking up. In past year's I have had my son open his letter a few days earlier by giving it to him like his own piece of mail at the mailbox. 

Each letter is a donation of $10 and each letter after that is reduced in price by $3. So the 1st is $10, 2nd is $7. 3rd is $4 and each after that is $1. Or you could do a family letter for a donation of $15 and it will be addressed to the family (The Smith Family for example). 

This is a great tradition and it is great to keep these as a momento for years to come. 

Please complete our order form to get yours ready to go! 

​https://docs.google.com/forms/d/167QmAXYA5pBapxWPOvPgjtvikDGN7Ut6WGHFEhgGvsE/edit

Fingerprints!! Again

We received our appointments for finger printing yesterday. So this means Immigration has received our application to adopt and they tell us when and where to go to get scanned by the government! ☺️ We are moving further and further through the process and (knock on wood) everything has been smooth sailing. We are still at least $9,000 away from being fully funded, and at this point, only about 2 more months until travel time. We ask that if you are feeling led to help us, please make a donation of any size to get us a little further. 💜😊