Chinese Calendar

Tonight Big Daddy treated us to take out for dinner.
We did one of our favorite take out runs...
Daddy & James got Guthrie's and Joseph & I got Chinese food.
YUM!!! :)

James went in with Andy to pick it up.
While they were checking out the cashier gave James' a prize.
He was so excited to show us.

It's a Chinese calendar for 2010!
James says now Emily Margaret will know what day it is,
once she joins us of course.

Emily Margaret, you may not need a calendar
but I think your double dose of brotherly love will come in handy.
We love you and think about you constantly!

God's blessings, Sarah :D

Thankful this Thanksgiving

Hi all!
I hope this post finds you still stuffed full of turkey and dressing.
We are! :)
This year we have a few extra blessings to be thankful for...

First and foremost, our adoption agency has decided to work with us financially.
What does that mean?
Instead of us having to put off our home study until we have the full first payment.
They have agreed to take what we have now (about 1/3) and we can send the remainder as we have it.
HOORAY!!!
That my friends is better than fried turkey,
and you know that's good! ;>
We are probably looking at saving 2-3 months time doing it this way.
That may not seem like much from where we sit.
But when you're growing up in an orphanage, 3 months is a long time.
So, next Friday is the BIG day.
I absolutely REFUSE to reschedule it! :)

Second, we are beginning to take in donations of STUFF.
Stuff, as in, garage sale items.
For those of you who didn't know,
this past summer I participated in 3 yard sales and loved it!
Ok, for the most part. :)
As friends and family clean out their STUFF they call me and I take it off their hands.
Once the weather warms up I'll yard sale my heart out.
The best part?
Every dime raised with go into Emily Margaret's adoption account!

Speaking of adoption accounts, did I mention that we opened ours?
I was tired of keeping money in a basket.
Since I didn't want to put it in our family account,
opening an adoption account made sense.
Our commitment?
Any additional money raised with be donated to help other family's adopt.
After all the love we've been shown I look forward to paying it forward.

Finally, I'm looking into doing basic blog makeovers for others.
I'm thinking e-a-s-y stuff.
Like photo headers, installations, etc.
After almost a year of blogging I've learned a lot.
So why not put those skills to good use?
Any blog help I do will be for donations to Emily Margaret's adoption account!
In all honesty I would have never thought of it on my own...
thanks Holly! :)
At this time I will not have set prices.
So, if you're interested just shoot me an email.
I'll be glad to help make your blog a little more beautiful!

Whew, I think that's all for now.
You keep us in your prayers and I'll keep you posted on our progress!

God's blessings friends, Sarah :D

Today's Update

Good morning all!
Before I kick into mommy overdrive I wanted to share an update with you.
After emailing back and forth with our social worker we are postponing today's visit.
At this time we are seriously lacking adoption funds.
Don't despair, God is providing...
Tonight is our sweet friend's Christmas Bazaar.
She joyfully picked up several Glory Cakes and Christmas ornaments to sale for me.
My mom committed to donate $100 on the first of December.
And last but not least Emily Margaret might be the needed motivation for our friends to quit smoking.
The wife told me earlier this week that she and her husband are talking about quitting smoking.
They want to donate the money they would have spent on tobacco towards our adoption.
WOW!
God is good and He is providing the most unique ways to fund our mission.
Thank you for all your prayers and messages of encouragement!
God's blessings on your day friends, Sarah :D

Fundraisers & Home Studies, Oh My!

Hi all!
Today I'm preparing ornaments to be sold as a fundraiser.
A super sweet friend is hosting a Christmas bazaar tomorrow night.
Although we'll be unable to attend, she's agreed to sell anything I send.
HOORAY!!!
More money to put towards Emily Margaret's adoption.

Today I'll also be working in my house like a crazy woman.
We're not certain but we might be having our first home study visit tomorrow.
No fears, I won't switch into OCD mode and pull an all nighter.
Through prayer I've decided, I'm not perfect and won't pretend to be.
My home is cluttered and lived in.
But most importantly it's loved in.
So I have from now until school pick up to do my thang. :)
Yes, God and I will walk, or run through this day together!
I'll keep you posted on how things turn out.
Keep us in your prayers.
God's blessings on your day friends! Sarah :D

Smile for Emily Margaret :)

Hi all!
This weekend we had our family Christmas card / adoption pictures made.
(Click here to check them out)
It just so happens that my little sister is an amazing photographer.
So what started out stressful, ended with laughter and smiles.
And the one thing that kept us focused??
That we were smiling for our Emily Margaret!
God's blessings on your day, Sarah :D

According to Andy

Hi all!
This week has been a productive and busy one.
Cleaning, running kids, working, you know the kind of week.
That would explain why last night as we finally collapsed on the couch,
I was too tired to process this story...

First off let me say that Andy and I love to talk about our day.
We learn so much from the people God brings in contact with us.

As Andy was telling me about one of his patients and her daughter,
he made mention that this adult daughter was adopted.
He said that in general conversation the patient asked him if he had any children.
He replied yes, I have two boys.
She said no daughters?
He answered, well yes and no.
Yes, I do have a daughter... somewhere.
You see my wife and I are in the process of adopting a daughter from China.
No, she doesn't live with us yet.
But we know that we have a daughter.


As I type this with tears running down my face all I can think of is all the people who ask me what Andy thinks about us adopting.
I'd say he's on board. :)
You see, God has prepared a path for us and this child.
She is ours, she's being born from our hearts.
And one day our paths will merge and she will live in our house as well!

Thank you Lord for the perfect plans you have for me and the mate you sent to accompany me.

God's blessings, Sarah :D

Finger Prints

Even though we had to reschedule our first home study visit,
I couldn't let today pass without feeling like we were making some progress on the adoption front.
So wanna know what we did??
We busted a trip to the police station for finger printing.
Of course I took along the camera so we could properly document our adventure.
I mean really, this was a blog-able moment! :)

The officer that did the prints was super nice.
Especially considering that we had to have 4 sets made, each.

Here's the up close and personal.
Would finger prints for adoption be the equivalent of a positive sign on a pregnancy test??
Hhhmmm... ;>

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.
Each card has three rows of prints.
That made time for lots of interesting conversation!

When we made it home I told Andy I wanted a picture of us holding the prints and smiling.
You know, like a victory shot.
Here's his idea of a picture with his prints.
I promise this man has no criminal record!

Finally, here we are together.

We love you Emily Margaret, wherever you are.
I can't wait to hold you in my arms and share all these stories with you.
One thing's for sure, you're gonna have one heck of baby book!
God's blessings on your day friends, Sarah :D

God Is In This

For those of you wondering if us adopting is really a good idea,
I have to say...
God Is In This.
Yesterday afternoon I emailed our social worker.
I was talking to her about rescheduling our first home study visit.
Remember my Halloween trick??
Well I'm here to tell you that being on crutches at my age is not easy.
As in, forget doing extra stuff, I can't even keep up with my normal activities.
Add that to the fact that I'm still unsure of our financial backing for this adoption,
and you have yourself a fine reason for me to feel the need to reschedule our home study visit.

So, after talking to the social worker (who by the way was a complete angel) I jumped in the car to pick up the boys from school.
I backed out of the driveway and saw Kay sitting in her truck.
Once I realized who it was I ran, ok hobbled, over to her to see what was going on.
WARNING:
Go ahead and grab a kleenex...
She got out of her car and handed me a $500.00 check to put towards our adoption.
Speechless, I have been absolutely speechless!
How do you ever begin to pen the proper thank you for such a beautiful gift?
I just can't even wrap my head around it.
And that is when it occurred to me...
God Is In This.
I'd say He's more like all up in it! ;>
Now Andy and I have the finances to start our finger print and criminal background process.
And yes, we will consider our trip to the jail as our Friday date!
So here's the rundown on donations so far:
$20 via the Chip In here on the blog,
$120 from the sales of Andy's Glory Cakes,
$500 from Father Bob and Kay.

Now, here's my question for you...
What type of account should I open to put this money in??
Should I donate it to the Chip In on my blog or do I open a checking/savings account marked for Emily Margaret's adoption?
Right now it's in a basket on my dresser along with all the loose change James' has found and donated.
How sweet is that??
My boys always think of the adoption of their baby sister anytime they see loose change!

Thanks for all the feedback I can't wait to hear your thoughts.
God's blessings on your afternoon! Sarah :D