Yard Sale Wrap Up

Over 10 truck loads of items were donated

It was an incredible sight to see. Over 500 people came to shop through the items donated by over 30 families. The weeks of hard work and prayers paid off with what we considered to be a very successful yard sale! While the financial donations were incredible (thank you!), we loved seeing your smiling faces most of all. Old friends from high school, strangers who saw the event posted on facebook, volunteers from church, and family members all came out to support us. It was overwhelming to hear well wishes every time an item was sold and see our friends and family talking about our adoption journey with shoppers.

Used the nursery to store overflow!

It was a huge event to prepare for and our volunteers couldn't have been better! They helped us load and unload several trucks, set up tables, organize items, and tear it all down in the end. They worked their bottoms off and were paid with bug bites, bruises, sunburns, and sore muscles. When we became overwhelmed, they took control and made it happen. We could never have done something like this by ourselves and would never have wanted to do it with anyone other than them!

God moved in our lives this week. Every donation that we picked up had a story to go with it. Every time I would get online there was a new message with God written all over it. We'd never be able to list all of the incredible moments that came from our yard sale experience, but we did want to share just a few:

K and I working hard on setting things up

- A friend of Derek's came by with his mom and although he didn't find anything to purchase (I guess baby clothes and glassware wasn't his thing), he made a financial donation. But it was what he said that made me fall apart. "I'm just a college student without a job, but I saved up for weeks so that I could make this donation. I was so excited when I found out Derek was going to be a dad and I want to do my part to make sure he has a child."

- A stranger walked up to me and said, "I didn't find anything to buy but wanted to support you anyway", handing me a wad of cash.

-After adding up a large order of items, I told the lady her total and she told me it wasn't enough. She paid double.

First few hours of set up

- I was told of 3 young girls (2 of which were adopted themselves) who had heard about our adoption story and wanted to help out. They sat outside in the rain on a Saturday morning and sold lemonade. They raised $19.96 and were so proud when they handed us the envelope full of change that they had covered in hearts.

- A police man drove up the street and my heart sank. I thought for sure that we were going to get in trouble for having so many cars parked on the street, but he ended up just coming out to support us and shop with his family. He said that the word had been passed around church and he wouldn't miss this opportunity.

Our friend C with his new toy

- The day before the sale, a young man sent me a message saying that this yard sale was all anyone in his area was talking about and that someone had even posted it on the tv screens at IUS.

- There were countless times that a shopper would ask me for prices and when we came to a total it was the exact amount of money they had. They all wanted to know how I did it. I think God was just showing off.

Preparing the yard for the big day!

 The amount we raised put us close to the half way point! God is continuing to open doors as we prepare for our child to come home!

Massive Adoption Yard Sale!

We were so excited when our friends J and K offered us their yard for an adoption yard sale where all proceeds go towards our final payment. There is a lot of work involved, but we can already feel God moving! 

Here are the details:

Saturday, Sept. 8th from 8am to 4pm (set up on Friday)
317 Allison Lane in Jeff

We could use your prayers and help! We need prayers for great weather, a wonderful turn out, and lots of organizational wisdom! We're also looking for volunteers to help us with several things for any amount of time you have.

- Donations! If you think it will sell, we'll take it! We can pick it up anytime or you can drop it off on the Friday that we set up.

- Plastic bags. We'll need lots for people to carry their purchases off in.

- Tables. We already have lots of items, so we're going to need lots of tables to put it on.

-Volunteers to help us set up on Friday and man the yard sale on Saturday.

If you can help out in any way just send us a message and we'll get you the details (and big hugs!). 

Thank you so much!!!

Preparing For Baby

Derek and I have been talking about what we can do to prepare for the little one's arrival. Although we know that it will catch us off guard, we're hoping to have as much prepared ahead of time so we can enjoy the "gotcha" process. We're putting the finishing touches on the nursery and my sweet friend is even planning a baby shower to help us prepare and celebrate (thanks A!).


Things we'd like to find out before Baby comes:

What goes in the diaper bag when you're headed to the hospital? We have no idea if they will be a boy or girl or even what size they will be in, but we know they shouldn't be naked!

What does the hospital provide? Diapers, blankets, pacifiers, formula?

We'd like to get a gift for our tummy mommy, but how do you say thank you to something this huge?

I've always thought about taking our little one to the chiropractor when they are born, but I need more info on that.

How to switch from formula to breast milk. Our little one will be blessed with donated breast milk, but I'm not sure how long that will take to set up.

Feeding/sleeping/play schedule when they finally come home. I've read books, but want to talk to more mammas to feel more comfortable.


What we do know is that Wal-Mart is just a short drive from any hospital in Indiana, so whatever we're missing they will probably have. If not, I'll get to try out my new "mom look".  Also with any adoption everything is situational, so as we get further into the process and get matched, we'll have more of these questions answered.

It's Official

I was cleaning out the kitchen when Derek gave me a big hug from behind and slipped an envelope into my hand. I ripped it open and started sobbing at the first line: "Your family has been approved for adoption planning!"

It finally came! Our official paperwork saying that our home study had been approved and that our profile was being shown to mommas was in my hands. We could finally shout it from the rooftops and boy, did we! Derek was on the upstairs computer and I was on the laptop. We counted down and posted our adoption picture and good news on Facebook at the same time and just stared at the screen while people blessed us with their love and well wishes. It was the moment we had talked about for years and it was finally here. What a special moment it is to share with the world that you're having a baby!

I feel like we're back on the adoption track now. I can't tell you how thrown off I was when that letter just wouldn't come. And sorry to those of you who got texts or calls from me during this time. I know I was a mess. But much, much better now!

Derek and I are having a blast knowing that it could happen at any day, but let's be honest at how scary that can be. It could be while I'm writing this blog entry or next year. We can't wait for baby to come, but hubby and I are just hoping that we can at least have grants completed and most of the funds raised before they get here. I would love to get a sneak peak of God's schedule.

What a beautiful trip!

Celebrity Adoption

Did you know these celebrities were adopted?

Jesus-Of course He was!
Nat King Cole- Singer
Elenor Roosevelt- First Lady
Aristotle- Philosopher
50 Cent- Hip Hop artist
Priscilla Presley- Wife of Elvis Presley
Sarah McLachlan- Singer
DMC- Of Run DMC
Nicole Richie- Actress
Babe Ruth- Baseball Guru
Dave Thomas- Founder of Wendy's
Deborah Henry (Blondie)- Singer
Steve Jobs- Macintosh
Marilyn Monroe-Model
Faith Hill- Singer
Jamie Foxx- Actor
Edgar Allen Poe- Author
John Lennon- Musician
Nelson Mandela- Activist
Bill Clinton- President
Eric Clapton- Musician
Snookie- Reality TV Star
Gary Coleman- Actor
Superman- Super Hero

Mail Stalker

Patience is a virtue I just don't have lately.

I feel like we've been waiting on the official home study approval from our agency for years. We were pushed back a few weeks because they wanted us to finish our educational courses before we were considered approved, even though our home study has been approved for a month now. That requirement was completed 6 days ago and I assumed we would have gotten our approval in the mail by now.

I've become a mail stalker, checking the mail box several times a day hoping it will be there. Nothing. There was even 3 days in a row where we didn't get any mail, so I had hope that the mail carrier had a freak accident and didn't stop by our house and would eventually come running up the driveway, ring the doorbell and hand me "the" letter. She would have some crazy story that the neighbor's dog grabbed the letter out of her hand and she's been chasing it around over the weekend, but yet the letter wouldn't have a scratch on it. I like for my daydreams to have a happy ending.

Maybe if I write a blog entry about it, it will show up tomorrow.


***Note to future self. The letter will arrive and when it does, go back and read this entry and see what an impatient dork you were. Love you!

What Happens Next

As I type I'm being stared at by a 2 month old little boy. I've been babysitting him and it has been great practice for us and even our house. Our nursery and baby things have been used and it's so fun to see a little one in the crib.  Everyday something starts to make sense to me like when moms say they never get to sit down to a meal or take a hot shower. I'm starting to see that.

I've learned how to make a bottle with one hand (even my left hand), how to change an incredibly awkward outfit, how to install a car seat, and how to know when he just wants some attention. I even had my first experience taking him to the store by myself. A lady opened the door for me and complimented him on his cuteness. Yeah, I could get used to this.

We just took a trip to Indy to attend our last educational meeting. Derek planned the entire day and it was so nice to spend the day driving from surprise to surprise. He took me to the Indianapolis state fair where we saw bunnies and made a carnie man mad. We then had lunch in the park and watched children play on the playground. Then we headed to a neat comic book store in downtown which led us to the mall and dinner at our favorite place, PF Changs. Our day ended at the Bethany office where we attended our panel meeting. I can't tell you how much I needed that time away to recharge with my sweetie.

Our panel meeting was great, as always. Every time we attend Bethany we are reaffirmed in our agency choice. The staff is incredible as well as those who spoke at the meeting.

At the end of it we passed off our last paperwork and the copies of our profile. Irene, the domestic adoption direction, commented again that our profile was so unique (she's done this for over 30 years) and she can't wait to show it to mommas. Derek was so affirmed in that and it was a great way to end the day.

We are now "in the pool", meaning we could get a call at any moment and we are ecstatic!

That phone call will come from Kimber, our adoption specialist, and she could say two things:

1. There is a child born at Blahbity Blah Hospital with this history (medical, family, etc.).  We will then pray about it and if we feel like God is calling us in this direction, we will race like mad people to the hospital, scoop them up and ride off into the sunset.

2. There is a birth mom (usually in her last trimester) who has read our profile and would like to have a Match Meeting with us. Kimber will tell us what they know about the child and their family and will give us a choice to meet with her or not. If we choose to this means that we will meet with her and see if there is a connection. We'll answer any questions she has and ask some of our own. If she and Derek and I feel like it is what God wants than we'll be considered "matched" meaning our profile will be taken out of the pool. At that time we wait for her to give birth and sign the legal paperwork.  To make this very clear, being "matched" does not mean that the birth momma is forced to sign the paperwork in any way. It is absolutely her decision and is just the risk that we take. If she chooses to parent her child we will consider it a blessing just to know her and rejoice for that child.

As we move into this next phase of the process we ask for prayers for God's hand to be involved in every aspect of our journey.