SUMMER BREAK!

SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE! This time last year, we were gathering lots and lots of documents relating to the adoption process! As happy as I am that the paper-chasing is over, we will still be plenty busy with things regarding Baby Woodson.

 On the top of our summer list is to get our house ready. Tonight, we will be installing new basement windows, so daddy can move his drum set downstairs. My first summer project will be clearing out the office and organizing everything.  The office will be Baby Woodson's room if we are still in this house when he/she arrives. We are thinking about possibly putting our house on the market. We aren't in hurry to move, so we thought it doesn't hurt to try. We know it is a great time to buy; it just isn't the best time to sell. So whether we move or stay, we have plenty of little things to do around the house this summer.

 Another big task I am hoping to accomplish is to apply for an adoption grant. We have found one organization that we really want to apply to. There are many organizations that offer adoption grants, but giving all our information to organizations is a little frightening to me. You really want to do some researching on the companies and choose one you trust. Many of the companies require you to pay an application fee, so we could possibly end up losing money if we do not get accepted. The one we have selected has different deadlines throughout the year, and I am hoping to meet the summer deadline. Please pray that we are chosen for the grant. Lots of people apply but only a few are selected. 

 Also relating to our adoption funds on this summer's list is fundraising. Two of our dear friends have decided to throw us fundraisers this summer. I will be sending out more details as they get closer. One will be a 31 Party (it is a company that makes all kinds of really cute totes and bags) on June 13th. Our friend is giving us all of the commission that is made from the party! Our friends will be able to attend the party at our friend's house, or they will be able to order online. THANK YOU, Teresa! Like I said, more details coming soon! The other fundraiser is going to be a Zumbathon on July 20th. Our friend Myra is a Zumba instructor, and she has offered to instruct an exciting morning of Zumba! 100% of all the ticket sales will be towards our adoption. THANK YOU, Myra! More info will be coming soon about both of these opportunities, but I wanted to put the dates out there.

I am so thankful that summer is here! I am looking forward to spending more time with friends and family! Jeffrey and I are both participating in summer sports leagues, and I will also be leading my summer walking group. Although we will be busy, it will be a different kind of busy, and I am looking forward to it!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ethiopia, Welcome to the Family

Image
Dear Ethiopia, I had ideas and expectations of what I would encounter when we met. You see this was not my first trip to Africa; be slow to judge me, Ethiopia. I am not the white American girl who thinks that all of Africa is one country.  No, I knew you would be different, but I wasn't quite sure how.  My husband and I have both been to several third world countries, so we were preparing ourselves for the extreme conditions we would see. Ethiopia, like many of the other places I have traveled, your living conditions for so many people broke my heart. To see young boys (some probably not 5 years old) living on the streets and working as shoe shiners and doing other little jobs to make it day to day is something I hope never becomes normal or acceptable in my eyes. Unclean water for people to drink is clearly a huge world problem and is no different for you. We visited a church that is home to many HIV positive, mentally disabled, and physically disabled. These people are the
Read more

Parting the Sea Walking on Dry Land Kind of Prayers

Most of you who follow our story have seen that I have slowly been sharing about the trip. I have told many of you that it was the best and worst trip of my entire life. It truly was an emotional rollercoaster. Many of you have been private messaging us, calling us, and texting us and asking us, "What is next? How do we pray? When are you going back? What is the timeline?" First of all, I have to stop and say once again we are so blessed to have such faithful, loving, and supportive friends and family. Seriously, you have no idea what you all have meant to us and how you have truly impacted our lives and this process. I know many of you have been so sensitive and cautious of how to approach us and love us, and we want you to know that everything you have done has not been overlooked, and we are sorry if we haven't truly expressed our gratitude in ways that confirm our love and appreciation to you. I am a woman, so I am guilty of spider webbing (going off on another
Read more

The "Lucky" Misconception

The other day a friend said something that struck me, and I thought it would be an interesting and maybe challenging topic to write about. One of our friends had asked us how old Zane was and after we told him, he said that's good. Maybe he will remember his life before you guys and be way more appreciative. I understood where he was coming from, and I know he wasn't trying to be offensive, but it just pained me when I heard this. I know people don't mean anything negative by it, but I think there is a misunderstanding about adoption. Often I hear Zane is so lucky. Zane will be so grateful.  I want to set the record straight. We hope to raise Zane in a way where he will see the goodness and blessings that our family has received. He will be involved in community projects and world projects at a young age. Ethiopia will be a common subject, and we hope to find ways to give back to his village and his country. But please understand this. We (Jeffrey and I) are
Read more