Where we're at, take two ...

today's BIG news:

we got our I800A approval!!!

(just as a little reminder what this is about, I found this info:  "The I-800A allows the USCIS to make a preliminary determination of the prospective parents' fitness to bring an orphan into the United States. The USCIS looks at the application, the attached homestudy report, and the other requested documents in making the determination.")  So, in simple terms, this is the US government saying we meet the criteria and have approval to adopt a child from a Hague country!

and ...

how about some fundraiser updates!

TEE SHIRT CAMPAIGN

we launched our first tee shirt campaign in the wee hours of the morning!

a little about that ...

Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, a feeling of trust.  Having hope has bee a huge part of this journey for me.  My hope began the moment I saw her precious face!

Saying yes to this girl was easy, knowing we are meant to be hers ... but also scary, not knowing where the needed finances would come from.  It was without a doubt the biggest leap of faith we've ever taken!

There are so many things in life that require that stepping out, taking that leap - holding on to the hope that it will all work out!  This is what inspired our tee design!

Please click here to check it out!

We must meet a minimum for these to print, plus the more we sell the more we make - so please also feel free to share!

Our Puzzle Fundraiser

last week we lowered the price to sponsor a puzzle piece,

this week was our second largest yet - with sixteen new pieces sponsored!

We now have 95 puzzle pieces sponsored - and 157 left!!!

I am so enjoying seeing the puzzle come together!

I can't wait for it to be complete so I can frame it and hang it on our wall!

would you like to sponsor a piece of our puzzle?

it's $10 a piece, simple click here to donate and we will add your name to a piece!

this puzzle is going to be such a treasure for us to have and for Ruby to see so 

many names of amazing people who helped to bring her home!

Nana's Yardsale

can we talk about the many amazing people who have come along side us on this journey, so eager to help in whatever ways they possibly can.

the outpouring of love & support is stunning, it takes my breath away.

when we said yes, we did so knowing we needed an army behind us ... 

but also knowing that having any expectations could be crushing.

again, a leap of faith!

we have been surprised to see so much support coming from strangers and people we only know through social media, such a testament to the power of community ... but we also have some friends and family that have gone above and beyond anything we could have dreamed!

this weekend my mom, aka: Nana, had a big yardsale fundraiser.

to the many people who pitched in - donating items, helping set up, helping during the sale, helping clean up, praying for success ... thank you!

our fundraising efforts will continue until we hit our fully funded goal.

I excitedly anticipate that day, not just because of the huge impact for us - to be at the top of this gigantic financial mountain ... but also because once we've met our goal and no longer need to put every extra penny towards our own adoption, we can pay it forward - I can't wait!!!

and ...

we've been offered another matching grant!!!

what's a matching grant?
it's when someone offers to match a certain dollar amount of donations!
for instance, if someone offers a $100 dollar matching grant:
that means that you now need to hustle to get $100 in new donations (often there's a time limit in which to meet this), and then they will match that - adding another $100 donation!
sometimes the numbers are confusing, it's just because we calculate the fees (so, for instance, $100 in donations would be a raise of $97 in our FSP)

our Reece's Rainbow FSP currently reads $2,828.74 ...

we were offered a $500 matching grant!!!

our FSP needs to read $3,313.74 by May 13

*EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS & MAKE A DIFFERENCE*

if you feel led to help us meet this matching grant, please click here:

Angel for the Job Family

prayers & shares are always welcome!!!

AND ...

how about we end this post with an updated fund-o-meter!!!

I couldn't believe it when I worked all the figures and saw we were at a little over $26,000 ...
so I'm sending in $1000 to bump it to over $27,000!!!

not quite $8,000 to go and we are there - at the top of the mountain, fully funded!

 keep up the prayers & shares, friends!
we can feel your love & support!
THANK YOU!!!