Wednesday, December 22, 2010

It's OVER.....

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I CANNOT believe it, but it is sadly true... I keep a steady watch on N over at RR. See if any donations have come in, just look at his cute face, etc. Well, yesterday, I went to do my every-other-day viewing and COULD NOT FIND HIM! I was a tad distraught to say the least! I posted on the chat board to see if anyone had an idea. No response. I emailed the director today, and her reply FLOORED ME.... "N does NOT have DS and thus is not available for international adoption." She continued to say that she hoped she could help me with a another child. Huh??? Aren't these things discovered BEFORE a child is listed? And, knowing that I was working towards committing to him, wouldn't it have been nice to let me know?

I have worked my tail off to come up with the $$ that I need for the Homestudy and committment. I was just about a week away from meeting my goal and now this??? Really??? I really thought that mistakes this big were not made. I am just heartbroken as myself, my family and my friends have fallen in love with this little boy and his gorgeous face.

Heartbroken....

I don't know WHAT or WHERE we will go from here. I am making no decisions in this condition... Will just try and enjoy the holiday with my children and move on. Then, when I have a bit of clarity, I will see WHAT I think is best for us.... :(

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

A Hole in My Hug......

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I LOVE Christmas. Don't get me wrong. It has ALWAYS been my favorite time of the year. However, since my Mom died, it has been a rough time for me. This time of year is the strongest reminder of just WHAT I am missing. Mom. She too enjoyed this holiday the most and to go through it without her is hard. When I see my kids have a happy moment, I often stop and think how happy Mom would have been to see them with that much joy... It is often bittersweet for me. And, you know what? That is OK.

That said, this year is different. That empty feeling is deeper. Much worse. I think that it has a lot to do with the fact that I am longing for N. My heart is worried about my sweet boy. As much as I have tried to put him in the back of my mind, I worry. I know that it will all work in God's time, but IT IS SO HARD. I think about him all alone. No one to cuddle him on Christmas Day. :( So, my heart is much sadder this year as I miss my Mom and long to hold my son who is so far away in a cold orphanage just waiting for his forever family to come and rescue him from the life that he does not deserve.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Christmas Wish....

As Christmas approaches, I have just one wish this year...

I hope and pray that NEXT Christmas finds my family loving and cuddling our newest member.

PLEASE let this be our sweet sweet boy's last Christmas spent in an orphanage alone with no presents and no one to hold and love him...

Not impossible, is it??

Saturday, November 27, 2010

We Did It!

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The Garage Sale was a HUGE success! We brought in over $300. Thank you sooooo much T. I so appreciate your hardwork, garage, time, and donated items! All of the support that we are getting from all around us is what is bringing N closer and closer to home!

A few more steps....

Monday, November 22, 2010

~GARAGE SALE~

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The big Garage Sale is Saturday... :) We are really hoping that a lot of folks will be out starting up their Holiday shopping....

Hoping that the remainder of the $2000 will come in with that and I will be able to call the Homestudy lady on Monday to set-up our first appointment...

PLEASE pray. We are VERY close now!!!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Makes You Think....

I saw this on a blog today....

"It has nothing to do with personality, it has nothing to do with spiritual gifts, it has nothing to do with economic status, it has nothing to do with your season in life. "It has to do with accepting the responsibility that God will one day hold us accountable."

"Everyone doesn’t need to adopt, but everyone absolutely must be involved in caring for the orphan, the oppressed. There are so many ways to do this."

Wow... How very true...

Monday, November 15, 2010

Letting Him take the wheel...

Things are progressing nicely. I think that the hardest thing for me to learn to do through this is step back and let things progress the way they should....

I have said my prayers. I have acknowledged that I have put all of it in His hands. Yet, I was not TRULY doing that. :( I was lying awake worrying. Taking it all on. Trying to be the one in control.

Over the past 2 weeks, the sense of calm that I have felt has been amazing. Why? Because I have decided that It is OUT of my control. This story will play out the way it is SUPPOSED to no matter what I try to do and the sooner that I acknowledge that, the better off ALL of us will be.

Thank you God for that swift kick in the behind to wake me to what is REAL. I needed it. Things will go JUST AS THEY are supposed to. YOU know that.... Now, I do too.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Overwhelmed....

A certain church family just blew me away with their generosity....

Seriously...I am in tears.

Thank you guys....

One HUGE step closer...

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Saturday, November 6, 2010

To answer a few questions....

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Our Homestudy is still only $2000, the $6000 that we need RIGHT NOW is including the $3900 that the agency needs for their work so they can start with our dossier and paperwork and the $250 that we need to formally commit through RR....

Due to student loans, home loan, and car loan, I cannot just "put it all on credit cards."

I would never classify my friends in "who helped" v "who did not help" categories...Besides, help means many many things to me. $$ is only 1 form of help. Prayers, hugs, phone calls, emails, notes, text messages, kind words etc. all fall in to the "help" category in my eyes. So, this means pretty much ALL of my friends "help" me. :)

The Lord sends people into our lives to "help" us exactly when we need it. The kind of "help" that person provides depends on our needs and situation. God knows and He provides. I have always believed that....

Just thought that needed to be cleared up....

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Bottom Line.....

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So, the bottom line is this....

We only have about $1000 (after trying EVERYTHING that we can think of) of the $6000 in fees that we need for all of the things that are due RIGHT NOW...

ANY IDEAS on WHERE we can get the $5000 we NEED??? I will have it the first week of Feb when my tax return $$ comes in, but I need it NOW!!!! Any ideas on WHO could lend it to us for 3 months??? None of the loan programs will let me apply until I complete my Homestudy which is what I am trying to do....

PLEASE, ANY help or input is GREATLY appreciated. We just want to get things rolling.....

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Not too much to update right now....

Things are just busy...

Selling lollipops like crazy...

Trying to sell everything we can think of on eBay...

Really really sad and depressed that things are moving so slowly...

Baby steps sure are hard...:(

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Just a reminder and a THANK YOU! :)

To those who have already bought from the Scentsy fundraiser, THANK YOU!

Just a reminder to everyone else that orders will be credited to us through Saturday night. So, if you are still thinking of ordering, you have till then to do it and still give us the benefit of getting 20%!!!

Thanks for all of the love and support!:)

One more step....

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sad day....

Reece's Rainbow told me today that they have to "regrettably" move N back to the available children page...:(

I did not get the commitment $$ in on time... I completely understand, but it hurts... I hope to have the commitment $$ in a few weeks when I have my homestudy $$, but it is still hard to hear....

Still moving on and putting it all in God's hands...

Friday, October 22, 2010

As the days pass.....

My love for N just grows....

I find myself thinking of him ALL the time. Last night, I even had a dream about him. My children were all playing in the living room, and N was there with Brennyn and Baylee smiling and playing... :)

Even the kids are starting to get acclimated and used to the idea. When we picked up McDonalds the other day, Ty even said: "Mom, soon we will have to make sure that we have 7 drinks when we get food..." Moments like that warm my heart.

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Thursday, October 21, 2010

So....

The Scentsy fundraiser is underway, I had a good sell on ebay and I thought things were going well....

Then, EAC calls and asks when I will be sending in my $3900? Huh? So so so so frustrating!!!! I just CANNOT get ahead... :(

PLEASE, if you have ANY good fundraising ideas that we have NOT thought of, pass them along... We are in desperate need of funds and things are just NOT coming in like we hoped they would. Just not getting the support that we expected. Kind of disappointing, but we know that people are struggling too...

We do have a Garage Sale coming up...Trying to pull a Spaghetti Dinner of sorts together...

I know times are tough, but we are willing to do the leg work...Just don't know what else to do...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Have You Noticed???

On my side bar, there is a fundraiser... :)
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My very good friend J is having a Scentsy fundraiser for us. Scentsy is an awesome product! I have had it in my home for over a year now and would never go back to traditional candles... So, now is the perfect time to stock up on those teacher, family, and friend gifts that you need. And, you will be helping us out at the same time. How sweet is that?

From today till October 31st, 20% of all sales will go towards our adoption expenses! J has such a big heart! Thank you to everyone for their participation...

Monday, October 18, 2010

"Mom, if everyone gave just a little..."

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Out of the mouth of my son. My Tylor. My second born of the triplets. How he makes me proud. I am often in awe of how big his heart is.

Last night, I was taking pictures of family heirlooms to sell on ebay. I was telling him stories of the items like where I remember them being in the orginal owner's house, how I think that person would feel about us selling them, and how I felt about HAVING to sell them to get $$. He always listens, always seems to be interested. Such a beautiful soul.

He stopped, thought real hard for a momentPhotobucket and said: "Mom, if everyone that has read our blog would save just $1 every day for 10 days and send it in, we could have at least $1000 by now, couldn't we?" "Yes." I said to him. "At least 100 people have been by here." He then asked: "Why then, have only 3 people helped us out? Do they not care about N?" "Oh, I think that they do. I just do not think that they put it in the same perspective that you do." "Gosh Mom, $1 is only 1 soda." "You are right Ty, you are right."

How can I argue with that?? Now, if everyone would just follow Tylor's advice and set aside just $1 a day for 10 days towards our Homestudy to adopt N, we would be forever grateful! We are so anxious to get things rolling...Can you sacrifice 1 soda or cup of coffee for the sake of an orphan? The challenge is yours for the taking....

Saturday, October 16, 2010

One more small fundraiser....

Well, while scrapping, I mentioned that I had re-borned a few dolls last year and the year before. The gals wanted to see them. So, last night, I happily obliged and brought them in. Well, I sold one! Not for what I probably should have, but enough to cover the cost of the products and that is fine with me! Every bit is going to the Homestudy and so this will help! If I coud just find a home for the other 8 cuties that I have....

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"Jethro" as his new owner has named him, will be adopted from our home on November the 12th. He is one of my favorites, and I will miss him! However, I know that Miss P will love him dearly... :)


Inch by inch....

Thursday, October 14, 2010

This scripture is so meanigful to me tonight.....

(Mark 11:23-24) 23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

So Hard.....

I look at his picture EVERY day....

I pray for him EVERY night...

I know what needs to be done, but just do NOT have the funds to do it....

Waiting is SO HARD...

In God's time, I know...

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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Extreme Home Makeover (Pelzer Edition) Part 1....

It seemed fairly straightforward. Really. It was just a straight lift. Ran the course of a straight staircase. Just remove the screws, track, seat and voila!

Right?? Wrong!!!

Oh my word! Tylor, Taylar and myself are covered in bumps and bruises because of our battle with that thing! What I thought would be a simple removal process turned into a 2-day, 6 hour WAR!

I was NOT going to be defeated. It HAD to go. It no longer worked. Tobey no longer used to it on the rare occasion that he DID go upstairs. It HAD to be removed. We would NOT pass any safety inspection or Homestudy with that on our staircase. I am single mom superstar. Surely I can remove a stairlift.... Insert idiot picture here.

Note to all who are out there: If you do not have a degree or license in installing and removing adaptive equipment, you should NOT attempt to do such things on your own. And, it is more important to note, that you should never bring your 14 year-olds, who know even less about such devices, in to assist you!

We fought, jumped on, and beat it with a hammer... You name it and we tried it. My poor floor bore the brunt of the seat and has the wounds to show it. Just when I was going to give in and just find a big strong man at church to help, I stopped, cried like a baby, prayed really hard, and gave it one more try. A few knocks on the head and scratches to the bannister and it was out! We did it!

Now, is it really gone?? That my friends I do not know... I will not know if the trashmen had mercy upon me and took it till I get home from work tonight... If they didn't, I think it will just stay outside and become a new lawn decoration. Perhaps we could plant flowers around it???

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Feeling a bit more refreshed....

Spoke with a few friends and I do feel a bit more refreshed....

Hopefully, the ebay sales will workout and that will bring in some $$...

One good friend is arranging a Garage Sale....

Another is talking about setting up a benefit dinner...

Just REALLY want to get this Homestudy started...:)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Trying.....

I am trying so very hard... Not real sure what more I can do... I am contacting EVERY person that I know... I have some things up for sale on ebay...I ordered 2 more cases of lollipops... But, still nothing??? The agency and RR are ready for us to complete our Homestudy, but we can't without the funds...

I keep praying and just hope that God will open someone's heart to helping us out....If everyone gave just a little, we could get what we needed....

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Thursday, October 7, 2010

More news tonight.......

We are REALLY climbing that mountain.......

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Our application with EAC was approved!!! :) One more step up! :)
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500 lollipops sold in just 4 days!!! Pretty exciting, and it covers our adoption application fees.. So, the Lord IS indeed providing. Now, I just need to sell about 59,500 more to cover the rest of our expenses!!! :0

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

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OK friends. Now it's time to get serious! We NEED to make those thermometers move. It is time for us to get our Homestudy done, but we lack the funds right now to do so.... PLEASE help! If you have friends, businesses, acquaintenances that you might know who would be willing to help our little cowboy find his way home to his forever family, PLEASE ask them to assist us...

I do believe we can do this. TOGETHER, ANYTHING CAN BE DONE!!!!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Well, the anticipated email came this evening while I was on the treadmill at the Y, and I have to say that we are all.....

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The news was GREAT!!! "Send in your application. Everything looks good." God IS good!!!!! Hurdle #1 of MANY jumped!
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Still NOTHING from Russia.... Hoping and praying that no news is good news.... Ugh...

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Waiting.....

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I do not do it well....

Right now I am at the mercy of the Russians. They have to determine if, based on all of my info, they will extend a referral to me. PLEASE pray that they can see the good that I would do for this sweet boy and the wonderful home that my family could provide... I was told that we should hear something by the end of the week.

SOOOOOOO nervous!!!!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Yippee!!!!

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The thermometers are no longer at $0. That is so exciting! It might not be much right now, but it is a start. And, hey! Once the ball gets rolling, it will hopefully pick up speed and get us where we need to be!!!

Thank you B for being the FIRST to support us! We love you!!!!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Starting the Fundraising with Something Sweet....

I just ordered the first fundraiser items....

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They are lollipops. I am hoping that they will turn out to be very lucrative. I pay just $.25 per pop and then sell them for $.50. Seeing that I work at a school, I hope to sell LOTS!

If you think that you might be able to peddle some for "Team Cowboy," let me know!!!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Why???

Since my mother’s death, I have struggled. Struggled to figure out just what my purpose was in this world. I felt very lost. I did not think that I had a plan. No path that was laid out in front of me. What was I supposed to do with the rest of my life. This question would often haunt me at night.

The one thing that I have had the greatest pride in over the years has been my role as mother. Being a Mom is the one area in which I feel the most comfortable. My children are by far my greatest accomplishment and joy. I find no bigger thrill than that in watching my children grow up and thrive. My special needs children (Tobey and Taylar) have taught me that the greatest joy that we can see/feel is that in watching our kids surpass what is predicted by doctors, therapists and “experts.” The special needs community is near and dear to my heart as I have found many friends and “family” in the 14 years that I have been part of it.

I believe that all of this has led me up to what is the next stage in my life….You see, I have followed their website for months http://www.reecesrainbow.org/ I have watched many families journeys. I have read the blogs. I have looked at the faces of all of the children. I have sat back and watched. I have dreamt of all of the children who are waiting. Just waiting for someone to choose them. A “forever family” is what they need. Someone to take them in and open their hearts to the love and joy that they would bring to their new family. No specific child stuck out to me. I prayed every night. My heart ached for all of these children. I was not sure what I could do to help, but I knew one thing and that was that I could not do nothing. My heart would not let me!

Then, it happened…. I saw what I thought was the most beautiful face….

A sweet sweet little boy. His face just stuck in my head. I thought about him all the time. Just sitting in an orphanage. An orphanage in a place where kids are sent to an institution at age 5 if they are not placed in a permanent home. A child that would be loved unconditionally in my house. A child who would have a chance to thrive in my family. I just could not forget him...

Never in my life did I ever think that I would be a candidate for adoption. Single, a teacher, 5 kids. I would have thought that these things would have crossed me out. But, that is NOT the case. In fact, my family can indeed adopt N, but (and the BUT is huge) we must get up the funds to do so. This is where I must plead to EVERYONE that I know and EVERYONE that you know and so on to help out here. In order to bring N to Texas, I must raise $30,000. That is a HUGE amount of $$. However, I have seen many families do it. I do have faith, that if it is indeed God’s plan to add N to our family, he will guide us through this and help to make it happen.

If you have any fundraising ideas, PLEASE pass them along. If you know ANYONE who would be willing to help us out, PLEASE pass my info along.

Thank you for ALL of your help in getting N home.

Getting our Ducks in a Row....

OK... So, we are trying to pull things together....

Since all of this is so new, it is really hard. I need to figure our which agency I will use in Houston for my Homestudy (Thank you so much Rhonda for all of the helpful info!:))

I am also waiting to touch base with Renee from EAC which is the agency that has listed N with Reece's Rainbow. I have so many questions.... Really want to chat with her before I even start to get the homestudy set-up...

I have really been talking it out with my older kids and have been amazingly surprised with their reaction. I have shocked at how welcoming and "on board" they were. They too felt that our family has plenty of love to share and are willing to go the extra mile to help out. Teens just never cease to surprise me!

We also have $2000 to raise. The only thing that scares me throughout this entire process is the $$, but I will stand strong in my faith that God WILL provide...

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Just thinking....

Today, I have just been thinking...This is REALLY a HUGE step for me. I do NOT do the UNKNOWN, the NEW, the UNFAMILIAR. I never have. I like stable. I like to know what is going on. What will happen tomorrow. The next day and the next.

Strange thing is this... I find myself oddly excited. I am so very thrilled at the thought of what might be happening to myself and my family. To be able to provide a safe, warm, loving home to a child who was considered a "throw away" by someone else is just inspiring. And, what we will do for him will be nothing compared to what he will do for us!! The joy that he will bring into our home will be immeasurable... :)

So, there may be HUGE mountains between us right now, but I have faith that we can climb them and get to the other side where the rewards will be plenty for everyone!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Welcome..... :)

We are just now at the beginning stages of our scary but exciting journey....

I'll be honest, the thermometer on the right scares the heebeegeebees out of me. But, I do believe that God CAN move mountains. And, IF it IS God's plan for Nicholas to become part of our family, we WILL find a way to raise the funds needed to bring him home. Right now, we need to gather the $$ needed to have our homestudy done and be able to make a formal commitment to him.

Only God knows the way....
 
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