Thankful, hopeful, joyful

Today is the day.  My single favorite day of the year.  

Pies are baked.

 Rolls are rising.

Potatoes are boiling.

Thanksgiving music is playing.

Family is gathering.

My heart is full.

  I wanted to just take a moment to thank all of YOU!

Thank you for supporting and helping.

Thank you for loving and encouraging.

Thank you for caring and praying.

I am so thankful for God's faithfulness.  I am hopeful for the future.   

 I am joyfully anticipating what the next few weeks will bring. 

More pretties...

My amazing friend Sarah is still at it (original post here).  She has designed two lovely pieces.  If you donate to my family sponsorship page, go tell her about it and then get one of these lovely hand-stamped necklaces.  Here are the links to each of the pieces:

http://shepherdsgrace.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/his-joy-is-my-strength/

http://shepherdsgrace.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/i-praise-you-in-the-storm/

Links to my FSP for "Rosa" aka Baby Girl are on each of those pages, but hurry, this fundraiser is only going through the end of October, which is nearly here!

BONUS!  Sarah participated in Adeye Salem's linky: http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2012/10/online-fundraisers-happening-now.html (#29) so if you donate you can enter her giveaway for three $100 gift cards!  Please consider checking out the other fundraisers for the other families.  You can Christmas shop and help adoptive families at the same time!

Thanks so much, my friends!  We are getting closer by the day!  All money brought in now is going for travel expenses...Little Pud and I are ready to hop that plane to bring Baby Girl home!

Down syndrome awareness month

October is Down syndrome awareness month.  Obviously people with Down syndrome (two in particular) are near and dear to my heart.  Baby Girl and Super-T have that extra chromosome that makes them uniquely special.  Fortunately, their birth country has the resources and compassion to provide excellent medical and educational care for individuals with Down syndrome.  In many countries children with Down syndrome are placed in mental institutions, not provided with adequate medical care or nutrition, and sometimes outright abused. 

Over at Zero the Zeros there is a post that grabbed my attention.  It is called "Brokenhearted."  Go check it out for yourself.  This is unimaginable, but it is real.

Meanwhile today on Facebook this lovely article from 2008 has been circulating:  http://cnsnews.com/news/article/football-legend-would-pick-his-down-syndrome-son-over-normal-child

What is the difference between Gene Stallings' son Johnny and the children whose pictures are in Brokenhearted?  Think about it.  I think one major difference is the love of a parent.  Even Super-T, who had great care and people who loved him, blossomed once he was in his own family.  When I saw the changes in him I was astonished.  To think that a child who had good medical care and love and a good school and opportunities to go on outings and consistent care and travel and birthday parties and Christmas presents and love (almost all of which are completely unknown to most orphans with Down syndrome around the world), to think that Super-T blossomed and thrived after joining his very own forever family, imagine, just imagine, what it would do for these little malnourished unloved children.  Come to think of it, you don't have to imagine.  You can see for yourself.  Here is Katie's adoption story.  http://theblessingofverity.com/2012/10/the-story-of-katies-adoption/  Katie was 9 1/2 years old and weighed 10 pounds 9 ounces when her mother brought her home last November.  See what eleven months with a family who loves her has done for this precious little one.

If you are interested in helping orphans, Katie's mom has a post on what you can do to help.
Or you can support one of the many families or children on Reece's Rainbow, a wonderful ministry that advocates for orphans with Down syndrome and other special needs.  Also Buddy Walks for Down syndrome awareness are happening all over the country this month.  Join one and see what fun we have!

My own precious waiting sweetheart with an extra chromosome is walking and loves books according to a family who visited her this week.  Although her country won't let me show her face, I can show you her plump little arms and adorable shoes.  I can hardly wait to see how she will blossom even more when she is finally home with a sister and brothers and mommy of her own.

Article 5!

I received an email this morning that the U.S. Consulate in Baby Girl's country issued the Article 5.  Now our file goes through their high court system to be issued a High Court Order and then we TRAVEL!

Mommy's coming Baby Girl!

The email said that they anticipate the HCO to be issued either the last week of November or early December (it typically takes 8-10 weeks).  They said that hopefully Baby Girl will be home by Christmas!  I am so excited!  I am especially jumping out of my skin because the director of the program and an adoptive family that I am friends with are going to be visiting with Baby Girl on MONDAY!!!  Yippee!!!




P.S. Don't forget about my friend Sarah's offer that I wrote about here.

Amazing friends

I cannot explain what amazing friends I have.  Inspiring, thoughtful, encouraging, generous.

I have friends who planned and ran an enormous garage sale for Baby Girl's adoption.

I have a friend who had me speak at her church and then they presented me with two VERY generous checks, totally unexpectedly.

I have several friends (and family members who are also friends) from all over the country who wrote me checks out of the blue.

I have a friend who shared my situation with her friend who then sold hand-made jewelry to raise money for this adoption.

I have friends (and total strangers) who have donated to my Reece's Rainbow Family Sponsorship Page.

I have friends who have given a crib, baby carriers, clothes, and toys.

I have friends who pray for me, encourage me, inspire me, listen to me.

I have been humbled and awed with the love shown to me by these friends.

I haven't asked for money or help in this adoption journey.  I knew I did not have the money in my savings account (it was emptied with my first big agency fee) but I also didn't feel like I was to "raise" the money.  I just felt confident that it would come to me and it has.  I have been amazed, yet not amazed, because I knew this is what my Father God would do.  He set me on this journey of adoption and He is the one providing for it. 

Now, on this last leg of my adoption journey, this third trimester of my paper pregnancy, my friend Sarah is at it again.  She asked if she could help me out with with this last bit, the travel expenses.

Sarah makes beautiful hand-stamped jewelry (and takes great pictures, too.) 

She formerly sold her hand-stamped jewelry in an Etsy shop, but now almost the only way to get a piece is in one of her rare fundraisers for others, like this one.  Sarah is going to custom make a bracelet or pendant for anyone who donates to my Family Sponsorship Page. All of the details are on her blog: http://shepherdsgrace.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/daughters/

If you have been wanting to help out, this is a great opportunity.  If you need a unique Christmas gift, here is your chance.  But whether or not you give, I want to go on record telling the world that my loving Father God has provided for Baby Girl's adoption as only He can.  He provided!  I am so thankful to the friends, family, and strangers who have listened to His promptings and have given at exactly the right times.  And whether or not you are interested in giving I would encourage you to read Sarah's lovely post about daughters, or any of the posts on her blog...my friend has a way with words in addition to her jewelry-making, picture-taking talents.