Holding Ourselves Accountable

Between the puzzle sales, Origami Owl sales and a few donations we brought in $1,445 from GG's Gotcha Shower!

Here's a break down of the money we've raised so far and where it's been used so that all of you beautiful, loving, wonderful people know exactly where and how much you're helping us!

We have raised $3,485 at this point - once we add the money from GG's shower. Out of that $3,485 we used $1,942.70.

•  We used $192.70 to buy safety items for the house - outlet plugs, cabinet locks, ext - as well as other items we needed to get us ready for the home study!  
• Our first home study visit was paid. Rather than cause ourselves any debt to pay it we used $1,000 of our raised funds.
• We have officially finished our post home-studies, $250 each - three in which came to a total of $750.

The adoption cost was $40,500 +cost of the home-studies $1,750 in total (all 4 visits) = $42,250

We've paid $6,250  (this is including the 4 home-study visits) leaving a remaining $36,000

Once we place the $1,445 down from GG's party our remaining amount will be $34,555.

 

Prayers Please

This means we've got some serious fundraising to do!!!!!

0 for 3 & Baby V

Technically 0 for 4. For those that let us know about Baby V, again thank you. We haven't heard anything at this point which means that we are not “in the running” for next phase however we did fill out the pre-application Monday. Looks like they found a more suitable family for her.

Yesterday we got a call. A baby girl was being born today. Did we want to be presented to the birth mother? Of course! I rushed to get everything our lawyer needed from us. Then we waited... and waited... at noon (today) I still hadn't gotten a call. I sent a text to our lawyer and not long after she gave me a call. The birth mother decided to keep the baby. Today we are grieving for what could have been. I cried until I couldn't cry any more. I'm heartbroken, Chris is as well, but at the same time we are happy that this precious little girl will get to stay with her birth mother. Without God I would give up, but He is giving me strength and the wisdom to know that eventually this will all be worth it. When we are holding our child, the child God has for us, we will look back and know that all this pain is all worth it. This has become another part of our story and one day our child will know this story and will see that we loved him/her enough to NOT give up; to keep going – keep moving forward on this road. This journey is by far the hardest I've ever encounter, but I know that there's a light somewhere at the end of this tunnel.

Risk Takers.

risk

noun: risk; plural noun: risks

1.

a situation involving exposure to danger.

"flouting the law was too much of a risk"

verb: risk; 3rd person present: risks; past tense: risked; past participle: risked; gerund or present participle: risking

1.      expose (someone or something valued) to danger, harm, or loss.

      
         "he risked his life to save his dog"

There are risks associated with everything we do here in this life, on this earth. Sometimes what we know to be possible we hide from our minds and then it's as if it "surprises" us when we're made to face them. Other times we know, but we run from the truth until we can't run any longer. We risk when we hope. We risk when we love. We even face a risk in the waiting.

Our possible birth mother, as of last week, was still undecided on a family, however due to circumstances we are unaware of she has had a miscarriage. I feel very sad for her, not for us - as I felt from the very beginning that God was safe guarding my heart this time around (not hardening it, He just gave me a certain feeling that this baby wasn't meant to be ours). Please, if you read this send a prayer up for M & J. I cannot imagine what they must be going through right now. I'm sure there are some that would argue, "But they were putting the baby up for adoption... and so on..." True, they were, but here's my BUT for you, through adoption they could have still been a part of this beautiful child's life; they could have still been able to see their child, talk with their child, hug their child. Now their precious baby is in God's arms and they are suffering the loss of never knowing him/her. 

As for us, we will continue pushing forward. God has a very special child (or children if twins become an option) out there for us. 

I'll end this with the last three wreaths I've made and sold. Please get with us if you would like one!

Silent Auction: First Item is listed!

Bidding can be done on the new 2000 for ONE facebook!

Origami Owl PARTY

I just realized that I haven't blogged about the Origami Owl Jewelry Bar I'll be hosting this weekend! It's just another something I'm doing to try to raise those funds! I know not everyone can attend, some of you live halfway around the world, but there is an online party set up for us. 20% of all proceeds will go towards our adoption AND you get something stunning as well!


Here's the info : go to www.abbiehattaway.origamiowl.com and before ordering please be sure to enter the party code "DionaWilliams196769" if you don't put this code in we will not get the credit! Online orders must be submitted by Feb 22nd.

I hope everyone has a wonderfully blessed day! I'm on my way out the door to ride the bike and walk Frankie.

Every good thing.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day and weekend! We stayed in this year and celebrated what will hopefully be our last Valentine's Day without a child. I made a dinner of Chris' favorite foods and we ate by candle light for most of the meal - it eventually got too dark for no lights!I even got all dressed up AND found a zebra for Chris. haha.

Saturday we took the munchkins hiking at a preserve not too far from where we live. What started out as a hike turned into a swim about 3 miles in. Frankie loved it, the little ones got carried and we got soaked.

We got home to a wonderful surprise. A package from my one set of my paternal grandparents. Baby "G" got his/her first gift in the mail. A beautiful afghan made by his/her great-grandmother!! It goes perfectly with the nursery. I also put up some cards we've gotten over the last few weeks concerning baby "G". I painted a backboard and frame and made baby "G" his/her very own card DIY cork board lol.

Yesterday after church and lunch with Chris' mom and dad we went on our weekly bike ride. All-in-all we had a very wonderful-love-filled weekend!

Now - onto the adoption front. Our book was given to another birth/first mommie and daddy Friday. It's the waiting game again, but we're just grateful to be here!

I wanted to give a break down of the money we've raised so far and where it's been used so that all of you beautiful loving people will know exactly where and how much you're helping us! First of all, you may have noticed that the ending amount over to the right has changed some. This is because every situation is different and if the current birth/first mommie chooses us we will need to pay more than the last quoted amount. Why? This birth/first mommie will be working one on one with a therapist that will help her get through this process - which we believe is awesome.

We have raised $2,040 at this point, however we're still waiting on our Chrome Buffalo money, so it's actually $1,974. Out of that $2,040 we have used $1,192.70.

•  We used $192.70 to buy safety items for the house - outlet plugs, cabinet locks, ext - as well as other items we needed to get us ready for the home study!  
• Our home study fee had to be paid a few weeks ago. Rather than cause ourselves any debt to pay it we used $1,000 of our raised funds. *The remaining $500 won't be due until post placement.

Our goal is to try and get through this adoption without any debt. We know that raising a child is expensive and we're trying to do the best that we can to not start our journey off with such a huge debt from the get go. You gals & guys are AMAZING for all that you've done to help us so far. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!