Been awhile....updates and happenings....and LOA!

Finally catching up on things!  We've been so busy with softball, baseball, and basketball games we've been gone almost every night!  Summertime is definitely NOT our "downtime"!

The biggest news is that on June 21, we got our LOA!  This is the second and final approval from China to adopt Jaxon.  This means they have looked through our huge file and our homestudy and decided we can be Jaxon's family FOR SURE!  Now we just wait for another immigration step which leads to TA, or Travel Approval (yes, another approval).  At that point, we can book flights.  And this is where we need some prayer; we could be looking at $2,000 or over for flights because it's summer!  That was NOT figured in our "adoption budget".  So please pray that a) either a miracle occurs and we can find them for under $1500 apiece or b) that our last grant we applied for says yes!

Another piece of news is that we did hear back from one grant we applied to and received a small grant for $100.  And we received $140 from a garage sale Seth's family held for us and Zane's family in KC.  Praise God for the little blessings and thank you, Stacey and Michelle for holding that!

We are trying to organize another garage sale (I know, I'm a glutton for punishment) at a friend's home in Warrensburg.  Was hoping to have it this weekend but James has another baseball game and I hate to miss his games; already missed too many this summer, so we might have it the weekend after July 4th instead.  Not to mention we have 3 softball games this week (Jazmin's team is THE LAST undefeated Leeton team; woohoo!) and  a social worker call (to do with the adoption), and I've caught the "summer cold".  Next week nothing is going on before playoffs, so I'll have all my evenings free to set up the sale.

Another area we need a little prayer for some decisions....Jr's car is giving us fits (it's old), so a friend has a Chevy Tracker for $1,000 (150,000 miles).  We're thinking we could get $500 to $1000 for Jr's Jeep on Ebay or something and we need something with better gas mileage.  Not the best timing, but does anything happen EXACTLY when you want it to? 

We had our Chinese school picnic Saturday night and it was so great to reconnect with the group.  With Jaxon being here in August, we plan to make a concentrated effort to go to the monthly get-togethers again when they begin again in September.

And last but not least, Happy Birthday to me today!  Won't mention how many years, but it's been quite a ride!

Winner of the Kindle Fire is........

ANNE VERHULST!!   She is the lady adopting SongSong, the 2nd of the 3 Amigos!  Congratulations to you, Anne!
We had 14 entrants and the proceeds will pay for one of our visa fees, so thank you to all who entered and donated; you are so very much appreciated!

Kindle Fire Fundraiser Ends Friday Noon!

I am posting a last-minute pitch for our Kindle fundraiser.  To say it has not done well is putting it mildly!  Think about those summer birthdays and you don't know what to get?  Try to win a Kindle; just $10 for one try, $25 for 3!  Not only might you win (the odds are really good right now!), but you will be part of bringing a young man home to his forever family!  Your support is greatly appreciated!
(Disclaimer: if not enough funds are generated to purchase the Kindle, the winner will receive half the proceeds collected)

Reasons to be Happy!

Reason #1: off work for the week (until Wednesday)!
Reason #2: Dance recital Friday and Saturday was awesome!  Girls were beautiful; videos to come in the very near future! Time for the summer break.....and softball, baseball, and basketball
Reason #3: church picnic today; lots of fun, food, and fellowship, and a chance to share about the blessings of adoption!
Reason #4:  I'm about to have a 15-year old on June 10; our son, James!  He will be on his way to a basketball camp in Indiana on his bday!
Reason #5: We have a LID of 5/30/12!!!  DTC of 5/20/12 and LID 10 days later; thank you to WACAP and my awesome caseworker!!