Email From UGA Atty!!!

Ok, guys. I’m about to jump out of my SKIN. I just received an email from our Attorney in UGA and it in is a request for our completed Home Study so, and I quote, “A REFERRAL IN YOUR AGE BRACKET CAN BE MADE.” Now, I realize I may be overreacting here, but to me this says, “Hey, we have some kids that need homes and we’d love to consider you, but we need yo paperwork.” Exciting, no? YES!

If that doesn’t light a fire under your butt, I DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL.

Only the problem is…..We haven’t completed our home study yet. Mainly because we just made our initial trip to Uganda and because it costs $2,500.00. And also because it is very time consuming. And oh, it’s $2,500.00. The breakdown is as follows:

Fingerprints (new FBI system) $150 Due now
Administration fees: $450 Due on first visit (likely within 1 week!)
Home Study Fee: $1400 Due on second visit (likely within 2 weeks!)
Post Placement Visits: $470 Due before the report can be finalized

We had our fingerprints done several months ago, but failed to send them off because the fingerprint machine was jacked up and there was almost a 90% chance they’d be rejected. Our home study agency emailed me today and advised the FBI had a new fingerprinting system where you make an appointment and have it submitted electronically and results are back in like 2 days. WHICH IS CRAZY, AND UNHEARD OF, IN THE ADOPTION WORLD. Most people wait MONTHS to get FBI results in.

Step 1: Put the FUN in FUNdraising. (Since, we don’t have $20k lying around). Please order some crosses, beads, and how much can I get for my other kidney?!
Step 2: Visit UGA. CHECK
Step 3: Complete Homestudy.
Step 4: Accept a referral for our child. OMG. I HAVE BUTTERFLIES.
Step 5: Bring them home and love on the forever (this is where it’s all gumdrops and apple trees)
Step 6: Complete the adoption in our home state…blah…blah..blah, let’s go back to Step 5

So. Marty will finish all the remaining cross orders this week and if you’ve prepaid (Jennifer, Amanda, Laurie, etc) I’ll have them to you by the weekend. We’re ready to make a fresh batch and only need to sell about 1,334 at $15 each to have this thing FUNDED! Also, I’ll be posting some paper bead necklaces purchased in UGA. They are BEAUTIFUL and $15 each. Also, they make great gifts as well!!!

IF YOU HAVE EVER WANTED TO PURCHASE A CROSS OR DONATE TO OUR ADOPTION, NOW IS THE TIME!

We need to raise $2500 to have our home study completed STAT so we can officially receive the referral of OUR THIRD CHILD. (I really like saying that) After that, we need to raise the following:

$4,500 Legal Fees
$8,500 Airfare
$1,000 Immigration
$1,500 Lodging/meals/transportation in country
$2,000 Miscellaneous (Medical immunizations, certified documents, overnight FedEx services, etc)

Remember: THE CROSSES MAKE EXCELLENT GIFTS @ $15 ($21includes shipping) & THE BEADS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND ALSO MAKE EXCELLENT GIFTS FOR THE LADIES ($15 EACH) (I’ll post pics tonight)

And I’m not too proud to accept a good old fashioned donation. Or Skymiles. And prayer. Lots and LOTS of prayer.

It’s Fall (ish), Y'all...

We are quickly approaching my most favorite time of the year. The October-November-December months mark the 4th trimester of 2011 and I CAN. NOT. WAIT. October brings the Canton Flea Market, hunting season, football, the State Fair, Pumpkin Patches, Trick-or-Treating and, in my house, A CHRISTMAS TREE. November? It is equally awesome what with all the Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes, more football, more hunting, William Sonoma’s Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Mistletoe MarketPlace, Thanksgiving, Black Friday Sales and of course, my birthday. And then December basically speaks for itself. Hello, Christmas? New Year’s Eve? Day After Christmas Sale?

It’s like a trifecta of AWESOME.

And The Panic Sets In…..

Home Study expenses. Legal expenses. Airfare.

A third child.

I know the Lord provides, but I’d be lying if I said I was stressing out about how to bring him/her/them here.

The Lord has never failed us. He has never led us somewhere He didn’t intend us to be. He didn’t help us get out of debt in an unfathomable amount of time only for us to sink back in for this adoption. I know this, yet I cannot get my head wrapped around it. The human in me would feel much better if we had the money already sitting in a pretty little account, but I know that wouldn’t require us to act in faith. We know we are called to adopt. In HIS time, not ours. I need to work on being patient. And fundraising. But mostly on being patient. I keep reminding myself that we are acting in, what we believe, is His will. And For us? We feel called to adopt. Regardless. I’ll leave the details to Him.

Just Wait....

This time next year, we are going to have three children. God willing.

This time next year, I’ll be ordering another Pottery Barn Kids Christmas stocking. For our third child.

Three. Children.

Will it be our boy, Summit? Or will it be our girl, Whitley? OR BOTH.

Four? Children?

My breathing pattern just got a little erratic. And I may have just died for a minute.

I’m teetering on the border of Fantasy and Reality right now. In my mind, three kids is gonna be all rainbows and unicorns. Everyone gets along, no one whines and they all love broccoli. And sleeping in their own beds. In fact, in MY mind, teeth brushing is THE.GREATEST.THING.EVER, they put themselves to bed at 8pm sharp and CANNOT wait for school the next day.

But then I’m slapped backed into reality when the two kids we already have start whining, pinching and crying because kid A doesn’t want to watch Dora while Kid B thinks that Dora hung the moon and wants to run off and marry her when he’s old enough. Kid A thinks Dora is stupid and prefers Hannah Montana or Wizards of Waverly or something that Kid B doesn’t quite understand. Kid B pinches Kid A because Kid A has suddenly decided to ride the Dora 4 wheeler that may or may not even belong to Kid B, but he’s convinced it does so he pinches Kid A. Kid A tells, Kid B gets punished and Kid A gloats about it. Kia A gets sent to her room for gloating. This all happens before dinner so naturally no one is hungry anymore. Until bedtime. Then suddenly it’s like no one’s thirst can be quenched EVER. And I tell myself, that this? Is reality for now because just wait- next year, WE’LL HAVE THREE OF EM.

But then they apologize and hug me. They sing me songs. We snuggle together, read books, tuck them in and say their prayers. My heart is happy and then I remember that this? Is reality for now because just wait- next year, WE’LL HAVE THREE OF EM.

The Adoption Option

I’ve made no secret that we have tossed around the idea of “Adoption” for a little while now. That word alone evokes all kinds of emotions and my mind conjures up the picture of a Word Cloud. Do you remember those? Well, the one in my head says the following:


Adoption:

Expensive
Crazy
Impractical
Like, Crazy Expensive!
Time consuming
Busy
Fear
Home Study


But it also says:

Willingness
Love
Selfless
Command
James 1:27
I was adopted thru Christ
Big enough house
No valid reason not too


Since our visit to Uganda, MP and I both feel like adoption is meant for our family. And we are fortunate enough to be able to afford a third or even fourth mouth the feed, clothe, school, care for, marry off one day, etc. The problem is the Initial Expense. I don’t have $20k lying around. But what I do have is a crazy talented husband, amazing friends, & some creativity. Also, I’m resorting to soliciting. I have no shame.


I’ve listed the crosses on Etsy (btw, no orders have been forgotten we just couldn’t make them before our trip- MP is working on the remaining orders now). Please consider these crosses for Christmas Gifts, birthday gifts, Hey-Look-It’s-Tuesday! gifts, etc. I’ll also be working on a tee shirt to sell ($25) AND I’m working on a “Best Of” type Facebook Quote book. It’s just a little lighthearted funny book of Facebook posts ($15). Oh, and Ugandan paper beaded necklaces. We bought some in Uganda to sell for our adoption ($20 per necklace).


So far, we’ve been able to cut our expenses at home by the following:

1- A strict weekly budget. I don’t like this one. At all.

2- I cut out my beloved Keurig coffee because I drink a lot of coffee and its expensive- I’m back to the old coffee pot now but saving $40 month. This one cut me LIKE.A.KNIFE.

3- We don’t have a gym membership or home phone to cut, so our utilities are pretty standard. Except cable. We haven’t canceled that, but I’m seriously tempted. Except our kids might stage a revolt against us.

4- Brown bagging it. We’re trying to limit our eating out to Sunday lunch only. Even then it is usually someplace where one or both kids eat free.

5- Oh! We have a boat for sale! I’ll ask MP to do a guest post soon about that. He’s the boat guy.

6- Our cell phone plan is about as cheap as we can go, so that’s not really an option and we have to keep internet at home.

7- I’ve been trying to remember to adjust our thermostat before leaving the house to cut costs as well.

8- Christmas gifts are being bought on a weekly basis as our budget allows. Santa has been asked to limit the number of gifts he brings this year.

9- I’m a couponer.

If you have ANY suggestions as to how to raise the money OR any ideas on cutting our monthly expenses, please let me know!

Love.
~cp

The Uganda Diaries: Volumes 2-6: The Cliff’s Notes Version

It’s too difficult to try and blog daily events at this point. I’m not a journaler so all my days seem to be running together now. This was a truly incredible trip, one I pray ALL Americans could take at least once in their lives. You cannot leave unchanged. Unless you’re heartless. Or a robot. Or a zombie. I hope you’re not.

 During my trip, several things occurred:

1.      Friendships were formed without pretense. No one had “walls” up. No one felt like they didn’t belong. There was honesty and transparency and we even talked about poop, like Day 1. We were all there for the same purpose and worked together as any good team should. Lifelong friendships were made last week.

2.      Someone tried to give me her children. True story. A Muslim lady that lived across the street from the guest house where we were staying actually tried to give us her children. With tears in her eyes, she begged me and MP to take 4 of her 5 boys to America. For her she knew they'd have a better life and she loved them enough to give them up. Heartbreaking.

3.      Ugandans don’t tiptoe around issues. We saw signs as follows: “STOP Child Sacrifice”, “Parents: STOP Giving Your Children Alcohol. It is not good for Them.”, “Prevent Unwanted Pregnancy: Breastfeed”, “STOP Something for Something Love”, “These Cigarettes Will Kill You”. Seriously, there is no reading between the lines here.

4.       Flying internationally on the 1oth Anniversary of 9/11 in a plane that will be flying directly over Abu Dhabi WILL result in you getting molested/frisked. Tomato/Tomahto

5.      Do not trust a Mr. Tastee “chicken” sandwich. Ever. Good things do not follow ingestion of a Mr Tastee (alleged) chicken sandwich.

6.      “Going to the market to get chicken” does NOT mean, “running to Kroger to get some prepackaged boneless, skinless, chicken breasts.” It means, “stopping at a roadside stand and buying 5 LIVE chickens tied together at the feet and tossed into the floorboard of your vehicle.”

7.      Nice Bumper Stickers. Because in America we have peeing Calvins.

8.      Modesty. Ladies wore knee length skirts/dresses. Men wore pants. At their waists. Every day. Everywhere. No exceptions. I never, not once, saw a butt crack or a boob. It was nice.

9.      Ugandans don’t sleep. Like, Ever.

10.   Roosters have no respect for sleep.

Oh, and when you arrive home everyone will ask you, "Did it make you appreciate America?". For me the honest answer is, "no." It makes me see how wasteful and selfish we are. I recognize that we are spoiled nation and as a people, we make mountains out of molehills far too often. It makes everything here seem silly, trivial, and just frivolous. We whine about "what to wear" and complain about waiting 2 hours at MEA (guilty), but after having spent the night with an orphan in a Ugandan hospital I am ashamed to have ever complained about anything. It makes me long for the simplicity of life in Africa. Granted, I wouldn't decline a washing machine or running water, but it certainly does put things in perspective.

The Uganda Diaries: Volume 1

Today is our first day out in the “Mission Field”. Today we visited M1. If you’re not familiar with the M1 facility, please check out www.sixtyfeet.org for more details.

Today I met “V”. “V” is a fifteen year old girl who had been dropped off by her father only 1 week prior for being “stubborn”. He mother had come to see her after a few days and declared her to be “too unkind” to come home yet. So she left her there for one month. This is not a juvenile detention center in Jackson, MS. This is a literal prison. For children. With prison cells and bars. Some kids have committed crimes of theft, some have been dropped off by parents for various reasons, some have been the unfortunate step-children to a modern day Cinderella story, some have been at the wrong place at the wrong time, some have been found abandoned and taken here by strangers, but none actually deserve to live like this.

So many things were revealed to me today. These kids have the kind of faith that I envy. They have nothing but the love of Christ Jesus and that’s all they need. I expected to see kids moping around in a state of despair, but I didn’t. These kids, although unhappy in their environments, have hope. They worshipped in a way I have never been able to do. They sang songs of praise in such a heartfelt manner that I could only cry as I listened.

I still haven’t quite processed it all. I need time.

Two Posts, One Day, WHAAA?!

Africa (specifically, the children of..) has really been on my heart today. Like, a lot. Here's why. MP and I both feel like we are being called to adopt. Admittedly, I was gung ho from the get go on the idea of it, but it took him a little longer to come around. Now it's a little more real. And a lot more scary. How do you know for sure? How do you determine what is God's will for your family versus what we want for our family? I think the answer is willingness. I don't think every family is necessarily called to adopt, but I do think that aiding orphans is a command not to be ignored. And I don't think willingness comes easily. But we ARE willing.

As our trip quickly approaches, we KNOW we'll be in a position to "put up or shut up", so to speak. It's easy to advocate for orphan rights. It's another thing to step up and do something about it. As parents, we both know that once we see firsthand the living conditions these kids are in it will completely break our hearts that have already begun to love a people we have never met. There will be no way we can stand there without contemplating a plan to adopt even just one child. I think we'll begin to see our own children in each of these kids and I feel like the Lord is nudging us to come prepared. Like, He wants us to "step up".

But I am scared. The whole idea and process of adoption is, quite honestly, a little bit crazy. It's a little uncomfortable to admit. There are intimidating amounts of paperwork to be completed. It is COMPLETELY opposite of what WE had planned for a little family of four. And it is so scary to commit. For several reasons, but for #1: adoption ain't cheap, yo. I have to continually remind myself that Mission trips aren't cheap either and yet the Lord has provided. I have to remember that it isn't coincidence that we have been brought together with a group who loves the fatherless like we do. And it is crazy that we are spending the remainder of our vacation time to fly 8,000 miles away to love on kids we've never met. Not because it's a luxury vacation, but because its something we feel like we were meant to do.

I'm telling you all of this now because MP and I are willing. We are going on this trip HOPING to meet our future child or children, but EXPECTING God to just use us. In any way possible, in as many ways as possible. We will be there as the hands and feet of Christ. We want to share our hearts and to be able to tell them about the love of a God who CAN RAISE THE DEAD. To Him, none can compare. I want them to know they are loved.

I just ask for prayer at this time. There is so much to pray for that I literally cannot even begin to make specific requests. Oh, and if you have $25k lying around, we'd be glad to take that too.

~cp

Dear Africa

Dear Africa,
    Hi! How are you? Good. Listen, I should probably give you a heads up. I am very high energy without caffeine. Even moreso WITH caffeine. And I drink a lot of caffeine. I can be a lot to take in. Are you ready for me? Because I am totally ready for you. LET'S DO THIS.

~cp

Pay It Forward

Ok guys, I want you to think back on a time in your life when someone gifted you in an amazing way. Could be financially, could be emotionally, could just be a kind word, or it could be that they were such an impact in your life that you vowed to A- never forget them, and B- pay it forward.

Now is that time.

See that button above? That button represents one less orphan in Uganda. That button holds the key to his forever family. Mothers & Fathers, think of your own children now. If they were lonely and crying out for you and ALL you had to do was click this button and donate a few dollars in an effort to free them, would you do it?

I know I would.

This is the story of my blog friend, the Farmer's Wife. I have never met her and I kinda stalk her a little bit, but in a friendly awe-inspiring way, like, I'm not creepy AT ALL. Since we have mutual friends, both have hearts for Ugandan orphans (actually, ALL orphans for that matter), and are both planning trips to Uganda in September, I can't help but feel a sisterhood with her. Plus, she also has great hair and an ADORABLE family, so it's like we're practically TWINS. *winking smiley face with a tongue sticking out* (Confession: I don't actually know how to use emoticons)

Anyway, Lara (TFW) announced this AM that they have a court date for Sept. 27. That means that airline tickets need to be purchased, like ASAP. That means that WE need to help HER do this. But wait! THERE'S MORE!

 ACT NOW AND FOR THE LOW, LOW PRICE OF JUST $15 YOU'LL BE ENTERED TO WIN THIS LITTLE BEAUTY:

Confession #2: I actually just copied and pasted the remainder of this from Shelly, who hijacked Lara's site. I don't think they'll mind at all.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital Camera (Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens included)

AND

 Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Autofocus Lens

 

TWO (2) LUCKY RUNNERS UP WILL WIN:

A $25.00 Wild Olive gift certificate

"Here’s how to enter:

You can enter our baby shower giveaway by making a donation of any amount. Suggested donation is $15 per entry, and for each $15 donation you make, you'll receive one entry to the giveaway. OR donate $20 and share the giveaway on Facebook or your blog for three entries! If you don't have $15 to donate, that's okay too... they will be so blessed by any amount you would like to give. And if you cannot give, but would like to be entered anyway, just leave a comment on this post. Please be sure to put your email address in the email field (not the body section of the comment…we want to protect your privacy) when writing your comment, as that will be the way we will contact you.

You will be assigned a number for each entry, and this number will be emailed to you in 24 to 48 hours of entering. (Don’t forget to fill in your email address when donating through ChipIn!)

Entry for the giveaway will be closed on Monday night, August 15^th at midnight EST.  The winner will be announced Tuesday, August 16^th by number (via random drawing). So be sure to hang on to your number!

Don’t stop reading yet…we’ve got an incentive for you to spread the word about our baby shower giveaway.  We want as many people to party down with us as possible!

FOR ONE BONUS ENTRY spread the word about Lara’s baby shower by updating your Facebook status and linking back to this post. Let us know you’ve done so by commenting here, and you’ll automatically receive an ADDITIONAL ENTRY in the giveaway.

And that’s it! Easy-sauce. The “donation” button is right here in the sidebar (on the right, in case you’re wondering where to find it)."