The holidays are creeping up!! We love Halloween over here and All Saint's day is right after that, so we have a busy week ahead! Monday we are doing Trunk or Treat at Lily's preschool. Wednesday is Halloween and we usually go to the Scottsdale festival since it's free. Then Thursday is the All Saint's Day celebration at Amelia's school. I have no idea what time Lily's All Saint's Day celebration is at her school, but I'm hoping they don't overlap. Anyway, that's just next week!! AHHHH!!
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We had our 2nd and final homestudy visit this past Sunday and it went really well. Now we just have to wait for the social worker to write it up and submit it to court for approval. The next few steps scare me, but I'm taking a breather since it'll take some time to be approved. I have fundraising to do anyway, so that keeps me busy enough! We also just reached our 1 month anniversary of being on RR, AND broke the $1k mark in our grant!
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You knew this was coming, didn't you? Yes, fundraising. I absolutely love shouting for other families, but fundraising for our adoption kind of stinks. But, it's for Nico, and I'll do what I have to to bring him home, so, the next couple of takes are how you can help!
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Love coffee? We receive a BIG portion of all sales if you buy through this link. I hear it is amazing coffee!
Our iPad and Strider Balance bike giveaway ends Thursday! There is an opportunity to not only be entered into our giveaway, but to be entered into a gift card giveaway on Adeye's beautiful blog too. If you have never seen her blog, you should get acquainted. She and her husband both have wonderful, wonderful blogs.
We are about 1k away from our goal, but please, even if you can't donate, please share and pray for us. We are so thankful for all the support so far! Also, if you shop through our Amazon link on the sidebar, will will get 6% of your sale, too!
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Okay, I know my sense of humor is a bit silly. But I love this video:
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My favorite orphan is obviously Nico, but I am going to pick another one from his region, because they get passed over SO much.
Sweet Kendra is about a year and a half and adorable! She is in the same place as Nico. Please consider this sweet girl!
This verse has been applicable so many times in my life. It is especially true now, while in the adoption process, since we deal with a certain amount of negativity from people.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We did not start this process for our own benefit. We did it out of love. We did it because Nico deserves a family, and we were tired of seeing him passed over. We put our wants aside and focused on what the right thing to do was. This child will end up in an adult institution in a little over 2 years if no one adopts him.
So, it's okay if you don't think we should adopt. It's not going to change anything. We will do what's right, no matter what adversity we face.
Our Lord adopted US first. He redeemed us on the cross. It is our duty, as Christians, to make sure the dignity of human life is upheld in all regards. From conception to natural death. Adoption is part of that. These children deserve a family, and God-willing, we will provide one for this sweet boy.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. She asked the kids a couple questions each, then separated me and Kyle and asked us questions too. We had some more adoption education and discussed a lot of other stuff, and, of course, did paperwork. It was over before we knew it. I really like our social worker.
If you are scared to adopt, don't be. It's a daunting task, yes. But it's worth it, right?
So, here we are. Next step done. Now we wait and continue the fundraising.
Thank you all for all your support, love, messages, prayers, and donations. We're blessed, and cannot wait to have our sweet boy home.
Our giveaway is going great. We appreciate the shares and the prayers just as much as we do the donations, truly! We are about halfway to our goal and halfway through it, so we're right on track.
We would like to quickly remind you that if you want your entry to be counted, we will need to know if you donate through our Reece's Rainbow FSP. If you don't comment, we won't know if you've donated. We've had our grant go up, but haven't had comments some of the time.
Thank you all so much for making this journey a little less scary. We're right on track to bring this sweetie home!
I hosted our Halloween Fundraiser on our Facebook page and it was a great success! We raised over $700!
Sunday after mass, there were Knights of Columbus outside handing out candy for donations. Their new charity of choice is... wait for it... INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES!
Can I get a *GASP* and a "WHAT?!"
Seriously, God is good, you guys. I spoke with one of the Knights, told him all about Nico, and he said that they would be more than happy to help us with some fundraiser events!!
So, I came home and told my friend Becki about the happenings, and she had just finished talking to her parish about a new parish mission she started that involves spreading awareness for the orphans and it went very well. This all gave me the courage I needed to email my pastor about our adoption and possibly starting a similar ministry.
He was very receptive and told me that the pro life ministry would be happy to help us and that he was sure the Knights could also assist.
This was the one thing that was looming over me, because I need to get the ball rolling on local fundraisers instead of it all being online. So far, our online fundraisers have been massively successful, but we will have to work hard to bring this sweetie home, and that's going to have to come from all angles.
I have picked up a part time job and will work when Kyle is off. It won't bring in much, but money is money!
Tomorrow is my physical for the adoption. We have a few other things to get done before the social worker comes back. Please pray that Kyle and I both get all of these things done smoothly. The prayers are leading us through. We appreciate you all, very, very much!
We have been working our tails off over here for Nico. Running errands, making appointments, sending emails, filling out paperwork, and starting fundraisers. I also had orientation for my night job, and of course, my normal busy day to day stuff.
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Our Halloween auction starts Friday and we have some amazing items. People have been so generous and wonderful. Here are a couple items!
Plus MORE! If you don't have FB and want to bid, go ahead and email me and let me know!
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We also launched our BIG iPad giveaway with some other great prizes, too! 2nd winner gets a Strider bike, and we have an adorable picture my daughter drew and a gift card.
The other day I asked Tessa what she wanted for her birthday. She turns 3 in a month and I thought she wouldn't really grasp the concept. Ohhhh, was I wrong. I immediately got, "I want presents." And then later, "I want DORA presents! Dora and Boots presents! It my birfday now, mommy?" Over and over and over again. It is so cute, and has continued. Coming from my little sweetie who was barely understandable a couple months ago, this is amazing. Her speech therapy has been very successful, but I'm a little sad we only have 3 sessions left.
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I am taking the girls for haircuts this weekend. So happy to get their hair under control! They all have such drastically different hair, and need completely different styles. Can't wait for them to have freshly cut hair again!
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The debates were this week. I will fully admit that I fully enjoyed watching them.
But the best part was afterwards when Chris Matthews had a meltdown...
This adorable sweetie has no grant, and I've posted about her before, but I have promised myself to focus on the redheads of Reece's Rainbow, even while we are in the adoption process.
I LOVE this sweetie. Always have. Even before this darling picture. She doesn't have a grant. Boo! But maybe if you spread the word, her mommy or daddy will see her!
Adoption is a scary, scary thing. It really is so much like the beginning of a pregnancy. Uncertainty, fear, hope, excitement.
I have had some ugly moments, but I have always been shown the way as soon as I needed it.
A song, an email, a prayer, a sign. SO many things to keep me focused on the big picture. On Nico. On my family. On Christ.
This isn't going to be a long post. I just want you all to know how much I appreciate all of the support we have had for this process so far. My family, friends, and even complete strangers have been absolutely amazing.
Please just know that I am one grateful momma. You all have made these beginning steps a lot less scary.
