And it's live!!!

We just started our auction of Love for Joshua....So many great items to bid on including a Going Home Barbie!!
Check it out here:

http://bandsofloveforrachel.blogspot.com/

Joshua looks liek he needs his mama and Baba!! Help us get there, check out our auction. And be sure to visit the stores/shops of those who have genorously donated their time and items!!

We've got Nothing~

Our LOA seems to be MIA. And with Chinese New Year going on for a couple more days, it seems we won't be seeing it anytime soon.

But, that's ok, God has a plan and we'll get it when we get it...(at least that is what I am trying to tell myself) This is the hardest part of having a child half way around the world waiting for you...the not knowing...
Does he have enough food? Is he warm enough? Is he getting a hug when he needs one? You know the simple things we take for granted everyday here in the US.

But it's all good. And he'll be home before we know it. And he'll join in the fun with our crazy crew!!

A child waits~

Carson–PLEASE HELP- I am “aging out” in December of 2012, $11,000 in fees waived

This is Carson. I gave him this name because he is the very same age as my own son with that name and I couldn't imagine my own son not having a family and never being able to have one. Sometimes you hear a child is 13 and think, "oh they are no longer a child" but then look at an actual 13 year old boy or girl and you will see they are still really so very young. They still like cartoons, playing with cars and toys and games, being silly and needing hugs! This Carson is going to age out in December of 2012 meaning he will NEVER have a chance for a real family! There is over $11,000 in fee reductions for a family who adopts him. Please won't you consider him for your family??
He resides in a foster family at this time where they say:
He is a smart and study hard child. He can follow the teachers and finish homework well. In the foster family, as elder brother, he can help little brother and sister. If little brother and sister were wrong, he can point out and help them to correct.
Now he is 4 grade in the primary school. He is clever and study hard. His results are in the upper middle. At home, he is obedient. He can help mother to do easy household duties. He has good living habits and strong self-care ability. He is a sensible good child. He is introverted but he is active and lively when meets familiar people. He is getting along with teachers and classmates well.

For more information, please contact Kathy@wiaa.org


SHARED LIST

We Have our Winners!!

First, I would like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts. We never expected to adopt again, but when we saw that Joshua was still waiting four years after I had first advocated for him, we just knew he was our son~

Now on to what you are really here for!!

The winners.

3rd prize custom skirts made by me~  #100

2nd Prize ~ Scentsy pack ~ #4

Grand Prize ~ Kindle Pack ~ # 117


I do have video of the Little's drawing the lucky winners, but I can't figure out how to upload it yet!!

You can find your raffle numbers in the link below our blog title. or by clicking here.

After purchasing the prizes we are blessed to be able to send our agency a check for $410!!

Giveaway ends today!!

I or rather my little's will be helping me draw the winner. Because the raffle didn't do as well as we thought I will be giving away the Kindle Fire and the Scentsy items. So still some good prizes!!

You still have about 6 hours to enter the giveaway. You can get entry's simply by commenting or by donating $10!!

See you back here around 4 for the winner!!

Chinese New Year Celebration ~ Sunday Snapshot ~

Last night we celebrated Chinese New Year....with our neighbors and friends in the area. You see our neighbor, who lives right next door....she also has a daughter from China.

Now tell me that isn't a God thing!! We looked all over for houses when we moved here. And when Kerry pulled in the driveway of this house, he glanced next door and saw this....

For those of you that don't know, that's the Chinese flag....and we just knew our house would be the one next door.

The party was wonderful. Our girls had such fun. And all the authentic food? Well that was just a bonus.

We had lots of dragon decorations. Which the kids loved. And Rachel, she is our dragon baby!!

It's pretty much a given with nine people in our family we have one of each zodiac sign...just about~

                                   Our beautiful girl who has grown so much in the past year.

And the kids' favorite food...dumplings~

Hope was the head of the dragon this year. She was excited to finally be big enough for that priveledge!!

And our silly girl Gracie.

                                                         Can't forget my big girl Han. And the boys, the middle son was there, just busy playing with the other kiddos. Our oldest was at Grandma's house. That's the nice thing about being near family again.

And our youngest son....he is still waiting in China, but God willing will be home soon. I am still busy sewing away.

If you would like to order a skirt to help Joshua come home see this post..

I need to sell 50 skirts in 50 days. We hare 20% of the way there wtih 10 sold so far~

http://www.ourhappilyeverafterstory.com/2012/01/50-skirts-in-50-days.html

And we also have our giveaway ending very soon!! A couple of days left to enter to win a kindle fire!!

http://www.ourhappilyeverafterstory.com/2011/12/giveawy-time.html

    

50 skirts in 50 days~

Can you help us?? Spread the word, buy a skirt (or two) and help us bring Joshua home.

I need to sell 50 skirts in 50 days. This will help us put a dent in our agency fee's.

I have the following fabrics all ready to go. Just need the orders!!

And if you help spread the word by posting on your blog or facebook, leave me a comment or a link...I will then put your name in a drawing. If I meet my goal I will give away 5 skirts to % lucky winners who helped spread the word.

                                                                    "Smitten Heart"

                                                                         "lil Cowgirl"

                                                                      "ladybugs"

                                                                        
                                                                "Hoo's in the Forest"

                                                                "My Little Pony"
                                                         (only one available, size 7)

                                                                    "Retro Butterfly"

Now for the details....

Skirts are $22.00 plus $3.00 for shipping. You can order as many as you want for the shipping cost.

Email me first (hopeyfopey@yahoo.com) and I will send you an invoice, once paid I will work on your skirt and ship it out asap.

I will be adding more fabrics as these sell out.

We still have our Giveaway going on for a few more days. Click here to go to that post.

Almost There~

The hardest part about adopting is not the decision to adopt or the ability to take care of another child, or even loving your child, the hardest part is funding an adoption.

Most people do not have an extra $30,000 sitting around. And coming up with that amount in one year is even more difficult. But, we have been blessed and have managed to save, or earn most of it, simply by cutting back, selling things on Etsy, selling Pampered Chef, Scentsy or even extra things lying around the house.

However, we are still $7000 short of our goal. And as much as we dislike asking for help, we will do whatever it takes to bring our son home.

And if you feel called to help us, Lifesong is willing to send you a tax deductible receipt.
You can send a check to them directly or you can click on the picture below that will take you to their site. But be sure to mention in the "purpose" box that is is for "Christopher/ #2356" adoption grant.

If you would rather send a check you may send it here:

Lifesong for Orphans

ATTN: Christopher/ #2356 Adotpion

PO Box 40

Gridley IL 61744

This little boy and his family will be very thankful.
If you do not feel called to donate, please pray for us and for Joshua.

Waiting again~ Sunday Snapshot

Not once during our wait to Rachel did we imagine or even believe we would be waiting again....

If you had told me this time last year I would be impatiently waiting for one more child, I would have told you you are nuts!!

However, Kerry and I saw this little face...

And realized it was the same little guy we had tried to help find a forever family for a little over THREE years ago, we thought hmm, maybe he is meant to be ours~

So we prayed and waited and every time we tried to close the door, God would open another one~

So we jumped in, knowing not all the money was in hand, because God, he had this and knew Joshua was meant to be ours.

And so far we have made it,

 home study fees -paid,
background checks- paid,
I800A fee's- paid,
DTC fee's - paid.

We are expecting our LOA (letter of acceptance) from China any day and with that comes our biggest agency fee. And as much as we hate to ask for money or donations of any kind, we will do what it takes to bring our son home.

In addition to sewing, I am selling Scentsy and we are also holding a giveaway for a Kindle fire.

(click on links to be taken to site)

Please consider donating or helping us spread the word. You can get entry's just by posting on your blog or facebook. If you do happen to donate, you will get an entry for every $10. If you do both you get more entries!!