Our First Official Financial Goal Is.....

Hi friends!  So, here's a quick update on where we're at.  Our initial meeting with Christian Family Services is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Feb. 21.  At said meeting, we will receive paperwork (I think LOTS of paperwork) that we will need to complete prior to the start of our actual home study interviews.  When we get all of that paperwork completed, our home study interviews will begin.... which brings us to our current FiNaNcIaL gOaL, which consists of:

• 1st half of home study fee: $500, due upon completion of above-mentioned paperwork
• 2nd half of home study fee: $500, due at the end of our last home study interview.
• Somewhere in this time frame, we will also be paying for physicals for every member of our household (poor JoEllen and Jerusha, who live with us, have to have them too... :-/  They are so gracious. :))  Total cost of these physicals is unknown at this point.  Estimate: $300?
• In addition to these costs, we will also need to pay for background checks for all 4 adults in our household, for each state that we've lived in in the last 5 years.  For Stan and I, that's 3 states apiece.  For Jo, that's also 3 states, while Jerusha has been a Missouri girl her whole life. :)  Those background checks will add up quickly since 3 of the 4 of us have all moved around so much in the last 5 years.  Estimated total cost for background checks (Definitely guessing at this point - could be much more, or a little less): $500
• Finally, upon completion of our home study, we will owe a $500 "Activation Fee," when our family profile becomes "active" - meaning, it becomes available for birth mothers to view as they are trying to choose an adoptive family for their baby.

SOOOOOO, this brings our total for our FIRST FINANCIAL GOAL to:  $2,300.  And of course, any money that we raise BEYOND this goal will go toward our NEXT goal.

Whenever we know exact figures on the background checks and physicals, I will adjust this goal accordingly.

(**Our next fees after that will be a $1,000 MATCHING FEE when we are matched with a birth mom, a couple of miscellaneous fees (in the $500 range) in the interim, and then our BIG one: the $10,000 PLACEMENT FEE when our baby is placed with us soon after birth.  These fees will be included in our NEXT financial goal.  After THAT, there will be attorney fees and possibly some medical expenses for our birth mom and baby.  No way to know for sure about those yet.**)

Ooookay!  There's the updated financial scoop for now!  :)  For all of those saying, "MAN, adoption is EXPENSIVE!" you're RIGHT!  It totally is!  BUT, that's the exciting part!  We get to partner with the Lord over His heart for adoption, and watch Him provide.  We are standing in faith that He will do this, in His time.

**StAy TuNeD in the next few days for info on a super duper FUN fundraiser that we will launch VERY SOON!  Hint: There will be pRiZeS involved for the winners....** 

 (Are you curious?!  I am reigning myself in right now - so hard to wait to tell you!)

Yes I do feel the need to post on every single new thing that happens... :)

Ha... this will be a very short post but I can't resist putting this out there... We received a letter from CFS (our agency) this afternoon saying that they had received our application and our app. fee and asking us to call them to schedule an orientation meeting.  So I called.  Left a voice mail.  Waiting to hear back.

That's all.  Just got a little excited that our process is moving forward.

After our orientation mtg with CFS, we will have a better idea of exactly when our first financial goal will be due.

Woohoo!

The end.

A Quick Note on Tali

Hi friends, I wanted to clear up any confusion that may be hanging around regarding our situation with our Tali-bug.  For those who may not know, she was our baby girl that we fostered from birth until she was almost 2.  At that point we lost her to her birth mom and it has been a really tough situation for her.  We have stayed in touch with her family and been a support to her mom as much as we could be, but have also been very concerned about various family dynamics in their home.  Her mother is doing as well as she can given her history and her circumstances....but it is very difficult for her, and therefore, difficult for Tali.

Anyway, back in Dec (I think it was December), I ended up having a very upfront conversation with Tali's mother, letting her know (as gently and lovingly as possible) that we were concerned about her coping skills and her ability to parent Tali, and that if she ever felt like it was too much for her to handle or like it would be in Tali's best interest, that we would be willing to adopt her, maintain her relationship with her birth mom, have visits with her, etc.... but that we were willing to take 100% responsibility for her financially and in every other way...if she ever felt that it would be best for Tali.  She responded SUPER well to everything I said, was very vulnerable and openhearted with me, and while she hasn't come to a decision at this point that she would like us to adopt Tali, she has made it clear a couple of times that she appreciates knowing she has that option.

In our current adoption process, there have been a few people who expressed confusion, thinking maybe we were getting to adopt our Bug... and though we would LOVE for that to be the case, we also are excited about the opportunity to an infant privately (assuming the Lord brings in the finances to do so! :) ). If the opportunity to adopt Tali were to arise anytime in the near future, we would of course put the brakes on this private adoption process and adopt her and wait to adopt another child.  But as we feel that this is God's timing for us to move toward private adoption of an infant, we are trusting Him with Tali and moving forward with this.

We do still keep Tail usually one night, overnight, per week, and see her family a couple of other times during the week as we do various things to support her mom (i.e. errands, rides, etc.).

Anyway... I hope things clears things up for some of you.... Please let me know if you have other questions! :)

Annnnd The Ball Is Rolling....

Hiiiiiiii everyone!  I'm excited to make the official announcement that we sent in our application yesterday to Christian Family Services of the Midwest.  Here is their website, if you're interested.

We feel good about this agency so far.  They have been responsive and communicative with us and have answered several initial questions to our satisfaction.

Stay tuned in the coming days for info on our first fundraiser!  I'm excited about this - it's going to be fun. :)

I Think We've Found An Agency!

Okay.... Gonna hold off on specific details until we know for sure, but it looks like we've found it.  We will be mailing in our application today, we think.  Pending our acceptance, things look good.  Praying for a few final details to be confirmed today.

Thanks for your prayers for our process!