BRINGING HOME GRACE: SUBMITTED!

WOOHOO!!! Our dossier (all of our adoption paperwork) was submitted today to the Ukrainian adoption authority!  (I guess it's called the DAP now, but in my head it's still the SDA. What can I say, old habits die hard.)

So, what does this mean exactly?  It means all of our paperwork will be gone over with a fine tooth comb reviewed at some point hopefully in the next month or so. Right now, the SDA is running about nine weeks from submission to SDA appointment. UGH!  I'm not sure why they are running so long now. (Jonathan's dossier was submitted on May 12th and our appointment was June 6th.) But, I am trusting in the Lord's perfect timing. I really do want to get our little girl home ASAP though! So, we are looking at traveling about mid-August. I'm still praying for sooner. We'll keep you posted!

BRINGING GRACE HOME: Last call for t-shirts

Our benefit last night was a BLAST!  I'm eternally grateful for all who served and gave.  I'll post photos and updates very soon, I promise.

Just a quick reminder that today is the LAST DAY to order t-shirts. Please go HERE if you would like to order one. So very grateful to all of those who have already ordered. I'm so very blessed. Thank you!

Thanks to all of you, Grace will be home soon!

For all you local folks - Adoption Benefit Saturday night!

We are very humbled that once again our awesome church fellowship is sponsoring an adoption benefit for us to help bring Grace home. When we first started the adoption process, Pastor Dan asked us about having another benefit. (Our church family held an unbelievable benefit for us for Elijah's adoption.) We were hesitant at first.  They have already done so much for us. Plus (me of little faith), I honestly didn't think we would get much support this time around. The first adoption is pretty cool (and kinda crazy), but the third??? VERY crazy!!! Well, all I can say that was a lie from the pit of hell. Anyway, I "requested" a SIMPLE benefit.  You know, just like a spaghetti dinner and a bucket for donations. Simple, right?  Well, I was ousted from the planning :-), and it is now far from "simple".  Packer prints valued at almost $1000, Packer tickets, t-shirts for sale, themed basket raffles, a motorcycle ride preceding the benefit...OH MY...and oh ya...spaghetti too. It sounds like lots of fun! We are incredibly, incredibly blessed. I just don't know what to say but thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Details below.  We'd be honored if you can join us. If you are local, I hope to see you there!


Promo Video:  Dare you to watch this with a straight face!  It's Carter's Daddy...ummm...Drew Carey...ummm... it's the "famous" Tony Calzoni who made time out of his (and his wife's) busy schedule to make this fun promo video for our adoption benefit Saturday night! Thanks Tony!

Love Makes a Family T-shirts!!!

We are sooo very grateful to Ashley (she rocks!) for designing these awesome "Love Makes a Family" t-shirts in conjunction with our benefit this weekend (more on that in a bit)!  The proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go towards bringing our sweet Grace home to her forever family.

If you are interested, please click HERE to go to the ordering page.  Or click on the link at the top of the page.  But don't delay, we need your order by June 9th. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks so much!  We appreciate your love and support, but especially your prayers.

Lyme Disease

Changing pace here for a bit.  Yes, Lyme disease. One of the running "jokes" among adopting families is "You know you are adopting when...." and fill in the blank.  Well, Sarah getting diagnosed with Lyme disease would be right at the top of the list!  She was diagnosed literally w/in day or two of our commitment to Grace.  Yes, this even tops the two spots of skin cancer Pat had removed shortly after we committed to Jonathan. But as always, we KNOW who wins and we KNOW who is going to when this battle. The Lord Jesus Christ!

Sarah has done an awesome job blogging about her Lyme disease journey so far. Sadly, it's not over yet. I beg you to pray for complete healing for her. She just started her second round of three-month treatment. (How in the world she managed to pass two CLEP tests while battling this, I have NO idea. She's amazing!)

I also encourage you to read her posts. Lyme disease can mimic SO many other diseases.  Get educated. Be careful and seek treatment immediately.

Here is a list of Sarah's posts: (if you only have time for one, please read the last one)

A New Special Need

My Lyme Story

What is Lyme Disease: Basics and the Bite

What is Lyme: Later Stage and Treatment

What is Lyme: The Controversy

The other night, Sarah had me watch a documentary called Under Our Skin and I can't tell you how much I learned.

Here's the trailer.