Update! Exciting Adoption News!

Hey Everyone! I just wanted all of you to know that we have exciting news on our adoption journey. I'll leave you with that teaser for now, but will be giving the details in the next 24 hours or so. Thanks for being a part of this journey and for all of the thoughts and prayers. -Bryan

Here's your sign

New knob signs that I've been making. $20.00 Really fun! Come in other colors and knobs. I'm making decorative signs too. They are 24 inches by 5 inches, with a nice routered edge. My dad has been making them for me and I only have one left.. so he's making more. Yeppy! Thanks Dad you're awesome! =))

Hurry Up And Wait

The last blog entry focused on the changes in our program, and we wanted to expand on it.  Basically, we chose the expansion option of sticking with the placing agency in Georgia and also sending our family albums out to a Catholic placing agency in Louisiana.  We continue to believe that we are on God's time, not ours and that we will be matched with a birth mother when He makes it happen.  In the meanwhile, Emily is busy making bibs & custom wood signs to sell and Erin (Sister-In-Law) is working super hard making items to sell to raise money for the adoption.  Please keep us in your prayers that we may continue to be patient through this process.

Program Update

Hey Guys, it's Bryan.  Em's been pretty good about updating the blog; me - not so much.  Anyway...some exciting news on the progam we're in: I received an e-mail from our adoption coordinator late last week stating that the agency we're with has not only expanded the number of placing agencies it's working with, but the program itself has now been expanded.  Instead of including just African American infants, the program will now include infants of every race.  The previously named "African American Infant Program" is now called the "Domestic Infant Program".  This means that our waiting time should be drastically reduced.  I have to admit; based on the time frame we were given, we thought we'd have our new little one by now, but we realize this is on God's time, not ours.  We are also excited about the changes to the program and trust in Him and His plan for us and our family.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we go through this process.  Thanks for taking the time to read this entry and to be a part of our adoption journey.

Thank you!

I'd like to thank Lisa K. who hosted a 31 party for me last week. She raised $77.00 for our adoption fund! How awesome is that! She did a catalog party for me and had 4 people purchase from her party. Her party was only $300. Every little bit helps! Thanks again Lisa you're awesome!

How to help

Working on some small fundraisers while we wait. Feels good to do small things like this, makes me feel like I'm one step closer to the finish line. So the fundraiser is 31 gifts. Here's the website: http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/Catalog/ Twenty five percent of the purchase goes towards our adoption fund. You can purchase one item or host a party. October's special is https://www.mythirtyone.com/content/specials.aspx and November and December's special are really great. Let me know if you're interested. These bags are great for that hard to buy for person on your list. Or great for yourself. =)

BUSTED

I've been busted, Aunt B informed me that there hadn't been a new post since July! Yikes!! So sorry guys! Sometimes I feel like I'm writing a journal, because we don't get a lot of comments so I forget that some are using this as their way to keep up on our adoption news.

Well here's the update. Homestudy is done. Albums have been delivered to Georgia and the placement agency thinks our album is "beautiful". Our agency in Portland is in the process working on signing 3 new contracts with placement agencies. So that's great news!! More placement agencies mean more birth mothers and more opportunities.

And the ending of the cliff hanger.... It was our adoption agency telling us there was a new birth mother in the program. Which is exciting.. but not as exciting as getting a call to tell us a birth mother has picked us. Sorry again for the cliff hanger, I'll try to do my best to keep this more updated, but we're in waiting mode.

Also in the process of painting a Jenny Lind craddle that has been in my family for years. So.. I will be posting pictures of that very soon. It turned out so stinkin' cool!! Thanks for reading!