Tastefully Simple Fundraiser

Kelly who is a Tastefully Simple consultant has chosen to do a fundraiser where she will donate all of her commission to help raise funds to bring Alexsey home. What a sweet heart! Yes, the money is sure appreciated, but more than that is her show of support for our family. What a an uplifting blessing she has been to me to show such encouragement! Thank you Kelly. She is a fellow adoptive mother who brought home an adorable little girls named Ulia back in December 2006. Please go check out her amazing family.

Whether it's Cinnamon Muffin Melts you crave, or you are looking to feed your family a hearty and delicious meal of Lasagna Soup and Perfect Parmesan Biscuits over at Tastefully Simple you can buy it all and help to raise money for Alexsey's adoption all at the same time. Please remember to select us as the host family when you place your order. That means to make sure that you type in the Reeds before hitting the confirmation button.

Thank you so much! And thank you to Kelly for hosting such a delicious fundraiser! Oh, and please spread the word to anyone who you think may be interested in buying something from Tastefully Simple.

*** And a quick reminder*** This is the last day to enter the raffle for the IPOD drawing that Sally is hosting!

A Productive Monday

After a lull, even though it is only Monday, things are considerably more productive this week. Hip-hip hooray!

Today I read over the rough draft of our homestudy! Just a few minor changes and it should be good to go! I also received confirmation that the immigration office received our application and all supporting documents were approved. John and I also went and applied for Julia's and Dennis' passports! To save money, I took their picture instead of paying someone to have it taken.

I also have to let all of you know that Julia has officially raised $342.00 towards her trip! That is not including people who have not mailed their checks yet. I am so proud of all of her hard work, and I am so thankful to all of you for your support. So many of you have placed orders and sent checks for more than the total, and it just blows all of us away that you guys are so supportive! Thank you so much!

I think this trip is going to mean so much more to Julia because she raised the money to go. Taking the initiative to earn her way, and following through is an experience all on its own...... something I know will make her appreciate it all the more. It really is touching for me as her mother to watch her every day crocheting as she works to catch up on all of the orders! Not that she is complaining. Even her sisters are cheering her on!

You can still place orders, but please be patient and expect at least one week from the time you mail your check because Julia is backlogged at the moment! In addition to scarves and bibs, Julia is making dishcloths for $6. Please specify if you have a preference for cotton or synthetic. I think both are great, but I personally prefer the cotton.

I must also give praise to the $200 that was donated through Reece's Rainbow yesterday for Alexsey's adoption! I don't know who it came from, but I do know that God is using you in a mighty way! Thanks so much! Just a reminder--- only a few more days to enter the drawing for the IPOD! Thanks again Sally, who is graciously hosting the raffle.

Just a little update

Not much is happening on the adoption front. After this past Tuesday's fiasco, I am reminded that even though I think everything adoption related is in my control....... actually nothing is. After driving for one hour up to Fresno to have two important documents apostilled, the nice woman behind the counter informed me that the county clerk had put the wrong year on the notary certification.

ARGH!!!!!!

Literally freaking out with frustration at this potential delay (remembering that I already had one delay because I had misplaced the documents), I asked if there was anything I can do besides having to drive all the way back home and having the certifications done over.

Well... remember how I said this woman was nice???

She made my day by suggesting that I just go and have the documents re-notarized and re-certified at the local county clerk's office which was three blocks away. Yes, this meant spending just as much money---- again, and yes this meant dragging the kids on more errands, but it was the simplest solution.

As I made small talk with the notary, she found out what the documents were for and ended up only charging me for the certifications-- not the notaries. Thankful to see this fiasco ending on a beautiful note, I thanked her over and over for her kindness. I told her I'd be back, as I waved us out the door.

After apostilling the documents, and filing re-adoption paperwork for Dennis (son that we adopted this past summer) with the court, we returned home.

Since I was already a week late in getting these documents over to Ukraine, I hopefully made the wise decision of saving some money and sending them over through the good ol' postal service instead of Fed Ex or DHL. It cost me nearly $100.00 dollars less.... and what is one more week?
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I am not sure if I am calculating things right or not, but it looks to me like $230.00 has been fundraised since the IPOD raffle was announced! Can I hear an Amen? I was hoping that enough people would buy a raffle ticket to at least cover the value of the IPOD which I think is around $230. Praise God! I am not sure who all of you are that have generously given, but I wanted to let you all know how thankful we are. Every little bit counts. If you were planning on buying a raffle ticket--- remember that the deadline is February 29th!

Julia has officially made $45 selling washcloths and scarfs. Thank you Mary and Julie! Your support of my daughter has been tremendous and though we are not close to covering the cost of her plane ticket and passport, I remain faithful that God will provide. The easy way out of this added expense would naturally be to not have her go..... but that is essentially saying that God won't provide and therefore I am going to come up with my own answer. That I have already committed to not doing. So if you still want to place an order or send a check for a previously placed order, we would both be very thankful.
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Lastly, I am asking everyone who is in the process of adopting to please leave me your blog address so that I can add you to my blogroll. I would like to be able to go to one place where I can check-up on all of your families so that I can pray for you guys.

10 Reasons I Love My Adoption Agency

1. The woman who runs the show is my good personal friend who I trust completely.

2. The agency leaves no room for guesswork when doing the paperwork.

3. I can call thirty times and day and am never made to feel like a pest.

4. My phone calls and emails are always responded to within a day if not much sooner.

5. Open communication is very important to them.

6. Reasonably priced, for A + service!

7. Doesn't make promises that they can't deliver--- very honest!

8. Ukraine team is first class all the way.

9. Our in-country stay was memorable and our overall experience was amazing.

10. Provides post-adoption support and follow-ups.

This is our second time using this agency, and I would highly recommend them for anyone considering adopting from Ukraine or Kazakhstan.

Since When Did I Stop Caring......

if my kids were not perfect according to society?

that my kids may not be the best in their class?

if I ever got my empty nest?

about what others thought?

when I received emails like this?
"The major issue is, does the child have a ventriculo peritoneal shunt? Hydrocephalus is typically the major issue. Most of these children do OK, but the majority do not go on to live independent, employed lives. You need to be prepared for chronic medical problems, requiring multidisciplinary care."

Just like for Dennis, I have already started contacting doctors about Alexsey's medical issues. Four years ago, an email like this would have freaked me out on so many levels. I can honestly say, I would have undoubtedly said no to adopting a child with special needs. But that wasn't God's plan, and He has since changed my heart----- big time.

I just don't care about stuff like this---- I have experienced first hand how amazing all these children are, and I have so much hope that I don't have room to be filled with fear. Let me take that back---- I do have fear. I fear that I will miss out on one of God's biggest blessings by not adopting Alexsey. I have faith that God has huge plans for Alexsey's life....... which do not include deteriorating in an institution.

Not too long ago, I met up with a woman at one of Dennis' post-operative check-ups. She had two precious children with her--- one was in a wheelchair and one had a permanent tracheotomy. We got to talking and I found out that she was fostering the boy in the wheel chair and she had adopted from foster care the other little boy. As I talked with her and got a sense of how big her heart was and how much hope she had for these children--- I had a total change of heart towards all children with special needs. And I can't tell you how freeing it was. Things like a tracheotomy or a G-tube, or anything else just doesn't freak me out anymore. In the grand scheme of things--- I have realized that God will never give me more than I can handle---- ever.

And that means that if God does entrust Alexsey in our care by allowing us to adopt him, He will equip us with all we need to parent him...... and I am excited at the thought.

**How adorable**

This is a picture of Alexsey taken about one year ago. Doesn't he just melt your heart?
We feel privileged to have this "baby" picture of him.

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On another note, Sally over at "My Life My Desire" went and did the nicest thing. She started a raffle for this awesome 8GB IP*D Touch to help raise money for Alexsey's adoption. I am in awe that a woman who has also adopted would partner in such a generous way to help us bring Alexsey home! Praise the Lord! Every $15 will get you one chance to put your name in a drawing and will bring us all the closer to getting our son Alexsey home as fast as we can! If you are interested in entering the raffle please go check out her family blog or her son Bryson's adoption blog. Oh, and please feel free to spread the word.

Her family is pretty amazing and her son has come so far in such a short time! Even if you don't want to enter the raffle, please go check out her blog and leave her an encouraging comment.

Documents Found!!!!

Well after searching for the documents again last night---- see, I said I was weak, I went to bed asking God to once again forgive me for giving him by burden but then taking it back like he wasn't big enough to take care of it. I drifted off to sleep in prayer........ this morning no thought of looking for the documents.

And lo and behold....... My daughter Annalyn comes running up the stairs shaking the folder in her hand, "Mama, are these the papers you need?"

Yes they were!!!!!

"Where did you find them Annalyn?"

"They were on the back of the toilet!"

How amazing is that? I visited that toilet at least 10 times since Thursday afternoon when I remember rushing in, documents in hand, to use the bathroom. I must have set the documents on the back of the toilet instead of on the counter where they could have gotten wet.

Praise God!!!! I hope I remember what I have learned .

*POOF*

Honestly, today has been a rough day for me. After typing up two key documents that need to get over to Ukraine ASAP, notarizing them, and then authenticating the notary's signature yesterday, I had plans of going up to Fresno to have them apostilled. I was driving up to Caleb's orthodontist visit anyways, so I wanted to save gas and time and do it all in the same trip. Well, the documents are missing--- *poof* into thin air, and I was almost late to his appointment from searching the whole house. Nearly in tears as I drove on the freeway--- all the kids with me because today is a holiday, I felt really defeated. Silly I know, but all of my work that I had done yesterday felt like it was done for nothing--- and now it looks like I will have to redo everything. Thank God--- I quickly got over it--- really I did, and I explained the whole adoption process to Rachel and Annalyn on the drive.

My Mom watched most of the kids while I took Caleb to his appointment--- a good thing since they were absolutely rambunctious today. Totally embarrassed by their "Jumping off the walls" behavior, I cut our visit short. Thankful to just get home, I tried looking for the documents some more--- while the kids ate lunch.

I have accepted that they are gone--- and I have resolved not to worry about them until Tuesday. But God, I am going to need your help keeping my mind off of them. I want to think of You every time I think of the documents---- but I am weak..........

As I close, I had to mention that I happened to check on our Reece's Rainbow sponsorship page. People have contributed over $200 since I last checked! Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a wonderful blessing!

It is a warm and encouaging feeling to see all of you partnering to bring Alexsey home!

While we were........

My friend wrote this today. It is in loving memory of two amazing little girls. They were at the same institution that Alexsey was headed to. Right now, the time cannot pass quick enough till we get to go and get our little boy. God, please be his armor of protection until then.

While we were eating...

... they were hungry

While we were playing...

... they were restrained

While we were tucking our kids into bed...

... they were alone

While we turned up the heat...

... they laid in the icy cold

While we wrapped our children in blanket sleepers...

... they laid in their own excrement

While we sang songs and listened to music...

... they listened to the screams and cries of those around them

While we rocked our babies...

... they silently rocked themselves

While we hugged our kids...

... they scratched at their own faces and pulled their own hair for stimulation

While we cried over scraped knees...

... they moaned in their loneliness

While we brushed our daughters' beautiful hair...

... they had their heads shaven to stave off the lice

While we fought off the flu with love and nourishment...

... they got the flu and went Home.

No longer suffering... but so many more still are.

In memory of those that have never felt the love of a family, but have passed away alone. Today we learned of the passing of these two girls in Eastern Europe.

Margarita

Katarina

Chasing Paperwork Godspeed

One of the biggest things that I dislike about adoption is the paperwork. It is redundant, time consuming, stressful, expensive, and needs to be done with meticulous care--- or you might as well be a glutton for punishment. Well that I am not---- and so I push forth my best effort to be quick and accurate, and cut corners where I can so that I can save time, money, and my sanity.

This being our fifth adoption----- I am pretty darn good at all of the above.

Did you know that you can schedule numerous doctor's visits on the same day?

Did you know that you can start your I-600A with a photocopy of your marriage certificate that you got when you first married instead of ordering a new one? A new one is needed for your dossier, but if you order one too early, the sixth month rule will apply so then you will have to reorder another one. That makes two notaries and two marriage certificates. I get by with ordering one.

Did you know that your homestudy paperwork is not an exam, nor do they expect you to write a book about your life?

Did you know that social workers don't walk around your house with a white glove on?

Did you know that it might be easier to get your doctor, employer, or bank to fill out the form you need if you take some of their letterhead home and print out the form the way you want it?

This adoption has been moving along like a constant babbling brook. I've interacted with some of the nicest people. As I gather the paperwork and meet with the necessary people whose signatures I need, I feel time and time again that God is showing me that He has us cupped in his hands.

All of our homestudy paperwork is complete--- medicals and social worker visit included. It has only been two weeks! Is that a record?

I started to fill out the paperwork to apply for Dennis' and Julia's passport and called the first place listed that processes applications. A friendly voice answered the phone, and we got to talking. Always thinking of ways to cut corners, I asked if I could authenticate notary signatures there too. This got me explaining that I need to do this so that I could apostille some documents.

The woman said, "Yes, I am familiar with apostilling. I had to do it for our adoption."

"Really? We have adopted too. May I ask what country you adopted from?" I inquired.

"Ukraine. We adopted a little six year old boy about six months ago."

WOW!!!!

What are the chances of that? This is so just not a coincidence.

"Really? We are doing paperwork to adopt from Ukraine and we came back with our little boy Dennis over the summer."

She exclaimed, "Are you the Reed family!!!?"

So to make a long story short, we common bonded by our adoptions , and she surprised me by offering to do one of the nicest things. She offered to notarize all of my documents for free!

That is so huge and so sweet and it is like a $200 donation! Thank you my friend! Thank you so much! Thanks for partnering with us to bring Alexsey home!