A stunning 16x20 photograph of Mt. Rainier. Mounted on 2mm styrene and shipped directly to winner from east coast photographer Kelly Zaiko. This would be a GREAT Christmas gift for that special someone. It's estimated value is $300.00.
Spindlenique Boutique large denim pieced bag. This bag is hand crafted by boutique owner: Amanda Hand. Perfect for a day at the beach, or a trendy diaper bag. Versatile yet durable. Very well made.
This bracelet was purchased in an open air market in Nairobi, Kenya by Jason Hand who was on deployment there at the time. It was hand crafted by a Kenyan woman.
Gift certificate for two months of gym membership.
This is an excellent gym that has been serving our community for nearly 22 years, offering a full gym and class schedule. They also have child care which is AWESOME! The staff is very encouraging, friendly and helpful.
This blankie is a donation from Lacey Rugg ~ Jaxson's mommy.
Lacey and her family are adopting from the same orphanage that Matthew and Ivanna are at. She also has a little boy at home with an "extra leaf" like our Justus, Matthew and Ivanna. Jaxson has had many medical needs and has spent a majority of his little life in a hospital room. Because of this, Lacey has started her own type of ministry by making blankies for critically ill children who are facing life threatening diseases or illness. This very special blankie is one of "Jaxson's Blankies for Babes". We feel very humbled that she would donate one of these blankies to our raffle. A very special blankie indeed.
Justus has stayed in a hospital now four times in his first year of life. I have been on the receiving end of getting to wrap my sick baby in a blanket that some sweet soul has sacrificed time to make ~ and it was a comfort. Sometimes it's just the most simplest of things as receiving a blanket from a stranger that can put a little wind in your sails. Thank you Lacey for doing this for others!
Set of three hair clips: minnie mouse, lady bug and hot pink with white bow
These clips are not just any clips. These have been donated by Lacey Rugg. A friend of whom we share two very special things in common.
Lacey and her family are adopting from the same orphanage we are. I am a little anxious for her trip, which should be in a matter of weeks. She also has a very sweet little boy named Jaxson - who has an "extra leaf" just like our Justus. Jaxson is such a trooper. He has encountered many medical needs due to his health, yet he keeps his sweet little countenance.
How sweet and awesome is it that these clips have been donated by someone who is also adopting from our same orphanage!?!
Gift Certificate by Rafter Cross Leather (location: Texas) ~ Tuck Whitaker
This gift certificate is good for one custom leather strap for a guitar, banjo, dobro, or mandolin.
These straps are created from the finest Herman Oak leather. Superior hardware is used. You can customize your own strap from colors, engravings, hardware, and stamp design. Or you can leave the design up to the owner and creator himself, Tuck Whitaker.
This gift certificate is valued at $150.00 and must be ordered by October 1st, 2010. The strap will be mailed to you directly from Rafter Cross.
(what an excellent gift this would be for the musician in your life)
A gift certificate to Spindlenique Boutique good for one child's sized denim pieced skirt, size and length are your choice. The creator and owner of this etsy store is Amanda Hand, and she does a beautiful job. You can visit her store at: http://www.spindleniqueboutique.etsy.com/
...and in reflection, though it is hard to see, I am so thankful that my Lord has opened my eyes to see that which is hard to see, and yet is a reality. The verse quoted in the title of this post was Lamentations 3:51. It was written by a prophet who looked on the desolation of his own country and the persecution of his people and was impacted...moved with compassion.
We too have been moved with compassion. To the prophet he was viewing the persecution of a people that had turned from the things of God and suffered for it. Today we are moved because of the fruits of a people who have forgotten that ALL children have been formed in the womb by the hand of the Lord, made perfectly...some with extra leaves (chromosomes), some without...every one fearfully and wonderfully made by the perfect hand of a loving Father.
Many children in far away lands have no voice, and some because of their disabilities are not given the opportunity for life with a loving family. Recently we viewed a clip from the Today show on the state of foreign mental institutions for disabled children and was again moved with compassion.
Please pray for these little ones. I know that the Lord can bring them a comfort that I could never understand...and yet I know that He would not have our family stand by and not act on their behalf.
We are thankful for your prayers as we endeavor to bring Matthew and Ivanna home as soon as possible. We would not want them to spend a single day in an institution if at all possible.
God is providing. I can't tell you how full my heart is right now. He is continually teaching me that trusting in Him is the key. Full trust. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for teaching me your faithfulness in provision. This adoption is not just about us loving and bringing home Matthew and Ivanna. It has impacted me ~ through and through ~ already. God is showing me that He is able to provide the ability to do this, the encouragement to go on, the reassurance that this is His will for our family right now, and the financial needs along the way. These are NOT little things. I can't adequately express how God is providing. I don't even know where to begin. It's all in different forms and ways. From one person offering to help with creating cards with our information on it, to another handing over a pocketful of cash, to another tearfully giving me a hug, donations to our raffle, sacrifices of time and talents galore, and yet others who now are entertaining the notion of becoming a forever family themselves. ALL of this, is HUGE in the eyes of our Lord - and has humbled this lady's spirit - KNOWING that it is all coming from Him.
April - Phillip and Charrissa "accidentally" stumble across Reeces Rainbow website and are impacted
April - Praying God would supply provision - very next few days started to see tangible answers to that prayer
May 7 - Called and scheduled Homestudy for May 26
May 13 - Started adoption blog (hopeful) and wrote poem, "An Extra Leaf"
May 17 - Scheduled physicals and lab draws (May 31; June 5)
~ also ordered Birth certificates for Phillip and Charrissa
May 20 - Birth Certificates Arrive! Wow! ~ ~ ~ We also send Andrea @ RR an email stating our commitment to Ivanna and Matthew ~ ~ ~
May 22 - Notarized RR Disclosure and fax to RR
May 23 - Started filling out Homestudy paperwork - A LOT
May 24 - Sent off two checks to RR. One for committing and another for a love offering for the running of the ministry
May 26 - Met with social worker for first of two meetings and the beginning of our homestudy. Looks like we may be approved for three children!
June 4 - Lu finishes designing blog - Beautiful!!!
June 5 - Notarized CSP and four out of five POA's.
June 7 - Mailed CSP and POA's for apostilling. Ordered 3 Marriage Certificates.
June 10 - Received marriage certificates ... that was FAST!
June 11 - Passport Application and lab draws
~ also find out that there is NOT a notary at dr. office - so we reschedule to June 21 with a different dr. for medicals
June 14 - Completed 1.5 hours of 12 hours of online coursework for homestudy requirements. Also mailed CSP and four POA's to Eastern Europe!!!!
June 17 - Completed an add'l 4.5 hours of online courses
June 21 - Completed medical exam required for both the Dossier process and Homestudy process!
June 21 - Finished 2 add'l hours of online courses. FOUR more hours left...
June 23 - Finished LAST four hours of online courses!!! YAY!
June 28 - Scheduled LAST HS visit for July 9th.
July 3 - Charrissa receives passport!
July 7 - Phillip receives his passport!
July 9 - Homestudy is complete. Now just waiting for draft.
August 13 - Received final, notarized copy of Home study.
August 14 - Sent home study along with I-600A application to USCIS - a big whopping $830 check also went along for the ride. WOOOHOOO! Praying for FAST approval
August 18 ~ received 13 apostilled documents and will put those away for dossier.
August 18 ~ only have FIVE more documents to finish for dossier requirements!
August 19th ~ received email and text confirmation from USCIS that our I-600A was received via lockbox. praying for that approval!
August 20th ~ Receive I-797C receipt (I-600a application receipt, same as text/email)
August 26th ~ Receive Biometrics Appointment (fingerprinting) for September 21st. Sent email, hoping for expedite.
~~~~Also, we only have 3 more documents to finish for dossier (including our pending I-171H from USCIS)
August 30th ~ FINGERPRINTING IS DONE! Called USCIS to let them know. They said to call back in a week, as a case worker has not yet been assigned. Hmmm... I'll give 'em till Friday! ;)
September 2nd ~ Received letter from Senator Patty Murray explaining that she is more than happy to help look into our I-600A application process
September 3rd ~ Awoke to an email from our immigration officer ~~ WE ARE APPROVED! OUR I-600A IS APPROVED!Now we just await the I-171H in the mail. We now are FINISHED WITH THE DOSSIER! We will notarize two documents tomorrow and set out to apostille the dossier next week, with a goal to send it out late next week out of COUNTRY! YAY! PRAISE THE LORD!
September 5th ~ We decide to add a third child to our adoption. A "blind referral" in the same orphanage. A new CSP and Petition to Adopt is being prepared for notarization and apostille to send with Dossier.
September 10th ~ Received I-171H in the mail!!!! Now we notarize, apostille and prepare to mail the dossier to E.E.
September 13th ~ Finished notarizing and apostilling Dossier! ******DOSSIER IS DONE AND READY TO MAIL****
September 16th ~ DOSSIER EN ROUTE TO E.E.
September 20th ~ Dossier is delivered to E.E.
September 30th ~ Dossier is submitted to SDA for approval, and now we are awaiting a travel date....
October 19th ~ We received our travel date: October 28th!!!
October 26th ~ Left for E.E.
October 28th ~ Given two referrals - one for Matthew and one for Ivanna
November 1st ~ travel two hours to region, and met Matthew and Ivanna and said YES to adopting them. Started the paperwork for court. Court is scheduled already for November 11th because our Interpol is ALREADY CLEARED! WHOOOHOOOOOO!
November 10th ~ Courtdate ~ we are approved by the courts to adopt Matthew and Ivanna; Introducing Matthew Maxim Browning and Ivanna Marie Browning. Now we wait ten days for the court decree per law.
November 20th ~ Ten days is technically over, but must wait till next business day (Tuesday) to do any paperwork
November 23rd ~ Got new birth certificates for both children and applied for new passports. Now we wait four days (business) to get new passports and take them out of orphanage FOREVER! Getting soooo close....
November 29th ~ Gotcha Day! The day they are out of that orphanage foever!
November 30th ~ First embassy appointment for visas. Both children are given physicals by a doctor.
December 1st ~ Interview by embassy. Visas granted!
December 2nd ~ Matthew and Ivanna are HOME in the USA!
Starting Bid: $15.00
