A Valentine's Day to Remember

It was a Valentine's Day to remember around our house for several reasons....

We baked over 700 cupcakes! That is over 7+ dozen eggs I cracked in case you were wondering.

 My oven literally was on from 8:30 in the morning till 10:30 Tuesday night.

I didn't take the apron off all day...including picking up Grace from school.

 I have never made that much frosting in one day...ever! I used 16 bags of powdered sugar.

 Our entire dinner table covered in cupcakes...

 and some extra tables too!

 16 dozen white, 10 dozen red, and 16 dozen chocolate, plus minis!

That is a lot of frosting and sprinkles-just ask Kathryn.

 She frosted from sun up (almost) to sun down on Wednesday.

 And I gained 3 pounds (literally...opps!)

 That is a lot of love! Actually $1,100 worth of it. 

Thats how much money was raised to bring baby Martin and David home. 

Now that is Sweet 2 the Soul!

 But, the sweetest part of my Valentine's Day had NOTHING to do with sugar. 

It is a moment I will never forget.

 On February 13th I got to hear David's voice for the first time in a video sent from our missionary friends. He was repeating after his friend Hannah, an intern at the orphanage. "Bonjour Papa, Bonjour Mama!" In the most adorable little accent ever. It was a valentine from the Lord himself to my mama heart. I listened to it like 25 times.

 And I didn't even mind how long it took me to do all the dishes after that one!

Hope your Heart Day was just as sweet. 

I'm so thankful that many of you gave generously to be a part of ours. 

Thanks for bringing our babies home.

Let's talk about Lent, shall we?

Jeremy and I have been practicing giving something up for Lent the past few years. I thought I'd share a bit about why we do this and our heart behind it.

When is Lent?

Lent in 2013 will start on Wednesday, the 13th of February and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 30th of March.

In Western Christianity Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday. The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days of lent because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter", a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death. Lent is typically 40 days representing the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. 

Isn't Lent "Catholic?" Are you Catholic?

No. While Jeremy's family background is Catholic that has nothing to do with why we have currently chosen to take part in Lent. While Lent is practiced by the Catholic church it is also practiced by other denominations as well.

Okay, I don't really know what Lent is. Help, please!

I found this information at Wikepedia to be helpful. Because I actually wasn't very familiar with the history of Lent as it wasn't taught it in the church I grew up in.

So why do you give something up for Lent?

Honestly, this was Jeremy's idea. He liked the idea of sacrificing something in order to prepare for Easter. He basically thought these Christians are onto something good. And while fasting is something we talk about its not something we practice on a regular basis like we should. (Can you relate?)

So how did you get started?

A few years ago Jeremy decided he would give up soda for Lent. I knew very little about Lent and as a "supportive" wife I said, "Go for it!" I knew this would be a challenge for him. But, since I rarely drink soda I felt no inclination to join him. A few days later I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to give up Facebook. But, I didn't want to do it! I came up with one million excuses why this wasn't possible. Two WEEKS later I finally got brave enough to tell Jeremy I thought I needed to join him in fasting only in something different. I knew if I was so reluctant to be obedient this was the exact thing I needed to give up. So, I did it for about four weeks until Easter. (And the world kept revolving without me getting on Facebook- shocker huh?)

What other things have you given up for Lent?

Last year Jeremy gave up chocolate. And he definitely thought it was a challenge. I again choose to give up Facebook. It was still the area I felt God wanted to challenge me through. We try and specifically choose something that will be difficult. If you think, "I could never live without....." You're close to figuring out what you might want to consider giving up. Scary, huh? But, that is kind of the point. Its not really a sacrifice if you pick something that you could easily live without. 

What are you giving up this year? Why?

This year I am going to once again give up my time on the internet. I learned last year that I needed to not only fast from Facebook but from blog reading as well or I just substituted how I spent my time on the computer. So, I will allow myself one time a day to check my e-mail. A complete fast isn't really possible since we are in the midst of adopting and a lot of my cupcakes business comes through e-mail.

What's so bad about Facebook? Seriously! And you write a blog for pete's sake!

Nothing! I actually love Facebook. (Thus me choosing to give it up.) While some people are really critical of Facebook I feel I use it for a lot of great purposes like:

-staying in touch with family around the globe

-sharing my faith

-keeping in touch with missionaries

-sharing prayer requests with some of my girlfriends

-sharing our family's adoption journey

-seeing pictures/information on my SON!

I also love blog reading. I read blogs to:

-stay in touch with family & friends

-learn more about being a good mama & wife

-save money

-learn about adoption

-be reminded of God's work around the globe

So if your giving up something good why do it?

Because sometimes its good to give the Holy Spirit some space to work. That is what Lent is for me. Its cutting the "good" so I can say, "God for these six weeks I'm giving you my undistracted best." It's also that for my family, but that is a secondary blessing. Its really about me and the Lord. 

This year it is also about exercising trust. I'm not gonna lie this year I am especially dreading giving up Facebook because it is the avenue of communication where I talk to my friend Amy. She is my living breathing link to my son. She occasionally posts pictures. She tells me how he was when she visited him at the orphanage. And that is huge. Recently, she shared with me that an intern at the orphanage had been reading the book we sent about our family to David. I can't really put into words how that blessed my mama heart! But, most of all it made me stand back in awe of God. I didn't organize that. I didn't find a contact and beg them to put my picture in front of my son. God did that all on his own. Because he loves my son more than I do. And so I know David is safe in his hands. (without me monitoring the situation hour by hour on Facebook....even if I kind of want to :)

Maybe I'd like to try giving up something for Lent. Any advice?

Yes! Get someone to do it with you. I find that to be so helpful. One of the most special parts of this time of sacrifice for Jeremy and I is that we do it together. It is also an area he totally led in which I LOVE. But, its also great to do with a friend. This year my friend Heather will be joining me in giving up FB. I know its going to be really difficult for her too so I'm excited about how this will enrich our experience doing it together. (And while Jeremy and I share the sacrifice experience he can't give up Facebook because that wouldn't even be a blip on his sacrifice radar!)

Have you ever given up anything for Lent? What did God teach you through it?

Lord, 

You know I am a sinner. I am weak. I don't want to give up something for you because I like being comfortable. But, I love you more. Use this time to teach me, mold me, and change me. I want to understand what it means to sacrifice even if its just something small. Teach me to discipline my heart for your glory.

Fundraising...The Home Stretch

Many of you have been asking where we are at with our fundraising. Great question! To be completely honest I'm tired. And maybe..just maybe you are tired of all the requests too. But, being pregnant is exhausting so its not like I haven't been here before. Right now I kinda have that, "I'm never doing this again feeling." But, as a mama who has three babies I carried I know I will forget all of it and just be thankful when I hold David for the first time. It's the "I'm so ready." feeling every third trimester prego lady who is about to pop can identify with. My symptoms just happen to be fundraising fatigue instead of heartburn.

So, in order to encourage myself (and you too) let's take a look at how far we've come. Shall we?

So far we have paid about $11,600 in bills. 

That has covered:
-Application Fees for both our agencies.
-Agency Fees for Children's Hope Int. (our home study agency)
-Our home study (a legal document we now own)
-Our Post Placement Visits (6 are required by our country, done later/paid now)
-Hague Training through Adoption Learning Partners (Online training required for Hague Adoptions)
-Agency Fees for A New Arrival (our placing agency)
- The I800a & Fingerprinting (government stuff)
-Dossier Authentication & Fees (more government stuff)
-Postage (so our paperwork can go from Missouri to Montana to Illinois/Iowa/Missouri back to Montana to Washington D.C. & back to Montana)
-Translation

We have about $8,500 in our adoption account.

We have raised this money by:
-Selling cupcakes from Sweet 2 the Soul (almost $2,000 raised so far!)
-Selling nativity blocks (the project that will never end we are still trying to get sets done...)
-Having yard sales (we've sold a lot of our friends and family's junk)
-Online Etsy Sale (our family donated $100% of the sales from their etsy shop for one whole week!)
-Valentine wreath sales (made and sold by a dear friend)
-Bookmark sales, tooth fairy money, and random change (our kids are constantly giving us any money they can get their hands on for David)

If you are adding that all up we have paid for/raised about $20,000! 

I am feeling much better. Typing that number is like therapy for my weary soul. We are getting closer.

Our best guess at the estimated cost of our adoption for the whole enchilada is about $33,000. (But, since we chose the path less traveled please don't miss the word ESTIMATE.) There are lots of variables. We were able to "bundle" our documents saving us over $1,000. However, we didn't get to send our documents for free with my friend who traveled to Guinea. So, you just never know.

You might be wondering what we have left to pay for. This is not an exhaustive list, but its the heavy hitters.
-Country Fees
-Attorney in country
-Donation to the Orphanage  (required)
-Visas
-Airfare
-Lodging/Food While Traveling
-Transportation in country

So, there you have it. We have about $13,000ish left to raise. 

Now, of course you want to know by what date? Great question. Try asking God because he is the only one with any real clue! But, let's say about 3 months. We are hoping come May (maybe!) to be travel ready. (I'm really hoping I don't look back at that sentence and laugh.)

So, here is what we have planned.

February:
Valentine's Cupcake Fundraiser
(Find more information HERE)

March:
T-shirt Sales
Be looking for a post very soon revealing our design and ordering information.

April:
Trivia Night w/ possible Silent Auction
Friday, April 5, 2013- Save the date for this one.
It's gonna be a whole lot of fun! More information coming soon.

So, if you are saying....I'm on board what can I do?
-PRAY!
-Order cupcakes.
-Order a t-shirt.
-Volunteer to help with the trivia night. We need babysitters, score keepers, concession workers, etc.
-Donate something for the silent auction.
-When these events are going on share them within your social networks. (Facebook/Twitter)

We have also been working on applying for grants. We are hoping to apply for the following three grants. So far, we've completed the one from Show Hope. They are time consuming!
Show Hope $3,500
Lifesong for Orphans Matching Grants $1,000-$4,000
JSC Foundation No Set Amounts

We are also hoping to apply to be a Give1Save1 family of the week. Which requires making a video about our adoption. We'll keep you posted on this one. You should totally check out their website. Its an easy tangible way to be giving on a regular basis to the cause of adoption. ($1 a week)

And finally we continue to be blessed by the generosity of God's people. Many of you have simply wrote a check. And that is amazing! Its such a blessing. Every one makes me cry. Every. Single. One. Because its one less cupcake I have to ice and one more book I have time to read my sweet children.

We recently received this note in the mail and God used it to touch me deeply. I want to "grow up" to be just like this couple. So generous.

"Jeremy and Jennifer, Earlier this fall we stopped Direct TV, wanted to do more with $50 a month. We plan to sponsor a child. We would like to "sponsor" David until he can come to your home! We will be sending you $50 a month until the adoption is finalized. Love, ?"

I have removed the couple's name because I know they are doing it for God's glory and not their own.

God is good, even  especially in the home stretch.