HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Today is our BEAUTIFUL little girls Birthday and in that honor we are hosting a Kickball Tournament to celabrate but more important to raise money to get her and her little brother home!!!!! I pray someone is giving her a big birthday huge for me today!!! It brings me comfort to know that by next year she will be celabrateing her birthdday with a family that loves her!

Ups and Downs

This last week has been full of ups and downs, doubts and in the end I saw Gods faithfulness!I don't even know where to start... I think I'll start at the end! I learned a few very good lessons; 1. We serve a VERY BIG GOD, who can make anything possible when we feel like there is no possibility! 2. Sometimes the people that are not related to you are the closest family you have! 3. I am done putting my faith in my self from now on my faith is in Christ! I'm sure I learned more lessons than that but those were the top three!
Fred, Tanya and I sent out letters to different companies and local teams to get donations for our Kickball Tournament, we got a pretty good response but I thought we would have gotten more of a turn out. While I was bummin about that I came home to a mail box full of letters and free tickets! What is so amazing about the tickets we did get? The companies that helped us out were places that stated on their web site that they only help out non-profit organizations, not individuals! We got tickets to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Wave, the Admirals, the Mil. Co. Zoo, the Mil. Co. Museum, and the Betty Brinn Museum. It is so amazing to me, with every turn on this journey I can see God's hand leading the way!
Now that I got all these baskets for the tournament I started freakin about the teams and people to come and bid on these baskets I worked so hard to put together. (Again taking my eyes off of God and focusing on the waves raging all around me.)I invited people on facebook and it felt like nobody was coming, I had the same feeling before our first rummage and we did great, so why am I having such a hard time putting my faith in God now? Because I have let the world and the craziness that is my life get in the way of my walk with Christ. When I wen back to his Word God blessed me with some phone calls from people that can't wait to come out and help in way they can! We also had some more team that are interested in playing witch I'm very excited about because it was getting a little scary there for a minute!!!
I'm sure there are other details that added to my frustration this week but the straw that broke the camels back was that; I just don't understand how some people can be so completely self absorbed that they can't take time out of their schedule to be there for their ONLY sibling when that sibling needs their family's support the most. I come from a family that no matter what if you are in need they are there even if you are not on the best of term nothing is stronger than family... or so I though, apparently this is NOT the case in other families! PRAISE God for the Church family he has provided and the wonderful family that He has given ME!!!!!!

Life is CRAZY!!!

The last few weeks have been SOOO crazy! There is just so much going on, I pray that God keeps me focused on him through out this journey. I feel like the rocky water is yet to come. There is so much going on around me I feel like it is so easy to doubt God and take my eyes off of him!!! Please be praying for our Kickball Tournament... I have a secret "I'm very nerves it's not going to work the way I planned, I pray people show up!!!" I have to trust God, easier said than done!

Fred and I are going for our federal fingerprints Tuesday!!!! And we sent our last pack of papers to Madison!!!! I would love to have everything "paper work wise" done before summer camp starts, camp takes up so much of my time and more important my energy! It would be nice to just have to wait through camp! Either way I'm gonna praise God through it all!!!

Our Last Rummage!!!

Well that rummage was A LOT of work!!! But worth it we made $700.00 for our adoption fund! Now on to focuse on our next fundraiser... Kickball Tournament. We are looking for 8 teams of at least 11 players to participate in our tournament. There is a $100.00 enterence fee to help pay for the feilds. It will be held at McCarty Park June 26th (which is kind of cool because that is Roryann's birthday), the first game startes at 10:00am! There will be a consecion stand and 50/50 raffels. Even if you don't have a team to play for we invite you out to cheer and have some fun!!!!

WOW that was fast!!!!

We just sent in all our paper work to USCIS for approval and to get our date for federal fingerprinting and we already have a date!!!!! We have been really busy getting ready for the rummage this week Thursday and Friday, you got to know how much I love these kids because I am doing another rummage/bake sale... I'M CRAZY ABOUT THESE KIDS!!!!!!

I went to Kohl's last night with Tanya and I bought my very first little top for Rory! Those of you that don't know we think we have settled on names... Roryann Christine Karol and Cole Louis Karol???? What do ya think???

Rory means "Great" or "Famous Ruler" and Ann means "Gracious"
"Gracious Ruler"

Cole means "Victorious"!

I have the history and some Bible verses to go with their names as well I'll have to post them later!

USCIS

We had a little bump in the road with filing our USCIS forms but they are in, they should arrive there by noon today! Now let's pray for a quick turn around and an approvel!
After our time away it has been extremely hard to get back in the grove of things I have so overwhemled and I found myself thinking how in the world did I do all of this; school, AWANA, housework, work work, preparing for the smmer program, doing fundraisers, preparing our adoption pperwork, etc...
While I was having his pitty party for my self that NO ONE showed up for I realized I didn't do it all of this before on my own how could I have? We can't do anything in our own strength it is just going to turn into a mess, God carried me through a lot of the tasks I had to undertake and wouldn't know the second I realized this and repented and prayed God showed me how to prioritize everything. It is still a lot of work but I don't feel overwhelmed and I have a plan!!!!!

Been gone a while

Our trip to Washington DC went well. I'll be honest I had a hard time enjoying myself I just kept thinking about the kids and how different the trip would have been if they were with us. I know DC would not be a trip for small kids that is for sure but I couldn't help but think of what it will be like to take family trips, Oh I just can't wait. I also felt guilty because for a whole week I couldn't do anything adoption related and that killed me. Not that there was a lot I could do we are just waiting for things to come back to us but I wasn't waiting by the mail box to receive anything that might come, I wonder how my mail man felt without seeing me at the door everyday! JK
Now that we are home; down to business, Fred's passport came in the mail so I can finish the rest of the paperwork and have everything sent in by the end of the week. Then all I have to do is focus on fundraisers and WAIT!!!!!!!!!

May Day 2010

Had a wonderful trip out to Maryland where we are staying and had an outstanding day in Washington DC today for May Day. It was so cool to be around other believers as the cry went out for revival in our land and for our country to turn their hearts back to God on this day of prayer. We are spending the rest of the week out here relaxing and enjoying some time off of work until Friday. Internet connection is kind of limited (basically running off of our phones) so we will try to post when we can and should have some pictures posted up pretty soon as well! Thanks to all those back home who were praying for us!

Nerves!!!!!

Wow what a week I can't even begin to tell you all that is on my mind! I started school again yesturday (yikes), Fred and I are taking our parenting classes, and trying so hard to get all the adoption stuff done right the first time! Everytime I think I am ahead of the game I get knocked down a peg or two! Our Home Study is complete and we have the money to submit it to Imagration! I pray so hard that that goes supper quick. I knew waiting was going to be hard I just didn't know how hard and every day that I DON"T have my children with me hurts so bad! Imagine what it must be like for them! There is so much I want to get done this week because we leave for our Washngton DC trip Friday morning. We are heading down for the National Day of Prayer, I can't wait to be surrounded by a sea of other believers. Part of me feels guilty that for a whole week I will not be doing aything adoption related... other than praying!!!! I guess that is why I feel such a huge ergencey to get EVERYTHING that I can get done, done this week before we leave! Keep us in your prayers!

The Run Around

HELP!!!!! I need a "traveling" Notary Republic, My doctor's office doesn't have a notary and they can't take our medical records to the local bank because of HIPPA and they won't let us take the forms to our notary... GRRRRR what do I do? I'm gonna kidnap a notary and make them go to my Dr's office, Watch Out If You Are a Notary Republic!!!!!! Our letter from our lender is also proving to be difficult to get back done properly! My passport is here but because Fred has an expired one we have to either send back his old one or send in a lost report to get a new passport reissued. I feel like I take a step forward and five steps back! I know it is going to get better but... WHEN!!!!! Sometimes I just can't wait to kiss these beautiful babies all over XOXOXOXO!!! I love these babies more than I ever thought I could, it's going to get better I KNOW IT!!!

What an awesome God we serve!

This weekend we held our first big fundraiser to help bring the babies home. The rummage sale went off without a hitch! In the days of preparation leading up to this weekend, Amanda and I were discussion realistically what our thoughts were for the outcome of the fundraiser. We both agreed that somewhere between $500 and $600 for the two days would be great. At then end of the day on Friday, I sat down to count the money...it came out to exactly $1000! This absolutely blew us away. So going into Saturday in our eyes, anything that we made would just be a bonus. As the day started, the traffic seemed to be a little slower than the previous day, but we were still in good spirits from the amazing results of Friday. After a long Saturday and finally getting everything cleaned up, about 7:30 at night I sat down to do a final count for the weekend. I don't think that this was a coincidence and was nothing short of a miracle, we made exactly $1000 again on Saturday!! From the bottom of Amanda and my heart to anyone reading this post who had any involvement in this weekend from donating items, baked goods, volunteering, praying, or just showing up and walking around, we couldn't have done it with out you guys and thank you just isn't enough! With the results of this weekend solidified and brushed any hint of doubt that was in my mind about the ability to raise the serious kind of money that we are looking to raise. Like my good friend said this morning at church, "It is impossible to out give God!"

On another nice note, when I got to work tonight I had a message waiting for me on facebook. One of my very close friends from high school left me a message saying that they would donate $40 a month until we get our babies home!!! The blessing are never ceasing and after this weekend and then some wonderful news from my friend, if you don't believe that God is alive and active today in our lives, we need to sit down and have a chat......

First Big Fundraiser

This weekend is our first BIG fundraiser Friday and Saturday from 9am-4pm we are having a Rummage/Bake Sale at our house 1305 S. 74th St. West Allis! PLEASE stop on BY!!!!

Feeling Good!

The end of this week has been SO much better than the beginning! We found out that we got the fields at McCarthy for our Kickball Tournament Fundraiser on the date that we wanted (June 26th) which is Rorie's (Anna) BIRTHDAY!!!! Then the Pocket Peelers came in so we are now selling those for only $10.00... get 'em while they are HOT!!! Then today I got my "Proof of Employment letter" done. Monday both mine and Fred's medical papers will be complete and ready to be sent in for certification in Madison. Also today we got our first packet of papers back form Madison all certified so tomorrow I can mail them out to our dossier coordinator! Hopefully our passports will be coming next week as well and we can finish the rest of the dossier paperwork! Oh yeah and we are mailing in our request for State Background Checks tomorrow as well! So much to be done but thanks to our Bible Study Thursday night I am not going to be afraid and I am going to know that God is guiding my path and with him in charge I KNOW I will be OK!!!!!!! We SERVE a MIGHTY GOD!!!!!!

Kickball

Good News... we got three diamonds at McCarthy Park for Saturday June 26th! If you don't know Fred and I are having a Kickball Tournament for a fundraiser. We would like to to get at least 8 teams of 11 players or more per team. We are asking each team to donate $100.00 for the entrance fee. There will be hot dogs, brats, candy, chips, baked goods and soda for sale! Not only will be be getting together for a good cause but June 26th is also our daughters 2nd birthday and since we can not spend it with her we ask that you spend it with us at the park either playing on a team or cheering a team on!

Emotions...

I follow two other Mother's blogs and today I read things that made me feel... BLAAAHHHHH! One Mother talked about how her arms ached to hold her baby and I can completely understand that kind of pain. Sometimes I feel like it's never going to happen. I feel like I'm constantly running after paperwork but I never move fast enough. I am so proud of Fred he has done everything I asked this week but because I have been working in the mornings this week I feel like I am falling behind! I wish the mail worked lighting speed!!!!
Another Mother talked about how the need for speed in this process is so important. She talked about another Mother who has just come home with her baby from Ukraine and she talked about things she saw in the orphanage there. They went unexpected to the orphanage and saw the children in a wooden play pin each tied to the slots. This does NOT help the way I feel. If nobody wants these children why can't I just go over there and get them and hold them and kiss them. I can't wait to have them with me!
It's gonna get better RIGHT?????

Happy Night Before Easter

Next year at this time I will be laying out cute little Easter outfits for my son and daughter to wear to Church! Today my Aunt gave us our first little Easter gift that is sitting next to a picture of our family and is waiting for our precious little ones to come HOME!!!

What a Blessing!

As most of you know Fred and I are having a Rummage Sale to raise money for our Adoption. My Aunt Cheryl has been a big blessing and encouragement! Today Fred and I went to her house to pick some things that were donated to us for our rummage and before we left we had made $52.00 without even trying! I praise God for my whole family they have been SOOOOO supportive and encouraging! I love them and I pray this whole experience brings us all closer together!

Check It Out!!!

Fred and I found a new fundraiser... Pocket peelers, Take a look at the side under FUNDRAISERS and check it out! Let one of us know if you are interested!

4:08pm

Today at 4:08pm I mailed our first packet of papers to Madison Wisconsin to get certified! On to the next set of forms and waiting for our passports to get in before we can finish some other forms! FORMS FORMS FORMS... I can't wait until all have to do is WAIT!!! It feels good to be moving forward!

What a DAY!!!

We took the weekend off of adoption running but we had a blast at our Church's AWANA Grand Prix! I won 1st place for design in the adults division! I think everyone had a lot of FUN!!! I can't wait for regional April 24th. Today it was back to the grind! I am so happy I got a whole stack of forms notarized and even though it took the better half of my day I finally got all those forms scanned and sent to Lyndi! I praise God because I didn't get those forms sent until about 10pm tonight but Lyndi was able to get back to me right away so now tomorrow morning I can get all these forms sent to Madison to get apostilled! I hope this paper work craze will be over soon! Keep praying!