And The Winner Is..........

The winner of this gorgeous, beautiful quilt hand made by my best friend in Arizona and her dear friend Beth (who happens to be an adoptive mom) is...........................................................................

BETH IRWIN!!

Beth snuck into the Coffee Ceremony at the very end, bought her chances, and tonight is the lucky owner of this quilt.  There are many, many friends that are jealous of Beth right now.   I wish we could give away tons of them....

I am so overwhelmed by the generosity of many of you.  This Quilt fundraiser alone raised $2030!!!!  Praise God.  So at this point I believe we are $1650 from 100%.  That is amazing!  What I thought would be an impossible job has been completed right at a year.  I have been so overwhelmed by it all..  From our very first fundraiser (March 26, 2011) where Missy ran her 30 miles for us so unselfishly for her 30th bday.....we had children give from their piggy bank and hand me an envelope of change, to an anonymous donor matching Missy's pledges (which w/ the matching donation raised $4000), to Chris' brother running and strangers who do not know us from Adam giving to him just for running and meeting a goal, to the friends that helped put on our 5K, and who had multiple family members running, walking, working in it, and the businesses that sponsored the race, and even my own Eli giving his change away for Chloe, to friends who took their earnings from their home buisness for a year and donated it, to a small Louisiana church (who again did not know us except for the pastor who we knew from OCC) who gave their change and mailed it to us as well, to each and every person who shopped the online auction and to each business/friend who donated their time/talent/or merchandise so the auction could be a success, to SHOW HOPE for giving us a grant, and to other "old" friends from OCC who gave generously as well did their church stating "while God hasn't called us to adopt, He has called us to help pay expenses for others who are adopting", to this culminating fundraiser where people across the country created the quilt and sent it to us and to Chris' elementary school friend who gave us the connection to Coffee for Hope, as well as each person who bought coffee or chances, including a newlywed couple just starting out their lives together giving very generously.....every dollar has not gone in vain.  From the smallest quarter to the huge donation......we are so very humbled and grateful.  For the friends that have given repeatedly in several of the fundraisers, and just been there all along the way....how can I thank you enough?  You do deserve the quilt.  Perhaps you will get an extra jewel in your crown in heaven.  I have repeatedly said this through the whole process, but Christ's church is bringing Chloe home....she may be living in our house....but it is you all that have brought her home!  Thanks will never be enough.

May God so richly bless each and every one of you, just as he has used each of you to bless us. 

(p.s. I am aware that above may be the Guiness World Record for the longest run on sentences in a row and fragments---but all you Grammar freaks are just going to have to deal with it.)  :)

7 Month Waitaversary!

7 Months since being on our wait list.  We sit at #41.  No referrals in the last 2 months.  Actually minus one wonderful month (ok--5 1/2 weeks) from Oct. 31st-Dec 8th there have been no referrals while we have been on the wait list.  So all that to say we may have a long line ahead of us......

Well here is the deal....I have just copied and pasted 3 paragraphs from another friend's post.  Why reinvent the wheel?  :)

"When we signed on last January things were moving smoothly and relatively quickly with adoptions in Ethiopia. In the past year things have changed in nearly every part of the process. Things are not moving smoothly or quickly at this point and we are uncertain what the future holds (aren't we alway though?) There are MANY children and babies in Ethiopia who need loving homes. I believe there are many people at work both here in the United States and there in Ethiopia who want to see that happen and happen the right way. But being in the middle of the process while changes are made and bugs attempted to be worked out just isn't pleasant.

We know God was in our decision to choose this country and even this agency. So, we will wait... and trust.

I am thankful for the reminder that our trust is not in a timeframe, an agency, a process, a government, or even our own plans. Our trust can only reside in God, who is both loving and all-powerful to work His purposes."

Amen!  Thanks Stephanie.  The truth of the matter was that when we started in January we were seeing 6-7 month waits....meaning I could have/should have already had "the call" by now, especially for a toddler.    But coulda's, shoulda's, and woulda's don't work in here in adoption land.  My dear friend who got her referral in November waited 10 months and "shoulda" had a court date by now....here she sits waiting another 3 months before even getting to meet her little guy (and at least 3 other adoptive moms). 

I think I am doing pretty good with the wait.  People from church continue to ask how things are going and my response is "slowly".  But ask me in 3 more months and it might be a different story.  There are some sweet families that have been waiting (in Ethiopia program) for 15-16 months for a single girl.  I actually appreciate the questions, because that means they haven't forgotten this journey we are in.....Lord knows there is not a day (or hour?) that goes by that we don't think about it.

Even this morning, Eden ran in to ask Tobe, "Do you know what tomorrow is?"  His reply?  "Chloe's coming home?"  Awww.  Eden chuckled and then said, "No it's your birthday!" He was thinking of her coming home over his own 4 year old birthday.  Man do I love my kids.  I sure do hope she comes home while he is 4.  It may just break his 4 year old heart. 

Stay tuned....because tonight a winner to the coffee quilt raffle will be drawn!