We have been approved through Lifesong for Orphans and Westside Family Church for a $2,000 matching grant. Basically, if we can raise $2,000, we will be matched an additional $2,000. The date that they would like this to be done by is May 13, 2013. This does not leave us a whole lot of time, but we have some fundraising opportunities on the horizon.
The first is going to be held on Friday, April 12th 7:00pm at our house in Shawnee (message me for the address if interested). Christine Johnson, a fellow "Westsider" and early worshiper (we see each other every Sunday morning at 8:30am) is a rep for Thirty-One, and she has graciously offered to have a fundraising party for us. All of the profit she would have earned from this party will be given towards our adoption. This is not a ladies only event, per se, but Nathan will be elsewhere with the kids. Here is a link to the catalog if you cannot make it, but would like to purchase something. If you are coming, just let me know, and please feel free to bring a friend or two!
https://www.mythirtyone.com/christinejohnson/
The second opportunity is donating towards our big garage sale! We have had many generous donations towards this event already! The garage is filling up. If you need for us to pick up your items, we can arrange that! The sale will hopefully be part of our neighborhood garage sale in May. There might be a conflict with an adoption retreat I am attending, but we will adjust the weekend of the sale if that is the case. All of the proceeds of the sale will also go towards that grant money we need to earn. I will keep you all posted on the garage sale date once that is determined. Please let us know if you have items to donate!
And of course, cold hard cash always works, too! Lifesong has an account in our name already set up, so feel free to send them a check or you can go to their website. Here are those instructions:
Give by Check
Please make checks payable to Lifesong for Orphans.
In the memo please note your gift preference with Family Account Number and Family Name. Our account number is 3466
Please mail checks to:
Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
Give Online
1. Go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate
2. Select Give to an Adoptive Family
3. Complete online form and fill in Family Account Number & Family Name Fields
*Please note that PayPal will charge an administrative fee (2.9% + $.30 USD per transaction). Your
donation will be decreased by the amount of this fee.
Individual donations $250 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a taxdeductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $250 will gladly be sent upon request.
Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.
If you have any questions about donations please contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org
Where are we at in the process? I am getting that question often! Today, we went to the Homeland Security office and crossed our little fingers that they would let us come a few weeks early to get our fingerprints. Nathan had a plane to catch this morning, and the office is right by the airport, so we figured we'd give it a try. The people there were very friendly, and did not turn us away, but the wait was too long for Nathan. So, I was able to get mine done, but he'll have to go back next week.
Once this gets done, we will be waiting for our USCIS approval letter- stating we are approved to adopt internationally. This letter will be the final piece of paper we need to add to our dossier before sending it off to our agency. They will then send it over to Ethiopia, and we will officially be on a waiting list! This will be exciting- to (slowly) see our number get closer to the #1 spot, as we anticipate getting the referral for our daughter! It gives me goosebumps to think about how amazing this day will be. At this point, only God knows who our daughter is, but we already love her- and consider her our child and a part of our family!
