He's Coming HOME!

August 6th Larry and Alyssa will begin their trek to Bulgaria to bring Theo home! We cannot believe the time has come!

The other children and I will be here at home holding the fort down and anxiously waiting to meet them at the airport.  I have begun packing his clothes, shoes, etc. We bought him his own toothbrush which to some may not seem so important but to us it's another step that reminds us that he is our SON and BROTHER!

We can't thank each of you that have stood alongside us and prayed and donated and held fundraisers and asked about him. Just know that the Lord has used each of you to help make all of this possible. None of it has gone unnoticed by us. <3

Will you please continue to pray for the remaining $6000 we need to cover the plane tickets, hotel stay, in country fees, etc.  We have seen God's faithfulness so far and we trust that He will finish what He started.

WINNER!

Thank you to all that donated!

We are happy to announce the winner of the crocheted donuts is the Mac Fam family!  You have a message waiting in your inbox.

Donuts!

Don't these look tasty?! Too bad they aren't for eating.  However, I bet a special child in your life would love to have this dozen crocheted donuts to play with!

We will run a giveaway starting today, June 1st and ending on June 11th.  Each entry is $5 and you can get yourself an extra entry just by sharing this post.  In order for your extra "shared" entry to count, you must comment on this blog post letting us know that you did. Please use the link below to make your donation.  At the end of the giveaway, we will use Random.org to choose the winner.  It's that simple!

Thank you for helping us get even closer to bringing our little boy home!


https://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/bring-charlie-home-/315865

Getting Closer!

Many have asked so I figured an update is in order.

* When are you planning to bring him home?  Hopefully, July.  We won't get travel dates for a while yet.

* How much more do you need to raise?  $13,000.  That number scares me, honestly.  However, I look back at where we started and see that the Lord has provided over half of the adoption costs thusfar so, I am trusting that He will finish this off.

* What are you doing to raise funds?  Currently, I (Maria) am making tote bags and selling them.  We have also applied for grants.  I am selling, selling and selling what I can to add to our fund also.


We have been so blessed by the matching grants that we have been offered though!  The first one was a $1000 matching grant which we met!  We were offered a $250 matching grant which we were able to meet, as well.  Currently we have been offered a $200 matching grant which we are about $75 away from meeting. There are a few close friends that have continued to bless us financially, too and we are ever so grateful.

As far as paperwork goes, we are waiting on approval from the US govt to say yes, Theo is eligible for immigration to the United States.  Once that happens, we wait for the courts in his country to say he is legally ours and then we go pick him up.  The last three months of pregnancy drag on and I will say that the last three months of an adoption is no different!

* Prayer requests from our family...

~financial provision - $5200 is the first immediate need.  It is the amount we have left to pay our adoption agency.  It has to be paid before we receive travel dates so we need to have it paid by the end of May. The rest of the money will be for travel and in country expenses and visits by the homestudy agency after he comes home.

~blessings over Theo's foster family - They have taken such good care of him since December.  Larry and Alyssa said that they are such a sweet family so we want to see the Lord bless them for loving him until we can bring him home.

~patience as we wait - This is difficult especially for me and the kids.  None of us have met him but have seen the videos and pictures that Larry and Alyssa sent while they were in his country.  He is such a cutie and I just can't wait to hug and kiss him! <3

Thank you again for all of the prayers, encouragement and donations. We are where we are because you all have stepped up.

Here is the link to our Sponsorship Page on Reece's Rainbow where we first saw him http://reecesrainbow.org/89421/sponsorgoodhue .

We are so close to bringing him home and I just can't believe it. :)



His sweet little hand in his (soon to be) big sister's hand...

First Visits With Our Boy

It's Alyssa, writing from across the ocean.

We met Little Man (Charlie on RR), he is the sweetest little boy.  I am already so, so in love with him.  It's still so surreal that the little boy who I advocated for two Christmas' ago, is now going to be my brother.  It's surreal to actually meet a little one that I've advocated for.

He is smart. So very smart.  He does not let anything stop him, and is very independent! Climbing, running, jumping, giggling, sliding, kicking the soccer ball,  swinging, blowing kisses...guys, he is incredible. My big sister heart is so, so full. It's going to be extremely hard to leave him on Friday and travel back across the ocean.

He picks up on things very quickly, loves to figure out how things work.  Today (2/224/2016) during our morning visit, I took apart the ring stacking toy and handed the two pieces to him.  He immediately took the two pieces and attempted to screw them back together, and was so determined to *fix* it. He gets frustrated when he puts the ring on in the wrong order.  Today we learned that he love to color and draw, and that he prefers his left hand (We'll have two lefties now!).  He loves water and bath time, loves to eat and eats well.  Our team here in country is so lovely, our Social Worker is so kind, and so is our facilitator.

Neither my dad or I slept last night.  Time change is not my friend.  But meeting Little Man makes it all worth it! ;)

The food at our Hotel is delicious. I ate these fritters for breakfast this morning, with jam, which is also delicious though I have no clue what type of jam it is. I've also discovered a new love for Chamomile tea, which is what we drink every morning with our breakfast.

After meeting Little Man, we've decided that Nikolai doesn't fit him, and have decided on another name.  Which I'm excited to share because his new name means "God Given" or "God Gifted" which I think is absolutely perfect seeing as Little Man is a God given gift! 

Well, I think it's about time for a nap. 

We love you, guys! Thanks, for being our village! 

Sincerely,

Alyssa 

$1000 Matching Donation!

We are excited to announce that we received an offer of a matching $1000 donation from an anonymous donor!

What does this mean?  It means that if we can raise $1000 the anonymous donor will donate another $1000.  Adding $2000 to our adoption fund!

So, our YouCaring needs to read $15,963 and then we will receive the matching donation.  Will you join us in sharing this blog post and praying that we will be able to meet our goal of at least another $1000?

We appreciate each of you and the ways you have walked alongside us thus far!

Here is the direct link to our YouCaring and you can also get there by clicking on it in the sidebar to your right.

https://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/bring-charlie-home-/315865#.VPvI2tz9g8M.facebook

Meeting him soon!

Thought I should write an update about our adoption since it's been a while.

We have made it to the "waiting on travel dates for first trip" step! I cannot believe that we've made it here; especially with all of the hang ups we've had thus far. We should be getting a new update on him, as well. 

First trip will be Larry and Alyssa going. I am sad that I cannot go but have to trust that this is the best thing right now. On this trip they will get to meet little Nikolai and interact (play) with him.

We have raised and received about half of the total needed for this whole adoption - $15,000. We are applying for grants and still fundraising. We cannot thank you enough your prayers, donations, and buying items from our fundraisers!  Your support has been amazing!

Please pray for Nikolai that he is safe and will be fed and cared for until we can bring him home. Also, that we will be able to raise the necessary money to meet the most pressing needs right now…

Additional $1000 for travel, hotel, etc expenses for Larry and Alyssa for first trip.

$230 for his visa.

$720 needed for a form that we must file to allow him to become a Goodhue.

We are so grateful for and amazed at the way God has used each of you to make this possible.  We're coming, Nikolai <3