Friday, September 30, 2011

Working Hard

The last week or so I have been busy getting things in order.  I have been filling out paperwork that will be ready to go out Monday, I have started a new job and finished another, working on our Cookbook Fundraiser and I've been planning a Teen Girl's Retreat along with everything else I have to keep me busy.  I enjoy busy days because they bring me one step closer to holding my baby in my arms.

I'm really excited about the Cookbook Fundraiser.  Everyone has been so great about adding recipes and placing their order.  If you haven't had a chance to submit a recipe then head over to http://www.typensave.com/.  The group login is toddadoption and the password is yjaeb.  Do this now.  Do not pass Go!  Do not collect $200!  Submit those recipes!!  I am so excited about this fundraiser because not only will we be raising money, but each recipe will have the name of the person that submitted it.  I can't wait to show my baby one day the love that existed before his/her birth.  We will be selling the cookbooks for $10 each so make sure you send me an email at thejourneyhome.todd@gmail.com.  I'm really hoping to raise between $2500 and $3000 with this fundraiser.  This amount will go toward having our profile shown to prospective birthmothers and future costs.  We are so excited about what God is going to do and are thankful that so many of you are partnering with us!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Moving Forward

There have been some days in the last year where I was beginning to wonder if we would ever complete an adoption.  Things were not going well with our agency and I began to question if this was what God really wanted for our life.  We had spent HOURS praying, planning and watching as God would bring in the money we needed.  I just didn't understand it.  If God was providing then didn't He want us to do this?

There was one thing that we continued to wait on.  I can't talk about it now, but know that it had to do with finances and we are watching it slowly come together.  It was the biggest way that we could see God providing but He wasn't moving.  Now that we have left the agency God has begun to move things forward.  I truly believe that He was keeping us from spending all our money in a place that was not honoring Him.  He wanted us to trust Him even when things didn't make sense.  He wanted us to trust His word and not the humanistic views of an agency. 

Scott and I decided that we would follow the Word of God no matter what.  I believe that God is blessing us for that.  It is true what people say, the blessings of God for following Him outweigh the here and now.  God has been good to us.  He has continued to provide for our adoption even though we have been a family without an agency.

Last night we attended an informational meeting at Bethany Christian Services.  I was not prepared for the peace and connection that I felt with their staff.  I really felt that because of the years of expereince they would be able to help us along this new journey.  I am so excited to begin working with an agency that is adament about putting Christ first. 

We came home from lunch today and our formal application greeted me in my email.  I'm so excited so I am off to fill out paperwork!  Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.  We will keep you updated.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Journey Home Cookbook

I LOVE to cook and I am a sucker for just about any type of cookbook.  I have a closet full and I love to pull them out and see what new recipes I can cook up for my family.  I am a firm believer that you can never have too many cookbooks!

A few months ago, a friend of mine put together a cookbook as a fundraiser for their adoption.  It was really nice to submit my recipe and later purchase a cookbook knowing that I was helping someone bring their baby home.  You can check out their blog here.  They were able to raise around $2500 for their adoption.

So, taking a page out of their fundraising book, we decided we would love to do the same thing.  So, I am asking each of you to submit one or more of your favorite recipes. You can submit them by going here.  Enter the group login: toddadoption.  The password is yjaeb.  It is here that you will be able to enter your recipes.  We would love to have them from all over the world.  So, find your favorites and add them to our cookbook.

In a couple of weeks, we will give you the opportunity to purchase a cookbook.  We hope they will be around $10-$12.  We are planning to raise between $2500 and $3000 for our adoption fund.  I can't wait to see all the awesome recipes and try them out!  If you have any questions, please email me at thejourneyhome.todd@gmail.com