Oh the paperwork!

We have submitted part 1 of our formal application with Bethany.  We are currently working on the paperwork and I am amazed by the amount of information we have to give.  We have medical records to submit, financial statements, pages of personal information, our testimony, a letter to the birthmother for the website, the photo book to highlight us, and it goes on.  We have to have drug tests and TB tests.  We have to get recommendations from family and friends and our church.  It is a little daunting considering how much work I am also doing for class.  We'll get it done though, and submitted by August 19. 
The photobook will be the most work, I think.  Finding the time to go through eleven years worth of pictures and find the ones that really say who we are... hmmm.  So, I'm throwing out a request.  If you have a great picture of us, send it my way.  Some of you, many of you, have been around as long as we have been us, so surely there are some pictures you have that would be good ones. 

It takes a village...

They say it takes a village to raise a child, well this village is well prepared!! Our village raised $3300 at our yard sale today and yesterday! WOW!
My girls worked so hard to get ready and it all paid off.  I'll upload the pics of the house when my sis gets them to me, but let me say that you have no idea the amount of stuff we had unless you saw it.  Every room in the house was packed with stuff.  We started yesterday around 10:30am, and finished up about 7:30.  Mark and I took our diligent workers out to dinner to thank them. Then we were back at it at 7am this morning.  We finished packing everything, sending off the donations, putting the things to save in the garage, and getting the house back in order by about 2:30.  And here you see the results...

Yep, our boys are passed out!! They worked hard this week, picking up items, taking care of kids, and just supporting us as we set up, organized, and prepared for this event!

There isn't much more to say than wow! I can't wait to upload the pics from the sale.  We had a couple of ladies spend almost $500 on stuff.  We had other people donate out of pure generosity.  This has been an wonderful experience.  We appreciate everyone who came out to shop or donate, those who prayed for the success of this event, and those who were with us the last two days making this the success it was.  We are so blessed!!

Out of the mouths of babes!

It's finally yard sale day!! My girls have worked so hard to make this weekend successful, so even if we didn't sell a thing, I know once again how blessed we are with friends who love us.  Thank you to everyone for your generous donations of things to sell.  Thank you especially to Melissa, Irish, Lindsay, Sarah, and Mandy who have given so much of your time and resources.  I hope you all know how much it means to me that you are my friends.
     I want to share a couple of stories before the sale begins today because I feel like we'll have more to come and I don't want to forget these...
The first is one about a teacher friend.  She emailed me to tell me she had left some things in my room for our yard sale.  She said there was also an envelope in there with a donation.  Her son, who goes to our school, had a lemonade stand and wanted to donate some money to us! He gave us 10 of his hard earned dollars! It's my favorite $10 right now.
     Another friend, who I have known most of my life, dropped off some things while I was in class yesterday.  She said there were a couple of things her daughter had given us, including 4 items she picked out especially to give us and some money because she really wanted us to get the baby we wanted.  Then my friend sent me a message later and as she was explaining why we were doing this yard sale to her kids, the same little girl said, " What if the babies go on clearance?" 
    Madi--- I hope they do!!
I'll continue to share these stories because I really think children have it figured out.  They give because it's in their heart and they don't think twice about it.  I hope that I can raise our baby with as giving and compassionate a heart as these two ladies have!!
Wish us luck, pray for our success, and come shop over the next two days!! 137 Knotts Rd. Lexington

The good, the bad, and the beachy...

So, we drove up from Edisto today to attend our first information session with Bethany.  It was very informative and that is the required first step in this process.  It wasn't too much new information, since obviously I have been stalking their website for weeks.  But, it was nice to put a face with the names and get the information.  We then drove back to Edisto for our last night with our friends here at the beach.  It has been a great week! We have played games, gotten lots of sun, and just enjoyed ourselves.  The one minor hitch was when we got an email from Bethany earlier this week saying that as of July 1, the fees have increased to $17,500.  But I am continuing to have faith in my God, my husband, and our wonderful friends that the money will be there when we need it.
Our next step is to begin working on the formal application, which I think is currently sitting in my inbox, and the home study.  We have to give them all kinds of info from medical history to underwear size ... just joking about that last part. :-)
Our yard sale will be going this week, and we have had lots of generous donations! If you are reading this and  you want to bring some stuff over, just let me know and I can make arrangements to pick it up.
Also, Melissa Lea is still selling the Carolina flag over the State House prints and donating half the cost to our fund.  Her info is in a post below. 
That's about all for now.  Dinner's ready and I want to enjoy this last night of vacay!!