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!!

Mixed Feelings...

So today I am feeling very nervous and just ... less than my normal hopeful.  We are barely into this process and I am so worried we won't be able to pay for it!! Then, talking with Lindsay and Mandy, I was saying that I definitely couldn't set up a nursery and then just let it sit there while we wait, walking by it every day.  But, in thinking it over, I guess it's something we need to consider since a baby could come at any time.  I have heard of several families who have gotten the call just days before the baby was born.  I'm trying have the faith and trust in God's plan, but today is one of the harder days.  I know it's just a mood, and I should probably stop watching 16 and Pregnant on MTV, bc it's just making me angry :-)
I do appreciate all the support and love we have gotten so far in all this.  That's what I'll think about!

Calling all Gamecock fans!

My friend and photographer Melissa Lea has partnered with us to raise funds.  She took photos of the Gamecock flag on top of our State House last year.  The photographs will be printed as 11" x 14", you choose black and white or color.  The price is $30, with half the proceeds going to the Adopt-a-Mixon fund. 
Here is her blog: http://melissaleaphotography.com/blog/. Below are just a few of the photos.  For the full gallery, click on this link:

http://www.carolinaflagsc.photoherald.com/index.php/view_event.php.

If you are interested in ordering a print from here or one from Melissa's gallery, email her at  melissa@melissaleaphotography.com and just mention that you are ordering to support our adoption.  She will take care of the prints and getting funds to me.  She'll give me the prints and I'll get them to you! Thank you for supporting us and hopefully we'll see this flag up again in a couple of weeks!! Go GAMECOCKS!

What to expect when you are... adopting

I am thinking many of you are curious about what will be happening over the next few months in this adoption process.  I thought I would give a quick overview of what I know.  Just remember, I haven't attended the information session  yet, so this is based on the paperwork and what I have seen and heard from others adopting. 
First, we have filled out our preliminary application with Bethany Christian Adoption Agency.  We have been accepted, and invited to attend the information session on July 8.  There are few things that could get us to leave the beach early, but this is it!!
So, we'll go to the session to learn more info.  Then, we will begin our home study process and full application in July.  We are waiting until then so we have some time to save the money.  These two things will cost about $1800. 
After the home study is complete we'll pay another $1500 for admin and marketing fees.  I think we'll have to compile a scrapbook of us to present to birth mothers. 
Then we wait! The birth mothers choose who they want to place their child with, so we will pray that there is a good match for us soon.  You all know how patient I am (note sarcasm for those who don't know me), so I'll be praying for a birth mother really hard! At the point we are placed, we will owe at least $11000. 
So, that's the overview as I know it.  You can see the need for our fundraisers I'm sure!!
God has blessed Mark and I with the most generous friends and family so I know the funds will be there when we need them.  I just have to learn to remember that ALL the time.  I have already seen how great everyone is.