The Taylor Family Adoption: April 2012

Sunday, April 22, 2012

April Fundraising and Dossier Update!!!

Since our last post we have had three adoption fundraisers!!!

Tuesday, April 10th we had a "Giving Back" night at the Chili's in Hendersonville. We had a group of family and friends support us and had a great time hanging out. Chili's donated $100 to our adoption fund at our adoption agency (Living Hope in PA).

The first week of April we concluded our Yankee Candle Adoption Fundriaser. This week we found out that we raised $350 for our adoption!!! We had a lot of support with this fundraiser and many friends and family received some great items for themselves and gifts for others.

Last night, we concluded our Spring/Summer consignment sale (That Consignment Sale). Many friends and family donated items to sell at our sale for our adoption. We raised $125 from those items under our ADOPT consignor number.

So in the month of April, we have raised $575 for our adoption!!! Praise God!

Where we are in the adoption process...

Right now we are in the middle of our Dossier process. This week we received our receipt from the US that they have received our I800A paperwork and it is going to the second step (Hague) in the approval process. From what they sent us, we should be receiving approval from the US to adopt outside the US within the next 14 days.

We are in the waiting process on finalizing our Dossier paperwork. The Dossier is the large pack of paperwork required to send to China. We have requested all of our paperwork from the required location and are waiting for them to be processed and finished. Once the required paperwork is collected and sent in...we can get a referral!!!

This week we will be applying for grants and a matching grant program.

Please keep our adoption process in your prayers...pray for Melanie to be safe (if she is born) and her birth mother. We desire God's timing!!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Chili's Adoption Fundraiser Night!!!

Tomorrow...Tuesday, April 10th is our Adoption Fundraiser at Chili's Bar & Grill in Hendersonville. Eat at Chili's between 4-10 PM and 10% of your purchase will go to our Adoption Fund at our Adoption Agency (Living Hope in PA). You will need a flyer to turn in with your receipt for our adoption fund to receive credit. Jason and I will have flyers for you at Chili's!

Hope to see you tomorrow night! Chili's (218 Indian Lake Blvd, Hendersonville)

Friday, April 6, 2012

Our Home Study has been finalized!!!!

Great news!!! Today, we received a FedEx package with our finalized Home Study in it!!!!

Our I-800 application goes into the mail tomorrow!!!!

We can now apply for adoption grants!!!

Thank you Karen from New Beginnings!!!! We could not have done this without you!!!

Thank you Jesus for making ALL OF THIS possible. You ARE in control!!!

Today is Good Friday because Jesus willingly died on the cross for our sins... What a FABULOUS day!

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How we got here...

Many people ask why we have decided to adopt...here is our story.

Jason's desire for adoption began in 2008 after we accidently walked in on an informational meeting from Bethany Christian Services being held at our church. He read through the material and knew he wanted to adopt. Jason and I started trying to grow our family. In 2009, Karla miscarried twins at 11 weeks. After her DNC, medically things were not the same. After multiple attemps to make Cohen a big brother, we could not get pregnant. Karla's medical issues became worse. Karla's desire for adoption began in 2009. Neither of us had a peace about when and from where to adopt. We contined to have "try" to have kids on our own. In Spring of 2011, we asked God for a big neon sign as to whether we were to adopt or attempt to have kids on our own. We knew that even though we were truly blessed with our precious Cohen, our family was not complete. God gave us a BIG neon sign. Karla's medical issues had gotten to the point of altering daily life activities and was recommended a medical procedure. That procedure punctured her uterus and led to her having a hysterectomy in the Summer of 2011. After the hysterectomy, it was diagnosed that she had a condition called adnomiosis. It was only cured with a hysterectomy and was the cause of all her medical issues since 2009. Well...God gave his answer. Karla is healed from all her medical issues and in the fourth week of recovery...started the adoption research process. With much discussion and prayer between domestic and international adoption, God has put the desire in our hearts to adopt from an Asian Country...Taiwan or China. So here we are...at the starting gates of this awesome adventure. Here we go...

Why we named her Melanie...

The name Melanie is very special to me (Karla)!! It belongs to the most godly person I have ever known here on earth. Let me tell you the story...

When I was eight years old, I met my best friend Melanie Lynn Stacy. She lived one street over from me and had the same house number. Both of our families attended College Heights Baptist Church. Once we met...we were inseperable! We rode bikes...we started a babysitters club with another neighborhood friend...cheered for the CHBC Eagles...jumped on the trampoline...lived at each others houses...and talked for hours. As we entered high school, I went to Gallatin High School and she went to Beech. But...we still remained the best of friends. We even went to Union University together...she was a year later than me! Our Junior years we both transfered to different universities...me to UT Knoxville and her to MTSU. But...we still stayed close!

Everyone loved Melanie! She was the perfect example of a woman seeking God's heart. Melanie lived to glorify God! She did not compromise her testimony for the temptations of the world. She loved everyone and showed Christ to them...as He did when He was on earth. Melanie showed God's truth...but with love. I can go on and on about how Melanie was an excellent example of Christlike character and how she was a true best friend. Unfortuanately, her life ended too soon.

Melanie was killed in an auto accident on Memorial Day 1997...she was 20 years old. I will never forget the moments of that day... I was in Knoxville planning a Memorial Day cookout with my friend Mandy (Fouts), who also knew Melanie from cheering at CHBC. My mom called to tell me there was an accident and Melanie was hurt. She asked me to come home and I knew in my heart that things were just not going to be the same.

I lost the most influential person in my life. Eventhough she was a year younger than me, Melanie taught me through her example on how to be a godly woman and seek Christ first. I miss her! It saddens me that Jason never met her....and Cohen will never have an "aunt" Melanie. There is a hole in my life without her...

When Jason and I discussed baby names at the beginning of our marriage, I told him about Melanie. I shared my desire that if we ever had a girl, I wanted to name her Melanie. It may not be a trendy name, but I did not care. I wanted my daughter to be named after the person who exhibited the true testimony of being Christlike. Who better to be named after... I know that she is not a famous name out of the Bible, however, she was an excellent example of Christ here on earth. Melanie showed it through her day-to-day testimony with us!

It is an honor to be able to name my daughter after her...Melanie Taylor!

How to win the American Girl Doll (Kanani)!

You could win this New American Girl Doll (Kanani) by making a donation to our Adoption fund. See the details below...

What you will win:

1-New in box-Kanani Doll w/flower, necklace, flower and book.
How to have a chance to win:

1. Make a donation to our adoption fund by using the "To Make a Donation" link below.

$15 donation = one chance (name in bucket)

$25 donation = two chances (name in bucket)

$30 donation = three chances (name in bucket)
*For every $5 donated, beyond $30, you will have one additional chance/opportunity to win.

2. All donations have to be submitted between Thursday, November 24, 2011 and Friday, December 9, 2011 at 12 noon (CST).

3. Deadline for submitted donations for a chance to win American Girl Doll (Kanani) will be Friday, December 9, 2011 at 12 noon (CST).

4. Please make sure to include name, mailing address, and email address when submitting your donation so that we may contact you.

The drawing will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2011.

The drawing will be done by a non-biased 3rd party.

Winner will be notified via email on Saturday, December 10, 2011 from email address: karlamtaylor@hotmail.com

1 - American Girl Doll (Kanani) - new in box - will be delivered to the winner's address that was submitted at time of donation during the week of December 11, 2011.

If you have any questions, please contact Karla Taylor at karlamtaylor@hotmail.com. Make sure to put American Girl Doll in the subject line.

Thank you for your donations to our adoption fund! Your donation will allow us to continue with our adoption process in bringing our Melanie home!