Paperwork, Paperwork....Approval! Paperwork, Paperwork...Approval!

The last three weeks have been consumed with paperwork!!! 

We finally received our I-800 approval two weeks ago.  For some reason our NVC approval took a lot longer than expected to get sent over.  Last night I called them requested our PDF of the approval and they immediately sent it over!  Praises! 

Wednesday, May 1st, we sent another large packet of paperwork to our adoption agency.  We sent our I800 approval, passports, new passport photos, visa applications, more money and a few more documents.  Now that our NVC approval was received late last night and has been emailed over to our agency...we just wait!

On top of getting our last adoption packet sent off, we were notified that our home study expired.  So...we have to do an update on our home study.  This past week, along with the other adoption paperwork, we have had to get new fingerprints, new background checks, new employment letters, new medical physicals, and new financial statements.  Like I said....paperwork, paperwork!!! 

No complaints here!  We are thrilled to get the paperwork complete and approvals.  It gets us one step closer to getting our Melanie!!!

The next step is our agency has be compile all of our adoption paperwork and get ready for our Article 5.  Once that is approved...we get Travel Approval!!!  We will be traveling 2-4 weeks after travel approval.  So it looks like we will get Melanie sometime this summer!

Please keep praying for our finances to come through!  Not only has our monthly income largely decreased unexpectedly, we found out that our travel expenses have increased.  Due to the fact we will be traveling over the summer during tourist season, our airline prices and accommodations will increase by $2,000.  That will bring our needed funds to around $9,000.  We know that God will provide...he has brought us this far!!!  Praises to our Jehovah Jirah!

Melanie's first shower will be tomorrow.  Some of my very precious friends will be throwing the shower to celebrate Melanie coming into our family.  I am so blessed to have such a great group of supportive friends. 

Adoption Concert Results

We had an amazing night of entertainment at our Adoption Benefit Concert on Friday, April 5th. 

Our performers were Conner Broome and the Broomestix, Thornton Cline, Alan Johnson with Tim Goude and Emily Johnson, Nashville Suzuki Players, Allen Willis with Jeff Stanaway, Adam Hyche and Jeff Ammon from Shoot for Tuesday Band, The Refuge, and Tyler Fuller. 

We had amazing volunteers...Jeff and Susan Jeffers, Earlene and Ron Young, Kevin and Carol Crone, Craig Wright, Kim Allen, Jennifer Miller, Regina Gammon, Devin and Jasmine Perdue,  Nate Williams, Rich Geriche, Nadine Moore, and Martha.

Thank you to our amazing parents Charles & Velda and Ed & Kathy!!!  Mom cooked an amazing dinner for our musicians and volunteers.

Thank you to our vendors Portside Java and The Cakeartist that donated a portion of their profit to our adoption.  Portside Java has the BEST coffee!!  The Cakeartist had delicious desserts!

Thank you to our other vendors:  Living Hope Adoption Agency, New Beginnings Adoption Agency, KG Photography (Kyle Gregory), Pampered Chef (Jasmine Perdue), Studio Parable, and BeautiControl (Susan Jeffers).

Thank you to Kyle Gregory for designing our adoption benefit concert flyer!!!
Thank you to Gallatin Publix for donating bottled water and pasta for our musicians and volunteers!
Thank you to Gallatin Wal-Mart for donating a $25 gift card for food supplies for musicians and volunteers!

Thank you to all the musicians!!!  The talent was AMAZING!!! 
Thank you to all the volunteers!!!
Thank you to everyone that came out to the concert!

After expenses...we raised $1,200 for the evening!

God is still our Jehovah Jirah...our provider!!!  We praise God for what He has provided thus far and for the rest of what's needed to get our Melanie home! 

We received our Letter of Approval (LOA) today!!!

Melanie Jean Taylor is officially ours!  We just received our Letter of Approval from China today!!!

We received a call from Simi at Living Hope Adoption Agency at 2:09 PM on Monday, March 25th.  That is officially 91 days since we were matched!  Praise God!!

Adoption Benefit Concert - Bring Melanie Home!! - April 5th

Friday, April 5th is our Adoption Benefit Concert - Bring Melanie Home! 

Join us for a night of AWESOME entertainment for a GREAT cause!  All admission goes to our adoption fund to help bring in the remaining $10,000 we need to get our Melanie home from China.  This is a family-friendly event for all ages!  No childcare provided.

Location: 

 

 College Heights Baptist Church, 2100 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN

Time: 

 

5:30 - 8:00 PM (doors open at 5:00)

Admission: 

 

 $10 per person (kids 5 and under are free)

Payment Options:

 

  1.  Pay at the door (cash or credit) *see below how to reserve seats

  2.  Pay online (on this blog)...online purchases are non-refundable!

*How to reserve seats: 

 

You can reserve group seating (10 or more).  To reserve seats, all tickets have to purchased online no later than Wednesday, April 3rd AND contact Karla Taylor to make request.  

  (615-289-6178 or karlamtaylor@hotmail.com)

Entertainment

 

Matt Warren

(singer/songwriter #1 country hit Every Storm Runs Out of Rain)

 

Conner Broome and the Broomestix

 

Allen Willis

 

Nashville Suzuki Players

 

Adam Hyche & Jeff Ammon

from Shoot for Tuesday Band

 

Alan Johnson

 

Thornton Cline

(Award Winning Songwriter and Author)

 

The Refuge

 

Emcee:  Studio Parable

*Vendor spots available - contact Karla Taylor at 615-289-6178

 

 

 



Adoption Benefit Concert - Bring Melanie Home!

We are so excited about planning our Adoption Benefit Concert - Bring Melanie Home!

So far we have three bands/groups (Connor Broom and the Broomsticks, The Nashville Suzuki Players, and The Refuge) and four musicians (Matt Warren, Alan Johnson, Thornton Cline, and Alan Willis).  We are still looking for one more band or entertainment!!!

We are praying for the perfect MC for the night.  There are some exciting requests in the works! 

The details:

Date:  Friday, April 5th
Location:  College Heights Baptist Church, Gallatin
Time:  6pm-8pm
Admission:  $10 per person (kids 5 and under free)



We still have $10,000 to raise to bring our Melanie home this Spring to early Summer.  We know God will provide!  Pray for an entertaining and successful event!!!  Pray for Melanie...her health and that her needs are being met. 

We have a new update and pictures!

Yesterday, we were blessed with a new update and pictures of our little Melanie.  She is so cute with big red cheeks.  Right now she is 17 months old!!! 

Today, however, we just received not so great news that we were denied our last and final adoption grant application.  We had prayed that this would be the one grant we would approved for...it was going to be a huge blessing in the last remaining monies we were to raise.  My first thought after receiving the email was...what are we going to do now?!  How can we raise $9000-$10,000 in four months?!  Then I get the most amazing encouragement via text....

"Seek first Gods Kingdom and the rest of these things will be added unto you..."  from Matt. 6:33 
I am married to an amazing man...one who gives encouragement from God's word...in the perfect time.  We are seeking Gods Kingdom with faith and relying on His strength!! 

As of now, we have found that the required fees to get Melanie has increased.  Hence the change for the amount needed on our thermostat.

We do have praises!!!  As of this week, we have received $200 in donations and have sold a few items on the Girlfriends Trading Post. 

Fundraisers to come...

Mark April 5th on your calendar!  We are having an adoption benefit concert - Bring Melanie Home!  So far we have confirmed five bands/musicians.  Tickets are $10 per person (kids five an under free). 

We are in the process of setting up a Family Bowling night fundraiser. 

Also, we are planning a Spring Garage Sale.  If you are doing some Spring cleaning...we are gladly taking donations for the garage sale.

Please continue to pray for our Melanie in China...that she would be safe and her needs provided.  Also, please pray for the last remaining $9,000-$10,000 to come in before leaving for China.  We know that God will provide (Jehovah Jirah)!!!

Only $9,000 left to raise!

Happy New Year 2013!! 

Our New Year was blessed with a $1,000 donation to our adoption fund at our adoption agency!!!  Praise God!!!

We also found out that the adoption credit has been made permanent.  Praise God...this will help us tremendously once Melanie comes to the USA.  She will have some health concerns that will need medical attention. 

We have also been able to receive monies through selling items on craigslist and Girlfriends Trading Post and was able to deposit in our adoption fund.