American Girl Doll (Kanani) - Adoption Donation Raffle! You could win this new American Girl Doll by donating to our adoption fund!!

The contest has begun...just in time for Christmas shopping!  You have a chance to win one new (still in the box) American Girl Doll (Kanani) by making a donation to our Adoption Fund.  (See details on donation amounts and how to enter under the picture of the doll...to the right.)

If you have been following our blog, you know that we have a large amount to pay in the month of December to finish our home study process and commit to an adoption agency.  Without this money, we cannot move forward in our adoption process.

This fundraiser - American Girl Doll Raffle - is to bring in the money we need for us to move forward in our adoption process. 

If you win you will get:
1 - NEW in the box - American Girl Doll (Kanani) along with a flower, necklace, and book.  She is the 2011 doll at American Girl where quanities are limited.

On all the details of how to enter, make a donation, deadlines, etc.  Please look to the right side of the blog under the American Girl Doll picture.  If you have questions, please email Karla at karlamtaylor@hotmail.com.

The deadline of this fundraiser is Friday, December 9, 2011 at 12 noon (CST) and the drawing will take place on December 10, 2011. 

Please pray that God will bless this fundraiser and it will bring in the finances we need to move forward with our adoption process!!!  Thank you for your prayers and donations to help bring Melanie home!

Third Home Visit done!

Last night, we met Karen out at TGI Friday for our third home study visit.  Only one more left to go!!!

After research and prayer, the Korea situation that was laid in our laps last week will not work out.  Once we got all the details, there were many missing pieces and to be honest...the whole thing was a little shaddy.  It seemed like we were being used as a ticket for someone getting to the states.  Carol, with the agency in Chicago I talked with about this situation was wonderful...they are not shaddy and my friend was so kind to have told me about this possible situation....thank you Fran.  It was the mother and father information and details that sent the red flag.  Another door closed...praise God for that protection and discernment.

So here we are...what agency do we go with?  We have narrowed down our decision to BAAS in California and New Beginnings here in TN.  We have a week...or two to decide.  Where is our little Melanie?  There is no absolute peace about going with one over the other.  Both are great...great reputations...nothing negative!  God please give us direction...  I feel like we are on a time clock!!! 

Another prayer request...finances!  Once we make the decision on an agency, we have a large amount of money to pay.  We have the money to pay for the remainder of our home study.  The amount we need would be the large amount to the agency.  We have faith that God will provide!!! 

Good news...we did receive a very nice donation of $225 this week from a very sweet friend and received $283.50 from selling items at my consignment sale under the consignor number ADOPT last week.  Our total of donations are now up to $4356.  Praise God!!! 

For all those prayer warriors...please pray for two things:
1.  Wisdom on which agency to go with (within two weeks)
2.  Finances to pay that agency once we decide

We may have a new open door...

This week has been rather interesting and filled with excitement.  My consignment sale started on Tuesday, That Consignment Sale.  We officially had 58 consignors actually drop off.  Sales are going great for our first sale!!!  I was offered a business opportunity...to purchase another business on Monday.  However, Wednesday was probably the most eventful day of the week. 

Cohen takes a class on Wednesdays.  While I waiting, checking my email and posting my sale on craigslist, my sweet new friend Fran (which has a grandaughter is Cohen's class) tells me about an interesting adoption situation that was told to her daughter.  In less than 30 min. after our conversation, I was on the phone with a lady named Carol that was in an agency in Chicago.  Long story short...we may have an opportunity to adopt a little girl as soon as February.  The mom lives in Korea and wants to come to the US to have her little girl. 

How cool is that?  As me and Fran both said...this would be a God thing if it works out.  We are not getting our hopes up just yet.  There is one family in front of us to either accept or deny this opportunity.  Three other families have already said no.  There would be a lot of upfront expences, which we do not have at this moment and adoption details that are up in the air. 

Please pray that if this little girl is not our Melanie that the door will close shut quickly.  We want God's will.  Also...we have less than two weeks to decide on an agency and country.  With this new opportunity...things may change.  Please pray, pray, pray that we will KNOW in our hearts what God wants us to do.

2nd Home Study Complete!

Last night, Friday, November 4, 2011, we had our second home study with Karen at New Beginnings.  She came to our house to do the inspection and interview us.  It was great! 

We are in prayer mode...what agency do we go with?

We have two weeks to decide on an agency.  Right now we are praying between two...New Beginnings where we are doing our home study or BAAS in California.  There are wonderful things about both agencies!!!  No negatives!  What to do?

So...we are praying for direction...

Also...this next week is our big consignment sale - That Consignment Sale!  We have 76 consignors and around 4,000 items coming.  Great for our first sale!!!  Today I am tagging 318 items for the ADOPT consignor number...everything sold under this number will go directly to our Adoption Fund.  I am actually tagging over 400 items today.  I thought it was 400 items...I miscounted it is more like 550.  Wow...I have a busy day ahead of me. 

Please pray for volunteers for our sale!  It will not run smoothly without my volunteers!!!!  We need volunteers for the sale Wed - Sat.  I want God to be glorified...he has provided the money, location, and everything for this sale.  I pray it is a success!!!

Fingerprints and Background Checks...

Well today I set up our appointments for fingerprints and will pick up our background checks in Hendersonville.  I seriously feel like I am applying for a government job or applying to be an educator again.  One step closer in the adoption process!!! 

This Friday, Nov. 4th is our second home study visit with Karen.  Last weeks meeting was rescheduled. 

Praying for direction on which agency to go with right now...  We still cannot get the orphange in Taiwan out of our mind.  Emailed them again today to pray this week to reconsider.  We want God's will not ours...  So...is this really a closed door?  I guess we will see this week.  Pray for direction...

The clock is ticking...  We have to pick an agency before we conclude our home study. 

Zumbathon

Last night we had our Zumbathon adoption fundraiser!  We had nine instructors volunteer their time and a total of 22 people.  It was a night of fun and figuring out how out of shape I am.  I have to say I love to Zumba...not very good at it yet...but definitely going to start taking a class. 

There were door prizes ranging from a massage (Deb Catron), hair car (157 Studio), med spa treatment (Rivergate Med Spa), tshirts (For His Glory), a painting (Amanda Baugher), free Curves membership (Gallatin/Long Hollow), an ornament, a belt (Doodle Bug Designs), and gift certificate for yummy treats (Iced Bake Shop).   There were bananas, bottle water and cereal bars to munch on between instuctor changes.

We cleared $160 for our adoption fund after expenses...what a blessing! 

On a side note...we also sold the wooden file cabinet and wooden table and chairs that did not sell during our adoption yard sale.  We made $125 for the adoption fund!

In one day...we raised $285 for the adoption fund!  Thank you God!

God closes a door...

Over the last three days Jason, Cohen and I have spent some much needed family time away in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area.  Just a little family vaca at the Wilderness Lodge while Jason is on Fall break.  This was planned back in the Spring of 2011.  There was hiking (Jason's favorite), swimming at the indoor water park (Cohen's favorite), shopping at the discount scrapbook store (Karla's favorite), and eating.  We all enjoyed the relaxation! 

While we were away, God closed a very large door in our adoption process.  Jason received an email confirming that the orphanage in Taiwan would not allow us to adopt from there.  The reason...because we already had a child.  To our understanding, the orphanage had made exceptions for those that already had children before...so why not us?  Even with the knowledge that I am unable to physically have any more children, the decision still stayed.  This was a bummer to find out during our vacation!

We have prayed for God to close doors so that we know His plan...not ours.  Wow...this is harder than I thought!  I really believed in my heart that Taiwan was the location of our Melanie.  Guess not...  I am not going to lie, I am a little discouraged.  Jason and I will continue to pray for the next direction in our adoption process.  We will pray and move forward with our home study!

Another sad thing to report...  When we returned from our vacation, we found our sweet little Beta fish - Grassy - had passed away.  Yes...we had someone feeding and taking care of her while we were gone.  She lived six months.  I will miss my mornings with Grassy jumping out of the water after being fed while I fix breakfast for me and Cohen.  She was the best fish ever!  RIP Grassy!