20 November 2014

Adoption Fundraiser = Success!

Well, it's official.
We've paid off our home study fees and it mostly happened because of the lovely faces you'll see below. (Also, we've saved, done odd jobs and others have given through our "Go Fund Me" account)

We raised over $1600!

We had hoped that maybe we could eek out close to a thousand, so this total just blew us away!

One thing in particular stood out to us about our friends through the shoots and the editing...

They're all good looking.
(I realize at this point you have probably already scrolled down and glimpsed that first pic of little Miss Jenna, but stay with me y'all! It'll only take a second THEN you can go look at the rest, okay?)

How is that?

Statistically speaking this should not be. Let's be honest...we ALL didn't win the genetic lottery. It's just the way the world works. Yet, these photos are proof against the odds. 

And I don't think I'm saying that just because I think my hubs did a bang-up job capturing these images. Or because we know everyone personally and it was SO encouraging that they wanted to help us add to our tribe.

Though, I could just be biased because everyone gave us money? Sort of a, "they paid me to say that" kinda thing. (*wink wink*)

Nah.

See for yourself.







 













Just scrolling through these makes me feel ten different kinds of grateful and humble. Isn't it neat how being on the receiving end of generosity makes you feel that way?

God has just knocked it straight out of the park in how He's blessed us with friends.

Our deepest thanks to all of you who participated. 

         ************

A quick adoption update:

We are now in the "waiting" period. (happens a lot in adoption)

Meaning that our profile book is ready to be shown and read by expectant parents who are wanting to make an adoption plan for their children.

Hopefully we'll get chosen soon! Our prayer is that we will get chosen by the end of the year so that we can return to our "normal" life in Malaysia as quickly as possible.

We know adoption has this crazy habit of not going like you hope.
We also know that our God is capable of doing big things and giving us even more than we ask or think.

So we're praying for the Lord's will to be done as we wait.

Thanks again all of you who participated in our fundraiser! When we DO get a child, we plan on putting all of your faces in their baby book so they can see exactly who some of the people were who helped bring them home!

02 October 2014

For your kind attention:

I realize for my  *ahem* worldwide readers that this one is for my local Florida homies. (but you can go here if you want to get in on the adoption fundraising help!)

Most of you who read this blog are good friends of ours and you already know that we are in the process of adopting again. Didn't know? Consider yourself informed!

We will be having our homestudy done next week and soon after Birth Mothers here in Florida will begin viewing our profile book. One of them will hopefully choose us... quickly!

The photo shoots begin November 1st and we could very well have a "i5" in our arms by then. (who needs a nap just thinking about newborn nights? This lady! ) But we may very well be waiting for a good long while. Either way, we want to have money ready to go!

We wanted to give you guys a small sampling of some of the photos Anthony has taken.

For the last 2 years he has been studying and practicing taking photographs and, in my ultra-humble, 100% completely unbiased opinion, he's fantastic.

Brilliant, y'all.

To the best of our ability and with complete lack of control of the weather or your child's behavior, we will do our best to give you quality photos that you'll be happy and proud to share in your home and with your friends and loved ones.

And the fact that you'll get the digital files?

Way. Awesome.

Photographers who do this full-time virtually never give out their files. If Anthony ever decides to do this professionally, he won't be giving them out either.

So. Now's your chance.

Photos of you and your Sweetie and all your Cuties.

Christmas cards galore.

'S tempting offer, ain't it?

And since our fifth and LAST cutie (cross my heart I'm serious about that!) is headed our way soon and if you haven't heard, adoption is expensive.

Yo soy no dinero. Comprende?

So. Here's a snippet of my man's skills:

People don't get much prettier than this family!





...and then there's us and ours...






...and not to spoil future blogposts or anything, but we went to Ecuador this summer...
Julia Roberts and her hubs.
Ecuadorian Charlie Sheen (aka Alex)
Ecuadorian Grandpa who is way adorable.
Mi padre, en Ecuador.


I hope you're becoming more confident in scheduling a time slot.
But because I love him and am enamored with him...here's a few more...

Ivy and a Florida sunset

Do we even need to explain why we want to adopt again? Geesh this kid.


Mr. Caleb, Senior.

We miss you Cha-leb, and the Starbucks in our neighborhood!

Hindu shrine worshipper. Great photo. Also this is to show that in case your kids find a paint can just before the shoot, he can work with it!




 The orange groves around our house needed to be mowed us to take pictures in them.




Ya get the drift?

Hope we can take some of your family soon!