Sunday, January 25, 2009

On Air withTwo Hearts For Hope!

I hope you all enjoy listening to our new spot (radio commercial) for Two Hearts For Hope that is playing in Charleston, SC!! We are so excited to get the word out to our community about this organization that we are so proud of and to educate people about international adoption.
We have learned so many things on our journey so far, but the biggest by far...is that not enough people understand the process or the reality that these children are living in.
We will produce a new spot each month, so check back soon :)

Thank you to Kim and Stacy, founders of THFH, for allowing us to help increase awareness of their organization.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Doll-a Doll-a Bills Ya'll...


So this post is more for JD to get out his most recent annoyance with peoples reactions to "We are adopting a baby!" Instead of hearing "Congratulations!" or "How exciting!"....as you would if you had just found out that someone you know was carrying a little gummy bear sized bundle of joy inside their uterus....the first words out of their mouths are "Wow, that's expensive." Of course its expensive. It isnt any cheaper if you pop them out yourselves. (I hope that doesnt offend anyone!) But the point is, we are so very excited for this experience and journey and are so thankful that we have learned from others who have been through this already. We've learned how to answer "those kinds of questions" that we are met with when the subject comes about.
We are so thankful to those of you who have shared your journey with us and we cant wait meet our little one and pass on what we have learned to other PAP's. :)

PS: We are almost finished with the planning of the Baby Hanks Adoption Auction for our Adoption Journey and for Two Hearts for Hope. Details to come......

Friday, January 16, 2009

Fingerprints and Frustration :)


We finally completed our FBI Fingerprinting today.....but it wouldn't have been fitting for it to go smoothly after the week that we both have had...so of course, there is a story. And it goes a little something like this:

We received our packet of information from our agency explaining what to do with the documents they sent us and where we needed to take them. I opened up the "instructions sheet" and felt like I was in high school again taking French I for the third time, except this time it was English. I couldn't understand ONE complete sentence of this letter! Finally, I did what any 3rd grader would do...and sounded out each word out-loud and read each sentence slowly. After both JD and I felt completely incapable of raising a child because of our lack of understanding this simple task...we called the police station to find out what we would need to bring with us for our fingerprinting.
The next day, we wake bright and early, with our heads a little more clear....and we head to the police station. We were there VOLUNTARILY to get our fingerprinting and everyone was treating us like we had just robbed a bank! They were not nice at all and made us sit in a corner! Nobody puts baby in a corner! Anyway, JD's first set of fingerprints go off without a hitch. Which means...its my turn. After FIVE sets of fingerprints, they aren't able to get any clear prints. So THEN they tell us that we could go to the Charleston jail and have them done digitally....meaning no ink....meaning no smudges....meaning WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE?? So, we waited until today....drove to the Charleston jail...and again we are treated like we mugged an old lady in a Picadilly parking lot. We ended up getting great prints that we PRAY will not get sent back!!!! (PS: JD had to do his twice this time! haha :) )

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Bump #1


Well, its been a smooth road thus far so we really shouldn't be complaining, BUUUUUT....
We are starting to get a bit overwhelmed. We really haven't come across any snags in our process or any huge rejections to "set us back". Just a few minor things that add up when your hopes are high.
Our paperwork had a few glitches that need to be fixed before we can send out our dossier. Nothing major, just a few documents that were supposed to printed and notarized on specific letterhead and they weren't. I know that it could be a MUCH bigger snag than it is but I think ANY bump that you come across can be discouraging as you dont know if that little bump is going to lead to an even bigger mountain!!
We do know....and continue to remind ourselves...that this is all in God's timing and our little one just may not be ready for us to come get him/her.
We are starting to realize that for our last payment we will need to come up with a fundraiser of some kind to help us along.....or win the lottery...which we have come to play religiously every Wednesday and Saturday. Hey! Someone's gotta win, right?! Anyway, if anyone has any great ideas or suggestions for a fundraiser please email me! We have considered a "Support Adoption Cookbook" sale and an online Adoption Auction, where we get local restaurants and hotels to donate Gift Cards and rooms to auction off online and proceeds will go to our adoption fund and to Two Hearts for Hope.

Two Hearts For Hope Radio Spot

Listen to the Two Hearts For Hope PSA now playing in Charleston! WWW.TWOHEARTSFORHOPE.ORG

Lowcountry Forever Families Festival Spot