12 Days until travel!!!

I can't believe it's almost time to go to China and get our boy!!!! We have been sooooo crazy busy between wrapping the summer up (meaning the summer chores), getting the Both Hands project going (still need help) and yes, packing for China!!!!!

We are still fundraising to help out with the cost of the trip so consider donating to the current project Both Hands on the right of this page and here is a very current picture of who you are helping to bring to his forever family:

They titled this one: Hello Mom!

Blessings to you and yours...

Less than one month to travel!!!!

WOW, wow, wow!!!! We are all set for travel from August 30 to September 12th - a shorter trip thanks to a lucky break on the consulate appointment being earlier in the week. My friend and neighbor is joining me while Dadda stays home with Anthony.

And get this......Anthony and Gabriel will forever share the same exact Gotcha day of September 2nd!!!  Usually the "pass off" date (gotcha day) is on a Monday but Anthony's was on a Sunday - Gabriels on a Monday - so it works exactly one year later!!!! We are so blessed!

Thank you everyone who has helped us get to this point one way or another.....there is still lots to do and lots of way to help. Please consider offering assistance and of course prayers! Thank you!!!!

For Him....

BOTH HANDS - One for the widow, One for the orphan

Hi everyone......we are in desperate need of help with this project! Both Hands - one for the widow, one for the orphan....we have a widows home that needs some work that will just make it more comfort able but safe as well. Most Both Hands projects are more labor intensive than supply & skilled labor intensive but we feel drawn to helping this widow of 26 years. It's a crazy project to take on especially so close to travel and we really need help. 

PART I: We have our widow Betty (who is so sweet) and we have a huge list of supplies. If anyone knows any company that would be willing to sponsor this project (or part of it) by offering supplies or money (501c3 non-profit write off) for supplies.....PLEASE LEAD THEM TO US!!!! So far we only have $100 for the supplies from Home Depot in Eldersburg. This is a great write off for any company - please ask around.

PART II: We need help in sending the below letters to 600-800 people .... get your Christmas card lists out....the more people we have the more chances of success! The worse that could happen is the receiver just tosses it away - the best scenario is that they donate money towards the sponsorship of the volunteers - JUST LIKE A TYPICAL WALKATHON! This money goes straight to the adoption costs! Volunteers can be letter mailers and/or workers. We are still in need of some labor with construction experience as well!! Even a plumber who can volunteer their labor and / or supplies too We need an appliance repair person also (her oven hasn't worked in years!!!). We have a long list. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP IN ANY OF THESE WAYS!!!!

This is an incredible program....but not without YOU!!!! Please consider helping in some way!! 

Catching Up.....

Busy, busy week!

The golf tournament was a huge success! 

We had 17 golfers and between the golf, mulligans & raffle we raised $607!!! Thank you to a special couple who put all of this together for us - we would have never been able to do this without you! Thank you to everyone who came out to support our adoption by hitting a few balls around :) on a hot day!!! Thanks to our raffle basket sponsors also! Thanks to a special guest friend (with little one all dapper in his golf outfit) who not only sponsored a basket but came by to offer more support both moral and monetary by purchasing Anthony hugs worth of raffle tickets! More thanks especially to those family members who came from VA & NY to add lots more support!!! A great day indeed and big brother Anthony loved riding around the golf cart with Momma!!!

Afghan Winner!!

We have a beautiful afghan that goes to Christina M. - Thank you to all who donated money to our Reece's Rainbow account or shared our raffle on FB. Anthony picked one ticket out of all the tickets and Christina is the owner of a beautiful handmade afghan! 

Both Hands

More news on the Pellegrino efforts....we have a widow!!! She is a very sweet elderly woman who lost her husband 27 years ago. We are working on the details now and it looks like her repairs are very specialized - soooooo if you know of any contractors, please send them our way!! We also desperately need people to mail letters out sharing this great program. The widows home is very small and we don't have enough room for lots of people to lend the hammer hand but we need to send at least 600 letters out to make this a success! Please consider helping us send letters out - the worse case scenario is the receiver will toss the letter - the best case is that they will be touched about how all of these hands are working together to help a widow and an orphan....

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” James 1:27

Travel

Travel update: the visa office in Gabriel's city is moving and will be closed for the mid August travel date so it looks like we (did I tell you my friend & neighbor Donna is joining me on this incredible trip) will be traveling at the end of August! We don't know just yet but it looks that way.

Matching Grant

Fundraising update: We were able to raise $150 though the Reece's Rainbow account when we announced the matching grant - so although we didn't reach the goal - the $150 is being doubled this week! Reece's Rainbow will be $950!!!! 

I think that is it for now....please, please keep us in your prayers as we help this widow out!!

For Him....

Great day today!!!

On Gabriel's 2nd and last birthday without his forever family, we finalized Anthony's adoption today at the courts. Although his adoption was already finalized in China it is more of a procedural thing in order to get his birth certificate - but it was still nice (I know for Korea it is a big deal as only then is the adoption final). It was funny because we were the only family and two people came up to us to ask if there was anyone else joining us - "ahhh, no, just us three". I guess it  is common to have more people - made me wonder whether or not we were suppose to get pictures with the judge.

We also received our Article 5 today - that might as well be Chinese to those not familiar with adoption procedures- that means only one more piece of paperwork in the paperwork puzzle to get! We get our travel approval very soon. If it happens in the next week, then we travel mid August - if it happens the week after we travel the end of August. (Eric looked and the prices are mega high for travel to China for the mid August, yikes - this short notice is a killer on the pocket)!. So we are getting close!!!!

We also - yes there is more - think (are pretty sure) that we have a very sweet widow to work with on our Both Hands project. We are going to visit her home on Sunday but I will say that God had his hands all over this one (not that he doesn't on it ALL) - I will fill you in with the details soon!

And YES THERE IS MORE!!!! If you recall we filled out many grant applications and with that got many denials - as I opened todays letter I said to myself, great another one down - WRONG!!!! A $1000 check with a kind letter saying we were approved and they will continue to pray for us! A very special thank you to Families Outreach for helping to bring our little angel Gabriel home!

Thank you all who have also offered up prayers and assistance. We can't wait to share this little one with everyone!!

PS....Happy Birthday to my sweet little peanut Gabriel - Momma's coming to get you real soon!!

For Him...

God Bless America

As we spend our 4 year olds very first Fourth of July with family, I can help but think about how blessed we are to live in such a great country with the freedoms that we have & I can't help but think about our little angel Gabriel waiting for his Momma to come & bring him home ..home to the land of the free thanks to the brave. Today is the last day for our matching grant opportunity...please donate any amount to our Reece's Rainbow tax deductible account....God Bless America & YOU.

Both Hands Mission Statement

http://bothhandsfoundation.org/home

Hi....I took a screen shot of the Mission Statement from the Both Hands website to share with you (again) the great program we got approved for. We are soooooo excited about this BUT need YOUR help....first stop - we need a widows home (maybe two)......

(and yes we only have TWO months to get this done!!!!)