Overwhelmed By Love

Every time I hold a fundraiser, it AMAZES me the people who go above and beyond!!

This SuperHero cape fundraiser has been awesome - in less than 3 days, over 60 capes have been sold!

I jumped at the opportunity to do this fundraiser because I know SO many amazing superheros in my life.  I am blessed to work with kiddos with varying challenges and they continually prove to so many that they are SUPER!

Where I work, we have this hanging up :

I also came across this picture and shared it on my Facebook page yesterday: 

These 2 images fully envelop my life and my heart. Children with special needs are constantly battling something - be it a medical issue, overcoming obstacles to keep up with their friends and/or overcoming prejudices that continue to exist against these amazing kids.  I feel like they can also be utilized to describe so many of the precious kiddos that are adopted. 

Children that are adopted (both domestically and abroad) have often faced very difficult paths. Many of these kids have overcome not only abandonment, but malnourishment, lack of attention, decreased interaction and neglect. These SUPER kids have survived so much, but yet they face a huge challenge when adopted - being taken away from EVERYTHING and EVERYONE they have ever known. They may be taken from the only culture they have ever known, put with people (the adoptive parents) that have a skin color they have never seen, and then flown 1,000s of miles from the only place they can recall as calling "home" to be part of a new forever family. TRAUMA inundates these precious children - and THEY are SuperHeros in my eyes. Being Brave and Allowing Love In.

Thank-you so much, to everyone who follows this blog, prays for the process, participates in the fundraisers and supports us along the way! I could not do this without you guys in my corner and God continually providing for the pathway forward! 

I am trying to stay up with invoices as orders come in. You should receive an email from me (worthyofmuchlove@gmail.com) with your invoices and a PayPal link (PayPal.Me/worthyofmuchlove) . Utilize this link and click "Family and Friends" to avoid a fee. Once your payment comes in, the orders will start going out! :)  And don't forget, your donation is DOUBLED with a matching grant, so please keep sharing to all those you know who have little ones in their lives! :) 

In other news, I will be traveling to China in October with an advocacy group! I can't wait because I will actually be able to visit the province that Ari is from - maybe learn a little bit of the culture. This is an amazing opportunity and I cannot believe that I am blessed to participate in. 

Praises: That SO many people continue to support me in this process! 

Prayer Request : 

    ~That this amazing support continues. 

    ~That my heart is prepared to go to China and love on all of the children who are waiting for their 

      forever families

Order Form for the SuperHero Capes: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI833gn5jVtzxPWnhb-UsZy2b-7ki0ouoUlMYBQa57MO8wKg/viewform?c=0&w=1

Cape Options: 

Capes for Ari

Good morning!!!! 

The first fundraiser to go towards the matching grant of $5000 is now up and running!!! 

Do you have little ones who like to play dress up as their favorite super hero? 

Yes?! 

Do you have kiddo's in your life who ALWAYS want to be a superhero for Halloween?! 

Here is the chance to jump on their costume early AND help a great cause AND have your donation doubled!!!

https://goo.gl/forms/kNYSOgQs1whRBE6y2

Please share this with everyone you know who has a little kiddo in their life. Superheroes for a Cause ... There is nothing more awesome than that!! 

Locked In

I received word today that I now officially have Prior Approval  for my sweet little boy!!

This is an AMAZING day!!!

What does this mean, you ask?
WELL, let me just tell you ... :)
- This OFFICIALLY means that no one else can ask for his file, no one else can be provided with his information as we are now attached to each other through paperwork!!!

I am SO SO thankful that things seem to be moving smoothly forward. I am praying that I will have the Letter of Acceptance from China by the end of this month ... that would be awesome.  If I can manage to get it before the beginning of October, I may still have a change to be with my boy before or on Christmas ... and there would be nothing sweeter than that!!!


Thank-you, everyone, who has prayed for this journey!! Please keep doing so as we aren't quite to the finish line just yet!

Stay tuned in the next day or two as I have a couple fundraisers in the works ... stuff your kiddos will really enjoy!!

Praises: We are locked in - stuck together for the rest of my days!!

Prayer Requests:
- That fundraisers begin to come together and over $5000 is raised to match the grant being provided!!

What's the Big IDEA?!

I received notice today that I the grant I was being recommended for has come through!!! 

I have been provided with a $5000 matching grant!!! 

What does this mean? 

I am now open to ANY and ALL suggestions for fundraisers as I need to raise $5000 to receive the money that is being provided through the grant! 

This is an AMAZING opportunity to give your fundraising ideas (no matter how "average" or "off the wall") the chance to  help bring home a precious little boy!! 

Praises: The opportunity to receive this AMAZING gift towards the adoption!!! 

Prayer Requests:

- The determining of how to raise the $5000 to be matched. God has been providing thus far, and I know the ideas out there will lead to hitting the goal!!!

- That donations to our family fund @ lifesongfororphans.org/donate (McIvor #6316) will come in fast and furious to meet the matching goal! 

From Un-Adoptable to Worthy of Love

The day that I have been waiting for since late December 2015 has finally come ...

I have Sunshine's file in my possession!!! 

This last 9 months has been the craziest roller coaster ride! I am so thankful that his file is finally here!! 

To see his little face in 2 pictures that I had never seen, have all of his information down on paper, see when his last surgery was and the milestones he has met ... It is almost surreal. THIS IS HAPPENING ... THIS. IS. REAL. LIFE. 

I know you guys are probably thinking, "Well, that's great ... But what is the big deal?!?". Trust me, I would be thinking the same thing if I were in your shoes ...

Low Down on the Big Deal:

Sunshine was born with a severe congenital disability - if he had not received care when he got it, it's very likely he would not be living today. 

Due to being so involved, his orphanage did not believe that any family would ever want him. They believed this so much that he didn't even have a file when I first expressed interest in him. (Not to mention it costs money to put together a file ... Which they didn't think was worth spending if no one wanted him). 

Initially, he had NO hope of finding a family ... Without a file, you are "unadoptable".  That word is so finite, so limiting!!

I am so thankful for the people who advocated for him in China!! They were able to convince his orphanage that he WAS worthy, that their time and money WAS worth it ... Because Sunshine has a waiting family!!!

So, what are the next steps? 

My letter of intent to adopt him has already been sent to China. Once they approve this, I will have Prior Authorization (PA) to officially adopt Sunshine. Once PA is received, China will then continue processing my file with his and in a month or so we will be provided with a Letter of Aceptace (LOA) ... 

Once LOA is received, more paperwork will be submitted (along with a copy of the LOA) to US Immigration to officially receive approval to bring Sunshine home!!

Praises: Sunshine's file has been received!!! 

Prayer Requests: That this process continues to move forward smoothly, hitting very few (if any) road bumps. Also, that funding continues to come in via. grants. 

 

God's Timing

As you guys know, I was notified this week of 2 grants that I received totaling $3000. This was amazing news that I was so very thankful for. The thing I didn't realize, until now, is that my next fee just posted that is due to my adoption agency. 

Anyone want to take a guess at how much this fee is??!!? 

Anyone??

$3250 ... WOW!!! is God's timing not absolutely amazing?!!? 

So now, instead of owing $3250, I owe $250 ... A much more manageable amount!! 

I have applied for several grants so far. 2 have now provided some assistance and 2 have said that they are unable to help.  Please keep praying that the grant providers continue to have funding coming in so that they can help adoptive families!! 

So, here is an overview of the entire payment process for the adoption: 

So far, $12,940 has been paid towards the adoption (including grants provided thus far). $11,625 to go, not including travel expenses (which could be up to $8,000+).

I am so very thankful for everyone who has participated in fundraisers, prayer for this entire process and continue to be so supportive! Please continue to do so! Half way there is a great feeling - but there is so much more to go! 

Praise: God provided at the perfect time!! I continue to be blown away!!

Prayer Request: that other grants are looked upon favorably - gotta get this baby home!!! 

When His People Pray

I'm pretty sure I can never say "thank-you" enough to each and every person who reads this and prays on our behalf!! 

You guys are amazing and God has listened!!! 

In addition to the $2000 from yesterday, I received word today that another $1000 will be provided through another grant. I have also been informed that I am being recommended for a 3rd grant, but the amount is undetermined. 

Please continue to pray for Sunshine's health, happiness and heart. In addition, that grants will continue to be favorably viewed and this financial burden will be completely lifted.