Almost done

Hello all,
This is the very excited father of almost 5, Joe...I am home for a little bit and we are almost done with the dossier and ready to send it to the Eastern Europe. We ran into a little snag this past week, besides learning that the GOV'T was ready to send Anastasia to the institution, even though we have committed to her, this totally destroyed us, but we recovered and had to redo our physicals so we went to the MD who initially did our physicals last fall and she refused to redo them since she has changed her mind about us adopting, who the hell is she...we pay her to practice medicine, not for her freaking opinion...both of these on the same day...well we found another MD who is a total angel who did our physicals the very next day, even though we have never even met her...so our faith in humanity is renewed now if the will keep our oldest angel until we get there...be safe...
Joe

$10 for 10

Thanks to a wonderful lady...who came up with this idea...

As you know we are in the process of adopting…in fact, we are nearing the end of our journey. However, we still have a way to go…so we need to ask this of you…
Some of you have asked why this adoption will cost so much. Well this is the breakdown of our adoption cost. This can be quit depressing for me to think about.
Adoption Breakdown
$2000 home study
$1000 USCIS; fingerprinting
$5000 flights
$8600 facilitator fees
$1700 first trip lodging
$1100 second trip lodging
$450 first trip food and other supplies
$250 second trip food and other supplies
$600 passport
$550 medical and visa
$2000 transportation in country
$1000 orphanage donation/dossier preparation costs

If you are adopting another child, which we are, expect $4k-$5k in additional fees.

That's it. That's all it takes. Wow! typing it out and reading this can really stress a person out. But it's okay I refuse to let this consume me. I know God will work this out. My trust is in Him.


Therefore, we have come up with a challenge (another family helped us with this):

A challenge $10 for 10
It almost seems as though I have a theme going with the number ten. I am sending a challenge from me to you. The quickest I heard some one raise enough money for an international adoption is just a few short weeks and actually I think it was less, and she was 11. So before I began here is my perspective on ten dollars.
$10 what it means to most of us.
* couple of coffees from a fancy cafe
* one movie ticket maybe a super small kids size drink to go with it.
* A large pizza
* 4 gallons of gas
* 6 pack of beer
* 2 movies at blockbuster
* The gamble we take on the local lottery
and on and on.......


Here is what $10 dollars is to our Baby Beauties (I think these serve to be numbered)
#1 It's being called a daughter/son, sister/brother, grandchild, and niece/nephew.
#2 They will be loved and cherished
#3 They will wake up to hope everyday
#4 they will know they have value
#5 They will feel the sunshine on there face and sand between there toes.
#6 They will eat when they are hungry
#7 They will feel the comfort of laying on a bed at night and know they can get out when they wake up.
#8 They will have a mommy and daddy to call their own.
I could go on and on but I have one last thing.
They will know they are perfectly made and that they are children of God.

So I am asking if you would consider donating $10 for 10 weeks because what’s it to us anyway? Would you be willing to give up a few small things to save a life? Please leave a comment with your email or email me at jennylovescandles@yahoo.com if you are willing to take the 10 for 10 challenge. There will be several ways for you to make payments and you will get two photos for your fridge to remind you of our Baby Beauties. I will be making a blessings quilt for the babies beds, one square will have your name on it. We want to remember all who gave to save them. Thank you so much and as always prayers are always welcome and needed.
In Christ
Joe and Jenny

days 11 and 12 in EE

Can you believe these are pics of my little stinkers...hehehehe...I am so excited to get them! I can not wait to hold them!





I am so very thankful for these pictures...

Baskets for Babies Fundraiser

We are in the final stages of our adoption process. Wow! What an experience this has been! I am so thankful for everything...the pictures and information everyone has sent...it has made the wait bearable...

So now...I have baskets for babies...

You can have a chance to win the "basket" of your choice...every $5 donation gets you an entry in the chance to win! Every $10...gets 2 chances...Every $20...gets 5 chances! You choose which one you would like...or chose all 3!

1st Basket:


This is a basket of "IT WORKS" products! You will get the Ultimate applicator (4 applications), Body Gel (to use between wraps), and a bottle of "Fat Fighter with Carb inhibitors). This gift is worth approximately $50 worth of product.

2nd:

Now, we have a wonderful basket of Mary Kay Products! Besides the samples...there is a 3 in 1 cleanser (Timewise), Essential eye set with eye cream, makeup remover, and eyelash curler, Tribute Perfume, Signature eyeliner, and Medium Coverage foundation...Wow, what a set! This also has a value of approximately $50!

Last...for now...


Last is a Creative Memories PicFolio Max Album...This is brand new in the wrapper...I did take it out to take a picture of it...It is brown in color...Price on package is $44...












So, now for the donation options...You can donate directly to me, you can donate to the Reece's Rainbow link...www.reecesrainbow.org/sponsorvandyck.html
or you can donate to our Chip In...


If you have any questions, please ask! If you donate directly to Reece's Rainbow...let me know...It takes a bit for the donation to show up.

I will announce the winners July 16th! Hopefully, first thing in the morning! So, tell all your friends...relatives...enemies...strangers...people walking down the street...well, you get the idea! We need you all to help bring our babies home...

Thank you so very much!

My heart aches...

As I am sitting here, without my husband...I am missing the girls we have never even met. We have just about all our paperwork complete, fingerprints done, clothes purchased for the kids...varying sizes of course...about a week from now, we are painting their room and getting their beds ready...our kids are so excited! Our youngest son is ready to move rooms and leave the "baby" beds in the little girls room. We have a couple fundraisers, and my husband is working his behind off!

I am also working on collecting items to take with us to the orphanage. ThorLo (socks) donated several socks to go to the kids...I am really excited about those! I am hoping to take a bag full of donations, so the kids will actually have some new things and they are also able to "keep" some of the things given to them. I want to be able to take enough blankets for every child in both the groups the girls are in. I am also hoping to take some smaller things for all the kids...I am so very excited!

If anyone wants to donate, please contact me! I would love to be able to take something from you as well...

Peace to you as you sleep tonight...

Our Girls

Lately, I have been thinking of our girls. I have been thinking about their skin, their smell, what their favorite things are...just everything. As I was sitting and thinking...and smiling...our middle child came in and said "your thinking about them again aren't you?" I said yes...he said...I have something import to talk to you about...coming from a 6 year old...one is never sure where this will lead. He said...Mom, you are doing all this thinking about clothes and toys and such, but who is going to be their God Parents. When will they be baptized? How will Stacey know what's going on. Well, I hadn't even thought of that yet. I am so concerned about getting them here...I totally forgot about their religious information. I told him, I would check everything out...and we would have to figure it out! So, now that is on my mind...there is so much to think about...rooms to set up...clothes to buy...and lots of love to give!

Getting excited...and nervous...

Hi all...We are waiting on USCIS approval now...tying loose ends so all our paperwork is absolutely ready when it comes in. I wish our fundraisers would have done a little better...I wouldn't be quite so nervous...all in good time...this is God's way of making sure I have patience for all 5 kids! Please pray for the folks buying our house...that everything goes well for them. They were hoping to purchase in the next 30-60 days...When that happens...there will be little to no stress, or at least about the money. I bought new sippy cups today...you know it's funny how just the little things make it seem real. My girl asked me today what I wanted for Christmas...then before I could answer she says...you want all 5 of us under the tree don't you? Of course, I do! Which got me to thinking...I need to make stockings! I sorted through some clothes someone gave to us...there were several tops that looked brand new...so I thought I would take them with us. I am so ready...I think I am going to make assorted sized slippers for the kids in the girls groupa...I am also going to take puffy paint so they can write their names on the bottom of the slippers to make them nonskid...I am trying to get things little bits at a time, so it doesn't cave in on us all at once...I mean...I found toothpaste for a $1 for the big tube...I picked up 2 packed one...don't know why...we have plenty of time...but this makes it feel so real now...

Fingers crossed...house sells...paperwork back in timely fashion...family at least accepts...

God is on our side...He would not have led us this far without a plan...
Til next time...