Food Raffle

Get in on our FOOD RAFFLE today! We have 121 puzzle pieces left - this raffle will help us cover the costs due at the end of our home study (~$2,250).  Each puzzle piece is $10, and your name will be written on the back so the child can see who loved them and helped bring them home!

Raffle includes: $10 Starbucks GC, $15 Panera GC, $25 Olive Garden GC.

First Interview & Beyond

Our first interview with our Bulgarian representative went great!  Ry & I had a brief interview together, then she explained the next few steps in detail.  We then had individual interviews to start our child abuse & neglect paperwork and it was over!  She is so sweet and so willing to answer all our questions and to explain everything in a way that we understand.

Next step - our Kentucky social worker from Lifeline will be setting up interviews and home visits.  We will also begin the fingerprinting process and send a "child matching" form to Bulgaria to see if our child is on their ginormous waiting list.

Please keep us in your prayers - the mass of paperwork that you always hear about is coming soon :)

In the meantime, we started prepping for our social work visit by buying a fire extinguisher (a home study requirement)!

Poker Tournament - SUCCESS!

Our poker tournament went wonderfully!  It was such a fun time, and Ryan & I were able to meet some new people that night.  Everyone was so kind and thoughtful, and seemed to enjoy themselves - at least that's what I thought from all the laughing I heard :)  It was a big hit, and the game lasted until midnight, when the 3 men last standing decided to split the pot.  People graciously bought concessions, a few puzzle pieces, and bought back in.  I had a great time watching everyone play, and Ryan had a great time participating in the background.  We raised $350!!!

We really want to thank everyone who came out to our first poker tournament - it was such a huge success and it wouldn't have been without each of you!  Thank you for coming out, playing the game, and sacrificing your time & money for us!

We want to give a special thanks to Brian Elstner, Mike Smith, & Shaun Morris.  Thank you for reaching out to people on our behalf, giving us the most helpful advice, supporting us, and your willingness to donate so much to our little family.

We also want to thank the Cohen Family for letting us use their chips, chairs, and tables. You guys are the best!

Trust

We got the call/many emails from our agency, Lifeline Children's Services, approving us to go ahead with the adoption.  We have been sent many emails, all of which we were told to just "look over".  Well, as I "look over" pages and pages of requirements, forms, numbers and acronyms I don't understand, definitions, FBI background information, medical forms, and translation needs, I'm completely overwhelmed.  So much to do, all having to be done at the perfect time to appease the governments on both ends.  We will be in contact with our case specialist shortly, which is who we can defer our endless questions.  I guess the waiting overwhelmed is part of the journey.

Overwhelmed by paperwork, and overly curious about the process, I am quickly reminded that my automatic desire to worry is unnecessary.  My subconscious wants to fret over what to do and when to do it is pointless.  The Lord will continue to renew our strength through the battles; we will walk and not faint.  Our hearts will be at peace and won't be troubled as long as we trust.  Trust is what this process will take the most of.  Every step is complicated.  Every step seems long.  Every step, although one step closer to meeting a child who is in your heart even though you don't know what they look like, is still too far to love on them.  But we will rise, for the Lord is our strength and our shield.  Our hearts will TRUST in Him and we will give thanks.  For without Him, we wouldn't have been adopted into Christ's church.  Adoption is love, and right now, all we can do is trust.

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.       Isaiah 40:31

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. John 14:1

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7

Poker Tournament/The Application is SENT!

The poker tournament is quickly approaching!  We've changed some of the rules/happenings/guidelines so that the tournament will be much better run.  Even more of a reason for you to come!  Just check out the updates on the tab right above "Charity Poker Tournament".

It's on September 1 - the night before Labor Day so you can sleep in on that Monday!  It's a $20 buy in, with a chance to win $200.  Drinks & snacks will be available for $1 or less that night.

This event will be so much fun - we're so excited! Please come and be part of the fun - and invite all your friends!  We don't have a maximum for how many people can come, so invite everyone! 

Just shoot us a message on facebook, or comment on the blog with the names of people who are coming so we can save seats :)

Thank you all so much for your love & support - we sent out the application today in the mail so things will get rolling very soon!

Love & blessings,
Ry & Kristi

Avonlea's Story

Her exact words were, “She has no one. No one wants to adopt her. She has no family.  There is no one.”

This story is beautiful, wonderful, and so blessed.  For a look into the hearts of an adoptive family who traveled to Ukraine to find their daughter.  Just click on the link below to read the family's story featured on Lifeline's blog.

 Avonlea's Story

Puzzle Raffle: Edition 2

We were going to wait til later to introduce our new raffle but since a few people have already bought puzzle pieces for it, we figured we might as well let everyone know :)

The next puzzle piece fundraiser grouping is to help cover part of the agency fees that are due at the end of our home study.  To get some of this covered, we have a goal of 213 puzzle pieces to get reserved.

And the raffle is....

A day of FOOD!  $10 to starbucks, $15 to Panera, & $25 to Olive Garden.  Enjoy a whole day of good food and good service.

Get in on the Food Raffle - we've got 213 pieces!