Time to Walk

Let's get walking!!! I had an idea that I was going to start walking on my own but thought it would be so much more fun with someone else. Then I thought, let's make this a contest and fun opportunity to raise money for Brigita's adoption! So here it is....

Walking To Brigita

There are approximately 4644 miles from NC to the country where Brigita lives.

We will all work together to walk those miles to my little ladybug!

We'll track our miles weekly on the ticker above (see the sunrise/airplane/ladybug?)

Here's how it goes:

1. Each participant registers by simply letting me know via email, comment (I won't post when I moderate), Facebook that you want to participate. I will send some forms to keep track of your miles as well sponsor/donation information for tax purposes.
2. Participants can commit to a certain amount of miles or simply walk until we either reach our goal or time to stop to travel to Brigita!
3. By registering, each participant is committing to at least $1/mile. They can either commit to this amount themself or enlist the help of sponsors. The hope is that each participant can get multiple sponsors to help raise more donations and put less financial committments on one person.
4. Also, ask friends, coworkers, church members to join us in our walkathon. We can all get healthy today and raise funds at the same time.
5. Participants will keep up with the miles they walk and we will get tallies weekly to track on the Walking To Brigita tracker at the top of the blog.
6. Participants can stop at any time by simply submitting their forms, miles walked, and money raised  either directly to me, Reece's Rainbow (FSP or mail a check), or through the Chip-In. We must know what amount each donor/sponsor is contributing and contact information for tax purposes.
7. When we have "reached" Brigita, we will collect and tally all the miles walked per person as well as the donations raised per person.
8. There will be 2 winners: the person who walks the most miles and the person who raises the most donations! Each will win a $25 gift card to a restaurant (to be determined later)!

Its that simple!!

Now let's get walking!!

A Thousand Thank you's!!!!

I am so very thankful to everyone that donated to our FSP for my birthday!! I am beyond grateful and so amazed at the results. It meant more to me to see how many people love me and Brigita than any thing else! I wish money was not such a big factor in this type of adoption but unfortunately it is. Don't get me wrong, I think the money is necessary for all the people that are involved in trying to get these children adopted. I just wish it didn't have to be this way. I'm thankful for all the precautions that are taken to ensure children are legally available for adoption, that homes are appropriate, information exchanged that is factual and as complete as possible, and both children and families as prepared as possible. This is why there is money involved and I know in the end it is for everyone best interest. In addition to $40 in cash that I received, a total of $370 was donated during the past 9 days!!! That's amazing! I feel so blessed through people like you who are willing/able to donate and I pray that each and every one of you is also blessed (as well as those who pray and were either unable to donate, have already, or cannot/do not for whatever reason).

What's happening?

Only $68.00 away from $600!!

Can it be done by the 6th??

My Birthday Wish

Thank you so much for your birthday gifts to me and Brigita.

Have you checked out the wonderful happenings on Reece's Rainbow www.reecesrainbow.org? So many wonderful children are finding their families! Masha, Cullen, Natalie, Zane, Lizzy, Nadine, Judah and Mikey...and so many more I can't even remember all their names. Please check out the My Family Found Me page listed under Waiting Children as well as the Sponsor a Family page. Consider helping a family bring their child home if you are able and/or feel led. I can assure you, any assistance is greatly appreciated. Consider adopting a child yourself. Also check out children available for adoption in the US www.adoptuskids.com or consider becoming a foster parent. There are so many wonderful children that need homes and families. Sometimes they just need somewhere to stay temporarily until they can be reunited with their own family. Did you know there are children residing in nursing homes and facilites that need homes? I had not realized this. Imagine, being a child suffering from a medical condition with only nurses by your side and the occassional visit from your social worker. Here's a link to more information about such situation: http://www.allarepreciousinhissight.com/2012/04/nursing-home-adoptions.html.





A Birthday Wish

Someone (no more special than anyone else)

has a Birthday coming up in 9 Days!!



They will need waaaayyyy more than 1 candle....

Who could it be?

Its me!!!

I will be 35 on May 6th!!

So what is my birthday wish??

Its for Brigita, of course!

Could you please consider donating to our Adoption?? Our FSP is only at $377 and has been for a little while. Will you raise that number? Can we get it to at least $500? What about $800? What about $1000??!!!

USCIS Sent

Yay!! I got my USCIS forms sent off yesterday. I wasn't able to get things together and some questions answered in time Saturday. I was so nervous. I was standing in line at the post office and my hands were shaking, my heart beating fast...these papers are so important to me and no one was able to tell me if there was anything I was supposed to do specifically about Summer no longer being in my home. The court order showing she was placed with her relatives will not be available for a month or so. I was so nervous, I forgot to get overnight or express mail or anything. So, my forms will slowly be making their way to Texas. Oh well...can't think of everything. I just hope everything was done correctly, it will be expedited, and what not. And I'm glad to have one more step closer to Beautiful Brigita!

Home Study officially completed!!

Yay!! I received my finalized home study report in the mail yesterday. I tried to get my immigration forms and docs sent out today but it didn't happen. Between computer and printer issues (as well as some confusion and stress to make sure its perfect), I didn't get the information together by noon to be mailed out. However, I can see any reason I will not be able to get the information sent out on Monday. I am so excited to be moving to the next phase, even if it does mean waiting again. However, since my home study is complete, I can apply for some grants. I have started the application for one and am researching some others. The downside to applying for grants is the application fee. You have to ask yourself, is it more important to use the money to apply for a grant or put towards the adoption expenses. Grants are really hard to get but I feel like I need to try.

Could Andrew be your son? Watch the video link

He is so sweet!

Just ONE More 4 Us?!: Where is his hero?: As you watch the video below think about who is your hero. Think about every boy that loves Spiderman and why. Andrew has no idea who Spid...

Boy, Born May 2007
Oh Andrew…..Andrew was born with cataracts in both eyes.  He is completely blind, and has little opportunity to try to manage his surroundings and learn anything but darkness and loneliness in his current environment.  He most likely has other cognitive and physical delays, but what a difference a loving family will make for him!!
From a family who met Andrew in January 2012:
From what I saw, Andrew is a very smart little boy who is very much in need of a family to rescue him from orphanage life. There was one nanny who really liked Andrew, and she would actually let him out of his crib to walk around the room (very rare for this to happen in this room). He navigated the room very well, was very stable in walking, and very confident in his abilities. There was one time that Andrew was in the big play crib, and when I walked near the crib, he felt my presence (or perhaps he could see me), and he walked around the edge of the crib until he got to me. I patted him and he smiled from ear to ear. I had to stop touching him because the nannies on duty that day didn’t want me near the children, and when I walked away, he just cried and cried. It broke my heart. He’s a precious little boy in desperate need of rescue.

http://reecesrainbow.org/32915/andrew-3