171H

We received our 171H today. This is the document of from US Immigration that approves us to adopt 2 orphans. We are excited to have this step in our adoption process completed.
Please continue to pray for the finances for our adoption. We have almost all the paperwork that we need. We know that God will be faithful to provide the finances as well!

Rita's Results

Many of you have asked how the Rita's Fundraising Event went this weekend. Well the numbers are in... $382.23. That is wonderful! We had no idea to what to expect from the weekend. The results are a fantastic surprise.
Thank you so much to Nancy and all the wonderful workers at Rita's. Thanks also to everyone who came in and bought a frozen treat. Each treat helped place a bit closer to bringing our children home. God is good!!
Please continue to pray for us as we raise the funds needed. Please especially remember the Hand in Hand matching grant, as well as other grants that we have applied for.

Rita's

Rita's Italian Ice on Market Square in Knoxville has been hosting a fundraiser for us this weekend. All day Saturday and Sunday, July 24-25, Rita's is donating 10%. This is great, because it is 10% of ALL sales, not only people who know us. Rita's has designated us (Dave and Carrie) as "Celebrity Scoopers." On Saturday from 12-2 we helped serve the customers. We had a GREAT time!! We also had some friends help with face painting. Our sweet friend Emily even dressed up as the Rita's mascot- Ice Guy!
We will be back at Rita's as "Celebrity Scoopers" again on Sunday from 3-5pm. You can come anytime on Sunday and 10% of your sale will be donated, but if you come while we are there 15% will be donated! So come join us for all the fun and a sweet treat.
We are so thankful that Rita's is helping us to bring our 2 children home!!!

Fingerprints done

Today Dave and I traveled to Nashville for our biometrics appointment. Sounds fancy doesn't it?? Well it is actually not anything so fancy- it is just fingerprints. But it is a huge part of the adoption process. It is part of the information that US Citizenship and Immigration needs to approve us for adopting. We hope to get our approval soon so that we can continue on our journey toward bring our children home.
While we were in Nashville, we were able to visit with the Egly Family. You can follow their journey at www.abeautifultapestry.blogspot.com They are precious friends who God used as part of the stepping stones that led us toward adoption. We had a great time together, just not long enough.
Please continue to pray for us as we continue through the adoption process. Pray that God will provide the finances needed. Pray for the matching grant to be a huge success. Pray for our other grant applications. And also pray for our Rita's fundraising weekend July 24-25.

My 3 blessings, with 2 more to come

I am so very thankful to be a mom to the 3 children we currently have. They are such a blessing to me. I look at their precious faces and I fall in love over and over!
I cannot wait for us to bring home our next 2 children. Although, I must confess, some days it makes me a bit nervous. But I am thankful God has called us to the task and believes we can handle it:)
Please be in prayer for us as we have several grants that we have applied for and hope to hear from soon. We also have a fundraiser July 24-25 at Rita's Italian Ice. And we have mailed out letters for our matching grant. If all goes well, we should be able to ask for our referral soon!! (a referral means we will have pictures and info on who God is adding to our family).
Thank you so much for following us and praying for us on this journey!!