25 days of thanks

Today I’m thankful for:

25 days of thanks

Today I am thankful that God creates each person unique; special, in their own skin.

October 2011

{4-5 months}

25 days of thanks…

I am going to {try, uh hem. this would be a miracle if I follow through} post everyday for the next 25 days something that I am thankful for to have in my life…

Here we go.

Today I am thankful for my small group of Junior High girls. Love you guys!

the anniversary post. round 3

{music courtesy of our first dance at our wedding- AKA my favorite part of the whole day}

I thought that this year, instead of posting the old wedding photos again… I would post a few more real life pictures. Plus I found these on my old memory card the other day, and decided it was time to share the awesomeness that is “us”. We’re so weird. and sexy.

allow me to explain…

We were at a hotel in Omaha for a weekend last winter…

The Tar Heels had just won a basketball game
{note the jersey, and the obvious celebration}

Well that’s it. 

There is really no explanation for why we are the way we are… but it does make life interesting. gosh I’m lucky.

Happy Anniversary babe.
Can’t wait to be weird with you for the rest of our lives…

okay just one…

Katelyn’s Fund

When we started our adoption paper work, we were, to say the least, overwhelmed.
A domestic adoption can cost between, $18,000-$30,000. 

We stopped working on paper work a couple of different times because I just kept thinking “ We can never afford that”.

I hate that money was holding us back.

I love that God put people in our lives who said to us repeatedly, “The money will come. Do not worry about the money.” I love that after hearing that for the 12th or 15th time (Yes God I hear you now) we decided to forget about the money issue, and move on.

Our adoption ended up costing almost $25,000.
That is a lot of money to anyone, but to us, that was a fortune. At times I felt overwhelmed and sad about the amount of debt we had just racked up. But who am I kidding. She is worth any amount of waiting, pain, suffering, exhaustion… having her home with us is certainly worth any amount of money.

Thanks to a little saving, a few grants, and the generosity of friends, family, and complete strangers… It’s over half paid.  That may seem like we have a long way to go, but right now the good old US of A has an adoption tax credit of over $13,000. Well, wouldn’t you know it… that will pay the rest.  

If you would have told me we could pay our $25,000 bill in less than a year I would have laughed at you. and probably cried. And here we are, confident that God alone has supplied us with exactly what we needed, when we needed it.

One of the biggest blessings we have become a part of  since starting our adoption process is an organization called Katelyn’s Fund. We started attending their adoption support groups at the beginning of last year, and felt immediately at home. These were our people. 

Katelyn’s Fund is not only is our emotional, relational, adoption support but they have been an aid in our financial support. Katelyn’s Fund gives out adoption grants, and we were so blessed to be one of the families to receive one of these $3000 grants.

People adopt for a multitude of reasons, but we all have been lead to the support group meetings for the very same reason. Because God loves all children, and we are called to do the same. period.  The people who go to this support group have kids from all corners of the world, of all ages, of all races, of all abilities. It is so important for us to have these other people to talk to, to look up to, to pray for. Who have prayed for us, for our future, for the future of all children who need a forever home. This is so important.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17   

Katelyn’s Fund is holding an auction to raise money for future grants, and I would love for all of you to join us!

If you have anything (big or small!) that you would like to contribute to the auction please contact me, or you can submit a donation online.

You can check out all of the donated items HERE.

If you live in Northwest Iowa please plan to attend the auction!
Friday, November 4th… meal starts at 5:30, auction at 6:30.
New Life Reformed Church, Sioux Center. 

wordless wednesday