Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Two more weeks!


Well, in just two short weeks we send in our application and our journey officially begins. I have filled out all of the forms, filled out passport applications and I'm busy getting garage sale donations priced and ready for the sale on the 9th. Our hope is to get a good part of the first big fee covered between our garage sale, a Thirty-One Fundraiser and a raffle (more on those later) that will be in August.

I am starting to feel a bit like a mom in the "nesting" stage, which is strange. You know, the feeling of getting the house clean (well...wishing it were clean anyway;-)), getting less sleep and somehow still functioning. I am having a hard time shutting off my brain at night because I'm so excited about this adoption and to meet my son! I keep wondering if he is being cared for by a sweetheart nanny, foster mom, if he is getting the sweet hugs that I wish I could be giving him. I can't wait to show him the love of a mother.

I have been very sweetly touched by the kindness of friends and strangers alike who have donated items for our sale (and my mom's garage sale), offering commissions from Thirty-One, donating items and services for our raffle (this is going to be awesome!). It has been wonderful to see such kindness and it inspires me in every way. Our family is growing by more than one, it is growing by a "village" and we thank you all for your love and support!

Sarah

Monday, June 27, 2011

Adoption Fundraiser Garage Sale!






Please come by and support us in our efforts to raise funds for our adoption from China. All proceeds of the sale will go towards are adoption fees and expenses.

Many wonderful friends have donated their treasures and we have lots of wonderful things to sell! There will be clothing (all sizes and many great brand names), furniture (rocking chair, armoire, side tables, a beautiful crib and more), household items, kitchen items, TV’s, DVD’s, CD’s, Books, toys, and lots more!

There will also be brand new boutique items such as pillowcase dresses, burp cloths, key fobs and hairbows for sale as well as a bake sale with packaged baked goods and bottled beverages.

Where: 15905 Countrybrook St. Tampa, Fl. 33624
When: July 9th from 8:00 A.M-2:00 P.M.

Please contact Sarah at sarahviera@yahoo.com for questions or more information.
To follow along with our adoption journey please visit us at www.anoceansizedlove.blogspot.com.

Thank you so very much for your support! It means the world to us!

Please feel free to re-post and pass this along via Facebook, Blog or e-mail.

Monday, June 20, 2011

We are taking a journey to China

I am thrilled to announce that we will be "expecting" a baby/toddler boy from China sometime in the next year- year and a half. We are submitting our application to our agency (CCAI) in mid July and will be getting the ball quickly rolling for a homestudy and dossier.
We decided on China for many reasons. Both my husband and I have always talked about adopting from China. When we began adding to our family through adoption China wasn't a possibility because of my age (being under 30). We had started looking into the process to adopt through foster care and also looked at several other country programs. While we were debating what to do several things happened:

  1. My heart was really being pulled to go on a journey for our son. 
  2. Our friends J&E started talking about their upcoming adoption from China and we were really excited for them. 
  3. I just happened to find out that a friend of mine was about to become the co-director of an agency that we had not looked at before.
  4. We looked at the agency and found out about the tremendous need there is for parents to adopt boys with minor and correctable special needs from China.
I have battled with the question of what was meant to be for our family and studied a lot about all sorts of adoption. My friend E said to me "if this were your last adoption, what would you regret not doing?". Truthfully, I've always wanted to adopt from China. Truthfully, if I didn't, like E said, I know I would one day regret it or wonder if I had missed out on something. 

So here we go! I hope that you will partner with us in prayer and spread the word about our fundraising efforts. If is very costly to adopt but we have seen God make a way when it seemed impossible in many families lives. I know that He funds what He favors. We are trusting in this.
Tile Coaster