Dinner table questions

When my friends sit down with their daughters at dinner, they take turns going around the table and asking, "What was your favorite thing about today? What was your least favorite thing about today?"

Here are mine.

My least favorite thing about the day - so far (it is early afternoon, after all) is walking back to the house from Molly's kennel knowing it will be late tonight before I'm home to let her out to run and play around the yard. She looks at me with those big brown eyes and her ears perked up with the tiniest bit of optimism. "Maybe she'll turn around. Maybe I won't be stuck here all day." And then I go in the house, look out the back door, and she jumps to reach the latch on the gate. It breaks my heart every day. I mean - Look at this face.

My favorite thing about the day - so far - is walking back to the house this morning and SEEING MY BREATH FOR THE FIRST TIME OF THE FALL!!!! Always exciting. And I feel a little better for Molly, because if she has to stay cooped in the pen all day, at least she has BEAUTIFUL weather to do it in, plenty of toys, water, food, and holes to dig. I swear at the rate she's going, we'll be able to walk straight through to Russia.

And one final question - What am I looking forward to today? This evening, I will be going to an oil painting class with an old friend. I'm excited about the class. But I'm excited about going with Her. Everyone needs a "tell it like it is, and make it FUNNY" friend. She is mine. This is going to be hysterical. Me, her, and a bunch of amateur arteeests in a very pretentious town.

This should be an historic evening.

I'll save it for tomorrow's dinner table.

JK

Why does this always happen to me?

Just as soon as I publish something and make it headline news, the parameters change and I look like I can't make my mind up.

Yesterday, the teachers in my district were invited to a huge consignment sale. Now, normally I favor a little shop run by a friend of mine - "Banana Peel", so initially I didn't want to go. But given the scope of this mammajamma sale, I was able to find what I had been wanting. Cheap but cute matching bedding. Amy Coe pink butterflies - two complete sets. I got blankets, bumpers, crib skirts, even an accent pillow - all for $40.

I know it's not a big deal.

But it's a big deal.

The ChipIn has been changed to reflect our small second goal. It's still showing contributions that were made with the first goal of $10,000. Those will stay there until we get to the end date of this second goal - the amount of which is officially $5000 plus what was already in the till. Now, very small donations will make a bigger difference on the percent of goal reached. Just another way I want you to know how much I appreciate all you do for us.

Thanks,

JK

TShirts and Travel

They're flying out the door. I'm so excited about the feedback and support we are getting through tshirt sales. We've already had to order a second batch just to meet demand. Make sure you click the link "Loved Tees" above to view all three styles. Available in a variety of sizes and sleeve lengths. Don't see what you need available? Just email and ask for it. I had someone this week ask for royal blue shirts for her nephews because "they have the prettiest blue eyes." How do you say no to that?

The next immediate need is going to be for our travel to Russia for the first trip. We're estimating a need of about $5000 for this. If you have bonus miles, we can use them!!! Those are transferrable within airline partners. Also, if you have Marriott points, we can use those also. All of this will help bring down the cost of that first trip. I've decided to redo the ChipIn widget to show our little goals rather than the big one. When you make a small contribution, I want you to know just how BIG it is in the grand scheme of things.

Now, let's talk "Baby Bedding". While we had evacuated for Hurricane Rita in 2005 from Port Arthur, we spent a few weeks just before we came home just north of Houston in The Woodlands. There, I bought some discontinued baby bedding from PotteryBarn Kids. "Chamois Lambie". I still have it, in the package, with the tags. And now I don't know what to do. Do I try to sell it by consignment? Do I try to get something that will coordinate? Do I try to find a used matching set on Ebay? I haven't been able to make up my mind about the thing - mostly because baby bedding is so ridiculously expensive. I have bought king size sets with more pieces for less money. I think the baby bedding manufacturers and distributors prey on emotional women in a time of weakness and/or indulgence. (Uh Oh? Have I let the cat out of the bag on that one? If I'm not here tomorrow, the Capitol got me first.)

And then Friday evening, a friend said, "When you look back, you won't think - Gosh! I wish I had spent more money on matching bedding!" True....but I still haven't decided what to do. I think I'm waiting for time to force my hand.

Speaking of time....Here's where things stand, now that we have sent the contract and first payment in.

1. Paperwork will be translated into Russian, documents compiled, and mailed to Russia for review.
2. Paperwork is reviewed in Russia. Second week of October if they're quick about it. Fourth week if not.
3. Receive invitation to travel - about two weeks from the time the paperwork is reviewed.
4. Travel as soon as invitation is received.

So this means, our first trip to Russia to see our babies will possibly be as early as the end of October. More likely it will be the first or second week of November. We're going to set October 31 as the target for the $4500. If tshirt sales continue as they have been, they may account for at least half of that. Just remember - Christmas is around the corner.

In November, we will feature one final design in short and long sleeves. Help us decide on a color choice. Here are some options.

• Brown w/ Pink print
• Purple w/ White Print
• Dark pink w/ White Print
• Navy w/ White Print
• Royal Blue w/White Print
• Other

Post a comment with your choice. Or make two choices. We might make one in a masculine color and one in a more feminine color.

Finally.....P.S. Sorry so long winded today.....

How God is moving in all of this: I was very blessed by a young lady who took two novelty store giant baby bottles and emptied her piggy bank to fill them for us. I am daily humbled by the sources that God is using to help meet our needs, by the daughters who pray for us around their dinner table, by the mothers who are explaining to their sons the dream that God has put in our hearts. I am so very, very blessed.

Thanks to all of you. Keep up the prayers.

JK

Dear God,

How are you? I'm good. Thanks for helping my sore throat go away. Thanks for Benadryl and a good night's sleep.

Today was an okay day. I struggled with my classes, though. It's hard sometimes when I know what I want the class to look like, and they just don't get it. I thought this would be a good week, even in spite of a little cold. I give the kids direction, and then tell them they can have some freedom inside of those boundaries. And from there, things go pear-shaped.

They either limit themselves within those confines and never explore what I wanted them to in the music they're hearing, OR they forget the boundaries are there, and they create total bedlam. Why can't they see that the freedom I give them is a gift, and the boundaries I set are for their good and to help their activity make sense?

Dear God,

Is this how you feel?

...

My other life

Our heads have been buried in paperwork so much as of late that I've had a hard time remembering things I used to do for fun when I had the time. I pass by a box of craft paints on the steps up to what used to be the rec room. It's now a guest bedroom for the soon to be nanna and paw paw. I used to paint. I used to make my own Christmas cards. What else did I do?... Hmm. Write music. Blog about things other than paperwork. I think I used to go running.

...HA! I just laughed so hard I snorted! I have never been a runner. I have run, but more out of a sense of "I wonder if I could make it to the mailbox without slowing down?"

Back to the point..I need some time to get back a little of myself, which for me means time for creativity. I also find that even though I have spent a lot of time praying about things we need from God, I haven't spent as much time just enjoying Him. So what is the remedy.

Well, according to Revelation 2, a letter written to the budding church of Ephesus, who had gotten really busy but had lost themselves and their passion in the process, their path back looked like this:

1. Remember. It wasn't always this way. Retrace your steps to the place where things were good.

2. Repent. At what point did things start to veer off course? That is the point of turning around, adjusting the course, giving control of the vehicle back to God.

3. Redo. Start over.

To me, this is the great attraction of the gospel of Christ versus other world religions. Other religions say "Start from where you are and work really hard to make up for your own failures. It's up to you. If you are one of the fortunate ones, you may find what you're looking for, a happy ending." Christ says, "Start from where I am, and I'll forgive your failures. It's up to me. If you are one of the unfortunate ones, I will give you what you are looking for, a new beginning."

I can't think of many situations in life that these three steps won't correct. Diet gone south? (I can relate.) Remember what you were doing when it worked. Repent - turn back to that plan. Redo those things. Bad relationship? Debt piling up? "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

You know, I remembered something else I used to do...counsel from scripture.

Mmm.

It's good to be back.

Sneak Peek

This is a sample of one tshirt design that will be available for a donation. I had them printed in short sleeve and long sleeve. This one is adult sizes only right now. I do have kids' sized designs that will be available, too.

I'm picking up an order of printed shirts on Wednesday of next week and I will get some "models" to display them.

I am also in the process of adding a page to the blog dedicated just to the tshirt sales. But right now, you can order yours by leaving your order in a comment, and paying by clicking the ChipIn widget. Just make sure that on ChipIn you leave your correct shipping address.

Print design is on the back, with the USSR hammer and sickle on the front pocket area.

Prices for this shirt are:

Long Sleeve - $26.95

Short Sleeve - $22.95

Price includes shipping. If you live in the area, you know where to find me. Buy yours directly and save the cost of shipping.

I'm sitting at the PIT airport, ready to go home and relax (do laundry). We left early from the hotel, anticipating heavy traffic, a few missed turns, 30 minutes to wait in line and turn in the rental car, then a long line and thorough search going through myriad security checkpoints. The onlý thing that actually happened out of all those were the few missed turns. Blame it on the GPS!

We still made it on time to the airport. Security was not nearly what I thought it should have been today. Maybe we don't fit any kind of profile, so we didn't get the full effect of things. There were several security officials all over the place at the one main checkpoint. But we walked through rather quickly. I guess I don't have any major fears other than the usuals about flying and the cleanliness of escalator hand rails.

So what's next? Well, we got a lot of papers signed and turned in yesterday. We got an overwhelming amount of information about the adoption and court process in Russia. It is meant by design to be very intimidating and discouraging. The faint of heart need not apply. That said, if we can get our homestudy submitted by the first monthly round of reviews (Russua does 2 reviews a month) we can be traveling as early as October! After that, things will depend on holiday office closings. Russia celebrates Christmas late and long. Meaning nothing will be going on from December 30 to January 10. If we can get to court before December 15, we'll be home with children by New Years. If not, then we'll have to come home after court and make a third trip back to Russia to get girls and visas after their holiday break.

It's all about timing and money and time off from work.

Well, we're getting ready to board.

I've only been speechless a couple of times in my life. Words usually come easily. But wrapping my mind around the fact that God has picked out two dear little girls for me, and that He is answering so many prayers, some of which I have been praying since I was little more than a child myself...well, as the Psalmist said, "such knowledge is too wonderful for me."

So rather than trying to give voice to the many emotions and expectations of the coming months, I will make it a practical update:

We're in Pittsburg for our interview/paper exchange with the new agency. Our social worker from MS is in Nepal and will have a meeting at the Embassy in a few hours that will determine how soon the adoptive families he is escourting can come home. Pray for favor for his meeting, because we need him home to sign off on our update and other letters to Russia. And they've already been in Nepal longer than expected. I know they're all ready to return with their new children.

We will be flying home on 9/11 which puts a knot in my stomach every now and then. But we're not flying into a major hub or over a major city, so I'm not too worried...today. Pray for traveling mercies.

We raised just over half of the first $10,000. That was in about three weeks. I don't know if you have started filling baby bottles yet, but I have been told they fit great in a cupholder, which is a convenient place to catch loose change. We'll find out the timeline for exactly when all these funds will be due and I will pass that along to our supporters and prayer warriors.

Keep us and the process in your prayers. Big day tomorrow.

NEW WEB ADDRESS

If you have a bookmark for the blog...and I know you do...please update it with the new domain name. Or just click the link and save a new bookmark. The new address is www.lovelylittlefootsteps.com .

Also, check back in a few days because I will be adding a few things to it. We have some new teeshirt designs for the adoption, and I am going to try to set up a page where you can view and purchase them online through paypal.

We travel to Pittsburg to hand off our dossier paperwork in a week. We're so blessed with great friends who continue to give sacrificially to make this first leg of the journey possible. Continue to pray that God will multiply the gift like the fish and loaves so we can have everything we need. And buy your tickets now for Praise In The Park . I will be there with Tracy Lewis at her ministry booth with teeshirts for sale.

God bless.

Jo

Fundraising update: Baby Bottle Challenge

The widget has changed.

Our first big push...which didn't look like much on here, but was actually better in person...has now turned in to the second big push. Don't get discouraged by the amount or the time frame. Lord knows I have spent a lot of time praying against that discouragement.

One thing that has been frustrating is the amount of detail that grant and adoption loan ministries or businesses want. I have been worn thin these past few weeks filling out tons of applications, making copies, saying the same thing a thousand different ways because everyone phrases the questions a little differently. There are only two places on the kitchen table right now to sit and eat because of the paperwork.

Worth it? No question. But whew! What a load!

One thing we have discovered is that the amount of help available isn't really equal to the amount that adoptions cost. Sometimes I feel like that's unfair. Insurance covers large amounts of a natural birth, except for some part of a deductible. Our bank, our credit union, our mortgage company don't make special offerings for adoption - which is StUpId on their part, because with the federal tax credit, they can guarantee being repaid.

Sometimes, I feel judged....mostly by myself....like I am not worthy to do this because I can't just throw the money down in cash myself. But I don't know many people who just laid all the money down in cash to have their own babies. Of the ones that had children without insurance, they still worked out a payment plan with their doctor and hospital. We don't get that option. The agencies don't grant too many waivers or finance options for this process. And depending on your country, the number of times you travel, the length of time you travel, and the number of children you are adopting, costs can vary greatly.

If you were curious, and since I have had to put this information on every form I have just filled out....Our adoption with this new agency will cost a grand total of $45,000 NOT including travel. Our travel for two trips totalling 5 weeks in country should round it out to $57,000. This is a huge hike from our previous agency. Nepal had decreased fees, shorter time in country, and one trip as opposed to two. Where does the $45,000 go? Most of it goes to the US agency for placement expenses and their administrative fees. They do include all of the paperwork, like visa applications and so forth. Those were little things that were nickel and diming us with the first agency....not in a bad way. But some of those things we have already had to pay for. This is a little like salt in the wound. $17,000 will actually go to Russia to pay their fees and make a donation to the orphanage that houses our daughters right now.

All we can do at this point is apply, apply, apply for everything that we can find. And of course we pray, pray, pray. We have been doing this all along the way, and hopefully this blog is a daily confirmation that God is answering. We will have tshirts for sale in coming weeks. I had great Nepal designs, but I'm having to tweak things a bit for our new country and referral....especially with what we know about the girls.

In the meantime, if you've already given and can't make a sacrificial gift, or if you are one of those hard hit by trying economic times, then try this for us. We call it the Baby Bottle Challenge:

Get a pack of baby bottles, and start saving your loose change. Empty your pockets, look in your couch cushions, under the floormats of your car.....and fill those bottles. Fill one for every member in your household if you can. Let your children help you. Put a couple up at your places of business for friends to fill. Statistics show the average baby bottle will hold about $20 in loose change. It will add up quickly. We will let you know of a drop off day for those bottles in coming weeks. But for now, start saving.

And pray, pray, pray.