Wednesday, March 30, 2011

What's Goin' On?

Many of you have asked where we are in the adoption process right now. Well, we are currently working on our homestudy.  Since our adoption agency, All God's Children International, is based out of Oregon, we had to choose a local agency to do our home study.  We chose Bethany Christian Services and are so happy with them as well!
Here is a list of the paperwork items that must be included in our homestudy (just to give you an idea of what we're working on!).  I put *'s next to the things that are finished!

Formal Application *
Changes in Familly Status *
Statement of Intent (Guardianship Arrangements)
Adoption Release and Consent *
International Adoption Statement *
Affidavit of Health Insurance Coverage
Copies of Birth Certificates
Copy of Marriage Certificate
Medical Exam Letter and Form
Family History Data *
Self-Study (Autobiographies) *
Discipline Policy *
Training Requirement and Schedule *
Reading Requirements
Financial Statement/Monthly Income and Expenses/Most Recent 1040 Tax Form
Notice of Private Practices *
Criminal Record Inquiry
Background Check
Expectations Consultation
Psychological Reports
International Adoption Fee Schedule and Agreement *
Applicant Waiver for Background Checks *
Waiver of Unforeseen Fees *
Duty of Disclosure *
Permission/Consent Form *
Medical Needs Questionnaire *
Passport Information *

Whew!  That's quite a list, isn't it?  Many of the items on the list are just a single piece of paper.  The doctor's appointments, fingerprinting, psycological evaluation, and reading requirements are things that take a bit longer.  We're working on those!  Our goal is to have everything finished on our part and have started our homestudy interviews (they conduct 3) by the end of April.

So that's what's been going on with us in the adoption world lately! Pin It

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Auction Total!!!

I know many of you have been waiting on pins and needles for the total money raised during our Give Hope Adoption Auction.  I apologize for the delay.  I was on Spring Break, first here...

My hubby and I chaperoned 100 8th graders where I teach on a trip to Williamsburg, VA.

Then here...

After de-boarding the bus from Williamsburg we hit the road to Santa Rosa Beach, FL .  I must give a shout-out to the hubby for driving through the night (yes, at one point he was so tired that we had to stop at a rest stop and sleep in the car for 2 hours-that was a little scary.  But we made it!) so that we could enjoy a full day at the beach on Monday!


So without further aideau...
(Drumroll please....)

$2,627

Yes!  You read that correctly!  We officially raised $2,627 through our Give Hope Adoption Auction!  Thank you SO MUCH to all of you who donated items, bid on items, and gave our auction a shout-out on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

If you bid on an item, but were sadly outbid by someone else, there are still other ways you can support us:

1. Donate.  Donate what you were going to pay for the item that you did not win.  Donate what you would have paid for a dinner and movie out but didn't due to the fact you were glued to your computer during the final moments, making sure you weren't outbid.  Donate because we are longing for a baby over 7,000 miles away! 
2. Follow our journey by reading our blog. 

3.  AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: Pray.  Pray for us during this journey.

Thank you again!  I was blown away by the genorosity of all of you out there!  We are hard at work on paperwork right now, but I will post more on that later!
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Monday, March 14, 2011

Celebrating 3 Years of Married Bliss!


Ok, so not every moment during these past 3 years has been perfect, but I wanted to take a moment to tell my sweet hubby HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!  People are right when they say time flies!  I can not believe that we were getting married 3 years ago today!  And to my hubby: thank you so much for all that you do for me.  You are truly my anchor.  You take such good care of me, constantly spoiling me by helping me complete all of the projects I have in mind for the home.  No matter how crazy the spur of the moment idea that I have (like painting stripes in our hallway on a Friday night), you do it with a smile!  I love you so much and I can't wait to see what a great Dad you will be with our Ethiopian angel!

Here are a few pictures of our special day!



























Ok, so it was more than a few, but thank you for indulging me! : )
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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Auction is OVER

It is Friday, March 12, 2011 at 9:00 pm central time...
Which means our Give Hope Adoption Auction is officially OVER!

For those of you who donated items, THANK YOU!
For those of you who gave our auction a shout out on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter, THANK YOU!
For those of you who have been praying for us, THANK YOU!
For those of you who did not bid, but donated money, THANK YOU!
And for those of you who bid on our items, THANK YOU!

This weekend, I will be e-mailing the highest bidders directions: how to pay for your item, information we need for customizing your item, learning you mailing address so we can send you your item, etc.  So hang tight! While you're waiting be sure to check out all of our awesome sponsors' sites!  All these people rock! 

If you bid on an item, but were sadly outbid by someone else, there are still other ways you can support us:

1. Donate.  Donate what you were going to pay for the item that you did not win.  Donate what you would have paid for a dinner and movie out but didn't due to the fact you were glued to your computer during the final moments, making sure you weren't outbid.  Donate because we are longing for a baby over 7,000 miles away! 

2. Commit to donating an item for a future auction by e-mailing: jenwayman@gmail.com

3. Follow our journey by reading our blog. 

4.  AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: Pray.  Pray for us during this journey.

We will announce the final total raised after we receive payment from all of our highest bidders.  Again, thank you so very much for making our first fundraiser a success!


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3 1/2 Hours Left!

THREE HOURS UNTIL OUR AUCTION CLOSES!
(at 9 pm central time)

Click HERE to see the main auction page

We've still got a few items that haven't been bid on yet.


A much longer thank you to come, but right now let me just say a BIG THANK YOU to all of you who have bid.  We appreciate your kindness and genorosity so very much!
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Friday, March 11, 2011

Only 24 More Hours!

(If you are looking for our main auction page, click HERE)

The Give Hope Adoption Auction ends tomorrow, March 12, 2011, at 9 pm central time!  That's 24 hours away!

Just a couple of reminders:
*The auction does end at 9:00 pm central time.  If your bid posts at 9:01 pm or later, you will not be the winning bidder (Gotta keep it fair folks.  After all, I am a teacher)
*Many of the items have now gone on SALE, so check them out again!


*If you haven't checked out all of our fabulous items yet, take a look!
*If you have already bid, check to see if you are still the highest bidder!

And if you are looking for a deal, the following items have not been bid on yet.  See any great gift ideas? 
12 Hours of Babysitting
Thanks for looking!  Now GO BACK to our main auction page and see all of our other incredible items by clicking here.

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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Items Still Up for Grabs!

(If you are looking for our main auction page, click HERE)

The Give Hope Adoption Auction ends this Saturday at 9:00 pm (central time).  That's just 3 days away!

*If you haven't checked out all of our fabulous items, take a look!
*If you have already bid, check to see if you are still the highest bidder!

And if you are looking for a deal, the following items have not been bid on yet.  See any great gift ideas? 

12 Hours of Babysitting
Handmade Baby Burp Cloths
Original Painting #1
Original Painting #2
Original Painting #3
Pink Heart for Africa Onesie
Pink Heart Gown
Custom Minky Blanket
Batik Love Africa Tee
Gift Certificate to Shimai Pottery and Gifts
Iris Letterpress Print
Hand Embelished Pear Applique Tee
Roaring Red Dinosaur Tote
White Africa Tee
Hen Original Watercolor
Beautiful Rust Colored Frame

Thanks for looking!  Now GO BACK to our main auction page and see all of our other incredible items by clicking here.
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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Give Hope Adoption Auction

Welcome to our Give Hope Adoption Auction!
1. Take a look at the items that are up for auction (Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 9:00 am through Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 9:00 pm, central time). HINT: If you click on the picture of the item, it should get larger, so you can see it better!

2. BID! To bid, leave a comment with your name, e-mail address, and your bid amount IN THE COMMENT BOX.  (If for some reason it will not let you leave a comment, send me an e-mail at jenwayman@gmail.com with your name, e-mail address, and your bid and I will place it for you)

3. Keep checking on your favorite items in case someone outbid you! At a minimum, please increase bids by $1.00 increments. Remember, auction closes Saturday, March 12, 20011 at 9:00 pm, central time.

4. If you win, jump for joy! Then sit back down and wait, because I will send you an e-mail officially letting you know that you were the highest bidder and requesting payment for your item (through our secure paypal button). If the item is custom made, I will also be asking you about your preferences for colors, fabrics, sizes, etc. After I receive the payment, the item will be shipped to your doorstep.

That's all! Easy peasy, right?! And you wanna know the best part? EVERY PENNY YOU DONATE GOES STRAIGHT INTO OUR ADOPTION FUND! Thank you for your help in bringing our little one home!

And now, without further adieu (drumroll please), here are the auction items! Click on each item to see its bid page. Happy bidding!

Art:
Letterpress "You Are My Sunshine" poster by inkpetals
Letterpress "Skidamarink" poster by inkpetals
"I Love You to the Moon and Back" eyechart art by ecceprints
ABC Love Print by jenniferramos
Custom Birth Print by trendypeas
I Heart My State print by qadesign
Peony Print on Dictionary Paper by PRRINT
Mini Custom Heart Sampler by MiniatureRhino
Deconstruction Print by Andrew Holder
Letterpress La Vie en Rose Poster by sycamorestreetpress
Letterpress Bonjour French Bulldog Poster by sycamorestreetpress
Iris Letterpress Print by hijirik
Tiny Flock (Set of 3) by ashleymayfield
Flamingo Original Watercolor by eastwitching
Hen Original Watercolor by eastwitching
Calf Fine Art Print by eastwitching
Birdsnest Fine Art Print by groundwork
Orginal Painting #1 by Dallas Owen
Original Painting #2 by Dallas Owen
Original Painting #3 by Dallas Owen
Choice of 5x7 Print by CinnamonInk
Choice of 7x9 Print by CinnamonInk

Housewares:
Doily Coasters by uncommon
Custom Wedding Cake Plate by raedunn
Little Bird Coffee Cuff by littlebirdcreations
$25 Gift Certificate to Shimai Pottery and Gifts by Shimai
$25 Gift Certificate to Shimai Pottery and Gifts by Shimai
Mini Chalkboards by 2 of my students
Beautiful Rust Colored Frame by Suzy Q Frames
Handmade Lampshade by Clementine and Olive
Assortment of Floral Wall Decals

Stationary:
Buy Local Calendar by claudiagpearson
Thank You Stamp by Primele
Get Organized Gift Set by aQuickStudy

Jewelry:
Silver Heart Love Bracelet by JunkPosse
Antique Silver Sparrow Necklace by sweetsimple
Ollie Twist Necklace by 31bits
Magazine Necklace by 147 Million Orphans
$50 Gift Card to Stella & Dot Boutique by isabellaandmaxrooms

Baby:
Birdie Organic Onesie (you pick the size)by adoptafrica
Pink Heart for Africa Onesie (size 12m)by cococouture
Heart Baby Gown (size 3m) by shopdolkapots
Personalized Minky Dot Blanket (in your color of choice) by BabyBeulah
White Africa Tee by teesfromtheheart
Onesie or T-shirt of Your Choice by dreadpiratedesign
Handmade Baby Burp Cloths by Alice Morgan
Handmade Baby Burp Cloths by Alice Morgan
Baby Flower Headband from Harper and Eden
Girls Kimono-Style Outfit

Clothing
for Women:
Custom Places Tee by pitterpatterart
Women's Heart for Africa Tee by Urban Hen
Towel Apron (Blueberry Pie) by mrs.
Towel Apron (Mint Ice Cream Style) by mrs.
Towel Apron (Orange Sherbet Style) by mrs.
Towel Apron (Jolly Rancer Style) by mrs.
Towel Apron (Apricot Cookie Style) by mrs
Custom Flower Headband  Earwarmer by LindsayLouCreations
Hand Embelished Pear Applique Tee by WonderFluffShop
Floral Summer Scarf by Fringe and Lace
Vera Bradley Lindsay with Cell Phone Case

for Men:
Choice of Handmade Bowtie by Otis James

for Either:
T-shirt of Choice by Ordinary Hero
T-shirt of Choice by goseeklove

for Girls:
Floral and Ivy Peasant Dress by MyMoniMyMom
TUTU Gift Certificate by 2000 Tutus

for Boys:
Roaring Red Dinosaur Baseball Tee by happyfamily
Roaring Red Dinosaur Tote Bag by happyfamily

for Either:
Batik Love Africa Tee by thesmilingheart
Your Choice of a Pair of Shoes by Tickled Toes

Misc.
Pair of Tennessee Titans Tickets
12 Hours of Babysitting by Mallory Perry Pin It

12 Hours of Babysitting!

Description: The item up for bids on this page is 12 hours of babysitting by Mallory Perry.  Mallory is the daughter of one of my good friends and co-workers.  She is a senior this year at Franklin High School.  She is a six-year student Franklin citizenship award for character.  She has also taught Sunday school for 3 year olds.  She is excellent with children.  She even comes prepared with arts and crafts for your child to do.  The winner will need to redeem all of the babysitting by July as she is getting ready to leave for college (ahh a tear from her momma!).  This girl is amazing!  Snatch her up while you can!

*If you would like to bid on 1/2 the hours, for 1/2 the price, go for it!

Donated By:
Mallory Perry

Minimum Bid:
$95/12 hours
or
$48/6 hours

{To bid, leave your name, e-mail address, and your bid amount IN THE COMMENT BOX. Bids should increase by $1.00 increments.}

*Give Hope Adoption Auction ends Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 9:00 pm, central time.


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Assortment of Floral Wall Decals






Description: The item up for bids on this page is an assortment of vinyl wall decals from byrdiegraphics' etsy shop.  These decals can be used in many different rooms in your house, so get creative and go crazy!  The winner will get:
        -2 YELLOW Blooms (Each graphic is 9" round)
        -2 TURQUOISE Poppy Field Blooms (Each graphic is 9.5" x 14")
        -2 BLACK Byrdies (Each graphic is about 3"x 2")
      
Each graphic is made of high quality, self-adhesive vinyl. It is easily removed and leaves no residue behind.

It can be applied to any clean, smooth and flat surface. (if your walls are lightly textured it will still work great.) Apply to walls, doors, windows - anywhere you want! Great creative!

Much faster, cleaner and easier than painting.

Give your dull apartment a personal touch. Landlords love it!
Donated By:

Minimum Bid:
$10

To bid, leave your name, e-mail address, and your bid amount IN THE COMMENT BOX. Bids should increase by $1.00 increments.}

*Give Hope Adoption Auction ends Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 9:00 pm, central time.


 


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Handmade Lampshade and Base




Description: The item up for grabs on this page is a handmade lampshade and base from Erin of Clementine and Olilve.  You can also check out her blog: Running in Heels with Twins.  The lampshade is covered with fabric by Dwell Studio.  The winner has the option of having the professionally painted white or leaving as it is in silver.  This lamp would make the perfect accessory to any room of your house! 

Donated By:

Minimum Bid:
$55

{To bid, leave your name, e-mail address, and your bid amount IN THE COMMENT BOX. Bids should increase by $1.00 increments.}

*Give Hope Adoption Auction ends Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 9:00 pm, central time.

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Choice of 7x9 Print from CinnamonInk



Description: The item up for bids on this page is your choice of a 7x9 print from CinnamonInk's etsy shop.  These sweet and simple prints would make the perfect addition to any child's room or nursery.  The image is 7x9" centered on an 8.5x11" white-colored acid and lignin free cardstock. Perfect border left for easy framing! There are lots more to choose from on CinnamonInk's etsy shop!  These are just a few of my favorites, so check them out!  This print was drawn with paper and ink, colored digitally and printed in her home. This sweet print will be sent to you within 5 business days and arrive signed in a cellophane sleeve, packaged in a bendproof parcel. (Frame not included). 
Donatd By:

Minimum Bid:
$12

To bid, leave your name, e-mail address, and your bid amount IN THE COMMENT BOX. Bids should increase by $1.00 increments.}

*Give Hope Adoption Auction ends Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 9:00 pm, central time.


 
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Choice of 5x7 Print from CinnamonInk



Description: The item up for bids on this page is your choice of a 5x7 print from CinnamonInk's etsy shop.  These sweet and simple prints would make the perfect addition to any child's room or nursery.  The image is 5x7" centered on an 8.5x11" white-colored acid and lignin free cardstock. Perfect border left for easy framing! There are lots more to choose from on CinnamonInk's etsy shop!  These are just a few of my favorites, so check them out!  This print was drawn with paper and ink, colored digitally and printed in her home. This sweet print will be sent to you within 5 business days and arrive signed in a cellophane sleeve, packaged in a bendproof parcel. (Frame not included). 

Donated By:

Minimum Bid:
$10

To bid, leave your name, e-mail address, and your bid amount IN THE COMMENT BOX. Bids should increase by $1.00 increments.}

*Give Hope Adoption Auction ends Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 9:00 pm, central time.


 




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