On the home study homefront

Well, we have hit a one small bump in the road when it comes to finishing our home study...Army scheduling.  Apparently, after a year deployment my husband still has a crazy schedule that is changing a little more then we would like.  We are only two visits away from finishing and one medical form.  Trying to get them scheduled is a little more difficult then I anticipated.  We should hopefully have them done soon.  After that we are done...well, with the visits and such.  Then we work to get the home study finished and finalized.  This day can that day not come any sooner.

There is no try

In the words of a well known Jedi master....

Just that much closer

We are now down to two visits with the social worker and two doctor paperwork.  It is getting so close to the finishing of this home study stage. Hopefully it will only take a few weeks to get this home study finalized. A finalized home study means we can start applying for grants, which would be relieve some stress just by putting the applications in the mail.

On the fundraising front, our adoption night at Fro-Jo's went well. We raised over $300.  We this puts us that much closer to funded.

On another note, the girls started school this week. The first day was not to painful, and today seems to be going well.  We just need to get into our schedule and start by 9 am and we will be doing even better.

After deployment

As life settles down a little (not very much) our schedule change is up and running.  We had to reschedule the home visit for the day after Labor Day...but all the other appointments stand.  We have our joint visit with our social worker on Monday.  As usual I am nervous but because I dont want to say anything stupid. Our fingerprints are now at the FBI, and all we can do is wait for the report to return. The only thing we lack at this point is the employment letter from the military and doctor paperwork.  We are so close...I am so ready to be done with this stage.

Have a cup for Mika

Who does not like a little frozen yogurt?  Everyone loves it. It is yummy, and they have alot of options.  I did not think I would do something like this again and another wonderful adoption mama put my name out to this great local business.  The best part of this, you do not have to print this flier, you just show up and enjoy a cup.  Talk about super simple. Just show up between 5-10 pm on the 27 Aug (this next Monday).

Hope to see you there. There will be some fun stuff for the little people, so come and enjoy some FroJo.

Finally

After a year, we have finally come to the end.  After months apart, we are finally going to be together. It has been a long road, it has had its ups and downs, its good and bad days...and it is finally over.

I am talking about deployment, yes, for the last 12 months we have been going through a deployment.  Michael has been living it up in the desert...if that is possible.  And we are all happy he will be home soon.  We will see him in the next 24-42 hours...because everything, and I mean everything is subject to change.

With his return we will have alot going on in the few weeks after his return.  It will include final visits with our social worker and doctor visits and forms being finalized.  Ya, it is going to be some crazy times, but I am happy to have them because I know my wonderful husband and outstanding father will finally be home.

The Giveback Giveaway

Dont forget about our amazing giveback giveaway.  There will be a mid-way giveback (when we reach $2,500) and then you may have the opportunity to help another child or receive a Kuerig and k-cups. 

So, be sure and check it out here.... The Giveback Giveaway.  Make a donation and then share.

That about sums it up..

"My friends, adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him." - Derek Loux

Bows and more

I have some wonderful head accessories. I have been making bows and more for over 4 years now, and Sarah is my biggest wearer. She loves when I make new ones.  I have a large selection of head accessories to choose from.  And all the money for them goes toward our adoption.  The price included shipping.  Please go check it out and share.  

Bringing Home Mika Facebook Page

 

 

 

Thanks for bidding

I would just like to say thank you to everyone who not only bid on items in the auction but also helped get the word out.  We made approximately $3,000 for all the families involved.

For those who won something, you should have been tagged on the item you won to tell you that you won :)

For those who won an item to benefit our adoption...here is what you need to do.  You can pay for your item either through ChipIn or FSP.  We do prefer the ChipIn since this money is needed for our dossier submission fee which will be due in a month.  But if you wish to receive a tax deductible donation, here is what you will need to do. Make the donation through our Reece's Rainbow button. After making your donation, please email me your receipt ( mikablog@hotmail.com ). Donation to ChipIn will automatically notify me of your payment. If your name on Facebook is different then that on your paypal, please tell me through email or message me. Your item will ship out with in 42 hours of payment or receiving the email.  Shipping is included in the final amount, a little extra for shipping would be appreciated but not expected.

Thank you again for participating in the Christmas in July mega auction.

Christmas in July final hours

The MEGA Christmas in July auction is all most over. Did you have a chance to check it out? There is something for everyone.

 Christmas In July Auction Facebook Page

Like the new look

I could not find blog background I actually like, so I just made it (with a little help from a scrapbook program).  I love it.  I have, for the most part, used it for only blog and web site back grounds and Christmas cards...but still have not done any scrap-booking.  Thats ok, I like what I have made with it.

I hope everyone enjoys the new look.

The Giveaway..that gives back

I made a few adjustments to the giveaway, to make it more appealing to more people.  We are such big coffee drinkers in this house it is hard for me to the think that not everyone is also.  And I added a mid-goal giveaway so, that is a little more incentive.

So, here are the details. We need to reach the goal of $5,000.  The final prize will be a Kuerig and more package (retail value over $250) or you can choose to make a donation of $250 towards any child on the Reece's Rainbow (waiting child or family..your choice).  And because no giveaway is worth doing unless you give back, when we reach our midway point ($2,500) we will have a drawing from those who have contributed.  The winner will choose one child that I will donated $100...it again can be a waiting child or family.

Now because a giveaway is not a giveaway with out a few little extra gifts, I have added a few more things.  So, here are a list of the prizes, in order of how I will draw the names (number will be chosen by random.com).

First gift

You choose: 
Kuerig package 
(includes Kuerig, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate) 

or 

$250 donation to Reece's Rainbow:

 

or

Signing Time

Complete Series 1 (vol 1-13), Shine CD, 6 board books

And because no giveaway is good with just one thing....

2nd Gift
Lithograph, costume (6x6), includes gift box

3rd Gift
$25 Gift certificates for Amazon.com

4th Gift
$20 gift certificate for blurb.com

5th Gift
Eye glass case and change purse from Thailand

To donate items to this giveaway, please email me.

 Here is how you make a donation:
 

$5 donation = 1 entry
 $10 donation = 3 entries
$25 donation = 8 entries

$50 donation = 17 entries
$75 donation = 37 entries

$100 donation = 50 entries

Now, you can also get one (1) entry by sharing (max of ten entries).  This can be done through Facebook or email. Feel free to tag our Facebook page in your post. You MUST leave a comment here on where you left the share other wise you entry may not be counted (if you include your email in the comment, I will not post it, but dont worry it will be counted).  You can include me on an email.


 So, here is how you can donate.
 

You can donate to our Chipin (NOT tax deductible). 
We can access those funds now.
 
OR

  You can donated to our Reece's Rainbow FSP (these donation are tax deductible). We will use this money for our second trip, which we will need over $15,000.


Ending the Giveback Giveaway

This giveaway will end on Wednesday 12 September (11:59pm EST) pending a goal of at least $5,000 has been met!  If we have not reached our goal on this date, we will select a winner for all the prizes except the main prize (Kuerig package/Signing Time package/RR donation). Once the goal has been met , I will post on this blog and facebook that a 24 hour notice has been given for people who would like to enter, then a winner will be selected via random.org.

We added a midway giveback, once we have reached $2,500 we will have midway winner who will be selected via random.org.  They will then have 42 hours to choose a child/family on Reece's Rainbow to have the $100 donation given. Thank you so much for making a donation and good luck.

Need to get things moving

It seems this giveaway is not getting off to a fast start.  So, here is what we are going to do..to get things moving.  When we reach our goal half way ($2,500) we will do a midway drawing.  The person will be able to choose one child on Reece's Rainbow to make a $100 donation.

So, who is in?  Who wants to have a child's or family's grant grow?  

The Amazing Giveaway

We are with in a month of our home study being finished.  We will be one more step closer to bringing our little girl home. Here is the thing, we need to be fully funded with our Reece's Rainbow FSP as soon as possible.  This money will not be touched until the second trip.  If you notice on the cost tab, the largest chuck of money is due at this time, and ever penny raised in our FSP is going towards this step.  We cant get a court date with out submitting all of this, and we need to submit it as soon as we return from our first visit.

So, I came up with this FANTASTIC idea (with a little help from others I know :) I have had this idea for over a month but wanted to wait until we got closer...well we are closer and here ya go.  We are having a giveaway that is better then an iPod/iPad giveaway. Well, I think this is, mostly because this house runs on coffee.

So, here is how you can donate.


You can donate to our Chipin (NOT tax deductible). 
We can access those funds now.

OR

You can donated to our Reece's Rainbow FSP (these donation are tax deductible). We will use this money for our second trip, which we will need over $15,000.

For starters (these will be included in the giveaway regardless of the money raised)......

 Eye glass case and change purse from Thailand

Lithograph, costume (6x6), includes gift box

 $20 gift certificate for blurb.com

$25 Gift certificates for Amazon.com

(more things to come)
If you wish to donated, please email me.

Now, the goal of this giveaway is to raise $5,000....and here is what happens when this giveaway hits that goal.....

This will be added to the giveaway.....

It is a KEURIG!!!! and not just a Keurig but it will also include coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. The total retail value of the package will be over $250.  That means you will be set for a month of yummy coffee at your fingertips.  Yes, you will get not only the Keurig but k-cups to go with it.

Now, if you are not into the coffee/tea/hot chocolate...then that is fine.  You can choose to donated $250 to any child at Reece's Rainbow.  It can be an FSP or a waiting child, it is your choice.

So, here is how it will work.

$10 donation = 1 entry

$50 donation = 7 entries

$100 donation = 25 entries
$150 donation = 50 entries

Now, you can also get one (1) entry by sharing (max of ten entries).  This can be done through Facebook or email.  You MUST leave a comment here on where you left the share other wise you entry may not be counted.  You can include me on an email.

This giveaway will last until 5 Sept 12. If we have not reach our goal ($5,000) we will have a drawing for the items above except the Keurig package/RR Donation.  We will continue until we have reach the goal and then have the drawing for the Keurig package/RR Donation. Thank you so much for making a donation and good luck.