We have been squeezing what we can aside these past few weeks and will continue until the summer is over. After that John has to go to part time at work and we’ll be focusing on making ends meet until school is over. Big party in May 2013 in honor of my wonderful hard-working husband!
We did get some wonderful help from both my husband’s loving great aunt & uncle as well as from our new friends at the First Christian Church St. Clairsville (neither of which would be possible without the help of John’s cousin Lorrie – we love you!). Thank you all so much!
The account is now miraculously up to $3750! Our yard sale was a great success thanks to some generous items donated for sale by family and friends. We cleared over $650 in three days! There is another community yard sale set for the first weekend in October, so if you have any other stuff you want out of your house, give us a call.
We have some great plans for the rest of the summer and the fall. John’s Dad is building a set of cornhole boards to raffle off. And a friend of John’s from work may be hooking us up with another great raffle opportunity (when it’s solid I’ll get the details out). We’ve been getting questions about the cookbooks – don’t worry, they’re still happening! Work got a little overwhelming when I first returned a few months ago and it did fall by the wayside, but we’ll be buying them with the money from my bonus at work at the end of the summer (should have them by the holidays – great gift idea!).
Our goal is still to start as soon as possible – which is when we reach $10,000. We are hoping and hoping that between these and other fundraisers (and a bigger bonus from work?? A girl can hope) we can start by the beginning of the New Year. At the very latest we are going to start by March. We figure that John will be putting his new degree to use by the middle/end of the summer, so even if we are a few thousand short we should be able to put it aside in time for the last few immediate expenses.
March feels like a lifetime away, but…ok, no buts – it feels like a lifetime away. But we’re trudging through day by day. Whenever I’m down and think this can never happen I think of the day we get the call to tell us we have a referral – they found our kids! It sends happy shivers down my spine. That’s not to say that I don’t think it’ll happen – you just have to understand that after begin defined as a mother four times, and the end result being having nothing to mother, it’s hard to believe that this could be a reality. If you haven't already read the picture to the left, take a moment to do so. It's unofficially known to some as the Adoption Creed. I love it so much and it is so very very true. Even though I am scared this may not work out sometimes, it is undeniable that my future little ones are growing in my heart every single day. It calms my heart and makes me smile just thinking about it.
Lastly (and if you’re still with me thanks – I know this is long) I want to thank all our family and friends for being so understanding with John and myself. I know we are spending a lot of time with work, and John with school and we’re not around a whole lot right now, but thank you for understanding and patience. I know you all know that it’s all going to be worth it and we’ll be around so much more once the kids are home.
I’m going to end with a quote that reflects all my thoughts and everything we are trying to do:
"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." -St. Augustine
Love,
Theresa (and John)