Still crafting.....

So we are still busy crafting around here for Caleb's Benefit.

During the day is a bake/craft sale so my mom and I are still at it :-)  This week I worked on key fobs.

They actually are fun to make.....quick and easy.....my kind of craft!

And of course if anyone is on the sewing machine Nathan and Katie have to grab some old material or blanket in this case to cut up and sew also. They love doing it!

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On the adoption news not much going on.  We are still waiting for our letter.  Waiting, waiting it is the word of the year around here.

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The kids are doing great. 

Nathan is loving 1st grade and last week had a touchdown on Sat at his football game!! 

Katie is doing awesome in preschool and is still enjoying fighting mom on every outfit everyday......she definitely has her own fashion. 

Ana  is still fighting a running nose.....we are on week 5....ugghhhhh.  We have tried a round of antibiotics and now we started allergy meds.  If it doesn't clear up in the next week her Dr wants to do another round of antibiotics.....we'll see.  But even not feeling the best she is still happy as a clam.

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We are having our last rummage sale at my parents this Sat so say a prayer that most of it goes not only will it be more money for Caleb but less I need to load and take away! 

Also remember our Benefit going on next weekend Oct 8th in Winneconne if you are local we would LOVE to see you there.  Click on our Fundraiser button to get all the info!!

Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful Fall weather.

Makeovers......

So when you are in the world of  blogs the word makeover takes on a different meaning....

Yep our blog has a new look and I LOVE it!!

Thanks ashley for doing this because I know you have all the time in the world.....I mean it isn't like you are getting on a plane in less then a week to go meet your sweet little Carter :-)  Hop on over and follow along with her and Jake.  Trust me you don't want to miss those first pictures of Carter!  He has the sweetest face.

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On to adoption news ---- nothing to report :-(  Still waiting on our Letter of acceptance.  But it looks like the average is about 6 weeks for it and we are 3 weeks in.  We would still love to see it in 4 weeks because then there might, very slim, but possible chance we could still travel before the end of the year. 

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Tomorrow I meet with my "team" for the benefit.....It is coming together.  We are soooo..... close to being fully funded.  It blows my mind that 5 months ago we needed $30,000 and we are down to $11,500!!!  We stepped out in faith and He has provided.  We have crafts and baked goods and hot apple cider and a scentsy rep. and spaghetti and raffle buckets....WOW and let me tell you everything has been donated.  Some by people I have never met.   Now we just need the people to come :-)  So if you live in the Oshkosh area jump on over to our fundraiser tab on the right side of the blog for info on the benefit!

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Hope everyone is enjoying Fall......my favorite time of the year.  Nothing is better then curling up with a great book, blanket and a cup of coffee!!  Have a great day!



Crafts for Caleb........

So everyone who knows our kids MiMi (my mom) knows when she is determined there is no stopping her.  Well she is determined to help us raise every single dollar she can and I can't ever express how grateful and humbled we are.  I know everyone thinks their mom is the best but sorry people mine is..... :-)

So first she has run a rummage for us 3 weeks in a row.  She has been determined to beat what we raised in our town which was over 1300.00 and you know what she did this past weekend!!  And she isn't done she figured she has it up she might as well have another one.....

Then I told you she is crafty and good at it well................

Oct 8th,2011

American Legion Hall

Winneconne, WI

Bake/craft sale 11a-3p

Spaghetti Dinner with raffle baskets 5p-8p

Open to everyone pay at the door - $5/plate or $15/family

This is our large benefit that we have had amazing help with putting together.  So many have made items for the craft sale and I wanted to show what my mom made because I just love them....

Coffee cozy - fits any size S-L perfect for those who stop at Kwik Trip, starbucks, health care or office people who go and get coffee in the break room...Love them and they are lined to stop the heat coming through......

Just some of the patterns.....

Wallets - So darn cute....perfect to hold CC or I use it to separate my money (we do the Dave Ramsey envelopes)

Yep Caleb MiMi already will do anything to get you home!!!  

There are so many other items being made by people who love you so much Caleb.  We are so grateful!

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Also remember we still have our scentsy fundraiser going on and the new fall items are out.  Go here

Got it!!

Just got the email from our agency

We have a

Log-in Date

So what is next......

We wait some more for a LOA (letter of acceptance)

This can take 1-4 months.  We found out today that our LID was 9/6 so we are already 2 weeks into our LOA wait.  So we could get it in 2 more weeks.  Unlikely, Yes......Impossible, No!  Please pray that we are one of those few that get a quick one. 

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What else is going on around here.  Well Nathan is in school so it is just the girls home.  They are both sooooo layed back so this is what I find most days........

Ana in the playroom loading items into a bin, dumping them out and doing it all over again!

Then every where you turn in our house there are items in rows against the walls.

Katie loads up the tractor with items and takes them to their spot on a wall, unloads them and makes sure they are all lined up in a row!!  I will never understand her fun but she has ALWAYS separated items into "categories" :)

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Tomorrow I will show you some awesome items my mom made for our Benefit coming up.....She is one crafty lady and is really good at it also!!





Just the beginning.......

I had to show you all the beginning of Caleb's care package that will be sent when we get the green light.  And sorry I have no idea yet when or even a guess.  Our dossier was sent Aug 31st and we have yet to hear that we have a log-in date (LID).  Some of my other fellow bloggers sent their dossier after us and already have their LID.....ugghhhhhh.  Our agency won't call before we have hit the 2 week from delivery wait so that will Monday!!  I think I can hold off......maybe......possible but oh am I ready.

Anyway getting back to the care package.  We hit Kohl's this week.....I mean what better time to get items for Caleb then when Kohl's have their sales and you get 30% off.....oh how I love Kohl's :)

So I wanted to get a ton but held back.  I still am not completely sure what size he is....thinking 18 months but not positive.  I also know that I only have so large of a box to ship and I want to make sure I can send some goods for the others/caregivers in the foster home.   So I figure what better way to pick out a toy then to see what Ana likes (I know she is a girl but a rough and tough girl!).  And I think she did great...........

Here is the beginning of fun times........a truck that goes when you push on the top and keys!



Random......

So here is a couple catch up items!!

First last weekend and this weekend my awesome mom, dad and aunt helped with another rummage!!  We took everything that was left over from the May rummage and hauled it to Milwaukee.  And you aren't going to believe what we made with the items people told me to just donate and it wasn't worth trying again......$829.... yep can you believe it...now I do have to say my mom, dad and aunt nancy did bring more items out and I can't say thank you enough.  They have sat out in the heat, rain and guilted convinced people items were worth not only buying but paying what was asked!!!  LOVE you guys!!!!

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Nathan is doing great in 1st grade and Katie started preschool this past week.  She absolutely loves it!!  She goes 3 afternoons a week and it just so happens that is when Ana naps ;)  2 hrs that I can clean and walk back into the same room and guess what!?!?  It will still be clean...lol.  Oh the simple joys in life!

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Today I got to speak at a church in town about adoption, orphans and reece's rainbow.  What a blessing it is to share my passion.  I do wish though I could do it without breaking down :)

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Getting close to our spaghetti dinner and craft/bake sale on Sat. Oct 8th.  It is amazing how many people have donated their time and items to get this together.  I am super super excited for it.  During the day there will be the craft/bake sale and then that night the spaghetti dinner and raffle baskets.  Click over to my fundraiser tab if you are in the Oshkosh area and would like to get some awesome gifts or a delicious dinner!


And don't forget our scentsy fundraiser goes until Oct.8th click here to get all the details

It is in their hands!!

I just realized I only posted this on FB but yesterday morning I saw......

Your item was delivered in CHINA PEOPLES REP at 11:31 am on September 05, 2011

It made it to the building and was delivered!!! 

Come on whoever has it type like crazy and get our name into your system :-)

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Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!



Update!

So I just got back from a wonderful weekend at my parent's house where we brought all the left over rummage items and tried it again in a different city and you know what I would say

SUCCESS!!

We walked away with $652.00

Amazing!!  Even on a holiday weekend and pouring rain on Sat we still saw people show up and buy!

Also I tracked our dossier and ...........

Your item was processed through a facility in CHINA PEOPLES REP on September 04, 2011 at 12:47 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination.

It is Monday morning there so it should be delivered with in the next 8 hrs!!!!

Now I need some strong true prayers said that it gets into the "right" hands and is logged-in quick and by that I mean Monday or Tuesday!!  It can and has happened to many people in the past week.

Also prayers that we get our letter of acceptance within the next 35 days!  We need this part to go quick to file our I800 if we have any chance of getting there before the end of the year!!!!

Ok now back to canning some more salsa!!!  We have already eaten 3 jars :)