Feeling Blessed

Yesterday I had posted about my excitement about my dossier and my disappointment that I may not be able to send my dossier to China next week. I have been speaking with a very sweet friend through facebook and their family (also an adoptive family to five beautiful China Treasures) has been following our journey to bring Tynsleigh home. We were supposed to meet up last weekend and havoc came over my house over the weekend...stomach bug in my youngest daughter and granddaughter, food poisoning in my oldest daughter, my other daughter was sick with something. It was a crazy, yucky weekend and I couldn't meet up with her. I felt so bad. The stomach bug made its rounds through a few more kids in my house but I think we are finding our normal again...just in time to take them trick or treating tonight (wait til you see them in their costumes...I will be sure to post pictures tomorrow...so cute).

Anyways, back to where I was... Last night I was crunching numbers, looking around to see what else I could sell in the house (anything that isn't nailed down...LOL), and trying to figure out where it was going to come from. Finally, I put my computer, paper and pen away. I knew what I had to do. I prayed. I prayed for a sign. I prayed for God to watch over my sweet girl. I prayed that he would show me his plan so that I could bring this sweet girl home.

Today I got the three little ones ready to go to the store to get groceries. Boy, were the parking lots full. The stores were crazy. I live in the country and do not like crowds and busy busy cities. I parked the truck and my son (the 18 year old) and the three little ones and I went into the store. As I was walking in my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number but I picked it up. It was the dear friend that I was suppose to meet with. She told me that God had talked to her last night and has laid our journey to Tynsleigh on her heart lately. We talked and it was so great. I had felt so much weight lift off of my shoulder knowing someone who has so much in common with me has walked the same path and was walking our journey with us. I felt God telling me that this was my sign. To know that he has others praying for our beautiful girl and praying her home. I wasn't alone in this journey. I needed to hear that. I need to remember that. Tynsleigh's journey is just as beautiful as she is.

This sweet lady had told me in our conversation that her family was mailing us a check for our adoption. I was so touched. It was a blessing. Then she told me that she was going to send us a check for the $5,000 that we needed to send our dossier to China! What?!? Only God can do amazing things like this. This sweet family (fellow China Adoptive Family) does not want me to mention their name because they want all of the Glory to be on GOD! Only God! This is amazing and I can not thank this family or God enough for this gift.

I cried in the middle of the grocery store! Cried! Cried tears of joy!

So, we WILL be DTC (Dossier to China) this week!!!! I can't wait!!!

Thank you to God and all of those precious families who have helped us in our journey so far!!!

Much LOVE <3 to all of you!!!

Next up

My dossier is certified, authenticated and now it is at my agency. What a huge sigh of relief. I was so excited. I was hoping to be DTC this coming week. I just got a huge rush of excitement that I could get LOA before Christmas but then... I got an email stating they needed the DTC payment BEFORE I could be DTC. That is the $5000 that I don't have because I moved!

I did have the money!
I had it all saved up!
Then in August I received a packet stating the house I had been renting for over 2 years was in foreclosure and I had to move!
I had to use all of the $5000 to move. First, last, security, cleaning, boxes, bubble wrap, truck rental, fees to move all of the utilities, and so on...
Now what?
I am trying to sell so much of our fundraising items on our facebook group.
We have Tshirts, tank tops, children's shirts, CD's, books, necklaces, bracelets, and so much more.
I am selling things but I still have about 60 shirts to sell.
I really have to find the $5000 NOW so I can have LOA by Christmas and still travel in March like our family had planned.

We have a youcaring site on our blog and a Reece's Rainbow fsp that can be donated to.

Please consider sharing our need and donating to help us bring this beautiful girl home to her family.

Thoughts...

There are things that happen to you in your life that change who you are. Sometimes there are many things... They pile up.... You change... Sometimes.... It isn't always for the better.... Sometimes.... It's hard to find your way back.... Sometimes tears flow and you hide feeling and thoughts from others.... Sometimes.... Things heal... And sometimes.... They don't.

Next up

I am a planner and a number cruncher. So where does that leave me? Usually stressed over something.

Now that my documents are officially on their way to Tallahassee (they will be delivered today!!!!) to be state certified I am working on the next steps. After they get state certified they will be forwarded on to the Houston Consulate to be authenticated. The money orders are already with my package thanks to those that helped us with this little hurdle.

Once the documents (called my dossier) are authenticated the courier will FedEx them to my agency. My agency will review them and forward them on to China and at that point I will officially be DTC (Dossier to China). It is a big step in the process (almost Step 7). From there it is major fundraising time.

Here are the fees outlined that I will be raising money for and then I will list out the fundraisers I have planned :)

DTC Fee                                      $  2400
LOA Fee                                      $  2400
Orphanage Fee                             $  5600
Consulate costs                            $    600
Tynsleigh's Visa                          $    325
Adoption registration/passport    $    500
Hague paperwork                        $    124
TB Test for Tynsleigh                 $    130
Visa for myself and Chelsea        $    420
Chinese Notary                            $    550              (for adoption paperwork)
Airfare                                         $   4800
Hotel Fees                                   $   2000
Guide Service                              $    500      (to take us to all of our adoption appointments)
Transportation                             $    600    ( to take us to all of our adoption appointments)
Tips for above 2                          $      75

That is over $21000 still to raise by February. Wow, if you look at the big number it is quite frightening. I am going to try to look at each baby step and cross them off one by one. So first up is to try to raise the DTC Fee and LOA fee! That is almost $5000!!! The exact amount I had saved up before I had to move. I still can't believe that it happened but I know God has a plan. I know this house is so much better for my sweet Tynsleigh to come home to. My children love it here and I am still unpacking and trying to make it "our home".

So, what do I have planned? I have my shop on facebook full of Tshirts to sell that are women's Tshirts, women's tank tops and children's Tshirts. If I sell all of them it would be a blessing. I also have so much more in our shop...jewelry, books, Chinese music CD's, to name a few items. I get more and am always adding.

In December I have a big fundraising event that I am working on. It is set for December 11, 2015 in the evening. It is a red carpet event for families in our area. Everyone will have a great time. The hall is already locked in and I will be working on food and donations. More details will be coming but it will be EXCITING!!!! If you are local and would like to be a vendor, please let me know.

I will also be planning something in February but I am in the brainstorming part of this one still. Stay tuned.

Yes, this adoption has taken a lot longer than Brennan's adoption but God has a plan and I am seeing it every step of the way. I just find it hard some days to be half a world away from her and not be able to hold her and tell her she is loved.

Soon baby girl....soon!

Need....met

Yesterday I posted that I needed $250 to be able to send all of my documents to Tallahassee to be certified and then on to Houston to be authenticated.

The total needed was $825
$140    State certification
$325    Chinese authentication
$195    Consulate Courier Fee
$165    FedEx fees


I had a yard sale this past weekend and was able to make a big chunk of the money. I only needed the $250 to be able to mail the documents off. Last night I went to bed a little discouraged because I had only received a small donation but I was happy that I had received that donation to help us. Everything helps.

Today a sweet facebook adoption mama friend posted about my need and within the hour I received the remaining amount of money needed to be able to make this all possible. Sooo happy right now!

I am beyond ecstatic that I am able to send off my documents. I do not have the extra $300 to expedite the whole dossier through authentication so my agency did ask CCCWA for an extension. I am still doing everything I can to try to meet that deadline.

I am so thankful to my facebook adoption friends and to God for this gift!

Now what is next? Once my dossier goes to China I will have my DTC fees and LOA fees due so I will be fundraising again. The $5000 I had saved but had to use for moving expenses I now have to make up again.

Please stop by our fundraising shop and buy some of our beautiful shirts!


https://www.facebook.com/groups/790715917640575/

Sorry the disappearing act and URGENT need

It has definitely been a very busy, hectic few months. I'm so sorry about the disappearing act. Let me update you on all that has been going on.


Let me just start by saying that I have some amazing friends and family. My older children (all 18 and older) have been so supportive.


Things have been rough. Things have been great. Things have been busy. But I love my children, my life, and can't wait to travel to bring Tynsleigh home.


I welcomed my second granddaughter (third grandchild) into our family on July 21, 2015. This is Ensley Capri O'Quinn. She was 8lbs and 8 1/2 oz. She is so beautiful and perfect.

My oldest daughter, Brittany, her husband, David, my grandchildren, Ameliya, Carter and Ensley!

Me holding sweet little Ensley

Ensley getting loving from her brother, Carter, and sister Ameliya. :)

On August 2nd my oldest son, Chase, graduated the police academy!

On August 20th my sweet girl, Tynsleigh, turned 11 years old. I sent her a bday cake and a birthday package. I got these beautiful pictures. I love her so much already. Her smile is so perfect.

 

 

On August 24th Brennan started his first day of PreK. He cried a lot the first two days but then he did great. He is learning so much and can say his alphabet in English and Sign Language. He is so smart. He is the youngest in his class but he keeps right up with them.

Then on August 26 we celebrated Brennan's first birthday home but his 4th birthday. We took him to Disney (we have had annual passes and he loves going).

 

                                               My beautiful August Birthday babies :)

Brennan had his 1 year Family-versay day on Oct 13 2015. He is such a sweet, loving, caring boy and I am so glad I have been able to be his mother and love on him so much.


So, where are we with the adoption of bringing Tynsleigh home? This is our URGENT NEED!!!

We have been waiting to get our last document from a CPA for our dossier. It took about 4 months and I finally contacted a new CPA and had it within the next few days. Now that I finally have my last dossier document I was ready to send my dossier to China...UNTIL...

One Friday evening I got a phone call from my daughter at home that we had just been served with foreclosure papers. I do not own the home. I have been renting for almost three years in this home. I have always paid a week or two early. I was totally in shock. I had over $5000 saved up for the adoption and had to spend that to move. I had to use all of it and then some. It has been a very hard, stressful past two months trying to get past this. I had to find a wheelchair accessible home for Trevor and Tynsleigh. I had to find a house with enough rooms for my family. I had to find a house with enough property for my son's outdoor animals (horses and mini goats). We finally found one and moved. All of my older children were great with helping us move. I am still not unpacked but slowly working on it. We are in a great routine and Brennan is finally sleeping through the night in his own bed.

So now what? I have had to start over saving for the adoption. Our need right now?  I need about $700 to get my dossier certified and authenticated. I had a few great people donate some money to help us get to this goal and I had a yard sale this past weekend that I was able to raise some more of the funds. I am still $250 short of this.

My deadline to be DTC is Oct 28th. I am so very stressed about meeting this date. If I get the documents overnighted to Tallahassee tomorrow then my friend will walk it in to get certified. Then we can get them to Houston to be authenticated and off to my agency. I am hoping to make the date but not quite sure I will. I really need help with reaching this goal of just $250 tonight! Please share and help us. Once we are DTC we wait for LOA and right now they are only taking about 5 weeks. :) I could have LOA well before Christmas.

Please help us reach our goal!!



https://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/barrett-family-adoption-/269042

                                               

Brennan baby picture and Brennan now!