We Have a Winner!

I'm so sorry it took so long to get this post up!  It's been crazy around here.  :)

Our Give 1 Save 1 Giveaway winner is.....

Cindi Tagg!  Congrats Cindi!

I'm sending you a message now so that you can claim your gift card!

Many thanks to everyone who gave to our adoption fund.  We are so close to bringing Maia home for good!

Give 1 Save 1 Continued

First off, Craig and I would like to thank all of you for so generously giving and sharing during our stint on Give 1 Save 1 Europe!  We have raised a total of $803!!!  God is so good!

But that's not it!  We are being featured this week as well!  What a blessing.  So, if you haven't given your dollar yet, there's still time!  You can use the paypal link on the right side of this blog.  And, after you've given, make sure you go to THIS post and leave a comment.  We will be holding a giveaway for a $25 iTunes gift card a week from today!  All you have to do to enter is give $1 and leave a comment saying you did so.  :)

Thank you again for your generosity!  Please continue to share Maia's story on Facebook and Twitter and let's get fully funded to get this girl home!  We now only need $2,697!!!

Funding your Adoption

Here you will find a list of fundraising ideas as well as links to organizations that will help you fundraise for your adoption. Some of these ideas can also be used to raise money that can be used for orphan care locally and internationally. As always, when you fundraise, be open and honest about where the money will be going. No shady business!

• Host a fundraising dinner.  This can be formal or information.  Sit down or hot dogs under a tent.  Get creative!  People love food.  We have hosted a formal dinner and would be glad to give advice on this.  Just send me an email!
• Hold a car wash and ask for donations.
• Have a yard sale.  Or an online "yard" sale.  Ask others to donate items as well.  When lots of people get involved these can be very profitable!
• Puzzle Pieces fundraiser.  Here's an example:  http://www.pieceoftheheart.com/puzzle-fundraiser.html
• Sell a craft you make.  We know families who sew children's clothes, crochet items, sell paintings, make soap, etc.  If you have a hobby, use it to help you fundraise!
• Hold classes.  CPR, painting, gun safety, etc.  Find someone who is willing to donate their time and teach a skill.  Charge for the class and apply profits to your adoption.  
• Sell t-shirts, bags, bracelets, etc.  There are MANY organizations out there that can help with this.  
• Work an extra part time job.  
• Put aside savings
• Give up things temporarily.  Cut your TV off.  Don't eat out.  Give up your morning Starbucks.  Every little bit adds up.  

Organizations that help with fundraising:

• Sophie's Project:  http://www.sophiesproject.com/
• Both Hands (run through Lifesong for Orphans): www.bothhandsfoundation.org
• Owls for Orphans: www.owlsfororphans.blogspot.com
• Just Love Coffee: http://justlovecoffee.com/
• 147 Million Orphans: http://www.147millionorphans.com

Grant Organizations:

• Show Hope: www.showhope.org
• Lifesong for Orphans: www.lifesongfororphans.org
• Brittany's Hope (for special needs adoption): www.brittanyshope.org

Halfway Through!

We are halfway through our fundraising week on Give 1 Save 1 Europe!  Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who have given and shared.  Every dollar really does make a difference!

If you haven't shared yet (or would like to share again) please share THIS link with family and friends.  We are asking that every who sees the page give $1 (or more if you'd like).  Dollars add up fast and every one counts!  We are currently at $457 raised.  The fundraiser will run through Sunday night and we will hold a giveaway on Monday.  If you have give to our fund this week be sure to visit THIS POST and leave a comment.  You'll then be entered in a giveaway for a $25 iTunes gift card.

Thanks for all of your hard work in sharing and giving.  We are in the home stretch now and are hopefully going to be travelling early this summer.    

Money. Again. :)

I spent several hours yesterday catching up with our adoption finances and fundraising.  After totalling up everything spent so far (including our first trip) it looks like we are going to need $33,000 for this adoption.

I updated our fundraising post if you care to read the details of all that madness.  We received a $3,000 grant from Show Hope last week, which takes the grand total of money still needed to ONLY $3,500!  That's all we need to be fully funded!!!

This is all coming at a great time because we got our I-800 approval in the mail yesterday!  I'll spare you the details and just tell you that this gets us one step closer to Maia.

In light of all of the good news coming our way, we are having one last big fundraiser.  And then we'll be done bothering you with money!!!

I'm so excited to share with you that starting Monday we will be the featured family on Give 1 Save 1 Europe.  We also have a giveaway for you on Monday that coincides with this.  Check back soon for details.  :)

A Little Family Update

I realize it's been forever since I've given you guys a real update on us.  I'm so sorry about this.  Busy is an understatement of our lives recently.

As far as the adoption goes, our dossier is compiled and has been sent to Eastern Europe where it is being translated.  We paid another $4k+ in agency and facilitator fees along with the dossier submission.  Now we are waiting for the dossier to finish being translated and officially submitted.  Once it is submitted we wait for referral.  From what I gather, we will be waiting anywhere from 1-3 months for referral.  Once that is received we will get travel dates and go visit Miah!!  We can't wait!

We are still accepting Christmas donations to get Miah some extra time with her caregiver.  If you'd like to help, you can donate using the link on the right.  If you have already donated, THANK YOU!  We have wonderful friends.

We have applied for an adoption grant that will hopefully bring us very close to being fully funded!  What a blessing that would be!

Nathan and Alex received lots of goodies for Christmas.  We had a blast celebrating the birth of Christ this holiday season.

The Owls for Orphans will be getting a new makeover at the New Year!  Check back then to find out more.  :)

I'll post a photo update of Christmas soon!

Christmas for Miah

As you know, our sweet Miah will not be with us for Christmas this year.  She will still be in her orphanage, blind to the knowledge that we are coming for her.  (But GREAT news - this is her last Christmas in an orphanage!)  We have been stretching our brains for the last several weeks trying to figure out what we can do for her for Christmas this year.  Presents seem a bit silly since she will not be home until around June.  But we want to do something to make her part of the celebration.  And we know you want to make her part of your celebrations, too.

In light of the recent news I shared earlier, we have discovered there IS something we can do for Miah.  Her country has what is known as a "baba program".  Babas are grandmother type figures who come in for two hours each day and care for the children.  Miah has a baba for two hours each weekday.  But!  There is more that we can do!  I was told today that it is possible to pay for a private baba for Miah who will be able to stay with her for 6 hours a day.  These babas help make sure the children are fed, changed, held, and talked to.  This will be crucial in helping to prepare Miah for life with a family.  In addition, if the unthinkable happens, Miah will still have someone on her side and by her side.

Do you want to get a present for Miah this Christmas? Do you want to include her in your celebrations?  We're doing a special Christmas fundraiser for Miah to raise the money needed to pay for a baba for her. We are trying to get a baba for her as soon as possible.  Hopefully this can happen in time for Christmas.  :)  We are asking that each person who wants to include Miah in their Christmas celebrations purchase a star for $10.  That $10 will go directly into her baba fund to get her extra care and love while she waits for us. The star will have your name written on it and will be hung above the crib in her room.  (Thanks Jessica for your blocks idea!  We're totally basing this off of it!)  You can donate through paypal using the Chip In link on the right side of this blog.  This is a safe and secure way to give.

I'm super excited to have all of these stars hanging in Miah's room to show her how much all of you love her! It's going to be amazing!

It's Crafting Season

For the last several weeks I've been busy

creating gifts that raise money


















for special needs adoption.

Money to help an incredible family bring home an incredible boy.

Thanks to you I will be giving Quinn's family

Over $200 at the end of the month!



















Thanks for being awesome and supporting adoption.  You do my heart good.  

Thankful

During this season of thanks we have much to be thankful for.  Especially in regards to our adoption finances.

As many of you know - adoption is expensive.  International adoption is even more expensive.  The estimated cost of Miah's adoption is $30k.  With much excitement, tears, awe, and thanks, we are currently able to say that we need only about $3,660 more to be FULLY funded.  Friends, this is nothing short of a miracle that we are so close to having this need met already.

We are thankful.  Thankful to those who have given.  Thankful to those who have prayed.  Thankful for the kind words you all have shared with us.  Thankful for the following note that we received in the mail today:

"Dear Amy and Craig,
 As I reflect on God's blessing for me, my family, and friends, your act of love in adopting Miah stands out to me as one of the most selfless actions that can be done in our Father's name.  Please use this love offering to get a step closer to being debt free when Miah arrives.  Blessings, ...."

And notes like this that greeted me on Facebook tonight in regards to the $4k we received today from two different people:

"This providence falls from heaven less than a week after you stop fundraising via owls for Miah and start cranking out owls for Quinn. Thank you for your faith and for stepping out... I think this is God saying "Well done.""

It's hard for me to share those notes because a) they make me cry and b) we don't like to draw attention to ourselves.  All glory belongs to God.  But I without a doubt believe that God blesses our sacrifice.  When we chose to walk the adoption road we knew God would take care of the finances if this adoption was His will for our lives.  And He has done so much more than that!  When I stepped out in faith and began donating the Owls for Orphans profits to Quinn's family I knew God would continue to provide for our needs when they arose.  And I believe the checks we received today are proof of that.  Thank you, Joleigh, for pointing this out to me!  

I share all of this to remind you, friends, that God provides.  It may not be in our timing, but He WILL provide what we need.  And He will bless your sacrifices when you step out in faith.

My adopting friends, don't be scared of the finances.  We are proof there is nothing to fear.

God is good.  Amen.

The Major Update

I have so much to update you all on!  It all came at once and quite overwhelmed me and I had no idea how to blog about it all.  So you're just going to get one massive post.  Hope that's okay.  If not, don't read it.

• First things first: "Quinn" found his hope.  He has a family!!!!  
• All profits from Owls for Orphans are going to Quinn's adoption until Christmas.  
• Because of this little announcement I have oodles of owl orders!  We've already raised over $100 for Quinn and it's only been three days.  You guys are awesome.
• We walked in to biometrics a week early and they went ahead and did our scans.  Yay!  We were promised that our homestudy was going out to USCIS yesterday, so hopefully our application will be assigned soon.  
• We mailed our FBI results off for apostille and FedEx got them there a day earlier than promised.
• We mailed the rest of our documents off for state apostille and FedEx also got them there a day earlier than promised.  Y'all.  FedEx is rocking it!
• I received a call from the SC Department of State yesterday saying they received the documents and were already apostilling them to send to our case worker.  This means that the ONLY things still needed for our dossier are our i800a approval and our apostilled background checks.  
• We're getting so close to being able to send everything off to Miah's country!

And there you have it.

It's Growing!

Has it really been this long since I've updated?  I'm so sorry, friends!  It's been quite the week/weekend.  I have a lot to update you on - especially in regards to the Owls for Orphans.  Are you ready?!

First off, I linked up to No Greater Joy mom's Post about businesses that help with adoption fundraisers.  As a result I have three new owl orders!  I've raised more money for Miah through this little project that I ever thought I would!  What a blessing.  I also now have some open doors to raise money for other adopting families after we are fully funded.  Pay if forward, friends.

Second, a new friend found me on Ravelry this past week.  Her family is adopting domestically (they're in Canada!) and she is advocating for a boy on Reece's Rainbow.  She initially contacted me about helping me make owls to send to Eastern Europe but after getting to know her heart, I thought we could do better than that.  And so we did!

Courtenay and I are now teaming up to make Owls for Orphans even better!  She has all of my patterns and she has full permission to sell any and all owls she makes.  She is donating all of her profits to the little boy on Reece's Rainbow!!  She will also be sending owls to an orphanage in Mexico.  I'm also working hard to get the Owls for Orphans name trademarked.  There is talk about making in a non-profit after Miah comes home and we see how my time is managed.  We have a new page on Facebook where we will be posting pictures of the owls and stories that go along with them.  Have you "liked" us on there yet?  www.facebook.com/owlsfororphans

In more exciting Owls for Orphans news, these little boogers went out in the mail this past week:

They have arrived at my friend's house and will begin their journey to Eastern Europe on Thursday!  More orphans will be blessed because of your generosity.  Thanks to everyone who "sponsored" these little guys.  

I also have a new Owls for Orphans product being offered!  Meet the Itty Bitty Owl:

Isn't he cute?  (Sorry for the terrible picture.)  These little guys will work a little differently from the others.  They will not be offered as custom orders because of their size.  They will be sold on an as-is basis as I make them.  You will also have the option of ordering one when you buy a larger owl (since I will already have the extra yarn needed to make them).  They will be $5 will ALL $5 going to our adoption fund.  There is even an option of a crocheted loop at the top so that you can hang them on your Christmas tree.  :)

Wow.  Are you still with me?  I'm kind of all over the place this morning.  If you're still there, you will be excited to know we have more adoption news!

Last week we received our biometrics appointment for USCIS.  This is huge because it means that they have begun processing our application even thought they have still not received our home study.  We will walk in on Wednesdays and see if our prints can be taken early so that we can get this sucker done.  

In home study news, DSS finally looked it over this past week.  (This is after we were told it would be looked over ASAP.  My timing and other people's timing are totally different.)  Anyway.  They called our social worker and told her they needed an addendum.  But they wouldn't tell her what needed to be in it.  And of course they're closed today.  So first thing tomorrow morning we will know what needs to be in the addendum.  Hopefully that addendum will be completed Tuesday night and we can mail it off Wednesday.  Which *should* mean that our home study will be on it's way to USCIS on Friday.  But, you know, nobody seems to work on my timeline (or even the suggested timeline) so I'm not counting on it.  It'll happen one of these days.

We're just really hoping for an I800A approval before the end of December.  If not, we have to file an extension with Miah's country.  :(  

With that, I'm flat out of updates.  I'll write again when we have more news!

Just Wanted to Say "Thanks"

I know we say it a lot, but we could never say it enough.

To those who sacrificed your time to help with our Raising Hope dinner: thank you.
To those who bought tickets and came to our Raising Hope dinner: thank you.

To those who have prayed with us, cried with us, and held us up emotionally so far: thank you.
To those who have given financially to our adoption fund: thank you.
To those who have bought owls, bought necklaces, and participated in fundraisers: thank you.

To those who have shared Miah's story with your friends and family: thank you.

THANK YOU.  We could never say it enough.

As we near the end of the first leg of this adoption journey I am reminded of the love and support that surrounds us.  You know who you are.  To those who are invested in this journey with us - thank you.

You are part of this!  You are helping to change this little girl's life.  You have shared her story and given to a cause that is the very heart of Jesus.  Most of you will meet Miah, hug her, teach her, and love on her throughout the rest of her life.  You will pass her by in church and smile knowing you helped bring her home.  You will drive by our yard and wave as we color with chalk on the sidewalk.  Some of you will sit on our carpet and play blocks and read stories to her.  Your children will play with her.  A few of you will be so invested in her life that she will never forget you.

We are keeping an adoption journal through this process to give to Miah when/if she's ready for it.  If you have given, shared, encouraged, or supported us through this journey - you are mentioned in that journal.  Miah will know you.  Even if she never meets you, she will know you care for her deeply.

To those who have shown your love for us during these last few months: THANK YOU.  We could never do this without you.  Now it's time to push forward and get this second stage done!

Money, Money, Money

Well friends, we are getting closer!  After crunching some numbers tonight it looks like we only need around $8,000 to be FULLY FUNDED to adopt Miah.  Thank you to all of you who have given to our adoption fund and who have prayed over our adoption finances.  God has blessed us.  Craig and I are currently working on ways to cut the budget some and save some more money.  We also should have a tax refund coming next year that will help offset some of the adoption costs.  God is most definitely taking care of our finances.

But can I remind you?  International adoption is EXPENSIVE, y'all!  :)

If you would like to financially help us bring Miah home, we have a few ways you can support us.

1) Donate to our adoption fund via the PayPal link on the right of your screen.  PayPal is a secure way to give and any money given through that link will go directly into our adoption account.

2) Buy a necklace.  I have 8 necklaces ready for local delivery.  They are also available online.  They are $35 and we make $17 off of each necklace.  And they're GORGEOUS.  Click HERE to see them.

3) Donate frequent flier miles to help cover the cost of travel to Eastern Europe.  Craig and I both have to take two trips and Miah will need a ticket to come home.  Plane tickets alone will cost us around $1k each round trip.  Ouch!

4)  Buy an Owl.  $27 of every $40 owl purchase goes into our adoption fund.  I will go ahead and give you a heads up that because these owls are so popular there is about a one month wait from the date of order to delivery.

And there you have it!  We're hoping to take another hit to the adoption account this week.  If we can get these clearances back we will be able to finish the home study and send off our I800A application...and a long with that a nice hefty check.  :)

Winners and a Financial Update!

The time has come to draw winners for our adoption fundraising giveaway!  Thanks to everyone who donated money to help bring Miah home.  And thanks to everyone who shared our blog!

First we'll draw the winner of the Crafting Mommies $100 gift card.

Via Random.org, our first number drawn is 7.  Lucky number 7 is my old horseback riding instructor, Dee Dee who gave generously to help bring Miah home!  Thanks Dee Dee!   

And now we'll draw the winner of the $50 gift card to Carrabba's Italian Grill.

Also via Random.org, our second number drawn is 11.  Number 11 is my friend Erin D who shared our giveaway on her facebook page multiple times.  Thanks, Erin!  

Dee Dee and Erin, I'll be sending you a message shortly!

Thank you to everyone who gave generously and shared generously!  We have now saved/raised $18,718 to bring Miah home!  That is AMAZING.  Friends, we can't thank you enough!  

4 Days Left

There are four days left to get your name in on the drawing for the Crafting Mommies gift card and the Carraba's gift card!

We'll draw the winners on Monday night, October 1st and post them here on the blog.

To enter you can donate to our adoption fund using the PayPal link on the right.  If you donated to Ann's adoption fund a few weeks ago let me know and I'll get you entered as well!  You can also share the giveaway on facebook, twitter, or your blog to get entries.

We will accept entries for the giveaway until September 30th at 11:59 pm.

Parties!

Hey friends!  Guess what? Christmas is sneaking up on us!  Who's ready?  Who hasn't even started to prepare? That would be me.  I make a lot of our Christmas gifts and always say I'm going to start prepping in August.  Well, that didn't happen this year.  Big surprise there.  But this year we're doing something different.  Most of our Christmas money will be spent taking the kids to Disney World in January (if we're not in Eastern Europe!).  But we've decided that the gifts we ARE giving this year will either be handmade or our purchase of them will benefit someone specifically.  (For example: buying TOMS shoes, sponsoring a child in lieu of a gift, ordering from adoption fundraisers, etc.)

So to get that started I have some parties to share with you.  If you want to get a head start on your holiday shopping (or birthday shopping!) and would like to help a child in the process, check these out.

First up, an Avon fundraiser for Ann.  All of Jennifer's profits from this party will be donated to Ann's adoption fund to bring Sophia home!  If you need a reminder of who Avon is, they sell makeup and other beauty items as well as their famous bug spray.  And let me tell you - down here in South Carolina, you need good bug spray!  This party is open for 17 more days.  Go on over and check it out and order if you'd like.  You'll be helping to bring Sophia home!

The second party on the agenda is a Mary Kay party for me to bring Miah home.  30% of all sales from this party will go to our adoption of Miah.  For all of you local friends, the party will be on September 6 at 7pm.  We don't have an online link yet, but are working on that.  If you want to place an order online let me know and we'll get that sorted out!

The third party will be coming in October.  It's a Thirty-One party - my favorite!  More details about that soon.  (Can I just tell you...I used to be a 31 consultant.  Back before Alex was born.  Their stuff is fabulous!)  So if you're planning on purchasing some 31 items as Christmas gifts, hold off until October and you can help Miah as well!

So there you have it.  You can get a head start on your holiday shopping AND help bring two special orphans home.  So get shopping!

Sophia

We're taking a break from our "regularly scheduled programming" to ask for your help.  Many of you know how very blessed we have been throughout our adoption process.  Blessed by the people working with us, blessed by the support of our friends and family, and blessed financially by your sacrificial giving.  Not a day goes by I am not in awe of how smooth things are going and how well we are cared for.

Things aren't usually this easy, as my friend Ann can tell you.  

Ann is trying to adopt a sweet girl, Sophia, from Eastern Europe.  I actually know Ann because we are adopting from the same country using the same agency.  Ann is a single mother trying to make a difference in the life of a child who may otherwise never have a family.  You have already read how orphans are treated in Eastern Europe.  You've seen from the pictures of Miah how neglected these kids are.  In addition to that, Sophia has spina bifida - a condition that, in her home country, leads to children being shunned and placed in orphanages.  Heartbreaking.  How amazing that she has a Mommy trying to get to her as fast as possible!  

It was brought to my attention today that Ann needs our help.  She is saving every last penny to bring Sophia home, but it is still not enough.  I can't imagine trying to save $30,000 on my own!  If she can't raise the money Sophia will go without a Mommy.  Again. 

So here's what we're going to do.  I'm changing our giveaway a little bit.  You can still get entries for donating to our adoption fund and sharing about our giveaway, but you can also get entries by donating to Ann's adoption fund and sharing her blog with your friends!    She still needs over $1000 to cover the cost of her home study.  Just comment here and let me know if you've donated to Ann or if you have shared her blog.  We'll be extending the giveaway to the end of September to help Ann raise the funds for her home study.

Will you please consider donating to Ann's adoption?  Simply visit her blog and use the paypal button on the right side of the screen.  Every $10 or $20 helps more than you know!!  If you were planning on sending money to us, please send it to her instead.  Let's get her home study paid for so she can start applying for grants!  

Comment back and let me know if you've helped Ann and I'll get you on the giveaway list for the Crafting Mommies gift card and the Carrabba's gift card!  

Isaiah 60:1

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."

Exactly one month ago a very special girl was featured in a very special post.  If you haven't yet read it, do that NOW.  

Susanna Musser, the author of that blog, (and Katie's mother) has been a constant source of encouragement for us since beginning this adoption journey.  Reading Katie's story has done my soul good.  Reading her post on Miah has done my heart good.  

Isaiah 60:1 is the verse Susanna unknowingly attached to our daughter forever.  

Think about it.  

"Arise, shine, for your LIGHT has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."

Is there ANYTHING better than that?!  

Our light has come.  Miah's light has come.  Jesus has come.  We are not slaves to sin.  We are not slaves to this world.  Our God has rescued us!  Miah may be in a terrible physical place right now, but Jesus has come for HER.  She is hiding and resting in Him.  HE is the sole reason she is alive today.  

Her light has come.  And we cannot wait to share His love with her!  To tell her how much He loves her and cares for her and has protected her precious life.  To tell her how He is preparing us for her.  To tell her how much love we have for her, and how that love doesn't even compare to the greatest Love of all.  

"Arise, shine, for you light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."

And it is indeed rising.  I see it in our family's life daily.  I see it in our community.  I see it in our church.  I see it in the blogs I read from people around the world.  God is working.  His glory has been displayed for all to see.  I am in awe that we are allowed to be a part of such an amazing thing!

I have seen His glory.  Have you?

In honor of the reminder Miah Faith has given us that God's glory is all around us, I have had a necklace commissioned by an amazing artist.  Isn't it beautiful?!

These necklaces are also a fundraiser to help us bring Miah home so that we can tell her all about her Light.  Each necklace is $35 and $17 of that will be sent to our agency for our adoption.  Another really cool little note: the woman who makes these necklaces is also adopting.  Part of the sales of this necklace will help bring her child home as well!   How cool is that?!

I have four one necklace left at my house right now.  If you are local and you want one, send me an email and I will get it to you.  Each necklace is $35.  The necklaces are also for sale online HERE.  

You know you want one.  ;)

Two Weeks Left!

There are two weeks left to be entered in the giveaway for the Crafting Mommies and Carrabbas gift cards.  This giveaway is a "thank you" to all who have given to us during this time frame.  If you haven't yet given, you still have a chance.  Between now and August 31, anyone who gives to our adoption fund will be entered in the giveaway.  It doesn't matter the amount you are able to give - thank yous aren't based on numbers, they're based on your willingness to help us bring Miah home.  Anyone who shares our giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog will also be entered in the giveaway.  Just leave me a comment and let me know that you shared.  (If you give financially AND you share, you get TWO entries.)

To see all of the details of the giveaway, click HERE.

You can give to our adoption fund using the Chip-In link on the right side of my blog, or you can donate through our paypal email address: mossadoption (at) gmail (dot) com.

Adoption Finances

ESTIMATED COST OF OUR INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION:
$33k

FUNDS RAISED:  

From our savings: 7,739

Raising Hope Fundraiser Dinner: 484

Crafting Mommies Sales: 262

Donations: 13,983
Necklace Fundraiser: 68
Owls for Orphans: 286
Reimbursement through Craig's work: 3,500
Show Hope Grant: 3,000

TOTAL: 29,499

ADOPTION EXPENSES TO DATE:

Agency Application: 700

Home Study Application: 250
Passport: 110

Shipping, Faxes, Etc: 160
MUSC Adoption Clinic Review: 400
Adoption Education: 363
First Agency Fee: 3,000
First Home Study Payment: 900
TX Apostille: 10
Georgia apostille: 25
SC Apostilles: 30
State Clearances: 32
FBI Clearances: 72
Second Home Study Payment: 850
DSS Review Payment: 225
I-800A Payment: 890
Facilitator Fee: 4,330
FBI Apostille: 60
In Country Facilitator Fee: 325
In Country Travel: 268
Hotels/Lunch: 948
In Country Meals/Taxis/Etc: 1,294
Plane Tickets for 1st Trip: 2,716

TOTAL: $19,369

Expected Remaining Expenses:
Agency Fees: 325
Facilitator Fees: 7,800
2nd Trip Tickets: 3,500
Meals/Hotel for 2nd Trip: 2,006

Which takes the total needed to $33,000.  We only need $3,500 more!