Friday, September 30, 2011

Thank you really isn’t enough

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The words really don’t do my feelings justice.  I am so much more than thankful for all of you Smile

I wanted to update everyone on where we are and what’s going on.  First off thank you so much to every single person that has supported us and prayed for us in this adoption.  Without that we wouldn’t have made it to where we are now.   A big thank you to everyone that read and shared the previous blog post from a few days back. 

That was a very difficult day for us and while the situation is still not good it was better than we had thought at first. We are praying for God’s hedge of protection around D and A while we work through the details of getting to them.  At this point we cannot even communicate with one of them as there are no call allowed where she is at.

As a result of that post and you reaching out we received $300 in donations and MOST of that was from people we don’t even know but came as a result of you all sharing.  THANK YOU FOR THAT!  While we still have a long way to go that was such and encouragement to us.  We also received several emails and facebook messages with words of encouragement and we really appreciated reading those.  It’s helpful to know we are not a lone and there are other families dealing with some similar things.

We were hoping to have another yard sale this weekend but it’s going to be too cold here.  Maybe next weekend.  I’m sure the neighbors think we are nuts as often as we do them but if we are free on the weekend I say it’s a missed opportunity not to make some money lol.

There is a big fundraiser in the works for November 12th that the ladies are going to love so please save the date and I’m going to work on a post for that one this after noon.  If you are a crafter of any sort this one will make you super happy Smile

Praying for all of you and your families as you walk beside us through the longest and hardest journey of our lives this far.  We love you all.  Blessings to you!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

What stands between us and them...

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This is going to be a long post and its going to be brunt, factful and honest.   If you are along for the journey with us then please, grab your favorite beverage, sit down, read it, pray, donate, and share it.  If you aren't well stop reading now because that's just what this post is about.

Basically we are in a very tough financial position.  We are $16000 into this adoption journey but after we sent our dossier to Latvia it basically put us back at zero.  We have around $25000 needed to fully finish up this journey to our TWO daughters.  Roughly $10k is needed just for the first court visit which could be as soon as early November. 

Our original plan was to take out a home equity loan but we recently found out thanks to the economy the home we've been paying on for 8+ years basically has NO equity in it WHATSOEVER.  So that option is done. 

The backup plan was to cash in my 401k which would take care of about 1/2 of what we are needing but it would still be helpful none the less.  Well I have since found out that "adoption" does not qualify as a "hardship" therefore it can not be withdrawn.  Go figure.  They must think orphans have life easy.  Kinda dumb if you ask me, you can take out a withdrawal to catch up on your house payment but not to give kids a home.  What's wrong with this picture?

So we were hoping for a big miracle because we possibly could be traveling in the next 4-6 weeks and only have maybe $1k of the $10k that we need for that trip when I found out some more not so good news today so now we are really praying for a big miracle and fast.

There are details that I cannot share with you in order to protect the privacy of our  girls but what I can tell you is that they are broken, they are damaged and they need healing.  Healing that can only come with being loved unconditionally and having someone to walk through the ups and downs of life with you.  Someone to hold your hand, hug you when you are sad and rejoice with you when you are happy.  My little girls NEEDS THEIR MOMMA AND PAPPA ASAP!!!

Right now we are waiting for a court date but we need to be financially ready to accept that date when it comes so that travel arrangements can be made and we can get to the girls sooner that later.

Our current goal is to reach that $10,000.  If we get that we can at least get them back here then we will worry about funding the 2nd and 3rd trip as the time comes.

I realize that this number is HUMONGOUS but together with our mighty God we can do it.  I realize that we are asking A LOT of our friends, family, and any one else reading this but I can't help but think that the future of these kids are on the line and if we all come together the number is not that big.  I just keep thinking how many orphans could find a home if everyone gave up just a little.

Would you consider donating $1, $10, $100 to bringing them home?  Please pray about it.  If you've got a few bucks leftover in your paypal account maybe you'd consider donating that?  And I plead with you to please share this post with every single person you know.  Post it on facebook and ask your friends to post it.  If just 1000 people read this and gave $10 we would meet our goal.  Or if just 500 people would not eat at McDonald's one night this week and instead donate $20 we would be fully funded and ready to travel.  It's a small price to pay to give two children a home forever.  To know they are loved and that they have a room and a bed of their own.

If you would like to give a donation there is a paypal button to the right of this post that will allow you to donate via paypal or credit card if you don't have a paypal account.  There is also information on mailing a tax deductible donation in the sidebar.  Or if you'd like to mail a donation directly to us please email us at butlersadopt@gmail.com for our mailing information.

I want you to know that it is almost embarrassing yet humbling to put this need out there but we know that we cannot do it without the help of other people.  God has called us all to care for widows and orphans and for us to not share our need with you to bring these girls home we would possibly be cheating you of the chance to do something with that command. 

The ticker at the top of this blog will be continually updated as we work towards our first court fees.

God has put so many people in our lives as a result of this process.  New friends that I will be forever thankful for.  We know this adoption is a huge undertaking and perhaps we are not as well off as some  believe we should be to adopt two more children but we met the requirements of the homestudy to provide for them and that is what we fully intend to do.  We are very well off compared to the majority of this world.  We just need help getting them home.

On a final note, I want to share with you the words from my devotional today.  I've felt so helpless knowing I couldn't run to them and rescue them with the news I received today and then I read these words:

RELAX IN MY EVERLASTING ARMS.  Your weakness is an opportunity to grow strong in awareness of My Almighty Presence.  When your energy fails you, do not look inward and lament the lack you find there.  Look to Me and My sufficiency; rejoice in My radiant riches that are abundantly available to help you.

Thanks for reading this long post.  Maybe your cup is empty, maybe it isn't, or maybe your cup runneth over and you want to share :)  Blessings friends!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Our dossier has made it to Latvia!

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This is a much overdue post but the title pretty much sums up where we are at.  Thanks to another family that is in the adoption process and was traveling back to Latvia for court our dossier was put it into the hands of the attorney on September 12th.  Now it is in the process of being translated and once that is done it will go to the ministry when we will receive an official referral.

This sweet friend also took the time out of her trip to visit my girls and deliver some packages to them.  D was away at school but A was there so she was able to look through the things we sent to them.  It was an awesome visit because no one had “officially” asked the girls if they wanted to be adopted by us yet so the attorney and social worker were able to do that at this visit.  She said that A had been holding her head down most of the time (she’s very shy if she doesn’t know you) but when they asked her if she wanted to be adopted she looked up with a big smile on her beautiful face.  I have the photo, someday I’ll be able to share that with you but rules are rules.

So we are making progress and hopefully it won't be too much longer until they are home.