Today we had our second of three home study meetings with our social worker. This meeting: going over the autobiography questionnaire we had filled out. It was a chance to share about our lives, how we were raised, our views on parenting, etc. I am excited to be one step closer in our adoption adventure and am thankful for having a good relationship with our social worker.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I thought I'd take the time to list a few more things I am thankful for in this adoption adventure.
1. First and foremost, I am thankful for God's presence every step of the way. From God putting adoption on our hearts, to providing for our financial needs, and everything in between, God has had a very real presence and provided us with a sense of peace.
2. I am also thankful for the gift of fellowship with our church small group specifically for adoptive or adopting families. It is a great way to be able to share in the highs and lows of the adoption adventure with people who really understand all things adoption.
3. I am delighted and thankful for the sweet and curious hearts of our two girls already in our home. Shannon and Amelia talk about the adoption daily and I love hearing them talk/ask questions about their future siblings.
4. And finally, I am thankful to be on this adoption adventure with my best friend and father of my children (current and future). I could not imagine tackling this adventure on my own.
Hoping, Praying, Waiting for you
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Blessed Beyond Measure
Two and a half weeks ago we were at 45% of our $30,000 goal to cover the fees portion of our adoption expenses. Today, I am overjoyed to say we are beyond 100% funded!!! This truly can only be explained as a God thing.
In my last post, I was secretly hoping and praying we would reach our goal of $30,000 by the end of 2013. I am truly in awe of the way God has met us throughout this adoption adventure.
After wrapping up 3 days of a massive garage sale I can honestly say I am completely and utterly exhausted BUT am grateful for the experience as well. This garage sale allowed Ben and me the opportunity to get to know our neighborhood, minister to others and spend three solid days together. Having never done a garage sale before in my life I really did not know what I was getting into, but there are so many stories to tell now.
We spent months collecting and organizing donations for the garage sale. Our house was filled to the brim and so much of it sold in the past three days. God took other people's extra clutter and turned it into ways to not only bless us, but bless many of our customers as well. With what remains we are hoping to keep much of the kid items to give to the orphanage we adopt from and give the remaining items to a local charity.
Despite the monetary blessing, there were so many other awesome experiences in it as well. Having only moved into our neighborhood less than a year ago this sale allowed us to get to know many of our neighbors, hear their stories and share ours as well. We had many people ask the who, what, where, and why of our adoption story and we used that as a way to be witnesses and minister to those who stopped by our sale.
Some of the people we met specifically came to our sale because they knew it was an adoption fundraiser. Many of these people either were also adopting, had been adopted, had adopted family members, or were involved in adoption some way or another. It is amazing what a community the adoption community is :)
We also had many complete strangers stop by and give us a financial gift without buying anything at all. Even more people we had never met before told us they were praying for us and wished us well in our journey. God is truly in control of all of this.
Another unexpected element of the garage sale was how helpful it was that I speak Spanish. Early in our first day I began speaking with some families in Spanish and they were pretty surprised by that, but really opened up to me and we had some great conversations. By the afternoon of the first day we started getting people who would walk up to me and ask "¿Habla español?" (Do you speak Spanish?) as if the word had gotten out that I speak Spanish. It was fun for me to use my Spanish and be able to have genuine conversations with many of these families. I even had one family who asked for the number to Shannon's Spanish Immersion school because they also wanted their son to solidify his Spanish.
Overall, our interactions with people who stopped by the sale was positive. The only truly negative interaction we had was with a man who was not happy we were adopting internationally, but I let him know I thought all kinds of adoption were important and God calls different people to each kind of adoption.
I was also somewhat surprised by the amount of people who could not quite understand we weren't planning on adopting babies, and even some who assumed we were adopting animals. We had many people ask us why we would sell so many baby items if we were adopting, and then we explained our kiddos would probably not be babies. I learned to respond with "We've been blessed with the baby experience twice, now it is time to give kids who are a little older a chance to stay together as a sibling group." and "God has told us where our kids are and we know He will make a way to bring them home."
In addition to the garage sale fundraiser we've also been blessed by several large monetary gifts from friends and family allowing us to surpass our adoption fees goal and begin to save towards our living expenses while we go down to the Dominican Republic.
So, tonight I am thanking God for everyone He allowed to be a part of this. Everyone who gave (money, donations, supplies, time), everyone who prayed, everyone who shopped, everyone who spread the word, everyone who helped with the girls - God allowed each and everyone of you to bless us and we are awestruck by it all.
We are truly blessed beyond measure.
"Every good and perfect gift comes from above" James 1:17a
In my last post, I was secretly hoping and praying we would reach our goal of $30,000 by the end of 2013. I am truly in awe of the way God has met us throughout this adoption adventure.
After wrapping up 3 days of a massive garage sale I can honestly say I am completely and utterly exhausted BUT am grateful for the experience as well. This garage sale allowed Ben and me the opportunity to get to know our neighborhood, minister to others and spend three solid days together. Having never done a garage sale before in my life I really did not know what I was getting into, but there are so many stories to tell now.
We spent months collecting and organizing donations for the garage sale. Our house was filled to the brim and so much of it sold in the past three days. God took other people's extra clutter and turned it into ways to not only bless us, but bless many of our customers as well. With what remains we are hoping to keep much of the kid items to give to the orphanage we adopt from and give the remaining items to a local charity.
Despite the monetary blessing, there were so many other awesome experiences in it as well. Having only moved into our neighborhood less than a year ago this sale allowed us to get to know many of our neighbors, hear their stories and share ours as well. We had many people ask the who, what, where, and why of our adoption story and we used that as a way to be witnesses and minister to those who stopped by our sale.
Some of the people we met specifically came to our sale because they knew it was an adoption fundraiser. Many of these people either were also adopting, had been adopted, had adopted family members, or were involved in adoption some way or another. It is amazing what a community the adoption community is :)
We also had many complete strangers stop by and give us a financial gift without buying anything at all. Even more people we had never met before told us they were praying for us and wished us well in our journey. God is truly in control of all of this.
Another unexpected element of the garage sale was how helpful it was that I speak Spanish. Early in our first day I began speaking with some families in Spanish and they were pretty surprised by that, but really opened up to me and we had some great conversations. By the afternoon of the first day we started getting people who would walk up to me and ask "¿Habla español?" (Do you speak Spanish?) as if the word had gotten out that I speak Spanish. It was fun for me to use my Spanish and be able to have genuine conversations with many of these families. I even had one family who asked for the number to Shannon's Spanish Immersion school because they also wanted their son to solidify his Spanish.
Overall, our interactions with people who stopped by the sale was positive. The only truly negative interaction we had was with a man who was not happy we were adopting internationally, but I let him know I thought all kinds of adoption were important and God calls different people to each kind of adoption.
I was also somewhat surprised by the amount of people who could not quite understand we weren't planning on adopting babies, and even some who assumed we were adopting animals. We had many people ask us why we would sell so many baby items if we were adopting, and then we explained our kiddos would probably not be babies. I learned to respond with "We've been blessed with the baby experience twice, now it is time to give kids who are a little older a chance to stay together as a sibling group." and "God has told us where our kids are and we know He will make a way to bring them home."
In addition to the garage sale fundraiser we've also been blessed by several large monetary gifts from friends and family allowing us to surpass our adoption fees goal and begin to save towards our living expenses while we go down to the Dominican Republic.
So, tonight I am thanking God for everyone He allowed to be a part of this. Everyone who gave (money, donations, supplies, time), everyone who prayed, everyone who shopped, everyone who spread the word, everyone who helped with the girls - God allowed each and everyone of you to bless us and we are awestruck by it all.
We are truly blessed beyond measure.
"Every good and perfect gift comes from above" James 1:17a
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Preparing
July has been the month of preparations. From training, to our first home study meeting, to final touches in preparation for our fundraiser garage sale - much of our time an energy has been adoption focused. I am thrilled to be making progress towards bringing our kiddos home and cannot wait for the day I get to hold them in my arms and introduce them to our girls.
We've had lots of adoption related conversations at home and I love hearing my girls' curiosity and excitement about the idea of new brothers or sisters. We've even been blessed with many adoption related conversations outside of the home - particularly from those who know about our upcoming garage sale.
Some of the re-occurring themes from friends, family and even strangers have been why and how much. One of the unexpected blessings in this adoption adventure is how it has allowed me to talk openly about my faith. So often we are asked why we would choose to adopt from the DR and that allows me to answer with "that is where God has told us our kids are." Let's just say this makes room for some great conversations. But, in all reality, this is why we are adopting from the DR. I firmly believe God will help us every step of the way and He will provide the resources (monetary, emotional, time, wisdom, peace, etc.)
In regards to the "How much?" part of this adventure it is hard to put a firm number on it all... There are lots of minor incidentals (fingerprints, background checks, postage, etc) and we can't fully estimate the cost of living in the DR since we are not sure just how long we will be there (at least 60 days for all of us, closer to 6-9 months for me until everything is finalized). HOWEVER, I do know the cost of the actual adoption, both U.S. end and DR end. Our agency here in the U.S. will cost around $10,500 and the law firm in the DR has a set fee of $6,500 per child ($13,000 if we adopt two children, $19,500 if we adopt 3). So... that puts us at a total of $30,000 for agency/law firm expenses if we adopt three children into our family. (The planner in me would rather have the amount for 3 children even if we only end up adopting 2 kiddos and any extra money can be put towards our living expenses while we are there/loss of our salaries.)
With the garage sale coming up in just over two weeks I have been praying over it quite a bit, advertising for it (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/gms/3940280926.html) and wondering what the outcome will be. I honestly do not have an expected amount we will raise. I am praying that God will use the overwhelming blessing of the amount of items that have been donated for our sale and bring the right customers our way. I am trusting in His provision and continue to be amazed by his presence in this whole adoption adventure so far.
While I do not know how much the sale will bring our way, I do now have a total goal ($30,000) for the adoption expenses and the amount we have so far ($13,500). I was blown away when I realized we have already met 45% of our goal!!! Praise the LORD!
We've had lots of adoption related conversations at home and I love hearing my girls' curiosity and excitement about the idea of new brothers or sisters. We've even been blessed with many adoption related conversations outside of the home - particularly from those who know about our upcoming garage sale.
Some of the re-occurring themes from friends, family and even strangers have been why and how much. One of the unexpected blessings in this adoption adventure is how it has allowed me to talk openly about my faith. So often we are asked why we would choose to adopt from the DR and that allows me to answer with "that is where God has told us our kids are." Let's just say this makes room for some great conversations. But, in all reality, this is why we are adopting from the DR. I firmly believe God will help us every step of the way and He will provide the resources (monetary, emotional, time, wisdom, peace, etc.)
In regards to the "How much?" part of this adventure it is hard to put a firm number on it all... There are lots of minor incidentals (fingerprints, background checks, postage, etc) and we can't fully estimate the cost of living in the DR since we are not sure just how long we will be there (at least 60 days for all of us, closer to 6-9 months for me until everything is finalized). HOWEVER, I do know the cost of the actual adoption, both U.S. end and DR end. Our agency here in the U.S. will cost around $10,500 and the law firm in the DR has a set fee of $6,500 per child ($13,000 if we adopt two children, $19,500 if we adopt 3). So... that puts us at a total of $30,000 for agency/law firm expenses if we adopt three children into our family. (The planner in me would rather have the amount for 3 children even if we only end up adopting 2 kiddos and any extra money can be put towards our living expenses while we are there/loss of our salaries.)
With the garage sale coming up in just over two weeks I have been praying over it quite a bit, advertising for it (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/gms/3940280926.html) and wondering what the outcome will be. I honestly do not have an expected amount we will raise. I am praying that God will use the overwhelming blessing of the amount of items that have been donated for our sale and bring the right customers our way. I am trusting in His provision and continue to be amazed by his presence in this whole adoption adventure so far.
Friday, June 14, 2013
The Summer of Adoption Fundraising...
Nearly two months after submitting our adoption application we officially have our first home study meeting on the calendar! I am both excited and a bit nervous to get going on the home study - one more step closer to meeting and bringing our kiddos home!
In addition to beginning the home study, this summer is filling up with fundraising to help cover the costs for the adoption. It is definitely a humbling experience to be a fundraising family. I would love to be able to say we had all the money for the adoption saved up and ready to go. However, we know we cannot cover the expense on our own, but we also know God will provide every penny we need to grow our family. If that means finding creative ways to fund-raise, then so be it.
A few people have asked about the ways we are raising funds for the adoption. Right now we currently have five:
1)Ben is using his mechanical skills to fix cars - from minor repairs to complete engine swaps - he is using the labor cost to add to our adoption fund.
2)I am working with Compass USA as a Youth Program Coordinator working with host families and host students from France and Spain during short-term stays in MN this summer. All the money I am earning with this summer position is going towards our adoption fund. It has been a fun way to meet new people and connect American families with international students. Having been both an exchange student and a host mom myself, it is interesting to be part of the exchange opportunity as a coordinator now.
3)We have an online store through Adoption Bug (there is a link on the right side of the blog). If someone buys a t-shirt through our "store" we get $7-$9 of the purchase to put towards our adoption fund.
4)We have a CoupAide website (also linked on the right side of the blog) where people who donate $20 to CoupAide will receive a $50 e-certificate to restaurants.com. Ten dollars of the $20 donation goes straight into our adoption fund from CoupAide.
5)We are planning a GINORMOUS garage sale in August. We started telling people we are planning on having a garage sale and we would love items they would normally be donating to GoodWill. I knew God would provide the items we would need to have this sale, I did not know He would make people so eager to get rid of their stuff to help us raise funds to bring our kiddos home. My family room and spare bedroom are quickly filling up. I am feeling overwhelmed, but blessed. Slowly, but surely I am going through all of the items and organizing them for the sale planned for this August 1-3. I've uploaded a couple pictures of the current state of our family room to help you understand why I feel like we belong on an episode of Hoarders :) My prayer is that God will provide the customers for the garage sale needed to sell all of it and make it a successful sale.
In addition to beginning the home study, this summer is filling up with fundraising to help cover the costs for the adoption. It is definitely a humbling experience to be a fundraising family. I would love to be able to say we had all the money for the adoption saved up and ready to go. However, we know we cannot cover the expense on our own, but we also know God will provide every penny we need to grow our family. If that means finding creative ways to fund-raise, then so be it.
A few people have asked about the ways we are raising funds for the adoption. Right now we currently have five:
1)Ben is using his mechanical skills to fix cars - from minor repairs to complete engine swaps - he is using the labor cost to add to our adoption fund.
2)I am working with Compass USA as a Youth Program Coordinator working with host families and host students from France and Spain during short-term stays in MN this summer. All the money I am earning with this summer position is going towards our adoption fund. It has been a fun way to meet new people and connect American families with international students. Having been both an exchange student and a host mom myself, it is interesting to be part of the exchange opportunity as a coordinator now.
3)We have an online store through Adoption Bug (there is a link on the right side of the blog). If someone buys a t-shirt through our "store" we get $7-$9 of the purchase to put towards our adoption fund.
4)We have a CoupAide website (also linked on the right side of the blog) where people who donate $20 to CoupAide will receive a $50 e-certificate to restaurants.com. Ten dollars of the $20 donation goes straight into our adoption fund from CoupAide.
5)We are planning a GINORMOUS garage sale in August. We started telling people we are planning on having a garage sale and we would love items they would normally be donating to GoodWill. I knew God would provide the items we would need to have this sale, I did not know He would make people so eager to get rid of their stuff to help us raise funds to bring our kiddos home. My family room and spare bedroom are quickly filling up. I am feeling overwhelmed, but blessed. Slowly, but surely I am going through all of the items and organizing them for the sale planned for this August 1-3. I've uploaded a couple pictures of the current state of our family room to help you understand why I feel like we belong on an episode of Hoarders :) My prayer is that God will provide the customers for the garage sale needed to sell all of it and make it a successful sale.
Above all, I have to stress we are busy, but blessed beyond measure. God has been with us every step of the way and provided us the funds and the resources we need so far and I am confident He will continue to do so.
Beyond the fundraising blessings we've had this summer we are also blessed by having Ben's sister Marianne living with us for the summer while she is in transition from retiring from the Air Force and leaving for the Seychelle's this September. Our girls are thrilled to have her here and so am I. I truly appreciate all the help she is providing, from watching the girls while I am doing home visits for Compass to moving boxes, pianos, TVs into the house for the garage sale. She is a true blessing.
I am also excited to be in contact with two families familiar with adopting from the Dominican Republic. One family adopted about a year and a half ago and the other family is in the DR right now for their cohabitation period with their adoption. It is a blessing to be able to hear from families who are farther along in the process than we are and I value their insight.
Life feels like we are moving in fast forward and I know it will only get busier from here. However, I am grateful to be on this adoption adventure and above all blessed to be mom and wife to the family God has given me. I cannot wait to see what His plan is for my (growing) family :)
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Pre-Adoption Training
This weekend Ben and I completed a two-day pre-adoption training. We went into the training excited, but not really sure what it would entail. We were excited to be moving forward (and even to spend two full days together), but it was also our first formal adoption training and even our first time seeing our agency and the staff in person.
The training was jam-packed with tons of important information and got pretty heavy at times, but was good to be able to process through the information with others also going through their own adoption adventures. One of my favorite things was being able to meet and connect with people also adopting and hear their stories of why they are adopting and what kind of adoption adventure they were on.
I can honestly say I am mentally exhausted and yet equally regenerated. There were some points in the training that brought real tears and stories and issues that are incredibly difficult to imagine or comprehend a child going through - even topics I was already familiar with. But, in the same moment it made my heart for adoption that much stronger and my yearning to bring my kiddos home even more urgent.
Perhaps one of the topics that really hit home was the idea of promoting attachment as your first priority and just with your nuclear family initially. They walked us through an exercise comparing a "normal" 24 month old to and 24 month old from an orphanage and their different ages for various aspects of the child. For example, while both children are chronologically the same age, emotionally the child raised in an orphanage may be closer to 0-3 months. That child never had a primary care giver devoted to them. Never learned that when they cry, their needs are met. Never had a mom to rock them. Even as I write this, I can't help but tear up a little. And, while I knew these facts, seeing the comparative ages really solidified it for me.
It was reaffirming for me when Ben and I were able to talk through things and have very similar reactions and thoughts on different elements in the training. I am so blessed to be on this adventure with my husband and am grateful for the support system we have with our extended families, church family and friends. It is comforting to know I am surrounded by people who have gone through adoptions and will be supported in the process.
While it is heartbreaking to hear the many issues some kids have when they come into an adoptive family, I cannot wait to be able to start the bonding and healing process and grow our family (not just in number).
The training was jam-packed with tons of important information and got pretty heavy at times, but was good to be able to process through the information with others also going through their own adoption adventures. One of my favorite things was being able to meet and connect with people also adopting and hear their stories of why they are adopting and what kind of adoption adventure they were on.
I can honestly say I am mentally exhausted and yet equally regenerated. There were some points in the training that brought real tears and stories and issues that are incredibly difficult to imagine or comprehend a child going through - even topics I was already familiar with. But, in the same moment it made my heart for adoption that much stronger and my yearning to bring my kiddos home even more urgent.
Perhaps one of the topics that really hit home was the idea of promoting attachment as your first priority and just with your nuclear family initially. They walked us through an exercise comparing a "normal" 24 month old to and 24 month old from an orphanage and their different ages for various aspects of the child. For example, while both children are chronologically the same age, emotionally the child raised in an orphanage may be closer to 0-3 months. That child never had a primary care giver devoted to them. Never learned that when they cry, their needs are met. Never had a mom to rock them. Even as I write this, I can't help but tear up a little. And, while I knew these facts, seeing the comparative ages really solidified it for me.
It was reaffirming for me when Ben and I were able to talk through things and have very similar reactions and thoughts on different elements in the training. I am so blessed to be on this adventure with my husband and am grateful for the support system we have with our extended families, church family and friends. It is comforting to know I am surrounded by people who have gone through adoptions and will be supported in the process.
While it is heartbreaking to hear the many issues some kids have when they come into an adoptive family, I cannot wait to be able to start the bonding and healing process and grow our family (not just in number).
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Mother's Day
With Mother's Day coming tomorrow my mind has been on the joy my two sweet girls bring me and my life as a mother. My heart also wonders, prays, yearns for the day we can grow our family through this adoption.
I went to the Mother's Day brunch at our church today and got to enjoy some fellowship with many amazing mothers - including my own personal favorite, my momma. I am so thankful God has blessed me with my mom. She is a huge part to my path to adoption. She taught me what it means to be a good mom and I wouldn't be who I am today without her influence on my life.
I love how I can talk to my mom about my heart for adoption and she truly gets it. All three of my siblings are adopted and all four of us kids have an interesting story to how we came to be a part of our family. I can remember when I was growing up and sometimes friends would ask me questions like "So what's it like being biologically an only child?" and I felt dumb-founded by the question. Not one moment in my life have I been an only child. My parents had already adopted my older brother and sister in Mississippi before I was born and later went on to adopt my youngest brother from Korea. I learned, in time, to respond with the question "What's it like not to have adopted siblings?" and it would get whoever asked the previous question thinking.
I've always known not everyone understands the call to adoption, but it has become even more clear as Ben and I have begun our own adoption adventure. Many people have asked why we would choose to adopt - especially from a country that requires us to live there for 6+ months before we can bring our kiddos home. Our response is: "That's where our kids are and we need to bring them home."
God has called us to grow our family through adoption and I am privileged to be a part of this calling. My own relationship with Him has grown tremendously through our experience so far and it has opened the door to some pretty cool ways to be a witness for Him. It is interesting to see the reactions of people when we simply say God has called us to bring our kids home and then be able to share our faith with this conversation.
At the top of this blog, we've added the verse from John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." To my own kiddos who I am not able to hug and enjoy mothering this Mother's Day: I cannot wait for the day I can come to you and be your mom.
I went to the Mother's Day brunch at our church today and got to enjoy some fellowship with many amazing mothers - including my own personal favorite, my momma. I am so thankful God has blessed me with my mom. She is a huge part to my path to adoption. She taught me what it means to be a good mom and I wouldn't be who I am today without her influence on my life.
I love how I can talk to my mom about my heart for adoption and she truly gets it. All three of my siblings are adopted and all four of us kids have an interesting story to how we came to be a part of our family. I can remember when I was growing up and sometimes friends would ask me questions like "So what's it like being biologically an only child?" and I felt dumb-founded by the question. Not one moment in my life have I been an only child. My parents had already adopted my older brother and sister in Mississippi before I was born and later went on to adopt my youngest brother from Korea. I learned, in time, to respond with the question "What's it like not to have adopted siblings?" and it would get whoever asked the previous question thinking.
I've always known not everyone understands the call to adoption, but it has become even more clear as Ben and I have begun our own adoption adventure. Many people have asked why we would choose to adopt - especially from a country that requires us to live there for 6+ months before we can bring our kiddos home. Our response is: "That's where our kids are and we need to bring them home."
God has called us to grow our family through adoption and I am privileged to be a part of this calling. My own relationship with Him has grown tremendously through our experience so far and it has opened the door to some pretty cool ways to be a witness for Him. It is interesting to see the reactions of people when we simply say God has called us to bring our kids home and then be able to share our faith with this conversation.
At the top of this blog, we've added the verse from John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." To my own kiddos who I am not able to hug and enjoy mothering this Mother's Day: I cannot wait for the day I can come to you and be your mom.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Making progress
It is so exciting to be at a stage where we seem to be making new progress towards the adoption often!
A week ago, as I was coming home from a weekend training for work, I stopped at the mailbox to find our adoption agency had approved our initial application and a packet full of forms to begin the home study process. It is both thrilling and overwhelming as we work through the countless pages, but I am grateful to be making progress.
Monday, I found a website that allows families who are adopting to set up a T-shirt store where every T-shirt we sell earns us a commission to help fund our adoption. I emailed for an application and less than a week later our site is now live :) We've added the widget on the right side of the blog, or the direct link for that is: www.adoptionbug.com/reillyadve
We were also blessed this week with a large monetary gift to help bring our kiddos home and that was unexpected, but also a big answer to prayer. It is such an overwhelming blessing to see how God is meeting us every step of the way through this whole process.
God has been and continues to be a big presence in this entire adoption adventure and I feel privileged to be a part of it. I am so looking forward to the day our family grows beyond our current size of a family of four!
A week ago, as I was coming home from a weekend training for work, I stopped at the mailbox to find our adoption agency had approved our initial application and a packet full of forms to begin the home study process. It is both thrilling and overwhelming as we work through the countless pages, but I am grateful to be making progress.
Monday, I found a website that allows families who are adopting to set up a T-shirt store where every T-shirt we sell earns us a commission to help fund our adoption. I emailed for an application and less than a week later our site is now live :) We've added the widget on the right side of the blog, or the direct link for that is: www.adoptionbug.com/reillyadve
We were also blessed this week with a large monetary gift to help bring our kiddos home and that was unexpected, but also a big answer to prayer. It is such an overwhelming blessing to see how God is meeting us every step of the way through this whole process.
God has been and continues to be a big presence in this entire adoption adventure and I feel privileged to be a part of it. I am so looking forward to the day our family grows beyond our current size of a family of four!
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