It's back!

Our garage that is.  After having it overflowing with garage sale stuff for the past couple months, I've never been so grateful to have my garage space again!  We had to move out all of our things to make room for the sale items; which meant that our bikes, outdoor toys, etc. were relegated either in my living room or out in the backyard!  Everything is back in it's right spot and the van is parked in the garage again.  Phew.  Our extra day of sales last week went well, we made another almost $400.  So that brings our grand total to around $2400!!!  Amazing.

And in an effort to pay it forward, St. Vincent de Paul came with a huge truck and picked up what we had left.  Here's a pic of what was left after selling $2400 worth of items!  We hope it all goes to a great home.

Speaking of St. Vincent de Paul, I called the last morning of the sale to see when they could come pick everything up and was told it usually takes weeks or months to schedule a big pickup like this.  My heart fell at the thought of either putting it all back in the garage or having to make many trips to drop it off ourselves.  We were just so DONE at that point.  But 5 minutes later, they called me back and said in a very unusual stroke of luck, they could come that day!!  The sale ended at 1pm that Friday, and they came by 4:30 to pick it all up.  Happy to say the least!

In other adoption news: there is no other adoption news.  Nope.  Not a word from our agency.  In fact, it seems like every time I ask how long they think it will be until we get a referral (baby match), they give me a longer estimated timeline. So we're backing off and just going to do our best to be patient for a while.  Easier for Jeremy than for me, but I'll try.  We're still hopeful for a match sometime late summer/early fall and travel would then be 4-7 months after that.  But all very up in the air at this point.

Our biggest has 3 days of school left, then it's officially time for SUMMER here in our house and we are so ready!  Despite the long adoption waits, it's still very feasible that by next summer our new little one will be home, which makes it seem not so bad. :)

One Last Time!

We have enough left to have one more sale, this Friday May 24th, 9am-1pm. 

 

TONS of baby & kids clothes, adult clothes, shoes, toys & baby gear, tons of kids' books, beautiful Kids Line complete crib set (bumpers, crib skirt, valances, diaper stacker, lamp, etc.), books, CDs, DVDs, VHS player, DVD player, TV, furniture, household items, decorations, picture frames, wall art, Precious Moments, stuffed animals, Disney Beanie Babies, pocket charts for the classroom, stroller, children’s art desk, entertainment, center, like-new rechargeable battery push mower (just needs batteries), huge Amana stainless steel grill (needs work but great potential!) and much more!

 

Come shop, bring a friend and be a part of our little girl's story!

 

Last chance!

 

Success!!

Our fundraising garage sale was wildly successful!!  We raised $2000 over the 3 days, and 100% of that goes directly to bringing our little one home.  We are so thankful to all our friends and family who donated items & food to sell, loaned us tables, and gave their time to be here to help us.  The best part was seeing everyone who came to see us and to shop, it was awesome.  You all are a part of this adoption story!  We are tired and very grateful. :)

Adoption Fundraiser Garage Sale Event!!

Our garage sale has turned into an EVENT!  Please come and shop, all proceeds will help fund our next adoption! 
 
We'll be open: 
Thursday May 16th, 6pm-? 
Friday May 17th, 9-3 
Saturday May 18th, 9-3 
 
TONS of baby & kids clothes, adult clothes, shoes, LOTS of toys & baby gear, tons of kids' 

boks, Pottery Barn crib set, Kids Line complete crib set, Medela breast pump, Instep retro 

ride-on fire truck, outdoor toys, books, CDs, DVDs, carseat, furniture, household items, decorations, Precious Moments, electronics, Sansui 9090 vintage stereo receiver, Pioneer HPM 100 vintage speakers, reclining loveseat, wicker outdoor furniture...we literally have thousands of items for sale! 
 
There will also be hot dogs, chips, drinks, and baked goods to purchase while 
supplies last! 
 
Come shop, bring a friend and be a part of our little girl's story! Our 
neighborhood garage sale will also be going on, so there will be lots of 
shopping to do! 
 
Email me if you need details on location:
jcoleman48@cinci.rr.com

Me & My Gang

All Ya Need is Mud

Stuck

Millions and millions of children are stuck.  Many children become "stuck" in their birth countries for months and often years, many times even when they have an adoptive family here waiting for them, due to ridiculous and perilous procedures and polices to get them home.

International adoptions have greatly decreased.  Over the past 5 years, they've decrease by about 50%, from 19,608 a year down to 9,320 a year.  These numbers are scary given the fact that there are MILLIONS needing a home.  

Some countries are having to build "super" orphanages to house them all, some holding as many as 750 kids in one building.  They are building these at a rate that exceeds the growth rate of adoptions.

Children who are not adopted live out their childhood in orphanages.  In some countries, they "age out" at the age of 14, from which point they are on their own.  No family, no home, nothing.

The decrease in adoptions is due in part to policies in place that make adoption a very long and costly process. 

The average adoption costs $28,000 and takes nearly 3 years.

Another reason for the decrease in adoptions is complacency.  We are too consumed with building Super Walmarts and Targets to let ourselves be affected by what's going on in these super orphanages.  We feel like we can't do anything to help.  But we can.

An organization called Both Ends Burning is working on a very important campaign to help the world of adoption.    This campaign is aimed at getting signatures on an online petition by May 16; the next day, copies of the petition will be given to legislators on Capitol Hill in the Step Forward for Orphans March in hopes to inspire them to promote a culture of adoption and to implement policy change.

I just signed the petition "MAKE A CHILD'S RIGHT TO A FAMILY OUR PRIORITY" on Change.org.

It's important. Will you sign it too? 

There's also an amazing documentary called "Stuck" that we just watched online.  It follows several families and their "stuck" children through the international adoption process.  It's a very moving and informational video, I highly recommend you watching it and sharing it with family and friends.  

The documentary poses the question, "How long should a child be denied a family because of missing paperwork?" .

These children deserve a chance.  Let's help them out.  Start here:

https://bothendsburning.org/

Garage Sale

We are gearing up for the big garage sale to help fund our adoption!!!

We are still taking donations of any household items, clothes, baby gear, toys, ANYTHING that you want to donate.  All the proceeds will go towards bringing our new little lady home.

Sale will be:
Thursday, May 16th: PREVIEW NIGHT, 6ish-?
Friday, May 17th:  9-3
Saturday, May 18th: 9-3

Make plans to come and shop!

Contact me if you have questions:
jcoleman48@cinci.rr.com