Out of Translation

It's official!  We're out of translation "oot" which means all of our documents have been
translated.  The next step is under review.  And then we will receive our "letter of approval".
There are several steps beyond that but we'll try to wait patiently for our loa and then look at the next
steps.  Getting so excited here to finally meet our little guy. 

 

 

 

We have been so blessed to have received a $3000 matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans.  We are currently at a little over $700 which includes the funds from the auction we just held.  To help support our grant, we are selling origami note cards that our daughter, Faith makes.   If you'd like to help us meet our $3000 goal either by purchasing one of the card sets or making a donation,  here's how you can help.  Leave a comment if you'd like to purchase a card set or if you'd rather make a donation you can do so by check or our Lifesong paypal link.

Checks can be made payable to Lifesong for Orphans.  In the memo, note family name and family account number #4765, Vantrease to ensure it goes to the correct account.   Please mail to "Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744.  100% of the donation will go directly to our adoption.  To donate online, you can click the "donate" button to the right, under "Ian's Lifesong Account" which will take you straight to our paypal link with Lifesong.  The account number will show there as well, #4765. 

Our card's come in a set of 8 with envelopes and are $13.75 which includes shipping.  These make great little gifts for teachers too.  Each card is signed with Faith's Chinese character.   Any pet lover would love Faith's cat and dog set of notecards.  Each pet set contains 4 cats and 4 dogs and varies by the color of card stripe/dot and the color of the origami.

The dress origami set at the bottoms contains 8 mixed patterns/colors of dresses on different colors of card stock.  Again this set is an example and all sets vary.  Each set comes with 8 white envelopes.  The notecards are blank inside. 

DTC for Ian 10/17/14

Yayyeee!  After the long paper journey, which we thought would never end, we are finally DTC for Ian.  DTC means  . . . Dossier to China!.  As we still have a little bit of a wait to go, we should travel sometime the first of the year.  Adoption isn't easy!  There are soooo many obstacles. And one of the biggest obstacles is the financial piece.  We have been so blessed to have received a $3000 matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans.  To help support our grant, we are selling origami note cards that our daughter, Faith makes.  Those are in the previous post.  And we'll be adding more a little later, including some Christmas ones.  If you'd like to help us meet our $3000 goal either by purchasing one of the card sets or making a donation,  here's how you can help.  Leave a comment if you'd like to purchase a card set or if you'd rather make a donation you can do so by check or our Lifesong paypal link.

Checks can be made payable to Lifesong for Orphans.  In the memo, note family name and family account number #4765 to insure it goes to the correct account.   Please mail to "Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744.  100% of the donation will go directly to our adoption.  To donate online, you can click the "donate" button to the right, under "Ian's Lifesong Account" which will take you straight to our paypal link with Lifesong.  The account number will show there as well, #4765. 

This little guy has had a rough start to life.  We are so blessed to be his parents and can not wait to
get him home.  Waiting isn't easy, but we know God's got this!  Precious boy, oh how you are already loved. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origami card sets available including our new design.

 



This set sold as a set of 8 including
2 doves, 2 stars, 2 angels, and 2 trees
with envelopes.

Set of 8 dress origami cards in assorted
patterns.  This one is an
example and each set varies.
Also $13.75 a set and
includes envelopes.



 

 

 



Lifesong matching grant

FINALLY,  we are DTC.  Our documents left for China Friday, October 17th.  Yippee!  We are
so excited.  We are getting ever so much closer to bringing Ian Michael home.  Hoping to receive an update on him any day.

In the meantime, we have been so blessed to have received a $3000 matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans.  This means they will match up to $3000 of funds that are raised or donated on our behalf. 
We still need $2800 and have several items to list to sell to help us along the way.  As you can see to the right, our daughter Faith, who was adopted in 2012 at the age of 12 loves to make origami cards.  She has made several so far and we have been trying to come up with some new designs (which are almost complete) for the holidays.   We also have some jewelry that we'll list as well.  If you are interested in either the cards or jewelry, please leave a comment with your e-mail address and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.  We appreciate everyone who has helped us along our journey to help bring Ian home.  I was able to add a "donate" button to the right (Ian's Lifesong account), which takes you straight to our Lifesong paypal account.    I've listed two pictures of each card set below.  One shows all the cards included, and the other shows how they are packaged.  Also, each item is numbered.  Please include the number of the item in your comment.  Thank you so very much!!

1)    Set of 8 blank note cards with envelopes in chevron stripes and dots.
$13.75 (includes shipping).  c
SOLD


 

2)    Set of 8 "swan" origami on black/greys/, cream note cards
blank inside with envelopes.
$13.75 (Includes shipping)

 

3)    Set of 8 "dress" origami note cards in assorted colors
with envelopes
$13.75 (includes shipping)


 

4)  Set of 8 "dress" origami cards in assorted colors
with envelopes.
$13.73 (includes shipping)
SOLD
 

5)  Set of 8 (dress) origami cards in assorted colors
with envelopes.  $13.75 (includes shipping)
SOLD

 

6)  Set of 8 (dress) origami note cards in assorted colors with envelopes.
$13.75 (includes shipping)
SOLD
 

7)  Set of 8 (dress) origami note cards
with envelopes
$13.75 (includes shipping)

 



8)  Set of 8 (dress) origami note cards
with envelopes
$13.75 (includes shipping)

9)    Cross bracelet

$12.50 (includes shipping)

10)   Cross necklace (faux turquoise)
$12.50 (includes shipping)

11)  Cross beaded bracelet
on stretchy band
$12.50 (includes shipping)



Count down til DTC

As we wait our final countdown to finally send our documents across the pond, a sweet friend, Stacy Richards, is hosting a fundraiser for us through her Jubilee's Jewels.  If you haven't seen, heard, or purchased any of her remarkable jewelry, here's your chance and you'll be helping bring Ian home.  Each piece is made with care and they all have such an amazing message.  I have this piece and wear it all the time.  It touches my heart as I think of all the orphans who desperately want a family.

"BE LOVE   loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty"  Mother Teresa

Here's how to order one of Stacy's pieces:

Click on http://jubileesjewels.com/
You can order any piece she has listed, including the fundraising pieces
When ordering, add "ANITA" in the comments section so we get credit for the sale
At the close of the fundraiser, Stacy will then send the funds we made to our "Lifesong for Orphans" account.

If you'd like to donate directly to our Lifesong account, click on the  "Ian's Lifesong account" button to the right on our blog.  Thank you so much!  We appreciate each and everyone of you and love reading your comments giving us support and inspiration to get our little guy home.  Keep praying, We know God's got this!
  

Getting Closer . . . Almost DTC

What a roller coaster of emotions as we wait for our final approval before sending "all" our
documents to China where we will then be logged in the database and just wait for our approval.  Whewwww!!  Our biggest struggle has been fingerprinting as we've had to redo, redo, and redo.
I'm just holding my breath that we don't have to redo the USCIS prints.  Tomorrow will be a week
since mom and I were printed.  I've tried to ignore the mailbox and dread opening the door.  Praying the prints go through just fine.  God's got this, I just tend to get a little impatient. 

As we wait we have been very blessed to have received some updated pictures of Ian.   Each picture shows his sweet little personality.  What a cutie!!!  Here's a couple of the new one's:

 

 

For those who don't know his story, our sweet little guy was burned as a baby suffering severe burn injuries over his head, face, hand, and legs.  My heart just breaks for him.  I can not even imagine what he went through as a baby.  He's already had several surgeries and he has a long way to go. We'll be right there with him.  We would appreciate prayers for him for his journey ahead, not only with his medical needs, but also with the transition of a new family.  It's hard on these kids being taken out of their comfort zone and into an unknown place far, far away never seeing the family they have come to know and all the familiarities.  They are so resilient.  We can't wait to get on the plane to bring him home.  But we'll try to wait patiently on God's perfect timing. 

 

 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him, and he will make straight your paths". Prov. 3:5&6

Getting Closer!!!!

  Update 6/5/14 - We received our completed home study yesterday and now wait for our I-800a
approval.  Hoping and praying we get this within the next 4 to 6 weeks.  Woohooo!!
In the meantime, we have added necklaces to our fundraiser "Endeavors from the Heart".  As
with the bracelets below, we made these cute necklaces.  They vary in price and the price is listed under the picture.  Please leave a comment with your e-mail or pm me on fb if interested.  I'll get back with you as soon as I can.  We appreciate you so much and thank you for stopping by our
page.  We are getting closer to bringing our little man Ian home. 


   We are so excited as we are just waiting on our home study to arrive where it will then make it's way to USCIS.  Woohoooo!
Little Ian . . not much longer now.   As he's 4 1/2 years old, he doesn't know that his world is about to be turned upside down.   We are hoping that once we are dtc, they will begin to prepare him for the transition.   God has big plans for you little man and we are in awe of His works. 

  As we try to wait patiently, unfortunately there are fees that have to be paid.  We are so "grateful and appreciative" to those who have purchased from our endeavors from the hearts items, donated and prayed.  We thank you so very much!!!!!   We are in the home stretch in this part of the process and once again have made some really cute bracelets to help with the USCIS fees that are due once we get our home study in our hands.  We also have our note cards available which are in the previous post below.   Please feel free to share our blog link. 

  Leave a comment with your e-mail with the item number and description of the bracelet/bracelets you are interested in and I'll contact you.  Once contacted, you can then pay through the "donate" button on the left via paypal.  Thank you so much!

                                   Necklace A)
                                                   Grey/gold colored assort. glass beaded
                                                   necklace measures 21"
                                                   Super cute with clasp
                                                   closure, includes shipping

                                                                $18.75

                                                                SOLD

                                                    Necklace #1)  Turquoise color beads
                                                    with silver color accent beads and silver
                                                    tone shell accent piece (nice piece). 
                                                    Measures approx. 16" around.  Super
                                                    cute with clasp closure
. 
                                                                          $18.50

                                                                         SOLD

                                                    Necklace #2)  Turquoise/blue/aqua/
                                                    in color beads/stones with silver
                                                    color accents.  Measures approx.
                                                    16" around with a clasp closure.

                                                                         $16.50

                                                                         SOLD

 

                                          

 
                                                        Example only - pictured on wrist

Each bracelet is only $16.50 which includes shipping.   The two pictures above show the actual size on my wrist.   The beads are mostly glass and stone.  It's noted under each listing.   And all bracelets are on a stretchy band.  Take a look at the bracelets pictured below!!

                                                   1) "Double strand" turquoise colored
                                                          stone bracelet on stretchy band.
                                                          Measure 16" in total length.
                                                                          $16.50

                                                SOLD

                                                    2) "Shades of blue/silver"
                                                    Glass beads in blue/clear accented with
                                                    silver color beads.  Measures 8 1/2"
                                                                         $16.50

                                                                        SOLD

                                                    3)   "Antique look" beads.  Lightweight
                                                    acrylic and looks great with creams/
                                                    blacks/greys.  Love the amber shades.
                                                    Measures  8 1/2"
                                                                        $16.50

                                              SOLD

                                                    4)   Multi color glass beaded bracelet
                                                    with silver in color beaded accents.
                                                     Measures  8 1/2" 
                                                                         $16.50
                                      
                                                                     SOLD

                                                    5)   Turquoise color stones with
                                                     "believe" charm.   Measures  9"
                                                                             $16.50

                                                                          SOLD

                                                    6)  Turquoise color stones with
                                                    "lighthouse" charm.   Measure 9"
                                                                           $16.50

                                                                         SOLD

                                                     7)   Turquoise color stone bracelet
                                                      with "believe" charm.  Measures 9"
                                                                            $16.50

                                                                          SOLD

                                                     8)   Turquoise color stone bracelet.
                                                   This one is pictured above on my arm.
                                                    Measures 9".  This is so cute on and
                                                    as with the other turquoise color stone
                                                    bracelets, it looks great paired with
                                                    denim and white.  Great for summer!
                                     
                                                                          $16.50

                                                                        SOLD

                                                     9)  "shades of pink/mauve" glass
                                                    beaded bracelet with silver color accent
                                                    beads and "cross" charm.  Measures 9"
                                                                           $16.50

                                                                      SOLD

                                                    10)  "Fish & Flower" glass beaded
                                                     bracelet with silver accent beads.
                                                     Measures 8 1/2"
                                                                           $16.50

                                                                           SOLD

                                                    11)  "Pig and Floral" bracelet with shades
                                                    of pink and black glass beads with silver
                                                    color accent beads.  Measure 8 1/2"
                                                                         $16.50

                                                                       SOLD

                                                    12)  "floral" beaded bracelet in multi
                                                    colors.  A lil bit of Santa Fe.
                                                   These are either stone or glass
                                                    beads (it's hard to determine).  But it's
                                                    very cute!   Measures 9"
                                                                       $16.50

                                                                     SOLD

                                                    13)  Pig and red flower" bracelet.  Also
                                                     has glass beads as well as silver colored
                                                     beads.    Measures 8 1/2"
                                                                           $16.50

                                                                        SOLD

                                                    14)  "Pig and Eiffel Tower" charm
                                                     Shades of black/amber/pinks.  So cute.
                                                    The pig beads are glass and too cute!
                                                     Measures  8 1/2"
                                                                           $16.50

                                                                       SOLD
                                                        

                                                    15) "lavender lady bug" glass beaded
                                                     bracelet with silver color accents.
                                                     Measures 8 1/2"
                                                                       $16.50

                                                                    SOLD

                                                    16)  "Red Lady Bug" glass beaded
                                                     bracelet with silver color accents.
                                                     Measures  8 1/2"
                                                                          $16.50

                                                                          SOLD

                                                     17)  "doggie  with red flower"
                                                     Glass assorted beads with silver color
                                                     accents.  Love this one, super cute.
                                                     Measures 9"
                                                                          $16.50

                                                                        SOLD

                                                    18)  "Doggie and Red Bone"
                                                    Assorted glass beads with silver color
                                                    accents.  Measures 8".  Super duper
                                                    cute!!!!
                                                                            $16.50

                                                    Picture only of all 3 doggie bracelets.
                                                       

                                                    19)  "Doggie with Yellow Flower"
                                                     assorted glass beaded bracelet with
                                                     silver color accents.  Measures 9"
                                                                        $16.50


We also have several sets of cards available.  They are
$13.75 for a set of 8 and includes shipping.  They are shown
in the previous post.  Scroll all the way down. 

Thanks so much for taking a look at our items!!!!