I've always liked this chef... Check it out. COOL STORY!
http://ethiopiaforums.com/whats-cooking-at-the-white-house-ethiopian-chef-samuelsson-knows
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
December Update
Hello Family & Friends,
First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone!! Just writing to give you a quick update on our adoption and our life these days. . .
As of December 6th, we have officially been on the waitlist for 7 months. While the climate regarding adoptions from Ethiopia has changed significantly recently, we realize that it could be a while yet before we receive a referral. We don’t enjoy the wait time, but are content that God’s timing is better than ours, so we’ll wait on Him.
We moved to Oconomowoc at the end of November. It has been great to be around our old friends and our family “back home”, but we are also missing our friends from the LaCrosse area very much. Moving, as an adult, is just NOT fun. But, we are getting settled in and keeping very busy decorating and unpacking and getting accustomed to life out here.
Jennie has become a Pampered Chef Consultant and putting all of the money earned from that toward the adoption; however, since we have moved, she has not been able to find anyone to host a cooking or catalog show. If you know of anyone who may be interested in having a Pampered Chef cooking or catalog show in the months of December or January, please let Jennie know ASAP (you can live further away if you want to have a catalog show and Jennie can send you all you will need in the mail) so that she may be able to continue with this helpful way of earning money toward the adoption.
Here is a break down of what is going on, financially, with the adoption.
| Step | Cost | Date Paid | Due Date |
| Application Fee – LSS | $420.00 | 10/25/10 | |
| Application Fee – Holt | $300.00 | 10/27/10 | |
| Home Study Fee – LSS | $2,780.00 | 1/14/11 | |
| USCIS | $890.00 | 2/2/11 | |
| Program Fee – LSS | $1000.00 | 5/20/11 | |
| Remainder of Program Fee – LSS | $750.00 | | Upon Referral |
| Dossier Fee – Holt | $3,000.00 | 5/6/11 | |
| Program Fee – Holt | $9,890.00 | | Upon Referral (have $6,000 grant and an additional $2720 in the bank for this). |
| Post Placement Fee – LSS | $1,300.00 | | Upon Referral |
| Trip 1 to Ethiopia | $8,000.00 (estimated) | | Upon Scheduled Travel Date |
| Trip 2 to Ethiopia | $8,000.00 (estimated) | | Upon Scheduled Travel Date |
FUNDRAISERS
- Just Love Coffee: $5.00 to us for each bag of coffee sold www.justlovecoffee.com/TheThomas. This fundraiser is on-going until we travel to Ethiopia to bring our child home.
- Lifesong for Orphans: Make a tax deductable donation. We have been told that they will continue to accept donations in our name up until we travel to bring home our child. Make checks payable to ‘Lifesong for Orphans’. In memo section: ‘THOMAS #1855 ADOPTION’. Send to Lifesong for Orphans PO Box 40 202 N Ford Street Gridley, IL 61744.
- Gazelle Gadget Fundraiser: We are hosting an online gadget drive through Gazelle and would love your support. You can visit our drive webpage at http://thomasadoption.gazelle.com. A gadget drive is a new way to fundraise that turns your used electronics (laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras & more) into cash to support a cause. Contributing to our drive is simple. Just visit our drive webpage, find the value of the gadgets you would like to donate, and send them to Gazelle (shipping is free). The value will go to support our adoption from Ethiopia. If you would like to donate, please go to Thomas Adoption Gadget Drive (http://thomasadoption.gazelle.com) to learn more about our drive and track our progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email, and we will be notified as soon as you make your donation.
PRAYER
- - Finances to continue to come through.
- - Jaden working on recording his first album (all proceeds earned to go toward the adoption). He is working hard. He has begun the recording process and it is going well!
- - Our child (requesting 1 child age 0-12 months, either gender). He/she will go through mourning at the loss of his/her biological parent(s). We pray that this is a smooth transition and that he/she will stay safe and healthy in the orphanage until we are able to bring him/her home!!
- - Our child’s birth parent(s) who will suffer a HUGE loss. That they may know God’s love for them and find some comfort that we are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to meet our child and bring him/her home!
- - Our move and the transition of a new place and new job, etc.
Thank you all so much! We are very blessed by each of you! Hoping you all have a very Merry Christmas!!
The Thomas Family
Friday, November 11, 2011
More
Here are some more pictures of my sweet & sassy 2 year old. To think - just two years ago - this little girl was almost taken home to be with Jesus... Yet, He let us keep her and cherish her. There is not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for the opportunity to raise my little Carissa. She is the sweetest little girl and I am SO thankful she is mine. :)
Our Little Girl is Two (and 9 days)
This post is a bit late - but for good reason. Our little girl turned 2 on Nov. 2nd (her golden birthday). We had a great time celebrating in The Dells at the waterpark for her birthday. She sure had fun! And so did her brother!! :) Below are some pictures to hi-light the days of celebrating...
Monday, November 7, 2011
November Update
Hello Family & Friends, 11/7/11
Just writing to give you a quick update on our adoption and our life these days. . .
As of yesterday, we have officially been on the waitlist for 6 months. The 6 months have flown by, but some days faster than others. Unfortunately, there have been LOTS of circumstances in Ethiopia that have made the wait SIGNIFICANTLY longer than when we first signed up to adopt. Never know, it could be another 3 months or another 6 or another 12 before we get that call.
We will be moving to Oconomowoc at the end of November. We are very sad to leave our friends here in Onalaska, but we are also excited to be near our family and friends back in that area.
Here is a break down of what is going on, financially, with the adoption.
| Step | Cost | Date Paid | Due Date |
| Application Fee – LSS | $420.00 | 10/25/10 | |
| Application Fee – Holt | $300.00 | 10/27/10 | |
| Home Study Fee – LSS | $2,780.00 | 1/14/11 | |
| USCIS | $890.00 | 2/2/11 | |
| Program Fee – LSS | $1000.00 | 5/20/11 | |
| Remainder of Program Fee – LSS | $750.00 | | Upon Referral |
| Dossier Fee – Holt | $3,000.00 | 5/6/11 | |
| Program Fee – Holt | $9,890.00 | | Upon Referral (have $6,000 grant and an additional $2300 in the bank for this). |
| Post Placement Fee – LSS | $1,300.00 | | Upon Referral |
| Trip 1 to Ethiopia | $8,000.00 (estimated) | | Upon Scheduled Travel Date |
| Trip 2 to Ethiopia | $8,000.00 (estimated) | | Upon Scheduled Travel Date |
FUNDRAISERS
Just Love Coffee: $5.00 to us for each bag of coffee sold www.justlovecoffee.com/TheThomas. This fundraiser is on-going until we travel to Ethiopia to bring our child home.
Lifesong for Orphans: Make a tax deductable donation. We have been told that they will continue to accept donations in our name up until we travel to bring home our child. Make checks payable to ‘Lifesong for Orphans’. In memo section: ‘THOMAS #1855 ADOPTION’. Send to Lifesong for Orphans PO Box 40 202 N Ford Street Gridley, IL 61744.
Gazelle Gadget Fundraiser: We are hosting an online gadget drive through Gazelle and would love your support. You can visit our drive webpage at http://thomasadoption.gazelle.com. A gadget drive is a new way to fundraise that turns your used electronics (laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras & more) into cash to support a cause. Contributing to our drive is simple. Just visit our drive webpage, find the value of the gadgets you would like to donate, and send them to Gazelle (shipping is free). The value will go to support our adoption from Ethiopia. If you would like to donate, please go to Thomas Adoption Gadget Drive (http://thomasadoption.gazelle.com) to learn more about our drive and track our progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email, and we will be notified as soon as you make your donation.
PRAYER
- Finances to continue to come through. Successful fundraisers.
- Jaden working on recording his first album (all proceeds earned to go toward the adoption). He is working hard. He has begun the recording process and it is going well!
- Our child (requesting 1 child age 0-12 months, either gender). He/she will go through mourning at the loss of his/her biological parent(s). We pray that this is a smooth transition and that he/she will stay safe and healthy in the orphanage until we are able to bring him/her home!!
- Our child’s birth parent(s) who will suffer a HUGE loss in relinquishing their child. That they may know God’s love for them and find some comfort that we are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to meet our child and bring him/her home!
- Our move and the transition of a new place and new job, etc.
Thank you all so much! We are very blessed by each of you!
The Thomas Family
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
October Update
Hello Family & Friends, 10/6/11
Just writing to give you a quick update on our adoption and our life these days. . .
Today, we have officially been on the waitlist for 5 months. Can’t wait for the day that we get the phone call that our baby is ready to meet us!
We have some other big news. James 1:27 has been a theme throughout our family’s life lately. It says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” As many of you know, Jaden’s father passed away in 2006. And Jennie’s father passed away in 2009. That means both of our mother’s are widows. Being over three hours away from our mothers and our family for the past three years has been difficult. We certainly are doing our part to look after the orphans and we feel like it is, and has been time to look after the two widows in our family. That said, we will be moving back to the Milwaukee area on or around December 1st. It is bitter sweet for us. We are very sad to be moving away from all the friends and our church family that we have grown to LOVE in the past three years. But, we are excited to be near family again as well.
Here is a break down of what is going on, financially, with the adoption.
| Step | Cost | Date Paid | Due Date |
| Application Fee – LSS | $420.00 | 10/25/10 | |
| Application Fee – Holt | $300.00 | 10/27/10 | |
| Home Study Fee – LSS | $2,780.00 | 1/14/11 | |
| USCIS | $890.00 | 2/2/11 | |
| Program Fee – LSS | $1000.00 | 5/20/11 | |
| Remainder of Program Fee – LSS | $750.00 | | Upon Referral |
| Dossier Fee – Holt | $3,000.00 | 5/6/11 | |
| Program Fee – Holt | $9,890.00 | | Upon Referral (have $6,000 grant and an additional $2070 in the bank for this). |
| Post Placement Fee – LSS | $1,300.00 | | Upon Referral |
| Trip 1 to Ethiopia | $8,000.00 (estimated) | | Upon Scheduled Travel Date |
| Trip 2 to Ethiopia | $8,000.00 (estimated) | | Upon Scheduled Travel Date |
FUNDRAISERS
- Just Love Coffee: $5.00 to us for each bag of coffee sold www.justlovecoffee.com/TheThomas. This fundraiser is on-going until we travel to Ethiopia to bring our child home.
- Lifesong for Orphans: Make a tax deductable donation. We have been told that they will continue to accept donations in our name up until we travel to bring home our child. Make checks payable to ‘Lifesong for Orphans’. In memo section: ‘THOMAS #1855 ADOPTION’. Send to Lifesong for Orphans PO Box 40 202 N Ford Street Gridley, IL 61744.
- Gazelle Gadget Fundraiser: We are hosting an online gadget drive through Gazelle and would love your support. You can visit our drive webpage at http://thomasadoption.gazelle.com. A gadget drive is a new way to fundraise that turns your used electronics (laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras & more) into cash to support a cause. Contributing to our drive is simple. Just visit our drive webpage, find the value of the gadgets you would like to donate, and send them to Gazelle (shipping is free). The value will go to support our adoption from Ethiopia. If you would like to donate, please go to Thomas Adoption Gadget Drive (http://thomasadoption.gazelle.com) to learn more about our drive and track our progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email, and we will be notified as soon as you make your donation.
PRAYER
- - Finances to continue to come through. Successful fundraisers.
- - Jaden working on recording his first album (all proceeds earned to go toward the adoption). He is working hard and hoping for a CD release date of late November! He has begun the recording process and it is going very well!!
- - Our child (requesting 1 child age 0-12 months, either gender). He/she will go through mourning at the loss of his/her biological parent(s). We pray that this is a smooth transition and that he/she will stay safe and healthy in the orphanage until we are able to bring him/her home!!
- - Our child’s birth parent(s) who will suffer a HUGE loss in relinquishing their child. That they may know God’s love for them and find some comfort that we are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to meet our child and bring him/her home!
- - Our move and job hunt for Jaden. He will need to find full time employment in the Milwaukee area beginning around December 1st.
Thank you all so much! We are very blessed by each of you!
The Thomas Family
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Hope
So, for a lot of reasons (too many to go in to) adoptions from Ethiopia have really, really slowed down. We've only been waiting for 4 months and 8 days, but it already feels like a long wait. Once we reach that 9 month marker, I'm really going to struggle with the wait. I will admit, having a pretty extreme case of 'baby fever' I have asked God lately if we are supposed to continue to wait. I've asked Him why he'd have us choose Ethiopia if this is how it was going to go (slowly). I've asked lots. And He has provided little tid-bits of hope.
You see, this is not just about us. There are over 5 million orphans in Ethiopia alone!! Over 147 million in the world!! This is not just our story or our child's story - it is so much more. I firmly stand behind adoption. period. Being adopted myself, it is something I've always held near.
Anyway, we got a phone call, recently, from a friend who knows someone who started a small adoption grant organization that really wants to promote adoption awareness. We were asked to send the founder of the grant organization our story and she was going to use it at a large public event in February so that it may provide some encouragement to other families thinking about adopting or in the process. What a HUGE blessing.
Also, we got a personal invitation from Show Hope (Steven Curtis Chapman's grant organization that gave us $6,000 toward our adoption) to come volunteer at his concert in Wisconsin in October. They gave us $6,000! Are you kidding me? I'd volunteer for more than just a few hours for them!!! It's a PRIVILEGE to be able to provide a service for them and I'm very excited about the opportunity.
So, these things, I'm taking to be hope from God - telling me - this is why. These opportunities are why. We are waiting - and He is our hope in the waiting.
Psalm 62:5-6
Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
You see, this is not just about us. There are over 5 million orphans in Ethiopia alone!! Over 147 million in the world!! This is not just our story or our child's story - it is so much more. I firmly stand behind adoption. period. Being adopted myself, it is something I've always held near.
Anyway, we got a phone call, recently, from a friend who knows someone who started a small adoption grant organization that really wants to promote adoption awareness. We were asked to send the founder of the grant organization our story and she was going to use it at a large public event in February so that it may provide some encouragement to other families thinking about adopting or in the process. What a HUGE blessing.
Also, we got a personal invitation from Show Hope (Steven Curtis Chapman's grant organization that gave us $6,000 toward our adoption) to come volunteer at his concert in Wisconsin in October. They gave us $6,000! Are you kidding me? I'd volunteer for more than just a few hours for them!!! It's a PRIVILEGE to be able to provide a service for them and I'm very excited about the opportunity.
So, these things, I'm taking to be hope from God - telling me - this is why. These opportunities are why. We are waiting - and He is our hope in the waiting.
Psalm 62:5-6
Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
September Update
Hello Family & Friends, 9/3/11
Just writing to give you a quick update on our adoption. . .
On September 6th, we have officially been on the waitlist for 4 months. When we first applied to adopt from Ethiopia, the wait time from Dossier submission to referral was only 4 months. That means, if things would have stayed that way, we’d be getting a picture of our sweet baby any day now. But – unfortunately, things have changed drastically. Now, wait time is 9-12 months. Because of all of the changes and increased wait times, our agency is no longer taking new applicants to the Ethiopia program. Though this is a temporary thing, it is still very sad – especially considering the 5 million orphans in Ethiopia alone! But, we are trying to stay patient in our waiting and know that God’s timing is perfect.
Becoming a Pampered Chef Consultant has proven to be a great thing for the adoption account. I love to stay busy and love doing the Pampered Chef shows. It feels even better to be able to put all the commission checks directly in to the adoption account!! So, if you every are thinking of having a Pampered Chef Show (cooking show or catalog show), please let me know.
Here is a break down of what is going on.
| Step | Cost | Date Paid | Due Date |
| Application Fee – LSS | $420.00 | 10/25/10 | |
| Application Fee – Holt | $300.00 | 10/27/10 | |
| Home Study Fee – LSS | $2,780.00 | 1/14/11 | |
| USCIS | $890.00 | 2/2/11 | |
| Program Fee – LSS | $1000.00 | 5/20/11 | |
| Remainder of Program Fee – LSS | $750.00 | | Upon Referral |
| Dossier Fee – Holt | $3,000.00 | 5/6/11 | |
| Program Fee – Holt | $9,890.00 | | Upon Referral (have $6,000 grant and an additional $1715 in the bank for this). |
| Post Placement Fee – LSS | $1,300.00 | | Upon Referral |
| Trip 1 to Ethiopia | $8,000.00 (estimated) | | Upon Scheduled Travel Date |
| Trip 2 to Ethiopia | $8,000.00 (estimated) | | Upon Scheduled Travel Date |
FUNDRAISERS
Just Love Coffee: $5.00 to us for each bag of coffee sold www.justlovecoffee.com/TheThomas. This fundraiser is on-going until we travel to Ethiopia to bring our child home.
Lifesong for Orphans: Make a tax deductable donation. We have been told that they will continue to accept donations in our name up until we travel to bring home our child. Make checks payable to ‘Lifesong for Orphans’. In memo section: ‘THOMAS #1855 ADOPTION’. Send to Lifesong for Orphans PO Box 40 202 N Ford Street Gridley, IL 61744.
Gazelle Gadget Fundraiser: We are hosting an online gadget drive through Gazelle and would love your support. You can visit our drive webpage at http://thomasadoption.gazelle.com. A gadget drive is a new way to fundraise that turns your used electronics (laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras & more) into cash to support a cause. Contributing to our drive is simple. Just visit our drive webpage, find the value of the gadgets you would like to donate, and send them to Gazelle (shipping is free). The value will go to support our adoption from Ethiopia. If you would like to donate, please go to Thomas Adoption Gadget Drive (http://thomasadoption.gazelle.com) to learn more about our drive and track our progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email, and we will be notified as soon as you make your donation.
PRAYER
- Finances to continue to come through. Successful fundraisers.
- Jaden working on recording his first album (all proceeds earned to go toward the adoption). He is working hard and hoping for a CD release date of late October! He has begun the recording process and it is going very well!!
- Our child (requesting 1 child age 0-12 months, either gender). He/she will go through mourning at the loss of his/her biological parent(s). We pray that this is a smooth transition and that he/she will stay safe and healthy in the orphanage until we are able to bring him/her home!!
- Our child’s birth parent(s) who will suffer a HUGE loss in relinquishing their child. That they may know God’s love for them and find some comfort that we are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to meet our child and bring him/her home!
Thank you all so much! We are very blessed by each of you!
The Thomas Family
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