Hello Family & Friends,
Happy New Year! Just writing to give you a quick update on our adoption and our life these days. . .
As of January 6th, we have officially been on the waitlist for 8 months. According to our most recent update from Holt International, we should (these are just rough estimates at this time) receive a referral (information about our child and a picture) in June or July. That would mean we’d take our first trip to Ethiopia in October or November and go back to bring our child home in December or January. While this seems so far away, I also know God can shorten or lengthen this wait time according to His timing, so I really am deciding to trust Him in this and not worry about it too much.
We moved to Oconomowoc at the end of November. Due to all sorts of circumstances, it’s been a tough transition, but we are doing ok and have faith that things will work out better in the future. We are so glad to be around family during this time and so thankful for everyone’s support and encouragement.
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 $3290 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!
The Thomas Family
