Update and Fundraisers

Hello everyone. 

What a roller coaster! We get monthly updates from our adoption agency and, boy, this last one was a hard one to take. When we first decided to adopt from Ethiopia (October, 2011) the wait time from dossier (paperwork) submission to referral (assignment of a child) was about 4 months. When we turned in our dossier (May, 2011), the wait time was estimated to be 9-10 months. Well, we got an email two days ago saying that it is now over 14 months and they are expecting that time to increase even MORE in the up coming months. It broke my heart to read that because not only is that hard for us families that can't wait with excitement to meet 'our child', but it means more time in the orphanage for the over 5 million orphans in Ethiopia alone. And see, they are not excitedly waiting for a family. They are disparately waiting. And so my heart hurts. Not only longing for my 'new baby' to come 'home', but for allllll the many orphans sitting and wondering if they are to ever receive a new home with a family to call their own. It's got me thinking and praying about the whole situation quite a bit, but one thing I know - time to step up our fundraising (and penny pinching) efforts - so that when we do come up on the wait list, we are ready to jump on that plane (two round trips) and get that baby home! So, that being said, I want to start by saying a BIG, HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has given sooo generously of their time, talents, money for our family. I have repeatedly been blown away to hear about people praying for us along this journey, donating to our garage sale, purchasing food from the various fundraisers, hosting Pampered Chef Shows, participating in the fundraisers, donating money out of their own pockets to see us be able to take this on. Every single day I take time to be grateful to you all who have poured out your support. It AMAZES me beyond words.

I want to tell you, also, about the several fundraisers and donations you can make now, if you pray about it and feel led to give. Also, I wanted to make you aware of specific prayer requests that we would love to receive as well. The other day, I posted on facebook about the news of the delay in wait time, and I could seriously FEEL myself being lifted up in prayer just a few minutes after posting. I haven't felt prayers like that since our daughter was in the hospital shortly after she was born. Now, that I know is monumental for us.

Thank you all so much,

The Thomas Family

FUNDRAISERS

Just Love Coffee: $5.00 to us for each bag of coffee (various amounts for other items - check out the new mugs!) 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.

We are currently having a That’s My Pan! Fundraiser. You are more than welcome to browse the products online atwww.thatsmypan.com BUT you must contact Jennie to place your order. Jennie will be able to get you your items for cheaper than the prices listed online (including S&H). Please contact Jennie for a price list and, if you would like to order, please send her information via email.There are many products that would make SUPER Mother’s Day or Father’s Day or Wedding Gifts. All orders and payments are due by May 1^st.  If you live further away, we can ship it to you or find other means to getting it to you.

PRAYER REQUESTS

-          Finances to continue to come through and successful fundraisers.
         Patience and a peaceful heart for our family as we wait.
         For the 147 million orphans in the world (5 million in Ethiopia alone).
-          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 but it is   taking longer than anticipated. Please pray that he will be encouraged in the process and be able to find time to get significant work done on it and that we can have a completed album soon!

Waiting stinks.

Waiting stinks, and I am seeing a lot of it in our near future. I am crushed. Just received an email from our adoption agency saying that for families waiting for a child under 3 years of age timeframes are becoming longer than the 14 month estimation and will be increasing over the coming months. I thought I was ready months ago -- though I am TRYING to be patient and wait.

Soon...

This was so beautifully written. I wish I had written it myself. What an amazing story. Show Hope has already given us a grant to bring our little Ethiopian peanut home -- a day that I dream about at least once an hour. This article blows me away.
http://blog.showhope.org/2012/03/28/adoption-suddenly-turned-personal/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+showhopeblog+%28Show+Hope%29&utm_content=FaceBook

March Update

Just writing to give you a quick update on our adoption. . .

As of March 6th, we have officially been on the waitlist for 10 months. According to our most recent update from Holt International, we are somewhere around #62 on the wait list. They are now saying that the wait time from dossier to referral is over 14 months. That means we could receive a referral in 4 months or a bit longer than that. We are trying to be patient in the wait.

Financially, things have been tough since the move, but things are looking up a bit here recently. So, we are hoping to grow that adoption account quickly in the near future!

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 $3300 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.
• I am planning a “That’s My Pan” fundraiser in the near future. I’m in the process of getting all of that together and will keep you posted on when that is ready to go! J

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 but it is taking longer than anticipated.

Thank you all so much! We are very blessed by each of you!

The Thomas Family

January

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

Marcus Samuelsson

I've always liked this chef... Check it out. COOL STORY!

http://ethiopiaforums.com/whats-cooking-at-the-white-house-ethiopian-chef-samuelsson-knows

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