Getting closer...

...closer to completing our homestudy!!  I just received the draft in my e-mail today for review, had just a couple little adjustments and sent it back.  Sent our adoption education certificates along as well- all our other documents have been received except one.  Hopefully that will be received later this week.

Just sent in a check for $2,120 with our pre-file documents and found out today we still need to send another $1,300 before the homestudy is released.  The $1,300 is prepayment of the post-adoption procedures which was on a separate document from the other adoption invoice we received.  It's been so confusing to decipher what we owe when since our adoption agency is also our homestudy agency- things are billed separately and on different invoices and I didn't realize the $1,300 was due at this time- otherwise I would have included it in the check I just mailed a couple days ago! Oh well.  I shared my confusion with the agency and she said they should think about combining the two on one invoice so it's less confusing.  Certainly would help me anyway. :) Overall it has been a huge convenience having the two together though- one place to contact and send documents... so easy.

October is approaching quickly.... I get overwhelmed thinking we could be traveling just one month away, and then I keep praying that we can get all this paperwork completed in time to receive an October travel date.  People keep asking if we could have her home by Christmas- how awesome would that be???  I certainly am not holding my breath, nor do I want to get my hopes up only to be let down.  Honestly, I think it is highly unlikely we'd get her home for Christmas- I am hoping for sometime in January.  Christmas would be a fabulous surprise though.

Now that school is in full-swing, I am thinking about all the activities and events Kaylin and Justin will have in October also, hoping that everything will run smoothly while we are away.  I have to keep reminding myself that this first trip is only about 5 days- we can do it! :)

I started working on a photo book to bring with us and show P her family, her pets, her house. :) Fun stuff.  I'm also thinking about what else I'd like to bring to entertain her when we visit- toys and activities etc.  If you have traveled to your child's orphanage already, please share some ideas of what you brought!  I'm thinking P may like some of Kaylin's mini pony toys and maybe some Polly Pockets. :)

Please keep sharing our Birthday Bash Giveaway!!  And remember- each time you share on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog- please leave a comment on the Birthday Bash post so you can get an extra entry- you can get one extra entry per day!  I know I have many people who donated on my Facebook, but I can easily miss seeing a post here and there, and certainly will not be able to find them all when it's time to chart out all the entries.  I left a few for people already, but I haven't had a chance to do so for some of the last ones I've seen- so please go quickly leave a comment.  Thanks!

And just to refresh your memory.... ;)

First up- the Big Kahuna.... an Apple iPad 2 

32 GB with Wi-Fi

Your choice of black or white as well as engraving

Retail Price $599
***UPDATE***
Winner of the iPad 2 will also receive a leather smart cover in your choice of color!

 Next up:  Tastefully Simple Share the Love Gift Basket

Share the Love™ includes:

• Bountiful Beer Bread Mix®
• Homestyle Biscuits & Gravy Mix
• Chicken Tortilla Soup Mix
• Cinnamon Muffin Melt Mix™
• Chocolate Ugly Cake Mix™
• Wahoo! Chili
• The Trio
• Spinach & Herb Dip Mix
• Roasted Garlic Infused Oil
• Tuscany Bread Dipping Mix™
• Seasoned Salt
• Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup Mix
• Oblong Storage Tote**
• retail value: $124.95

Baby Teether and Necklace for Mama all in one!!

This chic teething necklace is made with premium 100% cotton, beaded with natural unfinished beads, and knotted for a beautiful fashionable accessory for any mama to wear!  The necklace is tied back into a cute bow with satin ribbon.  But best of all, you don't need to be a mama to rock this necklace!!  This necklace is beautiful to wear on just about any occasion.  Handcrafted by my dear friend, Jenna- please go check out her Etsy shop- she has the most beautiful things there from adorable paper products to beautiful diaper cakes and gorgeous jewelry.  She is one of the craftiest people I know! 

Another super sweet crafty friend of mine, Erin, is donating this beautiful ombre purple scarf in super soft chenille.  She takes custom orders and can crochet just about anything!! You can find her on Facebook HERE. I have to tell you, last winter I ordered the most ADORABLE angry birds hat for Justin and he absolutely LOVES it.  

Erin will also be graciously donating a hat- photo coming!!

Our cousin, Jazmin, is generously donating this beautiful infinity scarf- wear it long or wrap it twice for a tighter look and feel!  You can find her Etsy shop HERE- beautifully crocheted items as well as jewelry and other art items- check them out!

Sooooooooo.... how do you enter to win these awesome prizes??  Super easy!! 

Make a donation using the Birthday Bash ChipIn Widget above- this is tax deductible!!  It goes through Reece's Rainbow so PLEASE be sure to specify "P for the LIVINGSTON FAMILY" in the comment section while checking out.  Very important, otherwise P doesn't get her birthday present!

$10 = 1 entry

  $25 = 5 entries

    $50 = 15 entries

  $100 = 50 entries

After you make a donation, you can get a freebie entry each day you share on Facebook, Twitter, or if you blog about it (please share a link) - just be sure to leave a comment on this post when you do so.  PLEASE spread the word!!  This Giveaway will end October 7th at midnight Eastern Time.  This Giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only.  Each prize is separate aside from the iPad 2 and cover.  Winners will be chosen using www.random.org.

If for some reason we don't bring in enough money to pay for the iPad 2- we will split the money 50/50 with the winner of that prize.  Praying we bring in more than enough money and won't have to worry about that!  By the way, if we bring in at least $2,000- we will start adding accessories to be given with the iPad!!  So SHARE SHARE SHARE!!

Happy Birthday, baby girl.... I can't wait to throw you a big birthday party of your very own.... You are so special and deserve a special day all about YOU. <3

Wow. Just WOW!

I am struggling to find words here.... a few that come to mind are awed.... grateful... blessed.  We've had a few large donations to our Birthday Bash as you can tell- currently standing at $2,535!!!  Keep spreading the word so we can continue to add prizes!  Now that we hit the $2,000 mark, as promised I am adding a cover for the iPad2- check out the Birthday Bash post for details!  If we hit $4,000 I will add more. :)

Another addition to the Giveaway- due to the HUGE success of our Tastefully Simple fundraiser, I am upgrading the gift basket we are giving away to the largest Tastefully Simple offers- the Share the Love gift basket valued at $124.95.  You all certainly have been sharing the love with our family and P so we are sharing right back. :)  You can also find the details of this new gift basket on the Giveaway post.  Current totals for the Tastefully Simple fundraiser = 1,326.09 total sales with the amount of $397.83 going to P!! :D Amazing!!! The Tastefully Simple fundraiser is still going on- ending this Friday, the 16th.  While ordering online you are able to purchase items from the Spring/Summer as well as the Fall/Winter catalog. :)

I mailed off our photo sets to the adoption agency today- that was our last item for our pre-file dossier.  Our family members working on the last document we need for our homestudy to be complete were getting that done last weekend, so that should hopefully be in the mail soon if not already. Getting closer and closer!!

Fundraiser and adoption updates :))

Well, our Birthday Bash has been live for less than 48 hours and we have $375 raised so far- YAY!!  Thank you to all who have not only donated but also to all those who have shared!! <3  Keep spreading the word so we can not only pay for that iPad ;) but raise money for P!

Excellent news on our Tastefully Simple fundraiser- we are up to $1,122.47 in total sales!! So with that total, P will get $337 in her grant. :D  Thank you so much to all who have ordered!  There is still time- the fundraiser will be open until September 16th, and during these last days you can order from both the Fall/Winter catalog as well as the Spring/Summer catalog online!!  Just click the Tastefully Simple photo to the right for all the ordering info. Think holiday parties and gifts! ;)

~Adoption updates~

I mailed off the remaining documents for our homestudy (minus one to be submitted by a family member) and am about to finish the online adoption courses required- as soon as I finish writing this post! :) I also mailed in another payment along with our pre-file dossier documents.  The only item missing from the pre-file documents is our photo set- photos of rooms of the house, exterior of the house, and family photos.  We've been having  some major computer problems- our desktop computer totally blew up a couple days ago, not booting up at ALL, and Mike worked diligently each night getting it to work again.  A new hard drive later and we're all good to go now.  Whew!  We also moved the computer up to the first floor and still need to get the printer up here- my goal is to get that up here and hooked up this weekend so I can get those photos printed and off in the mail.  Then we will wait to hear our next steps from our agency! :)

Things are moving right along.... thank you all again so much for all your prayers and support!! <3

It's HERE!! P's BIRTHDAY BASH GIVEAWAY!!!

To those who are new to my blog- Hello, and Welcome!!! :)) We are SO happy you stopped by.  Please pull up a chair- grab a party hat and some cake, and enjoy the party!  First, introductions- my name is Amy, and I'm the mama here- you can read about our family's story HERE on how we found P and why we felt called to adopt.  It truly is an amazing story, and both Mike and I truly believe this was all meant to be.

P is on the other side of the world, turning another year older.... My baby across the ocean is turning 5 years old this very month.... and this will be the very last birthday that passes her by without the love of a family... her last birthday as an orphan.  I am doubting she gets much fanfare for her birthday in an orphanage.... no special cake with candles to blow out.... no party streamers and special plates and napkins.... no balloons.... Do they even tell her it's her birthday?  Does she know when it is or how old she is turning?  Do they sing to her?  Has she ever received a present?  Does she make a wish? What would she wish for?

I know what my wish for her is.....

This is where YOU help her wish come true- there's a party going on right HERE... we've got presents, some very nice presents I might add... But these presents aren't for P.... these are for YOU to enter to win!!  What are these presents you might ask??

First up- the Big Kahuna.... an Apple iPad 2 

32 GB with Wi-Fi

Your choice of black or white as well as engraving

Retail Price $599
***UPDATE***
Winner of the iPad 2 will also receive a leather smart cover in your choice of color!

 Next up:  Tastefully Simple Share the Love Gift Basket

Share the Love™ includes:

• Bountiful Beer Bread Mix®
• Homestyle Biscuits & Gravy Mix
• Chicken Tortilla Soup Mix
• Cinnamon Muffin Melt Mix™
• Chocolate Ugly Cake Mix™
• Wahoo! Chili
• The Trio
• Spinach & Herb Dip Mix
• Roasted Garlic Infused Oil
• Tuscany Bread Dipping Mix™
• Seasoned Salt
• Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup Mix
• Oblong Storage Tote**
• retail value: $124.95

Baby Teether and Necklace for Mama all in one!!

This chic teething necklace is made with premium 100% cotton, beaded with natural unfinished beads, and knotted for a beautiful fashionable accessory for any mama to wear!  The necklace is tied back into a cute bow with satin ribbon.  But best of all, you don't need to be a mama to rock this necklace!!  This necklace is beautiful to wear on just about any occasion.  Handcrafted by my dear friend, Jenna- please go check out her Etsy shop- she has the most beautiful things there from adorable paper products to beautiful diaper cakes and gorgeous jewelry.  She is one of the craftiest people I know! 

Another super sweet crafty friend of mine, Erin, is donating this beautiful ombre purple scarf in super soft chenille.  She takes custom orders and can crochet just about anything!! You can find her on Facebook HERE. I have to tell you, last winter I ordered the most ADORABLE angry birds hat for Justin and he absolutely LOVES it.  

Erin will also be graciously donating a hat- photo coming!!

Our cousin, Jazmin, is generously donating this beautiful infinity scarf- wear it long or wrap it twice for a tighter look and feel!  You can find her Etsy shop HERE- beautifully crocheted items as well as jewelry and other art items- check them out!

Sooooooooo.... how do you enter to win these awesome prizes??  Super easy!! 

Make a donation using the Birthday Bash ChipIn Widget above- this is tax deductible!!  It goes through Reece's Rainbow so PLEASE be sure to specify "P for the LIVINGSTON FAMILY" in the comment section while checking out.  Very important, otherwise P doesn't get her birthday present!

$10 = 1 entry
***SPECIAL FOR DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH***
$21 = 3 entries

  $25 = 5 entries

    $50 = 15 entries

  $100 = 50 entries

After you make a donation, you can get a freebie entry each day you share on Facebook, Twitter, or if you blog about it (please share a link) - just be sure to leave a comment on this post when you do so.  PLEASE spread the word!!  This Giveaway will end October 7th at midnight Eastern Time.  This Giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only.  Each prize is separate aside from the iPad 2 and cover.  Winners will be chosen using www.random.org.

If for some reason we don't bring in enough money to pay for the iPad 2- we will split the money 50/50 with the winner of that prize.  Praying we bring in more than enough money and won't have to worry about that!  By the way, if we bring in at least $2,000- we will start adding accessories to be given with the iPad!!  So SHARE SHARE SHARE!!

Happy Birthday, baby girl.... I can't wait to throw you a big birthday party of your very own.... You are so special and deserve a special day all about YOU. <3

First purchase for P :)

I just couldn't resist.... I went to a local consignment sale- I shop as well as sell items at two different consignment sales each year- both are fundraisers for local non-profit organizations and a one-day event.  I absolutely LOVE them!!  I just couldn't help myself from browsing the little girl racks- no, I don't know what size P wears since we haven't been there to meet her, but I'm just guesstimating.... and since I spent a total of $8 on both, I'm not out much money, and I can always sell them at the next consignment sale if they don't fit. ;)  I can't wait to get her home and doll her up!! <3

Our Tastefully Simple fundraiser is still going strong- I believe we may be past the $700 mark for total sales!! :-D  We will be extending the fundraiser until September 16th since the dates have been extended on the Spring/Summer catalog.  Keep the orders coming!!

We will also be stepping up and holding an iPad 2 Giveaway in a few days- keep posted!! :))

Moving right along...

First- a big thanks to the generous donors who contributed a total of $125 in the past two days!!!  I don't think our FSP has moved in the past couple months and then I found the most wonderful surprises and had to do a double take! :)  Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!  And... I believe we have met 50% of our goal for our Tastefully Simple fundraiser so far- I think we have hit the $500 mark (will have to double check with Noel since I believe she has an order or two to add to the total).  Yay!!! :)  I submitted a memo into our church bulletin for this Sunday and it will run the next few weeks also, and also one for our church's monthly newsletter.  Hoping that will bring in some additional orders. :)  Thanks to everyone who has ordered so far!!

We just had our second round of interviews with our social worker for our homestudy- Mike and I were interviewed individually this time.  All went great- our social worker is SO sweet.... and she told us she should have her report finalized by FRIDAY!! Holy cow!!  Ok, so now the pressure is back on Mike and I to round up the rest of our paperwork to submit for our homestudy.... After following so many other blogs, I thought we would have more time- usually people are waiting to receive their homestudy reports- often taking at least 30 days, but throughout this process, it has been the agency waiting for *us* to get our stuff together and submitted.  They are SO incredibly efficient!!  So this weekend Mike and I plan to hopefully complete our online adoption training which is required, and gather the rest of the documents they need from us.  Then we will be working on our dossier!! So exciting!!!  Hopefully we will still be on track to make our first visit to sweet P sometime in OCTOBER!! :-D

Home sweet home

We just arrived home from vacation at 1:00 AM eastern time- our bodies were still on California time so it wasn't quite as brutal, and the kids seem to be adjusting well.  Evan was SUCH a trooper with all the traveling in the car as well as on the plane(s)- perfect little angel!!  People at home thought we were nuts for traveling so far with three young children, and honestly I felt a little crazy myself for trying to pull it off- but all went without a hitch!!  The time with family was priceless- relatives we hadn't seen for 2-5 years.  I will be blogging on our family blog with all the details once I have a chance to upload all the pics- I will post the link when it's ready.  You can't miss the story of how we went to Disneyland for $1!!  Seriously!!  I was so relieved we didn't have to spend much money at all throughout our 10 days in Texas and California- between awesome luck at Disney to the most generous and spoiling relatives.  None of us wanted to come home! :)

This evening is our first homestudy interview with our social worker!  Fingers crossed it all goes well and she will forgive the messy house for us only being home from vacation for a total of 18 hours! ;) She has been warned... :)  Evan is up from his nap so I have to run- will be working on my vacation post on our family blog as well as getting our first fundraiser started this week!! :))

***UPDATE*** The first installment of our Summer Vacation has been posted HERE! :)