Sunday, October 9, 2016

House Keeping

     
      There are so many ways in which our decision to adopt has stretched me. One of the ways is financially. Of course it's expensive (everyone knows that), but it's not this fact that has caused me to stretch. It is the fund raising. If you know me well, you know I struggle when it comes to asking people for help and the idea of asking people for money seriously sends me into panic mode. So, when we decided to adopt, we knew we wouldn't be able to raise all the funds necessary in the short amount of time required. We also knew that since we had spent the last year and a half eliminating all debt (except our mortgage and school loans) there was no way we wanted to go back into debt. Billy and I prayed and felt that if this was God's will for our family then He would make a way. That very week a sweet friend sent us a $300.00 check, which confirmed to us that God would indeed make a way.
       When we decided to utilize fund raisers to help fund our adoption, we decided to be very transparent with our finances. After all, many of our friends have sacrificed to help us financially and we want them to know every penny has gone towards our adoption. Early on we outlined the estimated cost of our adoption and shared it on our Pursuing Ping Face Book page. The total amount is $31,905.00. Below is an update on the fees we have paid, how we have paid them, and what is left.

Application Fee       $250       Paid (Marshall)
First CCAI Fee        $2900     Paid ($1100 - Gift, $800 - Marshall)
RR Fees                   $275       Paid (Gift)
Home Study Fees    $4050      Paid (Marshall)
VA Training Fees    $199        Paid ($25 - Gift, $174 - Marshall)
Paperwork               $350.87  Paid (Puzzle Fundraiser)
Postage and Misc.   $359.38  Paid (62.03 - Puzzle Fundraiser, $297.35 - Marshall)

Total Paid as of 10/09/2016 = $8384.25
            Gifts and Donations = $1812.90
                              Marshall = $6571.35
Billy has been blessed with overtime and my Mom had also been able to pick up an extra shift each pay period. I have been able to sell a number of my crafts. We have also cut our budget and given up things that are not necessities. It isn't always easy but it is worth it!

Moving ahead we have a couple of expenses on the horizon.

USCIS Fees - $890 (We plan to use money from our yard sale to pay this fee)
2nd Agency Fee - $2900 (We plan to use the remaining yard sale money $125.06, Puzzle Fundraiser Money $486, and Marshall $1884.94)

After these fees are paid, we will have 30-40 days before we will have any more fees due. We plan to hold a couple of fund raisers over the next two months to help with those upcoming costs.
A jewelry auction will be held via Face Book, November 25-27. The jewelry is made by another adoptive Mama who so generously gives her time and talents!
We will also hold a give away for a beautiful, hand made, quilt. This quilt was sewn by my mother in law who has many years experience making quilts.

Thank you for walking alongside our family on this beautiful journey. We appreciate your prayers, words of encouragement, and your donations of time, talent, and money. Through you, God is doing amazing things.
We are coming Ping!

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