Money, Money, Money

Money.

Right?!  I know.  It makes me sick to think about it too.

Adoption Ark sent me this fabulous document that explained all of the expenses we will have to cover to bring home our little boy or girl.  Some of the items are set in stone (like the $10,000 translation fee).  Other expenses they gave an estimate (for things like travel for three trips to Azerbaijan, hotel stays, etc.)

I made a fancy spreadsheet with all of the numbers.

It was alot of fun until I finished and had the fancy spreadsheet do the math for me to tell me how much money we could expect to spend.

Feeling sick yet?

Over $60,000.

Now, before you panic (oh, is that just me??), we need to remember a few VERY important details.
1. God sent me back to work so that I could contribute to the adoption fund with my paycheck.
2. We don't have to pay all of that money at once.
3. This was GOD'S idea, so He has to provide.

Phew.  I feel better now.

(Can you tell I worked 12 hours today?  I am a little fried.  Today was Back to School Night at school.)

ANYWAY...

I was freaking out about this several weeks back and prayed about it with a group of friends, and gave it up to the Lord.  So the next morning He responded through two sweet college students we know from Church!

Claire and Liz are serving as foreign missionaries in Thailand for a year, living among, working with, and ministering to Thai people.  You can read more about them on their blogs, which are linked to their names above. :)  Claire came to me via skype to talk about an idea they had come up with.  They wanted to do something to help us raise money for the adoption, even though they are half a world away!  There is a half marathon coming up on November 18th in Thailand.  Claire and Liz have decided to run this half marathon and raise money for each kilometer they run!

That's where you come in.

Claire and Liz will be running 21km on November 18th.  We have set up a page on YouCaring to accept donations.  However, right now we are just asking you to pledge.  You can pledge a flat rate donation or a certain amount per kilometer (21km in a half marathon).  If you are interested in being a part of our adoption in this way, please send me a personal email (rebeccafkelley@gmail.com) with your pledge!  I will forward your email to Claire and Liz so you can receive their pre and post race updates.  When the time comes, you can go to our YouCaring website to contribute.

We are trying to raise $13,000 by the end of 2012 to cover the initial costs to begin the adoption process.  This will include our contract fee, home study costs, medical exams, dossier preparation, and adoption education.

We truly appreciate any and all help we will receive.

Two weeks ago I was sitting in church listening to my pastor talk to us about the importance of sharing the good news about Christ with my neighbors.  To be perfectly honest, I don't remember his exact points...and I'm not even sure I could tell you what passage he was using from the Bible...and yet God changed my life.

I was a little distracted that morning...thinking about how little I had seen my little boy that week.  School started Tuesday, Wednesday was another school day plus church that night (I saw him for 1.5 hours the whole day), and after school Thursday Kyle and I had to leave town for a trip that had been planned for quite some time, so I didn't get to see Matthew at all after I left for work that morning.  We didn't get back until Saturday afternoon...and here it was Sunday and I had my precious boy in the nursery!

So there I sat...thinking about what a terrible mother I must be and how I couldn't believe I thought going back to work was a good idea.

When I expressed that thought to my friend Mistie the week before she said "Bec, you have been a Christian for many years and you know your Lord's voice.  He told you to do this."

I knew she was right.  I know that I heard His voice...but that's not what I was thinking about that Sunday morning.  I was only thinking about missing my boy...and generally feeling sorry for myself.

But as I sat there, listening to WHY I should share the good news...it suddenly occurred to me!

There is a child out there somewhere.

I don't know if it is a boy or girl.

I don't know if he/she is still in his/her birth mother's womb or in an orphanage.

But that child is out there.

And that child doesn't know the good news.

And it is incredibly unlikely that anyone is going to tell that sweet child that there is good news!

And that child...is mine!

I am the mommy...Kyle is the daddy, Matthew is the brother!

My child.

And I want that child to find Christ just as much as I want Matthew to find Christ!

Those of you who are parents will understand this, I think:  you know how even after you find out you are pregnant, you don't feel like it is true?  Even when your pants get tight and you eat everything in sight and throw up everyday...you don't really feel like it is true.  And then!!  That day comes when you FEEL that baby MOVE!  And you know that child is there!  You realize that child is REAL, and you are the mommy!

That's what happened to me.  God moved in my heart, and now I can see that I'm making these sacrifices so that our child can have life!  Life that is filled with GOOD NEWS!!

Becca

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PS
I don't want to let this post get any longer than it is right now, but I know you guys are curious about where we are in the adoption process.  I am working on another post which will hopefully go up later this week.  It will give you the full update along with an exciting announcement (no, I'm not pregnant, so don't go there :P)!!