3 months and 11 days

We've been waiting 3 months and 11 days.  3 months out of...??

The first two months were pretty easy.  I mean, we sent our paperwork October 10.  After that we were busy, busy with school and church...then the holidays.  But I have to tell you.  These last few days are driving me a bit crazy!  It isn't that I am impatient to get our kiddo home (although of course we want him/her here as soon as possible).  I totally trust God's timing.  I know that he knows when and who and how.  I don't want to change his timeline.

I just would really really like to KNOW the timeline...ya know?!?!

Anyway, enough complaining...Let me tell you what we are doing to keep busy!

I found this blog a while back written by a lady from Azerbaijan.  She is currently living in California, but recently took a trip back to Azerbaijan to visit family.  I check her blog often because I love to see the authentic recipes from her home country and I am fascinated by the photographs she posts of the place our child is coming from.

Meanwhile, Kyle and I have been discussing our next fundraiser for several months now.  Enough of you know others who have adopted or are adopting, so I'm sure many of you have heard of the puzzle fundraiser.  In case you haven't, let me fill you in.  Basically the adopting family buys a puzzle and then other people sponsor a piece of the puzzle for a certain amount.  As each piece is sponsored, the family writes the sponsor's name on the back and begins to assemble the puzzle.  All money donated goes to help fund the adoption.  When the puzzle is fully funded and assembled, the adopting family frames it in a frame with glass on both sides and hangs it in the child's room or in the home as a reminder of how many people contributed to making the adoption happen.

We really wanted a picture that would be meaningful and fit in our home long after the adoption is complete.  It took a while for the idea to come to us, but one day as I was looking at the pictures on Feride's blog, I thought, "HEY! A picture from Azerbaijan!"  Kyle took some time to look at all of the pictures and found one he really liked.  I emailed Feride and asked for permission to use her picture and she graciously agreed.  Kyle had a friend from work edit and add this verse:

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."  John 14:18

We were able to order the puzzle a couple of weeks ago and it finally arrived!!  Once it is assembled, this is what it will look like:

The puzzle has 1,008 pieces.  After much prayer and discussion with family and friends, we have decided to ask for $3 per piece.  When the puzzle is finished, we will be $3,024 closer to having our adoption fully funded!

So, the question is:  Will you help? You can sponsor as many pieces as you feel led to sponsor.  You can sponsor as a family, as an individual, as a group of people.  We would love your help in this!

If you are interested in sponsoring a piece, there are a few ways to get your money to us.  If you live in Virginia and see us alllll the time, you can just hand it too us...cash or check :)  If you live far away, you can send us an email or Facebook message and we can give you our mailing address.  OR near or far, you can also use the Paypal donation button at the top right hand corner of this page to donate.  Just be sure to leave your name when you "check out" using the Paypal button...otherwise we won't know who donated!!

Oh!  One more thing:  we really wanted those of you who have already donated to know that we don't at all expect you to give more.  We are planning to write names around the frame of people who donated money before the fundraiser...although if you want to sponsor a puzzle piece, too, we won't argue. ;)

AND to the person/people who gave that one anonymous donation...you know who you are, and we wish we did.  You will be remembered, even if we don't know your name!

We will keep everyone posted on the progress of the puzzle!