Friday, May 22, 2015

This has been a crazy week with meetings, the last week of school (even though my kids aren't there), graduations this weekend and trying to prepare for our first trip.





I was asked to make two graduation cakes and 150 cupcakes and 150 cookies. My house was neglected, children banned from the kitchen and to work I went. Now that they are delivered I can breath again and get back to preparing for our trip.

After my husband received a couple very generous birthday presents we have what we need to be able to travel and pay all the fees we currently have due. God's blessing continue as when we got our travel dates we were still $2500 short.

The nerves are setting in for me now. This sounds silly but is true. I am terrified of flying. Yes, I am adopting internationally and am scared to fly. Including layovers we are looking at 28 hours. Having the cakes to keep me distracted for another week ended up being a good thing and next week I have a wedding cake that should help distract. I can't keep myself distracted forever because eventually I will have to pack the pile in the office and let it set in that I will be getting on a plane. I keep reminding myself it is to meet my daughter and nothing is going to stand between me and her! This silly fear will not hold me back.

With our official referral we also received an updated picture. Hopefully it won't be to many more months before I can share her pictures with you instead of the randomness from our crazy life.

I have been keeping busy making items to sell to help cover costs. I recently finished a baby blanket and hope to have some weighted blankets done soon. They are slow go putting filling each row then stitching, filling, stitching...you get the idea.

Until next time,
God Bless!

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

As you know we were blessed to be chosen as one of April's 5/5/5 families. The goal for the month was $3,110 and with your help we exceeded that goal!

I have felt like God was preparing us for the next step as we were starting to see money coming in again and in previous steps of the adoption requiring a payment we had it right before we needed it. Well, today I received an email inviting us to meet our sweet girl. I can't wait to be able to go over and meet her and tell her she has a mommy and daddy! We are about $2500 short of what we need for trip one. We have many items for sale on our facebook page and we have to shirt fundraisers that end this week. Check them out!
MOM www.bonfirefunds.com/stum-family-adoption
DAD www.bonfirefunds.com/stum-family-adoption-1

It will still be several months before we get to bring her home. The last leg of the adoption will take about 4-6 months.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support!

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Well another week has slipped past us that our daughter sits in an orphanage. Another week that went past just waiting for them to tell me I can go meet her, scoop her up and tell her she has a mommy and daddy who love her, want to get her home as quick as they can, and show her the love of family.

Our last paperwork has been in for awhile and all we can do is wait and pray. We get by trusting that God is in control of this entire process and his love for our sweet girl far exceeds what our love ever could be.

This week is a big week in our household. We celebrated Chris and Jeremiah's birthdays this week. The night I went into labor with Jeremiah I got a countdown to midnight  so Chris could have a birthday buddy. Jeremiah waited until morning to have his own day.

Hopefully I will have more adoption news to report next week and we will be starting the next leg of this journey.