Where does the money go?

Several people have asked where all the money goes and where are we in our fundraising efforts.  So, I sat down and broke it down.


EXPENSES
Compassionate Hearts (Dossier Prep Agency)     $1800
Oklahoma Christian Services (Home Study)     $1500
Psychological Evaluations     $500
Medical Evaluations and tests     $417.20
Translation of dossier     $375
Chances 4 Children (Agency working in Haiti)     $2750
Background checks and fingerprints     $104
Authentication of Dossier documents     $910
Documents needed for dossier     $198.50
Homeland Security (USCIS I-600A)     $890
Postage     $537.31
Misc.     $64.42

MONIES
Donation     $5551.05
Earned (pie sales, housekeeping)     $1000
Fundraisers (comedy show, dinner, garage sale)     $3159

Total expenses                    $-10,046.43
Total monies                       $   9,710.05

Difference                           $    -336.38



These are all the expenses we have accrued and monies we have collected up to date.  I think the thing you will see is that God has overwhelmingly provided just what we have needed when we needed it.  There are still expenses in this process and trust that God will cover those.  We are working on a couple of fundraisers to start in the next couple of weeks.  We hope that you will consider helping us through those efforts.  I am still making pies as well if anyone is interested.

Thank you to everyone who has given money or supported our fundraisers.  You have been monumental in helping us make it to this point.  Words will never be enough to express our gratitude.  Check back soon to hear more updates soon.

And just because a mom likes to show off her kids.  Here are a couple new pics of Jimmy



Where are we now?

Just a little update on where we are in the process.  The lawyer continues to look over our dossier.  It has to be "authenticated" in Haiti as well.  They are also working on Jimmy's "dossier".  He has had his medical exam and psychological exam.  We are waiting for the psychologist to return from the states to sign it.  It isn't official until he signs it.  Then the social worker from Port au Prince will interview both Jimmy and Richard.  Other than those few things, we are still in a holding pattern.  Waiting, praying, waiting, and praying some more.  We believe God can move mountains and we believe he can move our adoption through Haiti.

Reliquinshed!

Now that the dossier has been in Haiti a while, the process is progressing there.  The lawyer went to Cap Haitien to meet Jimmy and Richard (our friends' son) and to get the ball rolling on their adoptions.  He was able to gather family members from both sides of Jimmy's family and take them to the courts.  Jimmy and his family both signed off on his relinquishment in front of the judge.  This is a very big deal and helps the adoption progress more smoothly.  Jimmy also got his medical exams and bloodwork done.  He is waiting on a pyschologist to do is psych evaluation and the social worker from Port au Prince to come and do his "home study".  We still have no idea how much longer until it is finalized but we are one day closer than we were yesterday. 

Lost in Translation

Our lawyer in Haiti decided after reviewing our dossier that some things in our home study did not translate well and would need to be changed.  WHAT!?!?!  After a few tears, we sprung into action.  We discussed the issue with the home study agency and she agreed that removing the topic would be okay.  Next, our psych evaluation needed to be consistent with every thing else.  So, after much discussions and a few documents to back it up, our psychologist agreed to change his report as well.  Then, the kids and I headed to capital to have everything authenticated.  We drove through horrible rain and they missed the last day of school, but we got there.  We authenticated the new documents, sent them on to Chicago because of course that needed to be done again too, then the consulate sent it to Oregon to our Chances for Children Representative and she forwarded to Haiti from there. Everything seems to going well now.  No news is good news right. 

For Sale

We had a garage sale in May to raise money for the adoption.  It was a great success!  Lots of people donated and we were able to raise over $900.  God is faithful.  We have been able to make every financial deadline and the money is always there when a new expense comes up.  Thank you to all those who helped:  Mika Hinson, Felicia Whitworth, Leslie Hamilton, Martin & Joann Kubier, Mike & Linda McGaha, Marcy Davis, Blake & Karla Earnhart, Beth Ballard, and my awesome parents Danny & Diane Anderson. 

The Journey of the Traveling Dossier

Our dossier has been in Haiti for 8 days.  We pray those papers are moving quickly on their journey.  Several have asked "What now?"  The answer...we wait.  We should get reports along the way and I will update as we get those.

Just some fun facts about the dossier:
8...the number of states that the part or all of the dossier has traveled.  Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, Florida Montana. 
471...the dollar amount we have paid to fedex to send it to those states.
4...the number of copies made of our dossier
92...the number of pages in the dossier
87...the number of days we worked on the dossier

Family time

On Sunday, we talked to Jimmy.  He wished me a Happy Mother's Day, which was so awesome to hear.  His extended family was coming to visit.  He told us he was going to tell them about the adoption later.  We understand that it is a difficult situation and are allowing him to decide when is the right time.  We asked Hunter to let us know how their visit went and we would talk to them on Wednesday.  We received an email later that day. 

Jimmy's cousin and her son visited with Hunter and Jillian.  He decided to tell them about his adoption and they are happy for him.  They said they loved him very much and wanted to send their greetings to us.  They asked that we let him visit after he comes to America.  They also gave him $5 Haitian.  Hunter said they were very nice people and the visit went well.

Here is a picture Hunter took on Sunday.

Although his extended family live close enough to visit, they are unable to take care of Jimmy.  We are sure he feels some apprehension leaving them behind.  We know he loves us and is excited to have a family that will love him forever.  We hope to help Jimmy reconcile his feelings about leaving Haiti and being a part of our family.  However, Please pray for his transition.