Auction success!

We closed out our facebook auction on Saturday, and raised just over $2,000 to help bring Tavin home! Can we just take a second to look at his sweet little face? In the words of our six year old, Tucker, "He's just the cutie-est baby!" I have to agree.

Tavin

Being that it's Thanksgiving and all, it's fitting that we feel incredible gratitude this week. The last 7 weeks have been a whirlwind, since we committed to Tavin on Oct 7. We have done most of the paperwork required in 7 weeks, that would typically take 6-9 months for most international adoptions, add in fundraising, and lots of long hours for Steve, and it's been a little crazy. But we have been so blessed in that short time as well, by friends and strangers reaching out to support, pray, encourage and cheer us on. We have met people we wouldn't have ever had reason to meet otherwise, and that is probably one of the sweetest parts of this whole process. 

It's been a roller coaster of emotions. Some days are like that scene in Cinderella with the little birds making her gown. The house is filled with happy boys playing sweetly, laughing loudly, running wildly, and I think "Of course, why would we NOT add a 3rd??" Then there are other days. Today was an "other day". Maybe it was the freezing rain, or the meltdowns, or just being plain tired. I stood in the UPS office feeling that the sweet cashier was being kinder to my sweet boys than I felt and I thought "How can we add a 3rd?" Funny how parenting goes like that. Comforting to know that plenty of parents have walked this road-to-more-children before and it all worked out. Through it all we have no doubt of God's calling and an underlying assurance that we are right where we should be. Obedience often looks much more like action and much less like a feeling. We are so excited to move forward towards our travel to Eastern Europe, to fall in love with the real little boy version of the little boy in our minds. It's days like today though when these words ring sweetly in my ear..

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Happy Thanksgiving week! I hope you take a moment to not only be grateful for God's blessings, but to ask Him what He would call you do to with those blessings in the year ahead.

-Chrystal

More auction finds!

We are midway through our auction fundraiser! Today I wanted to highlight two of my favorite donations, and the creative minds behind them.

The first is my friend Shelby's shop called The Honeysuckle Shop.

Visit her Etsy store!

She sells on Etsy as well as in Pastiche at Main. If you live in the 'burg, please tell me you have visited Pastiche! If you haven't, well I'm here to tell you that it's a one stop shop for the best, meaningful gifts around. She sells beautiful vintage finds like this:

..and designs lovely prints like this:

Shelby donated a $25 gift certificate for her etsy shop to our auction!

Second, is another gift certificate for $40 to:

Little Brick House Creations on Etsy

 

 

Kerry makes handmade items for your little ones and let me tell you, they are precious! They can be found in her Etsy shop and also at Pastiche at Main. I mean seriously - look at this:

Chevron + aqua + yellow = what's not to love?

Custom magnet alphabet set

Custom embroidered fox doll

Custom ruffle chevron diaper cover

So there you have it! Plenty of awesome, one of a kind gifts from either of these talented ladies. So head on over and happy bidding!

-Chrystal

Auction preview - The Funky Junk Shop

Today I want to say a special thank you to The Funky Junk Shop!

Check out her blog!

I messaged her a week or two ago about possibly donating to our online auction, because, well, frankly I love everything she makes and I knew anything she could contribute would be a hit. We had never met, and I wasn't sure how she would feel about donating to a complete stranger, good cause or not. I was so blessed to receive a reply that she has followed Reece's Rainbow for several years, and was so excited about our adoption! She was happy to donate for it, and when I left her house today and peeked in the bag, she had included even more than promised!

I know you want to see!

You can never have too many globes.

Custom chalk board - all ready for Christmas!

Aren't they just perfect? And that's not all of them either! You'll have to be patient to see the rest. I can think of a dozen places in my house they would be perfect. But I will enjoy them this week and then give you a chance to enjoy them in your own home....or they would make great gifts!

Thanks again to The Funky Junk Shop for your generosity!

-Chrystal

P.S. Don't forget - our auction starts Sunday on our facebook page Bring Tavin Home!

Auction art sneak peak

Every day I am more excited for our auction fundraiser starting THIS SUNDAY on our facebook page! Yes that's the 17th. It will run for 7 days, closing on the 23rd. (Don't forget to like and share our facebook page Bring Tavin Home so you can join in the fun). I will be highlighting donations throughout this week so you can be as excited as I am.

The very first donations I received for the auction were from my very talented friend Rachel. Now I know a lot of folks claim to be artists these days, but once in a while you come across a real one. Rachel is one of those. Her artwork makes me stop and stare at the details - just beautiful!

They would make awesome Christmas gifts. Grab a lovely frame and you are ready to wrap!

Thanks Rachel for these beautiful prints!

-Chrystal

Fundraising auction coming up!

We are excited to announce our November fundraiser! But first, I want to say that we are over 10% of the way to our goal!! I can hardly believe it, but it's true. We have been blessed at every turn by so many. Thank you hardly seems adequate.

Now back to the fundraiser - I have been collecting amazing hand made items, as well as vintage finds and new/like new jewelry and accessories, for an online auction we will be hosting the week before Thanksgiving on our facebook page! That's week after next folks!

Before you forget, go here to like our facebook page "Bring Tavin Home" for updates!

Let me tell you, there are some talented ladies here in the 'burg, and I am SO excited about the items I have collected. Think Stella & Dot jewelry,  original art prints, one of a kind chalkboards, family photo sessions, and more. Who doesn't want to knock out some Christmas shopping early?

Next week I will feature items on the blog to give you a sneak peak of what to expect...but for now I am keeping you in suspense. So head on over and like our page or follow our blog! I can't wait to share more details!

Chrystal

Paper progress

There is progress in the paperwork department!

Last week we accomplished two big things:

1) We mailed our I600A application to USCIS

2) We sent our first packet to Richmond to have it apostilled, got it back, and sent it off to a family traveling to Tavin's country to carry it over for us.

I took these two things, along with a background check I needed to mail, to the post office, then about had a heart attack that I mixed up the paperwork, or sent something wrong, or included the money order stub instead of the actual check, or put the wrong check in the wrong envelopes. In reality it was all fine! Phew! I guess the lady at the post office could tell I was nervous, because when it was all sealed she said "now you can breathe!" And I thought I was keeping all cool and collected. Apparently not so much.

We meet with our social worker next week for our 3 in home visits, so we are working on completing the online courses we are required to take before we meet.

There are still a lot to do, but we are checking things off and making progress! Please pray that everything will go smoothly and we will be ready to submit the rest of the dossier soon!

Chrystal

Orphan Sunday

Orphan Sunday has special meaning for us today...

Tavin

The faceless, nameless 147 million orphans have a face and a name for us today, and his name is Tavin. Would you consider making a donation towards his adoption in honor of Orphan Sunday?

Someone shared this video with me, and I wanted to share it with you, you can watch it here. Please pray for families to step forward to adopt!

Chrystal

We reached $1000 for October!

When we committed to tavin 3 1/2 weeks ago, I thought "it would be great if we could reach $1000 by the end of October," but knowing we wouldn't be pulling together any major fundraisers at first as we pushed through paperwork, it didn't really seem realistic to expect. But I felt a nudge to put it out there anyway. Somehow the first $1000 felt like a big hurdle.

Last night, as I headed to bed, I hit refresh one more time on our family sponsorship page, and was shocked to see our donations had jumped! Combined with money we have received directly it came to $1000.96! God yet again said "I heard you".

We have a very busy day ahead, so I will keep this short, but wanted to say "thank you" to each person who has donated to help us reach our first $1000 in fundraising! I know God will continue to provide!

Chrystal