Over a big hill!

Well the adoption dinner was a success! After months of letter writing, phone calls, emails, repeating phone calls, and bugging everyone, we gathered $12,000 worth of items for the auction. We ended up with about 80 people attending the dinner/silent auction. With auction items, raffle tickets, and donations from friends (some old, some new) and family, we raised a great amount. 

What an amazing blessing! I have to admit I had my doubts occasionally. Neither one of us is great at asking others for help, accepting generosity, or having no control, but that's what we are learning throughout this process.

We are so grateful to God for providing as only He can, and for using others to both support and encourage us. It was such a blessing to see old friends as well as meet new friends. Even from a distance, friends and family jumped in to support us. We will be sure to tell our child that so many people helped to bring him home. We are not finished yet, but this has made a huge impact in the big picture. 

The most recent adoption update:

 Our paperwork was hand delivered by our adoption agency on Nov 7, the day after our anniversary. We had heard that this would most likely be a quick process, whatever that means.  Yesterday I finally got impatient and emailed for an update.  The reply was "it won't be long now, wink wink". I have no idea if that means any day now or any year now. How frustrating for a planner! We just have to keep being patient, but I will confess, all I want for Christmas is a picture of my Jonah. 

We have our fingerprinting appointments for the USCIS (immigration) next week, so that's progress. We just keep waiting for the referral! 

Thank you again to all of you who are praying and encouraging us! This is no easy journey, but we know that God is faithful to complete what He has begun and we are so glad to have so many people behind us, beside us, and ahead of us-support in every direction. :)

Ps if you missed our dinner, you should go check out this website.  http://thearchibaldproject.com/videos/

We showed "This is Archie" and "Journey to Eliana" during the dinner, but they are all wonderful examples of what adoption looks like. Get your tissues ready :) 

                 A beautiful cake by the wonderful Angie Browning. It was so good, there was none left!

                                  our wonderful friends also on the adoption journey, Josh & Cheryl...they are WAITING too!

                                     ...the enormous ballroom courtesy of the University of Louisville Shelby Campus and our friend Rob who got it for us :)