UPDATE (1 hour later): We’ve got $100 in raffle entries already… are you next?
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So, God is totally awesome.
Just so you know.
We had a huge garage sale, and since then have been slowly, slowly selling donated items on Craigslist… slowly, slowly pinching each and every penny to try to save enough money to submit our dossier as soon as our fingerprints come back.
And as I told you in this post, after all that we still needed $3,400.
Note the past tense.
🙂
Through more massive Craigslist postings and numerous trips to the kid consignment store, I managed to make about $500 during this past week.
So we were down to $2,900.
And we prayed.
And out of nowhere, Bryan got a side engineering job.
That pays cash.
$2,900 in cash to be exact.
So when the ol’ fingerprints get back and our home study is finalized (it’s being written up now, thanks to our wonderful social worker!), we’ll hopefully be able to submit! Hallelujah!
Like my BBF (best bloggy friend) Missy says, it’s truly a beautiful thing when God opens doors and shows you so clearly you’re on the right path. His provision is timely, perfect, and unbelievably AWE. SOME.
I figure there’s no better time than now to have a raffle… since, if you know anything about the international adoption process, the next fee is just around the corner… and in this case, it’s a $525 dossier authentication fee.
So here’s the deal: Our friend and neighbor Amy Longley makes gorgeous jewelry. Jewelry that used to grace high-end boutiques all over the greater Seattle metropolitan area… before she moved to suburban Colorado and traded it all to be a stay-at-home mom (God bless her!). And she still does the occasional trunk show. But to help us raise money for our baby girl, she has graciously donated THIS:
I know. It’s gorgeous. I put it on for the picture, and I didn’t want to take it off. Ever.
Here’s another look:
Specifically, this is a sterling silver necklace with a real aquamarine pendant, studded with pearls and Swarovski crystals separated by spun silk. It is delicate, beautiful, and stunningly perfect… and it retails for $75.
And in case you haven’t noticed, I now have a handy-dandy Paypal “donate” button at the top of the right sidebar. It’s totally secure and easy… and best of all, it takes credit cards. 🙂
So between now and next Wednesday, July 14, every $5 you donate enters you in the drawing for the necklace. Every $5 equals one entry, so if you donate $10, that’s two entries; $50, that’s 10 entries. If you blog about this raffle or share it on Facebook, let me know in the comments below and you’ll get another entry. I’ll have one of the kiddos draw the winner next Thursday, and we’ll send it to you in a shiny silver box.
Let Him use you to help open another door to our little girl. Let’s see if we can reach that $525!
In Missy’s words:
I still don’t know exactly how it is going to happen.
But I know Who’s gonna make it happen.
Do it, Lord. Open those doors. Bring Your baby home.
Oh, how I praise You for open doors!!
Amen.
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