Wednesday, January 23, 2013
thankful for the bigs and the smalls
three things we are thankful for today:
1. the travel medications we picked up today from the pharmacy!! we are coming for you, solomon...march cannot come soon enough.
2. health insurance that cut the cost of aforementioned medications from $450 to $55. *whew*
3. $3000.00 more towards our travel expenses!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! God is working through the lives of people like you to change the life of this one little boy. and it means the world to us. all praise to the glory of Jesus' matchless Name!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
online auction *fundraiser time!*
can you even believe how close we are to bringing solomon home?!?!?!
AHHHHHHH!
right now we are waiting to hear when our court date will be. 2.12.13 is the lucky day when our agency can file a request to be granted a court hearing. so we're hoping that our valentine's day present will be knowing our court date in ghana. *grin*
in the meantime, we are counting our pennies.
can you even believe that God has provided so much of our funding already?!
*happy dance of joy...again...and again*
so many of you have wanted to know how you can help us pay for our travel funds.....
sooooooo...
here's our next greatest idea: AN ONLINE AUCTION!
we have a bunch of really super awesome services and goodies that have been graciously donated to our cause. we are still looking for a few more items so please contact us if you are interested (ben.cain@me.com).
never been a part of an online auction before? here's how it works:
1. peruse the supermegafantastic items that are up for grabs during the auction (2.3.13 at midnight through 2.8.13 at 11:59, pacific central time). all the links with the goodies will be listed here next week! as a preview, here are just a few of the items:
tax preparation
body massage
portrait session
instrument repair
art & jewelry
fresh organic eggs/produce
2. find the item(s) on which you would like to bid and LEAVE A COMMENT with your bid, name, and email address. there will be a minimum starting bid posted on each item. each new bid much be at least a $1 increment.
3. if you win, we will send you an email announcing your victory!!! upon receiving your payment (via check or paypal), we'll ship the item to you or send you the redemption information (for services).
VOILA! its super easy.
and most importantly, every last penny you spend will go directly into our adoption fund to bring solomon home.
thank you again for joining our family on this journey. we cannot wait to hold this third cain boy in our arms....and maybe let you have a squeeze too. *winkwink*
AHHHHHHH!
right now we are waiting to hear when our court date will be. 2.12.13 is the lucky day when our agency can file a request to be granted a court hearing. so we're hoping that our valentine's day present will be knowing our court date in ghana. *grin*
in the meantime, we are counting our pennies.
can you even believe that God has provided so much of our funding already?!
*happy dance of joy...again...and again*
so many of you have wanted to know how you can help us pay for our travel funds.....
sooooooo...
here's our next greatest idea: AN ONLINE AUCTION!
we have a bunch of really super awesome services and goodies that have been graciously donated to our cause. we are still looking for a few more items so please contact us if you are interested (ben.cain@me.com).
never been a part of an online auction before? here's how it works:
1. peruse the supermegafantastic items that are up for grabs during the auction (2.3.13 at midnight through 2.8.13 at 11:59, pacific central time). all the links with the goodies will be listed here next week! as a preview, here are just a few of the items:
tax preparation
body massage
portrait session
instrument repair
art & jewelry
fresh organic eggs/produce
2. find the item(s) on which you would like to bid and LEAVE A COMMENT with your bid, name, and email address. there will be a minimum starting bid posted on each item. each new bid much be at least a $1 increment.
3. if you win, we will send you an email announcing your victory!!! upon receiving your payment (via check or paypal), we'll ship the item to you or send you the redemption information (for services).
VOILA! its super easy.
and most importantly, every last penny you spend will go directly into our adoption fund to bring solomon home.
thank you again for joining our family on this journey. we cannot wait to hold this third cain boy in our arms....and maybe let you have a squeeze too. *winkwink*
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
warp speed...reaching the least of these!
as we mentioned in our last post, there have been a lot of things going in "under the surface" since we were first matched with solomon at the beginning of december. a lot of people have asked how it is that we were able to receive a referral so quickly....the simplest answer is that solomon was on a "waiting child" list. this is an assembled list of children who have been cleared for adoption, but may have some special circumstances that require a certain type of adoptive family. many of the children have special needs (ranging from correctable issues to chronic conditions - some of these "special needs" are very minor issues for us in the US because of our easy access to regular medical care!) and many more are perfectly healthy older children (5-17). solomon was on this list because of a correctable heart condition. we saw his face and immediately inquired about the details of his condition, etc.
since that initial inquiry, the past month and a half has been filled with quiet ups and downs for us - all stemming from the range of responses we received from doctors regarding solomon's medical records. at first, we were not sure if we would actually be able to travel with him on a transcontinental flight. as you can imagine, this presented huge logistical problems: can we take a cruise from Ghana? would our insurance cover surgery in Ghana? the Bethany team in Ghana has been FANTASTIC, though, and they worked diligently with the orphanage workers to take solomon to a cardiologist in Ghana that could answer some of our questions/concerns. PRAISE GOD: all the tests came back even better than we had hoped!! air travel will be safe for solomon based on his current records!!!!!!
another huge praise: all our country and agency fees have been paid in full!!! AHHHHHH! over the course of 48 hours, God used the generosity of some very precious families to provide $5000 towards our adoption fund.
freak. out. weep. sing praise!
God's provision is always miraculous, but especially in time crunch situations such as this. WOW! as we look back at how many people have freely given to our family so that we can pursue solomon, it is truly overwhelming. thank you to each and every one of you for joining us.
now that the Christmas/new year holidays are past, we are awaiting to hear when our court date will be scheduled. it is possible that the three month mandatory waiting period may be waived for us in order to expedite medical attention for solomon's little heart. would you please pray with us that God will reveal His perfect timing??
so what's next?
1. raising travel funds. we are estimating that we will need $8000 for our two trips to Ghana. both trips will be about a week long and will be a few months apart. our prayer is to raise as much as can before the first trip and then raise the remainder needed inbetween. if you feel lead to help us financially, you can ask for our mailing address or visit our donation website!
2. confirmation of our court date. we'll travel to ghana about 6 days before and spend some time with solomon at the orphanage. *EEEEEEEEEEK* if all goes well, we'll leave the day after court and come home for a few months to finish all the immigration paperwork before we head back to actually bring solomon HOME.
3. plan a trip....twice! immunizations, visas, plane tickets, hotel reservations. fun. stuff. ashley is also hoping to make arrangements to visit with old friends in the capitol from her time there in 2001!
4. PRAYER. we covet your prayers. more than we can tell you. please pray for the diligent team of social workers in Ghana as they strive to help unite children with their forever families. please pray for solomon's safety and health as he waits for us. please pray for peace and diligence and clarity of thought for us as we prepare and gather and scratch & claw our way to this precious little boy. please pray for the orphanage workers - that they will not be overwhelmed by their huge task to care for so many little ones. please pray for the many many many children who are still waiting for their forever families.
we so wish we could share solomon's pictures with you. seeing his sweet face (and beautiful red hair...heehee) makes all the labor more real and more urgent. there really is a child who needs a family and we really can be the hands and feet of Jesus to him. a few days ago, ben said, "if a child grows up never having experienced the love of a father or a mother, how can he or she ever come to understand the love that God has for them?!" that truth, even more than our longing for a child, is what drives us to not give up - but to rely on the supernatural strength of Jesus Christ to reach one child and make one less orphan in the world.
my sister sent me this music video a few months ago, but it sticks with me. the idea of "if not us, who will be Jesus to the least of these?" is haunting. thank you for playing such a valuable part in bringing love to "the least of these!"
since that initial inquiry, the past month and a half has been filled with quiet ups and downs for us - all stemming from the range of responses we received from doctors regarding solomon's medical records. at first, we were not sure if we would actually be able to travel with him on a transcontinental flight. as you can imagine, this presented huge logistical problems: can we take a cruise from Ghana? would our insurance cover surgery in Ghana? the Bethany team in Ghana has been FANTASTIC, though, and they worked diligently with the orphanage workers to take solomon to a cardiologist in Ghana that could answer some of our questions/concerns. PRAISE GOD: all the tests came back even better than we had hoped!! air travel will be safe for solomon based on his current records!!!!!!
another huge praise: all our country and agency fees have been paid in full!!! AHHHHHH! over the course of 48 hours, God used the generosity of some very precious families to provide $5000 towards our adoption fund.
freak. out. weep. sing praise!
God's provision is always miraculous, but especially in time crunch situations such as this. WOW! as we look back at how many people have freely given to our family so that we can pursue solomon, it is truly overwhelming. thank you to each and every one of you for joining us.
now that the Christmas/new year holidays are past, we are awaiting to hear when our court date will be scheduled. it is possible that the three month mandatory waiting period may be waived for us in order to expedite medical attention for solomon's little heart. would you please pray with us that God will reveal His perfect timing??
so what's next?
1. raising travel funds. we are estimating that we will need $8000 for our two trips to Ghana. both trips will be about a week long and will be a few months apart. our prayer is to raise as much as can before the first trip and then raise the remainder needed inbetween. if you feel lead to help us financially, you can ask for our mailing address or visit our donation website!
2. confirmation of our court date. we'll travel to ghana about 6 days before and spend some time with solomon at the orphanage. *EEEEEEEEEEK* if all goes well, we'll leave the day after court and come home for a few months to finish all the immigration paperwork before we head back to actually bring solomon HOME.
3. plan a trip....twice! immunizations, visas, plane tickets, hotel reservations. fun. stuff. ashley is also hoping to make arrangements to visit with old friends in the capitol from her time there in 2001!
4. PRAYER. we covet your prayers. more than we can tell you. please pray for the diligent team of social workers in Ghana as they strive to help unite children with their forever families. please pray for solomon's safety and health as he waits for us. please pray for peace and diligence and clarity of thought for us as we prepare and gather and scratch & claw our way to this precious little boy. please pray for the orphanage workers - that they will not be overwhelmed by their huge task to care for so many little ones. please pray for the many many many children who are still waiting for their forever families.
we so wish we could share solomon's pictures with you. seeing his sweet face (and beautiful red hair...heehee) makes all the labor more real and more urgent. there really is a child who needs a family and we really can be the hands and feet of Jesus to him. a few days ago, ben said, "if a child grows up never having experienced the love of a father or a mother, how can he or she ever come to understand the love that God has for them?!" that truth, even more than our longing for a child, is what drives us to not give up - but to rely on the supernatural strength of Jesus Christ to reach one child and make one less orphan in the world.
my sister sent me this music video a few months ago, but it sticks with me. the idea of "if not us, who will be Jesus to the least of these?" is haunting. thank you for playing such a valuable part in bringing love to "the least of these!"
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Welcome 2013!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2012 was a year full of God's blessings and faithfulness displayed to our family. we praise the Lord for the trials and challenges we experienced this past year because in and through them, *HE* proved His power! glory! hallelujah!
as we have mentioned many times, adoption is the game of "hurry up......aaaaaand waaaaaait." aside from continuing to raise funds (we have two really fun fundraisers in the works so stay tuned!), there is nothing further we can do right now. the whole country of ghana takes a marvelously long Christmas/new year break. the team in ghana will be back in the office on january 7....we hope to hear some updates about medical information & doctor visits sometime next week.
please continue to pray for:
*our family to faithfully pray for our ghanaian child as they wait for us
*the current caregivers at the orphanage
*all the paperwork and documents to be well-received and accurate
*God to continue to provide the funds we need to complete our adoption and travel
*God's name to be glorified through this process
2012 was a year full of God's blessings and faithfulness displayed to our family. we praise the Lord for the trials and challenges we experienced this past year because in and through them, *HE* proved His power! glory! hallelujah!
as we have mentioned many times, adoption is the game of "hurry up......aaaaaand waaaaaait." aside from continuing to raise funds (we have two really fun fundraisers in the works so stay tuned!), there is nothing further we can do right now. the whole country of ghana takes a marvelously long Christmas/new year break. the team in ghana will be back in the office on january 7....we hope to hear some updates about medical information & doctor visits sometime next week.
please continue to pray for:
*our family to faithfully pray for our ghanaian child as they wait for us
*the current caregivers at the orphanage
*all the paperwork and documents to be well-received and accurate
*God to continue to provide the funds we need to complete our adoption and travel
*God's name to be glorified through this process
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