Profile Complete!

PRAISE THE LORD!
Our profile is done done done!  So exciting I can't even put it into words.  And yet, I'm feeling really nervous too....this makes it more real.  Just trying to lather our family, new baby, and future birthmother in prayer!

Here are some pages from the profile.  A lot of you have asked to see the final "product"...enjoy!

Thank you for your prayers and loads of encouragement.  We really feel the "hurry up and wait" right now, but are trusting in God's perfect timing for our family.

Profile Mania

Our days are FULL.  Full of God's goodness demonstrated through the generosity of so many families and through the time to complete our profile!  We are so thankful for all the people who have joined us in bringing our new baby home...friends, family, clients.  THANK YOU!  I just really feel like we can't say that enough...through your help we have raised the $6000 we need to get on the waiting list and are beginning to chip into the $10,000 of legal fees.  WOW!  In September 2009, these numbers seemed impossible.  But as we know, with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

As I mentioned, we are furiously working on finishing our adoptive family profile.  This is a mini-scrapbook showing who we are and what our family is like.  It has been such a blessing (and FUN!) to go through all our old pictures and pick the ones that tell our story best.  We found some "gaps" in our pictures, though, and asked Sarah (Ben's sister) to take some couples pictures for us.  She did such an amazing job....a very talented and artistic eye.

When we finish the profile (our goal is Sunday night!), we will post some of the pages for you to see.  Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement!  Please pray for our birthmother as she may already be pregnant, for our unborn child as he/she is growing, and for us as we continue to trust in God's perfect timing.

Fundraiser update

Thank you to everyone who came out for the Mountain Mike's fundraiser!  It was so encouraging and FUN to catch up with so many people who love us and care about our new child.  Thank you for your support!!

*drum roll please*
The grand total from the pizza fundraiser was $500!
We now have $4500 of the $6000 we need to get on the waiting list!  Please know how deeply grateful we are to each and every one of you who has helped us along our journey.  We could not bring our new baby home without you!

Some of you have asked how you can donate to our adoption fund.  While we know its easy to set up an online account, we would rather have 100% of your donation go to our fund than a portion of it pay for the ease on online payments.  We would be happy to send you our mailing address if you are burdened to donate.  Please know that we also covet your prayers and really truly need that protection and encouragement even more so than any financial contribution.  Thank you!

Also wanted to update you on the two other items are currently working on.  First, we continue to create our family profiles.  This is a 6 page "scrapbook" about our family and is the booklet our potential birthmother will look through to choose us!  Rather than cut and paste 8 copies of the same scrapbook, Ashley is creating a digital album with Photoshop.  Such a blessing to have access to wonderful technology!  Pray for us as we carefully (and PAIN STAKINGLY!) choose the pictures to include.  We are thankful that our letter is already written out, but sorting and re-sorting through all our pictures seems just a difficult right now....ha ha ha ha ha!

Second, we are filling out the application for an interest-free loan through the ABBA Fund.  This is a wonderful "covenant loan" program specifically designed for adoptive families.  Our hope is to qualify for $10,000 to pay for the legal fees due when we are matched with our birthmother.  We should be able to pay the loan off quickly with our $10,000 adoption tax credit.  While we are waiting to be matched, however, we will still continue our fundraising efforts to "bite off" bits of this remaining fee.

Our hearts are heavy to meet our new child.  We truly ache to hold him/her in our arms and pour out our love!  It breaks my heart (Ashley) when 3 year old Ethan sighs and asks, "When is our new baby coming home, mama?"  I know that God is doing a good and perfect work...but the waiting and working wears you down when you see its effect on your children. Nevertheless, we trust in our all-powerful God and cling to the truth we know: He is GOOD and He loves His children.

Thank you for sharing in our joys and praying us through our struggles.  Thank you for helping us in big and little ways....we are so thankful for you!

FUNDRAISER!

March already?!  Time flies when you're raising money and preparing for an adoption, I guess?!  We wanted to start by thanking all our family and friends that have asked us questions and prayed for us.  You are an amazing source of encouragement for us.  There are so many days where we look at the bassinet in our room and think, "Its too big for us.  It just will never happen."  Through your faithful prayers, words, thoughts, and questions, however, we are motivated to keep on keeping on!  God is moving and faithful to bring our little one home to us....

Our next BIG fundraiser is Sunday, April 11.  The owners of Mountain Mike's Pizza in El Dorado Hills are friends of ours and have graciously offered to donate a portion of their proceeds to our adoption fund!  Tell your friends, family, neighbors, teammates to stop by! Mention "The Cain Family Adoption" when you order and help inch closer to our next financial goal of $6000.  Eat in and take-out orders placed between 12-8pm will benefit our adoption.  We'll be there in the afternoon from 12-3ish so stop by and visit!

To recap:

Cain Family Adoption Fundraiser

PIZZA NIGHT!

Mountain Mike's Pizza

2201 Francisco Dr, El Dorado Hills

Sunday, April 11, 12-8pm

Mention "The Cain Family Adoption" and a portion of your order will benefit our adoption fund!

Cain Photography will also have a small booth set up with a Family Portrait Special.  See sample images and sign up to schedule a portrait session at a special price.  100% of the profit from Cain Photography benefits our adoption!  Taking a family portrait this summer puts you ahead for Christmas cards!  Visit: www.cainphotography.blogspot.com

Thank you again for your support.  By reading our blog and staying informed, you ARE helping!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!  We can not bring home our child without you!

February Update

We have had a lot of people ask about our adoption recently - things have been relatively quiet on "the outside" so people start to wonder.  We are moving right along!

As an approved family through Bethany we are waiting to receive our completed home study document.  This is a large, 14 page study about our family: finances, relationship, safety, etc.  Once we receive the home study from our social worker, we are sending in applications for 3 different adoption grants.  Our hope is to receive some substantial grant monies to help with the remaining $15,000 we need to actually finalize the adoption ($5000 for the waiting list, $10,000 at placement).

Our birthparent letter is finally done!  It was tricky to put into words the deep emotions we feel, but the Lord was gracious is helping us to be clear and heart felt.  Our social worker is looking over our letter and will let us know about any renovations she might recommend.  I am still sorting through photos to use for our "profile" (similar to a scrapbook about our family).   My hope is to print these out and have a "scrapbooking assembly line" during the next few weeks!

Everytime we walk by the bassinet in our bedroom we are reminded of God's goodness.  He has placed this burden for a new little one on our hearts and we know He is faithful!  We have been meditating on the promise of Psalm 16:8:  "I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  Our prayer is to align our will with God's!  We know that His plan AND timing are best!!

Thank you for your prayers.  We are deeply grateful for your encouragement and support!

Home Study....CHECK!

Hard to believe it, but our home study is done done done!  We had the last step of our approval process this afternoon: the home safety check.  While we over-prepped (in a BIG way), our extra-preparation made the home visit very stress-free and quick.  As Ethan said, "Our house is very safe for babies."

We have two more steps before we can be chosen by our birthmother.  First, we need to compile an adoption family profile.  This profile is a mini-scrapbook about our family.  It includes a birthmother letter, a run down on who we are, and pictures that show the essence of our life.  A huge task when you consider how many pictures we take in our family!  It is staggering to think about writing a letter to the woman who is/will be carrying our child - we love her already for her sacrifice and soft heart.  Plus, how in the world are we supposed to condense our very full lives into neat, little paragraphs?!  *whew*  We continue to enjoy the process!

Secondly, we need to finish raising support for our next financial deadline.  We need just over $6000 to reach our next goal.  Despite the HUGENESS of these types of deadlines, we are confident that the Lord will provide: He has already through meeting our regular monthly needs PLUS these extra adoption needs.  Very exciting.  If you are willing to help us with a game night, bake sale, or silent auction, please let us know!  We will also be sending out applications for different adoption grants in the next few weeks.

Please continue to pray with us!  Our God is gracious and good.  We don't know exactly what His plan is for our family, but we know it will be best!

Year at End

Can you believe its almost 2010?!  We are amazed at the blessings and changes the past year has brought and can hardly wait to see what the new year will bring!!!!

Our last set of interviews went very well.  We really enjoy our time with our social worker, Rhonda.  She is a delight and so encouraging!  After our interviews, we were able to take advantage of Bethany's yearly open house and snoop around the office and Bethany house (housing for birthmothers who are in need).  We continue to be impressed by the staff and focus at Bethany - just another confirmation that we're working with the right people!

Now that our various Christmas travels are over, we have thrown ourselves into overdrive to prepare for our Home Safety Check on January 8.  Rhonda will come out to make sure our house is "safe" according to California's foster home checklist.  There are only a few "big" items that we need to carve time and money for (pool safety, fireplace screen, cleaning supplies/medication re-housing).  We are trying to take the opportunity to reorganize the house in general!  *whew*

Thank you to all our family who continue to express support and encouragement.  It is a joy to share our journey and we depend on your prayers!  Thank you thank you thank you!