It's been a while since we had our fundraising garage sale, and believe it or not, we just now got all the leftover's out of our garage! We had the best of intentions! Really! First I thought I'd sort through some of the "nicer" items and take them to consignment shops in an effort to increase the balance in our adoption fund checking account. Well, that was a waste of time!
Consigning has to be the best scam out there. I spent a lot of time carefully looking through so many items, making sure they were in terrific condition. I also had a lot of super nice business clothing that was donated from friends. When I say nice, I mean - Jos A. Banks kind of nice! So, surely these things would sell at a consignment shop, right? Nope. If I walked out with five bucks in my pocket, I was lucky! And the baby/children consignment stores were even worse! I eventually gave up from the frustration.
And just last week, we arranged for a local organization called Quest for Excellence to pick up the remaining items so they could be distributed to the folks they help. (Quest for Excellence provides transitional housing, programs, support services and educational support for at-risk, homeless and special needs population.) Yippee!! Our garage can now accommodate one vehicle!
Maybe that was God's plan all along. He knew there were people in greater need than us so the consignment idea didn't work out. We are thrilled to know the things that so many friends donated to us will be going to good use.
Beyond that, we have a couple more things we need to get rid of and we're hoping to be able to sell these bigger ticket items.
First, we have a really awesome couch that was recently re-covered. Visit our post on Craigslist to view a picture and get a better description. (http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/fuo/1372764509.html)
We also have an exercise machine. The Pilates Performer JP is available for just $50! (What a steal?!)
And finally, we were given a wedding dress from a young lady in our neighborhood who said she wanted us to sell it and put the money toward our adoption fund. (Wow! We're still blown away by this generous gift.) We have no idea how much to charge for it but that will soon be available as well.
Please let us know if you or any of your friends have an interest in any of these items.
Beyond the selling stuff, we remain in wait mode until God presents us with another potential birth mother match. We covet your prayers and appreciate all the support we've been given and continue to receive.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Match Update
We found out today that we're back to square one with the adoption process. The birth mother we spoke to a couple of weeks ago has chosen another family to adopt her child. For them, we are thrilled. And we are excited to know that her child will have a good home to go to. For us, it's a little bittersweet.
I don't know that either one of us was absolutely certain of this particular situation for a variety of reasons but we were certainly willing to explore the opportunity. And even though there were some initial questions on our part, we were at peace with moving forward. Perhaps it's mothers-instinct that kicked in but I never really thought we would be chosen. And yet, now that we know we weren't chosen, it's incredibly disappointing. In some ways it feels like finding out you're not pregnant. You know, you go through a few days of nausea, not starting on time and when you finally take that test, the indicator says "Not pregnant".
Our attorney says the birth mother was happy with our profile and that her choice was likely made because she spoke to the other couple before she spoke to us. It feels good to know that we were in the final running but at the same token, it's hard not to take it personal. I have spent so much time over these last few weeks sorting through newborn clothing and items to sell at the garage sale, then re-sorting to take some of those items to Once Upon a Child or to Crisis Pregnancy Center that my heart was getting more and more attached to the idea of being a mother. For each batch of items I took to Once Upon a Child, I'd wander around the store, fingering the tiny newborn items and marveling at the wonder of a new life. The pull of motherhood, wanting to hold a baby in my arms... has been simply overwhelming.
It's hard not to get attached emotionally. I love a child I haven't even met yet with every fiber of my being. I know the risk involved in this adoption process but I also know the reward will be more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined. And I must keep reminding myself that God is STILL in control.
On a side note: Please be in prayer for our wonderful friends, Mark and Diane and their three kids as they travel to Ukraine tomorrow to redeem the little girl God has chosen for them. (And who knows, maybe there's more than one child waiting for them?!) They have waited a long time, and we wish them only God's best.
I don't know that either one of us was absolutely certain of this particular situation for a variety of reasons but we were certainly willing to explore the opportunity. And even though there were some initial questions on our part, we were at peace with moving forward. Perhaps it's mothers-instinct that kicked in but I never really thought we would be chosen. And yet, now that we know we weren't chosen, it's incredibly disappointing. In some ways it feels like finding out you're not pregnant. You know, you go through a few days of nausea, not starting on time and when you finally take that test, the indicator says "Not pregnant".
Our attorney says the birth mother was happy with our profile and that her choice was likely made because she spoke to the other couple before she spoke to us. It feels good to know that we were in the final running but at the same token, it's hard not to take it personal. I have spent so much time over these last few weeks sorting through newborn clothing and items to sell at the garage sale, then re-sorting to take some of those items to Once Upon a Child or to Crisis Pregnancy Center that my heart was getting more and more attached to the idea of being a mother. For each batch of items I took to Once Upon a Child, I'd wander around the store, fingering the tiny newborn items and marveling at the wonder of a new life. The pull of motherhood, wanting to hold a baby in my arms... has been simply overwhelming.
It's hard not to get attached emotionally. I love a child I haven't even met yet with every fiber of my being. I know the risk involved in this adoption process but I also know the reward will be more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined. And I must keep reminding myself that God is STILL in control.
On a side note: Please be in prayer for our wonderful friends, Mark and Diane and their three kids as they travel to Ukraine tomorrow to redeem the little girl God has chosen for them. (And who knows, maybe there's more than one child waiting for them?!) They have waited a long time, and we wish them only God's best.
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