Answer to Prayer

I am so very pleased to announce that we have been APPROVED for not one but TWO of the 3 grants we applied for!

The first one is for a grant worth $1000 from CalledtoAdopt.org!  If you are not familiar with this organization, I urge you to visit their site.  A friend of mine I have met in my adoptive mommy circle, didn't just talk about change, but went out and created some. Jeny Pighetti and her husband adopted their beautiful Avery almost 2 years ago.  They worked hard fundraising their entire amount.  When their adoption was finalized they decided to start a non-profit group to give grants to other couples who are pursuing the Call to Adopt.  Her family is passionate about educating others that if you feel you are called to adopt, then finances shouldn't be a factor.  You can donate monthly to them on their site and quarterly they choose families to recieve the grant! And lucky us, we were chosen.  We are so very grateful for this assistance.

So between this grant and monies raised from the Kindle Fire Raffle we will be able to pay in full our next fee that will incur from the agency when we are chosen by a birthmom.  Which we are hoping to be chosen real soon!

The 2nd grant we were approved for is the Life Song Both Hands grant.  This one is particularly exciting because it creates an opportunity to really live out the scripture.  James 1:27 says, "And true religion is this, that we take care of the widow and the orphan."  The premise is this:  We create 2 teams.  A fundraising team and a work day team.  The fundraising team commits to sending out approximately 500 letters requesting donations.  Here's the catch! All tax deductible funds raised through these letters goes to a work day for a WIDOWS HOUSE.  The work day team goes to the widow's house and does a full day of work such as painting, landscaping, de-cluttering, ect.  Then LifeSong Both Hands will match whatever amount we raise for the widow's house, and apply it to our adoption.  ***EDIT***  The fundraising letter will ask people to sponsor our volunteer team to work on the widow's home.  I found out that this is not a matching grant.  We will ask businesses to donate items to complete the work day list.  All sponsorship monies will be applied to our adoption. 
While our adoption will definitely benefit from this, I am very happy to move beyond that and use all this energy to help someone else.  I know I'm sick of my own story! LOL so I welcome the opportunity to help someone else out!

If you are interested in being a part of either the fundraising team, or the work day team, or you know of widow in Osceola or Orange County that could benefit from a work day please contact me ASAP.  

The fundraising team will only need to gather addresses from ANY contacts you have and come to an envelope stuffing party at our home.  If you do not live near us, but would like to be on this team anyways, we will provide you with letters, pictures and stamps to do the mailing from your area.  We are hoping for 6 families to commit to this team.  And remember, yes, you are asking for money, but it's to help out a widow AND our adoption.

The work day team will commit to doing their best to finish the to-do list for the widow's home.  It will be an ALL DAY work day which will take place on a Saturday.  We are hoping to have the work day scheduled for the end of February or the first part of March.  Once we interview and get approval from a widow we will be able to schedule the final date.  We are hoping to have 10-12 workers that day and lunch will be provided.

If you are interested in carrying out James 1:27 in the most practical way ever, please contact me via Facebook, Twitter, or text within the next 7 days so we can finalize our plans and begin to move forward.

Thank you so very much for following our story, and for contributing in all the ways you do!