What To Expect When You're... Accepting?

Just wanting to keep everybody updated on the finances for our adoption of our little Kora. So many of you have donated to us in the past that we feel the need to keep you in the know of where we are with getting our sweet Kora home. In total her adoption will cost us $22,000 pre travel. The breakdown of that is as follows:

• 11,397.50 PAID on 11/27/2013!! WOO HOO!!!!
• 9,875 in fees to the agency and to the DRC
• 1,000 in a post placement agreement deposit
• 500 for registration fee (paid already)
• 22.50 for bank wiring to DRC
• 5,075 for dossier translation and submission
• 4,060 after adoption decree
• 3,000 in fees
• 1,000 in orphanage donation
• 60 bank wiring to DRC
• 4,162.50 when we get our travel date
• We're thinking $8,000 for travel, but that's a VERY fluid number. 

We are working on some fundraising still. Here's our plan (never seems to go as planned though...), we will be getting a low interest loan for the first two payments (referral acceptance and dossier) so that we can get the ball rolling on her case in the DRC. We will then be doing fundraising and grant writing to hopefully pay off the loan and then some before the adoption decree and travel fees are due. Then hopefully more fundraising and possibly a no interest adoption loan that can get us the remainder needed for travel!

Here's the fundraisers we have in the works:

• Diapers (plumberbums.storenvy.com)
• Craft Shows with all my handmade goodies
• An auction in the beginning of January (accepting items for this!)
• A Spring Fling here at our house, going to be a big party with games for the kids (and adults...), cornhole tournament, a doggie kissing booth, raffle, face painting, balloons, and more!
• Parent's Night Out's return monthly in January!!!
• I'm still babysitting and Kevin will be doing odd jobs on the weekends for a donation (when he has time)
•  Another (I KNOW) garage sale this spring (unless anyone knows of a free venue to do one indoors)
• Hoping to get approved to do a Both Hands Project with Lifesong For Orphans
• Christmas cards and ornaments

Things you can do to help:

• Donate items for us to sell at garage sales
• Collect items for our auction (new products, can be anything really!)
• Someone who can write to stores and ask for donations (gift cards or products etc...)
• Spread the word about our fundraisers, in particular the auction, spring fling, and parents night out. 
• Come over and help us clean our house (partially kidding here...)

With working about 80 hours a week, with a home daycare and a sewing business, things can get crazy. So if I don't answer/return calls please know it's not me ignoring you because i'm rude (although......). It's because I just don't have the time, text or email me instead as I can do that all the time pretty much (although it may take a day to respond sometimes). 

As always, pray for our little Kora.