One More Month, Maybe?

So after numerous emails with our family coordinator at our agency this week, I finally got some answers. Poor Johnna, she probably dreaded going to her inbox everyday! She was so sweet! She actually talked to Dr. Dubrovsky today about us. I told Scott persistence pays off! Oh, and I made a promise to our bible study group that I would only email her once every two weeks. Well, I did make it two weeks, but after her initial response email, I had to push for more info! But thanks, ladies for praying!
So what I'm gathering is that all these families before us (not necessarily from our agency) accepted Eurasian girls that came up for adoption. Since we said we would accept a Caucasian or Eurasian, it would make our process go quicker (not knowing these other families before us would accept a Eurasian as well). So those batch of referrals are gone and obviously not meant for our family! We ARE, however, the "next up in line"!!!!!!! Yay! I'm so excited! It doesn't necessarily mean we will get a Eurasian. We are just up next in line for whoever is meant for our family! I don't care if she's green with blue hair...just get her to us now!!!
Now, since they just sent out a bunch of referrals, this referral could come sometime within the next month. OK, a month I think I can handle!
Johnna said she is expecting us to leave on our first trip 2-3 weeks after a referral which she is expecting will be the beginning or middle of August! Right when school starts, I'm sure!
I'm happy either way, I know God's timing is right and that He has a specific baby girl in mind for us. One tough little girl, for sure!!!
Keep praying for her and that we will get this referral quickly....within the next month!!!
Oh, and on an exciting note: our good friends, The Livermans, received their referral from Ethiopia last week! He is so cute and has such kissable lips! Love seeing how God is working in the lives of these orphans! Such an amazing journey! We can't wait to meet him!!!!

Garage Sale Blessing

This is just the front yard!

Tyler and Ellen selling donuts, cookies and water.

Look at all the TV's!!1

A huge THANK you to the Strickland kids for their lemonade stand. Those sweet kiddo's stood in 100 degree heat for our baby girl! Words can't express our gratitude!!!!!

So, this past Saturday, if you didn't already know, we had a garage sale to benefit our adoption costs in Russia. We had asked a few friends and family to donate some of their "stuff" to us so we could sell it. I had NO idea we would have ended up SO unbelievably blessed by SO many people, and by some we didn't even know! I am really at a loss as to how to thank each and every one of you who helped make this possible. Without your donations, time and prayers this would not have been possible.


I sent out an email yesterday to those of you who REALLY made this possible, but wanted to include it in my blog:

Dear sweet friends and family,
Can I get an AMEN!
If you weren’t able to come by today, you missed a HUGE blessing!!!! We can’t express how thankful we are to those of you who made this day possible for us to be one step closer to getting our baby girl! I am not a “garage sale person” but I would have to classify it as one of those that are just “rare”! I did have a few people tell me how organized and well priced it was! That would not have been possible without the help of a few friends and family! I don’t want to name names, and I can’t name all of those who donated your precious items to make it possible! I had a woman today ask about how many families were included in this “mulit-family” garage sale. I gave her an estimated figure of about 50! Of course you could hear the gasps of these cute little ladies! Really? Yes! Maybe even more! I can’t wait to tell that to our little girl one day!
I know I said I wouldn’t name names, but I just have to! A few of these people not only donated their items, but their PRECIOUS time (especially those of you who helped during naptime…I know how precious that time is!). First, our parents, Nanny, Papaw, Mimi, Pops! Thank you for being there for us and our children and encouraging us every step of the way! For sorting, lifting, hauling, pricing, negotiating, and just being there!
Jeffrey!!! The college kid who is not only taking 13 hours this summer, but gave about 3 or 4 long, hot days helping organize and sort and being here at 6:10! Way to go!
Jessica T, Ginny, Kim B, Josh B, Michelle W, Stacey G, Paige, Mehary, Laura J and Christi M. You guys were “The Man”. I don’t know how else to describe it! You guys took the reins and ran with it! I love how I didn’t even need to give you instructions (because I couldn’t , since I’ve NEVER had a garage sale before) Some of you showed up at 5:30 and for THAT, I salute you!!!!
Lara S for taking on the task of “queen garage sale” and getting things in gear for us ALL day last Sunday! If it weren’t for you, Jerry, Miles and Ella, I believe our garage sale would still be in boxes and bags, completely unorganized, without signs, and NOT on Craigslist ( see, I told you I know nothing about garage sales) For your sweet children, Ella and Miles for their lemonade stand to help raise money for our adoption…there are no words, only sweet tears
The kids, of course Tyler and Jake for “manning” the cookies, water and donuts! They had a little help from their buddies, Luke, Max and Ellen! It was so cute hearing the kids trying to get the people to buy things…almost to the point of them having to buy them to get them to leave them alone Addison, for helping her mom make the cookies
So, you are probably wondering what the GRAND total is, right? Now that I’ve made you read a sappy email of “thank you’s” and words of appreciation ( and If I left someone out, you know I did it unintentionally…my brain is working on about 6 hours sleep the past week) Let’s get to it!
I only tell you this total because YOU made it happen, and YOU are a part of our daughter’s life into our family! So, the grand total is, after a few more “buys” this evening, (and NO more, I might add), is…….
$3, 879.50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you believe it? I get chills every time I speak of it! Chills, really!
God has blessed us so much with wonderful friends and family and prayers from so many! HE is amazing!!!! This would not have been possible without HIS blessing and constant goodness and mercy and LOVE!
Again, Scott and I can NOT put into words how much this means to us!
Please pray that now this is behind us, we can now move forward and receive our referral we were told was coming almost 2 months ago. His timing is perfect! I didn’t trust it until Thursday night when I realized that if we had received a referral, even a week ago, I would not have been able to juggle the garage sale with getting things ready for our first trip and completing paperwork. Lord, I’m ready!!!!
Love you all so much!
If you loaned us a table, or bins, would you please send me an email so I can be on the lookout for it! I want to return everything to their rightful owner, but somewhere in the mounds of donations, things got crazy and I’m afraid we have misplaced a table and bin or two
Please forward this on to whoever I have not emailed this too. I know I do NOT have everyone’s email address and I would love to express my gratitude!
Love,

Scott and Kirsten Boyd

We met so many interesting people at at our garage sale! I know what your thinking, yes, we DID see some crazies :), but the most amazing person we met was a girl who works with and orphanage in Brazil. We ended up giving her all of our left over kids clothes (which was a TON) and books. She was so filled with joy, she cried! It was really a blessing to me to be able to give to something we are so passionate about. I can only conclude that GOD had a hand in placing her at our garage sale this weekend!

Again, words can't express how thankful we are to God and to our friends for the enourmous blessing that we received this weekened!