Money Math

  Now that we are starting the home stretch of the adoption I have started thinking about then upcoming cost. At this point we have used our tax refund this year and personal savings to pay for all the cost regarding the adoption. Our friends have donated items and/or bought from our fundraising campaigns such as Mary Kay and 31. We have raised $1,500 through those efforts, we have put in a little over $6,490 in fees (HS, vital records, apostille, mailing cost) Our little Nehemiah (Dane) had a grant for $4,000 donated to him prior to us committing to him. So that all totals to...$11,900. We need $18,100 to reach our goal of $30,000. We are hoping that our final cost will be under that total but that will depend on time in country and travel fees. Our known big cost coming up is facilitation fees we need $12,500 our Eastern Europe team when we get there. The rest of the cost are flights ~$3,000 (hopefully) $430 for childrens' embassy medicals, $460 for childrens' visas, $720 for immigration fees, and ~$2,000 for expedited passports. Total= $19,110 which doesn't include our logging and food for the time we are in country so I don't think that $30,000 is far off our total need. From what we have figured we need about $20,000 at this point to finish the adoption. Now some fun math!! that is only 200 people giving $100!! 40 people giving $500 (which two of our donors have given this amount!:) 20 people giving $1,000!! 100 people giving $200. When I think about it that way it seems so simple and doable. I know 100 people.
   I do want to also add that I have read in many places about how adoption will tell you who your true friends are. I am so very happy to say all our friends have come around us and supported us in so many ways. The two families that have donated monetarily are families that are "like us" young families with their own children to care for. These dear friends felt their donation, and knowing their sacrifice just shines God's love. We hopefully will be travelling in 3-4 months. Please pray for us to be placed with an USCIS officer so our application can be processed and for our fundraising efforts to be fruitful!