PURSE WINNERS!

A HUGE thanks to all who entered the drawing to help fund our adoption for the boys!!
I numbered all entries and then used a random number generator the following people have won purses!

 Sally Kistler (2), Michael DeLuca, Cathy Jerousek, Lori McGinnis (ladybug bracelet), Charlie Domalik, Linda Thomas (2), Judy Ramella (2), Janice Myracle (baby bracelet), and Beth Lux


I will ship these out in the next 24-48 hours. If you used paypal to enter I will use the address given to me there...if it is not correct-- please e-mail me.  Those who sent checks--I have kept your addresses on the return label.
Again--- THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

I will give the grand total after I ship everything---

Special thanks to those of you who donated to Jacks adoption blog started by Jet Tarks in Netherlands!!

 That total was almost $700.00!!

Jack--new photo

Isn't he the most adorable little guy??

VERA BRADLEY PURSE DRAWING-LAST FOUR DAYS!

FOUR  days left before the drawing!
Less than 100 entries....GREAT chances to win!

I will be having a drawing for TEN Vera Bradley purses
 plus two beautiful sterling silver bracelets
Purses are valued at $30-85.00 and the bracelets are valued at $75.00-125.00 retail.

To enter I am asking for a donation of 10.00 for the first entry
 and 5.00 for every entry thereafter.
With each entry you will be entered to win 10 purses and two silver bracelets.
 (so for your donation you will be entered in every drawing
 and have a chance to win multiple purses!)
Please use the chip-in to the right to submit your donation.
Checks can be mailed to
Kelly Rumbaugh, 15 Smith Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157
The drawing will be held on JULY 4th--
 this gives you lots of time to tell your friends! (please!)

(YOU CAN USE THE CHIP-IN AT THE RIGHT TO ENTER)

THANKS FOR HELPING SUPPORT OUR ADOPTIONS!

Money and adoption....

Well, God has shown up big time!!
We were called by our agency this week to say that they had
a donation in Jack's honor.  The donation was anonymous and in the amount of 5,000.00.

Let me just say--- This was ON TIME.
We were struggling to find the last 1300.00 for the next fee.
The dossier would not be sent if the fee was not paid.
Our dossier arrived to our agency the SAME DAY they called us with the news.

MONEY---  many many people let the money stop them from adopting.
I believe in being cautious and knowing limits with finances BUT
I have to say that we have never let money stop us from adopting and God has shown His face every time by providing.
I know there are other families out there that can testify to this. 

God will provide if you answer His call to adopt.

We had sown a seed with another adopting family---donating money that was sacrifical to us.
Then, when we needed to make a payment we didn't have it.  I just feel God has honored our giving
with this large donation to Jack's adoption. 

I just want God to recieve all praise and glory for His provision!

Also- I want to call your attention to another young man that has captured my heart.
He is listed with WACAP and is 8 yrs old.  There is a 14,200.00 grant for his adoption as well as the
possibility of a fee waiver!  Go to www.wacap.org and look under waiting children
His ID is ZMY.0203.01
You can search for Asia male 7-8 yrs old.... special need is repaired spina bifida
If we could bring home three--this young man would be coming to our house....
but alas two is the limit....

Blessings to you all--
Kelly

Genesis 26:12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹²Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the

same year a hundred times as much as he had planted,

and the Lord favored him with blessings.

The next FEE - the next chip-in

Well, we received our bill today from WACAP for $2,210.00.

 This is after $2800.00 of Jack's grant was applied.  It is due in thirty days.

I had been praying that Elijah's Reece's Rainbow money would be available but they

do not disperse the grant until travel arrangements are made.

SO, here I am again---asking and praying for help and hoping you will enter the drawing for the

Vera Bradley purses.((click here))  They arrived last week and I took some photos to show you.

There are actually 13 purses and a wallet.  TEN are been drawn for from this blog.

We are also holding a drawing( for the extra three purses) at

our "carnival" fundraiser (its in two weeks)

 See the purses below:

Thank you all so much for your continued prayer and support of our adoptions!

We are bursting with excitement to go get our boys!
Here are two recent photos of Jack :

and a new one of Elijah---

SOOOO SWEET!!

Vera fundraiser update!!

Hi everyone!
Boy, this fundraiser is going so well!  Thanks to all who have donated to our drawing!
I just purchased the Vera Bradley Bags and spent 405.00---so that is deducted from the total--
Here are the particulars so far---
donations:
980.00 (previous total)
191.71 ( another "Jack" donation from Jet)
165.00 (new donation)
350.00 (checks sent by mail)

TOTAL:  1686.71   minus 405.00   grand total so far: $1281.71!!
Keep spreading the word about this drawing----
thanks!

~~~~~There are angels all around us~~~~~

On Tuesday morning, I put  out our plea to raise $700.00 to have our home study released
to us from our home study agency,  The $700.00 is for the post placement reports that are due at the 6 month and 12 month mark after our children come home from China.  It is how China makes sure the children are doing OK and what we have done for them so far...  The money is due up front so that you are compelled to do the reports since you spent the money. (It works too)

Well, Tuesday, Cassie was home sick so I had to take her to the doctor..... As I was on my way out the door I saw a blue truck pull up in the driveway.  I didn't recognize the vehicle but figured it one of the people who graciously bring us 3 dozen fresh brown eggs every week. (Yes, we eat that many)
Lo and behold, it was a member of our church but it was a delivery of money not eggs.  This gentleman with such a huge heart said God had laid it on His heart to meet our financial need.  He handed me an envelope with the full amount needed in it. (less than three hours after I sent out the auction e-mail)

 He began to tell me what a huge heart his wife had when she was alive.  How she would have urged him to help us.  I know how much he hurts every day for her and this was a way to heal for him.  He has a huge heart and never thinks twice about giving us anything.....even his shirt from the Susan G Komen race ---he ran the race and was at church that morning to hand me his shirt!

Needless to say, we praise God for meeting our need through our friend.  We praise God that when we shout "Abba Father" He is there to hold us.  God is so faithful and showers us with His goodness. 

So, the auction is still ON!  We are receiving donations through paypal and the mail.
Thank you to all who have given---some in amounts we never dreamed of.....
How blessed we are to benefit from your giving hearts!! (Our boys thank you!)

So--my total on paypal is now up to 980.00 (with the paypal fees already out)  I have also been sent 350.00 in the mail!  I know the purses and two bracelets will probably cost us about 400-500 dollars so we are already at a profit.

I will post the auction again at regular intervals on facebook.  I may also try to have a blog button made. (anyone know how to do that??)  The drawing is still scheduled for JULY 4

Thank you all once again for your donations--- the ten dollar ones are adding up fast!!!!
We will have an agency fee due when we send our dossier to China so the funds will be applied there!

ALSO--- Thank to Jettie in Netherlands for sending me the $445.00 in Jack's adoption fund from the blog she set up a while ago.....she saved it for his family and was true to her word to send it!!  THANK YOU to  who donated to that fund. (This was included in the 980.00 total)

So-- our homestudy is to be mailed to us on Monday--- At that point our agency will send it to USCIS and we will wait for approval from them. We are already assigned an officer so the wait should be short (I am praying it is)   We can also start applying for grants from entities who give for adoptions!  My prediction is still OCTOBER travel for the boys....
\
God's blessings to you all---- and spread the word about the auction if you would!!
Kelly

470.00 and counting!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
More exciting news to come---
stay tuned!

Kelly

VERA BRADLEY PURSE FUNDRAISER - WE NEED 700.00 ASAP!

 Currently our home study is in review with WACAP and we are close to submitting to USCIS for immigration approval.  In order for our home study to be released from our agency we need to pay the post-placement fees.  This comes to $700.00 and is needed as soon as we can raise it.

We are expecting out tax refund to help pay for these adoptions.  Unfortunately, we do not have it yet.

Please take a look at this fundraiser for our boys---

I will be having a drawing for TEN Vera Bradley purses
 plus two beautiful sterling silver bracelets

Purses are valued at $30-85.00 and the bracelets are valued at $75.00-125.00 retail.

See photos below of the items for the drawing.

To enter I am asking for a donation of 10.00 for the first entry
 and 5.00 for every entry thereafter.

With each entry you will be entered to win 10 purses and two silver bracelets.

 (so for your donation you will be entered in every drawing

 and have a chance to win multiple purses!)

Please use the chip-in to the right to submit your donation.
Chekcks can be mailed to
Kelly Rumbaugh, 15 Smith Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157

The drawing will be held on JULY 4th--

 this gives you lots of time to tell your friends! (please!)

Jack found me!

I have been urged by a very good friend to share Jack's story and I pray you are all blessed by it.
It seems God knew long before me that Jack was going to be my son.

In June 2009, I travelled to Xi'An to adopt my daughter, Brighton Faith.  She is from a very rural area in ShaanXi province called Yan'An.  I visited there in 2008 when I went to take Brighton a walker to help her learn to ambulate. She had a very severe club foot then as well as spina bifida.  Since I had already been to see her SWI, I did not feel it was necessary to travel 4 hours to visit again. So, we found ourselves in Xi'An with time on our hands.

During my waiting weeks for Brighton, I had agreed to deliver some boxes to Starfish Foster Home. I took one with me on the plane and checked it as a bag. Upon arriving, I mailed it to Starfish so I did not have to lug it all over Beijing while I visited with my "Chinese sister" Angela. The box arrived before I did in Xi'An.

I had all the contact numbers for Amanda DeLange, who is the founder of the home and a very active momma to 50 kids she fosters.  I called and made arrangements to visit and see what Starfish was all about.
I was excited to go see the kids and look into how I could help Amanda with her needs for the children.

Angela, Brighton, and I went to Starfish by taxi in the morning and arrived at the gated apartment community.
We found the right apartment building and headed up by elevator to the apartment.  As the doors opened, I gazed into the hallway and saw two four seater strollers and many other toddler play things.  Amanda was at the door seeing out a group of Australian phyisicans.  She has world wide connections and this is how she saves so many tiny lives.

After hugs and greetings we were ushered inside to be asked to take off our shoes and have a look around.
It was June and stinkin' hot outside---the apartment did not have AC so the windows were open and the babies and nannies were glowing with perspiration.  There were truly babies "wall to wall".  Nannies sat with babies in their arms smiling a welcome to me. 

I made the rounds to see each child as Brighton wimpered from her stroller.  She was having no parts of getting out....the stroller was her ticket out with mommy.  This apartment had a wide range of ages represented and I was just amazed at how well the children got along and how organized the home was -- especially with the number of people and children in there day to day.

 The children were certainly being cared for in a loving environment which is not the case in most orphanage situations!  These little lives were being shaped by their nannies.  They were being given security and love and this is what makes for a healthy child...and a healthy bonding/attachment experience when they are adopted.

As we were getting ready to leave the home, I asked Amanda what we could do for her and her babies.
(I was expecting her to ask for material things or fundraising.....)  She looked behind me and caught eyes with a handsome little guy.  I turned my head to see who she was looking at and found a small boy with a very large head.  He was being cradled by his nanny. His gaze caught up in her eyes.  Amanda simply stated:

"Help me find Jack a family"

Immediately, I thought to myself that it would be quite a task to see beyond this child's physical apppearance.  His head was so heavy that it had to be held up for him to see around.  I will never forget the moment she told him to speak... He said "momma" to his nanny.  God was showing me how sweet his little voice was and how he really was smart enough to make the connection that his nanny was his momma.

I left that day not thinking I could do much for this little boy.  His head was so large and most people would immediately jump to the conclusion he was brain damaged.  Not many families are willing to adopt a child with such a physical anomoly.  Especially if they looked at him and didn't really SEE him for what he is....

a child

a child with value

a child who is desperate for a family

a child deserving of a family

A little more than a year passed and I found myself home with two more children from China.  A "rush" adoption of Samantha who was 5 days shy of aging out of the CHinese adoption system and Piper who was 11 at the time of adoption.  It was a simultaneous adoption processed in 4 months...amazing. (and another 

blog post for another day)  I was scouring the internet--reading my groups e-mails and clicking on blogs.  I love to keep up with the Chinese adoption world as they are like my family and have been since 2004. 



I decided to go to my friend, Annie Hamlin's, blog to see the beautiful kids needing families that she posts every week.  Her blog always has the children that are hard to place or new to the shared list/agency lists.

Usually, they have needs that are severe or maybe rare.  Thats when it happened--

I

SAW

JACK

He looked like a normal little kid as he had grown into his head.  He was grinning ear to ear--just like the gaze he gave his nanny when he said "momma" that day.  I was hooked.....I knew it-- and it hit me like a ton of bricks....it was ME...I was the momma he was looking for. 

I knew the chances were next to none that I would ever get a glance from the CCAA. I had been diagnosed with breast cancer just two months earlier and I knew CCAA had not granted any family a PA that had a parent with a history of cancer.  It was even hard to get any agency to go to bat for a waiver "that big".

I was still in chemo treatment and had no idea what that would bring.

 BUT- I had to try...It was in every fiber of my being that he was mine.

I called the agency that had Jack listed with a grant.  I am not one to look money in the eye and turn my back. (Especially since Jack would be the 7th adoption in our family in as many years.)  I prayed before I called that this agency would listen to my plea...that I am fine and I could parent Jack.  Having a child with the exact diagnosis as Jack would either be in my favor or be held against me.  I chatted with the agency rep and she said she would talk with her director....but first she needed to see a letter from my doctor----

(to be continued.......)

"A wheelchair for Jack"

This video is of Jack one day after he rec'd his new wheelchair!

There are a couple of still photos then the video will begin :)

My goodness--I cannot wait to kiss and hug this little boy!