Ready, Set, Dossier!

I have been super busy lately and haven't sat down to update this blog. So as the boys are playing "Cars/Toy Story" in the living room, I decided to escape with my hot chocolate and update for a bit. (Sure to be interrupted in less than 5 minutes, so I will try to make this snappy!) Where did I leave off?? I believe at the Home Study visits!! We had two Home Study Visits in the beginning of March. They went VERY WELL!! We basically answered every question known to man about our families, our kids, and ourselves. I am never good in these situations. I need time to think over my answers or I sounds outright crazy. For example, the social worker was asking all about me....my upbringing, education, marriage, etc. Then, she asked a few simple questions, like, "What are your hobbies? What do you like? What do you dislike?" Well, the average person would answer that easily, but I had such a hard time with this. (remember, they are writing a report and probably judging every word that exits my mouth). So of course I began to over-think my answer. Hobbies and "likes" was not too hard, but "dislikes" was really difficult. I really sat there forever...."What exactly do you mean?" I asked. " Do you want to know that I dislike watching sports or that I dislike human trafficking?" See! It's hard!!! I think she thought I was crazy, but I really didn't have any little things that I dislike...it was more like huge things, that I don't think she cared about, ha. :) Oh well! So that was the Home Study . The report is now written and on its way with 30 other documents (our Dossier) to Utah, Washington D.C., and then to ETHIOPIA!!! All of our documents should be in Ethiopia around May 1st and then we will officially be on the waiting list!!! I cannot even tell you how excited that makes me. :) The wait time for a referral is about 9 months once we are on the waiting list. SOOOOO, if all goes according to schedule, we will have a referral (picture/info about our child) around March of 2013. When I write it like that, it sounds so far away, wow. After the referral, we then have to wait for a court date in Ethiopia to meet and adopt our child and then a second date to return and get our child!!! Lots of time waiting. So maybe next summer we will be going to Ethiopia. So in the meantime, we wait., and wait, and wait. 

Right now, I am excited to get things planned for our yard sales. Thank you for all of you that have said that you have items for the sale. I hear that clothes and baby/kid stuff sells fast, so if you have items like that that you want to get rid of just let me know. Thanks!!! 

Some day de Mayo!!

As I opened up my hallway closet this morning, three thermal bags fell on my head. Since I couldn't reach the shelf that they fell from, I thought that I would place them on the nice organizational rack screwed into the door...only to realize that the rack was jam packed with items that I have never used. Time to SPRING CLEAN and get rid of all of this junk! My plan is to take everything that I am not using (or have never used) and throw it in a box for our yard sale fundraiser. I am a huge fan of yard sales and could tell you every item in my house that was purchased at one, so this type of fundraiser just seemed natural.
      Dan and I have had 2 yard sales in the past, but we never really had much to sell. (Even if we did, we don't have a yard to sell it on or a garage for that matter!) Anyway, as I thought more about this fundraiser, I quickly realized that the items we would like to get rid of would not get us very far. Also, our location doesn't help either. So here is the plan! We are asking YOU for donations....give us your junk treasures that you don't need! As you spring clean, think of us. :) Maybe you have an old dresser or bike or tools...who knows? Maybe a microwave or stroller or printer. It is a win-win. You get to get rid of your stuff and we get to adopt a baby! WIN-WIN!
         The date and locations are "set." Ok, not really. The PA one will be in May (the 19th?) and I am not sure about the NJ one yet. I will let you know. But if you come across things you would like to donate and don't want to store them at your house, just let me know and I will come take them off your hands. :)
            I am really hoping to sell some "ticket items" at the garage sale because we will be sending out our dossier soon and with that are some large fees! I know that God will provide and I think that a fundraiser like this is an easy way for people to help, especially if they want to give, but don't have money. :) Email me if you have any questions or want to donate: Laurenvideon@gmail.com

Here is the flyer:

Spring Clean and Donate

To benefit our Ethiopian adoption!

HUGE YARD SALE FUNDRAISER!! J

We are collecting your unwanted treasures!

Items we are looking for:

·         Furniture

·         Appliances

·         Electronics

·         Art

·         Jewelry

·         Bikes

·         Tools

·         Baby gear

·         Household items

·         Kitchen items

·         Linens

·         Basically anything you want to get rid of!

Mark your calendars!!

Yard Sale for Adoption:  SATURDAY, (maybe)MAY 19th?   8:00am-2:00pm (PA sale)
(NJ sale- TBD)

To donate (or volunteer to help) contact Lauren at laurenvideon@gmail.com  

(All items remaining after the sales will be donated)

For more information on our adoption, check out our blog “Now You Know” at

http://knowledge-causing-action.blogspot.com/

Let me know if you want to donate or help out in any way!!!