So excited about this!!!

You guys I am so excited about this fundraiser for the orphanage.

Why?

Because every bracelet sold provides 1 week of clean water to a person in Africa!!

That means these bracelets raise money for the orphanage AND make clean water available to a person in need!!

And? I have already bought a number of these myself and Matt & I wear ours daily!

In Chinese, the one in the middle says 'beloved'.  We specifically chose this in English and Chinese because not only does it serve as a personal reminder that each of us is beloved by God but also that our new son is beloved by so many already!!  

Through Friday I will take special orders for the designs below as well!

These bracelets will sell for $12 each plus $1 shipping.  We will take custom orders until this weekend, then I will place our large order w Mudlove.  I will order extras in some of the more popular styles but if you want to guarantee a specific band color & phrase PLEASE pre-order!

These will ship out mid-late July as soon as we get the shipment from Mudlove.  And if you are local, we'll deliver them to you & save the shipping charge. :)

Email me at fanniewilks@gmail.com or Facebook message me to place an order.

Thank you to everyone who supports us on this journey!!

All About Hongjie's Orphanage & How to Help!

For adoptions from China one of the big expenses is the orphanage donation.  And while the word "donation" is used, this isn't a voluntary donation.  It's a mandatory donation to the orphanage the child is coming from.  The money is used to help care for the orphans that remain in the orphanage's care.  This amount is large.  Nearly $6,000.  Honestly, we need to fundraise this amount and a little more to be able to fully fund this adoption.

A year or so ago, Guangdong province opened a number of 'safe rooms' to provide a safe way for parents who felt they had no other option, to abandon their sick child.  Within only a few days the orphanages became overwhelmed by the influx of special needs children.  (http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/babies-04012014140949.html) & (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2595184/Heartbreaking-moments-parents-say-goodbye-sons-daughters.html)

Hongjie's orphanage is one of the orphanages that received an overwhelming number of newly abandoned children during that time. A friend recently visited his orphanage and has been kind enough to share pictures with us.

So many children!! Precious babies, precocious toddlers, & amazingly adorable children!! This orphanage is quite large and working so hard to care for the many, many children.  Please look at these children and pray for them.

I'm still overwhelmed by these pictures.  No matter how colorful or 'nice' this room looks, friends this just shouldn't be.  These little ones all need families!!

And so do these older children!!  Each of these children is loved by their Heavenly Father and he has a plan for each and every one of them and I believe he calls us, his church to rise up and be his hands and feet for them.  For us, that means adopting, but we know for others that means praying, for others that means providing financial support.

And this is where we get to be a blessing!  This is where the church can help to be Jesus' hands for these precious children.  Many of you have asked what you can do to help us along this journey.  The answer is this: help us raise the orphanage donation!

There are a few options for this.

The amazingly popular shirts that helped raise Laila's orphanage donation are back for a limited time!!  We will, once again, use this design to help raise the required orphanage donation for Hongjie's adoption.

These shirts are $20 each w/$2 shipping per shirt.  Offered in children's size 2t, 3t, 4/5, 6/7, 8/9, 10/12 and adult sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, & 3XL.

Colors available: white, heather grey, cobalt blue, & purple

To order: email me your order (fanniewilks@gmail.com) & you can make a donation in the amount due to our Adopt Together or Paypal account provided on our blog.  I am taking pre-orders through the end of July.

We will also kick off a mudlove bracelet fundraiser that is announced in my next blog post.  

And lastly, you could decide to donate money that will go directly to the orphanage donation here.

https://www.adopttogether.org/anotherwilkscomeshome

And lastly, for the fellow Cityhope friend who left this anonymous donation on our window and helped to propel us onto this journey, your loving donation is the first one added to the orphanage donation.

Thanks so much to everyone supporting us and cheering us on and praying us through this process.  We love you guys!!

And we're off!!

Well, we are on the first leg of our flights- flying to Houston before we take that long, long flight across the world to Tokyo!  We will have 5 1/2 hrs to explore Narita before our final flight to Hong Kong.

We are missing Katie & Chengbin like crazy already!  We left both of our teary eyed kiddos this morning and we ask for you all to pray for them today.  They are adjusting to their temporary normal & I know it will be hard on them the first couple days.  We are so thankful that Grandpa is with them and we know he'll take good care of them til we get back!!

Our schedule for this week of our China trip looks like this:

Friday- arrive in HK

Sat- touring HK

Sun- tour HK in AM, PM flight to Guangxi Province

Mon- 'Gotcha' day.  This is the day we will get custody of Laila.

Tues- Adoption Day.  We will fully complete her adoption this day.

Wed- paperwork & touring

Thurs- orphanage visit

Fri- pick up passport for Laila & fly to GZ

We will be staying in GZ for 12 days because of a National holiday that will close everything down for a week while we are in the middle of the process of obtaining a visa for our girl.

We are so excited to get our little one!!  The kids are anxiously awaiting a skype session w little sissy!! :)

And I will post a whole story about this later, because God deserves all the credit and I want to share the story of the great things he has done, but we are Fully Funded!!!  

Pray for our safe travel, for our kids & Grandpa, & for that sweet little one across the world!

We're coming Laila!!

Sincerely,

Matt & Fannie 

A Funding Update! God Funds what he Favors!!

A few days ago, I posted this blog post, but for some reason, it showed up in my August blog posts... so I'm putting it on here for anyone who missed it because it is truly AMAZING how God has provided to bring this little girl home.  God has done amazing things in so many ways for our sweet girl and we want to make sure you all have the opportunity to witness all of it. :)

"How much does it cost?"

That's the question I got from an interested mother while sitting at Panda Express having lunch with my only-home-for-two-months son.  Her daughter had been battling infertility and had recently been considering adoption.  While I LOVED talking about adoption, advocating for kids, and increasing awareness of the millions of orphans in need of homes- THIS is the question I had already learned that I hate answering...

I responded, "Ummm around $30,000 when you add in everything including travel." Then that look came, the overwhelming look most of us would have when we know we don't have the amount you'd pay for a good car lying around in a bank account with no purpose for it... So I added, "I've seen friends fundraise almost that whole amount, though, you'd be amazed what God can do to help bring home one of his little ones."

Honestly though, I wasn't sure even I believed it was really possible for the average person to fundraise an adoption.  How could you ask friends and family for $30,000??? It seemed crazy and I really was far too proud to consider something like that.  We used up all our savings to bring home Chengbin and buy a house, so sitting at that Panda Express with a burden for the orphans of the world, I felt like a hypocrite even suggesting that fundraising was the answer.  After all, I already felt God calling us back and I didn't think I could do it.

Fast forward to November 3rd when I saw Laila's face and read her file...

That day in Panda Express God started softening my heart and my pride.  How could we not consider going to get her?  She would indeed not make it to her 5th Birthday in that province without a family and proper medical care.  Maybe not even to her 4th Birthday.

Still, our bank accounts did not have $30,000 readily available for an adoption.  My hubby was VERY quick to remind me of that.  He was also VERY OPPOSED to adopting if it meant asking people to help us.

Then I read this...
http://babyabell.blogspot.com/2014/02/affording-adoption-fundraisers.html

Amy wrote so beautifully about God's calling to all of us to care for the orphans.  I used her words so many times to discuss this possibility with Matt.  It truly changed my perspective on fundraising an adoption personally, and over time it did the same to him.

Especially since 3 months later Laila was still waiting.  Waiting for us to say yes and commit to whatever fundraising and grant applications would be necessary to bring her home.

So- How much does it cost?  I'm here to humbly spill the beans and lay it out there for ya.

--------------------

Yep, there's no way around it.  Adopting Laila is expensive.  As we prepare to leave next week, our final total adoption costs are over $32,000.

At the beginning of our adoption, we paid $5,900 out of our own savings in agency fees, homestudy fees, USCIS fees, document authentications, visas, etc.  We also had our Adoption tax credit coming from last year's adoption & anticipated using it to pay additional money towards the adoption.  Now that we live in Alabama, we don't make nearly what we did up in NYC, so the extra cash flow just isn't there like it was before.  We knew that fundraising would be the ONLY way to bring her home.

Our amazing friends & family provided $4,700 more on our Adopt Together account.

T-Shirt Fundraisers via Booster/Custom Ink payments on paypal have raised $1188 more.

Raffled off prizes netted an additional $948 towards our adoption.

To date we have received $2401 in our Lifesong matching grant account.  Lifesong wrote a check to our agency yesterday for $4,802.

We also recently received a $4000 grant from A Child Waits foundation to help cover our travel costs.

Total Adoption Funding so far: $21,588

 

And of that- $15,688 was provided via fundraising & grants!!!

Remaining Adoption Costs: $10,683

 

Our flights are booked. Hotel reservations made.  And we are STILL waiting on our Adoption Tax Credit to be paid to us.  This week we even involved our Congressman in our IRS issue, in hopes we will get it in time.  Even with this we are still short around $3,000.

 

God truly has helped us in tremendous ways to get Laila home and we know that he will provide the rest.  We don't know how he will provide it, we just know that 'The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.' 1 Thessalonians 5:24

 

We know so many have done so much to save Laila's life and we will forever be grateful.

 

If you feel led to donate to bring an orphan home to her forever family & the medical care that will save her life- the link is at the top of the blog.  More than anything- we need your prayers!!! Prayers for our health while in China, prayers for Laila's health, prayers for our awesome kiddos who will be staying behind so they can continue their schoolwork, and prayers for their brave Grandpa who has offered to take care of them in our absence!

 

SEPT 14TH UPDATE:

We have been told that it is highly unlikely we will receive our tax return with the adoption tax credit before we even get back from China. 

 

Still, God continues to provide!!  We have received $1,100 in donations from friends this weekend.  Plus, on Thursday we received approval for a $4,000 grant through Lifesong!! :)

 

That brings our total adoption funding stands at $26,688!!

 

Remaining Adoption Costs: $5,583

 

We are so amazed how God continues to work through his people to bring Laila home.  To all who have donated, THANK YOU so much!!

 

We're 3 days away from leaving and I know God will provide for the rest.  We thank him for all he's done and all he will do.  We are SO blessed to be able to bring this sweet baby girl home in a few more days!!

Updated the day before we leave- we just received a grant for $5000 and a check for $1500 and leave tomorrow!!!!! 

We are FULLY FUNDED!!!

 

Thank you all so much!!

Fannie & Matt Wilks

Our Both Hands Project Video!!

Just want to share with everyone what we did last Saturday as we partnered with Bay Community Church Servolution & Both Hands for an awesome lady in our community!!  It was a 102 degree day with the heat index, but we got it done for Pam!!

We hope you will sponsor our day of hard work by making a donation to our adoption fund.

We leave in 8 days!!  And we have over $10,000 in outstanding adoption costs that have to be paid before we leave.  We are grateful for any and all donations to help bring Laila home from China and to the medical care she desperately needs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-XKXzT-zaA&feature=youtu.be

To make a tax deductible donation, you can click on this link which will direct you to Lifesong for Orphans.  There you can make a donation to our family using the code Wilks/4622.

https://www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate/one-time/?giftchoice=Adoption%20Funding&adoptionfunding=Family%20Specific

If you don't care about tax deductions and just want the money to get to us so we can use it where it is needed right away, you can click on the link at the top of our blog to make a direct donation through Paypal!

We also ask for your continued prayers as God provides for this adoption, for safe travel, and for Laila's health and adjustment.

Thank you all SO MUCH!!

Blessings,
Matt, Fannie, Katelynn, Chengbin, & most-of-all Laila Wilks :)

We're going to China SOON!!!!

 

It's REALLY HERE!!  We received that hard copy LOA on Friday and today sent it back to the agency so that they can send it back to China!!

 

So what's next?  That's what I'm ready to answer!!

The China process has many steps- but we are on the last few. 

 

1. Receive LOA from China- CHECK!!

2. Receive I-800 approval from USCIS- CHECK!!

3. Receive Visa approval from NVC- Any Day Now!!

4. Request issuance of Article 5 from US Consulate in China- Next week?

5. Issuance of Invitation to Travel from China- *hopefully* a few days after Art 5

 

We are hoping to travel to China in the 2nd or 3rd week of Sept!!!

How exciting is that???  Our little girl will soon be HOME!!!

 

And we are hoping you will all join us in one FINAL fundraiser to help meet the matching grant that Lifesong was so sweet to bless us with.  Our current Lifesong balance is $694.  We need to get to $2500 for them to write a check for $5000 to be sent to our agency.  Right now our final agency fees are $5508 so that would almost completely cover what's left!  Puzzle pieces are being sold to help raise the last bit we need to get that matching grant at $10 each.  Donation information & info about the Starfish puzzle is on the post just before this. :)

 

 

We HATE to keep asking for you guys to buy this raffle ticket & this shirt & blah, blah, blah but the truth is that it isn't for us and we need a little bit more help.  The amazing news is that her orphanage donation is now FULLY funded!!! Thank you all for that!!!

 

So, if you'd like to help in our final push to get fees paid, we'd be grateful!!

 

And if you can't help or don't feel led to, we would also gratefully accept prayers!  Prayers for Laila's health, for God's provision, and for safe travel...

 

Thanks so much!

 

Blessings,

Fannie, Matt, Kate, Chengbin, & Laila SOON!!

Approved & the story of a starfish :)

Yesterday we received our hard copy Letter of Approval from China!
(AND New Pictures thanks to Love Without Boundaries)



That means we are likely a month away from traveling to get Laila!!! AAAGGHHH!!!
We are SO excited!  As I sat at Chengbin's transfusion today playing with him it occurred to me that this is his last transfusion with Mommy by himself!  Next time it's my turn for transfusion day, Laila will be with us, FINALLY getting the large volume of blood she needs to get her hemoglobin raised up where it should be!  She's finally going to get all the medical care and love of a family that she deserves!!!  What an amazing thing adoption does to change the life of one child forever...

While we are extraordinarily excited that we have a month to go, it's also a bit overwhelming.  In spite of our best efforts to pay for the adoption all we can personally, fundraise, and apply for grants- we are short by $12,000 right now. 

We have been very blessed by all our friends and family who have made contributions, bought shirts, and raffle tickets and offered up their prayers to help this little girl on the other side of the world.

(Since we didn't get any takers on the camera, we've decided to donate it to a family that will be departing soon for their adoption.) 

And we'd like to announce our final adoption fundraiser!!

There's a story that goes something like this:



There's so much truth to this short story.  Today we are making the difference for this one, Sweet Laila Jean.  We are ALL making a difference for her, cause if you have offered to contribute or simply offered up a prayer to God on her behalf, then, YOU are part of changing her life too!!

So in honor of all of you who have already helped, and those who may still want to do more and do something for the first time we offer this...

Be a Piece of the Puzzle!  Help Save Her Life!! For those who have helped so far, a puzzle piece will have your name on the back.


We have been given a $2500 matching grant, but it only gets sent to the agency if we match that amount in donations!

We will be asking our friends, family, & even strangers to help bring Laila home by sponsoring a piece of the puzzle.  It will be a donation of $10 per piece and we will be writing your name on the back of the pieces you sponsor.  Once the puzzle is complete, we will be framing it in double sided glass and it will be hung in Laila & Katie's room.  When she is older she will be able to turn it over and we will talk to her about God's special plan for her life, and tell her how many people loved her, supported her, and even helped to pray her home.

Since the goal is to meet our matching grant amount, there's two ways to donate to Lifesong. 

1. Go the fast & easy way!  Make a tax deductible donation to our lifesong matching grant here.  Family name/code: Wilks/4622
https://www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate/one-time/?giftchoice=Adoption%20Funding&adoptionfunding=Family%20Specific

2.  Go old school- especially good if your donation will be larger since there's no paypal fees this way.  If you would like to make a tax deductible donation with a check, ensure our Family Name/Code is in the memo section and you may send it to:
Lifesong for Orphans P.O. Box 40 Gridley, IL 61744

Next, please message me on Facebook or email me at mepscoastie@yahoo.com to let me know how many puzzle pieces you'd like & the names for me to put on them!  I can't wait to start posting pics of puzzle pieces with names on the backs of them, showing love for our sweet girl!!

Thank you to EVERYONE who has been helping this little girl.  It's been said that it takes a village to raise a child.  We are so grateful for the VILLAGE OF SUPPORTERS happily answering the call to change our child's life!!!  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!

Blessings,
Fannie, Matt, Kate, Chengbin, & Laila

"How much does it cost?" Well...

"How much does it cost?"

That's the question I got from an interested mother while sitting at Panda Express having lunch with my only-home-for-two-months son.  Her daughter had been battling infertility and had recently been considering adoption.  While I LOVED talking about adoption, advocating for kids, and increasing awareness of the millions of orphans in need of homes- THIS is the question I had already learned that I hate answering...

I responded, "Ummm around $30,000 when you add in everything including travel." Then that look came, the overwhelming look most of us would have when we know we don't have the amount you'd pay for a good car lying around in a bank account with no purpose for it... So I added, "I've seen friends fundraise almost that whole amount, though, you'd be amazed what God can do to help bring home one of his little ones."

Honestly though, I wasn't sure even I believed it was really possible for the average person to fundraise an adoption.  How could you ask friends and family for $30,000??? It seemed crazy and I really was far too proud to consider something like that.  We used up all our savings to bring home Chengbin and buy a house, so sitting at that Panda Express with a burden for the orphans of the world, I felt like a hypocrite even suggesting that fundraising was the answer.  After all, I already felt God calling us back and I didn't think I could do it.

Fast forward to November 3rd when I saw Laila's face and read her file...

That day in Panda Express God started softening my heart and my pride.  How could we not consider going to get her?  She would indeed not make it to her 5th Birthday in that province without a family and proper medical care.  Maybe not even to her 4th Birthday.

Still, our bank accounts did not have $30,000 readily available for an adoption.  My hubby was VERY quick to remind me of that.  He was also VERY OPPOSED to adopting if it meant asking people to help us.

Then I read this...
http://babyabell.blogspot.com/2014/02/funding-your-adoption_13.html

Amy wrote so beautifully about God's calling to all of us to care for the orphans.  I used her words so many times to discuss this possibility with Matt.  It truly changed my perspective on fundraising an adoption personally, and over time it did the same to him.

Especially since 3 months later Laila was still waiting.  Waiting for us to say yes and commit to whatever fundraising and grant applications would be necessary to bring her home.

So- How much does it cost?  I'm here to humbly spill the beans and lay it out there for ya.

--------------------

Yep, there's no way around it.  Adopting Laila is expensive.  As we prepare to leave next week, our final total adoption costs are over $32,000.

At the beginning of our adoption, we paid $5,900 out of our own savings in agency fees, homestudy fees, USCIS fees, document authentications, visas, etc.  We also had our Adoption tax credit coming from last year's adoption & anticipated using it to pay additional money towards the adoption.  Now that we live in Alabama, we don't make nearly what we did up in NYC, so the extra cash flow just isn't there like it was before.  We knew that fundraising would be the ONLY way to bring her home.

Our amazing friends & family provided $4,700 more on our Adopt Together account.

T-Shirt Fundraisers via Booster/Custom Ink & raffle fundraiser payments on paypal have raised $1188 more.

Raffled off prizes netted an additional $948 towards our adoption.

To date we have received $2401 in our Lifesong matching grant account.  Lifesong wrote a check to our agency yesterday for $4,802.

We also recently received a $4000 grant from A Child Waits foundation to help cover our travel costs.

Total Adoption Funding so far: $21,588

And of that- $15,688 was provided via fundraising & grants!!!

Remaining Adoption Costs: $10,683

Our flights are booked. Hotel reservations made.  And we are STILL waiting on our Adoption Tax Credit to be paid to us.  This week we even involved our Congressman in our IRS issue, in hopes we will get it in time.  Even with this we are still short around $3,000.

God truly has helped us in tremendous ways to get Laila home and we know that he will provide the rest.  We don't know how he will provide it, we just know that 'The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.' 1 Thessalonians 5:24

We know so many have done so much to save Laila's life and we will forever be grateful.

If you feel led to donate to bring an orphan home to her forever family & the medical care that will save her life- the link is at the top of the blog.

Thank you so much!!

Fannie & Matt Wilks

Nikon Coolpix anyone?

Since our last drawing went great & over $400 was raised-
We promised another drawing and here it is!!!

We are going to do a drawing for a Nikon Coolpix P500 and camera bag!

*Disclaimer: This is our barely used camera, in the box.  We used it for one trip before I realized I'd prefer a true DSLR.  It is in great condition, but not new. ;)

And since I've heard that it is illegal to have an online "raffle", we will call it a "giveaway" with a suggested donation! ;)

Tickets are going to be $10 for 1, $20 for 3, and $50 for 8.
And I am required to tell you- if you'd like to be entered without any donation for a ticket, let me know. :)

This drawing will go until Sunday, August 3rd at noon when we will draw the winner!!

And since we already have this camera- ALL donations will go toward bringing Laila home from China!!

Ways to donate are as follows:

Make a tax deductible donation to our lifesong matching grant here.  Family name/code: Wilks/4622
https://www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate/one-time/?giftchoice=Adoption%20Funding&adoptionfunding=Family%20Specific

Click the Adopt Together Link above to donate. (tax deductible)

Or click on our paypal button to donate.

Thank you all for your support!!
Matt, Fannie, Katelynn, Chengbin, & Laila

Great News from Lifesong!

We were contacted on Monday by Lifesong.  They are an amazing non-profit that provides orphan care, outreach, & partners with adoptive parents to help bring home children through domestic and international adoption.  We had applied to them for all forms of assistance- an adoption matching grant, a Both Hands project, and an adoption loan In case it is needed at the end of our adoption.

We were given amazing news!!  Lifesong has approved us for a $2,500 matching grant!! :)

That means every dollar that is donated on our behalf to our Lifesong account will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Lifesong up to $2,500.  So if we can raise this- Lifesong will be able to send a check for $5,000 toward the cost of our adoption to our agency!  We are SO blessed to get this assistance!! 
 

The link to make a tax deductible donation to our family that will be matched dollar-for-dollar with Lifesong is:

https://www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate/one-time/?giftchoice=Adoption%20Funding&adoptionfunding=Family%20Specific

Family Name: Wilks 
Family Account Number: 4622
 

I am going to try to replace the buttons at the top of our blog with a new button for paypal payment to Lifesong, but until then please use the link for any donations you make! :)
________________________________

We also have one more prize giveaway (formerly known as a raffle;)  coming up soon!  I'll announce it later today!! :)

Also- we have had SO MANY requests for toddler shirts in our Ephesians 3:20 tees that we have opened it back up until Wednesday.  So if you'd like to order this shirt in toddler size, all sizes in white, or a grey hoodie- contact me on facebook or via email at mepscoastie@yahoo.com

Our shirts are also available for order on Booster in size Kid-XS through Adult-4XL in grey & blue.  You can click on this link to order & have them direct shipped to you! :)

www.booster.com/bringinglailahome2

Thank you to EVERYONE who has bought a shirt or made a donation large or small to help us bring this special little girl home.  We are humbled and grateful and truly blown away by all your love & generosity!!

A Big Financial Update is coming soon as is an update on how our Laila is doing and the status of our paperwork.

Thanks for stopping by,
Fannie, Matt, & the three awesome Wilks kiddos

 

IPad Mini Winner Coming Soon! Get your tickets NOW!

Just a reminder that our next raffle is underway and ends on Sunday!

Only 3 days left to enter!! 

Our current raffle is for the winner's choice of an IPad Mini- 16GB

OR a Kindle Fire HDX-16GB or Kindle Fire HD-32GB

Raffle tickets are 1 for $10, 3 for $20, or 8 for $50

 

You can use the Adopt Together link at the top of our blog to make a tax deductible donation or use our paypal link if you don't really care about that sort of thing!

 

And the money earned goes to Laila's orphanage donation!  So not only do you get to help this beautiful, precious little one get home to her family, but the donation goes directly to the orphanage to help them care for her friends she leaves behind.

 

Thank you ALL for helping our sweet girl!!! And even if you can't enter the raffle, we'd love for you to pray her home!  Her paperwork is on a desk somewhere in China's Adoption affairs waiting for our paperwork to reach it and be officially matched.  Please pray for that paperwork to get approved FAST!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Fannie, Matt, Kate, Chengbin, & Laila

Winners, Results, & Some Unexpected Blessings!!

Well our American Girl Fundraiser started out slow, but boy did it finish strong!!!

Winners were:
American Girl Doll of her choice- Jennifer McCrary of Oklahoma City
Bitty Twins of her choice- Kelly Bloomquist of Iowa

We ended up selling $640 in tickets, and after purchasing the dolls for our prize winners, we raised another $410 toward Laila's orphanage donation!!  YEA!!!!!

And in addition to the shirt sales & raffle, we received two enormous blessings in our Adopt Together account this week! Each donation was $1000!!! To the two people who chose to keep themselves anonymous, we just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!!  We are so grateful for your contributions.

Thank you to everyone who has made a donation, bought a shirt, or participated in the raffle.  We knew when God called us to bring Laila home that we couldn't do it alone.  We have been amazed by what God has done and continues to do through our friends & family & even kind strangers!!! 

We still have a couple months before time to get Laila and we are still going to need to raise the rest of her donation and also in province travel costs.  We have applied for grants and are waiting for responses.  Many of the grants we have applied for are matching grants.  That means that the organization will match up to a certain amount that we fundraise ourselves.  That would be amazing!!!

I saw this on a friend's Facebook page yesterday and it was just so perfectly said for how we feel.  We truly could not bring Laila home without the help of everyone around us.  She will come home because of all of you, banding together to help an orphan become a daughter.  We are so amazed and blessed by what God is doing and will continue to do for Laila!!

Thank you ALL!!!

And another raffle will begin soon!! ;)

Fannie, Matt, Kate, Chengbin, & Laila 

3 days left- American Girl Raffle!!

American Girl raffle is coming along great now!! We will have one drawing for the American Girl doll of 'her' choice and another drawing for the bitty baby twins set of 'her' choice!!

3 more days to enter!!!  We will draw the winners at noon on Saturday!!

1 ticket for $5, 3 tickets for $10, or 7 tickets for $20.  

You can make a tax deductible donation on our adopt together link or pay on the PayPal link above!!

Thanks so much for helping us bring Laila home! :)

Fannie, Matt, & the kiddos