Update:)

** Adoption Update* Prayers appreciated... So for us, This is the way Domestic Adoption works. We have applied with multiple agencies as we have a couple "dings" against us in that we have a smaller adoption budget,(Believe it of not in The US adoptions can go as high as $75k, with most averaging around $40-$45k. We have a smaller budget so there are many "situations" (the term for moms who have an adoption plan in place and need to choose a family to place them with) that we can't even consider. And some moms wont consider placing their child in a home with existing kids which would be us as well. So applying with multiple agencies that had no up front costs was what we decided on as it would provide us the most opertunities to be shown to moms. So now we are in the process of waiting and having our profile shown.

It works like this- we get an email saying there is this mom due x, these are the health concerns if any, she did/didn't use drugs/alcohol, this is the estimated cost. Then we pray and decide if we want to have our profile and pictures shown to this mom. Then if yes, she is shown our profile along with a handful of other families who also have said yes to being shown. At this point if she chooses us then we are "matched" and we are committed to her and her child. At this point we also have to start paying some pretty big fees. Some of the scary part is that Mom can still change her mind, which she should have the right to, but if that happend at any point until papers are signed after the birth then we loose all the money we have paid for her expenses, housing, food etc...So we really appreciate your prayers for wisdom in this process as so much is in Gods hands...

Last week we found out about a mom due in October. She was having an ultrasound later in the week for more information. We requested information multiple times, but heard nothing back so we have assumed she had changed her mind and decided to parent. Today we heard she is going to be looking at our profile if we are interested by thursday. We also found out today about a mom due in september who we may also be interested in presenting to, but she is looking at profiles this week probably also. We can't present to 2 moms at the same time as that wouldn't be fair to them. so really would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and discernment.

We also need to be planing some big fundraisers- if anyone has an idea please let me know:)

Look what we have been up to this weekend...

We made this short video to talk about our adoption plans and how you can help.

Adoption Fundraiser Poster based on "Our 24 Family Ways" by The Clarksons

Our family in the midst of adopting an infant in the US. At this point we have completed our homestudy and are in the process of waiting to be matched with a child in need of a family. This is one of the craziest and hardest aspects I believe. We could get a call today, or in 2 years it is such a big unknown and such an exciting event all rolled into one. We could be matched with a baby already born and have to pack up our whole family of 7 and leave the next day, or we could be matched with a mom still pregnant and have some time to prepare for a coming due date. We would so appreciate your prayers. I know God is in control and when there is a baby that is the child for us it will be the right time. Just learning to trust in the waiting.


In this time of waiting I am trying to focus more on fundraising for our adoption. Even before the normal "big" expenses of adopting that happen when we are matched and then finalized we still have our homestudy and other misc. expenses: postage, copies, fingerprinting, etc so far it is totaling over $5000. We are planning a few fundraisers. We are selling rice sacks/heat packs/cool packs- (see our previous post for details). We also have another great fundraiser I am SO excited about.

I have personally been greatly encouraged in Godly mothering through the books and Ministry of Sally Clarkson. So much so that last year, after attending one of her Momheart confrences, I began to hold a monthly Momheart group in my home to encourage other local moms as well. This year we are going through the book "The Mission of Motherhood" an AMAZING book to bless any mom. Troy and I have been using the book "Our 24 Family Ways" by Sally and Clay Clarkson. It is a wonderful book with practical wisdom for training kids in the way they should go.
For my personality I really like visual aids and so having something to see on the wall to remind me of these ways would be really helpful. So with the help of my super talented Aunt Mina Taylor, we created this poster. The Clarksons have graciously agreed to allow us to sell these digital copies as a fundraiser for our adoption. It is based on the 24 Family ways and is meant to be hung on your wall as a gentle reminder of these thoughts.
There are two options
- For your suggested donation of $10 you will receive a digital image you can print into a poster sized print to hang in the wall as a daily reminder for you and your family. You should be able to print them at your local Costco or Sams Club for around $10.
or
- If you would rather have one printed and shipped directly to you we ask a donation of $40 and please include your shipping address with your payment. Then we will have the poster printed and shipped directly to you.

**To order click the donate button above to make your payment. There is a field that says "add special instructions to the seller" Please make a comment here with the email address you would like the pdf sent to for $10 or for $40 your shipping address for one to be mailed. This is a fundraiser for our adoption so if you feel led to donate more at any time we would so appreciate your generosity. Please just use the digital image once for your own use. If you would like to print it multiple times for gift, etc. please donate accordingly.
If you have any trouble ordering please email me at lorene@frogmama.com

** Update 06/12/13 all posters ordered so far are shipping today. Thanks you so much for your support- we are still taking orders for more:)