It was so much fun and was a success as well! We were able to raise almost the exact same amount as we made from the garage sale! Isn’t that wild? I thought so. eerie in fact. A neighbor of mine made an exquisite hand painted vinyl ethnic doll in commemoration of Arani. It was the most wanted prize and raised a lot of money! I hated to give her up, but am happy to say that she has found a wonderful home with good friends who will cherish her. I’m sure they will take good care of her too.

I sent in the draft with corrections, so now we wait for the final copy and we can send it to the agency! This means I will get Arani’s official referral packet with more pictures and video and medicals and everything! I am so excited! It also means she will be officially put on hold for our family. Hooray!

The first draft of our homestudy arrived in the mail today! And the SW says she doesn’t need to do any more interviews!!! Hooray! I made corrections right away and it will go back out in tomorrow’s mail. Oh my heck I can’t believe it’s almost done! I really wanted it to be done by the end of June, and it looks like it will be close. We are just thrilled.

Tomorrow is our last fundraiser. Our in real life chinese auction. I’m hoping a lot of people stop by. We will have free food even!

I guess the social worker has been waiting for me to send in my tax returns and I’ve been waiting for her to send me the draft! Yikes! She didn’t make it clear that she needed all the papers to even write up the study. So here we’ve waisted a whole week and a half! *sigh* the rest of the paperwork hits the P.O. tonight and hopefully we can get this thing going!

On another note, I’m sad and also glad to say that my sister and her husband have moved out. That is great for the adoption since my BIL’s misdemeanor was causing a glitch in our homestudy processing, but sad since I really enjoyed having them here and was hoping for the extra help when Arani gets here. But I wish them well, and I feel it’s probably for the best for both of our families.

Wow we made close to $600 with our garage sale fundraiser! People were very generous and we are so grateful. So many people were supportive of our decision to adopt. I am so happy that we’ve been able to involve the community in our efforts. It would be so easy to just get a loan or borrow money from family, but I feel like it would be denying others to share in our joy. So many lives have been touched allready. Arani is going to be so loved, both here at home, and in the community.

I’m getting so antsy about the homestudy! She told me she was going to rush it but it’s been a week and a half since our interview with no word from the social worker. I don’t think I’ll be able to stand it much longer. I’m busy both Monday and Tuesday but I’m hoping I can catch her early tomorrow morning before I leave. I really need to know where we stand. I’m starting to get worried that we need to hurry faster. And usually when I get a feeling like that it’s a sign that I need to get something going!

Please keep our family and our little one in your prayers!

Our garage sale fundraiser goes underway this Saturday at 8 am! Many have donated used items for our sale. DH is even going to put a for sale sign on his precious dune buggy! My niece donated her tricycle. What a little doll. Many kids in our neighborhood are having lemonade stands and whatnot to raise money as well! We have such a great community here! I am truly blessed to live here.

Today the kids and I are going through their toys to see which ones they want to give up for Arani. They are good boys so I know they’ll be generous!

I AM NOT AN ORPHAN

By Margo Venkateswaran

I’m not an orphan I’m a child of God
I am loved from up above
I’m not an orphan and not alone
I have many children in which I share a home
I may have no one to call mother or Dad
but God loves me and that makes me glad.
One day I may be in someone’s arms
but until that day I will remain strong
someone once whispered in my ear
I love you so my little dear
and somehow I know this I did not imagine
someone loved me
someone loves me
someone will love me
I’m not an orphan though my clothes are not new
Im just a child
who’s waiting for you
but dont think of me as poor and sad
God has given me life and for that
be glad
do you ever wish you had someone at your table
someone to follow you through your lonely house ?
When you need company more of that than your spouse ?
you can think of me,
but not as an orphan or someone weak
think of someone with a great will
who could fill a void
if you would sit still and hear the silence
of a home without a child
but I am not an orphan
for I am god’s child
unique.

We had our first homestudy interview today. I feel like it went pretty well. The worker kept saying she was happy for us and she feels like we are so prepared to do this! She did say we could use a little more space, but that it wasn’t a requirement or anything (my sister and her dh live in our basement so we only have the upstairs)

She seemed to spend more time on questions which I didn’t really think were that important. and the other things that I wanted to talk a lot about I felt rushed. Like the cultural aspect and parenting. But all in all I feel it was successful. At least it was another step closer to our daughter!

Well, the final total on the raffle was $357.00 Thank you so much! That almost covers our homestudy charge.

The first homestudy interview is Thursday! I am so excited! Nervous too, but excited to be getting going on this. I want the homestudy done so that I know Rani is for sure on hold for us! Also I know the agency has more pictures and video and I want to see it! This is more tough than waiting for a pregnancy to be at an end. At least when you are pregnant you have your baby with you! It’s so hard knowing that someone else is caring for my little girl! I pray every day that they are gentle with her and loving.

before…

Before you were conceived, I wanted you.
Before you were born, I loved you.
Before you were here an hour, I would die for you.
This is the miracle of love.

– Maureen Hawkins

Raffle Total for June 3rd, 2003
$300.00
Thank you so much! Keep it comin’!

Thanks so much to Kristine at Love-Productions for her generosity in providing us custom graphics at an affordable price! Isn’t it beautiful? Thank you so much Kristine! The raffle is still on! Don’t forget to buy your tickets!!! We’ve raised $213.00 so far. That’s wonderful but only a small dent. We thank you and Arani thanks you!