But God!

As I reflect on the events of today and these past few weeks and months, I'm drawn to a phrase in Ephesians 2: "BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--..." (vs. 4-5).  "But God"...  Our dossier was submitted today!  It was an unlikely feat--apostilling the last document in Raleigh on Tuesday morning and mailing it out 2-day...the team in country received it just in time to do what they needed to do in order to submit--before the governmental break from accepting new dossiers 4/1-4/10!  Now, we just wait for a travel date! 

Thankful tonight and praising God!

After a week-long debacle with the NC Secretary of State, emotions flaring, 2 day trips to Raleigh, checking and re-checking paperwork and checklists, some quality time with God, and a deep breath...

Our entire dossier, with the exception of immigration approval (which hopefully will come in the next few weeks), is en-route or has already arrived in Ukraine!  We were blessed to meet a new friend, Roman, through our mentors, who took our "paper baby" and will deliver it to our facilitation agency in Kiev!!!  They will begin translating documents and once they receive immigration and finish translation...they can submit and we just wait for a travel date to go get our Levi!!! 

A fundraising update...

• The auction went really well!!  We are so encouraged by the response of those who donated items and/or bid on them! 
• Local LNBC peeps/friends/family...our Sunday School class at LNBC is hosting a spaghetti lunch fundraiser for our adoption.  As soon as I get details, I'll post them!  Looking at one Sunday at the end of April/beginning of May.  You can eat at church after service or get a plate to go! 

AUCTION!!!

Graham Adoption Auction!!!

1)      Scroll through each item and decide what you’d like to bid on…reference the minimum bid for each item.

2)      Email Phil and Celeste at tobelongtobeloved@gmail.com with

1)      your name

2)      what item(s) you’d like to bid on

3)      bid amount

3)      Current bid updates will be posted daily. (see end of this post)

4)      The auction will close Friday, March 11^th at 8pm.

5)      We will notify all of the winning bids by Saturday at 12pm with instructions on how to make your bid amount donation on our Reece’s Rainbow Family Support Page (Tax-Deductible!!!). 

NOTE:  If you local, we will deliver your item(s).  If you are not local, $5 will be added to your bid for shipping costs.

Graham Adoption Auction…Minimum Bids (actual bid amounts will have bidder's initials beside value)

1. Tenders Basket - $100 LE

2. Roy Williams Basketball - $55 CH

3. 3 Month SNAP Membership - $100

4. Handmade Leather Cuff - $25

5. Handlettering Print - $25 SB

6. Wooden Cutting Board - $30 DC

7. Choice of Wooden Pen - $25 CW

8. Panthers Home Sign - $55 LG

9. Hendrick/Dupont Jacket - $50

10. Dale Jr. Autographed Visor - $50 SG

11. Dale Jr. Hat - $20 MG

12. Jimmie Johnson Autographed Hat - $30 SG

13. Jimmie Johnson Autographed Picture - $25 CH

14. Chesney/Urban Cowboy Hat - $25

15. Lowes Racing Hat - $25 MG

16. 2006 Panthers Football - $30 DC

17. Pete Rose Coke Bottle - $50

18. Pampered Chef Measuring Bowls - $40 DC

19. Pottery-Butterfly Birdhouse - $20 SB

20. Pottery-Iridescent Vase - $20 JW

21. Pottery-Blue/White Bundt Pan - $20

22. Pottery-Blue Bundt Pan - $20

23. Pottery-Multicolored Set - $20

24. Pottery-Red Vase - $20 SB

25. Relaxation Basket - $50 YB

Getting closer!

I think it's safe to say that we can both see a 'glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel'!  We are getting closer to bringing Levi home!  Yesterday, we had the final 'interview' for our homestudy.  We are hoping to have the report around the first of March.  It then has to be sent to immigration...we will get fingerprinted again and then receive a letter in the mail--that should take about 3 weeks or so.  Meanwhile, we are working on and finishing up the rest of the paperwork.  Once we receive approval from immigration, we should be ready to mail/send off our dossier to be submitted!!!  Once submitted, we just wait for a travel date!  :)  We are still hoping for a travel time frame of April/beginning of May...I have to keep reminding myself that everything will happen in God's timing! 

It's been a while since we've blogged, so let me catch you up a bit on what's been going on...  The holidays were super busy...spending time together, hanging out with friends, visiting family, baking, shopping for gifts, traditions, decorating, cooking, church activities, settling in to our new home.  We thought of and think of Levi often, wanting him HERE to celebrate with us.  It is hard knowing your child is halfway across the world, in an orphanage!

We have also been blessed by the support of family, friends, co-workers, and our church towards our adoption of Levi.  Some have offered their prayerful support and words of encouragement as we meander through this process.  Others have donated to our adoption fund.  Some have offered clothes, toys, and furniture.  Yet others have participated in various fundraisers, with proceeds going towards the adoption.  Fundraisers so far have included: babysitting nights, t-shirts, coffee, cookbooks, Arbonne, Jamberry, and Wholesale Boutique.  There is a 31 fundraiser going on until Monday and we are having a paint night fundraiser tomorrow night.  We are about to have an online auction fundraiser, and possibly a few more...another babysitting night, KEEP Collective, and Origami Owl. 

We are soo incredibly blessed to have the support of our church behind us!  It has been amazing to see the shift toward being outwardly and inwardly mission focused over the past several years.  There are a few families at church who have recently adopted from Eastern Europe, and we are so grateful for their guidance, advice, and support!  The missions team (on behalf of the church) granted us a donation towards our adoption, and has offered guidance as we begin to set up travel. 

So, thank you!!!  Thanks be to God for all the support, encouragement, prayers, donations, and love shown by so many!!!  We continue to be amazed day-by-day at what God has in store for us as we journey with Him!

Celeste & Phil (& Paisley)

P.S.  Our link to our Reece's Rainbow page is live now...just another tax-deductible option to donate towards bringing Levi home!  :)

http://reecesrainbow.org/101676/sponsorgraham-2
http://static.reecesrainbow.org/donation-box/fsp-Graham.html