Fall

Tomorrow is the first day of the Fall season...
the leaves are starting to change (in most places),
the little squirrels are out gathering their winter meals,
the temperatures are starting to drop...


 

Fall colors in EE...



and squirrels with crazy ears!!

 

This year,

you will watch the leaves change outside your window,

you might catch a glimps of a little bushy tail scampering up a tree,

 and you are bundled in shared tights and onsies...

I promise, next year...
we will find leaves to jump in,
we will make squeaky noises at the squirrels while walking outside,
and we will snuggle together in cozy new sweats that only belong to you...


Next year...

Sombreros, Lampshades and Horses

    Saturday was successful in so many ways...  The Yard Sale went off without a hitch. The weather was perfect, the crowd was steady and the cash was flowing!  Prayers for a great day were answered!!  My friends and family were AMAZINGLY helpful... 90% of the items were SOLD!!!  And the drop off of leftovers to Goodwill was one quick trip!  Yep, success!


   Friends lent the use of their garage and driveway, which was great, and the use of themselves, also great!  Both super helpful and super entertaining…

…who would have thought that displaying items in such unique ways would get them sold. 


  

     My family was also super helpful, after baking for days to sell goodies, making baskets full of bracelets, making multiple trips to load and unload items, they also spent the morning selling and sharing about Little Bear to anyone and EVERYONE!!                                          

                        And, remember those youth 

                          that you’ve heard me talk 

                                    about before? 

        Yeah?

            

Well, they were at it again…selling, selling, selling, wandering the neighborhood to bring in more customers and then selling some more.
   There was even a little friendly competition which involved a lovely Sombrero and lunch...yes, craziness is included when these kids are around to help out!   But there was a winner and L is a pretty great beneficiary of said winnings.
    On top of the greatness of being able to share L's story and stories of orphans around the world, I got to share with a visitor who has horses and was also very interested in the world of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies.  This Mama may have finally found a barn to spend her free time at.  (I know what you're thinking...free time?) Anyway, it was an all around EXTREMELY rewarding Saturday in September.
   

APPROVED!!!!!

What an absolutely WONDERFUL Tuesday!!! 
 

I ran home to let the dog out at lunch and check the mail (which is a slight obsession at this point. Always waiting for something special to arrive in that little silver box!)  And...low and behold...today there was something VERY special!!

 

This beautiful.piece.of.paper.

 

What is so special about this paper?  Well, I'm so glad you asked, let me tell you! 

This piece of paper is my USCIS approval for advance processing of an orphan. 
(Now it's all clear right!?) Really, what approval means is that the

United States Citizen and Immigration Service

finds that I am suitable as an adoptive parent! Approval means that the US will allow Little Bear to be raised by me, in my home, in the USA, as an American Citizen!!  Wow!! 

Approval means freedom to one tiny little girl currently sitting in an orphanage on the other side of the world. 

 

These are probably going to be my favorite words for the rest of the week!

(if not longer!)

Yard Sale!!!

Time to clean out those closets, empty out those old boxes, gather the items hiding under the bed and donate to a...

Yard Sale for Little Bear!! 

Or, if you’re looking for that perfect find, come shop on

Saturday, September 15th. 

Lots of fun items have already been gathered.  PLUS you can enjoy a treat from the bake sale and a cold lemonade (or tea) while you shop.  One of a kind arts and crafts also available!! 

Don’t miss it!!!

And now...we wait...

   Well, that's it. 

 

Round one paperwork is complete. 

 

I placed it, trustingly, in the hands of the seemingly confident FedEx worker standing on the opposite side of the counter.  It may or may not have looked a bit like one of those scenes from a comedy movie, where the giver of the package doesn't really 'let go' of the package and the receiver of the package has to 'pry' said package out of the givers hands. 

I'll leave it that up to your imagination.

 

    It's an odd feeling.  Knowing that now, it's out of my hands, beyond my control. (whoa, wait a second, did I just say, out.of.my.control!?!) Yep, I sure did!  Really, I know God's been in control all this time, but at least He was using me a little bit more.  Now, He's truly strengthening my patience as I simply...wait.

    I should mention though, that there ARE still other things going on while I wait.  I'm not simply sitting idle. (That would be nice though for a minute, maybe.)

 

He is still using me, just for other things...  

 

 There are still fundraisers going on. And grants to apply for and specialists to meet and a nursery to decorate and...well you get the idea...still busy.

 

P.S....

You can check out the Puzzle Fundraiser...here and the Bracelet Brigade...here. The puzzle is going to look pretty great in L's nursery. I can't wait to see it complete and hanging on her wall! And I know MANY people have been sporting braided bracelets on their wrists in honor of the Little Bear. 

    You can also soon read about the upcoming GARAGE SALE (which will be happening on September 15).  I will be blogging with more details on that super exciting event! 

   So, as you can see, there are still things going on to keep busy with but even while keeping busy, I will still be anxiously awaiting the news of when I finally get to kiss this face...

Making a difference

     Some of you may remember a few months ago I posted about the fabulous group of youth that I get to work with on a weekly basis at my church. Kids with such big hearts and actions to follow!  

Yep, these CRAZY kids...

 

     Through other varying organizations, they have sponsored children and raised funds for the child's care for the month. The most recent children that were being sponsored both graduated out of the program and rather then jump right into a new sponsorship, they decided to raise money for the months of June and July for Little Bear. At the time I was moved to tears (surprise, surprise) and the kids were all SOOO excited to be raising funds for a child that they would get to meet and be able to interact with. Then summer arrived and with summer, the craziness of life as a kid during the summer!!  Hmmm...crazy June and July...while trying to raise money.  I was just patiently waiting to see what the outcome was.

School started back up last week, so we are back to our regular school time schedules.  A little more organization and a little more calm...

(though, with these kids, the craziness never really completely disappears!!)

     At our most recent youth night, the new 6th graders were 'promoted' and it was a fun night of catching up from the summer activities (you'd think they hadn't just seen each other the week before or even days before!) and discussing the future lessons and activities.   We had a great time sharing about a mission trip that had been attended by a majority of the youth, and how their summers had been a bit different as a result of that trip. 

     After our discussion, one of the leaders went up front with a small box, he started off saying that he was so proud of these kids (as am I!!).  He reminded them about the 'motto' of the trip, learning how one single person can make a huge difference in the lives of those around us, about being audacious and not being afraid to stand up for what they believe in.  He mentioned Little Bear and what an amazing difference was being made in her life by being chosen to come into a family.  I was told to come up front and did so, now shaking trying to hold back tears!

      He then asked how many of the kids were wearing a bracelet that one boy, Kyle had been selling to raise funds for Little Bear while sharing about orphans and how much they are in need of families.  Most of the hands in the room went up.  He stated how proud he was of that boy for making a difference.  His voice broke and he had to let the other leader finish.  I was now in tears. I had given up trying to hold them in! The other leader also mentioned how proud she was of the kids and then shared that because of the money that Kyle had raised and the amount that the rest of them had chipped in, they were giving me over $1200!!!! 

There was $1244 in that little box!!! 

One group of about 20 kids...

one boy spending his weekends out selling $2 bracelets...

raised over $1200,  in 2 short months...

for my daughter. 

        I did not have words for how grateful I was or AM!!  These amazing kids, went above and beyond.  One even more than the rest.  

They are audacious. 

 They are making. a. difference.  

It's a Party!!! A Pampered Chef Party!!

I guess, while I'm just waiting for the time to be able to send in the next stack of papers, I can be productive in raising the funds needed for Little Bear's homecoming.  It's hard to simply 'ask for donations', so I like the bracelet selling the L's uncle has been doing and the purchasing of puzzle pieces to hang in her room.  This fundraiser fits right into that category.

Welcome to the online/catalog Pampered Chef Party!!  The goal...orphanage fees.  (Hey, what can I say I think BIG!)   The way to reach this goal....Buy awesome Pampered Chef items!!!  How great is that, you will get great items to use in your house and my Little Bear will get to live in a house!  It's the perfect combination!  

To join in, simply click the link below and start shopping!!!  You can shop for the entire month of JULY!!!  Just put my full name (Sarah Meyer) in when you are ordering and that way I will get credit as your host which will help bring us a little closer to covering those orphanage fees...

And Little Bear will get a little closer to....life.

Strong Enough

     We're two days into July.  And I really don't have much to share. It's hard to post with no new good news.  I'm still playing the waiting game. Waiting until I get word that I can send in the next round of paperwork and then onward we will go. 
     It's a good thing I'm a patient person.  Not to say I don't get frustrated, I definitely do!  And sometimes I vent those frustrations to people who just happen to be the ones to ask, 'How are things going?' and sometimes I just simply vent to the dog while sitting out on the lanai. 

But there is really nothing better though, going around the corner and ending up here...

It's good to vent, to let out those frustrations of waiting, of being around people who don't understand, of not having enough money or enough time, of sometimes not feeling strong enough...

This is my new theme song. (or at least theme song for the moment) It says all the words I feel and I wonder if Little Bear feels it too...because I picture the words in her head.

And then...peace...for the time being. I know I'll be frustrated again, but for that moment, I can look out here....

...and feel so blessed. Blessed to be able to be in this position, to know that in His time the waiting will be over and I will be posting while Little Bear is in the next room, asleep in her crib, in her bedroom, in our house.  Blessed to know that, even when we don't realize it, He is strong enough for ALL of us.

One World One Love Puzzle Fundraiser

Alright, things are moving along, I'm about to send in the next set of papers and will soon after be getting my first travel date.  Which so OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD. EXCITING!!!  

But, as exciting as that sounds, it is also a bit scary because, this whole process costs a pretty penny!  And though my brother has been rocking the town selling bracelets (and is still going...seriously, we're talking energizer bunny when it comes to raising $$ for his niece!)  there is still A LOT to be raised.  

So, as with the rest of the process, the fundraisers are moving along as well.  

This is a puzzle that was purchased to hang in Little Bear's room. 

 It's pretty perfect if I must say so myself!  

The puzzle fundraiser works like this...

You buy one (or more) puzzle pieces for $5 a piece.  I write your name (or a word of encouragement if you chose) on the back of the piece(s).  Then as pieces get purchased, I put the puzzle together.  

Once all of the pieces have been purchased, there are 252 by the way,  the puzzle gets framed in an open frame (so you can see both sides) and goes in the Little Bear's room.  That way, she has something to forever remind her of all of the people who helped her be free from that rotten orphanage!

Sounds pretty easy right...right!  

So, let's get to it.  

$5 buys you one puzzle piece.  

Pretty simple task for such a big reward...

You can use either the chip in button or FSP link on the right, to make your donation.  And, if you would please leave a comment with the name or word of encouragement that you would like on your piece, that would be helpful.

Baby Dolls

It has officially begun....  

She has a collection of baby dolls. 

 Not just one dolly because she's little and well, not even home yet...but no, a collection!  

I am a girly girl. For those of you who already know me, you are aware of that. For those of you who didn't know that, well, now you do!  So, I am in HEAVEN filling my life with pink and sparkly and all things GIRL!!  

 Her first 'baby' is from Grandma.   It's so soft and squishy and 'looks' like her.  (Plus it's pink and green so coordinates perfectly with the nursery...Mama likes that!)

Her second 'baby' was also her 'first souvenir' from my boss's recent vacation.  It came from Italy! (And is also pretty soft and squishy) It's not pink and green and has a different hair color but we'll ignore those facts because it was handmade in ITALY!!

And the third baby was made JUST FOR HER!  It will have to be 'sisters' with baby no. 1 as it has the same hair and eyes, is also squishy and pink and green.  And really kind of is, her.

AND...I am patiently waiting until I have time to go through it thoroughly, but there is a big box of 'hand-me-down' babies, that this Mama played with as a little girl, and that have just been waiting for another little girl to love and hug!

Oh and I'm sure there will be more to add to the collection...

one can never have too many baby dolls! 


 As I said...more to add....

 Another brown haired baby...with... pink cowgirl boots and her FIRST PONY!!!!

I'm so happy she's a girl...and WILL be a girly girl (at least until she's old enough to have her own opinion). =)  

(That being said, this girly girl still climbed trees and played in the mud, it was just a tree house, stocked full of baby dolls and mud cake ready to be served after family dinner.)

One Month

    It has been one month since my first post.  And though a lot HAS happened in that month, I also feel like it's been the LONGEST month EVER!!!  And I know there is still so much ahead.  I missed a few weeks of blogging because, honestly, I was a bit overwhelmed with how quickly everything was moving at the beginning of May and then...waiting, and waiting, and waiting... It's quite a frustrating roller coaster sometimes.

     Anyway, I promise to be better.  I'll post more often to let those of you who are checking in know how things are going. =)

     I have made good use of my time waiting, though.  I am simply waiting for the final draft of my home study to be ready to send in my USCIS paperwork and send all of my dossier paperwork to be apostilled and then on it's way!   One little piece of paper, a letter from the psychologist, is holding EVERYTHING up. UGH!!!  

     

     But there is an end in sight. I will have that paper in 3 days!!!  Then my SW can finish the final draft of my home study report and then that report can finally go to USCIS and then I can get fingerprints done and then I can get shiny stamps on the rest of all that paperwork and then I can send that puppy off to it's destination and then I can get a travel date and THEN I can kiss this sweet face for the first time.

This face is just waiting as well.  Waiting for someone to love her.
(Or, waiting to find out how very much I already love her, really!)

And so we wait...3 more days...(for now)...