Buy a Puppy Fundraiser!

We are approaching the time we will be able to submit our dossier.  We had our appointment at immigration yesterday to get our fingerprints taken for the fifth time.  We drove down to Phoenix where it was 108 degrees and we just about melted.  The immigration services staff was so friendly and easy to work with.  They gave us a spot at the front of the line so we would not have to wait 45 minutes.  They felt bad we had to drive all the way from Prescott.  It was such a blessing...we were hot and tired and ready to be home.  So here we are weeks away from officially being on the list and we are still $1700 short.

So this is where our unique fundraiser comes in.  We have come into possession of a sweet little puppy that we are going to auction off to the highest bidder.  He is a twelve week old cockapoo.  He is all black accept for a little white spot on his chest.  He is a second generation cockapoo which means both of his parents are cockapoos.   He is hypoallergenic and considered non-shedding.  He has had his first two vaccinations, has been de-wormed, has his tail docked and is micro-chipped.   He is kennel trained and almost potty trained.  He has a few accidents every now and then but is very smart and learns fast.  He is a very good lovable puppy.  

He was born at cockadoodledoo ranch in California.  You can visit the breeders website at cockapoosonline.com to view his parents and siblings.  His siblings are selling for $800.  He will be about 20 lbs full grown.  I am exited about this fundraiser and although it is unique and we will need a certain audience to make it successful I think it will be fun.  He is currently living with us in Prescott and I would be happy to let people meet him.  

To bid on him, simply e-mail me at heartforadoption@hotmail.com.  I will update you if you get out bid.  The proceeds will go directly towards submitting our dossier.  

This Fundraiser will go for one week.  So on Saturday August 3rd at 10 AM  I will announce who will be this puppies forever home.

The starting price is $150.

Thoughts from my quiet time....

James 1:27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

God recently put it on my heart to read James.  I have been going through a really neat bible study with my church's women's ministry and I have a break week this week.  I wanted to have a plan of something to read this week so that my quiet time would not go on the back burner.  I felt drawn to James.

This is the last verse of the first chapter really hit me.  James 1 is full of what God does not want us to do.  Then at the end he added one sentence about what to do.  He said to care for the orphans and widows.  I find it fascinating that he told us to care for orphans and widow in the same sentence to told us not to let the world corrupt us.  Over and over again in the bible God warns us to be IN the world but not OF the world.  We as Christians take this command very seriously and strive to accomplish is command. Our whole lives we try not to lie, cheat, or steal. What about taking care of the Orphans and Widows?

God commands that we take care of them in the same sentence he commands us not to be corrupted by the world. Why is it that we take one command more seriously than the other. My entire life I have worked towards not  letting this fallen world corrupt me.  Only recently have I made an effort to care for the orphans and widows that God loves so much.

The sin that I have committed when I was living Of the world grieves me.  I am just as humiliated and saddened that I have never bothered to take care of the least of these.  This verse is so beautiful because it shows us God's heart for these people less fortunate than us.  He loves them so much and COMMANDS us to take care of them.  What an awesome God we have!

There are so many ways that we can care for these people.  We can sponsor children in third world countries, we can come along side of a single mom who needs a babysitter and prayer, we can adopt, we can mentor children who don't have a father or mother, we can foster children.  There are so many things we can be doing to Glorify God in this area.  Lets get to it!

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!
Gavin and I have blessed with a job that will allow us to put $3,000 towards submitting our dossier!  It is very obvious that God gave us this job specifically for this adoption.  We will get the money right before its time to submit our dossier.  We still need your help raising $1700.  We are still selling T-Shirts, cookies, and  coffee.  You can also simply donate if you feel led.  The ways you can help us financially are all on the right side of my blog.  First and foremost, please be praying for our growing family!

My Storm...and little shoes

Some days I am super exited, some days I am frustrated, and some days I am too busy to even thing about the adoption.  Today I got an e-mail from a grant organization telling me that although they are going to review our grant application now, they don't usually give out grants until after a family has a referral.  A lot of grant organizations work this way and I just don't understand it.  After we accept our referral, we will no longer be able to use grant money.  Grants pay the adoption organization not the adopting families.  So we can not use the grant money for travel expenses.  We have a week to decided whether to accept or deny a referral.  If we accept, $16,000 is due at the time of acceptance.  As I continue to receive similar information from other adoption grant organizations, I let out a deep breath and remember God is in control.

This weekend at church, our pastor spoke about Peter in Matthew 14.  Peter wanted nothing more than to be beside God out in the Sea of Galilee.  When he stepped out of the boat, he had his eyes focused on nothing else but God.  Then he saw his storm surrounding him.  The waves and the wind distracted him and he took his eyes off Jesus for just a moment and began to sink. He cried out to Jesus who reached out and grabbed him saying, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

What a beautiful story of God's strength and steadfast character.  All I have to do is keep my eyes focused on the great I AM and I can walk on water too.  Over and over again I have lost faith. I only doubt for  moment before God takes me by the hand and pulls me up out of the water.  I can envision the hurt in his eyes as he asks me why I doubted Him.

He is God!  His track record is absolutely perfect.  His Word shows me over and over again how faithful and powerful he is.  His track record in my life shows me that he is a God who keeps his promises.  He does not change!  My kids are almost constantly on my mind.  How awesome and comforting that God loves them so much more than I do.  It is not my job to make sure they make it into my loving arms, its his job.  What a wonderful maker we have!

For those of you who do not know....My husband owns a construction company.  We own a backhoe and when I saw these shoes I had to buy them.  These little leather shoes are my favorite.   We have a pair for Irelyn and they give her a little protection while letting her learn to walk in her own way without any persuasion from a bulky shoe.  

These are baby boy Ethiopia's first pair of shoes!  We do have a name for him but we are not sharing it publicly until we get a referral.  By the way, I got these of zulily.com which is the best thing that ever happened to me!  This website has awesome deals for 72 hours and then they are gone.  I also got great deals on cloth diapers for the new little ones which I will blog about when our shipment gets here.

USCIS Appointment

Life around the Pehl house has been busy.  We have been preparing out dossier these last couple weeks and I am proud to say that it is pretty much finished.  We still need to get everything notarized and fill out the proper paperwork so that we can send it to the secretary of state.  I want to say thanks to everyone who have filled out questionieres and written letters of recomendation for us.  We really appreciate you guys!

When Gavin checked the mail on Sunday, we had letters from immigration.  The letters  told us our appointment dates to get our fingerprints done.  The appointments will be on July 27th! It will be down in Phoenix so we will have to take a little trip to the heat!  We are very exited about the rate that this process is moving.  As far as I understand, we should be cleared through immigration about two weeks after our appointment.  All I know is that we wont submit our dossier a moment too soon or a moment too late.  God is good!

Prayer request:

Our grant applications are being processed.  We are praying that the grant committees of every organization recieves wisdom about giving the grants out.

The government wants to get rid of the adoption tax credit.  The tax credit makes it possible for a lot of families to adopt and makes the financial burden a little lighter.  Pray that it stays in effect.