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Status report and a celebratory GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Well, we officially mailed in our referral acceptance last Friday, ON TIME, with a FULL referral fee payment THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! I thought this might be a good chance to recap and let you know what's ahead.

OUR PUZZLE FUNDRAISER

Since we put our need out there exactly two weeks ago today, God has brought in a total of $10,804. WOW. That's our referral fee PLUS $2,669! I'd say we're well on our way to raising our funds for our travel expenses!

Some stats from our donations:
  • We had exactly 100 individual donations
  • 49 donations (almost half) were for one $20 puzzle piece
  • 86% of the donations were for $100 or less
  • 55% of the donations came from people we have never met (Wow.)
  • 100% of the donations brought us to tears as we marveled at God's glorious provision through all of you

Simply incredible. As I prepare to write all of those names on 500 puzzle pieces, I am blown away to think how many of you have been involved in my bringing my daughter home. How does someone say thank you for something like that?! Those two words just don't seem to express all I feel--how full my heart is with gratitude for you. I can't wait to tell Abby one day about all of you and the love you poured out on our family.

SO NOW WHAT?

Well, it just so happens that the timing of our referral has fallen on the exact weekend that the courts in Ethiopia have closed for two months. Their courts close during their rainy season, and will not reopen until September 27. We have to wait until the courts reopen to even be given a court date, which means we will not even know until October when our first trip will be. Our guess is that our court date could be late October but more likely will be in November. Then, we will prepare to travel approximately 6 weeks after that first trip to return to Ethiopia and bring Abby home (so that could be December or January).

So...we wait. We cling to God's sovereignty and know His timing is perfect. We trust little Miss Abby to His perfect care until we can hold her in our arms ourselves.

I am updating my thermometer to reflect our fundraising for our travel costs, which will be our next round of expenses. It is exciting to realize we are on our last round of fundraising needs! In the last year, God has provided close to $20,000! Really, all we have left is our travel costs for our two trips to Ethiopia and some post-adoption expenses with our homestudy agency. We have no reason to doubt that God will provide just what we need, when we need it.

TIME TO CELEBRATE!! A GIVEAWAY!!

We want to say thank you and celebrate all that God has done in the last few weeks!! Thanks to Gwen and Suzanne, the gals at 147 Million Orphans, I have a fun packet of 147 goodies to giveaway!! Who doesn't LOVE some 147 gear??!!!!


So here's how to enter:
  1. Become a follower of my blog (if you are not already) so we can be friends. : )
  2. One entry into the drawing per post on your blog, facebook, or twitter (You can post multiple times, up to three entries per day!)
  3. Leave me a comment here on my blog or on facebook so I know how you've entered.
That's it!! This giveaway will run until Monday, August 16th at noon (EST). I'll announce the winner Monday.

Enter today and everyday until Monday! And be sure and let me know when you do!

37 comments:

Erica said...

Well heck yes I want this! Love that shirt! I'm a follower....I'll reply again when I post on my blog. GLORY TO THE KING ABBY IS COMING HOME!!

Lara said...

I'm a follower :-) And that is tough that it all came together at the start of the rainy season! I applaud your patience about the whole thing. If that happens to us, I may turn into a nervous wreck. Great, now that I've said it that will probably happen to us!

Nina & Wes said...

Love it. Gotta have it. :)

Natasha said...

Congratulations on your referral acceptance and the fundraising! I've been informally following for a while but I am now an official follower :)

Amanda said...

I'm a follower! And I just facebooked :)

Amanda said...

And tweeted!

Connie said...

Hi Rachel...it's like you're on the last leg of a relay race and the finish line is in sight; tired, but hopeful. Since God is the Author of rainy seasons, we can trust this too is part of His plan. Count me in on the giveaway...I'm already a cheerful follower and will head right on over to facebook to post.

Jodes and Boz said...

I'm following you!

To God be the Glory! said...

I'm in :)

Cammy Prine said...

I'm a follower of your blog! I love reading about what's going on in the Walser family and when we'll meet little Abby! I'm in!

Melissa said...

Ohhh I should win!!! I will blog and facebook about it on Friday after my giveaway is over and I am all ready a follower :)

Angela Hunt said...

I'm a follower of your blog! I love to see how God provides! I can't wait to see pictures of you all picking up your sweet girl! I'll post on my blog!

Makenzie said...

I'm a follower! I love hearing stories of how God provides! I'll post on my blog as well.

AGoodKindOfCrazy said...

I'm a follower and totally in amazement of your fundraising... it's incredible!

Christy said...

I follow your blog on bloglines.

Christy said...

I facebooked about it!

Christy said...

I blogged about it as well. Excited to see things moving closer and closer to having Abby Lynne home!

Kelly Jo said...

I'm a follower!!

Jenn said...

This is seriously so exciting to watch the journey to bring Abby home unfold!! :)

I am a follower....I facebooked....I twittered. :)

(And by now I would of entered daily...LOL... but have been busy!)

Bethany said...

I'm a follower... and I FB'd this page. Love the shirt!

Amanda said...

Just facebooked and tweeted :)

Tina said...

I follow your blog! Am excited to know of yet another sweet Ehtiopian child receiving her family! We, too are in the process to adopt from Ethiopia! I just facebook'd this page and would love to be counted in the giveaway.
Thanks and God bless!

Amy said...

I am following via GFC

Amy

Mama Mimi said...

What an amazing giveaway! Count me in! =) I am now a follower (I was introduced by someone elses link) and I posted on FB....I will several more times so look forward to more comments from me ;)

Jennifer said...

Follower, facebook post, blog post...check, check and check! Count me in!! :-)

Jennifer

Unknown said...

Just became a follower even though I've been following for a while :) Such an encouraging post...I needed it today..we are so close to travel but still need $6000...God is good and will provide :)

Erica said...

Blogged. That fed through facebook. Yee HAW!

Jenn said...

Facebook and Twitter :)

t said...

I am a follower. :)

I am so happy for your family and the miracles God has been working to get your daughter home!

three little birds said...

I'm a new follower, new to CHI, new to blogging and excited to be making connections with others on this journey.
Oh, I also facebooked about your blog :)

Charisa said...

follower!

Charisa said...

facebooked it!

Charisa said...

tweeted :)

Amy said...

tweeted today

Susan said...

I became a follower and would love to be entered in the drawing. I received a similar package from them for our Rwanda adoption fundraiser and I wanted to wear myself so much, but it is for our auction:) So I am praying that I win this one to actually wear. I so love their shirts and their hearts! I also fb about your giveaway.

i'm abby said...

love this idea...and congrats!! It's been so exciting to follow your adventure. i'm headed to ethiopia for the first time ever next month!! will tweet this!!

Unknown said...

I'm now following you :)