(unofficial) good news!

This is all very unofficial, but we've been matched with a little girl!  We're so excited and overwhelmed.  We still have quite a bit of paperwork to gather, and about 7-12 months before we can go get her, but we're feeling really hopeful right now.  I wish I could share pictures!!

So, in the meantime, we have a good chunk of money to raise so we can bring our girl home.  I've been busy "owling" this weekend.  I've sold several -- 5 more and we have our application fees covered!  Here are some more pictures, to tempt you!  :-)

Here's the scoop!

I'm so happy about all the interest in the owls!

I'm asking for a $20 donation toward our adoption fund for each owl (2 for $35). Depending on how many orders I get and if I have supplies on hand,  I probably need a couple weeks turn-around time.   You can pick colors -- if I don't have the right color fabric on hand, I can get it, it just might take me a little longer.

So, if you want an owl, send me an email (lucybelle712 at yahoo.com or facebook message) letting me know:
1. how many you want,
2. what color(s) --if you like the ones in the pictures, I can pretty closely replicate those. I also currently have pink, brown, and teal fuzzy fabric for the bodies, and some fleece and flannels, too...and others to come!
3.  when you'd like to have it, so I can prioritize if you need one in time  for a baby shower or birthday or whatever.  
4. if you live in Columbus, we can arrange a delivery or way to meet up; if you need it shipped to you, send me your address.  

Checks can be made to me and all funds will go straight into our savings account for our upcoming adoption expenses.  I will email you with my address and any follow-up details.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Whoooo wants an owl??

Not much to report these days...just waiting!  We're hoping for a referral soon, but until then we just wait.

I had a long weekend this weekend -- took Friday off to add to my Labor Day Monday.  I think I would be much more productive in general if I had a 4-day weekend every week!   We took pictures of some of the nicer items left over from our yard sale and advertised them on craigslist this morning.  If you need a desk, dining table, weight equipment, a vintage salon hair dryer chair, a JOBOX, or a nice Ikea coffee table, let me know!  We'll make you a deal!  :-)

I also worked on gifts for 2 special little friends of mine.  I'm planning on selling these owl guys (well not these exact ones -- I will need to make more!).   $20 each and all proceeds will go to our adoption fund.  If you're interested, let me know! You or a little friend of yours needs one of these.  I know it's early to start thinking of the holidays, but these would be great Christmas gifts!

quick update

As of Friday, our homestudy has been officially approved!  YAY!!  

A while ago, Calvin decided to make a snack of our camera... bad dog... we bought a new camera with a gift card, and it's taken me a while to figure out how to download pictures.  I have it figured out now, so hopefully I will be a little better on the postings and photos and things.  

poor chewed camera

the viewing window was completely cracked

Here was what our garage looked like before the garage sale -- I wanted to share this a while ago!  It's hard to believe that this mess translated into over a thousand dollars toward our adoption fund :-)  We tel God tankee :-)

Waiting...

We had our list visit for our homestudy with our social worker over a month ago and have been waiting for our agency to review the documents.  We finally received the review today and they are making some updates and changes and then we can say our homestudy is officially complete!  This is a huge milestone in the process and we're so glad to have this much finished.

Once the homestudy is officially approved by our agency we will be applying for our immigration paperwork and waiting for them to refer a child (or maybe 2!) to us.  It still feels sort of surreal to me that this is really happening, that we're really moving forward.  I said something to a friend the other day about our "imaginary" children -- that's how it feels to me, like they don't really exist yet.  I can't wait for us to know them, and the reality of them.

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In the meantime, I've been doing some reading.  Some books I've found particularly interesting recently are:

The Connected Child

A Thousand Sisters

little by little...

We have had a car in our driveway for several months.  Some of you may have had the privilege of meeting Loretta (the Beretta), affectionately referred to as the “Deathtrap.”  She runs well, she just has a little rusty underbelly, meaning the gas tank isn’t well supported any more.  She's my in-laws’ car – they live in Florida, and it has been their Ohio car for the past few years.  They were gracious enough to let us use it last year, however we soon discovered Loretta’s  little rust problem and haven’t driven it much since—she’s been a driveway decoration. 

Last week, we had to pay $250 for an assessment for Keith for our adoption paperwork.  Although we have the money in savings for this, it was more than we were expecting to pay. 

Out of the blue yesterday, a gentleman stopped by our house and offer to buy Loretta.   We made a deal for the old girl that pretty much doubles the cost of the assessment. 

Little by little, item by item, the funds we need are appearing.  I’m keeping a list in my journal of all these things – from the $15 a lovely lady paid me last week for the scarf I was wearing, to the thousands sent by an old friend from college, to the extra classes Keith has been able to teach this spring.  We are blessed and thankful for God's provision! 

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As an aside, my good friend will have a booth this weekend at the Worthington farmer’s market – for anyone local who is interested, she has some amazing stuff!   Here’s her website.   The event is called the Green on the Green, and takes place on the village green in downtown Worthington from 9-2 on Saturday, May 19.  For more info please go to  http://biggreenhead.com/green-on-the-green  or http://www.fourwindsintl.com/2012/05/find-four-winds-at-the-green-on-the-green-festival/.  

Come on out and purchase some great products that support fair trade and marginalized women and families around the world.  I will be selling some of my creations as well, and I’d love to see you there! 

Got stuff? Need stuff?

Hey, friends –

Do you have used clothing or other household items you’d like to unload?  Please consider donating them to the Padgett adoption fundraising cause!   There are 2 ways to help right now: 

 1.       I am working on some up-cycled sewing projects to sell to raise money for our adoption.  If you have clothes (or other fabric household items like gently used towels, curtains, etc.) that you want to get rid of, I’d be happy to take them off your hands!

 2.       We are also planning a yard sale at our house on Saturday June 16 (during the Clinton Estates community festival).  If you want to de-clutter your house and donate some stuff to our sale, please leave me a comment or send me a message on facebook or email me or send me some smoke signals or something and we’ll make arrangements to get stuff from you!  

Mark your calendars for June 16, too --  come out and enjoy our community festival and neighborhood garage sales!  We'll have some great stuff!