Colorful Cuddle Blankets

This post is for Linny at a Place Called Simplicity.

She has asked that everyone who reads her blog write a little post about what they are making to raise money for their adoption, so we can all do some Christmas shopping and help make a difference at the same time.

We are a family of 4, soon to be 5 and we couldn't be more excited! We are adopting Alyona from Eastern Europe and will get to meet her hopefully in November. Our dossier has already been submitted and we are currently waiting for our SDA appointment and travel date. We need to raise money to cover the expenses of our second trip so we can bring Aly home.

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Any child would love one of these cozy blankets. Made from super-soft fleece and featuring colorful patterns and characters that are sure to please, all blankets are pre-washed and crafted in a smoke free home. Each blanket measures approximately 42” x 56” and is made to last. No child to give a blanket to? You can donate a blanket on Aly's behalf and we will be happy to take a blanket to our local children's hospital or donate a blanket to children living in a motel.

Purchase knowing you are helping to get this precious girl home to America!

Blankets ship from southern California
Blankets = $35
+ US shipping = $14.50 (USPS Priority 2-3 days)

** SOLD ** Butterflies

Hawaiian

** SOLD ** Tinkerbell

** SOLD ** Toy cars

Mickey Mouse

Owls

Minnie Mouse

** SOLD ** Cars

Camoflauge

Floral

Pink and Brown Dots

Blue and Brown Dots

** SOLD ** Brown with Multicolor Dots

Ladybugs

** SOLD ** Bees

Not Yet... But Soon

Well, we are still waiting for our SDA appointment. Each day I check my email for what seems like a million times a day, but unfortunately, we haven't heard anything yet. This past week I have heard of two families whose dossier was submitted the same day as ours (Oct. 14), and they now have their SDA appointments (Nov. 15 and Nov. 22). I am sure that by this time next week, we will also know when our SDA appointment will be and then we can make our travel plans. In the meantime, I am going to remind myself that God's timing is perfect.

The Cost

Yay, today we have another $800 to help bring Aly home! Between donations, our garage sale, and Brian selling several items he no longer uses, our Help Bring Aly Home Fund is growing! More great news is that friends of Brian have donated their airline points, which completely covers the price of our flights!

We have had several people comment on the price of adoption. They wonder why international adoption is so expensive, so I thought I would share the breakdown of the cost of our adoption. Please keep in mind that other than the homestudy and USCIS, this does not cover the cost of our compiling our dossier (doctor's appointments, notaries, apostilles, etc.)

Here is the cost breakdown for the country we are adopting from and the organization that we are working with.

Estimated costs of our adoption:
$2000.00 - Homestudy
$1000.00 - USCIS, i-600a and fingerprinting
$5000.00 - approximate cost of flights
$8600.00 - facilitator fees
$1700.00 - first trip lodging ($80/night 3 weeks)
$1100.00 - second trip lodging ($80/night 2 weeks)
$450.00 - first trip food/other supplies ($20/day 3 weeks)
$250.00 - second trip food/other supplies ($20/day 2 weeks)
$600.00 - passport for Aly
$550.00 - visa and medical for Aly
$2000.00 - transportation (in country)
$1000.00 - orphanage donation/dossier preparation costs

Total $24,250

I look at this amount and realize it is a large dollar amount. I have heard other adoptive parents consider the cost of adoption as more of a ransom. If any of our children at home were kidnapped, we would pay the ransom, no matter what the dollar amount, to bring our children back home. We are willing to pay this ransom to bring Aly home. We are willing to pay the cost to keep Aly out of an institution and bring her into a loving family, where every child deserves to be. When God put it on our heart to adopt Aly we didn't know how we would come up with the money, we just knew we had to be obedient. It is amazing to see how God is providing for this sweet little girl.

It's not to late to help bring Aly home. Tax deductible donations can still be made through Reece's Rainbow at
http://reecesrainbow.org/alyona-for-the-swerdfeger-family-laguna-hills-ca

Our Dossier was Submitted!

Great news! Our dossier was submitted today! I checked my email this morning... nothing. I checked the RR forum... nothing. I checked the RR website... nothing. I assumed that we were not submitted today and would have to wait until next Thursday to check again. So, I decided to take our dog for a walk. I thought I'm going to have to stay busy this next week to pass the time until next Thursday (it's what we live for, right ladies?). When I got home, I told the girls I was heading to the shower and my oldest said I needed to check my email first.

I had an email from our facilitator saying we had been submitted!!!! (happy dance!)

Any idea how long until we find out our SDA appointment date?

Alyona, we are coming!!!

What a Gift!

Today I received an email with a wonderful surprise. I had been busy with paperwork and was intentionally avoiding email and internet so that I could get my work done. Well my girls told me that Nancy (our facilitator) had sent an email and that I HAD TO LOOK!!! What should I find but not one but three new pictures of my beautiful little sweetie. It was totally unexpected and it totally made my day. Just to be able to see her precious little face is so amazing.



I know I'm a proud mama, but seriously, is that just melt-your-heart cute or what?



I can't describe the feeling when I first saw these photos. I'm not usually a crier, but I have been so emotional lately, I just can't help myself. I can't wait to scoop her up. This gift of current photos of Aly is so wonderful!

Our Dossier Has Been Delivered!

Thank you UPS! Once again, UPS has come through for us. I have been tracking its every move across the world and our dossier has been delivered!

Aliso Viejo, CA
Long Beach, CA
Kentucky
Philadelphia
Cologne, Germany
Warsaw, Poland
Final Destination!!!

It is so exciting to know that it finally made it and now will be translated and submitted to their State Department of Adoptions.

Please continue to pray that all of our paperwork will be accepted, that none of it will need to be redone and we get an SDA appointment soon. Also, please pray for our little sweetheart's health. I can't imagine a precious little one being sick with no mama to cuddle with. I remember last year a family was at the orphanage to visit their little one and being turned away because something was going around the orphanage. That reminds me of something else I need to add to my packing list, I better buy some masks just in case.