Nose To The Grindstone...

I realized that I haven't written anything "bloggy" lately...mainly because there was nothing to report on the adoption front until now and also because summer has caught us up (as it does so many others) in the craziness of everyday life. But here I am to remind myself and everyone else, that we are indeed still in the adoption process and it's time to get serious once again about all things "adoption"!

Money..always can use it, never have enough of it, and your thirst for more rarely subsides.  Most think adoptions are fueled by love and compassion and want for family and while this is all very true..the tank of the adoption is $.  (not so poetic as love and compassion...I know... but a necessary componate). Our adoption "tank" these days is a little on the low side unfortunately and we recently found out Todd's job was no longer willing to offer adoption benefits like we had expected so it put things again into perspective. Discovering we had up to this point exhausted all our financial resources, we decided to brainstorm a bit on how we were going to come up with the looming $6000 that we knew was going to be needed very very soon.  I asked clients, I asked friends, I even posted on facebook asking for ideas to raise money and fast.  While the ideas ranged from selling lip balm to donuts and everything in between...a constant thought kept nagging at me. "Alarie, you can raise more money massaging people than selling baked goods for a weekend or hosting a garage sale..." I suppose the light either came on entirely at that moment or at the very least got brighter! ;)  So it was settled. The entire month of August would be dedicated to raising that final $6000, and every massage I did would go directly towards our adoption. NO ifs, ands or but I want custard after church....

For the first time I feel like I am contributing towards our goal personally. I am doing everything I can think of to get our baby home..and it feels fantastic!!! God gave me a talent for a reason, and it is so nice to use my talent as an occupation...and I feel blessed..but to be able to use my talent to raise the money for our adoption while in my occupation, well...it just makes perfect sense! "Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might..." Eccl 9:10

I look forward to the month of August more than any other month so far...I have my mind focused on helping people heal and a honest heart that we will be able to raise what we need.  Most importantly, in a process where one is constantly reminded that "YOU are NOT in control of the situation"..it just gives me something to do to help me to not remember there is really nothing I can do! :) 

On the Adoption front: expect delays. Lots and lots of delays. Todd is a constant in my life and the most (annoyingly) wonderful person (who I know is right) when he kindly reminds me that this is all in "God's hands anyway" and there is no reason to worry about the delays because our daughter will come to us when it's the right time. And yes I know he is right...again.  But, why is that the last thing you want to hear..particularly when you just want to cry that delays are your least favorite part of this process and throw your tantrum and get it out of your system a bit? Most of the time I just stand there in front of him with my jaw wide open wondering, "HOW DOES HE DO THAT? HOW DOES HE JUST SHUT IT OFF AND STAY FOCUSED?!" :) I am so glad I got him through this (believe me!). He keeps me grounded and logical when all I want to be is passionate and (right brained) emotional.  We make a great team. 

Well wish us luck in the fundraising efforts!  We are very excited and ready to finish the final lap of the money part. (Travel costs are excluded from this as they are not paid directly to the agency but more of something we will do on our own when the time comes.) It has been a busy summer but I predict to be even busier over the following months as we switch gears back towards adoption once again.  :)