returning to the papyrus basket

If you read this post, you know that we had "started to start" the adoption process again. :-) Well, I suppose at this point, we've officially started it! We are in the process of updating our home study, which the second time around includes:

1) getting updated medicals for Baron, Natalie, and me;

2) updating our adoption profile to include Natalie [and the bazillion pictures I have of her :-)]; and of course, 3) more paperwork. :-)

We have decided to go through the agency we used to adopt Natalie, Nightlight Christian Adoptions. We loved working with them, and we love the work they do with birthmothers and for orphan care around the world. If we're going to save up a bunch of money & use it for an adoption, these are the folks we want to have our money. And speaking of money...we're officially SAVING and fundraising! Which for me translates as, no more eating out during the week, and way fewer stops at McDonald's for a $1 tea. :-) We have an adoption fund set up at our bank, and hope to soon actually start putting more money in it. The cost of a domestic adoption typically ranges from about $20,000 - $30,000. We expect ours to be about $20,000, including legal fees and travel expenses. Would you like to help us? Guess what? You can!! We have arranged with our church to be able to accept donations through them, so that they can be tax-deductible. If you would like to simply write a check to help, you can make it out to Vaughn Park Church of Christ, and in the memo line, mark it as Family Care - Goins Adoption. You can mail your check directly to Baron & me. [Please email me at lauragoins828@gmail.com for our address, as I don't want that published on the www. :-)]

Stay tuned to my blog for our upcoming adoption fundraisers. We hope to be able to raise the money for this adoption without having to borrow. There are adoption grants to apply for, and there are also loans out there, and we will pursue whatever avenues we feel we need to, in order to bring our next baby home! If you have a fundraiser idea, please leave it in the comments or shoot me an email at lauragoins828@gmail.com. I appreciate your input!

{Curious about the title of this post,

or the name of my blog? Read this!}