Thursday, November 18, 2010

Getting Closer

I really wanted this to be the week we turned in our dossier. My goal was to turn it in and be on the waitlist in November. It doesn't look like that is going to happen, but we are really close. We are finished with most of our dossier documents. The only thing we need to do is snap a few pictures of the inside of our house and wait for our home study to be approved by AGCI. Our social worker sent in our home study to AGCI yesterday. We are so close!

I feel like we have been doing paperwork forever. When I talked to our caseworker at AGCI about the fact that I really wanted to be on the waitlist in November, she reminded me that we have officially been working on our dossier for Ethiopia less than two months. That encouraged me. We are doing the best we can and God knows exactly where we need to be in the process to match up with the daughter He has chosen for us.

Justin and I have the whole week off next week. I am so excited, because it will be a much needed break for us. Of course he has lots of pictures to edit and I have lots of Thank you notes to write, but we also plan to spend plenty of time with our family.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

One Smile Closer :: the Boykin family





Awesome Giveaway

My friend through the blog world, Lara, is having an awesome giveaway this week to raise money for her adoption from Ethiopia. You can go to her blog and enter the giveaway by donating to their adoption fund or by ordering a t-shirt. I ordered a t-shirt for 3 entries in the give away! Woo Hoo! What exactly is in this giveaway?
12 Handmade Items
3 Hats
20 shirts including our One Day Closer shirt that my friend's daughter is wearing in the picture.
Go on over and check it out!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

One Amazing Day! One Awesome God!

Our One Day Closer lunch and silent auction was yesterday and it was awesome! We were just amazed at all the people who came together to show us their love and support. Our girl is loved so much already! It is such a blessing to be able to witness God making a way for our little girl to come home. We have said before that we could not do this alone and it is very true, but God never intended for us to do this alone. He wanted us to step out in Faith and depend on Him and Him alone. We are so thankful for the people God has placed in our lives who have been praying for us, encouraging us, and working hard to make sure the dream of bringing Mia home becomes a reality. I am especially thankful for these five ladies below. April, Cindy, Lauren, Megan, and Robin worked so hard to make this event a success and we are forever grateful to them.
They worked so hard and did it all with bright smiles on their faces. They sold tickets for the last month and even sold 42 at the door.
They served delicious food that was all donated by Lauren and Brian's family's restaurant, Scott's Catfish and Seafood.
The gumbo was delicious and was all prepared by Brian. I don't even know how early he had to get up to prepare all of this yummy food.
Our friend Todd made the salad that Cindy is serving, below.
My cousin made two cakes for the event.
We had so much dessert, all prepared by my mom, grandma, and cousin that we didn't even cut the Africa cake. I guess we will have chocolate cake for dessert all week.

There was a bounce house for the kids to play on. Evidently it was a big success, because I barely saw my children the entire day. They were busy jumping and playing with their friends. Also, our new friend, April brought her photobooth. It was such a great idea! Everyone who attended had the opportunity to take fun photobooth pics. They got to keep one copy and then write us a message on the back of the other copy. I loved this! I can't wait to show Mia the pics one day!
Of course their were awesome items at our auction. We had over 50 items donated. Again, I am just amazed by the generosity we have received.
In the end with all of the ticket sales, donations, t-shirt sales, auction bids, and photobooth we raised $6,000. We were so thrilled. When we got home we received another $415, making the grand total of the weekend $6415. We are truly praising God for the great things He has done!

We loved being able to share this special day with our family and friends! Sawyer told my mom that we will have to do this all again when Mia comes home, so that she can see it. I don't know about that, but I know there will be a celebration when she is finally in our arms.


Again, we want thank everyone who participated and prayed for this day! Our family is truly blessed to have such great friends to share this journey with.