Grant update

It has been 2.5 weeks since we have sent out 120 letters to our friends and family. This morning we contacted our grant agency to see how our matching grant was coming along. As of this afternoon, we have had a total of 13 families who have donated totalling $1580. We are overjoyed that these families are willing to help us out in our time of need. God has been so good to us!

Back to church

Justin and I have been wanting to go back to church for several months now. Every Sunday we seemed to make some kind of excuse on why we couldn't make it to the service. This week, we told each other that WE ARE going to church. We both woke up extremely tired, it was spitting snow and it looked so cold as we peered out the window. That was not going to stop us this morning. This was a different kind of day...a fresh start to the new week. We got up, took showers, fixed our hair, put on our Sunday best and out the door we went:)

Before the sermon even started, we felt like we were exactly where we were suppose to be. We didn't know anyone around us, but yet we still felt the love and suport of those around us. No matter what kind of emotions we are feeling or what kind of situation we are going through, being present in our church and hearing God's message hits home every time.

The verse that touched my heart this morning was, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8. This is so true. God has a perfect plan for our family and in his timing our child will come home to his/her forever family. Thank you God for leading us back to worship you this morning.

Adoption Fundraiser Event

ONE

Today marks one month since our dossier arrived in Taiwan! In ways it seems like we have been waiting forever, but on a positive note...we are one month closer to having our child home:) We are so blessed to be on this journey. We have met many wonderful families through our adoptions and are forever grateful for them. We are thankful for our loved ones that have offered encouraging words, support, and love throughout this process. Also, we could not be more excited about the grant we have so graciously been given...God works in wonderful ways.

We need your help!

Lifesong for Orphans (lifesongfororphans.org) combined with the Louisville Orphan Care Initiative (louisvilleorphancare.com) has graciously given us a Matching Grant of $4,000 to help bring our child home. The grant deadline is January 25th 2010.

We need your help to reach our goal! If you or someone you know would like to support our adoption, please make checks payable to: “LifeSong for Orphans”, clearly noting in the memo line, “Cravens Adoption #1038”.

Contact us if you have any questions about the grant process.

Checks can be mailed to:

Lifesong for Orphans
ATTN: Cravens Adoption #1038
P.O. Box 40 / 202 N. Ford St.
Gridley, IL 61744

Letters are on there way!

Just finished writing, signing, folding, stuffing, stamping and addressing nearly 100 letters for our matching $4000 grant....praying we can meet our goal by the deadline to ensure our child coming home to his/her forever family!

Busy, Busy, Busy

We have been working like crazy to come up with fundraising ideas for our grant we received. We heard from them at the beginning of the week, and we have until January 25, 2010 to raise $4000. It doesn't seem possible, but we are not giving up.

The grant organization suggested that we send out a letter to all our family and friends and tell them our story and ask for a donation to bring our child home. We feel bad asking anyone for anything, but God has put this adoption on our hearts, and we will do whatever it takes to bring this child home.

So for the last couple of days we have been gathering addresses and writing our grant letter. Last night I addressed over 90 letters while Justin put a stamp on each one. We put the finishing touches on our letter this afternoon and added a picture of our family this far.

We are also planning a few other fundraisers, hopefully one this month and one in January. We are working with All About Kids and Puzzles to set aside a night for us and they will generously donate a percentage of the money from that evening to our grant.

I pray that God will lead your hearts to help us with our adoption so that a new little one will join our family soon!