Trust in God but write your Congressman

We have been busy with Thanksgiving and fun family gatherings.  We are so thankful for this time to celebrate and thank God for the blessings he has heaped upon us. 

Several folks have asked how they can help us with the adoption.  We deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness!  Here are some ways to be part of our journey:

Congressional leaders are in the process of tense negotiations with the White House to avoid the “Fiscal Cliff.”  One of the items set to expire at the end of the year is the Adoption Tax Credit.  Several leaders on both sides of the aisle have proposed legislation that would not only extend it in 2013 but make it permanent!  The tax credit encourages couples to adopt either internationally, domestically, or through the Foster Care system by granting up to $13,000 in tax credits the year the adoption is finalized.  This would be a huge help for our finances, but more importantly, it would encourage other families to take the leap that we have and decide to open their home to a child that needs the love of a family and hope.  Join with us in contacting your US Senators and Representatives.  Let them know that this is an important issue and you support the continuation of the tax credit.  Find out how at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.  For more info on the Adoption Tax Credit visit www.adoptiontaxcredit.org.

Give the gift of Scentsy!  Our friend Emily Turner is donating ALL of her commission from now until the end of the year towards our adoption.  If you don’t know about Scentsy you should.  It’s kinda like a candle that won’t burn your house down.  Find out more and place your orders (ready by Christmas!) at www.scentsy.com\emilyturner. 

PRAY!  We have seen the power of prayer at work already.  God has put so many wonderful people in our path and given us so many financial blessings since we decided to adopt.  We are saving everything we can and praising God for every bit of extra income and decrease in expense along the way!  Please join us in praying for our children who have probably already been born and are living in a less than optimal environment.  Pray for their birth parents who have made a difficult decision, but ultimately chose life.  We love them and know that only dire circumstances would cause a mother to give her child up to the unknown.  Pray for us as we continue to gather paperwork and take our online adoptive parenting classes.  Although it can be daunting, we’ve been encouraged by a Chinese Proverb discovered recently:  Be not afraid of going slow, be afraid only of standing still. 

Thanks for continuing to be part of our journey.  You all mean so much to us.