Just a Little Update

So I know, it's been a while.  That's what happens in adoption I guess - hurry up, then wait for what seems like FOREVER!  So in my last post, I told you that we were DTC - Dossier To China.  The next bit of info we were waiting for was our LID - Log In Date.  We received that on 7/23!  Yay!  So now, we are in the biggest "Wait" season of our lives it seems.  We are waiting for China's child welfare system to give us the official approval to bring our little man home.  Before they can do that, they have to translate our Dossier Documents into Mandarin and then they can review/approve all the information.  That has been taking around 45 days, though I saw a couple last week that were more like 35!  We are currently on day 19 of that wait, so we are getting there.  Once we have that approval, our agency goes to work on setting up all the appointments we will need to attend while in China, and we go to work on more paperwork to process our traveling visas and Little Man's IMMIGRANT visa!  So that's a question I've had a lot - when does he become a US Citizen?  As soon as his sweet self enters into the US, he is an American Citizen.  So cool, right?!?!?  The trend is that once you get China's approval (RA) you travel 8-12 weeks later.  So, that timeline is looking like early November, but late October is still not out of the realm of possibilities.  We are stilling hoping to celebrate his 3rd birthday on 10/24 with him.  Keep praying that with us!  What a great day that would be!!!

I wanted to take a moment also and publicly thank Jennifer and Howard Manning of Manning's Restaurant.

They were so  good to us Sunday.  For those of you who don't know, Jennifer came to me a few months back asking if she and Howard could host a fundraiser for us at their restaurant.  It blew me away that they were offering such a service!  So we started planning the event, picked a day, and then she told me that 25% of all sales that entire day would come to us to help bring our guy home.  Again, blown away!  Usually these spirit night type events get you around 10% at the most, so WOW!  So, this past Sunday, August 9th, they hosted a fundraising event for us, where we were given $1140 to go towards our expenses.  Incredible!!!  We are so very thankful for their support and friendship.  Check out their website/menu here and go visit them!  Tell them that The Nixons sent you!

More fundraising opportunities have come our way.  Tiffany Palomba of Bella Vie Photography is a very special friend of ours.  She, too, came to me wanting to use her gift to help us out.  So, on September 26th, she will come to Clayton and do a day of mini sessions for us!  Who doesn't want fall pictures????  You can book one session for just your family, or schedule the whole clan and book as many blocks as you need! So stay tuned for more information on that, spread the word, and join us!  Tiffany is donating a percentage of all that she brings in that day to our adoption fund.  She does incredible work - you will not be disappointed!!!

Also....  Jodie and I had T-shirts made for our family.  They turned out so good!  Our friend, Keitha, from church did the printing on them and we were thrilled!  Here is a picture of the design:

Of course we had to make one for Little Man too, so here is his:

We wore our shirts to the fundraising event at Manning's on Sunday, and got lots of "I'd buy one if you'd sell them!"  So, what wasn't intended to be a fundraiser may turn into one!  This is what yours will look like, though the writing may be white.  Friends will have blue, family will have green.

I will put together an official ordering system once I figure out the best way to do it.  The shirts will be $10 each, no matter the size.  Because I don't have extra money sitting around, we will take orders and payment before actually purchasing the shirts and materials.  If you want to pay by credit card, we will use our Go Fund me account for that.  I hope that's ok.  ;)

We are getting down to the wire and are so excited!  As of yesterday, we are about $8,300 away from our need.  Most of our funds will be payable throughout September and early October.  As I was tracking our expenses over the weekend, we were able to see that our adoption expenses are coming in at the higher end of our agency's estimation range, depending on the cost of our flights and travel.  Some people would not want to share these numbers, but I have to!  I have no idea how this has all come together except that God has provided.  So I have to share these numbers.  I have to give Glory to Him!  Again, depending on the cost of our flights, our entire start to finish adoption journey expenses will come in just under $40,000.  Remember, we started this journey in March.  Remember that most families have around 18 months to work out financing their adoption story.  If we travel in November, our story will have only lasted 8 months!  And believe me!  We didn't just have this kind of money sitting around!  In fact, on top of the adoption, we have had a few unexpected "Just Life" expenses to pay this year too!  To date, we have received about $11,200 of tangible financial gifts from friends and family.  Currently, we have paid or have saved and are ready to pay a total of $31,700.  That means that $20,500 has just fallen from the sky - down from THE FATHER OF LIGHTS!  To GOD be all the glory in this story!  I am so excited to share these numbers with you, as one of the biggest deterrents in adoption is the expense of it all.  But our story is living proof that God will provide, God will equip, and God will be faithful!  He is good - ALL the time!  So please, of you are feeling that tug in your heart to be a Forever Family to a little one somewhere in the world, take that leap!

Thank you all for all of your prayers and support!  We have truly felt them, and are very appreciative.  We are in the short rows now, but keep lifting us, and especially him, up in prayer!

Love you all!