Puzzle Fundraiser Update

Our puzzle fundraiser has been going on for 2.5 weeks and it has been such a huge encouragement so far! We are blown away by the generosity of all the people who have joined us in this journey. We feel so loved and supported and it's just been a really amazing feeling! I've actually been getting really emotional about it, especially from all of the nice messages I've been getting from people. Shifting our focus from infertility to adoption has brought some emotions that I wasn't expecting. I knew that infertility made me feel isolated and lonely, but I never expected that sharing our adoption journey would make me feel so lifted up and loved. I literally feel like all of you are coming around me and giving me a big virtual hug. And I NEEDED that!! I didn't even realize how badly I needed it until it started happening and I've just been really overwhelmed with the gratitude of it. So thank you ALL so much for making me feel so much love.

So far we have had 83 of the 252 pieces of our puzzle claimed!! If you have already donated, THANK YOU!! Check out your name on your pieces! It's been really exciting to write the names out and watch the pieces fill up with color and love.

There are still 169 pieces left to go. If you feel led to help us, or know of someone who might like to follow our journey too, please share our story and our puzzle with them! Our hearts are so grateful for every penny and prayer.

Check out all your names!

For anyone who wants to donate and missed our last post about the puzzle:

-Each piece will represent someone who donated to help us bring home our baby!
-Each puzzle piece is a minimum donation of $25!
-You may want to be represented on 1 piece of our puzzle or many pieces!
-Your name will be written on the back of each piece that you represent.
-Once the puzzle is finished it will be framed in a double sided glass frame and hung in our sweet baby's nursery. It will forever be a cherished piece of art and reminder of who was part of our journey with us!
-To donate, you can click on our YouCaring page that is linked on the right of our blog. We also have a paypal link right below the YouCaring link. You can also email me at Charlotte.sorrill@Gmail.com if you want to send a check.

Thank you all SO much for your support, prayers and encouragement. You have no idea how much it means to us. This experience has been unforgettable and we are so excited to see what else is in store for us!

The cost of adoption....and Jewelry!

Hi everyone! I am writing tonight about the costs involved in private domestic adoption and why it is so expensive. I have been asked this question so many times because when people hear the number it sounds impossibly crazy!

But first....I finally have my Etsy page set up with all of the jewelry I've been making! I will be updating it regularly as I make new pieces. I had NO idea how much fun it would be to make jewelry.  It is so relaxing and I feel so creative doing it. I literally jumped with glee when I got my first order!! Here is the link, and also some pictures of some of my favorite pieces.

Www.etsy.com/shop/findingbabysorrill

The costs involved in adoption
The average cost of a private adoption in the United States is between $25,000-$50,000. Here is a breakdown of what that involves. It varies A LOT and can be less or more depending on each individual situation.

• Home study fee: $1500-3500 depending on the state and agency. 
• Consultant fee: $2,000-$3500 
• Cost of our profile books and own advertising: $500ish
• Agency fees for advertising, showing our profile book, match and placement fees, interstate fees, etc: $20,000-$30,000
• Birth mother expenses: Can be $0 or upwards of $10,000+.  I think most states have a limit though. The cost can include living expenses, medical coverage if there is no insurance, transportation to doctor, counseling, meals..Etc Etc. (if the adoption does not go through and the mother changes her mind, these expenses are not refundable).
• Newborn hospital care (usually mostly covered under adoptive parents insurance)
• Legal services and court costs paid to an attorney: I have no idea how much this can cost but I know it can be a lot. Depends on the lawyer used and the state's laws.
• Travel expenses: If baby is born out of state we will have to travel to that state and wait for 5-10 business days before we can bring baby home. That could mean worse case scenario flying and renting a car and staying in a hotel for 2 weeks.

The cost of adoption is a huge deterrent for most couples wanting to adopt, and I'm sure most people think we are crazy for attempting to grow our family this way while Wes is still in medical school. Maybe we are crazy! It definitely makes this journey more challenging but God placed it on our hearts to have a family now so we are trusting and just going to do everything it takes to make it happen. It's not easy to ask for help but we realize that this would be impossible to do on our own. It really makes the saying "it takes a village" a true statement. It's been beyond amazing so far seeing how many people care about us and want to help. 

How much do we need to raise?

We are hoping to raise at least $20,000. This number intimidates me so much and seems so impossible! Between the money we hope to raise and all the money we thought we were saving to buy a house we should hopefully be able to cover the cost of our adoption. I've seen God provide for my family so many times and I know that everything will work out. Please continue to pray for us in this journey!!

June Happenings

Hey everyone! Well, lots has been happening here the last week. Several people have already participated in our Puzzle Fundraiser which has been so amazing and exciting!! I'll do an update on that soon. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped us!!!

Last weekend we drove to Ann Arbor to visit lots of family and go to my friends bridal shower. My friend was nice enough to take some pictures of me and Wes for our adoption profile book! They turned out really cute and I'm so excited to work on our book more. Here are some of the pictures:) Thank you so much Kelly for taking these!!!

 

So the most exciting news is that we finally got our first big chunk of home study stuff done and the papers and our check were all mailed! We had a frustrating delay with one of Wes' medical forms but he got it straightened out in person the next day so it didn't hold us up more than 2 days, which is good because I was so excited I was going crazy. Now the next step is waiting for the home study coordinator to call us to schedule our FIRST in person meeting at the agency. I've been really anxious for this because it will make the process seem a little bit more real. I am HOPING we can be finished with the home study by the end of July. Please say some prayers for us that we can keep it moving quickly! 

 

me mailing our big packet of forms to the home study agency!

Please keep praying with us that our home study continues to move along and that we can be approved soon and ready to be showing our profile book to expectant mothers. And please pray for our precious future child and his/her mother and family right now. I keep feeling this sense of urgency in running out and finding him/her. This is going to be the most prayed for baby ever!!

Thanks for checking in and being a part of this journey with us!!!

Will you help us bring home our missing piece?! Puzzle Fundraiser

We are SO excited to start our PUZZLE FUNDRAISER!!! Will you help us bring home our missing piece?

Everyone who donates to our adoption through this fundraiser becomes a permanent part of our adoption journey through a piece of our puzzle!

Here's how it works:
We have customized a 252 piece puzzle. I actually painted it by hand, uploaded to photoshop for the text (I have terrible handwriting) and then had the image printed on a puzzle!
-Each piece will represent someone who donated to help us bring home our baby!
-Each puzzle piece is a minimum donation of $25!
-You may want to be represented on 1 piece of our puzzle or many pieces!
-Your name will be written on the back of each piece that you represent.
-Once the puzzle is finished it will be framed in a double sided glass frame and hung in our sweet baby's nursery. It will forever be a cherished piece of art and reminder of who was part of our journey with us!

When our puzzle is complete we will have hopefully raised $6,300!!!

To be a part of this fundraiser just click on our YouCaring link on the right side of my blog, or the PayPal link. We are so blessed and thankful beyond words for each and every one of you that takes part in this fundraiser!!! We are SO excited to share in this journey with you and FIND OUR MISSING PIECE!!

For those of you who have already donated via our YouCaring page or PayPal THANK YOU!!! Your names are already represented on puzzle pieces which means you were the first ones to be part of this!