Day 33

Waiting for LOA Day 33. Holding on to people's hands and fingers is apparently one of Bella's favorite things in the world. . Hold on baby girl, I will come as soon as I can!

Day 32

Every day we are waiting for LOA, I am going to post a picture of Bella! Starting with today, Day 32. This is the earliest picture we have of her. I am thinking this is right after she arrived at Starfish. She was barely a month old. Obviously, she didnt miss out on the Halloween celebration there! This picture makes me cry every time I see it. So tiny and facing so much.

Love

Have I mentioned lately how much I love and adore this child? I can't wait to meet her. In every picture we have of her, she just has this peace in her eyes. She has been through so much! She tries very hard to do what other kids do without thinking. But she is happy. Full of joy. We can all learn something from that! And to think, I get to be her Mama? Waiting is hard but I will wait as long as it takes if it means at the end of this journey I am standing in China holding this amazing little girl!

Happy Father's Day Phil!!!!!!!

Well, it happened! We went from 75 puzzles pieces sold on Thursday night, to all 500 pieces sold and many extra donations beyond that, on Saturday afternoon.

I sat and watched the donations come. And I cried. Hard.

$5,600 raised. Amazing God!

There is nothing like being surrounded by a community who shares your love for a precious child. For Bella.

You all get it. You really do.

I thank God for each and every one of you.

We gave Phil the puzzle this morning.







It was hilarious because at first he thought the puzzle itself, was his gift.





And, in typical Phil fashion, he thought it was absolutely the neatest gift in the world that I had worked all day putting together that 500 piece puzzle, for a gift for him.

He. Was. Thrilled.

And THEN I told him to flip it over. (It was a two-sided frame) And he saw ALL YOUR NAMES and was confused.





And then I explained that each name represented a $10 donation.... and together you all had raised over $5,000 to help bring home his precious daughter.







And he smiled.




And he cried.




He literally could NOT believe it.

And he said, "This is the BEST gift EVER!!!"

Mission accomplished.

Again, THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!! I hope to personally thank everyone this week but for now, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

I am pretty sure this is the absolute most wonderful gift I will ever give. And you all made it possible.

The Best Father's Day Gift Ever

I am married to an amazing man. Here he is, becoming a father for the fourth time. Meeting our Jocelyn when I brought her home from Korea.




He is wonderful. A great Christian man. A sweet, gentle, kind, compassionate person. An incredible father. He left his home in Canada, married this crazy girl from Ohio who shared his passion for adoption and.....
The rest is history.




Five adoptions.

6 years.

We were done. And then came April of 2012. And we fell in love. And he fell hard. For this beautiful, precious little girl. Waiting in China.
Bella




We read some scary words.

Spina bifida

Hydrocephalus

Paralysis

But her spirit, and her smile, and her ability to overcome so very much captured our hearts.

Our hearts said yes but our heads said we were crazy, and we didn't proceed and after four months of wresting with ourselves and with God, we gave it all to Him.....

And less than a week later, there she was.

Bella




Waiting on an agency specific list. With a grant.

Phil wasn't home. I knew how I felt in my heart, yet I was nervous to see what he would say.

He came home. It was 9pm.

I told him.

He literally lept off the couch and started screaming,

"YOU HAVE TO CALL THEM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!"

Dude, it's 9pm!

So I emailed. And the next day I called.

And today we are within months of holding her in our arms.

My husband works so very hard for us. With five kids, my job won't pay for daycare. So he has been working 65 hour weeks. Week after week after week.

Never complaining.

Never saying he is tired.

Never saying his feet hurt.

He works in a machine shop. 60 pound parts. 14 hour days. Cement floors.

Never. Ever. Ever. Complains.

So, it's Father's Day on Sunday. And we are saving every penny and I have nothing to give him.

But I started this Puzzle Piece fundraiser awhile back.

http://bringinghomebellaelise.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-puzzle-piece-fundraiser-with-twist.html

We had 75 pieces sold and then all of a sudden, 24 hours ago my friends got fired up, and this thing took off and 75 became 145 then 145 became 207 and then someone offered a matching grant and before we knew it, we were at 303 pieces!

From 75 to 303 in just over 24 hours, people!!!!!!

And then my friend had a crazy idea......

What if we can get to 500...... And complete the ENTIRE puzzle......

And I stay up all night putting it together tomorrow and give it to Phil as a Father's Day gift?!?!?!?

He has NO IDEA I am doing this fundraiser.

Not. A. Clue.

I am doing this as a surprise for him. I didn't have an end date goal, but now.....

Well, after selling 228 pieces in 26 hours..... I am thinking we can sell 197 in 24 hours!!!!!!!!

I know God can do this, working through whoever wants to be part of the puzzle to Bring Home Bella!

Pieces are $10 each. I will write your name or the name of your choice of the back of each piece you purchase.

Here's how to donate:

1. Send a Paypal gift (money to friends and family) to elflikesmusic@hotmail.com

Or

2. Email me at elflikesmusic@hotmail.com for our mailing address.
Your name will be written on your puzzle piece(s) and will be entered into a Kindle Fire giveaway!

197 pieces. That's 197 people buying 1.... 100 people buying 2..... 50 buying 4......

Please consider helping us Bring Home Bella. And/or share our story on any social media you would like. I am doing a special drawing for all the sharers for a little something I will purchase in China!

Love to you all, and may you be blessed!

Family Fun

Enjoying a hike in the woods on a Sunday afternoon. Making one last summer of memories as a family of 7 before we become 8!