Comments on: Thursday’s Thoughts – Ethiopia and Haiti

By: cynthia

cynthia — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:35:57 +0000

Oh Liza congratulations to you, Jeff, and your entire family. I cannot think of a more deserving couple to raise a child. You are both so dedicated to putting the needs of others before the need of yourselves….that’s parenting!

I myself have never gone thru the adoption process but know people who have and I understand it can be so difficult and long. Hang in there and know that this is your destiny. God is sending this special child to you because he knows both you and your husband are such loving and good people.

So many people go thru the motions of life, but never listen to the words that God whispers in each of our ears. I’m so glad you were listening when he spoke to you!

Wishing you all the best in your journey. As always, you inspire me to be a better person 🙂

By: donna houchen

donna houchen — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:25:18 +0000

Liza, congratulations to you and your husband. I have two nephews that were internationally adopted from Russia (at two different times). They are fantastic young men, and love their older sister (she is a bio baby). It has been such a joy watching God bring my sister and brother in law these two wonderful kids – creating a blessed family. It is not always easy (but what family is) but wonderful. Blessings to you and your husband.

By: Kendra Tsongranis

Kendra Tsongranis — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:10:56 +0000

In reply to Yasmin.

It is easy to adopt in the states unless you are looking for “perfection.” We adopted two children of substance abuse. Honestly, it does not matter where they come from, they are all just innocent children, and they are God’s children.

By: Diana

Diana — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:50:38 +0000

Congrats! I’m so excited for you. This is an amazing venture and you are doing a wonderful thing!

I keep track of baby deals on my page: http://facebook.com/DianasDeals
and on my pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mrsdchastain/baby-kid-stuff/

Let us know when you adoption blog goes live, I would love to follow it! 🙂

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:03:46 +0000

Liza, how wonderful! congratulations! one of the other posters gave you a link to Gwen Oatsvall’s blog (“oatsvallteam”). I know Gwen – one of her adopted daughters and my daughter were in the same class last year – and her husband (a teacher at my kids’ school). Gwen and a friend run 147 Million Orphans and offer adoption fundraisers through their organization. I recommend checking that out. Good luck!

By: Addicted to Saving

Addicted to Saving — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:10:48 +0000

In reply to Bree.

Thank you Bree! 🙂

By: Addicted to Saving

Addicted to Saving — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:20:57 +0000

In reply to Kathy.

Hi Kathy! Thank you for your kind words. Would you mind emailing me your doctor’s name? We may be getting our referral for Haiti in the next couple of months and I would love a doctor who specializes in international adoptions to review her records. My email is addictedtosaving at hotmail dot com (all one word) 🙂

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:26:45 +0000

I am soooooo thrilled for you! My husband and I have one bio son and a little boy that we adopted from Vietnam in 2009. He was about thirteen months old when we were finally able to bring him home. The paperchase can be overwhelming but like giving birth, will be forgotten once you have your child. If you do not mind driving down to St. Pete a time or two, there is a doctor at All Children’s Hospital that does evaluations on kids that were adopted internationally. Let me know if you want his name. As for fundraising, maybe you could post something that would let us donate to a paypal account for you. You have helped all of us save so much money, hopefully some of us can afford to give some back to your family.

By: Hillary

Hillary — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:53:30 +0000

Lots of prayers for you and your husband as you pursue this most wonderful calling from God!

God bless you always!

By: Melissa K.

Melissa K. — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:21:21 +0000

You are an amazing person. <3

By: Jeannie

Jeannie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:49:57 +0000

How exciting!! Praying for you and your husband, that God will guide and bless this process as you bring your little ones home. My brother in law adopted internationally and we have two beautiful thriving niece/nephew! I’m a rep for a direct sell faith based gifts company. I would love to help you with a fundraiser if you’re interested! Can’t wait to see your blog when it’s up. Please let us know your needs so that we can pray specifically for you and help you if possible.

By: Bree

Bree — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:42:36 +0000

So excited for you and Jeff! Will save my baby boy clothes for you!

By: Susie

Susie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:06:37 +0000

So happy for you, Lisa! I’m adopted myself (I’m 51 now, adopted when I was 5 days old) and can tell you firsthand that knowing I was chosen instead of being an “oops!” made me feel so wonderful. I was able to track down my biological parents (without it being too traumatic to my (adoptive) mom – my real mom) but it might have been easier if they had been more forthcoming with the adoption info. Your children will obviously know they’re adopted from very early on because they are of a different race, and again, you & your hubby will decide this yourselves, but it’s always nice for a person to know they have the option of looking at their roots IF they want to. Believe me, I KNOW who my parents are ~ my mom & dad who raised me. However I’m also grateful to my biological mother (whom I never met – she passed away 3 years before I found out who she was) for making the unselfish decision to give me a better life.

By: Addicted to Saving

Addicted to Saving — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:00:15 +0000

In reply to Jen.

Jen – I DVRd this but haven’t watched yet! Very excited to watch!

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:35:45 +0000

All I have to say is Congrats !!! I recently watched Oprah’s next chapter with Sean Penn and Donna Karen … Two part show was filmed in Haiti this year … It brought me to tears… …http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/oprahs-next-chapter.html?SiteID=OWN_SEM_Dec11_GoogleSearch_ONC

By: Jenessa

Jenessa — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:07:10 +0000

That’s wonderful! It really feels like I spend so much of my day here with you so thank you for letting us in on this wonderful plan. All children are a gift from God, no matter what color they are. Many blessings and you’ll be in my prayers!

By: Addicted to Saving

Addicted to Saving — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:48:24 +0000

In reply to Yolanda.

Love this Yolanda! My husband has this in mind so it is cool to see a blog actually play out his thoughts! Wait until he see this 🙂

By: Colleen

Colleen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:38:56 +0000

Congratulations, Liza and Jeff!!! I’m will continue to pray for you and for your future children!!!
God is definitely blessing you (paying you back for all the blessings you’ve given us?? hee!hee!) and is hand-picking the perfect children that will now be part of your family!!
🙂

By: lisa

lisa — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:57:05 +0000

Congratulations!!! The decision you guys are making is a leap of faith! My family (Me, my Husband and my 3 kids) took on this journey of adopting from Ethiopia last Spring. We were referred to two girls (sisters) 8 and 10 years old. I can relate to you when you say you are swimming in a pool of paper work! Thankfully once the dossier is finished the paper work is almost completely finished. We just brought them home last Friday and it has been joy and has brought our already existing family even closer together.

I wish the best for you guys and hope the process is smooth and all the funds you need come in. Just remember this one thing GOD WILL PROVIDE.

By: Desiree McKnight

Desiree McKnight — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:48:46 +0000

Loved your post Liza!! We have done a puzzle piece fundraiser where we sell pieces for a set price and everyone that buys one gets there name put on it, then when all the pieces are bought you frame it in double sided glass and can hang it in your little ones room so they know how loved they are! We are doing a fundraiser right now a wie tasting, desserts, and raffle evening coming up Feb 18 you can check out on the blog and I will be sure to let you know how it goes (and you guys are more than welcome to come!) http://www.desireemcknight.blogspot.com Congrats and I am soooo happy for you and your husband and cant wait to follow your journey on your blog!!!

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:45:51 +0000

Congratulations and good luck with the whole adoption process, I have heard it is sooo complicated. I don’t really know anything about fundraising, but I can maybe give you some tips about saving with a baby. I joined rewards’r’us, it’s a free membership with toys/babies’r’us, and you accrue points with purchases. When you reach a certain amount of points, they send you reward bucks, and coupons. Make sure you do this before you create a registry, as purchases people make from it goes towards your account. I’m not sure how old the children are that you are planning on adopting, but if they are still going to be in diapers here are some diaper shopping tips. I joined pampers.com, you enter codes from their diapers and wipes with their gifts to grow program, and you can use those points for freebies. Target has great deals on diapers, they will often have a deal when you buy two boxes you recieve a 5 or 10 dollar (sometimes 15 dollar) target gift card. Same with wipes. I buy diapers when I have target coupons, a manufacturers coupon, and that deal going on for Big savings. They do the same for formula.

By: Yolanda

Yolanda — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:31:02 +0000

http://elderadventures.blogspot.com/2012/01/give1save1.html- here it is, the fund raiser was called give1save1.

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:15:11 +0000

Congratulations on the beginning of what promises to be an amazing journey. Motherhood is wonderful! As a mom to boys and a girl, I cant decide which adventure is going to be crazier! Good Luck and our prayers are with you!

By: Yasmin

Yasmin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:05:55 +0000

WOW!! First of all congratulations on taking such an awesome decision. If anyone judges you or makes comments just dont listen and let them look up how hard it is to adopt in the states especially if your not rich! Helping any baby anywhere is just the best thing.

As for racism it does seem to be a bit strong down here, as you know my family isnt from the most popular part of the world right now. We see it and hear it but like I told my husband everyone in the United States came from one place or another if your not a native American and just dont feed into it. Dont give people that chance to bring you down or make you think otherwise. Focus on your your babies (God Willing) and your life!!!

Baby shopping is sooooooooo much fun but dont gove overboard like I did because chances are your child wont get to wear all you buy because every child changes sizes so different!! And I learned anything simpler is better!! And yes buy size 0-3 months even if people tell you you wont need it!! You will!!!

Good luck sending you many many happy prayers!!!!!!!

By: Yolanda

Yolanda — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:57:21 +0000

http://oatsvallteam.blogspot.com/ check out this blog about their adoption story

http://orphaned-no-more.blogspot.com/ and a fund raiser that they did here.
I saw another story the other day but I will have to search for it.
I am so happy for you and may God continue to bless you abundantly!!

By: Mandi

Mandi — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:50:09 +0000

I am not sure why but this post brought me to tears! I am so happy for you. In the last year and a half or more I have read this blog and been part of the facebook page, I have been able to get amazing deals and learn a little more over time about the person behind the computer.

I am so happy for you to be able to adopt a baby boy, and is even better! It will change a lot about the way you shop! I have never planned an adoption fundraiser, but I have seen online shops that have done them. Selling handmade items to raise money for an adoption. Maybe opening an ebay shop for the coupons that you are not using, some go for high prices and that may be an option. You could also up the price of your addicted to savings bags that you sell at your classes to help cover some of the cost 🙂 I think they were $1 I would pay $2 or $3 to help support the cause 🙂

My Doctor is involved in the People of Haiti group that provides medical needs and other items to those in need in Haiti, maybe if you contact Guida Viera (Dr. Viera’s wife) through their facebook page she can offer advice for Haiti.

I would be willing to help with any local fundraising to help raise money for the adoption process..

Good luck in the next steps of your journey…