what is in a name

Maison des Enfants de Dieu-- translation... House of God's children. That is the name of the orphanage where our child will come from. Might seem like a small detail or small piece of information ... but it means so much to us!

Things, they are a moving.....

So much has happened since my last post...

WOW... such a whirlwind of activity...

We are working through collecting the MOUNTAINS of paperwork required to complete our Dossier... (deadline for submission is 6/30/11). We have completed the required visits with the social worker for our home study and what a blessing that was. She was so friendly and sweet. What a joy to meet with her and open up about this journey and why we decided to adopt from Haiti. We are currently re-doing a medical form for our home study... a small bump in the road.... but "this too shall pass". Other than getting that medical form resubmitted, we have ourselves an approved home study. The home study is a huge part of this journey and can't wait for it to be final !!! The we move onto immigration paperwork, fingerprints, power of attorney papers, reference letters... and more!

It's amazing to be walking this walk of blind faith... moving toward parenthood. I know that I already feel like a mom. I do not know if we will be paired with a boy or girl... what their age will be... what kind of personality they will have... or what their background is... but the love that I have in my heart is amazing! God is opening my heart and my husbands heart to more than I ever dreamed possible!

We are currently planning a fund-raising dinner and silent auction for April 15th, 2011. (STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO!). We also have been linked up with www.soapandcotton.com James & Alicia Taubin's soap and knitting company, great ministry and great products... check them out!!!! We have the money to finish the home study and to cover the immigration paperwork, but the last big payment we submit with our Dossier in June is $4500.00 and that we have yet to raise. Plus travel money as we'll be invited to go to Haiti after we are paired with our child and then back again to pick up our child at the completion of this journey. The financial need seems so great and overwhelming... but we serve a God that promises that He will complete the good work He started... and we walk in that promise!!! Please be in prayer for us in regards to the financial needs.

Thanks for reading... thanks for your support... and your prayers!

Walk by faith, and not by sight

One step at a time!

We have submitted our home study packet and wait to hear from St. Andre's to call and schedule our home visit and interviews.... We find ourselves anxious about this step, as you can not move forward without an approved home study. We are trying to just remember that God has called us to this journey, and He is a faithful God and will provide what we need, when we need it.

Last week marked the year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. The news footage is getting harder and harder to watch. We know that our child is there waiting for us. We do not know who they are yet, but our hearts are there with them. Please keep praying for all the children in Haiti and the people as they continue to rebuild.

Update

Dear Family & Friends....

Thought it was time to update you all on the progress of our Haitian Adoption. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we have received and are so blessed to have an amazing circle of family & friends!!! We thank you all for your ongoing love, support and prayers!

We have submitted our 1st document mailer and will begin working on our Dossier. That is the step they call the "paper chase". The deadline for us to have our Dossier into Children of All Nations is 6/28/11. Our first and immediate need is the funds to get our home study completed. There are many steps and things we can not do without an approved home study. When we mailed our 1st scheduled document mailer we needed to submit our next payment of $2200.00 and only by the grace of God did we have almost exactly what we needed!! Our adoption fund is now back to about $100.00 and we need at least $1500 for the home study. We know God will provide!! The Dossier is much more extensive than we originally thought- but we will do what needs to be done to bring this dream to completion!!

We do have some fund raising events planned over the next couple of months and look forward to watching God bless those as only He can!!! If you are interested in any of the upcoming fund raising events, feel free to email me or call me at 554-7399.

James 1:27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father mans caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Blessings to you all!
Darren & Shelly Condon

1st Mailer

Our 1st Mailer is ready to be sent out today.... God has shown us His abundant favor continually during this journey and we are setting our sights on Him and Him alone!!!

Immediate needs and prayer request.

After mailing our "1st Mailer" in today with the next payment of $2200, our adoption account goes back to almost a zero balance. This next leg of the journey is what I would call the "big one".. We need to get our homestudy done pronto ($1400) and start working on all the document collecting. It's hard to say what the next step will cost in total-it's large... but we know God is bigger!!! We will be looking into setting up an account for people to make on-line donations that will go directly to our adoption agency into our account. We are learning as we go....so be praying God gives us wisdom, financial favor and an abundant portion of trust in Him!!

Blessings to you all

Shelly & Darren

God's Favor!!

Wow... we are just so thrilled and excited !!!

A couple of weeks ago we took most of what we had left over from our two garage sales this past summer to the Trash & Treasure Sale at the Fourm, and what bounty over flows!! We now have the $2200 we need in our adoption account for our next payment deadline of November 2nd! We raised just over $1000.00 at the T & T Sale and Darren found a buyer for his sled too!!! That money put us at what we needed!!!

Our Next Step

We are anxiously awaiting our "Welcome Packet" from Children of All Nations, and that should arrive within the next two weeks. We are in awe at how God is moving already in this journey. It's so overwhelming to pray for your child... and not even know what he/she looks like... to dream about hugging and holding that child...

We have about $500 in our adoption fund after mailing out the $2488.00 retainer fee to the agence.....Our immediate need is to raise $2200.oo to mail into CAN's in 2 months as well as cover the cost of the home study (that ranges $800-$1200). Please be praying for these dollar amounts and for God's favor and provision. We fully believe we are in the will of God and trust He will meet our needs.

Thank you all for your prayers and support...