Monday, August 19, 2013

M.I.A.

We've been seriously MIA this summer.  After fundraising heavily for the last bit of winter and the spring, we took a much needed break for the summer. It's a good thing, too, because this summer proved to be a chaotic one!
We are still working on our home study...just a few education requirements to finish up. But, we just sold our house! And that's great, but we can't finish our home study until we get moved into our new one...and boy has it been a challenging time, trying to buy a good house with more space for our growing family on a not huge budget.  God shut one door after another as we've been actively searching for a well-priced house for many weeks. He's beginning to open them though, as situations are changing. It's still not a done deal, but we have signed a purchase agreement on a house and are awaiting inspection on Friday. So, prayers for a smooth process would be greatly appreciated! :) 
Aside from house selling and hunting, our summer consisted of a family vacation, VBS, spending time with our families, the passing of Kyle's precious grandfather and a mall playground accident that landed Maggie with a broken arm and two pins to hold it together. 
I wouldn't say it's been a rough summer, but I don't think any of us minded the debut of the school year, which began today for Maggie...her first day of kindergarten. :)
So, hopefully we can get our rears in gear and finish this home study and keep this process moving along!  If there's one thing I've been greatly reminded of this summer, it's that God has a bigger-scheme-grand-plan that is far greater than mine. So although I'm bummed that our adoption process is moving much slower than I expected or hoped, I know there is a reason. Perhaps these delays are lining us up for the children He's had on mind for us all along. Pretty exciting to think about, and keeps me from getting frustrated. :)
Thanks for your continued prayers! 
Have a beautiful week, friends!

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Two FUNdraisers coming up!

As it worked out, my "laid back" month of June has quickly filled up with fundraisers (and vacation and VBS!) Woohoo! :) Fun fun fun!!

So, I wanted to let everyone know about two things we have coming up this month:
 
June 26
31 Gifts Fundraiser
6:00-8:00pm
JuJu Berry Frozen Yogurt

My friend Trish has offered to donate her commission from this party to our adoption fund!! Amazing!
Here is a link that you can shop online if you are not local or can't come to the party...
http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E3328463&from=DIRECTLINK


Guest special: when you spend $35, you can get a large utility tote for $10!!!

 
June 28/29
Neighborhood Yard Sales
7am-? each day
 
So, if you have items you would like to donate to our yard sale (or come shop) and help our adoption fund grow, please let me know. brittanischmidt@yahoo.com
I can collect items all that week.  Thanks so much!

Friday, May 31, 2013

Portrait party rescheduled

Unfortunately, the weather forecast for tomorrow is awful, so we are having to move the portrait party to next Saturday, June 8. Please let me know if you would like to attend, or if you can't make it due to the date change. Brittanischmidt@yahoo.com
Sorry for the inconvenience!!
Thanks!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Portrait Party Update!

Here is some updated information from Mama Bates Photography about our Portrait Party. I am so excited and blown away by the offer she is making our friends for this fundraiser!

This is the link to the sample gallery. You can view her work, and pricing.  A 4x6 is only $0.78!!!
http://mamabatesphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Pricing/28001162_bnCn3q#!i=2364501206&k=6RpBNL7

A message from Mama Bates: "We want to give people their digital downloads for free and the print pricing is our special friends and family pricing."

FREE digital downloads!!! Oh Wow!!!

Email brittanischmidt@yahoo.com if you would like a 30 minute spot for your family, newborn, etc.
 
June 1
11:00am-5:30pm
$50 session fee (goes to adoption fund)
Matter Park

Friday, May 17, 2013

Say Cheese!

I'm excited to tell you about our next fundraiser!!!

 Portrait Party
 June 1 at Matter Park
11:00am-5:30pm
(30 minute time slots)
Session fee is $50 and goes directly to our adoption fund.
 
Check out www.mamabatesphotography.com to see her work.
Here's one she did of us last year :)
 
 
A regular session with Mama Bates Photography is $200/hour, so you're getting a great deal, for amazing pictures, and benefitting a wonderful cause. It's a win, win, win! ;)
 
Please email brittanischmidt@yahoo.com to reserve your time slot or check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/schmidtfamilyadoption for the event details.
 
 
 


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Mercury's rising!

Check out that goal thermometer!!!! Yes!! It is gonna explode! We have exceeded the amount needed for our next goal: to pay for the home study and the next agency payment!!!

The Tea party and silent auction brought in $2279!!!!  That is incredible!!! What a blessing!  

It really was a beautiful day, made possible only because I have ridiculously loving and talented friends. I will post pictures soon. :)

Thank you to everyone who has continued to pray for, encourage, and support this journey. I will try to do a better job of updating...it has been wild around here lately! 

Love to you all!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

What a day!!

Just over a year ago, The Lord brought two hurting mommas together. Each of us were carrying precious babies whom we would only hold in our arms for mere minutes or hours.
What began as a shared journey of pain and beautiful grace from Him alone, has grown and evolved into one of healing, remembering, excitement and looking toward the future, while holding tight to the love we have for our babies.
I can't begin to tell how much I love sweet Mara. She is, and has been, a real source of strength...we are able to share things that most moms (fortunately) wouldn't be able to understand.
This weekend, she blessed our family in such an amazing way. All the way across the country, in Southern California, she organized a fundraiser for us! She recruited help and items from her friends and threw one heck of a garage sale. Her call to me today was filled with praise to our God for a super successful event. She was able to raise over $1100 for our adoption fund!!!!
I am blown away. And that's an understatement. I can't really put into words how it feels to know someone has thought of you, loved you, spent so many hours preparing for an event for you. And taken two days out of their life to benefit you, and your family, and babies across the world whose future is going to be drastically changed. Wow. It's almost too much for me to take in. It's humbling. It's exciting. It's all because of and for the glory of our God. Shew, I get all emotional thinking about it. Isn't He so good?! Aren't friends so good?! Ahhhhh!! Thank you Jesus.

In addition to this wonderful news, I had the honor of doing cupcakes for a dear friend who is a blessing to all who know her. She is about to have her first baby! It was a beautiful shower. :)

Here are some pics from Mara and of the latest creation from Bakin' for my Babies. :)