Getting ready for Knox!

So it's January and we have everything we need to travel except for ONE SINGLE PIECE OF PAPER! The Travel Approval(TA) wait is the worse wait of all time! As we wait I am trying to make the best use of my time. Instead of refreshing my email 400x a day and researching ways to bribe someone at the CCCWA (China center for children welfare's & adoption) to move the process along I've decided to work on Knox's room and plan creative ways for packing for 2 1/2 weeks in China with one suitcase.

First lets look at the room. Honestly, I was a little sad to be painting over the pink walls. Our other two daughters are older so no more pink wall's in their room. As we started painting my excitment grew! this is my first boy's room! New chapter bring on the boy toys!

from pink to grey and green

crazy big sister is always jumping in front of the camera

  Josiah and I did the painting but called in the big guns (my mom & dad)for decorating and putting together massive Ikea cubbies and dressers.  Below are some of the highlights



Josiah giving moral support as my dad anchors the cubbies

Jaycee again showing off Knox's bed

Dad and I working on the dresser before midnight

  

after midnight!

My parents are rock stars by the way! While mom and I shut Ikea down my Dad and Josiah watched the girls. We finally got home around 9:30 then the work started. I think we finished at 1:00am which means they didn't get home till after 2am. My parents have helped me get all of my girls nursery ready so this was such a sweet time watching them get ready for their grandson.

Next post is all about packing for China! Who know's maybe our TA will be in!



The Concert of the year!

12-14-2104 BEST CONCERT EVER!

Josiah, Morgan & Chad singing Silent Night

 On 12/14/2015 my family hosted a fundraiser Christmas concert for Knox. It was amazing!  God has blessed my family with the incredible gift of music. From the first time Josiah and I discussed different fundraisers having a benefit concert was at the top of the list.




While I had no idea how to pull together a concert my aunt Johnna, aunt Mary and my sister and brother in law did. In 3 short weeks the event was organized, singers booked, and advertised all over the town. Honestly I can't believe we pulled it off in such short notice!


my sisters & my Mama

 The concert was amazing! The singers and musicians were amazing, the volunteers who helped with concessions and the reception were amazing. The night was a complete success.

getting ready backstage

My amazing family + my bestie

We raised $1,450 to go towards the adoption. Another amazing (I know too many amazings) thing that happened is the local paper ran a front page article about Knox, our family, and the concert! Josiah posted the article on FB and emailed it to his boss and guess what? With his boss and his companies vendors they matched the donations from the concert! This concert was to be our last fundraiser before we traveled. Even with the money from the concert we were still a little short from our goal but with a nice offering from my Mom's church, a donation from a friend, and a secret Norwex fundraiser my sister organized on the side(Norwex rocks) we have met our goal! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!2

Now we have our money it's time to get ready to travel!