Today is a big day here in the Helms House! We reached the oh so desired $6,000 mark in our adoption savings account! You know what this means?!... WE ARE MAILING IN OUR OFFICIAL APPLICATION TODAY!!!! That's right folks, we are actually "officially" starting this crazy process!!! While it seems for the past couple months we've already begun this journey with all the prep in saving, NOW it really begins! Yipee!
I have to wonder if some of you are sitting there thinking to yourself, "Now what?!"... Well, I don't have all the answers, but what I do know is this:
1. We turn in our official application with AGCI and wait to hear back from them. They say they'll contact us within three business days of receipt of the application.
2. After that, they help us get set up on the next steps of this process. Pretty much, we become pregnant with paperwork! I'll keep you posted along the way as far as what we're having to fill out and go get done- but the gist of it is that we'll be working on our home study and dossier (I'll explain what that fancy word is later.).
3. This also means that the check writing will begin for agency fees, finger printing, home study fees and the list goes on.
I also wonder if many of you thinking to yourselves, "Aren't they still going to have to come up with more money?!"... And the answer is YES! This was just the first financial goal we were trying to reach. Truthfully, I don't know what the next financial hurdle will be- but once I know the amount, I'll be sure to share! (o; Once our home study is complete it opens up the door for some other avenues of funding. We have three organizations that we already have grant applications filled out for- but they can't be turned in until the home study is complete. Our prayer is that these grants will provide some much needed help along the way for expenses.
We've said from the beginning we feel like God is only revealing on step at a time in this journey. The first step is checked off and we're onto the next! We are simply amazed at how God has gotten us this far through people like YOU and we can't thank you enough! Continue to follow this crazy journey of ours... after all, it's just getting started!
Congratulations on beginning this stage of the journey! I'm excited for you!! (p.s. just a hint from a been-there-done-that: apply for EVERY grant you possibly can!) :):):)
ReplyDeleteCongrats!! What an exciting day!! We are an AGCI family adopting from Ethiopia...currently working on dossier. So glad to take this journey with you...email me if you have any questions!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you. We are trying to get our statements together for our application so we can turn it in soon. My sister and brother in law are John and Amanda Kelley. When I told them we are planning to adopt from ethiopia, they sent me the link to your blog. I think it would be awesome if we end up traveling at the same time to pick up our little ones.
ReplyDeleteAllie- thanks for the advice about filling out every grant possible! That's the plan! Kelly Jo, I love that you're a couple steps ahead of us in this journey and we can follow along how God is putting all the pieces together! And Amanda Kelly's in-laws (what's your name?)... so glad to hear from you! I'd love to follow your story- let me know if you get a blog up and going!
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