Exciting news from the adoption arena!

What a busy week this has been with lots of progress toward the homecoming of R & B!

• Fundraising activities abound. I held the yard sale a couple of weeks back and managed to bring in a little over $600 with items donated by family and friends. My heart goes out to those who sweltered in the heat with me for two days to make the sale a success.
• Earlier this week I also posted about an opportunity provided by Wild Olive. Go to http://store.wildolivetees.com/adoption-fundraiser-tees-c6.aspx and you will find many Christian t-shirts (not adoption specific) to choose from. At checkout enter the code SHINKLE629 and I will receive a portion of proceeds paid directly to CCI to go toward remaining expenses.
• My daughter Kathy also created an amazing video of my first adoption process which goes to where I am now with the girls. I am humbled just to watch it (and I have watched it many many times) and amazed to see the story from her perspective. The video was created for an opportunity with Give1Save1 and we learned earlier this week it will be featured during the month of August. Please consider going to http://give1save1africa.blogspot.com/ during August to view the video and make a donation toward the adoption.
• In addition, I learned yesterday that I am the recipient of a grant from ONEless Ministries! This also will be paid directly to CCI to offset expenses.
• I faxed another grant application to A Child Waits Foundation today and am anxiously awaiting results of the pre-application process.
• Most exciting is that I received an e-mail from CCI today that adoption court proceedings in the DRC have begun! If I am at all on target of understanding this process I am still a few months from travel, but each step feels like a mountain has moved.
• A co-adopter I met during the Ordinary Hero benefit is planning to travel the end of this month to bring her son home and now has a package in her possession to take to each of my girls. They will soon come face-to-face by way of pictures with the family waiting so anxiously for them!
• Finally, I found the house of my dreams the other day and am viewing it this weekend. It has everything I want...twice the space, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a playroom, den, living room, fenced in backyard, and is on a cul-de-sac so an opportunity for four little ones to ride their bicycles with less fear of traffic.
• I also have narrowed my choices of vehicles to trade to and though the luxurious ride I now have will need to be replaced with a minivan it is a necessity that will be short lived and so worth it.

So, as you can see, lots happening but lots more still needed. Please continue to pray for the health of the girls and for the preparation of the boys. Oh, I also will be traveling alone due to health risks of the yellow vaccine immunization to my daughter Kathy so pray for that. If you wish to offer a pledge of financial support instead of those options listed above I have a paypal link on the sidebar and would love for you to consider partnering with me to get these girls to their forever home.

I will end with a picture of two little boys anxious to meet their newest sisters. Oh, they have no idea how their world is going to be rocked!

Wild Olive T-Shirts

I am excited to announce that we have been approved to participate with Wild Olive t-shirts to fundraise for the adoption! Wild Olive is a company founded by adoptive moms, who allow other adoptive families to partner with them to sell t-shirts. There are many, many designs, all Scripturally based. The shirts are incredible and I am honored that they have chosen our family to participate!

To view the shirts and participate in our fundraiser, please visit the website at: http://store.wildolivetees.com/adoption-fundraiser-tees-c6.aspx. On the website, any shirts you find under the Adoption Fundraiser tab that are purchased help support the girls adoption. As you go to check out, you will see a button that says "Coupon Code", enter SHINKLE629 as the code so they can link your sale to our adoption. While it is not a coupon that offers a discount, it does allow the ladies running the site to know that your order was to support our family.

Thank you for continuing to support the adoption of R&B through our fundraising activities. Please spread the word by passing this link, and our family coupon code SHINKLE629, to anyone who likes a beautiful t-shirt!

Adoption Update

Well, things are moving along toward homecoming! All paperwork was received and with quick turn-a-round sent back out to the next destination. The dossier should be on it's way to the DRC for translation and my 30 day wait for the next court date ends this week. Hoping the timeline stays on target to avoid delay in getting Becca and Abby home. USCIS has received my I600A and I will prayerfully have a fingerprint appointment coming soon. Then it's a few more forms and more waiting.
Fundraising has also begun. The Chick-fil-A benefit dinner was a blast and added a small amount to the bank account. A yard sale will be held two weeks from yesterday. By the way, I still need lots of donations for this to be a much needed success. Stand by for information on t-shirts that are awesome and then there is a video soon to be in the works. I have applied for a grant and earnestly seeking additional ways of bringing in money for remaining fees. I have been praying for 3-4 generous donors to make this feel possible. That prayer was answered by the first family last week.
I know I should be worried but I am at such peace with this whole thing. I have no idea how all of the pieces will end up fitting perfectly together but my God does and I rest in that. Thank you for the continued love and support. Hoping to have more information soon...

Tales of a two year old

Oh the joy (and sometimes embarrassment) that comes with a toddler. We were out to lunch after church on Sunday when Jacob, leaned over the booth to a passing customer and announced, "Hey baby, I pee peed in the potty!" Best pick up line ever right?! Where does he get these things:)

Then, following an ENT appointment on Tuesday (where I am thankful to report his tubes are still in place and functioning properly) we ran by the office to visit with co-workers. On the way out his love of flipping switches suddenly turned on him as his fingers found the fire pull station by the elevator and suddenly lights were flashing, sirens wailing, and red alert heard throughout the hospital. Yes, on my floor, in my hospital, with many co-workers I had to say, no it's not a fire, just my son.

Love, love, love this boy and the never knowing what is coming next!

Busy May

Adoption - Things are progressing rapidly to bring R & B home! Documents left for The Assistant Stork today. The dossier is complete minus homestudy. Homestudy is done but waiting on report. Once that is in hand I can send in the dossier, file the I600-A and get the USCIS portion moving. I received new pictures over the weekend which thrilled me to no end. Fundraising begins next week and will hopefully begin to replenish some of what has been going out so rapidly!

Jacob - This little guy is just a delight...a stubborn, loud delight with a bit of a mean streak:) You might liken him to a bully as he tries to do everything first and best. He gets so upset with himself when he can't do what he is attempting. He is a natural athlete and my only decision will be which sport to enroll him in when he is old enough. He has actual conversation now though some does need interpreting still. We have begun working on potty training on an infrequent basis. He has control and he has no effort going when he tries but that stubborn streak runs strong and many times he just will not try. His teachers absolutely adore him both at daycare and church which makes my leaving him a bit easier.

Joseph - What a busy month for this little boy. He has been playing soccer and is beginning to look like he is deliberately scoring. Most games he scores 2-3 goals with the one game exception when he burst into tears because he didn't score. He expects so much from himself. 

Good action shot from this past weekend

Trophies followed this game!

Joseph graduated from pre-school this past week. I'm a pro at graduation and held it together except when a song played during a video with the words, "I can remember when, you fit in the palm of my hand." Most parents cried because they have this memory. I cried because I don't. Still not certain Joseph knew what graduation was all about, but he sure looked handsome and all grown up!

Just look at that smile as he walked past me!

It's Official!

It is so absolutely incredible to watch God at work and all it took was an ounce of faith and the courage to say yes to his calling. I am completely blown away by the response from friends and family at my decision to adopt again. I have received donations from 4 states, 9 counties, and countless friends so far and am pleased to say that the countdown to completely fund this adoption is now at 5816 people willing to make that $5.00 donation. Thank you!
In the meantime, I have a fundraiser planned at Chick-fil-A on May 24th and yard sale for June 23rd. I receive 20% of the proceeds at Chick-fil-A so if you are in the Smyrna area on May 24th come hungry and join the celebration. All you need is the attached coupon in hand or on your phone. The offer is good for dining in or drive through. 

I Have (Had) a Dream

In 1962 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous speech where he stated, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” That dream is alive and fully recognized in the Shinkle household, though far from reality throughout this world. Dr. King fought for his four children and I now have the opportunity, no privilege, to make four of my seven among those who will certainly face the challenges of racism throughout their lives.

In November 2009 I began this journey to change the destiny of my family. The adoption of Joseph and Jacob has no doubt transformed future generations and touched those among us now. I had the luxury of taking my time through the first adoption through many circumstances seemingly within and beyond my control. This allowed for fundraiser after fundraiser and the opportunity to pay one expense before the next came due. This time however, time itself may not be on my side.

Coincidence?

• March 18, 2012 I had a dream
• There were twin girls born in this dream
• I had a split second decision to make
• April 2010 I first saw Jacob. April 2012 I was scrolling through pictures of waiting children and my heart literally leapt as I saw twin girls destined to be my daughters
• These girls remind me of Joseph and Jacob in many of their mannerisms
• There is a perceived urgency in moving forward to get them home
• One of these girls will retain her first name in America. The other (like Jacob) will likely get a new first name

I am not one to believe in coincidence but can plainly see the plan laid before me by a God who is able to overcome every challenge now before me. We are commanded in scripture to care for the widows and orphans, with each individual equipped to do that in his or her unique way. For some this means to allow the 147 million orphans to be another’s problem, some are called to adopt, and others to financially and prayerfully support those who do adopt. Jesus himself ordained adoption by allowing us to be called his sons and daughters.

I have a radical challenge to place before those who would believe with me and I only need 6000 people to say yes. Um, yes, I did say 6,000! If 6000 people will donate $5.00, less than the cost of a one-time lunch, this adoption will be almost fully funded and I can bring two more children out of poverty and disease. I can tuck them in bed at night, celebrate holidays and birthdays with them, and provide needed medical care. I can be the one lucky enough to teach them about their Heavenly Father while providing the opportunity to grow to be successful adults.

Now, here is the crazy part. I can be paper ready in about 3 months, so this challenge comes with a deadline. Just 12 weeks, $30,000, and 2 lives saved. Many will ask, “What’s in it for me?” and I respond, the opportunity to witness a living God in action as he makes the impossible possible. Will you please join me now in supporting the international adoption of these two precious, precious girls and help them reach their forever family.

Thank you and God Bless,

Debbie, Kathy, Amy, David, Joseph, Jacob, R, and B