Too Long

The other day as I was walking out of work my cousin was walking into my work to drop off coffee and said " how's the adoption going, I haven't seen anything on your blog". A few days after that my other cousin popped in on facebook and said " how's the adoption going, I haven't been on your blog for awhile". Mind you they are from the same family but I thought maybe I need to update the blog. In the beginning I knew I would have a hard time keeping up with this but as I continue to write I realize that I am really doing this for myself too. A way to vent in some degree. So getting to the point....we are just kinda of stuck. Limbo land as I like to call it. Jon and I have come to conclusion that we really need to get all our ducks in a row before we can proceed any further. In other words, we are struggling with trying to figure out how to afford all of this. We are thinking about doing a pig roast some time in October but this is just a thought. I know its all in God's hands and he will provide if it is in his plans...and I am praying that it is in his plan.

I will try not go too long in between blogs next time. Please keep us in your prayers.
The Allen Family

Well we had a wonderful meeting last Friday.. a lot of our questions were answered and a lot of questions too answer. We have begun to think about our portfolio and what we would like potential families to know about us...my biggest question with this is will they like us? What draws a mother to you through photographs and words? At times I think of the game red rover, as a kid I was picked toward the front of the pack, but what about now? What will she see in us to know that we are the family for her baby. I just keep reminding myself of the words FAITH and HOPE.. for that is all we have.

At our meeting we were given some reading tasks, if you would like to know about adoption I urge you to read these books also, then you will know what Jon and I are going through and what other adopted parents, birthmothers and children have also experienced.

Here are the books:

Launching a baby's adoption- Johnston
Dear Birthmother- Sibler & Speedlin


Prayers and Love
J and K

Another meeting

Well Jon scheduled another meeting today with adoption assoc. for Friday. This is a general meeting for them to try to get to know us a little better and what are needs and wants are. Of course they tell us to come loaded with questions. I have some many questions running through my head and of course when they ask us to bring a list of them, my mind goes blank. My biggest question of all is...WHEN!!! I am totally driven by a time frame and I know the general rule of thumb is 1 year but it could be earlier...but I will continue to dig until I hear the answer I want. This is what happens when you grow up with 5 siblings. "She will keep asking you the same question until she hears the answer she wants"....my husband telling the adoption agency this. Yes he knows me very well. Anyone have any questions they think I should ask?

Adoption Fund

Well today we finally put our pride aside and opened up the official adoption fund at Lake Michigan Credit Union. As humans our pride often keeps us from asking for help but we need your help and support. Our adoption will cost anywhere from 18,000.00 to 23,000.00, but so worth it in the end. We will be doing a fundraiser at some point in the next month or two so if anyone has any ideas for us that would be great and we would love to meet with you to set something up. The goal is attainable if we have faith that God will provide through family and friends. We will be sending out a family letter next week, but until then if you would like to give a monetary donation please visit any local Lake Michigan Credit Union and donate to The Allen Family Adoption Fund. You may remain anonymous or you can leave a message along with the donation. If you are unable to give financially PRAYERS are the most important way of supporting us along with words of encouragement.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3

Thanks again- Jon and Kerri

A new Journey has begun.......

Our new journey has begun...some of you might be asking yourself, what exactly does this mean? This means in our family terms....its time to have a new baby around here. No, no this does not mean I'm prego..this means we have finally come to terms with not being pregnant and have begun the journey of adoption. We started this blog for this exact reason. Our adoption journey. In the next few weeks this simply means paperwork and money...and then the fun begins..well maybe not fun if you know me well this means over organizing, over stressing and an excitement that we can hardly contain. I am sure some of you have lots of questions regarding this or maybe you don't know our family story at all. Trust me, you will, but until we post more what we need now more than ever is a chain of prayers. God has lead us to this path of adoption and we pray for support.

Thanks...The Allen Family