Our Adoption Video

Thank you Maloree for making this awesome video...and thanks Jesslyn for doing such a great job as a hand model :)

A Poem For Esther...My Darling Etsi Grace

So I just got the gift in the mail I had ordered for Esther (Etsi) and it is a poem with her middle name, Grace, printed in the background. I saw it online and the poem is so perfect. When I saw it had her middle name, I had to get it for her. I was reading it to Clint yesterday and I became overwhelmed with heartache for my girl's birthmother and started to bawl like a little baby thinking about everything this dear mother would be missing. I also thought about their father who is giving us the greatest honor to provide a better life for his daughters but how difficult it must be for him to let his little babies go. We have been blessed with the greatest job on earth to be the parents of these adorable little girls and we will never take that honor for granted. I wanted to share the poem with you all because I love it so much, so here it is.

Once there were two women,
who barely knew each other.
One is in your heart forever,
the other you call mother.

Two different lives,
shaped to make yours one.
One became your guiding star,
the other became your sun.

The first gave you life,
and the second taught you how to live it.
The first gave you the need for love,
and the second was there to give it.

One gave you nationality,
the other gave you a name.
One gave you the seed of talent,
the other gave you an aim.

One gave you emotions,
the other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile,
the other dried your tears.

One gave you a family,
it was what God intended her to do.
The other prayed for a child,
and God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears,
the age old question through the years.
Heredity or environment...
Which are you a product of?
Neither, my darling...neither,
just two different kinds of love.

1 Mile Fun Run for Ghana - A race to unite a family

5K Fun Run for Ghana - A race to unite a family // YellowCheetah

Registration is finally up and running for our 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk For Ghana, a race to unite a family. To register for our run/walk or find out more information about the event click on the link above.

The event will take place on September 15th in Freestone Park Gilbert, AZ.

Prices 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk $20 valid until 08/27/2012  $25 valid until 09/12/2012 $30 after 9/12/12 Shirt included with the run/walk entry.  You also have to option to purchase an additional shirt during online registration Children 8 y/o and under can run/walk with a parent for free but a shirt will not be included. To be guaranteed a shirt, please register for the run/walk before 9/8/12 Race Day Schedule Race Day Schedule 6:00 - 6:50am- Pre-Race Packet Pickup and Registration 6:30 - Check-in 7:00 - 1 Mile Fun Run Starts 8:00 - 10:00am - Silent Auction 9:00 - 10:00am - Live Auction Bring chairs, coolers etc to enjoy the post race festivities
Auctions
The silent auction will be set up at 6:30 am and bids will begin at 8:00 am following the race. Bids will be closed at 10:00 am and winners will be announced after the live auction is completed. The live auctions will begin at 9:00 am and will end at approximately 10:00 am. If you would like to donate any goods or services for the auction to help bring Esther (Etsi) and Janet (Cevi) home, please contact Calli at 801-368-3310.
Who knew putting together a Fun Run would be so much work.  At least I will now be prepared to host fundraisers in the future to help others adopt and  continue to help the people of Ghana.

Adoption Fundraiser Committee Meeting

Our first Adoption Fundraiser committee meeting is tomorrow at 7:00 pm at the Anasazi Foundation office located at 1424 South Stapley Dr. Mesa, Arizona 85204. Even if you are unable to join the committee but would still like to help, please join us and bring anyone who might be interested to find out all the different ways you can help. If you have to bring your children or show up a little late that is okay too we are just happy to have as many people as we can to help us make this fundraiser a success!!! Let me know if you have any questions and call if you need directions 801-368-3310. Thanks so much, I can't say that enough!!!

Auction Fundraisers!!!

So I have some exciting news. We are now also going to be doing a fundraising event probably the first weekend of September here in Arizona. This event will include a 5k race, a breakfast, a silent auction, and a live auction. I will be working on getting all the details of the event in order this weekend and keep you all posted.

This is going to be big event (hopefully) so we are hoping to get a committee of volunteers together to help make this event a success. Let me know if you are interested in joining the committee, helping work at the event, willing to take letters around for auction item donations, have things you would like to donate for the auction, or have any ideas on how to help get the word out. My email is calli.joy2@gmail.com or you can call or text me at 801-368-3310.

P.S. We are still doing an online auction on Our Ghanaian Family face book page August 18th so those of you outside of Arizona can still get the chance to buy some goodies and help us bring our girls home.

What this all means

So I have had a few people asking questions about what is next so I thought I would explain it all since adoption can sometimes be so confusing.
So in the state of Arizona you are required to first be approved by the state to adopt before submitting the paperwork for international adoption to immigration and getting approved on a federal level. Clint and I are now approved to adopt in Arizona. We are now getting all the paperwork together to send it all in and in about 2 weeks we will be given a date to get our fingerprints clearance done. Our social worker told us that we can pretty much plan from that date we will be a month out and that would be the time to buy plan tickets and set court dates for Ghana. So we could potentially be bringing our girls home before the youngest 1st birthday!!!! I feel like I might burst from excitement, stress, happiness, anxiety, but most of all just pure joy at the thought of finally being a mother of 2 adorable little girls and the fact that I get to see my 3 little African angels again even if just for a short time :).

We Are Approved!!!

I don't have a lot of time to write all about how amazing Clint and I feel right now so I just wanted to share with you all that Clint and I received our certification letter in the mail today. That's right the state of Arizona found us fit to adopt!!!!! Needless to say, we are freaking stoked!