Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Just One E-mail...Pretty Please?


Dear friends and family,

First I want to thank you all for your incredible support through our adoption journey.  It's been great to know that there's so many people behind us and holding us up when the weight of all this can feel like we might be crushed.  

Second...I wanted to let you all know that our fundraising is going well but we still have a long road ahead. Over $20,000 to be exact.  That's mainly because we have to take three trips to Russia.  Lenski and I continue to fundraise like crazy and we're also applying for grants.  But one thing that would be a HUGE help to us is the Adoption Tax Credit.  

So this is the third thing.  This credit basically refunds you between $10 - 13,000 in adoption expenses.  So you can see how important this is when you're looking at a $60,000 adoption cost.  The bad part is that this credit may no longer exist in 2013.  Unless your adoption is complete in 2012 you won't be able to get a refund...unless we can gain support.  I'm writing this to ask you to consider sending an email to our senators and representative asking them to be cosponsors of the Making Adoptions Affordable Act which would make the Adoption Tax Credit a permanent credit.  

Don't freak out about writing a letter on your own.  I've got one already written for you.  There's a few spots you have to fill in your own words but it's brief.  I'm going to add it at the end of this letter and you can copy and paste it into any message.  Just don't forget to fill in your parts.  That means you need to read the letter :)  Here are the ways to get in touch with the right people. 

Debbie Stabenow - http://www.stabenow.senate.gov/?p=contact
-For this one you'll want to copy and paste YOUR finished letter into the message box.  It works.  I've tried it.

Carl Levin - https://www.levin.senate.gov/contact/email/
-This works the same as Debbie Stabenow

To find your representative just go to this address - http://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/
-Type in your information and you'll be directed to their page where you can find their contact info.  
-You can then send the message accordingly.


I know this may seem political but it's not.  Adoption is an amazing thing and many families just can't do it because of finances.  This credit could change all that and help bring many orphans to loving families.  Please consider not only helping our family by doing this but all the other possible waiting families.  We can use all the help we can get.  Ok, here's the letter...


Dear Senator/Representative NAME:
I am writing to ask you to support the federal adoption tax credit by cosponsoring the bipartisan S. 3616/H.R. 4373 – Making Adoptions Affordable Act. This credit is set to expire on December 31, 2012. Since 1997, the adoption tax credit has helped tens of thousands of parents offset the high cost of adoption, making it possible for them to provide children with loving, permanent families. S.3616/H.R. 4373 is the only bill in Congress that includes the refundable provision, allowing many more children and families to benefit from the credit equally; without the refundable provision some families simply cannot access the credit.
The adoption tax credit is especially important to me and my family because… (This is important, put a face to the issue. Tell Congress why this matters to you. Your Members of Congress value your voice!)
If Congress does not take action, the current adoption tax credit will expire at the end of 2012. The credit will be reduced to $6,000, and will only benefit the few families that adopt children with special needs and have qualified adoption expenses. Most families adopting children from foster care, inter-country adoption, and domestic infant adoption will not receive any benefit. Without the adoption tax credit, many parents hoping to adopt will be unable to do so, and others will face great financial hardship. The adoption tax credit is essential to ensuring that as many children as possible find the forever families they deserve and ensuring that those families are in a more stable financial position to provide an environment where children can thrive.
The adoption tax credit must be extended to help as many children as possible find the permanent, loving family they need and deserve. For 2012 it should be made refundable again so that most adoptive families will benefit from it. The best adoption tax credit would be permanent, refundable, inclusive of all types of adoption, and remain a “flat” credit for children with special needs.
On behalf of the countless children waiting to be adopted, and the many thousands of families that stand to benefit from the adoption tax credit, thank you for your attention to this important issue.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Pancakes and Butterflies

It's already October and I don't know where the time has gone.  Our dossier has been turned in and now we wait.  During the waiting period we study up on adoption and parenting.  We fill out tons of grant applications.  And of course, we fundraise.

It has been amazing to see how God has provided for this adoption.  It leaves me speechless...and that's very uncommon.  But we still have more to go.  We are looking at another $20,000 left to raise.  Yes, I meant to put that many zero's in there.  Because we have to travel to Russia THREE, count them, THREE times we still have this large chunk left.  In case you didn't know...it's not cheap to fly two people to Russia three different times.  So I spend a lot of my time handing this over to God, begging his forgiveness when I take it back and grinning when he surprises me with yet another donation of some sort.  But back to the fundraising...

October means it's Pancake Breakfast time and I am frantically trying to get everything ready.  There's supplies to get, volunteers to organize and silent auction items to acquire.  It's a lot of stuff to do.  But so many of you have made it easy by donating items for the auction or providing our much needed supplies.  It has made a huge difference for me.  But I still have butterflies in my stomach.  You always wonder when you put on an event like this, "Will anyone show up?"  And that's when the butterflies start fluttering in my tummy.  (Notice my child-like language.  My parenting research is paying off)

So the question is, "Will YOU show up?"  If you do, here's what you can expect:


  1. Pancakes will be served from 9 am until 11 am.  You can come whenever you want.  You can come and NOT eat pancakes too!  The silent auction will be going on at the same time and you are not required to pay admission for that.
  2. Adults will be charged $5 and children $3.  Once you're in, it's unlimited pancakes for everyone.
  3. We kept it simple by just having pancakes, coffee and juice.  Sorry, we're just not fancy...or rich.
  4. This is not a programmed event.  Lenski will be the MC and talk at different points but we'd really like it if you all just enjoy your Saturday morning with each other over some delicious pancakes.  
  5. The silent auction will end at 11 am.  The highest bidder can take home their item if they are still there.  Otherwise we will deliver it to you.
  6. We will have our t-shirts for sale there.  If you haven't had a chance to get one you may want to bring some extra cash.  They're really cool and you're going to want one.  They're $20 each or 2 for $30.
If you're wondering if there's anything you'd like to bid on at our silent auction, here's our complete list of items that will be available.

  • Biggby package (sorry, no gift cards)
  • Tattoo gift certificate (Lenski would like to add that this would make a great gift for him)
  • 2 dual or couples massage gift certificates valued at $80 each
  • A one-hour interior design consultation with Deidre Interiors valued at $75
  • 6 one hour massage gift certificates for The Soma Center (Renee Green) valued at $50 each
  • A $50 gift certificate to One Girl's Treasure
  • 3 gift certificates for a customizable quarter sheet cake
  • A dozen of Art Green cookies in these flavors: Heath, Molasses, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin and Sugar with sprinkles.  Valued at $15 / dozen.
  • Brand new home fencing that's 2 feet tall and 100 feet long
  • Homemade fudge
  • 2 retro silver lamps
  • Snoopy baby package
  • Brand new IKEA hammock valued at $30
  • Brand new IKEA pendant lamp valued at $20
  • $10 gift card to Koetsier's
  • Wine and cheese package with brand new wine glasses and salad plates as well as cloth napkins
  • A salon items package with Bed Head, Pureology and more valued at $120
  • Brand new wall clock valued at $13
  • A Magic Bullet set
  • Brand new wireless mouse
  • Brand new Calvin Klein hat, scarf and gloves set bought last year from Younkers
  • Ladies brand new watch and jewelry set valued at $35
  • Mens brand new watch, wallet and pen set valued at $35
  • Brand new solar charger
  • Brand new chocolate colored Moby wrap valued at $45
  • Brand new pedometer and pink yoga map
  • Brand new bathroom faucet valued at $39
  • Cooking set with 3 Rachael Ray cookbooks and a new set of stainless steel bowls valued at $70
  • No Greater Love 90-day devotional valued at $15
  • The Wounded Spirit by Frank Peretti valued at $19
  • Brand new Infantino 3-n-1 Shop and Play mat valued at $25
  • Summer Infant Cosleeper valued at $45
  • Samsonite laptop workbag on wheels
  • An authentic Amis made quilt valued at $500

So there you have it.  If you made it this far down I'm impressed.  We hope you will mark your calendars and join us at the pancake breakfast on October 13th from 9 to 11 am at Tallmadge Community Church.

Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction
Tallmadge Community Church
0-1428 Leonard NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534