The post where we beg and offer a cool giveaway as a bonus

Everyone, you know from a previous post that we are thick in the middle of living out a call to adopt Alex, a beautiful five-year-old child of God who lives in Eastern Europe and is stuck in a (very) basic care institution simply because he has CP. Some people have asked what they can do to help change Alex's life. And the first thing we always say is pray for Alex's protection.  Children with special needs are in pretty dire straits if they are orphaned in this country: no school ever, primitive care, limited treatment for their diseases or disabilities. While we have recent information that he is doing OK (considering), we'd very much like it to stay that way and pray for his protection every morning and evening.  (And lunch time, bike time, down time, ...you get the idea.)

But the second reality is that international adoption is not cheap at all. No one I know has $25,000 lying around.  While we are in a better situation than we could have expected financially (thanks in part to hard work others have done to help fundraise for Alex!), we could really use help with the pre-travel expenses associated with this adoption. For example, Jerry needs to renew his passport ($110). We need to pay for all these documents to get apostilled (that's a kind of "super-notarization" that works internationally - $3-10 a document, and there are what, 20 documents?). Paying to Fed Ex materials to this country so that they will actually GET there ($200-300?). Paying for super special fingerprints for the USCIS ($720--yes, you read that right). We will make it happen. We've nearly paid for the home study and promise trust (that's over $4000). But could we use help?  Oh yes, we can, trust me. We're pretty frugal folks--one older minivan for the family, lots of back rack clothes shopping, well-versed in bean based dishes, vacations involve camping because it's cheap--but pinching pennies only goes so far.

We're running a giveaway to help raise these necessary funds. If you are led to help Alex (this is in the end for him! and even $5 is MUCH appreciated), put some money in the chip-in here:




Every person who donates money between now and October 21 will be added to our prayers. We will also use random.org on October 22 to choose a person to win a $30 credit at my sister-in-law Becky's Etsy shop, Roses for Mary.  She hand-makes REALLY lovely rosaries out of clay and glaze--look at her shop feedback; people are truly delighted with these.  Your selections must be limited to stock on hand.  But here are some samples:

They would make great Christmas presents, even if you aren't into rosy rosaries (and not all of them are).

Also, if you don't want a rosary,

we'd be happy to give the winner a $30 Amazon gift card instead.

Please keep Alex in your prayers, and please spread the word about this giveaway via fb, Google+, twitter, your blog, or ye olde phone. It's humbling to ask for money, but for my son?  I'd do much more than this.

--Susan