Can you see the difference?????

Can you see the difference????

There has been such change in our two newest additions.  There is such a sparkle in their eyes.  Kevin Michael is healthy and happy.  Eliyanah has become quite bossy with all the English words she has learned.  She can say complete sentences and most of the time her words are understandable.  They have both come a long way in a short amount of time.  We brought them home on Jan 1st.


Here are their before and after picts:

 Kevin during his heart surgery in February

Eliyanah
at her orphanage
prior to
us adopting
her.























Please help us as we leave to pick up our newest son.  What will his before and after pictures look like?  YES, we can make a difference!!!!!!

We are still in need of about $21,000 to complete his adoption.  We will be traveling sometime in September.

If you can help please donate using the button to the right of this page.

What does a child's life cost??? (Traveling soon)

"Our children are worth every penny we spend on them."  I would say that most of the time but there are some things we spend money on for our kids and think "that was sooooooo not worth the money spent".  There are also those times when we throw money at things to just get our kids out of our hair for a few minutes and later think that was a waste of money.  Especially when you are tired and they are still nagging at you for something you normally wouldn't spend money on.  I mean we all want PEACE and it seems like a good purchase at the time.  Here in America parents spend a lot of money on their children for things they really don't need.  The cost of even raising a child has increased drastically over the years.  (over $245,000 for a child born in 2013 until age 18)  WOW that's a lot of money!!!!

The real question is "what does a child's life cost????"  I know we would all say in desperate situations "every penny I have!!!"  I know I would say that if my child's life was at stake.  I would sacrifice all that I have for my child's life and well being.

That's what I am saying right now!  Our son's life is at stake and we urgently want to bring him home ASAP!!!!  We have and will continue to fight for our son to bring him home no matter what it cost.  It is now time to have funds available because our last document has just arrived and will be headed over to his country in the next 10 days.  We will get a travel date very soon!!!  Please help us to bring him home - any amount will help!!!

These are our estimated ADOPTION EXPENSES  

  

            Homestudy Fees                $ 1600 (paid)

            Application Fees                $   275 (paid)

            Passport Fees                     $     85 (paid)

            USCIS Fee                         $     85 (paid)

            Bank Fees                          $     55 (paid)

            Birth/Marriage Ce             $     20 (paid)

            Police Clearances              $   160 (paid)

            Postage Fees                      $   100 (paid)

            Apostille Fees                    $   150  (paid)

            Estimated Air Travel         $ 9600

                        For 2 trips

            Adoption Fees                   $ 9400 (have paid $900)

            Travel in country               $ 1200

            Medical for Visa                $   350

            Visa App                            $   350

            USCIS fee                          $   720

            Child’s Passport                 $   600

            Living in country               $ 2000

            Travel to US                      $   800       for child trip home

            Bed/clothing for child       $ 1200 (paid $600)

Estimated TOTAL:  $28,750

Paid so far:  $4,030
Cash on Hand:  $3,055

TOTAL AMOUNT still NEEDED:  $21,665


We currently have a Tshirt fundraiser going on until July 31st.  All proceeds go to help bring our son home and you will also receive a Tshirt for your donation shipped directly to you.  ORDER YOURS TODAY by going to:

booster.com/bowlingfamilyadoption


Tax deductible donations can also be made by clicking the link on the right at Reece's Rainbow.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!!!!

Difficult Decisions

We had to make a very difficult decision this week concerning our adoption.  We have been moving forward for awhile with a feeling that something was just not right.   We wanted to be excited about adopting again but for some reason God's peace had just disappeared.  We began questioning whether we had even made the right decision.  We were not sure, at all, if this was going to be a good fit for our family.  Honestly, we were ready to just throw in the towel.

We discussed many times if we could actually care for the little boy we had initially chosen.  We had received further information and there were concerns raised about his future needs.  We wanted to help and felt we just could not say "no" especially now that we had said yes.  The turmoil inside was really eating at us.  I finally took the initiative and sought some counsel from a reliable source.  I did not feel we should just give up but something needed to change.  She gave us great counsel and listened to my heart.  (thank you)

Some of you may never understand the decision we had to make and you may frown on us for making a commitment and then back out of that commitment.   I am sorry but in the end we had to go with the directing of the Holy Spirit and what was best for our family.  I will say that God's peace has returned and we strongly feel this is the best decision for our family.  We will continue to pray for the little boy that we had to say "no" to.  He needs a family to call his own.  Please pray someone will commit to him soon!!!

We will now be pursuing a little boy who approximately five years old.  We feel he is a better fit for our family and we would appreciate your prayers and support.  Our paperwork is almost complete and traveling to pickup our new son is drawing very near!!!!

Here is a glimpse of our son:

Thank you!!!

Celebration Day - we've reached 6 months home

We can’t believe it has been six months since we arrived back in the USA.  Our entire family has grown in so many ways.  Yes, we have added two additional children to our family by adoption and also a son in law, Greg, who married our second daughter Mariah on May 4^th.   Our family is growing and soon we will be adding an additional son by adoption as well.  We hope to bring him home in the next few months.

Just to update everyone on our newest additions progress in the past six months here is a recap of where we started:

Eliyanah came to us from a highly special needs orphanage in Krivoy Rog, Ukraine.  We picked her up on December 19^th.  She was not potty trained at the time and had no understanding of a family or what a mom and dad were.  She struggled with so many things when she came to live in her new home.  The entire family was very overwhelmed at first in caring for Eliyanah and trying to meet her needs.  We had difficulty communicating with her since she did not know the English language or even her native language.   She was like having an emotionally high strung two year old.  We had many successes along with several setbacks.  It was one step forward and three steps backwards. 

Kevin Michael was in the city of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.  Kevin weighed about 10 lbs when we first saw him at 7 months old.  He was like holding a 2 month old because of his size and his movements.  Kevin’s medical conditional would require him to have surgery as soon as possible.  We picked him up from his orphanage on December 23^rd and were told to not expect him to survive the flight home.

We think it would be more appropriate to tell you all the things that Eliyanah has learned while being home (We will forget to list something I'm sure).  We are now moving forward without moving backwards (this is a success)  She is now potty trained!!!!  Physically she has learned how to run, jump, crawl, throw a ball, skip, and even make a basket while playing basketball with the kids.  Emotionally she is adjusting to being a daughter, sister and friend to many.  She is now understanding emotions. (happy, sad, scared)  She gives hugs to just about everyone and talks to whomever she meets.  She knows and understands many English words and recognizes people and animals.  When we have guests over it is Eliyanah that introduces everyone in our household by saying their name.  She calls for her mama and daddy often when she needs us.  She is now saying sentences instead of just one word when she wants something (we are working on all her sounds as she doesn’t yet have them all correct).  She has learned how to be a sibling as well (she can hold her own with the other kids).  She has learned many good habits as she can say “thank you, please, and welcome.”  Eliyanah also can produce an attitude when she wants to.   She has learned to stomp her foot like Amber when she gets into trouble or is upset with us.   This beautiful, smart little girl is now officially a part of a family and enjoying her childhood. We are amazed at the progress she has made and know she will continue to grow and excel to her full potential!!!

Kevin Michael is thriving in our family.  His heart surgery was a success and at his past two checkups there has been no sign of his previous pulmonary hypertension.  This is great news for him as he continues to grow stronger every day.  He now weighs 18 lbs and can sit up all by himself.   He rolls all over the floor and is pushing up on his hands.  He will put weight on his legs now when you hold him upright.  Kevin has a smile and laugh that will light up a room!!!!  His joy is contagious!!!!

Just look at these faces and smiles this is what adoption is all about!!!!  Please know that our lives are not perfect or that we are not without times of struggles, but the blessing of following God’s direction in adopting these children was the best thing that has happened to our family.  We have seen some amazing things only God could have done in our lives.  We are thankful for everyone who continues to pray for our family and for all of those who have financially supported us during this time.  THANK YOU!!!!

If you would please continue to keep us in your prayers and if you can financially support us again we are moving forward with another adoption.   Lisa will be the one traveling this time to bring home our son and we expect her to be traveling in the next few months.  We still need to raise approximately $22,000 to be able to complete this adoption.

Financial (tax-deductible) donations can be made by clicking the Reece’s Rainbow link on the right of our blog post.   Once again THANK YOU!!!!