Tuesday, February 16, 2016

And Now Introducing......

I am so excited to finally be able to write this post!!

We haven't always thought we would adopt 2 kids at one time, but after attending a special needs camp over the past 2 summers my kids have really formed some close relationships with some boys with Down Syndrome. When hearing we were planning to adopt again, they really hoped to have a sibling with Down Syndrome.

I also have had my life changed by a child with Down Syndrome.... When we were working toward adopting Jewel, I decided to pick up a second job to increase our income. I was hired by a company that employed nurses to work with children, in their homes, that need extra medical care. There was a little 2 year old boy named Truman that had Down Syndrome and he had a full time nurse during the day. I started working with him a couple of days a week and completely fell in love with him! The sweetest little guy. Truman passed away in 2014. He is the reason I switched my career path to working with special needs children, and now the reason I feel comfortable changing my parenting path as well...

We had already committed to try to adopt Teagan, but knew it was possible to adopt 2 kids at one time from China. We decided to add a child with DS to our family as well! :) After talking and praying about it, we found a little boy who we were interested in who had DS. We submitted our letter to our adoption agency, asking to be approved to adopt 2 kids...

Not to much later, we began to talk about a name. I had a name in mind, but Jeff said what about “Joseph”? This was the name I was thinking too! Joseph means “God will add…a son”. So we decided yes, his name will be Joseph and we will call him Joey!

Shortly after deciding on the name, the little boy we were interested in was chosen by another family. I was sad, and prayed. I asked God to please make it very clear to us if a boy with Down Syndrome is supposed to be our son. I literally prayed, “Please lay OUR Joey in our lap so we know he is ours”. The next day I posted on and advocacy site asking for people to list their favorite boys with DS, under the age of 7. One of the very first responses was from a young lady who volunteered at a summer camp in China. She added the most precious picture of a boy, 5 years old, who is advocated for by the name “Joey”. OUR JOEY, set right there in our lap!

We are so excited to say that TODAY we have been preapproved by China to adopt Joey!

Introducing Joseph Truman Jarrett...


And just a side note, Truman LOVED bubbles. And one of the first pictures I saw of Joey was him blowing bubbles. I'm so blessed that Truman's parents are allowing me to name my son after their angel, Truman!

Below is Truman blowing bubbles and our Joey with his bubbles <3

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Adoption IS Uncomfortable

We had a wonderful sermon at church today! I feel renewed and today is a new start. A rededication of sorts of my life, this adoption, to GOD. I'm doing this for HIM.

I want to make the reasons for this adoption perfectly clear. We are not adopting these 2 little children because we feel incomplete as a family. We aren't adopting again because we want more children, believe me!! We definitely aren't adopting again because we're bored and have time to spare! We are bringing these two precious children into our family because we are GOD's hands and feet and that is what He would do. It isn't easy and it isn't comfortable. And honestly, I'm scared to death of what we are getting ourselves into! BUT,Jesus loves all children and if He was able, He would adopt them and give them a home. WE ARE ABLE, because Christ is in us, so that is what we will do. We are adopting Teagan and Joey as our children, because GOD adopted US as His. THIS is what WE are called to do!!

In the "adoption community" it is said over and over... never decided not to adopt because of the money. If your heart is right with GOD and you are adopting to glorify HIM, HE will provide!

We have taken a HUGE leap of faith here. We have the money to provide for our kids on a day to day basis once we get them home, but getting them here is the hard part financially! I want to be completely open an honest in this post, so I'm telling you right now... this adoption is going to cost us around $45,000 to bring both Teagan and Joey home. $45,000!!!! That is a crazy amount of money to come up with in a very short period of time! But with GOD, we know it is possible. We know that somehow, crazy as it sounds, we will get the money that we need right when we need it.

And sometimes God uses the people in our lives to provide for the children that HE so deeply loves.

Asking for money is VERY uncomfortable. I struggle with it everyday. It's embarrassing honestly. Money is a hard thing. I don't want to ask, so a lot of times I don't. But the only thing holding us back from our children is time (and paperwork), and unfortunately MONEY. So I'm asking you to pray. And if you feel led, I'm asking you to donate to help bring Joey and Teagan home. I'm asking, and it's uncomfortable. But I'm asking for my kids. I'd do anything for them.

I also want to lay out our Payment Schedule so anyone who is interested can see where their money is going specifically. Please don't be afraid to ask if you have any questions or concerns. Also, if you'd like your donation to be Tax Deductible, I have a way to do that as well. Thank you all in advance. I promise you, anything you can give will be appreciated!

WACAP Application Fee $250 Paid
Homestudy Fee $3000 Paid
Preapproval Deposit $500 Paid
Homestudy Review Fee $350 Paid
US Immigration Filings: Jeff $805 Due before sending Dossier to China
US Immigration Filings: Tammy $805 Due before sending Dossier to China
WACAP Fee + 2nd child fee $3500 Due at Homestudy Approval
WACAP Processing Fee $1500 Due at Homestudy Approval
CCCWA Charge: Teagan $1450 Due at Homestudy Approval
CCCWA Charge: Joey $1450 Due at Homestudy Approval
Dossier Processing Fee $500 Due after Dossier Completion
Doccument Expences $250 Due after Dossier Completion
WACAP Fee $500 Due at Referral
WACAP Processing Fee $500 Due at Referral
WACAP Fee $2000 Due at Child’s acceptance
US Entry Visa Processing Fee: Teagan $350 Due at Child’s acceptance
US Entry Visa Processing Fee: Joey $350 Due at Child’s acceptance
Post Placement transmittal: Teagan $660 Due at Child’s acceptance
Post Placement transmittal: Joey $660 Due at Child’s acceptance
Orphanage Donation: Teagan $5800 Due in China
Orphanage Donation: Joey $5800 Due in China
In China Legal Expenses $3000 Due in China
Round-trip Airfare: Jeff $1800 Due prior to travel
Round-trip Airfare: Tammy $1800 Due prior to travel
In China Travel, lodging, translator $5500 Due prior to travel
In China expenses: Teagan $600 Due in China
In China expenses: Joey $600 Due in China
Airfare to US: Teagan $800 Due prior to travel
Airfare to US: Joey $800 Due prior to travel

Total Adoption Cost: $45,430.00




Valentine's Day Drawing

Happy Valentine's Day!! I'm sorry it has taken me so long to upload this video, but here is the video of our drawing for the private Valentine's Day dinner. Winners were Tara Stultz and Katrina Homer! Thank you so much to everyone who donated. <3