Sunday, September 18, 2011

This for That

Short and sweet.  If you live in the greater Cincinnati area, I want to bless you so that you can bless me!  I am doing an adoption FUNdraiser for Sofía's adoption.  I have been passionate about photography for many, many years.  I've even had some of my photos published, including one in Photographer's Forum Magazine.   I've been praying and praying about different ways to raise funds and I really feel that God brought this to my mind so....  I think that pictures are such sweet memories and at least for me, I feel like the older I get the faster time flies :(  Anyway, what better way to document the sweet years of life than through pictures?  So, here's the deal:  I will come to the location of your choice and photograph your family (including the furry kind!) for an hour, do some minor editing if needed, and save all of the pictures to a disc so that you can make as many prints in as many sizes as you like!   I consider myself a "natural light" photographer, so I prefer to stick to the outdoors.  Besides, natural lighting is way more flattering! All of this for the sweet price of $125!  A steal, right?!!  AND, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping me get 1 step closer to bringing Sofía home since 100% of the session fee will go directly towards her adoption!  

A dear friend took me up on this offer and I got to spend a wonderful September afternoon photographing her beautiful family!

we crashed a wedding to get this shot!











I love how they are looking at each other!





If you are interested, email me at kgraephotography@gmail.com   I would love to hang out with you and your family and get you some great family photos!!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

A Year Ago Today

I opened my email to find the "Welcome :)"  subject line staring at me!  I was so excited and couldn't believe that I was officially accepted into the Congo program!  There were several miracles that took place for that to happen and seeing the welcome sign completely flooded my heart with joy.  As I reflect back on this year I am still so amazed, humbled, and encouraged by everything that God has accomplished with these adoptions and also with me.  I can truly say that this journey has been the most life-changing experience and they're not even here yet!

I asked my caseworker if I'm still holding strong at #17 or if I've moved up at all.  She told me that I'm still #17 that things were slow for a couple of weeks but that referrals are starting to come in again.  I am anxiously awaiting to see baby Joaquín's referral picture!

In regards to India, my homestudy visit is next Wednesday.  I will be crazy busy cleaning and gardening and trying to not stress out.  I just might serve dinner on the floor after she leaves because I know it will be clean enough to eat off of it!!  I still need to have the Fire Marshall come over and hang out and tell me that my house is safe, update my medical that was just done in March and a couple of other things.  I am really going to believe and trust that the reason AP asked for the resubmission of all the paperwork is because of the implementation of the new procedures at the end of September.  I want to be ready to go so I can start working on my dossier and apply for immigration.  I can't do ANY of this until I get that stinkin' MATCH PAPERWORK back!  PLEASE, PLEASE pray that at the end of the month they get their booties movin' and issue the match.  Once I have that precious piece of paper it's GAME ON BABY!!!
I love Jesus and I know he loves children and has a heart for the orphans.  I'm going to cling to the promise he gave us:

"According to your faith, let it be done to you." - Matthew 9:29

Can I get a witness??!!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Tortoise not the Hare

I just heard from my agency who just heard from AP (Andhra Pradesh) that they would like them to RESUBMIT all of the homestudies for the waiting children they are trying to match.  There are 3 other families with my agency who are in the same situation as me.  It's been over 2 months since I requested the official match paperwork and permission from India to adopt Sofia.  *Sigh*  On the bright side, I'm hoping that this is a sign that they are getting things in order for all of the new guidelines that are supposed to be implemented at the end of the month.  My agency is submitting the homestudies tomorrow.  Please pray that AP will accept and MATCH ALL 4 of these sweet girls with their waiting families!  I am trying to stay positive and believe that I didn't spend the last 2 and half months waiting to just start back at square one.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Random Acts of Kindness

So there's this couple that have been coming into the restaurant for about a year and a half.  I waited on them the first time they came in.  They are strict vegetarians and it took awhile to figure out if they could eat any of our cheese or not because we had to do some research to see if it contained a certain enzyme.  Well, they were very appreciative of the customer service, because where I work we "take it to the next level :)"  Anyway, since then, every time they come in and I'm working, they are always very friendly to me and we talk.  They both have accents and I don't make it a habit to ask where people are from but last night when I was working, they came in and I noticed that she had henna tattoos all over her hands.  I know that India just celebrated it's independence day and Ramadan just ended, so I asked her if she was from India.  Lo and behold, yes, they are from India.  Here's where it gets C-R-A-Z-Y.

me:  So what part of India are you from?

her:  Hyderabad.

me:  get out!  that's in Andhra Pradresh, right?

her :  Yes! (with a look of, "how does this chick know this?")

me:  I'm adopting a little girl from Hyderabad!

him:  Oh!  we can help you!

me:  PLEASE DO!!  How?

him:  her dad is a lawyer over there!  It helps to have a lawyer over there if you get stuck.  Do you have to go and get her?

me:  yes, and I just found out that I will probably have to stay there for a month while everything gets processed.

him:  Oh, you must stay in her father's guest house.  When do you think you will be going?  She is planning on going in November or December.  Wouldn't that be fantastic if you two could fly over together?

me:  Yes, yes it would.

We exchanged emails and phone numbers and now I have a new Indian friend who is going to help me with some of the language that Sofia speaks and she told me that she would tat me up before I go! SCORE!  I am SO excited!!!  It reminded me of the verse in Hebrews 13:2

"Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!"

I know these people aren't angels, but it's a reminder to always be kind!