Tips on Saving Money - You Can Do It

Some of you have asked us how we are doing it...saving up that mcuh money for the adoption.
Here goes...First of all we must have faith in God that he will provide and boy has he.

1.) Don't run the AC. If I can do that anyone can-Meg

2.) Make lists and only make one trip in the car to do everything that you can in one day.

3.) Make a menu and only buy what is on your menu plus a little extra just incase someone pops in.

4.) Hang your clothes to dry-even when it's cold they will dry under a fan or in front of a heater

5.) Carry cash and when it's gone, it's gone-it's amazing what you don't remember swiping on that debit card.

6.) Printer ink is expensive so if you have a child that needs to print out reports; put it on a disk and send it to school with them for the teacher to print out or go to the computer lab at the school (thanks Lynsey)

7.) Also if you have many docs. to print- go to your local library many of them will let you print up to so many pages free of charge.

8.) Check how you can save on phone bills using the internet instead of calling from a land line.

9.) Turn off your cable

10.) Stop eating out- this is a biggie

11.) COOK breakfast-cooking instead of eating all of the fast breakfast foods will go much farther and you will be surprised at how much you will save.

12.) Walk, walk, walk- we are very fortunate to live in an area where many shops ect. are close to one another so we are able to park in a central location and walk. At over $3.00 gallon for gas it is very important to save where ever possible- check tire pressure, tune up your car- all of these things will help to better your milage.


When you get to feeling like you can't do anything - Purchase yourself, your spouse, your sister whom ever needs the card; a card they are inexpensive and bring joy for longer than you would think.
That's all I can think of right off the top of my head. If I remember any more that just are too good not to post I'll add it.

Our log in date

This past weekend was so much fun!! Willow had joined the cheer clinic at the Naples High School and the children were able to cheer in the football game, and perform a dance routine during half time. They were so cute!! She is really enjoying this. Then Sunday was the first time for this school year that the children's praise and worship team was able to lead the congregation in praise and worship. They did a new contemporary version of Agnus Dei. So many people came to me afterwards telling how much the children worshiping God touched them. Praise God!!!!
Monday, yesterday I was also able to pick up a french horn from the high school for Willow to borrow. She really had her heart set on percussion, but that was not available for the elementary school students. As soon as she spotted the french horn, that was it, she knew that was the horn she wanted to play. Of course I was thrilled. We had her try them all and she did, but that was it. And guess what? She was wonderful! This is a blessing for me as well. I now can play on it when she is not, he he... God is blessing our family in so many ways and we are so thankful. Thank all of you for keeping us in your prayers.


Well, it is official. Our log in date with the IAD (International Adoption Department) in Vietnam is Oct. 1, 2007! This is different from the Sept. 11 date. The Sept. date was when our dossier was delivered to Vietnam and it went into the translation dept. From IAD they will approve the paperwork they have received, pass on a reccomendation to the orphanage for adoption in the province with whom we will be working and they will pass on a referral to our agency.

The 28 of Sept.

Here I am sitting at the computer waiting (tick, tock, tick) :)
Our case worker was expecting to hear something from our representative in Vietnam the last week in Sept. I have already emailed him to ask if there is any news. I let him know that I will call him tomorrow if I don't hear from him sooner. I'll keep you all posted.
Thank you for your prayers.
Blessings,
Meg

Today as I ran into many people on base I was pleasantly surprised. Of course there was a moment of silence for remembrance of 9-11. But, that was not a reason for those I spoke with to be down. It sure didn't keep down the ladies at the PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) fall kick off this morning. There is reason for us to celebrate!! Jesus is alive and well and we can celebrate our victory in Him.
One more reason for our family to celebrate today, September 11, 2007; our adoption dossier has been delivered in Hanoi, Vietnam. This is a huge step in our adoption process. Thank you all for your prayers and we will keep you posted on future events.

Yipee!!

Hey everyone, we have great news!! I talked to our caseworker with Tues. night and he received our completed dossier, reviewed it and everything is in order. It was sent Fedex to Vietnam that day. We are getting so close.
It was so cute. Someone came up to me the other day at church and asked "Are you expecting?" I smiled and said, "Yeap, I'm about, oh, this far along. Can you tell?" Holding out my hands at about where you would be if you were 5-6 months along. She looked very puzzled and I immediately told her that we are adopting. We both laughed and of course she was very excited for us and went on to tell me about how she loved the Vietnamese people and spent some time in missions there. Every where we turn God is putting people in our lives that, either have adopted or are adopting and have worked in or volunteered in Vietnam. We have been so blessed.

Love to all of you,
Meg

What A Day

Today is not only the first day of school for Willow's fifth grade year, but Mike and I are also celebrating 13 years of marriage! God has truly blessed our lives and we are so thankfull for all of the ways that he has blessed us.
We sent off our dossier package Friday afternoon. At this point we wait to get the referral and date of travel. The exchange has a wonderful sale and so Willow and I went shopping and bought a few things for Christmas for the new baby. No, we do not know who she is or how old she will be, but there are things that can be bought for any age range. We had so much fun. Get this. God answers prayers in misterious ways. We received a check from Navy housing in Virginia Friday also. This was a check that we should have received a year ago for our deposit. It was dated March 2007 and we just received it. God knows when to send what you need-huh!?

Blessings,
Meg

A draft I didn't realize I hadn't posted!!

Another day and a large dent made in the process.

After talking to a courrier service today I found out a lot of great info. They were willling to tell me things to look for to make sure everything had been done properly. Thanks to this wonderful couple at the Assistant Stork we were able to keep our process moving along at a smooth pace. Come to find out, the Vietnamese Embassy in DC didn't mark some of our paperwork correctly and thanks to The Assistant Stork we were able to check the paperwork as it came in and send it back to be corrected without loosing any time. They even let us send in some other paperwork to them that I wasn't sure about and they looked it over for us, had the corrections made and then sent it on the Los Ninos. Isn't it amazing how God puts people in our lives to help us out when we just lean on and trust in him?!
Thank you Assistant Stork for all of your help.
Blessings,
Meg and Mike

Dossier Documents

Well our I-171H has come in and that was the last form we were waiting on. All of the documents that we had sent off for authentication from the US gov. and Vietnamese Consulate have come in also. One form for each of us has to be sent again because a step was missed so I'll send that off today along with the 171 for authentication and we are done!! Then on to the waiting pool. Thank God for smooth sailing. His hand has been on our adoption process the entire process through. Thank you all for your continued prayers.

Love and blessing,
Meg, Mike and Willow

Eternity According to Willow

We were sitting with my sister, Kerrie in Tuscaloosa, Al and Kerrie said that she used to think that life here on earth was so long, but that really it isn't. We all agreed. She then went on to say that times just seems to be flying by and she couldn't believe how quickly this year seems to have g0ne by. You see, we were having a conversation about how things are going to be in heaven and that here on earth is only a preparation place.
Willow then spoke up and said:
Being on earth is like dropping a drop of kool-aid in a full glass of water. Compared to the glass of water the kool-aid is so small. We all just looked at her in amazement (then agreed). Sometimes the wisdom that God has given Willow still amazes me.

coming back to Italy

Hi everyone,
As we sit here at Mike's mom's house in Chesapeake, Va, finishing up the last of the laundry so that we can go to the airport and catch the MAC flight back to Naples, I thank God for family and friends. We have had the most wonderful vacation. We were able to spend lots of time with family even those whom we haven't been able to see on trips prior to this one. And, were able to visit with friends that we were unable to find before also. We were so blessed. We also spent lots of time riding motor cycles, yes, even me!!!
I received a call from Mike's mom Patty a few days ago letting me know that we had received a package from the Vietnamese Consulate, of course I knew right away what it was. Our dossier docs!! Yes we have now received our first set of- certified, verified, and authenticated documents and they are ready to be sent to Vietnam. The rest should be waiting for us when we get back to Naples. Then we'll send them off to Los Ninos to send to Vietnam to be registered. Please keep us in your prayers for the funding to come for the adoption. We know that we are financially able to raise another child, but are still in need of the funding to adopt. We are putting this in God's hands and know that his will will be done.
God has worked miracles in our lives. Mike was given the opportunity to give his first sermon at the First Baptist Church in Grand Bay, Al. Hopefully it is the first of many to come. Keep us in your prayers as we pray for God's will to be done in our lives. We have been able to go to our home church in Decatur, AL and rejuvinate, learn some new music and have fun in the Lord.

Blessings,
Meg, Mike and Willow