The Elephant in the Room - $$$

First, I want to say this...
For those of you that have been following us and praying for us and supporting us along this adoption journey - the words "Thank You" don't seem enough.  But know that it was your encouragement that carried us when the criticism came.  It was your prayers that carried us when I thought I would scream in frustration.  Oh, thank you, thank you for your compassion and your patience through this relatively short adoption (only 7 months!!!).  I will never take for granted what you've offered us.  Nor will I ever, ever, take for granted the protection, the guidance and the grace that my LORD provided us.

So many of you have asked, or wanted to ask but didn't, about the cost of this adoption.  So I'm going to be completely open here.  My husband might ask me to remove this later, but for know, I'm laying it out on the table. 
The adoption of Isaiah and Ruth was quoted to us as $34,000. 
As of this past weekend, we hit the $50,000 mark. 
Granted, there were 3 things that were completely out of the adoption agency's control: 
1. Traveling during the peak season in the Caribbean, which triples airfare and hotel. 
2.  We are bringing our biological children with us. 
3.  The foster fees for our children.  (There is no orphanage in this country, only private foster homes.  So when you adopt, you owe $500 per child, per month, that they have been in foster care.  For us, that was $500 x 16 x 2)

$50,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY!  It's more than the national average for yearly incomes.  And we have received criticism regarding the cost of this adoption.  We've been asked questions like, "Why don't you just foster?  The government will pay you to do that.  Why don't you adopt domestically, it's so much cheaper?  Why don't you just adopt one, instead of two, it's cheaper? 

So I want to explain something very quickly... 
Brian and I were not called just "to adopt." 
We were not called to foster. 
We were called to be the family for Isaiah and Ruth - siblings. 
We didn't "shop" around for the cheapest country.
We didn't search for the child that would cost us the least amount of money.
The End.
  
That said, the cost was a non-issue.  We didn't have the $34,000, let alone the $50,000, so we just gave it over to God.  He called us to adopt and as a sweet friends loves to say, "The LORD funds what He favors," so we proceeded with the adoption having NO CLUE how we would pay for it.  But I knew that the money was SO insignificant to our God.  It was a minor detail, almost just a footnote in this love story He is writing.

To date, $40,000 has already been paid towards the adoption.  We depleted our savings (but THANK YOU God, that we had savings!!!!).  Brian cashed out stock he had in his company.  We took out a small loan.  We have had 2 fundraisers - a triathlon and the 147 shirts.  We opened a credit card through our bank and put our plane tickets on that.  (Sorry Dave Ramsey!)  We have stretched pennies and cut back on everything, which honestly, has been so freeing!  You get creative and find cheap ways to still eat out.  For example... 
My favorite food in the whole wide world is Mexican.  One of my very favorite restaurants is Chuy's.  Pre adoption, our family of four would easily spend $40+ on dinner.  Post adoption, our last bill was $9.21.  "How," you ask?  If you go before 7 p.m., there is a chip, beans, queso, taco meat bar that is free.  Tortillas are also free.  Brian gets a meal (we do have to order something so we don't get kicked out :) and me and the kids make our own burritos and nachos...for FREE!!  (It actually tastes better free.) :)

When Brian and I sit down to figure out the money aspect of this adoption, it just doesn't make sense - on paper - where $30,000 of the money has come from.  IT ISN'T ADDING UP!  But that's when we smile and praise the LORD.  For we know that He already has this adoption paid for.  He is just growing our faith while He reveals to us how He is doing it.
So even though we are a little less than $10,000 short.  Even though we leave in less than 3 weeks to pick up our children.  Even though we should be completely freaking out right now.  I am not.  I have my "Boots of Peace" laced up real tight and I'm allowing that Peace to completely take over and become a Peace that surpasses ALL understanding.

And I want to say, even if our silent auction doesn't bring in all the money we need, my faith and my trust in a Sovereign God is unwavering.  This dinner is not a test for the LORD, to see if He will rise up to the occasion and answer our prayers.  This dinner is a test in obedience for me.

P.S.  This is why I'm not worried about the money...

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 4:6-7

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

Matthew 6:34

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" 

Matthew 6:27