We are a Show Hope Family!

God's faithfulness continues to amaze us!  We received a letter this week notifying us that Show Hope has awarded us with a $4,000 grant!  We are so humbled and grateful.  We are very close to having all the funds to pay for not only our referral fee but for our travel expenses as well.  Saying "Thank you" seems so small and insignificant but we are so thankful to Show Hope, Lifesong, and our friends and family who have given to help bring our kids home!  It literally could not have happened otherwise.  We cannot wait to introduce you to our kids!

My heart aches for my kids that I don't know yet.  I pray that they know they are loved already and will soon be home with their forever family.  Claire fell down today and immediately cried "Mommy!" and I was there to pick her up and comfort her.  At times like that I can't help but wonder who is comforting my kids in Ethiopia, who do they cry for?  Or do they not cry at all because no one is there?  Please pray with me that they will get home soon.  And pray for the families that are considering adoption...that they would step out in faith and be so blessed with a child. 

Thank you Show Hope and Show Hope Sponsors!!  You've helped change our lives and the lives of 2 soon to be ex-orphans!  An anonymous donor is currently pledging $1 for every new "like" on Show Hope's Facebook page up to $25,000.  So to help other families like us get on your FB and like Show Hope!!

A Friend and a Fundraiser :)

My dear friend (and cousin!) is helping to support our adoption by doing her own fundraiser through Mary Kay.  We are so very appreciative! In efforts to help her help our kids I'm posting the info below.  So if you use Mary Kay or know someone who does please pass it along! 

Jacqulyn Myers Would Like to Invite You to Be a Part of The Dan & Ashley Jenkins Adoption Fundraiser!  They will earn 25% of sales through July 24, 2011.  Visit this website:
www.marykay.com/michelemcgaha and shop on your seat and not your feet!  Please be sure to write "Jenkins Adoption" in the comment section so they will get credit for the order.  Products will be delivered by Jacqulyn Myers or shipped to you if you don't live near by.

The product is 100% satisfaction guaranteed!  Michele McGaha will cover any shipping charges!

For questions or to schedule your own fundraiser, contact Michele McGaha (502)295-6359
michelemcgaha@marykay.com or visit her site above.

Thanks Jacqulyn and Michele!!!

Almost in the "window"

Next week will mark our dossier being in country for 3 months!!! Yes, 3 months.  While I had hoped, against odds, that we would have had our referral by now, it wasn't super realistic of me.  But that's why we call it hope :) From the beginning we were told a 3-6 month wait for a referral is realistic but sometimes they come sooner.  The Jenkins don't fall into the "sometimes" category in this case.  Although, I would be elated to retract that statement if we get a referral before next Thursday! So with quite a bit of excitement we enter "the window" of 3-6 months.  We have been fairly warned that because we want 2 kids our wait will be closer to 5-6 months.  Doesn't make much sense to you?  Me either...at first.  We thought (with some guidance from those in the know) our case would go faster because we want 2 kids.  So if a sibling group came through we would be bumped up on the list.  While normally that's the case...there has been a sudden wave of families who want 2 kids also.  And 12 of them are ahead of us on the list!  While that makes me happy that families are stepping up and taking in 2 kids that don't have a home...I'm honestly bummed that we have to wait longer.  I trust that God knows my kids and provided just a time as this for us to grow our family. 

So to sum up, we're still waiting and we still need your prayers.  That God would prepare us for travel away from the girls, for bringing 2 more kids home, for the girls to adjust, and to be prepared for whatever comes with bringing kids into the Jenkins family that have likely suffered loss and are grieving and lots of other transitional things that comes with international adoption.  We are so excited and cannot wait to get them home.  We are hoping that God would allow them to get home before Christmas, but if not we will have Christmas when they get here!

So thankful for our friends and family who keep encouraging us on this long journey!