They are [Finally!] Qualified for Adoption!

We submitted our application to adopt our kids on August 2, the day after they returned to Poland.  We already had our dossier (all of our documents) ready so we just knew that the process would go quickly and the kids would be home by Christmas!  To our surprise, we found out that only Przemek was qualified for adoption and that we could either adopt him immediately or wait for the girls to also be qualified.  Of course, we chose to wait.

The orphanage director compiled the girls' files and sent them to the regional adoption center BUT it took the regional adoption center almost two full months to schedule the meeting :(.  The meeting was finally held on 9/29 and the girls are now qualified for domestic adoption.  In order for them to be qualified for international adoption, they must be listed in Poland for a minimum of 52 days so that they can show the courts that an attempt was made to find a family in Poland for the girls before qualifying them to be adopted internationally (Przemek has already completed this step).  The girls' documents are being sent to Warsaw this week and we hope that they will be entered into the database quickly so that our 52 day wait can begin.  The national adoption center in Warsaw already has our application and has officially matched us with Przemek.  His file is on hold from all other agencies while we wait for the girls to also be qualified and, at that time, they will match us with all three of the kids and we can continue on with the process (there is about 3-4 months worth of steps left after this step is complete).

Although we are devastated that this happened to the girls .... it gives me goosebumps to think that, at 14/15 years old, if we had not applied to adopt them, no one would have ever known that they were not qualified to be adopted (the orphanage director didn't even know). The girls never would have been given the opportunity to find a family simply because someone along the way decided not to file the paperwork. God brought us together!

The qualification process has delayed the adoption by almost four months already. We are, of course, praying for a miracle but, it looks like our kids will not be home until Spring :(.

Being apart from our kids is HARD! We appreciate your prayers, encouragement, and support more than you can know.

We have already paid and/or raised over $24,000!!!  We have just over $15,000 left to go, for a spring homecoming, this works out to between $3,000-4,000 needed per month!  If you have a fundraising idea or need that we can help meet, please let us know.

And I know it is far-reaching and would involve "moving a mountain" .... but will you please keep praying for a Christmas miracle?  Our hearts just can't fathom spending Christmas apart from FOUR of our beloved children.  THANK YOU friends!!

Dossier!

We received an anonymous donation today and the funds to pay our next agency fee are covered!!!!!! This means that our dossier (many, many certified documents) will be submitted to Poland THIS WEEK without any delay. We are blown away by God's goodness and the generosity of our family, friends, and even strangers <3!

They Know!!!!!

Today, we got to tell the kids that we are adopting them!!!!!!!!!  It was magical.  They said that they were "jumping for joy" and sent us about 1000 heart and smile emojis <3.

Before today, we were strictly forbidden from saying anything about adoption because the officials in Poland want families to be far enough along in the process that there is certainty that everything will work out.  The kids have been asking us if we would adopt them, even apologizing for things as if they thought that we hadn't mentioned adoption because they disappointed us somehow... it has been heartbreaking.  Yesterday, we got the "okay" to tell them and then we had to wait patiently for them to get online... I hardly slept ;).  We wrote and re-wrote our announcement about 300 times and had it proofread by our facilitator so that it would be perfect.  These last 18 days have been hard knowing how heartbroken they were. We are so so so happy that the kids are finally going to bed tonight with smiles on their faces and hope in their hearts!!!!  

Because our dossier was completed so recently for Amelia's adoption, we were able to "re-use" everything! This is wonderful because the process is moving quickly but it leaves us with very little time to come up with the needed finances. Currently, we are working as quickly as possible to raise $9,145 so that we can submit our dossier (certified documents) to Poland. We have $2,600 left to go and then those documents will be translated and submitted.  Other than frantically fundraising, we just get to wait while our documents go through the process of being approved by all of the necessary agencies.  We expect to be traveling in 4-5 months to bring our kids home :).

Thank you for supporting us and for continuing to cover us all in prayer!

LuLaRoe Fundraiser

Just in time for back to school shopping, join us for a LuLaRoe party! Our generous host, Andrea, is donating 100% of her commission to the Howell family to help bring their kids home from Poland.

LuLaRoe: where style meets comfort.  Although, famous for their "buttery" soft and fashionable leggings, LuLaRoe also carries beautiful (and comfortable!!) tops and dresses for girls and women, as well as items for men.

Join the party here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1765829070369171/.  The sale will start on August 22nd at 5pm PDT and over 700 items will be posted for sale!  In the meantime, we will play some games and have some giveaways!!!  Please join the party now and help us spread the word.

Thank you for supporting the Howell family!

Coat / Backpack Hangers

Just in time for back to school!  Custom, hand-painted coat/backpack hangers.

Customize with family names or a favorite word or quote.  E-mail codihowell@gmail.com to choose size, number of hooks, color of stain, and personalization.   **local orders only please**

Donations can be made at: https://www.youcaring.com/the-howell-family-615422.

In your e-mail, please include length (ones pictured are 4' long), number of hooks, stain color, customization (names or quote and paint color), and hardware color (silver, bronze, or black).

Stain colors:

Thank you for supporting us!!

Quilt Raffle

Our generous and talented Aunt Holly has made this gorgeous quilt (66"x78") and is raffling it off as a fundraiser for our adoption!!

For every $5 donation, you will receive an entry in the drawing.

First, make your donation here: https://www.youcaring.com/the-howell-family-615422 AND then forward your e-mailed receipt to her at ghmom600@gmail.com. Don't forget the second step, that is how you will be entered in the drawing. She will choose the winner on September 15th at noon PDT.

Thank you Aunt Holly and thank YOU everyone for supporting us!!!!!

Garage Sale