Friday, December 20, 2013

Referral!!

WOW!!! What a crazy, whirlwind of a week it has been!  Actually I would say this past year has been a whirlwind of a season for us.  But, today we said "YES"  to a sweet little boy named Beza.  He is one of the most handsome fella's I've ever laid eyes on!  I saw his photo last Friday, the 13th and my heart just melted.  Beza was currently on our agencies waiting children's list.  I went the whole weekend and just couldn't get him out of my head.  By Monday, I was chomping at the bit to call and see if he was still available and HE WAS!!!  I immediately started crying, I just knew he was ours.  

Throughout the week, we have learned so much about this sweet boy and the struggles he has already had to endure.  He was found abandoned around the age of 2 or 3 years old and placed into the orphanage that he is currently living still, which is around 5 years! We asked, "why was he not adopted long ago?"  The answer that we received back was, he fell through the cracks. There were many children in the orphanage at that time and he was overlooked.  It wasn't until this past September that our agency asked about him and it was discovered that he was not with an agency. We have also looked up the meaning of his name and it means, "despise" or "neglect".  So that name has got to go!  He needs a fresh start on life! He needs a family, something he knows nothing of, one who loves him unconditionally and that will never leave him. 



With this referral coming sooner than expected, we are trusting God with all the details and I mean some major ones, to some teeny tiny ones.  Once we sign those papers which will happen in the next couple days we are financially responsible for this little guy. We have worked really hard this year with many different fundraisers, but we are short.  Not just a little short, but A LOT short.  We want to be completely up front with our adoption finances.  We received a grant a couple months back of $4,000 (WHOHOO) and we currently have $8,500 in our savings which we thought was the exact amount we needed but we learned that our grant money will not be dispersed until after our 1st court date.  Which is a long way from now.  We have also learned that $12,500 was just our child fee but there are more fees along with it that have to be paid.   We are also responsible for his daily care of $15 a day, with $1,350 up front to cover the first 90 days. 

I know this all can not make any bit of sense, because I know that I am constantly questioning what is that, what is this?  Here is 2 sheets that have broken down our fees.  If you would like more information please do not hesitate to ask and by ask I mean ask Kenny! He understands all of this better then me! :)



Whew!! So we currently owe $16,994.16 and we have $8,500 currently in the bank.  So we need to still raise $8,494.16 in the next 2 weeks!  WOW, I have to take a large deep breath just writing this because I know that our efforts can not raise this kind of money in this short amount of time.  BUT God, He is faithful, He has called us to walk this journey and we know He will get us through it.  First, we ask for prayer, for Beza and the fresh new start at life that he so desperately deserves. Secondly the finances. Please know that if you feel led to help us financially that any amount is never to small.  We have really learned through this journey that it is the smallest of donations that have the most amazing stories behind them. if you would like to donate you may click the donate now button and it will lead you to PayPal. Also if you would like my email it is, TairaMassey84@gmail.com   We also still have many necklaces available.  The details are located on our last blog post.  Please feel free to share our blog as well.   Thank you for taking the time to read this and have a wonderful Holiday Season. 


I forgot to post this before, but I also wanted to make it possible for you to have  a tax deductable donation.  We have an allifiate acount with Ordinary Hero.  You can make your checks out to Ordinary Hero but please remember to put our name in the memo line. (Kenny and Taira Massey) There address is:
Ordinary Hero
P.O. Box 1945
Brentwood, TN 37024

Love,
The Massey's 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9  

Monday, September 16, 2013

Funky Fish Designs necklace

It's that time again! Let the FUNdraising begin again! Ha ha. A very kind lady by the name of Dawn has graciously worked some long hours in preparation for our new fundraiser.  Dawn's business is called Funky Fish Designs and she makes some beautiful jewelry, so go check out her Facebook page.  This necklace was inspired by a friend of mine, who spent the summer reading the book "Unglued" by Lysa Terkeurst. 

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

So there are 2 choices, both are in copper color.  Our idea was to have a ladies one in a 36' chain with 3 charms.  The other was designed in mind for your little girl.  It comes in an 18' chain with 2 charms.  The 18' inch chain is definitely not just for the girls, if you prefer a shorter chain that is perfectly fine too!

This is the 36 inch necklace
Price is $20
 
This is the 18 inch necklace
Price is $15
If you would like to pay through PayPal and need it shipped, please add $2 for shipping.
 
THANK YOU
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

September Update

WOW.....it's been a really long time since I updated the blog.  I think I was secretly hoping that nobody would notice as this is not my favorite thing to do. It's not that I don't want to update you all, it's that I really don't have anything to exciting to share. But I was at a baby shower this past weekend and a few ladies were eager to hear an update about the adoption, so I figured it was probably about time I write something!

Since, the last post Kenny has come home from overseas and immedialty we went on an amazing vacation to Jamaica. It was beautiful and just what we needed.  To be able to relax and sit by the pool with no distractions.  I had no cell service and it was glorious!!!  While we were there we celebrated mine and Gavin's Birthday's. Gavin turned 10 and I turned 29! I am amazed daily at the wonderful young man he is becoming. After our return from Jamaica, my mom, aunt and cousin came to visit. We had the best time. I don't think I have ever peed my pants that many times from laughing so hard. My family is from Montana, so coming to Clarksville/Nashville there were LOTS of firsts for my aunt!  We had sushi, Chucky Cheese, Cheesecake Factory, 3-D movie, down town Nashville, Grand Ole Opery and a few more things, but I think she would kill me if I posted on here!! ;) While they were here we celebrated Kenny and Kylar's birthdays! Kenny turned 33 and Kylar turned 7! AND, yes we all have Birthdays in the same month! I know, it's exhausting. It's actually all in 10 days and neither baby were planned!

Now, onto adoption update.....we are still waiting for our referral and in adoption lingo that just means we are waiting for our agency to call us with a child that meets our approved paperwork. We have been waiting about 5 months so far. Our child parameters are a bit older then most and after speaking with our agency a few weeks ago they told us that there is currently nobody in front of us on the list. But we pretty much have been told this the whole time, so it really could be awhile from now. We are just trying to be patient during this season of the adoption. I really believe this is the hardest part. You spend so many months working on paperwork and gathering necessary documents that you  need that the time just flies by so quickly. Then, you just wait.......

I took the summer months off from fundraising to just chill and spend this time with the boys. They really needed my full attention as next year they may not have it. Plus with Kenny away, it made life so much more easy. The great thing about Kenny's job is that while he's away, he makes extra moola and we were able to save for our referral fee. That was such a huge blessing. We know we are called to fundraise, but I also strongly feel that we are to put our own money into our adoption as well. :) But now that the kiddos are back in school, I am itching at getting back to fundraising. We are current,y working with an amazing lady who has a business called Funky Fish Designs. Her work is incredible and there's a double bonus. Her profits go back to Ethiopia helping organizations like Hope in Ethiopia, Project Hopeful and Because every Mother matters. Now how could this get any better! Go check her out! Funky Fish Designs on Facebook! If you go to her Facebook you can see a picture of beautiful necklace she has designed for us. It has Proverbs 3:3 on it. I will get another post going with all the details about it and how you can get yours! Plus, there will be matching ones for your daughters! :)

 Thank you all for sticking by us through this journey!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

I remain confident.

I remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:13-14

First, I need to let you know how our Valentine's Day event went!  It was such a great evening filled with laughter, tears, yummy treats, band and super fun photo booth.  We had some amazing volunteers who spent countless hours helping prepare the evening.  I also wanted to let you know that all your generous donations added up to be $6,700!!!!  Kenny and I are so thankful for each one of you that came out to hear our heart for adoption as well as the Spitzack's and Bullock's.
As of now, we have completed our dossier and it is currently in Washington DC.  Our agency said it will take about 2-3 weeks to get the final seals, then off to Ethiopia.  Once in Ethiopia it will take around 4 weeks to get our paperwork translated into their language.  Then, we will just be patient and wait for our referral.  Our agency has shown there excitement for our age parameters.  Age 0-5, boy or girl.  They have let us know that our referral will come quickly.  Of coarse that makes us excited, BUT, we know we have to take it slow. Gods timing, not ours I keep reminding myself. 

This past fall, Kenny and I had made a deal. We did that childhood deal making of spitting on your hand, pinkie swearing type of thing! Ha ha!! Our deal was, Kenny would do the paperwork and I would do the fundraising! I thought I was getting the better end of the deal, until the paperwork was finished and the fundraising wasn't.  But, some of you may know, my main squeeze is away for a bit.  I won't elaborate, especially on such a public page.  But know it is not that long, thank goodness.  To many it seems like forever, but when you have spent probably 50% of your marriage apart, this length of time seems like a piece of cake! So during this time I know that The Lord is calling me to focus on my kids, myself, my home and my small group.

We get asked all the time, "why does it cost so much?"  Well, I don't have a great answer for that, but I wanted to give a visual of where the money goes.  The adoption fees part one, is completely paid! Thank you so much, we couldn't have completed that without you!  Currently, we are raising funds for the part two as well as our travel.  As you can see, that's still around $20,000.  BUT, we are confident that God has all the details worked out!  Just like He has called me to be a mom and a wife, he has called us to adopt.  If you click this link it will take you to our fee schedule.  My goal was to already have it where you could see it, but my computer skills are not up to par!
http://www.illienadoptions.org/doc/Illien_Ethiopia-Fee-Schedule_2013.pdf


  If you feel led to donate there are a few different ways that can be done. We have a PayPal account attached to our blog.  You can make a tax deductible donation by sending a check to:
                                Ordinary Hero
                                P.O Box 1945
                                Brentwood, TN 3702
 *Please make sure to put Kenny and Taira Massey in the memo line.

You may also email me for my address as well.  Tairamassey84@gmail.com

We also have several T-shirts still available.  Both colors, teal and grey in sizes L and XL only.  $15

Thank you for all the wonderful people who have and continue to pray over this journey we are on.
                                                                                   
God Bless,
 Taira