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!

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

T-Shirts are here!!!

My goal for this next blog was going to be a super long one! Spending some time updating and sending out some huge THANK YOU'S to everyone who purchased/sold necklaces and beads. I want to give you exact amounts on the profit we've made so far.  There is so much coming to that I am excited to share.  But between keeping up with the house, kids, basketball, Minivan Mayhem, fundraising and the Dossier its a tad crazy around here! So for this post I want to put up pictures of our T-shirts!  I am so excited about them and I haven't even seen them yet! Haha!!

So I picked out a Mens and Womens color, but they are unisex so it is really your preference on which color you like!

They are both $20.
Shipping will be an extra 3.00 per shirt.
You may pay through PayPal, just let me know size and color in the comment section.
If you would like to pay through check email me at Tairamassey84@gmail.com

Orphan Sunday

Just wanted to send out an update for the last month.  Boy has it been a blessed month!  The Show Hope bracelets are selling like hot cakes and the necklaces are doing well too!  We are so amazed by everyone's generosity and willingness to help us bring home 1 less orphan! I am even more amazed when I receive a private message on Facebook from someone I don't know who wants to sell bracelets for us.  We are amazed, grateful, humbled, thankful and surprised by all the love we have received from SO MANY!!

So the month of October was a busy one! We had our home study and are currently waiting for it to be finished. Once that is in our hands, we can then apply to USCIS.  What is that, you may ask? Well, I'm not 100% sure of the correct definition, but basically its approval from the US Government.
Along with our home study, we have to completed 10 hours of online training, as well as completed a parenting planner from our agency.  MAN, does it have some tough questions.  You would think that by already having 2 kids you kinda sorta think you may have this parenting thing figured out.  Well, try to answer a few of them questions and you may start to second guess yourself.  Ha ha!!

But we definitely feel as if we are traveling the road that God has lead us on.  I have been praying diligently for 2 things:For God to bring people into our lives that can help play a role in bring our little one coming home and funds!  I know He is answering those prayers because this whole process has been a miracle so far! So I am boldly asking you all to help join us in prayer. Imagine what could happen? 

Today is Orphan Sunday so I wanted to share this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtWcBKvj_ic&list=UUIIPGSWezt67XnlqMaswAbA&feature=player_embedded 



 

Bracelets and Beads!

Many have asked how to purchase bracelets or beads?  Thank you so much for all the responses we've had!  We are SO very thankful for each one of you! So here is what we've come up with. Click on the "donate" button to the right in order to pay by paypal.


Show Hope Leather Bracelets- $20
Add $1.00 for shipping either through check or Pay Pal.
For each additional bracelet add $ .50 for shipping

Magazine necklaces- $20
Add $1.00 for shipping either through check or Pay Pal
For 3 or more add $5.00 for shipping
For 7 or more add $10.00 for shipping

To place an order or for details on mailing a check please email me at Tairamassey84@gmail.com

Show Hope bracelets $20

Magazine paper bead necklaces $20

No Fear

The title of this blog post No Fear, are 2 words that came to me last night as I was about to fall asleep.  I began to reminisce about the old days when it was popular to wear No Fear clothing, but I also thought it was a perfect title to what this blog is all about! This blog post my come to no surprise to many and it will come to suprise even more! So this is why I am choosing to have no fear today!

So I will just let the cat out of the bag and annouce that Kenny and I are ADOPTING!  With much prayer we have chosen to adopt from Ethiopia!  We are choosing not to pick a gender or age, but to stay within an age range.  I know, I know, I need a girl to put pretty bows and fluffy dresses on, but we feel that The Lord will bring us the child that is meant for our family.  Our goal is to just obey His plan for our family.

Back is June, I went on my first missions trip to Ethiopia with an organization called Ordinary Hero.  Months leading up to my trip Kenny and I would make very small talk of the chance that I may find our next child there, so he better prepare himslf. He would quickly brush it off as if those words were never spoken.  But one afternoon I was chatting with a friend of mine and I asked her "How will I know if The Lord wants us to adopt?"   As her wisdom poured out she said " When Kenny comes to you."  Her words to me that day were so powerful, I will never forget them.  I thought to myself, "well it's worth a try."

When I was in Ethiopia there was never one child that stood out to me, they all stood out to me! I could have taken anyone of them home, but it wasn't realisic.  So after I returned I felt we must not be called to adopt and I was ok with that. Then, July rolled around and as Kenny an I were chatting, teasing each other, I told him I always felt I was suppose to have 3 kids? So as any man would, he cracked a joke! But then got serious and told me that he had been praying about it since I left for Ethiopia and he was prepared for when I returned that I may have a name and a face. So with many prayers and series of events we feel strongly that we are on the right path! 

So that brings us to today.  We are in full swing of fundraising, filling out papers, gathering documents, reading books and watching webinars.  While trying to maintain an orderly home. Phew!! Things are moving quickly and that I have to be thankful for. 
 

There is still a part of me that needs to share the fear in me, with starting this blog. I have an amazing support system cheering me on everyday and I am so greatful for each one of you, but I know deep down, some may disapprove of our decisions. Please know that I understand your worries and concerns. We are nervous ourselves, for the unknown, but the Heavenly Father is the one that we choose to please.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called accourding to his purpose." Romans 8:28