The "PIECES" are coming together!!!!

The "pieces" are coming together for our adoption journey. God is faithfully providing. We are grateful beyond words for the generous gifts given to help us get closer to holding our son. We feel so clearly called to this adoption, and God's using our friends' and family's generosity to help us follow this call. We have raised about 60% of what we need to be able to have our portfolio shown to birthmothers by our facilitator, Lifetime Adoption Center, and for our family's profile to go on the web so birthmothers could find us in their own searches. It has been so much fun putting the "puzzle pieces" together with Ford, Milly, and Virginia Grace for our Puzzle Fundraiser. Click on the "Puzzle Fundraiser" page to see future progress. Here is our first snapshot of the puzzle pieces we have put together so far. Thank you so much to all of you who have been a "piece" so far. It really is humbling.

Last Online Raffle Item: Blue Bird Pastel Drawing

Last Online Raffle Item: A print of this Blue Bird pastel artwork by B:) 

This is the pastel drawing I did in the art class that Milly and I took. I chose to do a blue bird to represent our son-to-be. Ford preciously demanded that it be hung in his room - the "Boys Room" - since Baby Brother will be sleeping in there with him one day. So, we framed it and hung it in the Boy's Room above the shadow box (in the photo of Ford holding the drawing) that holds Ford's adoption paper from the hospital and the baby hat that he wore home from the hospital that day we met him for the first time, the day he became a FOREVER Phelan. He can hardly wait to have a fellow adopted brother.

The drawing for the baskets and paintings will be this Friday, November 15th (I extended it a few days). I will post the winners. So thankful for all of the generous support!!!!

How to buy a "raffle ticket":

1. Click on the PayPal "DONATE" button on the right side of the

blog and pay $5 for a "raffle ticket".

2. Before "sending" this $5 to our adoption fund (through PayPal), write a note in the comment section on the PayPal page under the donation amount, telling us what basket(s) or painting(s) you want your raffle ticket(s) to be for. At the end of 2 weeks, we will draw a winner for each basket and painting and announce the winners on Facebook. We are so thankful for this creative fundraiser Amy has done for us. And, thank you to those of you who have bought "lottery tickets" already!

Adoption Raffle - Milly's Pastel Artwork

Our almost 7-year-old budding artist drew this cat with pastels in the art class she and I took together. We are raffling a print of her kitty cat. We have it hanging in our playroom:).  Milly is excited that her artwork is helping us get closer to holding Baby Brother.

How to buy a "raffle ticket":

1. Click on the PayPal "DONATE" button on the right side of our blog and pay $5 for a "raffle ticket".

2. Before "sending" this $5 to our adoption fund (through PayPal), write a note in the comment section on the PayPal page under the donation amount, telling us what basket(s) or painting(s) you want your raffle ticket(s) to be for. At the end of 2 weeks, we will draw a winner for each basket and painting and announce the winners on Facebook. We are so thankful for this creative fundraiser Amy has done for us. And, thank you to those of you who have bought "lottery tickets" already!

Online Lottery Item #5

Online Raffle Item #5: Children's Books.  
These wonderful children's books are well-loved (used:) ) but in great condition.  Add a few more books to your child's bookshelf!

How to buy a "raffle ticket":

1. Click on the PayPal "DONATE" button on the right side of our blog and pay $5 for a "raffle ticket".

2. Before "sending" this $5 to our adoption fund (through PayPal), write a note in the comment section on the PayPal page under the donation amount, telling us what basket(s) or painting(s) you want your raffle ticket(s) to be for. At the end of 2 weeks, we will draw a winner for each basket and painting and announce the winners on Facebook. We are so thankful for this creative fundraiser Amy has done for us.  And, thank you to those of you who have bought "lottery tickets" already!

ONLINE RAFFLE BASKET #4 - TRAVEL BASKET!!!!
A green IPod (used but works perfectly), travel-sized Burt's Bees kit, a beauty eye mask, Yummy Ghirardelli chocolate, ...All you need for your next trip!

How to buy a "raffle ticket":

1. Go to our adoption blog website: http://phelanadoption.blogspot.com/

2. Click on the PayPal "DONATE" button on the right side of our blog and pay $5 for a "raffle ticket".

3. Before "sending" this $5 to our adoption fund (through PayPal), write a note in the comment section on the PayPal page under the donation amount, telling us what basket(s) or painting(s) you want your raffle ticket(s) to be for. At the end of 2 weeks, we will draw a winner for each basket and painting and announce the winners on Facebook. We are so thankful for this creative fundraiser Amy has done for us, and we say in advance that we are extremely grateful for those of you in this with us!

Online Raffle Basket #3 - Kids' Crafty Basket

ONLINE RAFFLE BASKET #3 - Kids' CRAFTY basket
Win this one for your kiddo:)

How to buy a "raffle ticket":

1. Click on the PayPal "DONATE" button on the right side of our blog and pay $5 for a "raffle ticket".

2. Before "sending" this $5 to our adoption fund (through PayPal), write a note in the comment section on the PayPal page under the donation amount, telling us what basket(s) or painting(s) you want your raffle ticket(s) to be for. At the end of 2 weeks, we will draw a winner for each basket and painting and announce the winners on Facebook. We are so thankful for this creative fundraiser Amy has done for us, and we say in advance that we are extremely grateful for those of you in this with us! 

Online Raffle Day 2

Day 2 Gift Basket to Help Us Bring Our Son Home: "PAMPER YOURSELF" Basket

How to buy a "raffle ticket":
1. Click on our Adoption Blog link- http://phelanadoption.blogspot.com/

2. Click on the PayPal "DONATE" button on the right side of our blog and pay $5 for a "raffle ticket".

3. Before "sending" this $5 to our adoption fund (through PayPal), write a note in the comment section on the PayPal page under the donation amount, telling us what basket(s) or painting(s) you want your raffle ticket(s) to be for. At the end of 2 weeks, we will draw a winner for each basket and painting and announce the winners on Facebook. We are so thankful for this creative fundraiser Amy has done for us, and we say in advance that we are extremely grateful for those of you in this with us!

Online Raffle for our Baby Boy!

ONLINE RAFFLE FOR PHELAN PHAMILY ADOPTION -Day 1!

Kudos to Amy Gilbert Reams for coming up with this raffle idea as a way to support our adoption, and for generously preparing the baskets for the raffle. THANK YOU, Amy! We will be revealing one of the four themed baskets a day and then a copy of our 6-year-old daughter MIlly's pastel drawing and a copy of a pastel drawing I did of a blue bird that is already framed in the "boys" room, representing our little son-to-be. Ford loves it. The raffle drawing will be in two weeks, on Monday, November 11th.

Basket #1: Kitchen Basket, including this "Handmade By Amy" reusable bag. (See pictures)

How to buy a "raffle ticket":
1. Click on our Adoption Blog link- http://phelanadoption.blogspot.com/

2. Click on the PayPal "DONATE" button on the right side of our blog and pay $5 for a "raffle ticket".

3. Before "sending" this $5 to our adoption fund (through PayPal), write a note in the comment section on the PayPal page under the donation amount, telling us what basket(s) or painting(s) you want your raffle ticket(s) to be for. At the end of 2 weeks, we will draw a winner for each basket and painting and announce the winners on Facebook. We are so thankful for this creative fundraiser Amy has done for us, and we say in advance that we are extremely grateful for those of you in this with us! — with Stephen Phelan.

Becoming a Phamily of 6!

GUESS WHAT?  We are "expecting" our 4th munchkin - through adoption.  We love ADOPTION, and all 5 of us are excited to add another Phelan to the Pham.  We have prayed for a long time about this big step for our phamily, and we both feel clearly called to adopt - a boy!  Ford can hardly wait to have an adopted brother, especially so he is not outnumbered by his sisters.  We don't know who our son-to-be is yet, but we do know the One who is His faithful Creator and Father.  Our son/brother has been "born" in all of our hearts and might already be growing in his birthmother's womb, in one of the 50 states.

WHERE ARE WE IN THE PROCESS?  We began this adoption journey in January of this year and have now completed all of the piles of paper work, fingerprinting, doctor's check-ups, the home study,... and we have raised over $1,200 through a couple of lemonade stands, an art sale, a garage sale, and through a friend's thoughtful Bunko party benefiting our adoption. (THANK YOU, JEANIVIEVE!)  We are currently finishing up our portfolio - the picture album of our family and our "Dear Birthmother" letter that a courageous birthmother will use to choose an adoptive couple to adopt her child.  Once we finish this portfolio and have raised all of the money needed, we will begin the "waiting" part of the process.  The adoption facilitator that is helping us, Lifetime Adoption Center, has told us it will probably be up to a year for our family to be chosen by a birthmother.  Starting this adoption blog is a way for us to include YOU - our loved ones - in this incredible journey.  We can't imagine going through it alone.  This is a team effort.

HOW CAN YOU PARTNER WITH US?  We can sincerely say that we want to ask for your prayers more than anything.  Please pray for all of us as we move through the rest of the adoption process and that God will connect our son's birthmother with our family, in His perfect time.  Ford's spectacular adoption story couldn't remind us more certainly that God will bring us together at just the right moment.  Would you also pray for God's covering to be over our son-to-be and for the Lord to bless his birthmother, that He will help her make wise decisions and keep her healthy.  Thank you for joining us in praying. We are also humbly asking if you'd pray about possibly partnering with us in bringing our son home through a financial donation. 

HOW WE'RE PUTTING THE "PIECES" TOGETHER? In order to raise the necessary funds for our adoption (which will be roughly $20,000), we are starting a Puzzle Fundraiser.  If God leads you to be a "piece" of our adoption puzzle financially, we will write your name/family's name on the back of a puzzle piece. As people/families contribute to the "puzzle", the Adoption Puzzle will be assembled. We will be updating our blog with the progress of the puzzle as it is formed.  (Click on the "Puzzle Fundraiser" tab to see pictures of the progressing puzzle).  After the puzzle is completed, we will frame the puzzle between two pieces of glass and hang it in our son's room. This will be a wonderful keepsake for our child and our family to gratefully remember all of the people who were part of making him a forever Phelan.  

HOW CAN YOU GIVE?

There are several ways you can financially be a "piece" of helping us hold our son soon. (Click on the "How Can You Partner With Us?" tab at the top of our blog to see these options listed or read below.)

1. Make a tax-deductible contribution to us through Lifesong. We are thrilled that we have received a $3,000 matching grant from the Harbor Orphan Care ministry started at our church. Harbor Orphan Care partners with Lifesong For Orphans, utilizing its non-profit status to allow those interested in supporting adoption to make a tax-deductible contribution to a specific family. To donate through Lifesong, click THIS LINK. Then make sure to note our account number- it’s #4057- and “Phelan Family” on the donation form. Lifesong doesn’t charge any fee for this service (other than a small credit card fee). 100% of your donation goes to reimburse us for adoption expenses. You will have to fill out a short form online. 

Lifesong's Mission: 

We seek to mobilize the church, His body, where each member can provide a unique and special service in bringing joy and purpose to orphans:

some to adopt, some to care, some to give.

2. Make a donation directly to us through Paypal that isn't tax deductible. On the right hand side of your screen, you should see a “Donate” button. All money will go toward our adoption.

3. Drink some coffee. Just Love Coffee is an amazing organization. It raises money for families who are trying to adopt while also providing a living wage for women in developing countries so that there is a reduced need for adoption. If you use use our link below to purchase your coffee, Just Love Coffee will give us $5/bag that you purchase. It is delicious coffee with a great cause. Just FYI, the shipping cost is the same for whatever amount of bags you order.

                  https://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/phelanphamilyofsix/

4. Participate in our online raffle. 

Coming soon... We will be having an online raffle to benefit our adoption from Monday, October 28th- Monday, November 11th. An amazing friend who is also in the adoption process now, Amy Reams, thought of this idea and surprised me by generously creating three themed gift baskets for the raffle as a thoughtful way to be a part of our adoption. THANK YOU, AMY! We will also raffle some of our very own artwork. Milly, our budding 6 1/2-year-old artist, and I recently took an art class together and are both raffling a copy of one of our pastel drawings. We will reveal one basket or painting a day on Facebook, starting October 28th. You will be able to purchase a $5 raffle ticket for the basket(s) or drawing(s) that you would like to win. Stay tuned...

We are excited to be on this adoption ride that God is taking us on, and we are thankful that we are not in it alone. Thanks for all of your prayers, support, and love. We can't wait for you to meet our son one day soon!