I find N and Z have begun to process the fact that they are getting a sister someday. N seems to bring it up the most and ask about how long it will take and what she will be like. He understands it will take a long time, but lovingly the other day said he thought maybe he didn't need to go to 7-11 for a reward so we could save the money for his sister. He can be so sweet sometimes.
Not much is happening with the Homestudy at this point, but lots has been happening in Haiti and with fundraising.
The news coming out of Haiti this month has been wonderful. Many families that already had been matched under the old laws prior to The Hague agreement being adopted in Haiti have been stuck, some for up to five years. This month the IBSER, the Haitian version of our adoption workers in DSS, took the month off to close out the old cases. Everyday, on the Adopting from Haiti website I am a part of, dreams are coming true! Families are bring home their children and most importantly children are getting the loving family they have always dreamed of having.
This video may put the children's feelings in perspective. It was made based on an actual event that a worker witnessed at an orphanage in India. I have seen it once before on Facebook referencing an orphanage in Iraq, but researched and it seems to be India.
http://www.lifebuzz.com/child-draws/
In our home, school has started and life has been crazy. This week alone I was out every night but Friday. Most with the boys, but some not. N unsuccessfully began Irish Dance. He was so excited that he could hardly control himself walking into the Irish Center; he was like the energizer Bunny on No-Doz. He only lasted 15 minutes before the dance teacher brought him down and asked us to try again next week. I felt awful when the giant tears ran down his face because he wanted to go back and couldn't. Hopefully, he has learned his lesson and with mommy taking him to the playground right before dance, he will do better next week.
I have been working very hard at trying to get people to sign up for Ambit Energy. I have been with them for awhile as a customer, but only recently decide to get 15 customers and hopefully a few consultants to earn money for my adoption. If I get 15 people to sign up for both gas and electric, I get the average of their supply charges free for a year. I can therefore write a check every month to the adoption agency for that amount that I usually pay for gas and electric. As well, I get a kick back for every customer/consultant I sign up. The more consultants I sign up who think they want to get free gas and electric, the more kick backs I get and the more I move up the ladder with Ambit therefore earning me greater rewards to put towards my adoption. With Ambit's guarantee to save customers at least 2-3% off their current providers electric and/or gas of the year, it is a great opportunity for people to help without spending a cent and actually saving money. I currently have 8 electric customers and 6 gas customers towards my 15 that I am trying to get by the 20th.
As well, I am selling t-shirts through the 15th I designed to celebrate adoption. After that, I will be selling them on etsy. It has been wonderful to see people share the t-shirts from my Facebook page to people they think might be interested. I even have had one order from England.
I had my first crazy couponing trip this week. I learned a lot about saving money through coupons the last couple of weeks. Like did you know you can buy coupons on eBay? Seems counter productive to buy coupons, but not really. You buy your newspaper to get coupons, and you get lots in there you probably won't even use, but with eBay you can buy the ones you actually want and a bunch at a time. I spent 2.68 on 35 gogo squeeze coupons: my boys eat those like they are going out of style. They were also on sale this week at Target, so each box only cost me 1.00 compared to the 2.50 I usually would spend. I did learn however that with some coupons the register will stop and only let you use 4 of them, so embarrassingly had to break my order up.
I also learned that there are some great sites that you can follow to help you find out where the good deals are. I was actually able to get some free candy for the kids at school; I often play review games and give away candy.
I learned some stores price match, but unfortunatley Wegmans is not one of those. Although Wegmans is my favorite, when things are on sale, I am finding they are better deal sat Tops where I also earn gas points to save on gas. I also learned couponing requires concentration and paying close attention to the cash register all things that I cannot easily do with the boys around. So unless we go to Wkids, I guess I will have to squeeze my couponing in between the end of school and the closing of daycare.
Some days I get discouraged about the process of fundraising and all the documents I am trying to get together to send to Haiti, but I know it will be worth it in the end. I find myself giving it to God and taking it back and giving it to him again and again. I hope he gets a kick out of this because I can't seem to not worry at times.
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If you wish to help with the exorbitant cost of adoption, please consider signing up, shopping, or donating.
SIGNING UP
Here is my website for more information if interested in signing up for Ambit, but please contact me too:
http://finnertyadoptionfund.myambit.com/rates-and-plans
SHOPPING
I have a store front at Just Love Coffee Roasters where people can buy coffee.
https://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/finnerty/
I am also selling adoption themed t -shirts for 20.00 and selling chevron scarves with words screen printed on them for 20 dollars which I earn 5.00 on that I will be taking orders on through October 30th. Message, call, or text me if you are interested in either. 
DONATING OR SHOPPING
I am currently raising money and selling items through One Mission Fundraising. This is both a basic donation site as well as a site that sells gifts for fundraising. So people can choose to shop or just donate.
https://onemissionfundraising.com/fundraisers/finnerty-family-adoption-fund/
DONATING
Anyone who just wants to make a donation by writing a check, and not have a portion of it go to fees for the One Mission Site, can make one to my agency on my behalf. Because they are a non-profit, the donations can be written off on your taxes. If you are interested, checks, that have a post it note attached with my name on it or a note accompanying the check with my name, can be made out to and sent to:
EAC Inc.
Attention Tina Fell
12608 Alameda Drive
Strongsville, OH 44149
Thank you for any help you can give!!!
