Heads up: Receipts are needed for your adoption tax credit

So happy I started researching the adoption tax credit.

After looking at forums and blogs, I have found that many others, just like me, did not know we had to save receipts for the tax credit, simply thought we had to show proof of the adoption.

I already have some receipts to stop and document, and away we go!!

Immensely thankful for those blogging out there, and posting on forums. Very helpful.

Hope my blog will help others in the same way also.

So, save those receipts you little mommys-and-daddys-to-be.

(As if the dossier was not enough on it's own. LOL).

Do you save food receipts too? I will have to look that up also. If you have any info. on the tax credit or the types of receipts to be saved...advice...feel free to comment here.

I thank you in advance!!

And if you are new here, my husband and I are adopting internationally, we are with Holt. Our initial paper work has been submitted and we are waiting on our Home Study.

VERY EXCITED!!


Blessings, Lynette

Easter Flash Mob

Happy Easter!! HE is risen!!

Here is a HUGE Easter flash-mob: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FB1B9CNU 

Blessings, Lynette

the medical checklist- dun dun dun!

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the medical conditions checklist. But knowing that the Lord will bring us together with the child He has chosen for us, no matter what!

Has anyone else had to fill out such a form? Any advice?

I know Jazmyne's mom and dad have been through this, and mom has been very thoughtful in sharing her experience on their blog.

Thank you to all who have shared, it helps those of us who come along afterwards. I hope that I can give back in the same way by documenting our journey, too.

Also, as a side note, I plan on catching up with my blog-friends online next week. I have off of preschool next week for our Easter break, and I will have time to check in with all of you to see what has been going on, and to leave you some comment-love. I've missed you!!!!

Blessings, Lynette

Successful, heart warming Art Happening fundraiser!

The Art Happening was hugely successful with so many sweet, darling moms and dads caring and sharing. To use the words of a friend, they were "loving on me" so beautifully. It was nice to be able to introduce my husband to people too, and he jammed with Ken Carroll on Ken's guitar.  Ken provided really cool music, that we adults we able to hang to!! Thanks to Mrs. Coll, Ms Dee, Mrs Laus who were there helping SO MUCH last night; and to Jake who was put to work also. It was nice to see Joan and Pastor Reeb. The baked goods provided by parents were incredible.  Facebook friends: Sara really out-did herself with so many amazing goodies, and so beautifully decorated. Mrs. Coll's pretzels were also big sellers, so pretty, and Jeanne's cakes, wrapped in curly ribbon, were selling as people talked about how good they looked, Sharon's cake sold even before the event started (wow), kids loved the brownies, thank you Dana for making them. Barbara's mini-pound cakes were pretty with poofs a-top, and lots of people liked them, too. Anyone else, if you made something I did not know about it specifically but I guarantee it was enjoyed. SO MUCH sold, and people were very generous when buying. There was selection left over which will be sold at the church on the weekend, and the proceeds passed along to us, but really most of it sold last night.
Mrs. Laus and Danielle Hunt are not linked to my facebook, which this blog will post-to, but I have to say that they both made incredible cakes!!!! Janet's had mascarpone frosting, and went home with Ms Dee who will surely enjoy it. Danielle's was drizzled with chocolate, and had fresh fruit piled in the center of the bundt, it received LOTS of ooh's and ahhh's from on lookers, it was a piece of art.
My own bunny sugar cookies hop-hop-hopped away just about as fast as they were placed on the table.
My allergy safe cupcakes were a big hit, too. Chocolate cake with an orange glaze. They were husband tested and approved.

Thank you to staff and parents who made donations, and sent cards. I have not received them yet. Ms Dee told me about them and I will receive them next week. I cannot tell you how much my heart is overwhelmed and warmed by this outpouring of love. A whole class who was attending a child's birthday party could not be there last night, and so the parents got together and made a card with donations. Ms Dee told me about this card which I will receive next week, also.

Special thanks also to The Satellite Cafe in West Philly who donated a huge 5 pound bag of Organic French Roast Fair Trade coffee. It was brewed and enjoyed; also many people bought the individual bags of beans which I prepared.
The Urban family, who have three delightful little girls, deserve a very special thanks. xo!! 
"Robbie's family" provided a very special gift by taking their 50/50 winnings and turning around to donate it back into the adoption fund. Amazing.
Author George Smith was there showcasing and selling his books. He gave the adoption fund 50% of his sales last night. I picked up one of his books to remember the evening. What a truly nice man!
Jesus was alive and well last night at the Art Happening. Amen!
Every bit will help us, and the children at the orphanage, as we journey to bring our little one home.

Blessings, Lynette

Update for King of Kings Parents

Thank you for joining us as we plan the Bake Sale for this years Art Happening at King of Kings School.

You may be wondering where our journey to adopt has landed us thus far.

 Kev and I are adopting internationally!! :-D

Our agency is Holt, which is a Christian agency, and has been around since 1955. http://holtinternational.org/about/

We will be going to either Ethiopia or China. If China it will be the mild special needs program (correctable through surgery or therapies). We will be adopting either a boy or girl, toddler under 2 most likely. A little known fact is that there are little boys in need of forever-families in China, too.

At this point we are actively doing required paper work and doctor appointments. Then there is even more paper work in our near future as we compile or "Dossier", wait on US forms, and get things notarized. That process will take 4 to 6 months alone, and then our Dossier goes to the other country for processing at which time we wait on a referral of OUR CHILD, and then wait even more. 

It is a game of "hurry up and wait" every step... It will take 1-1/2 to 2 years "on average", though that is a guess and I am hoping it goes much quicker.

Our overall fees are about 30 thousand dollars which is average for most international adoptions (and private domestic USA adoptions, also).  There is no insurance to cover the paper work, travel, appointments and more for our "labor" of love. 

Our fundraisers, such as the Arbonne fundraiser, this KOKS art and bake sale, and others are helping us raise a portion of the money we will need. 

Most of my pay from my teaching and my church jobs are both being put into the fund as well, and there will be more fundraisers in my future. My husband accepts over time jobs as much as he can to contribute as well.

The proceeds from this year's Art Happening event at KOKS will be directed to the Orphanage-Donation which is part-of our required fees for the adoption. The orphanage "care centers" keep the children housed, fed, clothed, and cared for with loving nannies.

So, the children at our school are helping children thousands of miles away!
(as well as helping to bring mine and Kev's little one home, of course).   

Blessings, Lynette

Get your Wilton on! Bake sale at KOK!

Friends of King of Kings School

The bake sale newsletters and sign up lists will be hanging up this coming week, and the plan is underway for a very successful (we hope) Art Show and Bake Sale with proceeds going to 

"Bring Home Baby Fitzpatrick"

Get your Wilton on!!

We hope you will join us in baking, and then join us on April 15th at the Art Happening walk-through from 4pm-to-6pm to buy some petite~picasos and mini~monets, as well as some delectable goodies.

 

Here are the BAKING details:

1) no nuts.

2) prepackage food in clear cellophane, clear bags, saran, etc. (clear best; if solid then label well.)

Individual items wrapped separately if large; OR double/triple in sets if smaller.

3) label batch of items, please.

4)  if you want to get creative: feel free to decorate with individual labels, stickers, ribbon, recipe tag, etc. Have fun!

School staff, parents, and friends of King-of-Kings church and school: Feel free to comment me here if you would like to sign up for the bake sale via blog, or "FB" me. 

What would you like to bring?

Blessings, Lynette