Why do it if you can't afford it?

So, I think the title says it all! :)
Sounds like a harsh question, huh? But the reality is that many people are thinking this regarding our adoption fundraising. Some people have actually asked the question to us! Which, may I add, is not offending at all. In fact, it gives us the opportunity to explain a few things. So... here we go! :)

1) It's hard to think that adopting children that need happy, loving families should be limited to people of financial wealth. Why shouldn't a teacher and a photographer that believe in their hearts that their future children are coming to them through adoption be held back simply because they aren't sitting on an extra $20k to $35k?

The reality is that there is a strong percentage of adopting families that do fundraising in order to help out. It is not at all uncommon. In fact, we've run into several other families that have shared their fundraising stories and ideas. We've sympathized with each others' struggles, and shared in our victories. There are so many children in the US and across our planet that are looking for loving homes that it would be a total and complete shame to tell a willing and loving family that they can't adopt because they a) don't have the money and/or b) fundraising is illegal! (Off with their heads!!) :)

2) Yes, $20k to $35k is a lot of money, and almost all employers don't provide any coverage to offset those fees. If you were to compare the costs of child birth with that of adopting you would see that they are quite close. The difference is that your insurance coverage covers most of the costs of giving birth, but none of the adoption fees. Crazy? Maybe.. Maybe not. But it is the truth. :)

3) (side note: this one is full of the personal stuff we HATE talking about, but is necessary for the point.. blah!) For our particular situation, we've already paid over $10K out of pocket to fees related to adopting from Ethiopia. Those are funds that we are never getting back, so yeah, that kinda sucks and puts us in a bind. But, we march on!

4) We've looked into a variety of grants (okay.. Chelsey has looked into a variety of grants), but there are a ton of restrictions/fine print items that don't really apply to us.

• We are not adopting a child/children with special needs. 
• We are working with a private attorney and not with an agency (that's a kicker!). 
• We've already started our own fundraising. To list a few.

Alright. I hope that paints a better picture of what we are trying to do. We're really not asking a lot. Not even half of what we will ultimately put toward the adoption when you factor in all of the attorney fees, travel, lodging, clothes, furniture, diapers, and college (ok, went too far with that one, ha!). 

So, to sum it all up! How can you help? We've got only 357 puzzle pieces to go @ $20 a pop! :) I'll be posting a picture of the progress thus far. It's taking me a while to get all the names on the pieces and put them in place! Having fun with it though! 

And I also wanted to put a direct message out to all of MY peeps.. Hey! I'm feeling like a lame ass over here! Chelsey and her friends have made up over 85% of all donations!! I'm represented by all of two people other than my immediate family (Thanks Mommy, Daddy, Katie, and Kara! :: and my BB-you know who you are!). I'm looking for a little love from at least my Sigma Chi Brothers out there (excluding my CO bro and his fam)!! Hello? I may not have been around much lately... I live in Alaska! 

Thanks again for following our story. Your love and support means so much to us!

Sincerely-

Ken, Chelsey, PK, MG, and The Twins!