I’m Attempting to Do What? Have you ever stopped for a minute and suddenly realized your life did not turn out the way you thought it would? I always thought someday my home would be like the one I grew up in. It’s funny what I remember the most: my little brothers putting too much sugar on their cereal; scrambling for the last bowl of Kellogg’s Sugar Smacks; He-Man or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles turned up way too loud on the T.V.; and Mom yelling from the laundry room to turn it down while Dad and older brother worked outside. It was chaotic at times but I loved my family. They were everything to me, especially my littlest brother, who was born when I was 12. Who could ask for anything better than a real live doll? However, Life had its own plans for me. Despite returning to my home-state years ago to “settle down” and start my family, my house is still empty. Last year, I tried to accept that a family wasn’t going to happen but that didn’t go over too well. The turning point was the day I was stuck at the airport for 3 hours and found myself in tears after one too many adorable kids in squeaky shoes and tutus walked past. I wanted a family. I’d always wanted a family. A traditional family was what I’d pictured but it was time to find another way. Today, I am excited to announce I have completed and met all of the rigorous adoption requirements or what I refer to as “Boot Camp for Parents”. I could receive a call any day that a baby has been born and is waiting for me (oh, my gosh, me!) to journey to the Marshall Islands to adopt her and bring her home. The trip is 6 weeks and although, the Family Medical Leave Act assures I will have a job upon my return, the time off will be unpaid. The typical international adoption costs $37,000-45,000 but the Marshall Islands program is over $50,000. This is a unique program that is closed due to only a handful of children available each year. There are no orphanages there. The infants are placed for adoption by their parents due to extreme poverty and remain with their parents until the adoptive family arrives. When I was invited into the Marshall Islands Program, I was ecstatic to learn that I would have the chance to be matched with an infant in an open adoption. My dreams are coming true! If you’d told me in the beginning how laborious the adoption process is, I wouldn’t have thought it possible. It has been challenging, emotionally and financially, and stretched me to grow in ways I hadn’t imagined. At this point, I need to raise $25,000 to cover the final adoption fees and the 6 week trip in the Marshall Islands to bring my baby home. Originally, I was working with the India program and placement of the child likely wouldn’t have happened until 2018. I had another year to collect rental income from the lower level of my home and work a second job. While I feel blessed to have been invited into the Marshall Islands Program, it has turned my financial plan upside down. Further, I’ve lost my renter and am unable to lease to a new tenant as it would stop my adoption process. Please remember me and my child in your prayers and donate if you can. I am also collecting baby clothing and baby items. Thank you to my wonderful friends, family and colleagues who have supported me from the beginning. I couldn’t do this without all of you.