<div>Dear friends and supporters,
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<div>We are reaching out to you today to ask for your help in supporting us in our journey toward adoption!
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<div>Dan and I have been struggling with infertility for almost 2 years.
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<div>We've had an early miscarriage, the results we were receiving from our fertility tests were not promising, and the weight of doing treatment or IVF was very heavy and kept having setbacks. With my previous medical history of cancer treatment and being in and out of hospitals then, it was even heavier.
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<div>Adoption has always been a plan, and in the last few months, God has shown us through it all that this is what we are called to do to <em>start </em>our family and we couldn't be more excited.
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<div>Ever since I was a little girl adoption was on my heart, and since Dan and I started dating we knew adoption would play a part in our family. We've been reading books, attending seminars, and ultimately praying for this journey, and we want you to join us in that too.
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<div>However, it is no secret that adoption comes with significant costs, and there are many fees expected. These fees include a home study, legal fees, agency fees, application fees, and other expenses that can add up quickly<em>.</em>
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<div>We want to be completely open and honest about the deadlines and funds we need and what they are going to. We also want to express that we are not solely relying on the funds we raise, we trust God to provide when and where we need it as we move forward no matter the numbers on this GoFundMe, our bank accounts, or granted to us.
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<div>It is in HIS hands.
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<li>The application fee is $200.
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<li>The home study fee is $1800.
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<li>The agency fee is $4000 (This covers the cost of the agency, the graphic designer for our profile and profile book, as well as other fees related to using the agency).
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<li>It is $4000 once we match with a birthparent AFTER completion of the home study (home studies may take 4-7 months to complete with our specific agency).
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<li>After a match, you must start making payments towards all the rest of the fees until the child is born/placed with you, this includes $3000 in birthparent expenses, legal fees such as an attorney, and other social service fees.
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<li>Then you have court fees at the end of the process that can vary.
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<li>We also need baby items! We will need to purchase a crib, a stroller, a car seat, and other essentials in anticipation of a baby. With the birth mothers choosing <em>us, </em>sometimes they are months, weeks, or days, from birth or the baby has already been born! We have to be prepared in all circumstances.
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<div>The total of an average adoption in Ohio is $25,000.
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<div>If you were to match with a birth mother outside of Ohio it can be up to $30-80k.
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<div>This does not scare us! We believe God will provide, he already has, and will continue to do so.
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<div>If we were to be blessed with money that exceeds what we need, the extra will go to unplanned pregnancy support, therapy for birth mothers and other organizations that help support mothers in need.
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<div>We are excited to share our upcoming events, fundraising ideas, and other creative ways to help that aren't financial as the weeks go by, so please stay tuned to my Facebook page, Instagram account, and updates here so you don't miss out.
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<div>We are a loving couple with three furry children - our beloved dogs Wolfie, Scooby, and Maisy, who we consider to be a part of the family. We have a beautiful home filled with love, wonderful support systems, and a fun lifestyle and we are more than ready to welcome a child into it with open arms.
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<div>Your donation can help make our dream of becoming parents a reality all that much sooner. Every little bit counts and your support will help alleviate some of the financial burden and allow us to focus on the joy of welcoming a child into our home.
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<div>Thank you for your consideration and for supporting us in our journey!
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/72769331_1739304327141753_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
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Carpenter Family Adoption!

Still $36,405 to go. Help us build momentum.