THE COST

Seems like the questions that are asked most often about our adoption are these...... Why are you doing this and is it expensive.  Well, I have already answered the "why" question in another post, so I guess its time to answer the other one. Is it expensive??? Yes. Yes. Yes.  Will that stop us.......NO. NO. NO!  You see, the way I look at it, its like this......It's a life. As a matter of fact, its our son's life. If one of my other kids was being held hostage in another country, or heck, if they were being held just down the street, for a ransom, would I stop and consider how much it was before I would pay it?? No. I would do whatever I had to do to save my child. Now, I won't lie, for months while I was wrestling with HOW was I going to answer this call, I kept telling myself, "we don't have the money, we don't have the money." And, regardless of what my good friend Mike says(thats for you friend)....money does NOT grow on mesquites trees here on our place!!! But I will tell you this, for whatever the reason, Rick's work has been steady this winter and that is not usually the case. We have been very blessed with the work he has. Granted, he is draggin pretty bad, but its a "good" draggin. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord".......most of you know the rest of that scripture. I believe thats why his work has been steady. God knew the plans He had for us, and He knew we needed all the extra work we could get in order to start this process.  I had also been saving up for my trip to Africa to help at an orphanage there. My plans were to go in late May or early June and I could hardly wait! BUT, God had other plans for me! Its a really neat story how this all came about. I will share that at another posting though. Anyway, back to the COST of this adoption. I know this is alot of money but like I said earlier......we are talking about a LIFE. You can't put a price tag on that. I have followed several families the past 9 months and I have watched God provide for them. Some have had to delay going to get their kids because they didn't have the money yet. But everytime, God. has provided a way.....they have all been able to go and get their kids and bring them home.
So, with all that said, I am going to give you a break down of what our adoption is going to cost. Keep in mind that, depending on which country you go to and which orphanage you go to, the cost can vary from @ $20,000 to $40,000 dollars. Here is the break down of ours:

Reece's Rainbow Donation                         250.00        
RR Voice of Hope Fund                               25.00        
Homestudy                                                  1100.00     
HAPS Russian Reg. Fee                              2000.00    
HAPS Agency Expenses                                 655.00
HAPS Homestudy Review                            600.00     
Foreign Program Expenses                          4000.00
(Gov.agency, filing fees, legal fees, escort and court translator in country, liaison work with Ministry of Ed., Ministry of Health, Court, Orphanage, translation of reports)
USCIS application fee for I600A                  720.00
USCIS fingerprinting per person                    85.00
Round trip airfare for 2(2 trips)                    3600.00-8000.00
Accommodations and food (26days)             6500.00-8900.00
Visa fee (child)                                                 404.00
Child Medical Exam for Visa                          150.00
Visas for parents                                             825.00  
Childs airfare                                                270.00-1800.00
Child's reg. w/country Consulate in US             50.00
Evaluation of child's information by med.expert  400.00-1000.00
Parents 8-point medical in country                    500.00-1000.00 per person

TOTAL EXPENSES                                    $32,564.00                                                                                

Not included in that are our physicals, and copies of B.C's, Marriage License, etc.  @ $300.00 


We are hoping since Rick won't be staying the extended stay on the second trip, that we can knock off some expenses there. Honestly, when I look at these figures, I am taken back abit.  Well.......actually, right now.......i'm taken back........alot! This was one of the first things we got (list of expenses) and I just stuck it in a folder and started filling out papers! Now, to see all these figures, its kinda breath taking.

Wait a minute.......thats not right.......THIS LITTLE GUY IS BREATH TAKING........Yep, every time I look at his sweet face, I know exactly why we are doing this expensive adoption. We will pay the ransom,  and we will do it with joy in our hearts because we know without a doubt, this is what we are suppose to do.

Now for the part that I don't know how to do. 

I layed awake last night for several hrs. thinking about this. The cost of this adoption and how to go about telling others or asking others to join in and help us bring this boy home. And then I'd think, NO, I can't do it. We took this on and I cannot......I will not ask for help from others. But then, I started thinking about something I told my grandmother. My Mama King can be a very stubborn lady and does pretty much what she wants to when she wants to and she doesn't like for anybody to have to do for her. Not long ago I was getting on to her because she said something like,"I don't want her doing anything for me." I told her that by not letting this lady help her, she was maybe DENYING that lady a blessing. The lady wanted to help her because she cared about her. Not because she thought she had to, but because she cared about her and she wanted to do something good for someone.

Reece's Rainbow is set up where you can make a difference even if you can't adopt. So many more families would step up if the money was there for the child they felt led to. If you haven't checked out RR, then do it now! And if you are familiar with the site, then you know that there is a Family Sponsorship Page where you can donate to families that have committed to a child and are in the process of bringing them home. Every little bit helps.
And if you would like to help "love Gabe home", on my right side bar at the top of my blog, there is a picture of Gabe that you can click on and it will take you to the Family Page, or right below Gabe's picture, there is a box for the Decker fund and you can click the donate button and go from there.

I've never done anything like this before so forgive me if I've messed up words here. We are so thankful for our family and friends that have been supportive to us. Thank you Waldo and Judy. You will never know how much your gift and your faithfullness and kindness has meant to us. Also, Gabe has $100 in his account and I don't know who put it there but God does! Thank you so much. Please continue this journey with us. We are putting together our dossier right now and our visas have been sent for and should be here next week.  I found out yesterday that 2 families are at Gabe's orphanage right now and were going to surprise us with photos of him but he's on the second floor (theirs are on the first) and that floor is quarantined because of chicken  pox. I guess my baby has the chicken pox!! Maybe they can sneak afew shots in. Please pray for Gabe's health, that he will stay strong until we can get there.  And please, please pray for all those that have no one coming for them yet. Thanks abunch.