Pretty dramatic title right? Well your gonna wanna sit down for this because it is generally awkward standing while computing…unless you are one of those people who likes to stand while operating the computer because of the added health benefits and if that is you then KEEP STANDING and BURNING CALORIES dang it!

We have gotten a lot of emails and calls for updates on our bundle of joy and since you are all our friends we thought that it was about time to share as well. Other than the great news we shared about the moolah (yes I always use the term moolah* instead of money…I think it sounds classy) we wanted to keep on keepin’ on with the good news.

Now that we are safely and comfortably using our computer…we have been matched. Woo Hoo!

For those outside of the adoption circle you may wonder what that means, well, I will explain.

A woman has selected us to raise the baby she is carrying…gosh that is a lofty statement!

We are honored. We are excited. We are terrified. We are waiting.

So folks, hold your breath with us.

So what’s next? We will wait for him to be born. Do another little jig and throw your prayers (if you pray) and thoughts (if you think) our way and this wonderful birth mom’s way for peace.

“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.” Martin Luther King Jr.

*I am not sure how accurate or legitimate this website is. Please do not use in a book report or above the 8th grade level.

Welp, we are there.

Homestudy/find every possible piece of paper that has ever been listed with our names on it and answer extremely personal questions – CHECK!

Fill out grants/create new paperwork with our names listed on it – CHECK

Get grants – CHECK! CHECK! CHECK! (Thanks Steven Curtis Chapman with your fancy guitar) “Friends are friends forever?”

Raise/Save money (dig through the couch cushions for pennies, cancel cable, stop eating out, and sell everything that we own and everything our friends’ own) – CHECK!

Guys we are there and we couldn’t have done it without you!

We had ANOTHER garage sale last weekend and we were selling the last of our t-shirts and I guess someone assumed it was a t-shirt that was for animal adoption and they then looked at us and said “Yea, those kill shelters are awful.”  All I could do was wait for her to leave and laugh out loud. Oh you garage sale people you – you are quite characters. Someone from the neighborhood also asked us at this garage sale “You guys were the people adopting in the fall, what’s up with that?” Sigh…

The highlight of the Sykes’s garage sale finale was a car tape deck wrapped in a really nice CD box AND an empty glass spaghetti jar. Who could say no to that? EH? Pinterest anyone?

Hey baby, our garage is clean and we are ready for you to come home!

And this will make us all laugh -

Today I am tired and mad and sad and jealous. I broke my necklace and I still don’t have a baby in my house and no matter what I do I can’t fix it. I am sure I sound like a teenager who doesn’t get what she wants.

The paperwork is hard. The raising money is hard and the waiting is the worst. I know I sound like the most ungrateful person in the world right now. But, today I don’t understand the plan or why we have been waiting so darn long. But I read this and mirrors how I feel. I often try to avoid posting anything grumpy so I apologize for those who are offended that I am being negative Nancy. Adoption is good but it is also difficult.

Isn’t There Another Way?

We have been praying and discussing and presenting our portfolios to birth mothers the last few weeks. It has been fun, sad, maddening and honoring all at the same time. We both feel honored to be a part of these babies lives if only for a few days – we get to pray for these kiddos and mothers and other families before this kid is even born. We have the opportunity to talk to some brave ladies. It is just an honor. It makes us even more excited to bring our kiddo home.

As we are praying for a few different birth mothers and their difficult choices right now, we arrived home today and received a letter from the Show Hope grant folks…Steven Curtis Chapman himself (OK the letter was not from him at all, but I wish the letter had come from him in the form of a personal song). Anyway, I figured it was a letter thanking us for applying for their grant and a good luck slap on the back…figuratively. But not only was it a figurative slap on the back (the good and encouraging kind) but also telling us that they are giving us a grant for $4000. WHAT? Let me repeat myself…they are giving us a grant of $4000 for our adoption. I literally dropped everything in my hands and arms when I got home and read this letter to Greg. I just don’t know what to say…we are beyond undeserving and honored and words that don’t even exist to communicate our behonorevingment….there I said it – I made up a word for it. That is how I feel with a smidge of jumping up and down excitopia! This grant is not matching it is just a $4000 check to our adoption agency. WOO WOO!

Can I get a drumroll please? We have raised and saved $36,000 currently. Our goal was $30,000 and God laughed and said look what I can do SUCKAS (yes – I have heard He uses the word suckas for people – especially me because let’s face it…I am a sucka)! He clearly doesn’t think we are done here…He must have some big ol’ plans.  So I will sit on pins and needles as He continues to reveal His plan for our family. Literally God, pins and needles in my chair…

I will echo what Show Hope is praying for our family and I hope you will join us:

“Our prayer for your family is that God will be glorified throughout the adoption process – as He proves Himself to be faithful, provides the finances from various sources, and as He reveals His great love and care for the child you are adopting.”

Currently this is how I feel:

Image from the website Awesome People Hanging Out Together…I am not sure why they haven’t put a picture of me on the website yet? Eh? Too easy? OK.

Still wishing you had one of these amazing Adoption is Good t-shirts?

We got a few left, and there are looking to be adopted by your shoulders.

Sizes

Small $20.00 USD Medium $20.00 USD Large $20.00 USD

Well – you folks out there probably think I am some cool and collected girl with no care in the world…OK probably no one in the world thinks that of my type A, constantly questioning, constantly going personality but let’s pretend I like to play it cool.

I officially had a breakdown. A real class A, scream at the wall, and punch the ceiling of the car breakdown. It was probably humorous for the car behind me on my way home from work today – with all my might I raised my fist to the top of my car and let out a scream and that is it. Just a random punch to the ceiling. I looked like I was about to go fight the Titans or be in Remember the Titans or do something titaniumish. ARG!

We have presented a few times – heard yes a few times, heard no a few times, and have been waiting it out. And will continue to wait it out (although I wouldn’t have said that earlier – I was ready to fly off to France – is that awful to admit?)

Anyway – I have officially had a breakdown to more people than Greg…who usually sees the breakdowns and he is still steady in his knowledge of God’s provision.

We are waiting. Waiting for our baby. While the waiting is hard we are thankful we get to wait for this. Thankful that adoption gets to be a part of our life. Thankful for this kiddo who is about to enter our crazy life!

This is Freddie Mercury…probably throwing an angry fist at the ceiling of his car…he can relate.

I appreciate the truth the people in my life continue to show me. The people who keep asking and keep encouraging. Thank you!

Congratulations Keith! You are the Stay in Bed 5k WINNER! It was the sweat band and the “props” that really brought you to the finish line. Who doesn’t want a Texas Instrument when fighting for a cause.

Head over to the facebook page to check out some amazing pictures. We had 65 people register and A LOT of fun pictures to share. Thanks guys for getting involved. Thanks for staying in bed for our kiddo. Currently we are submitting portfolios and waiting.

Here’s another classic:

Even the guy in the red shirt wanted to be involved. Our waiter was extremely amused by us.

We found out today we received a $2500 matching grant from the James Fund. Let’s celebrate!!! I am currently dancing in the kitchen…with my computer – clearly not a great dance…and very limiting…as my kitchen is small and the computer is heavy.

There are a lot of ups and downs in this process – and today I was feeling a little down so it was a wonderful surprise when they called. I wanted to give her a big over-the-phone hug (yes, I am having a hard time picturing that as well)! We are undeserving…God is good! I know I have said this before but we are SO thankful to be on this journey and for others to join us! This whole adoption thing is just the best!

So I leave you with this – us Sykes’ know how to dance! I give you permission to dance in your kitchen with us!

The following is a message from our good friend, Sarah. Out of her overwhelming love for us she has decided to put together her own fundraiser to help us along the way in this walk. Sarah is awesome.

___________________________________________

What: Fundraiser for the Adoption of Tiny Adorable Baby Named Sarah (fingers crossed, if this fundraiser goes well)

When: Saturday, February 18th, all day long, but you don’t actually have to go anywhere besides your bed.

Deadline to Register: Wednesday, February 8th (Noon)

What is it exactly: A no-running 5K. You just receive a t-shirt and race packet and carry on with your Saturday as normal.

How much does it cost: $25 (includes t-shirt, race number, other goodies)

How can I ALSO possibly win a gift card?: Post awesome pictures of yourself wearing the t-shirt/race number on the facebook page.

Our goal: 50 participants

Dear Every American,

If you’re like me, you think 5Ks are fine. You get out there in the weather…you support some kind of fundraiser for somebody’s spleen removal or for stopping a small Eurasian government from prohibiting its citizens to marry their pet monkeys (we can’t choose who we love!) …plus you get a little exercise. They’re fine.

I think, though, if we’re being totally honest with ourselves and society, we will admit that we mainly sign up for 5Ks for the t-shirts. Who doesn’t love strolling into work on casual Friday sporting a fresh t-shirt won over the previous weekend condemning the school system’s practice of feeding genetically modified rat meat to our children, all while feigning athletic superiority and pretending to “care”?
I’ll tell you: Nobody.

People want t-shirts and will do whatever it takes to get them, provided it doesn’t require them to propel their bodies forward for distances longer than 3.1 miles. Yeah, I like 5Ks alright I guess. But I freaking LOVE 5K t-shirts.

That is why I have created a new kind of 5K, where you receive all the spoils of the race without actually RACING. That’s right. Here’s how it works:
1. You pay your 25 bucks using the Paypal link on this page

2. You receive your race packet in the mail, which includes a t-shirt, race number, and some other goodies to prove your participation just in case

3. The day of the race, you…don’t do anything. Well, you can post photos of you and your friends wearing your t-shirts on the facebook page and be entered to win a gift card, but other than that you’re pretty much done. Reap the benefits and help out my friends with their adoption fees while you’re at it.

Sound too good to be true? It’s not. I’m just that lazy.

Go ahead and sign up at the link below, and remember the deadline is Februay 8th!

Race Kit T-shirt Size:

Small Medium Large Xtra Large

We knew when we started the adoption process, that as we proceeded it wouldn’t necessarily get easier and that has proven to be true.  This stage in the game continues to leave me with a heavy heart.

Last week I got a call from a grant orgnaization…YAY! They are considering our application for another grant…YAY! As I was talking with the woman she asked if things had changed since November 30 (this is when we submitted our grant paperwork). She said in November we were lacking $21,000 and asked if that had changed. I had a big YES to say.  I told her that we were currently not lacking $21,000 but $10,000.  WHAT? Since November 30 we have raised about $10,000. Her side of the line was silent for a minute and said congratulations. We have been walking blindly in this fundraising world and continue to be amazed by how many people want to be a part of this. I don’t even have the words to say – so thank you. Thank you for for being the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you for showing us a miracle!

We still have more to go and are excited to continue to move in this direction. In the next few weeks we will have two fundraisers. One will be a fun surprise announced this week and the second is a Mary Kay party put on by my friend Laura Sue. I am having a Mary Kay party and she has offered to donate some of the proceeds to our adoption. If you are interested in joining in on the fun on Wednesday let me know and I’ll send you an invitation. If you would like to order some Mary Kay products and have some of the proceeds go towards our adoption shoot me an email Jessica.Sykes4@gmail.com. You know – if you want some make up anyway. As they say on Parks and Rec – “Make-Up.Treat.Yo.Self.”

While we are raising money we are also learning about adoption situations that we might be interested in.  We have created a portfolio and as we hear about situations we are deciding whether or not this is the right fit for us and submitting our portfolio to them. I often receive a situation in my inbox that has the information of a woman and her pregnancy. We see the medical history and family history. It’s in the woman’s handwriting. Immediately I fall in love with these women. Immediately I want to give them a big hug.  What a lovely thing they are doing for their child! This has been so difficult and wonderful. It is so difficult to proceed through a normal day after reading these situations and what could come next. For the last month my brain has been in a cloud and elsewhere.  Working and being busy has been a sweet relief. While I know we are in a very difficult stage right now, actually meeting this woman will be even harder. I pray for this woman every day and I know our hearts will be tied forever by this little bean that will come home with us. I know there may be situations that may not work out and I pray for this woman’s heart as much as I pray for my heart to be able to withstand this phase.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:2-5

Wisdom would be a wonderful gift right now.