Please Help our Friends

Please help our friend Nash and His Dad win this contest and help bring more awareness about all of Victoria's friends.

Taken from their blog, www.onestepclosertohome.blogspot.com,

"I mentioned in my last post that we had some exciting news to be announced this week. First, a little background.

As you may already know, I am training for Ironman St. George on May 5th (only 16 more days!!!). My purpose in doing so is to raise awareness and funding for orphans with Down syndrome, and in particular Maggie.

About a month ago I received an email from Ironman announcing a competition they put together called Kona Inspired. They have given anyone the opportunity to submit a 90 second video into this competition telling their story of how Ironman has helped them believe that "Anything is Possible". Winners will be given the opportunity to race in the Ironman World Championship in Kona in October and most importantly, they will get to tell their story on NBC's nationally televised broadcast of the Ironman World Championship!

When I first learned about this opportunity I knew that this truly could be an opportunity to tell the world about these children and most importantly, create the awareness that is needed to truly make a difference for them!!

So Nash and I made a video! Before I show it to you, I want to explain how this competition works and HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOO! Between now and May 31st, all videos can be viewed. Based on total VIEWS and total VOTES, 15 will be chosen to compete against each other in the finals in June. The top 2 will go to Kona! So, back to how you can help. Your view and vote can be counted once each day. However, it is perfectly OK to vote more than once a day if you view the video from a different computer, laptop or phone and then vote from that device. To vote, just look in the lower left hand corner of the screen while watching the video. We have plenty of days left between now and May 31st! You're vote is much appreciated, each and every day :) !!"

Here is the link to the video.  Please share with others and vote along with us EVERY DAY!

http://apps.facebook.com/konainspired?x=us_facebookapp_202_4

Dear Victoria,

Don't worry little girl, we haven't forgotten about you, not for one second.  In fact we are thinking and praying about/for you more than ever.  It's hard not being able to just come to you.  Knowing that we have done everything we can up to this point and are just waiting is not easy.  I've been working REALLY hard at being extremely frugal and saving saving saving.  I've been making meal plans every week so that we eat at home and save money.  Whenever I want to buy something that we don't NEED right now, I look at your beautiful picture and am reminded that it can wait.  I was so proud of myself today as I went to Wal-mart to get the weekly groceries and only spent $26.00 and didn't buy anything that wasn't on my list.  I think that is a first!

We pray every day that things will get moving along in your city so that we can make that first trip soon to come and meet you.  There are lots of people out there praying for you.  Your picture sits on top of the fire place and we look at it all the time.  When I'm playing with your sisters I look up and try to imagine what it will be like when you are here playing with us.

People often ask me what happens next, so I'll try to explain it as best as I can.  Once our paperwork is submitted to your country they will give us your referral, then we will get more information about you, like your medical history, whatever information they have about your family history and hopefully more pictures of you.  When we get the referral we will be given our first travel date.  We will have about 2 weeks to book our flights, lodging and get visa's.  Then we will spend about a week in your country meeting with you at your orphanage for a visit each day and also meeting with people in your country.

Then we come home and wait for a court date.  That can take anywhere from 4-12 weeks or so.  We will then fly back to your country for about a week and go before a judge to plead our case to adopt you.  From what I understand special needs adoptions are still fairly new in your country and its hard for them to understand why we would go through so much to adopt a child that isn't "perfect" in their eyes.  I just wish they knew what we know, that you are the definition of perfection.  If the judge rules in our favor, then you will be ours.  We will have to wait 30 days until we can bring you back home with us, so once again we will have to fly back home without you.  After the 30 day waiting period we will be able to come back and get you, bring you home and have you with us forever.

It will be hard to be away from your sisters for those three trips, but we just have to remember that it will be worth it when we have you home with us.  We know Heavenly Father will watch over all of us and help things workout the way they are suppose to.  We are getting close, I can just feel it!

Love Mommy

P.S.  Thank you to everyone that participated in our fundraiser and those of you who have been donating to our account.  Every little bit helps and we are truly humbled by your generosity to help us bring Victoria home.  We also appreciate the prayers that are said on our behalves.  It means so much to us to have your support.

The Waiting Game

Dear Victoria,

Sorry that I haven't written in a while. We have some updates to let you know about. First, all our paperwork (Dossier) is in your country and in the process of being translated and prepared to submit to your country. It will probably be the first of May before we hear anything about it. Today dad and I are going to get fingerprinted, the final step in our USCIS process to be approved to adopt you and bring you home to the United States.

Our 31 bag fundraiser is going pretty good and we are only $120 away from reaching our goal. It closes on Friday, so if anyone still wants to order, they have to do it before then. Go here to order. Also, if you would like to order a purse at half off, but don't want to spend the initial $31, leave me a comment with your contact info and we can set that up for you. We really appreciate everyone who has helped us out with this.

So now what??? We play the waiting game. Everything is out of our hands at this point and we just have to wait to hear from your country as far as when we can travel to make our 1st trip to meet you. This is where we need LOTS and LOTS of prayers that this will happen soon. The sooner we can get to you the better. Hang in there little girl, we are coming :)

Love Mommy