Brewing Savings

We've been coming up with ways to save money - we dine out less, buy more of our groceries in bulk, etc. Personally, the best idea and the most progress I've made in this area is through a Christmas gift I received from my better half - I received a coffee maker. I purchase my own coffee and make it myself. I know, it's so simple! In the building where I work there is a Starbucks in the lobby. I was going so often that I confess that I have a Starbucks Gold card. Instead of spending $2-$4 each time it costs pennies. If you already save money by making your own coffee you can help us by ordering through JustLoveCoffee. We receive $5 per bag!

Moscow Attacks

By now you've heard of the Moscow attacks. Our adoption agency reported that no families or staff were injured in the attacks. For those concerned, our adoption agency provides a private driver during our stay and itineraries do not include the use of the metro.

Refundable Adoption Tax Credit?

Someone asked me - what is a refundable tax credit? Let me give you this example. Let's say you received a coupon to a store worth $20 off your next purchase. You go to this store and find only one item to purchase for $15. You present your coupon to the cashier and you get your $15 item for free. You don't receive the remaining $5, the store gets to "keep" it.

Before the adoption tax credit was extended and improved, the tax credit was not refundable. If your tax bill to the IRS was $5,000 and you were eligible for the full credit of $13,170 (est.), you would owe no taxes. The IRS "keeps" the difference. Now, with the new law in place, adopting parents will receive a refund of the difference, in this example over $8,000! This would help pay off any loans used for the adoption.

It is also my understanding that this is effective for the 2009 tax year, so anyone who was eligible for the tax credit last year may be eligible under the new law - can anyone confirm this?

The adoption tax credit was set to expire at the end of 2010. It has now been renewed/extended until 2011 with the passage of the health care reform bill.

Adoption Tax Credit Extended!

Hidden in the recent health care bill was an extension of the adoption tax credit. It's now been extended until 2011 and the amount has increased to $13,170. In addition, the credit is now refundable.

Here is the bill (see page 903) and an article.

Numbers Game

N's birthday is coming up in a few days. He is a hard guy to buy gifts for because he has few material desires. I did, however, pass along my financial calculator - the HP 12c Platinum. N loves numbers. I've had a chance to renew our numbers recently as well. While we are all set for finances for trip one (whenever we get that call, God willing), we are way behind for trip two.

We really don't want to do any more active fundraisers like the garage sale or holiday marketplace. There is so much need beyond our own that it seems selfish to be doing such things - is that a right thought? We'll still fundraise using the links on the right side of this page as those small amounts do add up.

So, that puts us in a bind. As of today, and not including the money already set aside, we are $29K short of what we need ($17K if the adoption tax credit still applies). I'm not sure how we'll get there, especially if we get the call soon. Perhaps God is giving us more time to raise the money we need.

God is a giving God. And He gives generously. While I gave N a lousy calculator, God gives us everlasting life in his Son. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)

I wrote this entry a few weeks ago but did not post until today. Since that time we've received several random envelopes. People have been forwarding us all different amounts to help with the adoption. God at work!

Striving - Check

Last week we sent in the first of our documents that required updating. It's been almost a year since we publicly started this journey and we thank you all for riding this roller coaster with us.

I am usually not the one to have checklists or a list of things that I must get done. I typically have several incomplete projects going on at the same time. But, as anyone who has seen the paperwork requirements for foreign adoptions knows, it is impossible to tackle this process without a checklist. So, we have a dossier checklist - check. We have a document expiration checklist - check. We also have a budget checklist - check. I figured I should put together a "Things We Need to Do Before Trip One" checklist. Raise enough money for trip one - check. Prepare a will - check. You get the idea. Yesterday, we completed all the items we can without receiving a referral. In my longing to receive the "call," I joked/hoped/prayed that God was waiting on us to finish these items. That today, March 15 would be the day we receive that phone call. Haha! Who am I, to direct God? That God was waiting on me before HE could do something. For those of us who have trouble with waiting on the Lord, check this out. I trust in the Lord, but I can't wait = Striving. Proverbs 20:3, “It is good that a man should stop striving.”

Tenth Avenue North has a song that reminds me of how God handles this, called "By Your Side." Listen here.

Small God, big problems. BIG GOD, small problems. I am not done with checklists, but I am done with striving.

Spirit of Adoption Seminar

Wheaton Bible Church is hosting a Spirit of Adoption seminar on Saturday, April 17 from 10am to noon. The seminar is presented by America World Adoption Association, an agency we are very familiar with. If you are interested in learning more about adoption we encourage you to attend.