On Saturday, April 14th, Johnny and I had our 1st fundraiser for Baby Gracie's adoption fund. Our church, Boynton United Methodist, was having a yard sale to raise money for the mission team. The church was gracious enough to allow us to have a bake sale at the same time.
Many people from our family, work and church blessed us with baked goods and/or monetary donations. At first, I was a little worried that we would not have enough goodies to sale, then I was worried that no one would buy the goodies. Johnny has also told me worrying is a waste of my imagination. In this case he was right.
On Friday, April 13th, Johnny and I met at church to set up for the bake sale. After a couple of hours, we both were over-whelmed with the generosity that people had shown us. We had three tables full of wonderful goodies to sell.
Bake Sale day started at 4:30 AM for us. We were at the church making homemade Sausage & Biscuit's by 5:30 AM. Before we knew it, it was 7 AM and almost time to start making money for Baby Gracie.
I had a dear friend of mine to come to the church and help me and Johnny during the bake sale. Johnny and I were both grateful for her help. At times, all three of us were helping customers. It was AMAZING.
After the bake sale was over, we had some items left over. Our pastor told us we could try to sale what was left before and after all three morning services. So we did. After each service, Johnny and I were trying to sell the last bit of these homemade goodies.
After two days of selling and monetary donations, we were able to raise over $600.00 for Baby Gracie's adoption.
Have I told you lately how AWESOME our God is? He showed off that weekend and reminded us that this was his plan.
Johnny and I appreciate the love, support, encouraging words, prayers and donations that our family and friends continue to provide. This process is a journey that has had many mountains and valleys, but with God and each of you, it has been a little easier to travel.
Please continue to follow the journey of Morgan Grace Long. Approximately 10 weeks until her arrival.
Love - Misty
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Pictures of our precious child.
WOW... God is an AWESOME God. Need I say more?
Less than a week after we matched, the agency sent us the ultrasound pictures of our baby girl. I was thrilled to have seen these, much less receive as many as we did. I have decided to share a few of my favorites with everyone. The ultrasound pictures are both regular and 4D. Baby Gracie is approximately 20 weeks and 13 oz.
Please continue to follow the journey of Morgan Grace "Baby Gracie".
She is sucking her thumb.
4D of her whole body. She loves to cover her eyes.
Her feet and one hand.
Less than a week after we matched, the agency sent us the ultrasound pictures of our baby girl. I was thrilled to have seen these, much less receive as many as we did. I have decided to share a few of my favorites with everyone. The ultrasound pictures are both regular and 4D. Baby Gracie is approximately 20 weeks and 13 oz.
Please continue to follow the journey of Morgan Grace "Baby Gracie".
She is sucking her thumb. 
4D of her whole body. She loves to cover her eyes.
Her feet and one hand. Sunday, April 15, 2012
The very beginning
Gracie's Journey is the story of how Morgan Grace Long became a part of our family. For almost 7 years, Johnny and I have wanted a family. After years of unsuccessful fertility treatments, we finally followed God's path to adoption.
We started adoption classes (Adoption Discovery) in August 2011. In October, we started our home study process and eventually signed with our Adoption Consultant Group, Christian Adoption Consultants. Cheri Denmon was assigned to us. Luckily, we already knew Cheri, as she was our social worker for our home study.
After pages and pages of paperwork, and several background checks, Johnny and I were finally approved for adoption the week before Christmas in 2011.
In January of 2012, we started applying to several agencies. We started out with a total of four agencies. Two were in Utah, one was in Kansas and the other was in Arizona. After weeks of applications, phone conversations, and more paperwork, our agency list was down to two agencies. In mid-February, Cheri talked to Johnny and I about applying to an agency in Florida. After various conversations, we decided to go ahead and apply and send in our application fee. At this time, Cheri also provided us with information about Adoption & Family Support Center, which is also in Florida. Johnny and I decided to go ahead and send them our profile as well.
On Sunday, March 11th, 2012, our wonderful church family gave Johnny and I our first baby shower. We received many wonderful and special gifts from our church family. There were three ladies that told me separately that they would pray that we would get 'the call' that next week. I smiled and said 'Thank You' and thought, God that would be great.
On March 13th, 2012, Adoption & Family Support Center (A&FSC) welcomed us to their family and also provided us a profile to review. Johnny and I reviewed this profile and we both knew that this could be our 'match'. We asked A&FSC to go ahead and show this birth mother our profile. I also asked them to tell this birth mother that I, myself, am adopted and Johnny and I feel that we have a lot of experience to offer this child. A&FSC asked me if I would be okay with writing the birth mother a letter, telling her myself about my adoption experience, and I did.
We knew that the birth mother would be presented our profile, as well as my letter, on Friday, March 16th. Johnny and I asked everyone we knew to pray. If this child was ours, God would make it happen. At approximately 3:00 PM, I received the phone call that I had dreamed about for so long. This birth mother had chosen us to be the parents of a baby girl that is due around July 6th.
Johnny and I are so very blessed to have been chosen. That Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday was a joyous time in our lives. We have God to thank for it all. We also had a lot of people praying for this match, this baby and the birth mom.
Once the excitement settled down, Johnny and I reviewed our adoption budget and realized we were about $3,000.00 short. After much discussion and planning, we decided to have a bake sale (April 14th), Mary Kay Make-up Catalog order (April 15th - 29th) and a Pancake Breakfast (May 5th). We prayed that between these thee fundraisers, God would provide all of the money that we needed.
On Wednesday, March 25th, Johnny and I received the ultrasound pictures of our baby girl, Morgan Grace. At the time of the ultrasound pictures, the birth mother was approximately 20 weeks along. The baby weighted approximately 13 ounces. Johnny and I are an EXTREMELY set of proud parents.
From the very beginning of our journey, we knew that this was God's calling for us. God's Grace led us to Gracie... now we just have to bring her home.
Please stay tuned for additional updates regarding Baby Gracie.
Love,
Misty
We started adoption classes (Adoption Discovery) in August 2011. In October, we started our home study process and eventually signed with our Adoption Consultant Group, Christian Adoption Consultants. Cheri Denmon was assigned to us. Luckily, we already knew Cheri, as she was our social worker for our home study.
After pages and pages of paperwork, and several background checks, Johnny and I were finally approved for adoption the week before Christmas in 2011.
In January of 2012, we started applying to several agencies. We started out with a total of four agencies. Two were in Utah, one was in Kansas and the other was in Arizona. After weeks of applications, phone conversations, and more paperwork, our agency list was down to two agencies. In mid-February, Cheri talked to Johnny and I about applying to an agency in Florida. After various conversations, we decided to go ahead and apply and send in our application fee. At this time, Cheri also provided us with information about Adoption & Family Support Center, which is also in Florida. Johnny and I decided to go ahead and send them our profile as well.
On Sunday, March 11th, 2012, our wonderful church family gave Johnny and I our first baby shower. We received many wonderful and special gifts from our church family. There were three ladies that told me separately that they would pray that we would get 'the call' that next week. I smiled and said 'Thank You' and thought, God that would be great.
On March 13th, 2012, Adoption & Family Support Center (A&FSC) welcomed us to their family and also provided us a profile to review. Johnny and I reviewed this profile and we both knew that this could be our 'match'. We asked A&FSC to go ahead and show this birth mother our profile. I also asked them to tell this birth mother that I, myself, am adopted and Johnny and I feel that we have a lot of experience to offer this child. A&FSC asked me if I would be okay with writing the birth mother a letter, telling her myself about my adoption experience, and I did.
We knew that the birth mother would be presented our profile, as well as my letter, on Friday, March 16th. Johnny and I asked everyone we knew to pray. If this child was ours, God would make it happen. At approximately 3:00 PM, I received the phone call that I had dreamed about for so long. This birth mother had chosen us to be the parents of a baby girl that is due around July 6th.
Johnny and I are so very blessed to have been chosen. That Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday was a joyous time in our lives. We have God to thank for it all. We also had a lot of people praying for this match, this baby and the birth mom.
Once the excitement settled down, Johnny and I reviewed our adoption budget and realized we were about $3,000.00 short. After much discussion and planning, we decided to have a bake sale (April 14th), Mary Kay Make-up Catalog order (April 15th - 29th) and a Pancake Breakfast (May 5th). We prayed that between these thee fundraisers, God would provide all of the money that we needed.
On Wednesday, March 25th, Johnny and I received the ultrasound pictures of our baby girl, Morgan Grace. At the time of the ultrasound pictures, the birth mother was approximately 20 weeks along. The baby weighted approximately 13 ounces. Johnny and I are an EXTREMELY set of proud parents.
From the very beginning of our journey, we knew that this was God's calling for us. God's Grace led us to Gracie... now we just have to bring her home.
Please stay tuned for additional updates regarding Baby Gracie.
Love,
Misty
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