Paid in full...

When we set out on our crazy adoption adventure we knew there was no way we could afford to complete the project without God's help. $35,000 plus travel expenses was unattainable at best. We also knew that God wasn't going to command us to do something, and not give us the resources to do it. So early on, with a lot of prayer, we laid down a financial plan that looked something like this:

- No borrowing money
- Elissa continues to put the children's needs before the family's finances (aka no part time job)
- we'll just pinch pennies and fundraise and the money (and clothing and furniture required for a new child) will come.

Then the floor fell out of our fundraising campaign when our church instituted a no fundraising plan.
So we were left with scraping pennies from Jory's modest income.
Sounds like a fantastic financial strategy, right?

We've talked before about the generous donation miracles that have occurred, and all the random people that have been touched by our story that have stepped up to the plate. You know who you are, thank you again.

As of this post we have not borrowed money. Elissa has done nothing more than a little freelance work, a little babysitting, and a whole lot of penny pinching. And our adoption debt has been paid in full.

Barring an unexpected agency fee (or homeowners emergency) we don't owe anything to anyone. We are debt free.

We did have to pinch pennies for a while after we returned home to rebuild our financial safety net. But as we begin February, our accounts are all settled up. Our savings, retirement, and nest egg accounts are all paid back, and we're good to go.

Can I get an Amen?

Now comes the fun part. By our best estimates we have $28,000 to pay forward. That's right, we're going to match every penny of what was donated to us to someone else who's neck deep in one of God's crazy schemes. And we can't wait to get started. Project "pay it forward" is a go.

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