Greetings friends, family & supporters!
We are not even sure where to start with this story, but we will start with this:
We have been given a MATCHING GRANT!
We are so thankful to announce we have received a matching grant through Ephesians 3:20 and Lifesong! This means that for every single dollar raised, they will match dollar for dollar up to $7000! So we felt like now was the right time to let you all in on our news…. We have matched with an expectant Mom due soon!
And you may be saying… “But we didn’t even know you were adopting again?”
Neither did we!
Well, not exactly…
Things like background checks, fingerprints, reference letters and paperwork for a homestudy take a LOT of time and work, so its efficient to keep things updated. As you know time doesn’t stop, and we have been prayerfully considering next steps for our family while also enjoying the moments we are blessed with. We decided to update our homestudy and consider going active again in mid to late 2025.
Most adoption professionals will tell you matches take on average 18-24 months. So we planned to get our homestudy updated before it expires so we could “stay ready” and sign up with an agency once Anthony turned 1.While we began working on our homestudy, our case worker forwarded us a referral for a case. This was a situation with an expectant mom who is due in March. It turned out she was looking to match with a family JUST like ours.
– Removing the veil of “challenge” –
We prayed, presented and were (honestly surprisingly) chosen! God sure trusts our family and we trust Him fully with our openness and our “yes”, even when it might be just a little bit wild! From the outside looking in, adding a baby in March may seem like it’s going to be a “challenge” but we are FULLY confident and faithful that part of our mission with being open to life in the adoption world means removing the veil of “challenge” to reveal the immense blessing of a new little one joining our family. Had we not kept our hearts open and our homestudy updated, we would have never had the opportunity to share our story and family with this expectant mom, who was searching for us too.
All this to say, we have so many large expenses coming up to fund this adoption. We are in a bit of a financial jam but we are confident that it will all work out. Although we are humbled to be asking again, with the encouragement of some very close friends and trusted organizations, we are reaching out to our community for help. If you feel led, we would love for your dollar to be doubled and help us with this adoption.
We want to love our expectant mother well and are working on building that relationship every day. In addition to helping us raise funds to meet our matching grant, or if you can’t contribute financially at this time, we would really appreciate your prayers:
1) For our family – as we move forward and continue to build our relationship with the expectant mom. This includes prayers for her as we welcome her into our exctended family as well.
2) For our children – as we welcome a new little one into our home (they are very excited already!)
3.) For us – for leadership, guidance and to stay close to each other and God as move forward
Thank you so much for your love and support!
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STRIPE charges an online processing fee (2.2% +.30 USD per transaction)*. Your donations will be decreased by this amount. You may also send a check payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”. In the memo line please write “Gephart 10890”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 9, Gridley, IL 61744.
Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.
- In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong for Orphans. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.
- Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.
- *3.5% fee for donations given with an American Express card