We are matched!

We need everyone's help! Please visit: www.adopttogether.org/grunst to make a tax deductible donation.

Fundraising Garage Sale July 22 & 23

I know we have been away for a long time.  We have been taking time to heal and grow during the past 6 months.  Greg and I each have new positions at work.  Greg left social work and taught Kindergarten from January to the end of school.  This year he'll be teaching 1st grade.  I was asked to become one of my schools Title Math and Reading teachers.

We are still on our adoption journey and praying for the day we hold our child.  Right now, we are still filling out grant applications, saving as much as we can and fundraising.  We will have a fundraiser garage sale July 22 & 23rd at our house (945 Gay Ave. University City, MO 63130).  If you have anything you are trying to get rid of and are willing to donate let us know.  We could also use some folding or card tables, and of course people to shop.

Thank you all so much for the continued love, support and prayers.  This journey has not been easy, but we know it will be worth it.

With Love,

Rachel and Greg

Love Tree 

Ornament Fundraiser

Rachel and I have a Christmas tradition that every year we purchase an ornament for our tree that represents a major event that occurred that year.  We have done this all 8 years of our marriage, and we would love to invite you to join in our tradition.  This year we designed and purchased 125 Christmas ornaments to commemorate our adoption journey.  We have hung these ornaments on our love tree.

Front of Ornament

Back of Ornament

Our love tree holds 125 “Join Our Village” ornaments, each assigned a number 1 - 125.  Ornaments can be purchased for the amount equal to the number they are assigned (#1 = $1.00, #50 = $50.00, #122 = $122.00, etc.). If all ornaments are purchased, we will raise nearly $8,000 for our adoption! When added to the current donations we have received that would mean 40% of our adoption would be funded! 

Follow the steps below to purchase your ornament:

1. Select a number from 1 - 125. The list on our Join Our Village Love Tree Ornament page will show which number are still available. 
2. Donate the amount to our AdoptTogether profile. (All Donations are tax deductible) Please indicate which number you selected in the comment section.
3. Email us at greggrunst@gmail.com, and we will mail/bring you your ornament.

We are so excited to launch this fundraiser, and invite you join our Christmas tradition.

Things Are Moving Along

Been a very busy weekend between work and yard work, but some exciting developments have happened this weekend.  We received word that our Home Study is complete and being sent for final approval.  This is so exciting and crucial because this is required in all adoptions for an adoption to occur.  Essentially it is an extensive study of us, our finances, home, health, literally nothing is not looked into.  We have to submit financial records, FBI, state, and sex offender background checks, our home checked for safety, several references are checked, home visits, and health examinations.  

The other exciting news is our adoption profile for birthmothers will go live this week.  The timing of this is definitely God.  I say this because the home study has to be complete so we can have an adoption legally, and with our profile live we can get paired with a birthmother. And that is the typical way a domestic adoption occurs.  However, once our home study is final we could get a call the next day our attorney has a child for us.  This is rare, but sometimes mothers have babies and decide adoption is the best option for their child.  Once our home study is approved it is just a matter of time before we have a child.  It could be days or months.  Either way we are so excited.  Thank you for joining our village and being a support for us while we start our family.

As always prayers, thoughts, sharing our posts, and if possible financial support is appreciated.  If you are able to give financial support we have a fundraising page with Adopt Together.
https://www.adopttogether.org/grunst 

Adopt Together is a 501c3 so your donation toward our adoption is tax deductible and you will get a receipt.   Again, thank you for joining our village!

With Love,

Greg and Rachel

Feeling So Blessed

WOW! Just wow!  Rachel and I are so overwhelmed with the love and support we have received.  It was only 9 days ago we announced we were adopting and in that time hundreds of you have shared your support with likes and comments.  We can feel the prayers and see the financial support coming in.  You all have no idea how your support lifts our spirits and encourages us. In this day and age of social media and blogging, and all other electronic communication we sometimes forget that on the other end of that profile picture is a friend.  A friend from childhood or a previous chapter in your life or the current one.  You never stopped being friends, but just because of distance or time you don't keep in touch or see each other in the hall or the locker room.  Tonight our air conditioner went out.  We were feeling down and overwhelmed with the cost of just so many things.  I called my parents to vent and catch up.  While on the phone my mom informed me of a donation we just received.  I knew the name right away and was filled with shock and a feeling of calm and support.  I had not seen this friend in roughly 15 years.  What an overwhelming feeling knowing people you haven't even seen this century are pulling for us as we start a family.  THANK YOU! THANK ALL OF YOU!!! No matter what you are doing to support us...donation, praying, or sharing our story...we feel it and it makes a difference.  Please keep supporting us, and encouraging us.  It means so much because the battle of infertility is a battle that wears you down and leaves you feeling empty at times.  Thank you all again so much!

Click the link to download Our ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENT http://bit.ly/1JpSRw4

Adoption Attorney and Home Study

 We are happy to announce we are adopting and we have hired our adoption attorney.  We researched several agencies and attorneys, and ultimately chose Gene Kelley with Kelley Law Firm in Rogers, Arkansas.  

     It was a chance encounter at Walmart during Mother's Day Weekend when I ran into a friend I had not seen in roughly 10 years.  He and his wife were the first couple I knew that had adopted a child.  When I shared with them we were going to adopt they ranted and raved that we had to look into Gene Kelley.  Their adoption went wonderfully 17 years ago, and they had referred several other people to him that also had great experiences.  I am so glad God had us cross paths and that we were able to learn about Kelley Law Firm.  God has guided our path and direction as we start our adoption journey and I know he will continue to do so.

    We have also started our home study.  This has to be completed before we can truly get the process rolling.  The home study process is comprised of 2 home visits, a ton of paperwork, interviews, and reference letters.  It usually takes 30-60 days to complete. Once this is finished the only thing we will be waiting on is a birth mother picking us to parent their child.  It is so exciting and nerve wracking.  

Thank you for your support,

Greg and Rachel

     

adopttogether.org/grunst