Update: Big Announcement

Our blog has been quiet for a while as we have been in the throes of the Holidays as well as fighting (or really succumbing to!) a nasty stomach bug.  But thankfully December is here and with it brings renewed energy and purpose.  Now we can fully embrace this Advent season with good health!  We wanted to provide everyone with an update on our adoption process.

•  We want to say a huge “thank you!” to everyone who has given to our “Piece by Piece” Fundraiser!  It’s been so encouraging and humbling to receive donations.  It confirms what we believe, which is that adoption is at the very heart of God and He is stirring other’s hearts to give to His story for our family.  We are overwhelmed by your generosity!  
• There has been a re-occurring question we are asked that we want to address.  This current fund raiser does not raise for us all of the funds needed for our adoption.  This was just ONE way we are going about raising funds.  We had two garage sales this past Spring and Summer that were semi-successful (and a TON of work!).  We also made and sold tank tops with a friend of mine to raise money.  Aaron became a master button sewer!  :)  We might make those again come Spring.  ** one cool fact-we think one of our tank tops made it onto an episode of Duck Dynasty!  We’re famous!**  So once the puzzle is finished we are about ⅓ of the way to our goal which is between 14,000 and 20,000.  
• We are one meeting and a few papers away from being finished with our Home Study.  Hooray!!  At that point, we make a Profile book with a letter to a Birth mom . . . And then we wait and pray!  We wait to be matched with a Birth Mom and pray that God would prepare us for the Slaten baby He has for us.  We are excited about being called to a domestic adoption and love the possibility of loving on a birth mom and having her become an extended part of our family.  We are excited about the Gospel transforming us through this adoption as well as the Lord using us and our story to show His love to others.  
• We are expanding the number of pieces of our puzzle to include more pieces to be sold!  We love that the back of this puzzle will tell our child the story of God’s love for he or she in that all of these people gave so that he or she could be given a new life, a new name and an inheritance that can’t be taken away.  It will be a beautiful tapestry of names that give our child a tangible picture of a Father’s extravagant love-the same love that rescues every one of us.  What a beautiful time of year to remember this extravagant love in the person of Jesus, who was born to rescue the world from darkness! 
• Please consider giving a gift with a purpose this year for Christmas!  Maybe you can give pieces of our puzzle in honor or in memory of someone this Christmas season.  What a beautiful way to love or honor the person in your life who has everything!  Or there are tons of way you can research to give a gift with meaning this year.  Aaron and I have been challenged to place our money strategically in ways that give back.  We plan on buying family gifts this year that support another friend of mine’s adoption.  There are so many way to get creative!

Slaten Adoption from Aaron Slaten on Vimeo.

Here is how our “Piece by Piece” Fundraiser works:

1. Click on the “Donate” button to your right.
2. In the “Product line” write the name you would like to use for us to write on a puzzle piece.  Or multiple names if buying more than one.
3. Once you have entered the dollar amount click "update total".
4. Log into your paypal and donate.

If you would prefer to donate through check please email us at aslaten@mac.com for our mailing address.