The Adoption is FINAL!

We are so blessed! Our Baby Bear's adoption was finalized in court on Monday, February 14th! What a sweet reminder of God's love toward us. We are grateful to those who have prayed for us through this journey, and to those who blessed us by coming to the adoption ceremony.

This has been our second adoption through the foster care system.
In this photo, TEN of the people from this photo were also present for Little Bear's
adoption in March of 2009, including the judge!

Mama Bear

UPDATE on Adoption Fundraiser

Praise God! We got GOOD NEWS yesterday when we went to sign papers for the petition of adoption for Baby Bear! We have NO adoption fee to pay! Apparently, when you pay for your first adoption through the county (Little Bear was adopted through the county in March of 2009.), then you don't have to pay again...ever! At least, until the state runs out of money.

Our second bit of good news is that there is an adoption tax credit, which we knew. But what we didn't know, is that it seems that if we don't file WITH our taxes, we may be able to get the lump sum of the credit, which is a GOOD amount! This may help us get the van which we pretty desperately need.

God is SO good to us! His provision and kindness for our family is overwhelming!

Mama Bear

Raising Money For Adoption

Baby Bear's adoption is right around the corner! We have a foster daughter, who has been with us since she was two months old. She is now 16 months old. Her adoption finalization ceremony is just about a month away. We are needing to raise $500 for the legal fees for her adoption.

I am having an "Adoption Sale" in my Etsy shop, Bear River Photo Greetings, where you can find invitations and announcements for pretty much any occasion in your life. It's so easy. Just purchase, send me your photo and/or text, and I'll send you a digital file that you can upload to your favorite photo lab, to get printed. I'm offering 10% off of any item in my shop, until we have raised the money. Please use the code, ADOPTION10 when you place your order. I would love it if you would share this on Facebook and Twitter, and with all of your friends. Please feel free to share it on your own blog as well.

Just to let you know, 80% of the sales will go towards our legal fees, and the other 20% will still go to Hands at Work in Africa. That will not fall by the wayside, as we try to raise money for the adoption.

I am also having this same sale in my other Etsy shop: Blackberry Cottage Home Decor, where I sell wall art, or digital prints that you can have printed at your local photo lab, and also pillow covers.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

The Ochoa Family

We're Adopting!

Some of you may already know, but WE'RE ADOPTING!!!!! Baby Bear will be officially ours on March 12, 2009. He came to us in May of 2008 through our county's foster care system, after 2 years of praying and waiting. We are SOOOO excited!!!! We set the date with the caseworker today. Yes, we will take pictures...yes we will share them on the blog. We would appreciate your prayers as we still need to "raise" the money for the $500 adoption fee. We are praying that God will provide it through my business: www.RioOsoDesigns.com.

Thanks!
Mama Bear