Run the race...Finish Strong

      Judah's Journey will never end, but our adoption side of things will....can I get an AMEN!!  
                             This post is about Adoption, community, and family.
      Kyle and I are currently trying to raise the last $2000 to finalize Judah's adoption.   We thought we had enough money raised  until we had an unexpected trip back to Texas thrown into the mix.   So with that comes travel expenses with flights and rental cars and legal fees.
We are also blessed, because talking on community and family, we have gained family in Texas and really a community of people came together back in July to find us a place to stay while in Texas, we paid for 0 hotel rooms and we were there for about 5 weeks.  We stayed with the same amazing hostess the whole time!   Martha and her family are a huge blessing and now a large part of our lives today.   We were going to stay at another place back in July, but if fell through because Judah's due date got changed, but God worked it out and we were able to spend time with the first family as well!   
    
     Kyle and I are partnering with a friend we met at an adoption group a couple months ago.   When you attend these groups many people don't know each other too well, or at all, and they become close by just sharing their stories and being real with each other.     I posted something on an adoption facebook group I belong to regarding the remaining expenses needed to finalize our adoption.  Within an hour I was talking with Bob regarding my post.  
    The last few years Bob has ran to raise support for children with life threatening health conditions and for their families through Make A Wish Foundation of ND .   It wasn't until recently that Bob started re-directing his efforts.   He still runs to help children and families in need, but with orphans in mind.     He just happened to come across my post on the adoption facebook page and we started chatting.   If you ask me it was certainly a God thing, and God timing.
    
      Bob will be running in the Fargo marathon in a couple weeks, on May 10th  and will be running to raise support for Judah!    We are asking if you would consider donating $1 per mile.   So that would be $26. 20.      We have a donate link on our blog on the right hand side, "Donate".   It is secure and through paypal, you do not have to have a paypal account to donate.    If you are in the area and want to donate directly to Kyle and I please private message us on facebook or texts.     

God truly put this together for just this point in our adoption journey.  Please consider donating and pray that the rest of our funds roll in.
Share on your facebook page to have people check out the blog and possibly donate if they can.

              
            God Bless,
               Kyle, Micale, & Judah


  

It's Adoption Auction Time!!!!!!

So many people keep asking me why are you fundraising again?  Aren't you done?   The answer to these questions are: Yes, we are fundraising again, so no we are not done :)     
     We will be having to make an unexpected trip to Texas in 4 weeks and this fundraising process has been slow since everybody has thought we were done with the process.   We are at THEE FINAL STEP!  This is the very very last thing we are needing to get done for him to become Judah William HILLERUD.   Please help us make this happen and share our blog post and share again and again till we get our funds raised.    We will be needing  close to $2500 to finish. In that dollar amount it will vary depending on the price of plane tickets and car rental.   
  With adoption there are so many reason's as to why the process is not complete.  Kyle and I don't feel the need to go into any details on it all, just know that we have been anticipating and waiting for this day for a very long time now and it is finally going to be here!!  We have had to be patient and know that God is in control of it all no matter what the reasoning is behind the wait.   God Knows.     He knows the expenses as well, but let me tell you this little boy who stole a portion of our heart 1 year ago on May 1st when we heard about him, then took our breath away when we met face to face on July 18th is completely worth every penny we need to raise, every background/fingerprints we had to do, and every paperwork that came along with it!!  
     
So here is what's up!      Kyle and I are doing an auction for a couple items that we will have listed on our blog.  Here is what you need to do.   If you see an item you want to bid on, you comment on our blog at the bottom of the article.  You list your name, what item you are bidding on and the dollar amount of your bid.    These items will be listed with a minimum bid that it has to be started out at.   If you are NOT in the Bismarck/Mandan area or get to town for the pick-up there will be mailing charges.    Each item will have a deadline for bids and will be listed next to that item.     Hope this makes sense!!!     
The other thing I would like you to do is share share share this on your FB and e-mail it to people because even if there is nothing they want to bid on and would like to make a donation to us via paypal it would be greatly appreciated!!  Every single $1 counts!!  The "Donate" link is at the top of our blog on the right hand side.       

All this is time sensitive and time is ticking so I will start listing the items!!!!

$50 GIFT CARD TO FABYOULOUS SALONG & SPA!

FabYouLous Salon & Spa in Bismarck is THEE best place you can go! (my personal opinion)  They do everything from hair, to pedicures/manicures, facial's, massages, etc...  Not to mention, it is stock full of all the amazing Aveda products that you love!    The service in there is incredible and top of the line!!    MOTHER DAY IS VERY VERY SOON!!  SPOIL HER WITH THIS!

 
MINIMUM BID OF:  $40 
[ bidding will end Sunday April 27th @ 11:00 PM ]



NEXT ITEM UP IS A GIFT BASKET WITH ALL YOUR SUMMER ESSENTIALS!

 Included in this basket is Rodan & Fields sunless tanner (the best sunless tanner on the market right now!)  Nail Polish, nail polish remover, hair ties, foot scrubber, and toe nail kit!     If interested in more of Rodan & Fields check out this website:  www.nicolehuson.myrandf.biz        Seriously the best stuff out their and I just started using it.  The before and after's are proof in itself.

   OPENING BID OF $40
  (bidding will end Sunday April 27th at 11:00 PM)
   
Get your bidding on!!   Remember sun and fun and mother's day :)    Happy bidding!
The other items for sale OBO will be listed on bismanonline.com        We have 2 overstuffed chairs, super comfy!    Will also have a circle side table with a small drawer, beautiful wood color.  Check them out!     

Remember bids start today and don't forget to check back in case you get outbid you can bid higher!!   

thanks for the support as we embark on getting the last step of our adoption journey finished :)     
                                Happy Easter Everyone!!!

 
 
     
     

Light at the end of this tunnel

So many of you may be saying,  "it's been so long since we've gotten an update on Judah's Journey!"   Well, yes, it has been a long time.   As many of you may know Judah has now been with us for 8 months.     It is crazy how extremely fast time goes now!    Our little man Judah turned 8 months old last week.   He is nothing short of a blessing and Kyle and I are thankful daily for his laugh, his smiles, his hugs, his kisses, his excitement he always brings to all these simple things we don't even think about.    

                 What has happened during the last 8 months?  

With Judah: He is growing like crazy of course, he is healthy, and he is tall.   He does smile and laugh believe it or not.  If you are around him he is super serious, but give him a minute and you might get a smile.    We are so excited to  see what amazing awesome things God has in store for him.    He loves doing patty cake, and loves when mom and daddy sing Jesus loves me.    He bounces like a crazy man in his bouncy chair, he loves it:)    He now gets to sit inside the carts now at the store, he really thinks he's hot stuff when that happens.


With mom and dad:  Kyle and I have both gotten back into the schedule of church, and work.    I am part time so I enjoy those days off I get to spend with our little man.     Kyle and his business, Valor Insulation Company, are doing well.   Spring, I think, is somewhat here and business is starting to pick up yet again.  

   
With the Adoption:    Judah's adoption, even though he's been home for 8 months, is still not final.     In adoption, you have to follow all the steps, and  it's easy to be upset when something just doesn't get done right away or is not yet complete yet.      In our case we have had some interruptions since bringing him home.      God though has given us a peace in all of it.      We have been waiting for some news on when we can possibly look at finalizing our adoption,  And as of last week Monday, the 17th,  we saw a glimpse of light at the end of the adoption tunnel.    

We need your prayers most importantly during the next 4-6 weeks, as that is the waiting time frame for if we know if we can terminate & finalize our adoption at that time.  We will know the answer to this on April 18th, soon!!      We were not planning on having to go back to Texas to finalize and we were told last week that we could take care of termination and finalization all in one sitting.   It would save us money in court fees and filing fees as well as another attorney fee.     So if all goes smoothly up to April 18th, we would be looking at a trip back to Houston, which was not expected at all. 

Since this has been drawn out more than we fully anticipated, we are needing to do more fundraising.      We are needing the funds by April 18th, which is not far away at all.    We are needing funds to purchase 2 plane tickets, car rental & gas while we are there and to finish paying attorney fees as this has been going on 8 months.    We currenlty do not have an exact dollar amount that is needed.    If you are able to join with us in pray please do and if able through your finances that would be great!    
If you still have our Judah's Journey jars, please save your change for us!      We will also be making Cedar planters for sale!!    You would be able to place a pot directly into the planter or you can buy the landscape tarp to fill your planter with soil.   It is spring and everybody is wanting to see some flowers or pants coming up.   It has been a long winter!!

Kyle and I are selling these cedar planters for $60.    On the inside of each planter will be Judah's handprint because you had a hand in finalizing his adoption.    










If you live in the Bismarck, Mandan area or come to Bismarck often enough please consider purchasing one of Judah's planter's.    Please give us time to get yours made once your order has been placed.    Payment due upon order of your Cedar planter.

If  you don't need a planter, but are able to donate in some way at all, contact Kyle and I via a comment on this blog or facebook.   We also have our donate tab located at the top of this blog at the right hand side.    The donation is done through paypal or credit/debit card.
Please share our blog with all your friends as well.  The more people praying the better. If they are able to financially help we are forever grateful!

It is funny as it has come down to the wire for raising funds and God came through always in the beginning of our whole adoption journey.  He is in this!  Judah's birth mom chose life for him, and God chose Kyle and I.  God presented Kyle and I to Judah's birth mom and it was a perfect match.    We love her so very much and want the best God has for her.   She is an amazing woman and did an amazing thing for her son.   God Bless her greatly!

 

LARGER HURDLES-BIG GOD

     Where do we even begin......the past few weeks have been a whirl wind with work, training, and getting closer to Judah arriving.    The last week has been very stressful and really hasn't let up yet.     We are so close to Judah arriving, which also means what has been pretty smooth sailing from the get go minus a few minor hurdles we have come this far pretty good! (that last sentence was super long and probably not punctuated properly-yes I look at those things :D )  Anyways, last week we got another hurdle.   This hurdle is higher than our previous ones.  It has thrown stress levels a bit higher as well with everything combined coming closer to his due date.   
       We have unexpected attorney fees we did not really know about for this specific part of our adoption journey.     Kyle and I thought the rest of this would be pretty smooth sailing, and this hurdle has us shuffling things around financially.    
   It is hard writing some of these posts about fundraising and financing when all I want to discuss is how crazy excited we are to tell people the story of Judah and this wonderful woman that will be bringing him into this world.    We have gotten to know her some; she is very open and honest, friendly, super funny, laughing often, pretty sure she is smiling often too.   Even though we have not yet met face to face we know she is beautiful inside and out and we are blessed to even know her.
     Please pray for Kyle and I over this next week as we try and tackle getting over this hurdle.    Pray for peace and for funds to roll in, this week is very vital for finances.  Please pray with us, and if you know people who are willing and able to give, discuss our situation with them and see if they would be willing to help us out financially and prayerfully!  

Love you all!  
 -Donations can be mailed to our address or donated through our "donate" link directly at the top of this blog on the right hand side.
     

Just when you think it's done...

What's up!!
           We are getting ready for the big day which is approaching fast!   We are trying to get all our ducks in a row and about the only ducks I don't have lined up are for my work.   Finding a temp person can be hard for only 9 weeks at my job.
   Kyle and I had the privilege to talk to Judah's birth mom today.   We have been able to talk to her as often as we like and have been getting to know her over the last 6 days; everything from false labor pains to just shooting the breeze.  She is very sweet, easy going, and very funny.    We are praying for open doors to pray for her.    How amazing it would be to see Judah's birth mom ask Jesus to be Lord of her life!  

  Hadley, Kyle's niece, asked me this past Sunday "When will Judah's tummy mommy have him?" And I was able to say it's only a few weeks away!!    Needless to say the whole family is thrilled.
My mom came up to see us 2 weeks ago and is leaving the end of June.   She said she wanted to get "Micale time" before the baby came.  So now after our little man arrives home she will end up coming back  sometime in August.       Our home is looking like a baby is coming that's for sure.   Bottles, bassinets, pack n play, and swing.  But I have a feeling this little boy of ours will be in our arms way more often, which makes me so happy and will help us bond since we are the new voices he hasn't heard for the past 8-9 months.  

Just when you think fees and paperwork is at completion in an adoption it seems there is always more :) But you just gotta roll with it.   We are needing more funds to cover the extra expenses that will incur for post placement fees and attorney fees.   We are at crunch time yet again and I think God works pretty awesome in those moments.    We are looking for people that are able and willing to donate money that will go towards this.    These fees have to be paid in order to bring Judah home and finalize our adoption.    We are so close to getting these funds, but we are still short.     If you can give please contact us via phone or facebook or even comment on this post.   We would be so grateful for whatever amount you are able to give.     These funds will need to be raised by July 1st.  Which is only 2 weeks away folks!     Please pray and allow the Holy Spirit to direct you on what you feel led to give.   The money that comes in will go to our puzzle pieces.  Will post a pic later, but Kyle and I will be beginning to put the puzzle together.  Remember we can't finish the puzzle till all the pieces have been bought.   ($10 a piece-and we have enough for you!)  

Please continue to pray as we raise these funds in such a short time.   God has been good and we know He is in this whole Journey.   We have been blessed by many.     We look forward to being able to show you our Judah man soon!  

We love you guys and thank you so much for your love and support through this journey and for helping us finish the journey of bringing Judah back home.  We appreciate you and all that you've done and all that is still to come.

Blessings to you

We've come thus far...& more to come!

Hello Everybody! 

    Where to begin?   Our garage sale was a success!  Did we sell everything, no, but the majority of it  we did.  We have been accumulating baby items:)

 Judah has a place to sleep on each floor now!  We got our stroller travel system the other day too! This is happening man! 

  We have been blessed by so many people, too many to name here.  We are so grateful for you guys!   

 Our Judah is gonna be here soon and we are thrilled- excited-terrified-ready-not ready-but more ready.  

  Judah has been a thought and passion in our minds for years now.  We began to really   start praying for him in 2012.  And praying  for his mom for protection and to keep her safe and to keep Judah safe from harm.   January of 2013 we thought we'd look at starting into the adoption journey.   Our first ever application was post marked to Gods Children Adoption Agency. (Which mind you, they are amazing) and 4 days later Lindsey called to set up our first home study! She was in our home 7 days after mailing our application out.   Right then and there Kyle and I knew that this just might go fast and not a year long process thing that we had in mind.  Our home study was completed April 25th.  And we prayed that the baby emails we received, we would both be at peace about moving forward on.  We received 5 e-mails and nothing clicked to move ahead on, which we then turned those e-mails into prayers for those moms and babies. 

  And then..... May1st.   Kyle and I received an email about a mom pregnant with a boy and something inside Kyle and I got a little excited.  Needless to say our year long adoption process, which we thought would happen, was blown out of the water. 

  God truly had something good in store. 

I will stop for now and give you more details  when I can.  

 Please consider purchasing one ofJudah's  puzzle pieces for his room. 

We still have $300 pieces left.  

 Maybe you know of other's that may want to help.   The puzzle pieces are $10 a piece and we would love for friends and family and extended friends and family to share in a small piece of Judah's life.  

 

Heres Kyle's stroller project

Crunch time-We need your help!!!!

     June is fast approaching and so is Judah!!!    Talked with the agency today and we are needing all funds in full by June 8th in order they get them by June 10th.
Please spread the word about the love of adoption and helping bring home a son.   If others can help,  direct them to our blog if they are able to donate or even our address or phone number.   I promise you we will give more info later.  
We thank-you for prayers and support.