Piece of the Puzzle

Piece of the Puzzle

Thursday, July 28, 2011

I Stay Amazed

I know that I shouldn't be amazed at how God brings things together, but I am!! Yesterday Fil and I were sharing with a coworker/friend and her husband about our adoption when they stopped by to look at a freezer we were giving them. In jest, I told them that in exchange for the freezer they had to contribute to our adoption fundraiser. We chatted a bit about the adoption and fundraising and they left. Early today, my friend texted me a bunch of questions about Keddar and our story. It got me curious about what she was up to because she was asking such specific questions. She told me that she was working on a fundraising effort for us. Later in the morning, she admitted that she had contacted our school district to get permission for her to do the Piece of the Puzzle fundraiser at our school site. She was working on a flyer to send to the district for approval. I couldn't believe this. When I mentioned the fundraiser to her yesterday, I never expected for her to spearhead an effort for us. I am so humbled and thankful for her and her husband's support.  Inside, I have really been a little nervous about the fundraising. I have a hard time asking people for money and I wasn't sure if we could really sell 500 pieces (I know . . . oh me of little faith). They flyer is gorgeous (in fact, Fil and I based ours off of the one she made) and so PERFECT!! I don't know what caused her to be so moved by our situation, but I am so blessed. As I said, I am just amazed at how God is at work, even when we doubt.

Back for the very first time

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Filmore Graham, and I have a wife and two daughters.

After my wife came back from Jamaica the first time, I knew our lives were about to change. We began talking in ernest about the idea of adopting a boy. I was so full emotionally I could hardly contain myself. My mother and all my brothers and sisters were born in Jamaica. I was born and raised in New York City, in an area that was heavily populated with Jamaican immigrants. After we left NYC and moved to Miami, FL, we were again in the middle of a community surrounded by Jamaican culture. I have always considered myself Jamaican, even though I had never been there. I spoke with a Jamaican accent, I ate Jamaican food, I listened to jamaican music and I hung out with Jamaican people.

How funny is God that when I decide to adopt a child, he would be Jamaican. In  April 2011 My wife and I traveled to Jamaica to meet Keddar. As we arrived I felt like a ten year old, the night before Christmas. Here I was in my adopted homeland.  I was "back for the very first time". We stayed on the property where keddar's orphanage was located.

I remember walking down to his residence hall to meet him. I wasn't allowed to divulge my intention to adopt him so I had to control myself. He smiled at me and gave me a hug. It felt natural and right. He was mine and I was going to do whatever I had to do to bring him home!

Allow me to re-introduce myself, My name is Filmore Graham, and I have a wife, 2 daughters and a son!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Piece of the Puzzle

 We decided to do a "Piece of the Puzzle" fundraiser. I found a great caribbean puzzle on Amazon and it arrived today. The girls were so excited!!



 Essentially we "sell" each of the 500 pieces for $10 and write the donors name on the back. As pieces are sold, we put the puzzle together. When the entire puzzle has been completed, we will have raised $5000. The completed puzzle will be mounted in glass so that we, and Keddar, can always remember the people who were "a piece of the puzzle" that brought him home.  Jelly Bean wanted to be the first donor so she told me she wanted to forgo her allowance this week so she could buy a puzzle piece.  I nearly cried. Our girls are so sweet and they so want to help bring their brother home.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

CDA Update

Today we heard from the CDA social worker. After advertising for family in all of the Parishes, there has been no inquiries about Keddar! She said that as soon as we submit our home study, they will write a report to release Keddar for adoption. WHOOO HOOO!! We were waiting on this news to determine our next steps. Now fundraising and home study completion go into full swing.  We are scheduled for our next home study appointment on August 3rd.  God is so good!!!