Hope for a friend!!

As we've fundraised over the past few months, I have been so blessed to have met so, so, many wonderful people. Thank you so much for your sweet comments and gifts to help us with our adoption fund for our daughter Faith.


I have some more fundraisers up my sleeve in the near future, and we will continue to sell our cute bookmarks, however, for now, I want to turn my attention to a sweet, sweet family who is just days away from receiving their travel approval and are short on the needed funds. It's now to the point where travel may have to be delayed. I remember when this family began their adoption journey for their daughter Arielle. She's 13 years old and from the same orphanage as our daughter Faith. This family is walking by faith to God's call to adoption. They are truly remarkable people and love the Lord dearly, doing what it takes to bring their daughter home.
You can click here to read their adoption journey http://www.ourfamadventure.blogspot.com/
Please pray that this family receives the needed funds in order to travel next month. They have other fundraisers on their blog as well.

I am a Mary Kay Consultant, however, with 3 kids, soon to be 4 and working full time, well it's a little hard to focus on 100%. We are still months from travel & I want to use this resource to help this wonderful family. This family will receive 100% of the profit from their sales for the next 10 days. Simply visit my personal Mary Kay site at the right and place your order. Please note that orders will be shipped 4 to 5 days after the fundraiser ends.



I use the product and love it!!! And I know you will too! Here are a few of the favorites:








Hydrating Lotion $14 Satin Hands set $34



Satin Hands hand cream $10
or

Satin Hands peach hand cream $10





PLUS . . . there is lots and lots more product on my personal website.





"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 11:1

Madeline 8" doll giveaway with accessories ends Saturday!

Asking for your help today, Saturday, 22nd, the last day of our Madeline giveaway!!! We need 40 people to purchase one of our bookmarks. They are only $5 and were made with so much hope, love, & care. Our Madeline fundraiser ends at midnight. If you could also spread the word to a friend that would love to help, please leave a sweet comment. We have three bookmarks to choose from, "polka dot flower", "ladybudgs", and "personalized". We will carefully write your childs name on the bookmark. Just designate which style you wish to purchase at checkout. The "add to cart" button is at the right. And you'll be entered for the Madeline giveaway. We are also accepting donations if you had rather donate. We thank you so much for visiting our blog. Faith's adoption is a true step of faith.

We have a third bookmark that we're introducing. This has been so much fun for the kids and me. We've come up with different ideas and designs as well as inspiration from other mom's. One mom inparticular actually donated to the bookmark fundraiser but didn't leave a note on which bookmark she preferred. I soon found out that she wanted to ensure we didn't run out of bookmarks so she didn't purchase one, thus the donation. I've met so, so many sweet, sweet mom's through this journey. And we aren't finished yet. So for this special mom, I came up with an idea and had my oldest daughter Emmi personalize this bookmark with this mom's daughters name. It's a surprise and will be mailed soon. In just a few weeks, she will finally have her daughter in her arms.

A bookmark, why a bookmark fundraiser? A bookmark is used for marking a page in your book. Young or old, we all like bookmarks, right? Bookmarks remind us of events, special places, school, etc. My kids know where all their bookmarks came from. So this little bookmark will be a great story to tell. A story of how God lead a family to their daughter across the world. A story of faith! A friend gave me an idea. So all future bookmarks purchases will have a special note on the back. Thank you Faith for your suggestion. And for those just getting started or in the process or even getting ready to travel, what a great little story to share of why you purchased the bookmark.

The picture quality isn't exactly what I intended as the bookmark is a little darker in color and the flower at the bottom actually has some sparkles with a little rhinestone in the middle of the flower. I took several pictures and this one was the best. The flower is actually a 3 dimensional stick on, very cute!!! Each bookmark is different as the flowers vary in size too. I used the small one on this particular bookmark as it seemed to work best.

If you would like to help us with our fundraiser to bring our daughter home, click on the "add to cart" button to the right and place your order. We have three different styles currently, Ladybug, polka dot flower, and personalized. Just leave a comment in your shopping cart which style you prefer. If you choose "personalize", please leave the "name" you wish to have added to your bookmark. You may also enter the Madeline giveaway by leaving a donation if you prefer.

Each bookmark purchased, $5, gains an entry into the Madeline giveaway that ends this weekend. The set includes a Madeline 8" poseable doll, carrier, vet set cloth outfit, and magnetic doll board. What a great little playset to take to China too!!!! Thank you so much for visiting our sight and we hope you consider ordering one of our bookmarks or making a small donation.

We would also appreciate it if you could please spread the word about our Madeline fundraiser giveaway.

"We live by faith, not by sight" 2Corinthians 5:7

Here's a video of our daughter Faith! She's being asked what makes her the happiest and she replies, to have a family. She does not know yet that she has a family!! Oh happy day!!

Fundraiser add on - Madeline GIVEAWAY!!

I don't know why I didn't think of this before. But I have a "cute, cute" little giveaway for this fundraiser too!! It's a Madeline 8" poseable doll, carrier, Madeline clothes set, and a Madeline magnetic board, all new and in original packaging. All soooo cute! I purchased these several years ago when it was hard to find Madeline. I put it all up in the top of the closet and forgot about it. I had planned on adding another doll for Maggie and then they were really, really hard to find. Anyway, I think a little girl would surely enjoy this ensemble.

Included in the giveaway; Madeline 8" poseable doll, carrying case, vet set accessories, Madeline magnetic board (my kids love these).

Your name will be entered into the drawing for each bookmark purchased, "add to cart" button to the right. And if you've already made a purchase (thank you), I will go ahead and place your name in the drawing. If you had rather make a "donation", then you will be entered that way as well. Our bookmark fundraiser ends on January 23rd and I will draw on January 24th. Our goal is to sell 200 bookmarks, @ $5 each raising $1,000 for Faith's adoption fund. I'm also adding another style of bookmark, ladybugs. It's cute as well. The ladybugs are actually raised stickers, on cardstock paper, with cute polka dot ribbon. Just make sure at check out you leave a quick note with your choice of "flower" or "ladybug".
*Note (ladybug bookmarks are limited and vary in size, but I have several)

Bookmark fundraiser - need to mail 25 by Thursday

Since my kids love to paint and love art, I thought bookmarks would be a great idea as they are
also easy to mail. We want to get into some more paint and make more and more and more so we need to sell 25 bookmarks by Thursday so I can get them in the mail. It would be amazing to walk into the post office holding 25 envelopes. Will you purchase one to help with Faith's adoption fund? These cute little bookmarks are truly a work of art and each one is unique as we all had our hands in the making. Below is our recipe:

1 huge piece of white poster board
4 to 5 bottles of primary paint (great for mixing colors like pink, light blue, etc.
salt (yep salt, Emmi learned a paint process and it gives a great texture) Only Emmi's have this.
assorted sizes of paint brushes
blow dryer (helps with some of the finishing process)
scissors
hole punch
cute ribbon
Heavy thick book (to flatten the bookmarks over night)

Please spread the word on your blogs as well. You can certainly grab my button to the right, "Adoption, Miles of the heart".

Last Sundays sermon was so filling to my soul. I commented on my previous post about Hope. Another verse that our pastor spoke about was from 1 Timothy 6:17 and we will hear more about 1 Timothy 6:18 next week. I think of so many families fundraising to bring their children home. Seriously, when we return home, I will be helping others with their fundraising as well. It's a personal endeavor that I will take on as I know others are doing already.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
1Timothy 6:18

Having Hope!

All through this adoption journey I had held on to one thing, HOPE! I knew in my heart that God had a special plan for us, another child. Even though it took me over 7 months to submit to His will, I heard the call. Some of my replies were; not now, how can we, next year will be a better time, etc. I kept hearing over and over; lead so others may see, trust and obey. Those are just a few. Deep down, I knew God had a fourth child for us. But what's funny is that we usually always want to make the "plan" ourselves and not let God be in control.

This morning during our worship service at church, our pastor, Jason spoke about "Hope". Before the service began my thoughts were; I wonder how this sermon will speak to me? All the others have seem to be directly related to this adoption in some sort of way. What about this one? Then as Jason started, it hit me. One of the things he said was "when you have hope you are encouraged. You are engaged and you are encouraging. It makes you enjoyable." I thought back to last year and this adoption journey so far. What Jason said is so true. We took a total leap of faith as we were not financially prepared to start another adoption last year. But through hope, determination, encouragement of friends (who also stepped up to offer to help us fundraiser) we have made it this far. "In the midst of pain & problems, HOPE shines!" I thank the Lord everyday for his persistence & provisions. And I thank my bloggy friends who have helped us along this journey so far with the adoption expenses.

For those just beginning the adoption journey or who's hearts are being pulled to a particular child, "have HOPE".


We are so excited to be getting so much closer to bringing our daughter home, hoping to be dtc soooooon.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

Onward we go!

My mom's stroke has really affected me. I've had so many different thoughts cross my mind. One thought was whether or not to continue with our adoption of Faith. Being uncertain of a stroke, the prognosis, the ongoing therapy, the loss of independence (temporary or permanent), we have no idea of how much strength my mom will get back in her left side and whether or not she will be able to be independent again. In just a teeny tiny moment, her life has changed. But then I think about how in just a teen tiny moment, the life of a child can change once they are united with their family. I can't change that my mom had a stroke. Unfortunately, it happened and we just have to continue marching on and praying that she will continue working hard on her therapy with a determined spirit. The last couple of weeks my mom has improved sooo much. Please continue to pray for her. This last year I've really learned to live one day at a time. In fact my mother-in-law told me the other day that we may need to make alternate living plans with my mom. Had I thought about it? My reply was that I'm taking it one day at a time. We'll see what happens. We're seeing lots of improvement. It's all in God's hands. He knows the plan.

I know Faith is our daughter. Not a day goes by that she's not on my mind and she is definately in my heart. So onward we go!!

We are still fundraising and appreciate any donation, any amount. $5 donations add up quickly. I added the counter to my blog which helps me to know that I'm not writing to myself. I'm amazed at how many visitors we have had. Thank you so much for taking your time to read our story and learn about our journey to our daughter Faith. We are walking in faith with this adoption. I know more orphans would find their family if only the ransom wasn't so high to bring our children home.

I love this phrase from another adoptive mom. When I read it for the first time, I wrote her to ask if I could use it. I believe she wrote it concerning a special need. So many families are frightened by a childs special need whether it be cleft lip/palate, cp, heart defects, deafness, limb differences, etc (there are so, so many more). I believe this phrase sums it up perfectly.

"God does not call those already equipped, but equips those He has called."



"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4