A Super FUNdraiser

Hey guys!
I have a super fun fundraising opportunity for you! I don't know how many of you have ever heard of Noonday Collection, but if you haven't you need to check it out!

Noonday Collection is a company that creates opportunities for sustainable income in countries where that always isn't available.  Noonday works with over 18 countries, and employs over 8,000 artisans! That's not all though, did you know that by hosting a Noonday Collection trunk show you can earn money for your adoption?! Yes! You can! You can host a show (or heck, have people host them for you too!) and Noonday will give 10% of the shows total to your adoption agency to help expenses! (*note: the show must reach a last $300 in sales, which is totally easy).

Their new Spring line launches this week! On February 20th! So head on over to the Noonday Collection page and find out if there is an ambassador close to you! Not only can you raise money for your adoption but you can help orphan prevention in other countries, it's a win win. Plus you get amazing jewelry, a triple win.

Style your friends. Change the world. from Noonday Collection on Vimeo.

Welcome the Peat Family!

Hello, everyone! I'm so glad you stopped by the blog.  We are having such a wonderful 2014.....so much love and support being shown to our families:)

This week, we are featuring the Peat Family.  Erin and Mike Peat have 4 (very cute!) children at home and are waiting to bring 2 (very cute!) children home from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They hope to travel very soon! They were made a family (legally) last year, now they're ready to be HOME together.

Let's watch their video.

From the Peats.....
"We started this process officially in August 2012 and signed with our agency in September of that same year. We originally were in the process to adopt twin girls but after several months their case fell through. I was completely heartbroken. We have one set of twins and I was overjoyed at the thought of having the privilege to parent another set. However, God had different plans. We saw a picture of this little boy in March & he tugged on my heart for weeks. I looked at his picture every day and prayed for him to find a family. When it was clear the case for the twins couldn't move forward we immediately said YES to this sweet boy. His name means 'Hope' in French and that has brought me comfort & re-assurance. We are continuing to hope he and his sister will be home soon.

In December we had the privilege to travel to the DRC and spend a week with them. This should have been a trip to bring them home but because of the state of DRC adoptions it was only for a visit. It was the most amazing thing to meet them and get to know them and we are now even more desperate to bring them home and have them join their siblings. Saying good-bye was gut wrenching but we are hopeful it won't be for long!"

You can read about their visit at their BLOG. (There's a donate button there, too!)

Are you ready to help the Peat family with last minute expenses? They are waiting for their call to go pick up their children. Let's bless them this week! You can give through Paypal right here:)

Thanks, friends! Have a great week!

If You Think My Hands are Full, You Should See My Heart {Guest Post by Crystal Sponseller}

Last March, we featured the Sponseller family on G1S1 Europe and raised $1,383 to help them family travel to Ukraine and adopt their son Daniel. Crystal wrote this update celebrating having Daniel home five months and was so gracious to share it with us!

Five months!

I think about it and I smile.

I smile because I can see how far we have come. I smile when I see our family's cogs slipping into place. I smile when I see my children dancing in the snow. I smile.

On a serious note, I have had the recurring thought of "How did I really expect this to go?" I honestly can't remember how I thought it would be. I know that I was scared and worried, but I totally underestimatedwhat the experience would be. I think many of us have scenarios like that. Scenarios that we find ourselves in the middle of that we wonder how we got there.

And, I mean, REALLY, who wants the hard? No one. Not even Christ. He prayed for the cup to pass. But somehow, when we submit our will to Him and decide to follow His plan for redemption, we plod through, with our heads down; through the adoption hiccups, through the surprises that aren't the good kind, through, through, through. And when we lift our eyes up we can see bits and pieces of the story that God is weaving using our willingness and our brokenness.

This was Данило five months ago (and about 12 pounds heavier due to unnecessary medications). He was terrified to ride in the car. He liked borscht, kielbasa, chupa chubs and any kind of fruit that he could forage from the fruit trees that grew around his orphanage. He would sweat profusely and shake inexplicably. His hair was thin and coarse. He was terrified. Of everything. The word that he said that most was "Buy-oos!" (Meaning: "I am scared!!!") Tantrums were an all day event. When he was bathed he would shriek like we were using acid to clean him. And the smell... ugh.

This is Daniel today. He loves all sorts of adventures. He likes hamburgers, french fries, chili, roast beef, hash browns, peanut butter... and the list goes on. He talks non-stop. He says he is scared if he is being silly. Tantrums may be once a week. Or not at all. And they last for ten minutes. He loves to be in the shower. He smells like a Sponseller. His hair has grown in thick and soft. He loves Superman and Batman. He loves to pray. And his prayers are always full of thanksgiving for his family and petition for Ukraine. He begs me every week to say the closing prayer at church.

So, are things perfect? Nope. But are they wonderful? Oh yeah!

I can honestly say that I am so happy with our decision to expand our family following God's leading. We have no regrets.

If I could encourage anyone on the journey, I would just say that I am happy. We are happy. The other children are happy. We have our bumps and they are different bumps than we would have had if we only had 2.5 children.

And our hands are full.

My hands are full.

But you should see my heart.

Originally Posted here: http://openheartsopenhands.blogspot.com/2014/01/if-you-think-my-hands-are-full-you.html?m=1

Say Hello to the Hull Family!

Meet the Hull Family! Ryan and Tracy have 4 beautiful children, Kai, Grace, David and Ji Ji. In the past five years, they have adopted three times (twice from Korea and once from China.) Ryan and Tracy thought their family was complete. Then last September, they learned about Thomas, an older boy with special needs in China who is waiting for a family.

Thomas

Time is running our for Thomas. He will age out of the adoption program in March, so the Hulls are working as quickly as possible to adopt him. Follow their adoption journey at their blog, Taking the Slow Boat to Thomas and their Facebook page.

After three adoptions, the Hulls have exhausted their financial resources. They will be traveling soon to bring Thomas home before he ages out in March. Let's help the Hulls raise the money to travel to China and adopt Thomas! Click here to give a tax-deductible donation at Pure Charity.  Or send a donation through PayPal to: tracyhull12@gmail.com.

Likes Family Update

At the midweek point, you have given $340 to the Likes family adoption fund.  Great job, thanks for all you have donated!!

 Did you know that they also have two other fundraisers going on?

Head to their blog here to get the details, www.bringingourbabieshome.blogspot.com, but here are some pictures!

Their ongoing fundraiser is a "Sweet Dreams" one.  They have amazing 1500 count sheet sets, for only $35.00 ($5 additional if you need them shipped).  You will sleep well every night tucked into these sheets, knowing that you helped bring two little ones home to their nice comfy beds too!

The other fundraiser they are doing for the month of February are these beautiful necklaces.

I know as an adoptive mother, this was a verse I held close to my heart, as we struggled through the up and downs of our adoption process.  I found comfort in knowing that this path was indeed the path for our family, no matter how difficult it may seem.

What a beautiful way to remind those we love that their path, no matter how daunting it may seem is indeed guided by Him.

Say Hello to the Likes family!

Meet the Likes family!  

They are currently in the process of adopting two more children from the DRC to add to their beautiful family.  They brought their daughter home from Ethiopia last April. While in Etheopia, they talked with many people about the children with HIV+ statuses.  Their hearts ached for these kids, because so often, their positive status kept people from seeing the child.  After much prayer, and direction from God, they decided to begin the adoption process for their next children from the DRC.  Though the adoption program is unstable due to the continuing war in the Congo, they know that their children are there, waiting for them. You can follow thier adoption journey through their blog here.

They have raised enough funds for their first referral, and are in the process of raising money for their second child's referral fee.

Get your dollars ready, and donate to this family this week, better yet, give TWO DOLLARS for their two children waiting for them!

You can donated to their adoption fund here through paypal, 

Share their video on ALL your social media pages

In this month dedicated to love, let's shower this family and their waiting children with LOVE (and dollars!)!!!

Koprowski Update!

As of this morning, we have raised $80 for the Koprowski family!

 

Thank you everyone! We can do more... Don't you think?!?

 

Share their story and give others the opportunity to be a part of this family's journey too.

 

http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/two-less-orphans/93202