Helping Hands Snowman

In a one week period we sold about $1500 worth of Mary Kay products....which means we got $750 for our adoption! Thank you... Thank You.... Thank you. I had no idea that we would sell that much. In fact it was a last minute decision to put it all together and I was worried that I wouldn't even sell enough to cover my out off pocket expense for the inventory...Boy was I wrong. Philippians 4:6 says "Don't worry about anything instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all HE has done." Prayer is a powerful thing. I posted on facebook the morning that I started "You will never know unless you try" I'm so thankful that I tried and I'm so thankful for all the friends, family, co-workers and neighbors who did some shopping and supported our adoption at the same time!

Remember that all my Mary Kay profits will go toward our adoption. So if you didn't get to order for Christmas any order you place at anytime will be for our adoption. I have several friends wanting to do a party around Valentine's Day so it would be great to raise $750 again through Mary Kay. There are tons of ideas for parties and its a lot of fun. With the new lip gloss that just came out we could do "A love your lips party" Simple but fun. If you don't want to do a whole Mary Kay party you could just do a Girl's Night Out/game night and I could set up a display of products, talk about our adoption and take orders without even taking off your make-up! Please think about hosting a party to help us raise funds. We can work it how ever you want.

Also I wanted to tell you about what the kids did. They wanted to do something to help raise money So they said lets have a lemonade stand....Well in mid December that just won't work out too well. So we used our neighbors idea of ornaments. Since its Christmas time we decide to make snowmen ornaments and try to sell them for $5 each. The kids made these out of their hand prints and helped me paint them. Each little snowman is one of their fingers. They turned out really cute. I love how they want to be involved and help do their part to bring their brother or sister home. If you would like to purchase one please let me know. Spread the word to others that might like to purchase one. $5 to most is a small amount but it adds up when everyone pitches in. We still have a long ways to go but every little bit counts. And for them to know that they had a part in this journey and that they helped is priceless. When I look at their ornaments and I see their little hand prints It reminds me of their "Helping Hands" in this process of bringing 1 home.

Christmas gift sets

Hey everyone the kids and I made Mary Kay Christmas gift sets to sell for our adoption. We had alot of fun making these together so I thought I would post about it.


Here are some pictures of the gift sets we are selling. Remember when you shop with me 50% of your purchase goes to our adoption fund. You're not only doing some Christmas shopping you are helping us bring our child home.

This week is really busy. I have 2 fundraising parties and I'm setting up two gift tables..one at my work and the other at a friends house. Praying that this is a successful week for us as far as raising money and sharing our story. I'm very excited about all that's going on.

Lip color Mini stocking Total w/tax $14.77

Your choice of lip gloss, stick or balm

Satin Hands Cream w/oven mit Total w/tax $11.61

Comes in peach or fragrance free


Satin Hands set Total w/tax $ 36.92
Comes in peach or fragrance free

Little gifts lip balm set Total w/tax $16.88

Comes with 3 lip balms

Vanilla, Vanilla Berry, and Vanilla Mint

Mint Bliss Energizing Feet & Leg lotion Total w/tax $ 11.61



Satin Hands Cream Total w/tax $ 11.61
Peach or Fragrance Free

Time Wise 3 in 1 cleanser/age fighting moisturizer Total w/tax $44.31

Comes in Normal/Dry or Combo/Oily

Bella Belara gift set Total w/tax $38.51

Comes with perfume wand, lotion and shower gel

Lip color set Total w/tax $14.77

Your choice of lip gloss, lip stick or lip balm

Bella Belara perfume Total w/tax $ 38.51

Nail Polish set Total w/tax $ 5.28

Your choice of light pink or coral polish

Sugar Scrub set Total w/tax $16.88

Comes in Warm Amber, Exotic Passionfruit, Simply Cotton or Forever Orchid

Eye Make-up Remover gift set Total w/tax $ 16.88

Satin hands cream Total w/tax $11.61

Peach or Fragrance Free

Satin Lips set Total w/tax $ 20.05

Pedicure set w/ nail polish Total w/tax $15.83

Your choice of light pink or coral polish

Anniston said these were her favorite gift sets

She helped make the lipgloss sets

Jordan helped make the pedicure basket

They are both so excited about getting a brother or sister. I can always count on them to help me when it comes to doing stuff for the adoption.....cleaning their rooms not so much! I love to hear the ideas they come up with to raise money. To see all the love they have in their hearts makes me smile! I'm one proud Mama!

What a beautiful song

This song has been on my mind for several weeks now and everytime I hear it I get chills. I wanted to share it with you. I'm still learning this blogging thing and I couldn't figure out how to post the youtube video so I'm just going to type the lyrics out. I hope this song touches your heart as much as it has mine!

Thank You for giving to the Lord -Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name
We turned and saw a young man running
And He was smiling as he came

And he said "Friend you may not know me now"
And then he said but wait
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start
And one day when you said that prayer
I asked Jesus in my heart

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

Then another man stood before you
And said "remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry
You didn't have much money
But you gave it anyway
Jesus took the gift you gave
And thats why I'm here today

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you have done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed

And you know up in heaven
You're not suppose to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said "My child look around you
Great is your reward"

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

As I typed that out I am reminded of the story where Jesus feed five thousand with only 5 fish and 2 loaves of bread. It doesn't matter how big or small when you give from your heart for the glory of God...He will use it in ways you could never imagine. Most of you know that I love Joyce Meyer...hint hint all the facebook post =) She said one time "You do what you can and God will do what you can't" I have to admit that I get very discouraged when I feel like things aren't going the way I think they should be going. But then I'm reminded "You do what you can and God will do what you can't" Its not about what I "feel" its about God and doing what He has called us to do....and thats adopt!

I hope you like the song. Maybe I will figure out how to post the video but for now I'm just going to post it to my facebook page because I know how to do that!

Our 1st official fundraiser

We have received several gifts towards our adoption and we are thankful for every single one..... But I think its time to step it up a little. We are starting our 1st "official" fundraiser to try and raise money for our adoption.

It's actually 2am and I'm wide awake. I tried to go to bed but it seem like God was telling me that I need to start right now if we are going to try to raise funds for our adoption. I don't like asking for help. Its never really been a strong suit for me...but it seem like the Lord was telling me ask and you shall receive. Matthew 7:7 says "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." So I'm asking for your help because we can't do this alone.

As a Mary Kay consultant I receive 50% of whatever I sell. A satin hands set is $36 (tax included) so $17 of that will go directly towards our adoption. Now with Christmas coming up everyone is starting to do some shopping. Think about all the people on your list...friends, family, co-workers, teachers....Why not give them a gift that will also help bring a child home? You could write a little note explaining that the gift they just received came along with an eternal gift...the gift of bringing an orphan home!

If you are not familiar with the satin hands set It exfoliates, cleanses, and hydrates your hands in 3 easy steps. Its also great on your feet =) It comes in peach fragrance or fragrance free. And to make gift giving easy it comes in its very own matching gift bag. With the cold weather on its way your hands tend to get dry and chapped. So this really is the perfect gift for someone for Christmas.

I can come to you and get your order, you can mail it to me, or if you see me in person you can just hand it to me. Whatever works best for you!

Please help us spread the word about this fundraiser. We are trying to raise a big chunk of the home study fee so we can get this process started. We are so excited and promise that your love and kindness will NEVER be forgotten. James 1:27 says "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." Thank you for you love, prayers and support!

So far

We met with Lifeline a local Christian adoption agency on Sept 12. We went not knowing if we wanted to do domestic or international adoption. The woman told us that with domestic there are families waiting on children and with international there are children waiting on families. That was all it took for us to make up our mind and go with international.

We first looked into Bulgaria because it seem like the travel time and age/marriage requirements worked for us. After talking to Sella from lifeline we learned that with Bulgaria you are looking at severe medical special needs. She told us about Taiwan. Everything looked like it would work for us. We left her office ready to start the process. I got on their website again and I noticed that it said the age requirement for Taiwan was 30. All the papers we got from Sella said 25. I emailed her and we found out that the age had recently been changed to 30. I have never in my life wanted to be 30 years old so bad! We tried really hard not to let that get us down. A friend posted on facebook...He is never early..He is never late...His timing is perfect and so is His direction. I try to keep this on my mind. We know that God has lead us here and when He is ready everything will work according to His plan.

I've been reading a couple books about adoption. Adopted for Life by Russell Moore and Orphanology by Tony Merida and Rick Morton are awesome books! Its so amazing how much God loves us. "The gospel and adoption are beautifully woven together by the gracious hand of God. In Christ, God has shown His love for us as our Father. He has reached down His hand of mercy to us in the loneliness of our sin, and He has raised us up as members of His family. Consequently, one of the clearest displays of the gospel in this life is when redeemed men and women extend a hand of mercy to children in need and bring them into their families." by David Platt (forward to Orphanology) As Christians we have been adopted. We are no longer strangers to God's family. We are now His children. Isn't that amazing!

We are now looking into Ethiopia. We meet the age/marriage requirements, the travel time works well for us.. So it looks like this is the one. I have to admit at first I thought what will people think. I was reading Erasing Hell by Francis Chan and he wrote "God is not a bigot: He's not a racist; He loves to reverse social-class distinctions because His love knows no boundaries." So it really doesn't matter what people may think. I live my life for God and not this world. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." -Romans 12:2

We are trying to raise money for the application fee and for the home study. So be on the look out for fundraisers to help us bring our little one home. But for now keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Where do I start...

This is probably a surprise to most people. Only immediate family and close friends knew that we were thinking about adoption. We've had it on our hearts for awhile now but I can't keep it in any longer. So thats why I started this blog.

I guess I will start with how this all came about. We have some really good friends (I know God put them in our lives for a reason) that adopted a precious little girl from China. Well for over a year now I would catch myself going to the website of the adoption agency they used to bring their little girl home. I would go there at least once or twice a month just to find out more, reading the same things over and over again. I guess I was very curious you could say. Drew would ask me what are you looking at and when I would tell him he would just look at me and walk away. Finally I said something to him about how I felt God was leading me to adopt. I told him all about adopting from China (which you have to be 30) and he said When we turn 30 we will talk about it then. So that kept me quiet for awhile but again I would go to the website and read the same stuff over and over. It just really hurt my heart to know that there are so many children around the world who need a family to love them and care for them. So I brought it up again this time we talked more about it. And his main concern was the expense of the adoption process (which I understand) So I was reading a post on the agency's facebook page where someone was going through the same thing with her husband. They told her to pray that God would give him wisdom and guidance...well thats what I started doing. I didn't push or force I prayed. And now a year later Drew came to me and said lets find out more about adopting. Wow, God is good isn't he? Its been a couple months since we really started talking about it together as a family...And boy has it had its ups and downs already. Please pray for us as we set out on this amazing journey of faith, hope and love.