This Is Why!

"I tell you the truth, whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me." Matthew 25:40

Friday, April 30, 2010

Growing Up Fast!




I just got Iris Anne's dance pictures back and I had to hold back the tears. I know she is growing fast but when I saw how much she had changed since her very first recital(photo above in frog costume-age 3yrs)...I just couldn't believe it! I am so blessed to have her in my life!

Check These Out!





Our newest shirts...Adoption Rocks in navy with a CUTE fabric applique! Also, these China shirts were done for a friend of mine...they will be traveling to China soon to pick up their BEAUTIFUL daughter!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

We Now Have Bracelets!


We have just added bottlecap bracelets! We can do any of the images previously shown on our bottlecap necklaces!
Price-$8.00(this includes bottlecap magnet and black nylon bracelet)
Just email me with any orders!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Home Study Visit #1

We had our first Home Study visit last night. We were kind of nervous because we didn't know what to expect...but it ended up being a really nice meeting. The social worker doing the study was very friendly...she has also adopted two children...one from Vietnam and one from Korea...so it was great to hear her story. It's just so exciting each time we take a step closer to our child...I wish we could have them home with us now...the waiting is the hardest part! Just pray that our child and ALL orphans will receive the best care possible until they can be placed in homes with their Forever Families!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

New Items!!

Check out our newest fundraising item...Adirondack Chairs!
Kelly made these and they are SO CUTE! If you are interested in purchasing just email me with color choice(we can do pretty much any color) and the name for personalization!
Price:
Child size(shown in photo)-$75
Teen size-$100
Adult size-$125

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Pray for Orphans!

Sometimes I get caught up in the fundraising and paperwork and I forget to stop and think about the child God has for us in Ethiopia and what they go through each day...I watch the kids in this video and it breaks my heart to know that there are so many orphans without a home or a family...the children look happy but then I think about what their future holds...there isn't much hope for them. Please pray for the orphans...that they will be placed in loving Christian homes and given that chance for a future that they deserve.


(please pause Playlist at bottom of page to hear the video)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

New Fundraising Items










Check out our new fundraising items! These shirts are handmade by a friend of mine and are Super Cute!
Pricing:
Africa or China Applique T-shirt-$16(child)$20(adult)
Peace,Love, Adopt T-shirt-$18(child)$22(adult)
Adoption Rocks T-shirt-$18(child)$22(adult)
**These are available in children or womens sizes. If you are interested in ordering please just email me with the size and style you prefer. Appliques will each be unique due to available fabric. Please specify color choices and we will try our best to make you a "one of a kind" shirt!
Also, check out the bottlecap necklaces we are making. These are $10 each and include an 18in. nickel plated ball-chain. Choose from 11 different designs...just email me with any orders!
Thanks for your support!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Goodbye to Pappaw!




On Monday my husband's dad passed away. This is such a difficult time...losing a parent is something that no one can really understand until they go through it personally. Unfortunately, this is something that I have also experienced, but I am so glad that I can be there for my husband during this sad time and help him through this.
My dad passed away when I was 17 years old...losing a parent when you are young is hard because there are so many memories that will never be shared. But losing a parent when you are older is just as hard because you have more memories, and that makes you miss them even more. Truth is...there is no good time to lose a parent!
There is something about losing a Dad. As children we think our dads are indestructible...they can do ANYTHING! I always thought my dad hung the moon and could do no wrong...there was nothing he couldn't fix. So when a parent becomes sick and can't fix their illness it is so hard to deal with.
My father in law was a man of very few words...in the ten years that I have been a part of that family there wasn't much that I ever heard him say...but my way of knowing what kind of man he was is by looking at his son. We are a reflection of our parents and I see the great man my husband is and I know that he must have been raised by a wonderful man who influenced him in such a special way. Also, it helps to hear from the people that knew our parents...and when they have good things to say about them it makes us even more proud to have them as our parents.
My children loved their Pappaw and they have a part of him in them and I can only hope that they will grow up to have the same great qualities he had as a person.
It's hard for small kids to understand what is going on but the sweet part is they know Pappaw is in heaven right now...and as Iris and Asa said "I bet Pappaw is up there fishing all of the time...or building houses with Pappaw Hoss!"...and you know what, he just might be!

We will miss you Pappaw!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Testimony...short version!

I received a video from Tangle today...if you haven't watched it please click below to watch!
I could probably talk for days about my testimony but here is just a small portion of it...

This video really hit home when I saw it...I know what it's like to "go through the motions", to think that because you grew up in a good family or grew up going to church that you are fine...there's no way that you are hell bound...well that is so far from the truth and it took me until I was 27 years old to figure that out. One of the hardest things for me to do is to admit that if I had died one second before March 23,1999(the day I was saved) I would have gone to hell. Just to say that scares me more than anything in this world. Not only was I unsaved but I was living a life that death could have happened very easily. I was hanging out with the wrong crowd...in the wrong places...doing things that no person should ever do. I could have very easily lost my life and if I had...well right now I would be spending eternity in hell. I can honestly say that I have been saved by the GRACE of God! I grew up in church...went with my family from the time I was born until I was an adult...but that was not going to get me into heaven...when I finally gave my life over to the Lord and asked Him to come into my heart and be my personal Savior...that's when where I would spend eternity changed...and only then! The saddest thing to me is knowing that there are so many people who truly believe they are going to heaven because they are just good people...they have never done anything that bad...that has nothing to do with it...admitting that there was a time that you were going to hell and then making a decision to ask Jesus into your heart is the only way. If you know someone(and we all do) who truly needs to have Jesus in their heart and life please do something about it...before it's too late. It is a miracle that I lived through all of the things I've done in my life...God truly had His hand on me...or I would not be here today...I am proof that God can pull you out of the deepest,darkest times of your life and give you HOPE...hope of spending eternity with Him!
I am so blessed that God didn't give up on me...I owe EVERYTHING to Him!
(if you are going to view video make sure you go to bottom of this page and pause my playlist so you can hear it play!)

BENEFIT YARD SALE

Just wanted to let everyone know that our Adoption Ministry Group is having a benefit yard sale to help raise money for mine and Kelly's adoption! We are so thankful for all of the help everyone in our group has offered...we couldn't do this without them! It is such a blessing! Here is the info...hope to see you there!.

BENEFIT YARD SALE
SATURDAY APRIL 17
8am-1pm
PRECISION PRODUCTS ENGINEERING BLDG.
N. VARNELL RD/ACROSS FROM HANKS CARPET
**YOU CAN RENT A TABLE FOR $10 TO SELL YOUR ITEMS OR COME & SHOP!!
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

**IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS TO DONATE PLEASE CONTACT ME(673-1956) OR RENEE GRIFFIN(673-3714)-WE WILL BE HAPPY TO PICK THOSE ITEMS UP!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Thanks Miss Tracey!


Thanks to Miss Tracey I can now make biscuits! As most of you know I am not the best cook around but I do try my best! Poor Kelly...one of his favorite things to eat is biscuits and gravy...and over the years I've never attempted to make homemade biscuits (but he sure does like the Pillsbury frozen ones and never complains!!!)
But now I can say I have finally made HOMEMADE biscuits! Before Miss Tracey left for Africa she gave me the recipe for her famous Cream Cheese Biscuits...I was a little nervous making them because my kids think Miss Tracey's biscuits are the BEST in the world.
Mine may not be as good as hers but Kelly and the kids sure did gobble them up!
RECIPE:
1 STICK BUTTER
1 PKG. CREAM CHEESE
1 1/2 C. FLOUR
*MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN BOWL...SHAPE AND BAKE ON COOKIE SHEET 350 DEGREES...NOT SURE HOW LONG...JUST WATCH UNTIL THEY LOOK DONE!
**SEE WHY I LIKE MAKING THESE...NO ROLLING PIN NEEDED!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Another Step Closer

I am so excited that yesterday we got to mail in the first half of our paperwork we completed to get our Home Study started! It took us a while to fill out the many pages and to also save up the extra money to send in...but it feels so good to take another step toward meeting our child! It all happens in Gods perfect timing!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Question of the Day(thanks to my 5yr old son Asa)
"Why does God have to make Boogers???"
When Asa asked this question I was driving down the road and it just came from out of the blue...as most questions from 5 year olds do. I tried not to laugh because I could see he was very serious! After thinking for a moment I came back with a really cute and funny answer...when I was done...Asa said "I thought they were to clear out the dirt in your nose so you could breathe better"...don't you love it!
Kids are so smart...even when it comes to boogers!

Spring Break at the Beach!

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HOME SWEET HOME...Well we just got back from our trip to the beach...we won the trip in a raffle at our daughter's school last year...so it was extra nice to go on a vacation that was free ! I just love spending time at beach with Kelly and the kids...it makes me realize how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family! We hope to have another little one along with us at the beach next year! We hated to leave but we also loved getting back to our home...we missed our beds!!!

EASTER SUNDAY...yesterday we celebrated Easter...when you're a kid every holiday is so special and fun...it's hard to try and make your kids understand the true meaning of Easter but it is so important! It's so easy to get caught up in all the gifts, candy and other stuff...but at Easter I just really want Iris and Asa to understand what Jesus actually did for them. Some days I don't even realize what He did for me...but Easter is such a special time to really picture Jesus on the cross dying for our sins...we don't deserve what He did but because of His love for us we can spend eternity with Him!