Easter 2018

Remembering all the firsts Isaac has had in the last 5 years and thinking ahead to all of the firsts that our girly will have when she gets home. (Isaac's first Easter egg photo absolutely slays me every year!). 

Celebrating Christmas and Easter is going to particularly special. The Lord has had His hand on my little family LONG before we three were/are together. Someone shared the precious Gospel with the beautiful foster mother that loved and protected Isaac for 15 months. She loved Jesus by loving my boy. Now, my daughter knows the sweet offerings of prayer as she has been raised and is shepherded by the Sisters of Charity--women who love our Savior with passionate service. While I was never meant to be my childrens' first mother, I stand in full awareness and have the great joy of standing next in line to point their hearts towards their Heavenly Father. The mantel of spiritual parenting of my Little One and Sweet Girl is being passed to me by people who have worn it well. Can you imagine, on that day of days, when we all stand with our Risen Savior the JOY that will knit us eternally together?? I am so very excited to meet the long lines of people who loved Jesus into my family <3 

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We celebrated our Risen Savior this weekend---my sensory loving kiddo LOVED dying eggs in shaving cream!!  (His slightly OCD mother did NOT enjoy dying eggs in shaving cream and proceeded to call her BFF begging to be reminded as to WHY we put ourselves through this.  She offered some Hallmark card nonsense about childhood and memories or something crazy like that.)

The truth is, memories ARE being made. While I speak life into my child about Jesus's love for him and His death & resurrection, my boy offers his heart's interpretation:

Jesus go UP and be right back! 

That is exactly right, buddy!  Jesus rose from the dead, He went up to Heaven and He is coming back to get us, now we have Easter!

Yard Sale Donations Needed

Fundraising is coming to an end, but not before we have a MASSIVE fundraising yard sale!  If you are local...we need your donations!  Have you been meaning to clean out the garage? The back closet? Gramma's storage?  Now is your time!  We'll be taking donations for the next three weeks for a yard sale the last weekend of the month (weather dependent). Please contact me and we can arrange drop off of your piles o' stuff! 

(Also looking to borrow some long tables as well...)

Getting Close...

Got word today that my girly is getting her last physical this week to update her file before she comes HOME! As always with adoption--lots of mixed emotions: Who was with her during her exam? Were her physician & nurse kind to her? Were they experienced in Down syndrome? Was she nervous or is she a pro at such things? BUT, I'll also be getting her updated measurements so I can start clothes shopping for my teenager! 

Multiple people have asked if they can bless my girl with any items and with a lack of information, I've had to politely request a *pause*...but now that I'll know her sizes soon, gift cards to Target, Old Navy, JCPennys, and other teenage friendly clothing stores would be wonderfully helpful at this time. We can get the basics for her now and then let her go shopping when she gets home <3 

World Down Syndrome Day 2018

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!  3/21--three copies of the 21st chromosome. A day to celebrate the beauty of that little bit of extra and the extraordinary value that people with Down syndrome bring to our world. 

It's good that we are celebrating. It's good that people are recognizing Down syndrome when they see it and it's becoming a regular part of their daily lives. As a little boy in my son's class says "That's Isaac. He's fun and teaches us to be kind.". (Today that little boy and Isaac held hands as they entered the school together).  Many people across America are wearing crazy socks today to celebrate the uniqueness and beautify that DS brings to their life. Many are making presentations at schools and community groups, demystifying Down syndrome and promoting inclusion.  All are WONDERFUL. Awareness is celebration!

Awareness can also bring light to the ugly realization that DS is not celebrated everywhere...

Both of my children are without their birth families because of that little tiny chromosome. They were born into cultures that do not celebrate and often hide those with disabilities. Without adoption, they would not have survived socially, and in Isaac's case would most likely not have lived to see kindergarten.  I am thankful that they were indeed BORN. In as much as they were able, their birth mother's chose life. There are nations on this planet that brag about a nearly 100% prenatal diagnosis and termination rate of babies with Down syndrome. 100%. While the United States is not the top of that list (thank GOD), anywhere from 30-60% of known DS pregnancies in our own country do not result in a birth of that beautiful child. Simply put, when given the option about 50% of parents who know their future baby is rocking an extra chromosome, choose not to give their baby earthly breath.  The only solace I have is knowing that each of those precious babies are playing joyfully at the feet of the Creator at this very moment, probably hearing THE BEST Bible stories ever from Jesus himself. That's got to be an amazing eternal Sunday school class! 

   

(I asked Isaac today "Who taught you how to give such great hugs?"  JESUS!)

So, what is our role as lovers of Down syndrome and followers of Christ?  

• Celebrate Down syndrome as the wonderful and complicated gift that it is! Each child with that extra chromosome was uniquely created by God the Father...PERFECTLY.
• Engage families who are rocking designer genes. Ask questions. Learn about Trisomy 21. Make it a regular part of your thoughts & conversations. It's not weird or different if it's just...normal. 
• Challenge yourself to erase "as long as the baby is healthy" from your prenatal vocabulary. Culturally we've accepted the lie that anything less than perfect physically and intellectual health is not desirable. I've started saying "as long as it's human"--because truly, if you birth a puppy, there is something seriously wrong!
• Get involved!  Rock your crazy socks! Volunteer with Special Olympics or GiGi's Playhouse or Young Life Capernaum or any other opportunity to serve and support our chromosomally enhanced friends.  It's never boring!  And you WILL be blessed <3 

From our family to yours HAPPY WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY...in the US, China, and Albania. 

31 Gifts Fundraiser

Our sweet friends in Texas are hosting a 31Gifts party for us this month.  Don't know what 31Gifts is?  You know those super cute monogrammed bags, totes and items you see floating around---usually with people who seemingly have their act together?  THOSE are 31Gift items!  And turns out, those people don't actually have their act together!  They just look like it! *wink*

Lots of great items on sale right now and you can use the link below to shop anytime through the end of the month. 

31Gifts Fundraiser


For those of you on Facebook, make sure to join our live FB party on Wed 3/21 at 7:15 PST! 

Quick Adoption Update

A quick little update as to where we are at in the paperwork pregnancy...the Albanian Adoption Committee has given their enthusiastic support of our file and we are waiting for the official form to arrive so I can send that back to the US Government. Whoohoo! The US has said I can bring a child in. Albania has said I can bring a child out. Now the US needs to agree that Albania has said yes to their yes and we can look to schedule our court dates in Albania in June. Whew!

Financially, the Lord is providing EVERY cent right as we need it (and not a moment before, in classic God style) so while we still need all of our travel and in country fees covered ($25,000) God has covered everything thus far so I'm believing He'll continue to do the same. We should be hearing from several grants soon which is AWESOME.

Thank you for those that have been lifting us up spiritually. We had some pretty significant resistance earlier this month and many of you went to your knees in battle. The Lord prevailed and moved a significant mountain! There is a now in a memorial in my heart that says "Here. In this place, God moved". Maybe we'll see the physical evidence of that when we are in Albania.

Until then, we continue to pray for our girly: That her heart would be drawn to us even as we are 5,800 miles away and she would find safety and peace in the face of the strange American woman that is about to be her mother.  <3 

<3

Auction Finale

Thank you to EVERYONE who participated in our Adoption Auction!! With your generous gifts and support we raised $3,161 in just 3 days!  That is exactly $61 over the next fee that is due! God is so very good! 

If you were the winning bidder, you will be contacted very quickly with appropriate information.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

Chinese New Year 2018

It's important to me that this major Asian holiday (equivalent to our Thanksgiving) is naturally apart of our year, but I have struggled with integrating Chinese New Year into our lives with ease.  We've tried several different approaches and events, but just haven't found anything that fits us and our values with any satisfaction. 

Until now. 

Ring the bells!  I think we've found 'our thing' for Chinese New Year!

Isaac was ENTHRALLED and could not sign "more" fast enough!

We spent nearly 4 hours watching performances and demonstrations, making crafts, eating food, practicing calligraphy and squeezing through the sea of people who were all enjoying things we were. 

I learned so many new things!  Did you know there are FIVE different types of calligraphy? Including equivalents of our script and cursive? There are also Asian aboriginal tribes in Taiwan? There was an aboriginal dance performance that seemed to me to be a lovely blend of Hawaiian and Native American dances. 

And then the Kung Fu demonstrations started...Isaac has had a life altering experience! I so wish I was able to capture the look on my boy's face. Pure ecstasy. In a couple more years, lessons may be in our life. 

So, this start of the 'new' year, we celebrate with our Chinese friends and neighbors the wonderful culture and people that gave me my son. As they celebrate the Year of the Dog (loyalty and sincerity), we thank our Faithful and True God that there will be a day when ALL tribes and nations will worship TOGETHER at our Father's throne. Oh, what a day that will be!

T-Shirt Update

The original goal was to sell 50 t-shirts over the course of two weeks. A lofty goal by many adoption fundraising standards. BUT...we've sold 75 in just 6 days!! That is So. Unbelievably. Awesome! So we are shooting for the next goal...100 YOU MAKE ME BRAVE shirts before the end of this month.  I'm excited to see it happen!   

All of the proceeds (50% of every shirt) goes directly to our adoption fund.  100 shirts = $1000.  That is one thousand steps closer to making sure this is the last February that our sweet girl is without a family. <3 

Click HERE to order your shirt. 

You Make Me Brave

You Make Me Brave---one of my favorite worship songs: You called me out beyond the shore into the waves...no fear can hinder now that love has made a way.

What makes you brave?  Adoption? Special needs? An extra chromosome? Single parenting? Conquering the crawl space under the house? (I'm not joking around on that one folks. That's legit).  What is that mountain that only God can move?  That one thing that, if you give it back to the Lord, He WILL make you brave enough to do it?  For me...a teenager across the world that needs a momma. Not just any momma. She needs THIS momma (that is a truth that I'm recently wrapping my heart around).

Our dear friends in Virginia have designed this lovely shirt to help bring our girly HOME.  I would seriously love to see the international arrivals terminal at SeaTac airport FILLED with our tribe in these shirts when our Sweet Girl makes her grand entrance this summer <3  What a blessed sight that would be!  We believe in YOU, precious one and we believe in the ONE who brought you to us <3

Men's unisex next level jersey short sleeve shirt.

YouthXSmall to 4XL 

$20

Ladies flowy long sleeve Vneck tshirt

Small to 2XL 

$25

Order your t-shirts HERE

Baggies of Pennies

The adoption journey is not for the faint of heart, but one of the things that I love most on this road is seeing how our little story impacts other people. When people are drawn closer to the Lord; hear Him better; step out in their own calling because of hearing our story...that is awesome. When you see the hearts of CHILDREN so easily sway into the arms of the Lord...that melts me! 

Four sweet children with an auntie with Down syndrome heard our story and asked their parents if they could help. They emptied their piggy banks and gave with with most genuine hearts ever. I have to believe their previous giving made Jesus so very proud today.  I carried that baggie fully of pennies and crumpled dollars to the bank like I was carrying a lottery winning check!  These are the stories of miracles and faithfulness I'm so excited to tell my girl about.   God used EVERYONE to give her a family. No one was too small or insignificant. EVERY person mattered in her story because SHE is of such high value <3 

Final Days of NoonDay

Have you had a chance to order from the NoonDay Collection yet?  There are just TWO MORE DAYS left in this special promotion that contributes 15% to directly to our adoption agency toward bringing our Sweet Girl HOME.    

These are STUNNING pieces of jewelry that support artisans and their ability to keep their families TOGETHER. Family preservation--first families first.  That is ALWAYS the primary goal in orphan care/prevention. 

Buy for yourself. Buy for friends or family. You can even purchase a gift certificate for later!  All orders will be delivered by the first week in March!

Click on this LINK to order now!

NoonDay Collection Fundraiser

Our dear friends in Michigan are hosting a NoonDay Collection trunk show for us! 15% of all sales between now and Feb 13th will be sent directly to our adoption agency in our name! NoonDay focuses on family preservation by providing jobs to parents who otherwise would need to abandon their children. With your purchase you are keeping families together AND making a home here for a teenager in Albania ❤ It doesn't get any better.  

Using the link below you can show now for Easter, mother's day gifts, personal collection or gifts for other special people in your life. These are stunning pieces!  You won't be disappointed!

ALBANIA ADOPTION NOONDAY FUNDRAISER