Sunday, August 28, 2011
Wow!
We are just under the $10,000 for needed funds. I can't believe it! It's our hope and prayer that we will be able to give back to our church's adoption fund and inspire someone else to adopt. We are forever grateful!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
African Headbands
I found out about another product that helps people in Africa. "Because Every Mother Matters" pays refugees to make these headbands. They are then sold and the profits help provide birthing kits to women in Eastern Africa. I am selling these for $15 each. $5 will go to our adoption fund and $10 go to BEMM. Sorry, you cannot choose the exact pattern. You can only choose between, earth tones, bright colors or toddler size 2-6.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Is This What I Signed Up For?
Yes it is. We knew adoption would be a hard road to travel. We just weren't sure in what way. One thing I am sure of, "If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:8
One of my best friends graduated with a reporter for Fox 6 News. She called him to let him know about our yard sale in case he would like to cover it. He called us and asked permission. No harm in that, right? Well, you'd be surprised at the criticism we have received. Here are some negative comments I have come across.
People should help and adopt a child from our foster care system. There are so many children right here at home that are waiting for a family. Yes, there are plenty of children "right here at home" that are waiting for a family. No one is stopping you from helping them. But that is not what my husband and I are called to do. As Christians, our citizenship is not here in America. It is in heaven. God's Kingdom will be made up of people of all nations. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Why not adopt here in your own country? I guess this is all about publicity. Same answer, but as far as the publicity goes, I don't have to defend that. However, the news reporter found out from a mutual friend and he contacted us. It was not our idea.
I feel the same... Time to take care of AMERICANS first.. Stop adopting overseas babies.. Just because they are "easier" to get. Shame on these people. Prideful Americans make me sick. "...What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"I Corinthians 4:7. Translation: All that you have was given to you by God. Stop acting as if you earned it. Be thankful you were born in American and not in Ethiopia where you could be starving to death.
Can you really afford to raise a child if you can't afford to adopt them? Last time I checked, one year's worth of expenses for child rearing didn't cost $32,000.
Apparently American children aren't good enough. I have nothing against the Foster Care system or for people adopting domestically. For us, we felt another calling.
I don't understand her comment that she hates referring to her "African" children. You can bring a child back from whatever country, their home country is ALWAYS going to be part of who they are. Don't refer to them any differently than being your CHILD! Makes no sense. I hope these Adoption Agencies see stuff like this. I don't think based on the "lighter skinned" comment she needs to adopt a child. Sorry if that offends anyone at all, but it is the truth.
This was in reference to this post where apparently my meaning was not clear. I did not mean that I did not want to think of my child being African. I meant that I hated labeling them as anything other than my children. But for that post, I had to refer to "African" children and "light skinned" children in order for my thoughts to make since. And I did not like doing that, hence the sentence, "I hate referring to my children as...."
People seem to think it is so hard to adopt a child from here at home but it is not. We were foster parents for ten years and helped many children and adopted three..two boys and one girl. It took some time for it to be final but they were with us from birth. They are a blessing and I would never think of adopting a child outside of the US after seeing all the children that need us here.
Same ole, same ole American pride. I can't stand it. We are not special. Our home is not here.
Look at this photo of a little girl in Sudan. How often do you see this in America? We are so blessed.
One of my best friends graduated with a reporter for Fox 6 News. She called him to let him know about our yard sale in case he would like to cover it. He called us and asked permission. No harm in that, right? Well, you'd be surprised at the criticism we have received. Here are some negative comments I have come across.
People should help and adopt a child from our foster care system. There are so many children right here at home that are waiting for a family. Yes, there are plenty of children "right here at home" that are waiting for a family. No one is stopping you from helping them. But that is not what my husband and I are called to do. As Christians, our citizenship is not here in America. It is in heaven. God's Kingdom will be made up of people of all nations. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Why not adopt here in your own country? I guess this is all about publicity. Same answer, but as far as the publicity goes, I don't have to defend that. However, the news reporter found out from a mutual friend and he contacted us. It was not our idea.
I feel the same... Time to take care of AMERICANS first.. Stop adopting overseas babies.. Just because they are "easier" to get. Shame on these people. Prideful Americans make me sick. "...What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"I Corinthians 4:7. Translation: All that you have was given to you by God. Stop acting as if you earned it. Be thankful you were born in American and not in Ethiopia where you could be starving to death.
Can you really afford to raise a child if you can't afford to adopt them? Last time I checked, one year's worth of expenses for child rearing didn't cost $32,000.
Apparently American children aren't good enough. I have nothing against the Foster Care system or for people adopting domestically. For us, we felt another calling.
I don't understand her comment that she hates referring to her "African" children. You can bring a child back from whatever country, their home country is ALWAYS going to be part of who they are. Don't refer to them any differently than being your CHILD! Makes no sense. I hope these Adoption Agencies see stuff like this. I don't think based on the "lighter skinned" comment she needs to adopt a child. Sorry if that offends anyone at all, but it is the truth.
This was in reference to this post where apparently my meaning was not clear. I did not mean that I did not want to think of my child being African. I meant that I hated labeling them as anything other than my children. But for that post, I had to refer to "African" children and "light skinned" children in order for my thoughts to make since. And I did not like doing that, hence the sentence, "I hate referring to my children as...."
People seem to think it is so hard to adopt a child from here at home but it is not. We were foster parents for ten years and helped many children and adopted three..two boys and one girl. It took some time for it to be final but they were with us from birth. They are a blessing and I would never think of adopting a child outside of the US after seeing all the children that need us here.
Same ole, same ole American pride. I can't stand it. We are not special. Our home is not here.
Look at this photo of a little girl in Sudan. How often do you see this in America? We are so blessed.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Yard Sale
I wish I had photos of our yard sale yesterday. I thought about taking my camera along but knew it'd would be too much trouble. Not only would it have been too much trouble, there was no way I would have had time to photograph anything. Well, maybe at 1:30 when the customers started fading.
We raised $1,552! We still have one big ticket item left, an electric wheel chair. It was donated by a stranger (not a stranger anymore). They paid $2700 for it back in 2001. The donor's mom moved into an assisted living facility and never used the chair. We are asking $1,000 for it.
Most of the people who heard our story were blessed. But there's always one person who doesn't understand why we don't adopt from here. That story to come later.
We raised $1,552! We still have one big ticket item left, an electric wheel chair. It was donated by a stranger (not a stranger anymore). They paid $2700 for it back in 2001. The donor's mom moved into an assisted living facility and never used the chair. We are asking $1,000 for it.
Most of the people who heard our story were blessed. But there's always one person who doesn't understand why we don't adopt from here. That story to come later.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Surfaced Emotions
It finally hit me. I've know it for a while, though... how much God has provided for us, the fact that we are "having" another baby, we are going to be blessed beyond measure. But I guess filling out paperwork, having medical exams, driving from place to place gathering yard sale donations, I haven't taken the time to sit, reflect and feel the emotions that apparently were hidden... until now.
I entered a post on Birmingham Bargain Moms about our yard sale. Someone posted, "I think what you are doing is wonderful and I wish you the best of luck with your yard sale!!!"
My body froze. I thought, "What y'all are doing? We haven't done anything."
We have been given so much. Only God can get the credit.
Then, I started crying.
And it felt good.
I entered a post on Birmingham Bargain Moms about our yard sale. Someone posted, "I think what you are doing is wonderful and I wish you the best of luck with your yard sale!!!"
My body froze. I thought, "What y'all are doing? We haven't done anything."
We have been given so much. Only God can get the credit.
Then, I started crying.
And it felt good.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Treasures in Heaven
A few days ago, a friend of ours told us of a couple who was moving back to their home country of Brazil and needed to get rid of their furniture... perfect yard sale items. Yesterday, I met him at their apartment with our truck to get what we could.
Our friend introduced us and they asked, "so what do you need?"
No words came from my mouth, just a puzzled look. As their arms presented us with everything in their possession except for a few select items they said, "we have to be out of here tomorrow. We are only taking a few things with us."
They continued by telling us most everything had been given to them and they wanted to continue the blessing. I boxed items as I listened to them tell about moving back and forth from Brazil to America to study music. I wondered, "if you knew you would move and leave your things, why did you buy them?" Not that they had excess; just some useless nick-nacks from here and there.
No sooner than the thought entered my head that I realized we all do the same thing. We know we aren't here on earth forever. We can't take anything with us except for the Word of God. Yet, we buy, collect and hoard items like they have value. I'm not saying we shouldn't have any possessions. I just think we should take a second look before we buy something and ask ourselves if we really need it. We need to remember that the only things that are eternal are the souls of men and the Word of God.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Our friend introduced us and they asked, "so what do you need?"
No words came from my mouth, just a puzzled look. As their arms presented us with everything in their possession except for a few select items they said, "we have to be out of here tomorrow. We are only taking a few things with us."
They continued by telling us most everything had been given to them and they wanted to continue the blessing. I boxed items as I listened to them tell about moving back and forth from Brazil to America to study music. I wondered, "if you knew you would move and leave your things, why did you buy them?" Not that they had excess; just some useless nick-nacks from here and there.
No sooner than the thought entered my head that I realized we all do the same thing. We know we aren't here on earth forever. We can't take anything with us except for the Word of God. Yet, we buy, collect and hoard items like they have value. I'm not saying we shouldn't have any possessions. I just think we should take a second look before we buy something and ask ourselves if we really need it. We need to remember that the only things that are eternal are the souls of men and the Word of God.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
We are having a yard sale two weeks from Saturday. We've told our church and Facebook friends that we will gladly take stuff off of their hands. We have received so many donations for this sale! For once I am rejoicing at the mess my house is in.
This is the corner where we were keeping most of the stuff.
One single donor gave us about 28 boxes of girl clothing. Now the donations have expanded to another corner.
That donor told me I could keep some of the clothes for Raine and our future daughter. Here's the first load waiting to come out of the dryer. The load in the floor is our every day laundry.
This is the corner where we were keeping most of the stuff.
One single donor gave us about 28 boxes of girl clothing. Now the donations have expanded to another corner.
That donor told me I could keep some of the clothes for Raine and our future daughter. Here's the first load waiting to come out of the dryer. The load in the floor is our every day laundry.
Monday, August 1, 2011
147 Million Orphans Tees
Here is a photo of Raine in her "147 Million Orphans" t-shirt. The color is actually "faded red" and less pink than it looks in the other photo. It is suitable for boys.
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