Game Playing Followers

I see that I am not alone in the love of game playing! :) It so fun to see the guesses and comments. One guesser in particular is very talented, as she guessed it exactly!! But before I disclose the number and winner I want to share some information with you--no scrolling down to see the winner. (By the way, I would totally do that!!)

We have had several people ask us about our fundraising stuff. I am excited to share with you the name of the company that has helped us out immensely on our fundraising. The company, ADVERTISING AUTHORITIES, is owned and run by our great friends. Their daughter and my daughter spent the first 8-10 months of their lives together in an orphanage in Xiushan, China. They have since brought home a son from China, too. I know they would love helping other families fundraise, from t-shirts to mugs to pens to just about anything! (They have an in- house graphic designer to help with design.)

If you are considering any fundraising or printing projects (church, work, etc..) please consider supporting their business. I know what a love they have for the Lord and adoption!

hrice@advauth.com

1-800-948-4328

We couldn't do any of this with out their help and your support!! In just over 2 weeks, we sold 116 t-shirts!!! I am so amazed at the outpouring of sweet comments, encouraging words, and paypal orders! :) Honestly...that was many more than we had expected. I hope that each of you love your shirts and wear them joyfully. After such success, I am pretty sure you'll be seeing the colored shirts again soon... maybe with a twist :). Anyone want to try to guess the twist.........just kidding!

Melissa--send me an email with your address!! What a great guess.

Shirt Total...

what do you think? Anyone who knows me well, knows I love guessing games and a little healthy competition. We can run the shirt orders until Sunday, they won't print until Monday, therefore I am not posting a total today. But instead, we'll have a guessing game over the weekend.

Leave a comment or email me your guess on the total number of shirts sold...closest winner gets a "got love?" cotton tote.

(We'll keep the paypal button on until Sunday night...orders go to the printers Monday morning)

I'll post the grand total number of shirts and reveal the winner Monday!! Have a great weekend--I'll be at a state swim meet cheering on my boys!!

Facebook status today

....is loving the last minute shoppers on the blog!! Thank you.

Last Call

Tomorrow is the last day to place an order for a colored "got love?" shirt. We will take orders until Thursday, Feb. 24, at midnight. I am so excited to place this order on Friday morning.

I'll be sure to post the grand total number of shirts--we have been amazed, encouraged and humbled at the amount of support we have received.

Thank you for investing in our family and a little life in Korea waiting to come home!!!

We are hoping to have the paypal button up on March 1st to start taking orders on the stainless steel travel mugs. Remember if you ordered a shirt, you can get the mug for $15!

Hitting the wall!!

It was bound to happen. Our ticker passed the 6 month mark and I hardly noticed! Life has been busy and good. Fundraising has been busy and great. (We have been very humbled and encouraged by all of you who have invested in our family!)

I have completed several marathons. In each one, I got to a point that I hit a wall. (My first, I actually sat on the curb and cried.) I am happy to say I have been able to finish each one. The wall certainly hurts and causes a bit of a set back...but keeping my eyes on the finish (and bragging rights :), I have been able to cross the finish line.

And so we set out on the "adoption marathon" last spring. Thrilled to have honed in on our child's country, agency, and the paperwork chase. What momentum I had. I, literally after learning how to email, started a blog..thanks to a very patient husband!! Our fundraising began. I started feeling like I should introduce myself as

"My name is Kelly. It has been __weeks since my last fundraiser."

You name it, we did it....thanks to very patient friends!!

Yesterday afternoon, my four kids asked--seriously, they did--for Tim to blockade them in the playroom. The four of them happily entered the room with water bottles, a couple of bagels, and a banana. Tim then closed the doors and.....

I considered working on a post about God's provision through our (and your) adoption process. Every once and a while, a face would appear for a quick wave.

As I laid on the couch, which I am sure did nothing to help in the motivating process, I hit the wall. I had trouble formulating my thoughts. My blog writing, not that it was over the moon exciting before, suffered a set back. I wanted very much to convey how the Lord has provided and will continue to provide for my family..and yours, especially if you start out on an "adoption marathon". Have you ever wanted to write such a great, truth-possessing post that you can't even write anything?

Nothing, that is, except how to have a few quiet hours in your home to think and rest by blocking your children in one room for hours with only some bread and water? I'm thinking that isn't going to pack the punch I was hoping for....but it is my life! :)

Pinching Pennies

One thing most adopting families have in common is pinching pennies. There are many ways to do this and many websites with great tips on how to. One thing I started doing is cutting the boys' hair at home. The girls have never been to a "hair cut place" (to have their hair cut) as they used to call it when we would take the boys to the barber shop. And so we pick an evening, line them up, 1-2-3-4 and cut.

I even do the very professional hold-the-comb-in-your-mouth move while styling!

The next morning, off to church, with their fresh new hair-dos.

"A penny saved is another penny in the Minus 1 Project money jar"

Back to our fundraising week

If you haven't seen them yet...we now have our "got love?" adopt. logo on several different color shirts. We (hope) have something for everyone.

tye dye for the real colorful person

youth small-adult xxxl

Fitted for the stylish, more "put together" person

Women's fitted pink (long and short sleeve)

adult small-xlarge (runs a bit small being fitted)

Unisex cut (Long and short sleeve) for everyone

youth xsmall-adult xxxlarge

military green, orange, purple, navy, black

Unisex cut, short sleeve only

youth xsmall-adult xxxlarge

military green, dark heather (gray), black, orange, sapphire blue, Irish green, purple, pink, red, navy

WE WILL TAKE ORDER THROUGH FEB. 23. SHIRTS WILL BE MAILED OUT AROUND MARCH 1ST. Travel mugs will be available to order around Mar. 1st..remember if you purchase a shirt you can get $5 off a travel mug = "got love?" combo deal! :)

Feel free to email me with any questions before ordering. takva73@gmail.com.

Truth to ponder: adoption is the visible gospel.

~Steven Curtis Chapman

I love my husband!

One last post on St. Valentine's Day before returning to the land of paypal, orders, and fundraising! I woke up this morning to meet a friend to run early...imagine my surprise when I realized that my running gear had been sabotaged.

And so if you happened to be out around 5:30 this morning and are able to see in the dark...I was the one proclaiming my love for my husband!

***My heart is giddy this holiday over having one more little Valentine to hold next year!

We interrupt this fundraising blog...

to talk ST. VALENTINE'S DAY!

The hard part of fundraising is that it can be quite consuming..especially when it comes to posts. I want to be sure that if someone comes to our blog for the first time after people have shared about our fundraising, they can find our stuff easily, love it, and make an order! :)

That being said, I did want to do a post on the upcoming holiday. So if you are a first timer or are looking for "got love?" shirts, travel mugs, and/or totes scroll down to see the fun, bright colors that are now carrying the bold, simple "got love?" adopt. message.

If you would like to possibly learn a bit more about Feb. 14th and get encouraged to celebrate it..read on!

"You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound" Psalm 4:7

If you have followed my blog you know that I love family traditions. I did an earlier post on why I think they are so important--click HERE. In a nutshell, I think it is important to have things that you do only as a family. Go out of your way to come up with or copy ideas that can make your family times your own!

The true origin of Valentine's Day is not easy to find. Who was Valentine? One thing that is for sure is that this day commemorates a martyrdom. History records that a young priest, named Valentine, was beheaded on Feb 14, A.D. 269 because he refused to renounce his faith in Christ. I think it is interesting how the St. eventually was dropped from St. Nicolas Day and St. Valentine's Day. I also think it is time to take them back...teach our children the true origin and celebrate in a way that keeps Christ in our celebration days, year round.

There are lots of inexpensive ways to make the day special. Just because our children will be receiving IPADS doesn't mean that yours have to!! :) Our four Valentines will wake up to pink heart shaped pancakes and pink heart marshmallows in a cup of hot cocoa. Tim has always planned a scavenger hunt (clues on hearts, of course) for each child. They find a small surprise at each clue, usually 3 or 4. Last year, Tim even had the boys running around outside! We'll share homemade cards, make heart shaped sugar cookies to take to friends, read the story of St. Valentine, and we'll call it a day...that is unless someone out there can leave me a comment with another fun suggestion!!

Ashley at Hemphill Hub- your the chosen winner!! (Send me an email and let me know your color choice...although I think I already know! :)

I would love to send shirts to every one of you who shared our cause. I know so many of you are in the midst of an adoption or have completed an adoption=money being tight and still you have ordered from us. And so although there was only one winner for this give away...we all win when we share about the miracle of adoption.

"In adoption the fearful become beloved, the scorned become adored, the nameless become cherished, the lonely become the laughing, and death becomes life abundant."

-Kerry Hasenbalg

"got love?" sale questions answered

When are these available? The travel mugs will be available to order around Mar. 1st. Shirts are ready to order now...see paypal buttons on the side! Order a shirt now and get $5 off a travel mug!!

Is the inside of the mug stainless steel? Yes, and is good for cold or hot drinks.

Do the new color shirts have the "147 million orphan" line? No, the new shirts and mugs don't have the third line. We decided not include that for several reasons. When we did the car decals we realized that the logo fit and read easier with just the "got love?" adopt. Remembering that we are hoping to continue to add to our line of stuff to help other fundraising families, shortening our logo would allow us to print it on more items. We felt like that is the message we really want to get across...regardless of how many orphans there are. There was a bit of confusion with the 147 million orphan. com line, as well. On a side note, did you know the number is now up to around 164 MILLION???

Can you discount the price for multiple purchases? This one came from several families that are considering using the shirts for their airport homecoming celebration. I LOVE THAT!!! How fun to have everyone in a different color (or same). So...YES, we would love to see whole families wearing the shirts to welcome home their newest member and spread the adoption word around the airport. I am planning to use them for our annual family beach picture! Bottom line..if you would like to order more than 4or5 please email me first and we can work you a deal! :)

Any other questions..email me takva73@gmail.com.

Remember to let me know if you have shared our blog, message, or shirts so I can enter your name in a drawing to win a "got love?" shirt--you pick the color. Drawing will be this Friday!

Thank you to all who have ordered.

From,

our whole family and a little one waiting in Korea!!!!!!

"got love?" gets MORE colorful!!

We have picked the top most popular t-shirt colors to print our "got love?" logo on. And here they are in no particular order!

Women's fitted pink "got love?" shirt

(long sleeve-$22, short sleeve-$17)

Men/Women/Youth orange, purple, or navy (not pictured) "got love?" shirt

long sleeve-$20, short sleeve-$15

Men/Women/Youth "got love?" military green, pink, sapphire blue, dark heather or Irish green

short sleeve ONLY-$15

(Please don't hesitate to email any questions you may have concerning t-shirts) Solid long and short sleeve run from size youth extra small to an adult xxxlarge.

We just found out yesterday that the stainless steel travel mugs are on back order until March 1st...but I couldn't wait to show the picture because I think they are so fun!!

Stainless steel "got love?" travel mug (available @ Mar. 1)

pink, purple, black, orange, lime, royal

$20

Since these will not be ready to order until March 1st....we are offering a deal for anyone who orders a shirt during the next 3 weeks. By ordering a shirt you will be able to purchase a travel mug (around March 1) for $15....$5 off the price!

*When ordering your shirt in the "comment to seller" section, let us know if you plan to order a travel mug at $15 and your first color choice* This offer is available for those who have already ordered the tye dye shirt. (You are not obligated to follow through with your mug purchase, but it would help us to better plan our order...you will be forgiven if you change your mind! :)

Orders for shirts will be taken started today thru Feb. 25. We hope to be able to mail them to you during the first week in March...while you are ordering your discounted travel mug!! :)

WOULD YOU HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ON OUR FUNDRAISING?? DURING THE NEXT WEEK, SHARE OUR BLOG AND MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK OR YOUR BLOG, AND WE WILL ENTER YOUR NAME IN A DRAWING ON FRIDAY, FEB. 12 TO WIN A "GOT LOVE?" COLORED SHIRT OF YOUR CHOICE! THANK YOU...WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!!! (Leave me a comment or email letting me know you shared.)

"got love?" gets colorful!

"get yours!"

Minus 1 Project is pulling out all the COLORS to bring their little one home!! This is the first of many colorful reveals in our newest "got love?" gear. Solid color shirts (pink, green, orange, purple, and blue) will be on for ordering this weekend.

**"got love?" adopt. stainless steel travel mugs in an array of bright and fun colors coming your way this weekend, as well!**

Bottle cap necklaces for Ethiopia Reads

I was hoping to have a picture to accompany this post, but the computer isn't cooperating!!

I wanted to share these super cute personalized bottle cap necklaces that I came across from a post on Armstrong Adventures. They would make wonderful little Valentine gifts or presents for friends. Best part about them, your purchase supports Ethiopia Reads.

Here are the links you need to purchase yours. DEENA at The Best Things In Life Aren't Things (left sidebar) and you can learn more about the group it benefits Ethiopia Reads.

Where else can you buy sweet personalized necklaces for $5 (+ $1 for shipping) and support a great cause!! Mine came in the mail today and I am so impressed with their cuteness! They came in a cute little see through bag with pink ribbon and a tag sharing about Ethiopia Reads--100% profits. I am using them for Valentine goodies for the girls. I am planning on ordering for others as birthday gifts.

**You need to order by Feb. 5 for Valentines**