BIBtastic*

*title by Ethan.

I have been stating for a while that we were working on some new fundraising items. Trying to come up with fun new things that everyone will want to buy! :) I hope our newest will find its way around the neck of babies and toddlers from every country.

Aren't these so cute?? They are soft 100% cotton, one size fits all with two size choices for the snap. Available in two colors: pink or blue.

They are ready to be ordered today. (You should receive your bib within two weeks of ordering.) $12.00 each or 2 for $20, specify color choices.

I'm excited to share that we have several other new things in the works that hopefully will be posted on the blog in the next few weeks. (One positive thing about the new estimated time line is that it gives us more time to fundraise.)

Again, we wouldn't be able to do half of what we are doing with out the support, encouragement and friendship from our friends at ADVERTISING AUTHORITIES. They have been so helpful and creative with all our ideas. Please consider using them for any/all your printing needs. They are awesome to work with and I know you will agree.

hrice@advauth.com

1-800-948-4328

I'll end with a picture of Angel and I with our sweet baby girls in China in 2007.

If you have been following my blog for some time you know usually a new item means

GiVeAwAy!!!

Please share our new "BIBtastic" fundraiser...leave me a comment or email telling me you shared and you'll be entered to win one of your color choice. Winner to be drawn on Sunday, June 5th. Thank you, friends. :)

Weekend fun

Our three day weekend was full of old stories and friends. Friends of ours from college came to stay the weekend....with their 5 kids! It was so great to visit with them. A sign of a great friendship is one that can pick up right where it left off years ago. With all the fun and chaos we didn't take too many pictures.

We did venture out on a hike Saturday that someone (I'm not saying who) told us was about 30 minutes one way. We started out all full of energy and smiles.

After more miles and minutes than we had expected, we finally reached the falls.

That's the boys in the lower corner. It was beautiful. The only problem was needing to get back to the car. We did find a little less scenic but easier trail down. The girls couldn't quite hang. Lucy fell asleep on Tim's shoulders and Lindsey on my back.

After relaxing some at the pool yesterday evening we are gearing up for our neighborhood yard sale this Sat. We have been accepting donations and have some really nice things to sell. I'm looking forward to, once again, going through our home and downsizing on our amount of "stuff".

I truly appreciate all the kind words of encouragement that have been left over the past week. I am trying to live in the now, cherish these special moments with my family and friends, building up my faith in Him so when He calls us to "move" in any direction, I am ready to go.

Sales and good news

I have had two emails asking if we are still selling shirts. (I think I confused some with my last week push for sales.) We are still taking orders for both styles of t-shirts. However, just remember that we have to wait until we have a certain number to actually order. This usually takes about 3-4 weeks. (All other items are ready to ship.)

I am hoping to share some pictures next week of families and kids we've received wearing the shirts...so, so cute!

In my last heavy post I did forget to share some good news: Korea has prolonged closing their international adoption program from 2012 to 2016. Which I am thinking is a good thing as the new wait times will add another year between the girls and this next child....who you KNOW will need a little brother or sister to grow up with.

Just sayin'!

Joining the Army

WARNING: heavy post below.

We received an email yesterday from our agency announcing that there would be no more EPs (exit permissions) issued by the Korean government until January 2012. In non-adoptive language it means that for families (like ours) that have not received a referral, regardless of when you do, you may not travel to bring that child home until at the earliest Jan. 2012.

And so we remain a family of 6 for 2011.

I was feeling a bit "sucker punched" as this was new to me. I had heard for the first time last month about a different agency that had run into a back log of EPs for their families. (More referrals sent out then the government would allow EPs for.) I was a bit frustrated then because I didn't even know this possibility existed. I do wish we would have been informed of the chance--I don't think it would have changed our decision--but would have allowed this mommas heart some time to prepare.

I think this has happened before with our agency but in the late fall. Again, meaning that families that received their referrals after Sept. would wait to travel until the first of the year. Last I checked it isn't even June yet and so the "sucker punch" struck.

I went up to my room to "prink". (Tim told me that is what Francis Chan calls thinking and praying.) I posted on Facebook that I was "feeling defeated by the Korean government". Then I went to bed.

And then the Lord spoke to my heart. The words written in Exodus, that I shared as my lesson learned some weeks ago, came alive as ONLY the Word of God can:

"Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

And so I am reminded that the battle in adoption is not just fought through paperwork and huge fees...it is bigger and more complex that what we see. There is a spiritual battle for the lives of these children (and for the lonely, oppressed..) that we cannot see. This is the battle that the Lord is fighting. He is fighting for the underdog who He loves, who He would leave the other 99 to find.

He will NOT be defeated. I am standing with renewed strength to endure on the side that is UNDEFEATABLE.

Wordless Wednesday

I-will-not-use-the-word-"fundraising" post

We had enough of that last week. I have a bit of a hard time balancing it all--posts I want to write/share but the need to, well, you know! :)

We had a great weekend. The weather here (high 80s) made it feel like summer AND we finished up our school and testing...so it really was our first summer weekend! Tim pulled out the tagalong that we had when the boys were little. Lindsey. was. thrilled.

Did you notice her smile? She kept it the whole time they rode. Our neighborhood is full of bike paths...where the two (Tim and Lindsey) spent any spare moment they had.

We also planted our little vegetable garden. Although very small...we enjoy the tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.

Lindsey kept her helmet on all weekend, just in case one of those spare moments arose.

Lucille in all her girliness...not sure where she gets it or what to do with it!

I hope you all had a nice weekend. I have been reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I would encourage ALL of you to get a copy for your summer reading. And from that book I leave you with a quote and my motto for the summer (and after):

"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing......Through all the haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away."

"We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing"

Psalm 39:6

Slow down...live in the moment He has given...thank Him for and in all things.

LET SUMMER BEGIN!

Notification of Payment Received, please.

This is the last weekend to order a t-shirt. Monday morning we will place the orders for both the

"got love? adopt."

and

"What is good?"

...to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

t-shirts.

I think this will be the last order to ensure delivery before Father's Day..unless the payment gates open with a flood over the next two weeks---which would be delightful. (If not, the next order will be placed mid-June.)

THANK YOU to all who have sent us a "Notification of Payment Received" email and to all of you who shared our shirts with friends and church.

Have a great weekend.