Let's Do This!!

Okie Doke!!  This is the final push to sell these!!  Our friends Brad and Jonana Jolly are working feverishly to finish their paperwork to bring their sweet Albina home from an orphanage in Eastern Europe.  Albina has Down's Syndrome and has a diagnosed heart defect that needs medical attention.  

Just look at this little sweetie!!  Those cheeks need to be smooched!!  Her beautiful brown eyes need to be gazed into with the love of a mother!!  Her little ears need to hear that she is valued, loved, and adored by the GOD who created her and the FAMILY who traveled across the world to bring her home!!  She needs a prissy little skirt and a giant sassy bow in her silky hair!!  Can you help?

They are waiting now for their authorization to travel to meet her for the first time.  And when that call comes in, let's help make sure they are READY!!  They have about $21,000 left to find, so I'm asking you to help me give them a big 'ole BOOST!!  

We've already sold 67 necklaces (Wow, y'all!  Thanks!), but we still have 18 remaining.  Let me know which of these you'd like.  FREE SHIPPING on any order!!  Valentine's Day is coming up, and it's not too early to be thinking about end-of-the-year teacher gifts.  

Happy Shopping :)

It's How We Roll

Merry Christmas from our ride to yours!!

December Number

Source

Giveaway Day!

Update:  Congratulations to Heather who wrote, "I made some cute little purses for teen and pre-teen girls that we're blessed to know. Filling with lip gloss and other goodies :)"  Heather, I've sent you an email!!  As soon as you contact me with your choice and your address, I'll get your goodie in the mail to you.  And because this is the season of giving, I'm putting in a little something extra for you to enjoy :)

THANK YOU to everyone who entered!!  It was SO fun to read about what you're planning to GIVE this year.  Many, many, many handmade gifts.  But handmade or not, it seems that y'all are really trying hard to give something personal to the ones you love.  Those are my favorite kinds of gifts - the gifts that say, "I know you!!"  

Merry Christmas to y'all!!!

Wanna win sumthin' purdy??  I'm giving away a washer necklace to one lucky reader -- your choice of design.  (You can see which designs are available here.)

Here's how!!  Just leave a comment below telling me the gift you are most excited to GIVE this Christmas. That's it!!

This contest is open until 5 pm PST on the 16th.  The winner will be chosen at random and notified.  If you are a "no reply" blogger, be sure to leave your contact info!!  If I don't hear back from the winner by noon on the 17th, another winner will be chosen.  ** Giveaway closed **

I will also ship internationally :)

Want a chance to win some other purdy stuff??  Hope over to Sew, Mama, Sew! to see who else is participating in Giveaway Day 2011.

Good luck to you!!

Cyber Monday (and Tuesday and Wednesday)

Hey, Y'all!!  In honor of Cyber Monday (which is much warmer and less frantic than Black Friday), I'm offering FREE shipping or local delivery for any purchases made from our Stocking Stuffer Fundraiser.

Purchase anything from that page today, tomorrow, or Wednesday, and it'll be delivered right to your front door at no additional cost to you!!

Happy Bargain Hunting!!

November Number

Ta-dah!!  After a 4 1/2 month lag in referrals, we finally have movement!!  It's just one spot, but it's something!  And I already know that next month's number will be smaller still! I won't say that waiting thru this open-ended time has been easy, but neither has it been excruciating.  God is so faithful to gently teach.  We probably still have a very long wait ahead, but it's good to rejoice with other families along the way :)

31 Days of Perspective :: Day 15

Today's Perspective is brought to you by Preparation.

As in ... My in-laws are coming, so I'd best get to preparationing for their visit this weekend.

So unless I just get super inspired, I'll be taking the week-end off.  Gotta get this house clean, and then it's off to enjoy me some hotel swimming pool :)

31 Days of Perspective :: Day 14

Today's Perspective is brought to you by Comic Relief.

I have several friends who are going through some tough times right now in their adoption journey. Their stories are not mine to tell, but I will ask that you would stop now and pray for them.  The wait is so incredibly long!  Children have found their forever families, but paperwork snafus are delaying their homecomings.  Special days and self-imposed deadlines come and go, and still the babies do not come home.  Uncertainty is the cornerstone of adoption.  But God's got this!!  Nothing is a surprise to Him!!

Proverbs 31:25 tells us that the woman who trusts in God, "Looks forward to the future with joy!"  One translation even says, "She can laugh at the days to come."  How?  The future can seem so uncertain.  God gives very few guarantees in life.  But He has promised that He knows!  He has a plan!  We can be assured that His will triumphs over every.thing. in the end!  He loves the orphan infinitely more than we will ever be able to.  In Him we can rest.  In Him we can find our joy - even in the midst of great pain and many tears.

One Mama in particular has requested some comic relief.  I am happy to oblige!!  All of these little funnies are brought to you by Pinterest ...

And y'all.  Every time I read this next story, I end up just absolutely in tears!  It completely cracks me up!  I know the language is a little coarse, but you have to read it.  Just click on the chicken to experience the greatness that is this story!!!

Source: thebloggess.com via Wendy on Pinterest

"And when our friends are sad we can leave him at their front door to cheer them up ... It’ll be like, 'You thought *yesterday* was bad?  Well, now you have a enormous metal chicken to deal with.  Perspective.  Now you have it.' "

31 Days of Perspective :: Day 13

Today's Perspective is brought to you by Commitment.

Looking for a great Saturday night stay-at-home date movie?  Try this one. It's available to watch instantly on Netflix.  Go here to see the trailer.

The very meaning of Marriage defined in film.

Enjoy!

31 Days of Perspective :: Day 12

Today's Perspective is brought to you by Shadows.

This photo is amazing!!  Taken directly overhead, you aren't seeing camels.  You are actually seeing the shadows of the camels.  Look closely!!  The camels are the thin white lines under each shadow.  Clever concept; incredible execution. 

"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. 

The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."  -- Abraham Lincoln

Have you ever encountered someone whose reputation did not match who they really were?  I sure have, and wowee is that ever a rude awakening!!  

How about you?  Does your shadow match the real thing?  Would people be surprised after getting to know you? Have you become a master at crafting your reputation all the while neglecting your heart?  Strive to be authentic!!

 
P.S.  Since I skipped yesterday, Randy says no prize for me :0  But I think I'm over it already :)