In conjunction with The Puzzle Project, which will be ongoing till we bring Alma home, we are introducing "Help Change a Life" coin buckets...
We have $1281 to go before we reach our first fundraising goal of $1600!!!
You could leave this on your kitchen counter, dresser, in your office at work, at a local business that you frequent, in your car etc...
Please let me know if you want one! When it's full let us know and we'll be happy to pick it up! All donations will go directly to bringing A home from Uganda.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
First Official Fundraiser To Bring Alma Home From Uganda!!!!
The Puzzle Project!!
There are 1,000 pieces, and our goal is $23,000. Suggested donation amount is $23 or more. For each donation, we will put a name (yours) on the back of a puzzle piece (or however many pieces you choose to "buy") and when complete, it will mean that we can bring A home. The puzzle will be framed so that the front and back will be on display! You can either click "donate" or mail a check/give cash. Email me at Chicamia84@msn.com for address.
Our first goal, in the next month, would be to raise about $1600. That's what we're short for the first batch of BIG fees.
Please know we hate asking for money. The only time we ever have is to bring our kids home (this is our 3rd adoption.) We're pouring all our savings and pinching every penny, but it's not going to be enough. Alma has sickle cell anemia and has been in an orphanage most of her life. So please, please give what you can!
If you don't have any money (or just want to do more), and want to help consider these options...
~Share our blog! It has very, very few views, and I'm working on finding out ways to improve that BUT...you can share it on your facebook page, and that would be a HUGE help!!!
~Ask for a coin donation bucket, we're making them (photos to come) and you could ask your boss to put one in the office, keep one in your home, car, wherever loose change might be!
~Pass out our adoption cards. I always have some with me, or I will happily mail some out!
~PRAY! We appreciate this the most, as all things belong to Him anyway:)
There are 1,000 pieces, and our goal is $23,000. Suggested donation amount is $23 or more. For each donation, we will put a name (yours) on the back of a puzzle piece (or however many pieces you choose to "buy") and when complete, it will mean that we can bring A home. The puzzle will be framed so that the front and back will be on display! You can either click "donate" or mail a check/give cash. Email me at Chicamia84@msn.com for address.
Our first goal, in the next month, would be to raise about $1600. That's what we're short for the first batch of BIG fees.
Please know we hate asking for money. The only time we ever have is to bring our kids home (this is our 3rd adoption.) We're pouring all our savings and pinching every penny, but it's not going to be enough. Alma has sickle cell anemia and has been in an orphanage most of her life. So please, please give what you can!
If you don't have any money (or just want to do more), and want to help consider these options...
~Share our blog! It has very, very few views, and I'm working on finding out ways to improve that BUT...you can share it on your facebook page, and that would be a HUGE help!!!
~Ask for a coin donation bucket, we're making them (photos to come) and you could ask your boss to put one in the office, keep one in your home, car, wherever loose change might be!
~Pass out our adoption cards. I always have some with me, or I will happily mail some out!
~PRAY! We appreciate this the most, as all things belong to Him anyway:)
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
What We've Been Up To...
Since finding out this amazing, life-changing news about Alma, we have been busy. For those who may wonder what our adoption process is looking like so far, take a peek into our frenzy...
1. The day I found out we were expecting Church kid #4, I began filling out applications. One for our placement agency (Carolina Adoption Services) and one for our homestudy agency (God's Children Adoption Agency.) It took me a total of around 3 hours to do both.
2. Along with the GCAA application, we had to include our fingerprints, which had to be done at the police station. Thankfully, there's always a helpful officer on duty no matter what time you show up. We went on a Sunday afternoon and it was quick!
3. We've also been planning fundraisers.
We ordered our 1,000 piece photo puzzle, that will be a visual reminder of how each donation puts more pieces of the "puzzle" (which is a huge photo of our little Alma)of our adoption together. You can donate $23 to have a piece dedicated to you, and when framed it will be double sided, so we get to see all the love that was poured out that helped bring her home. (Photos to come)
Another thing we did (I keep saying we, I should be saying I, many adoptive moms, I think, can relate!!!!) was order a 250 business type cards with our adoption info and blog address on it, so if you would like a stack to pass out, or just one to keep in your purse or on your fridge, let me know!!
The ice cream social is being planned! The date will most likely be a Friday in May! It should be super fun and is open to all!
We're going to be making change collectors, to be placed in homes, offices, businesses, anywhere where someone might be so kind as to throw some lose change into a jar (photos to come). When it's full, just let us know and we'll come pick it up! If you would like a container or two, let me know and I'll get it to you ASAP!!
4. There is one adoption grant I can apply for, and plan to apply for more. Our experience with this in the past has been pretty great, however, most will not allow us to apply till we have our updated homestudy, which we will not have for at least a few weeks. Most of the fees will be due before we'll ever hear back about grants, so we are just not going to count on that for right now. But it could help with travel fees, which could be up to $16,000 total.
We were very blessed to receive two very generous donations just within the first few days of finding out about our new daughter. To those who have given and plan to give, we cannot thank you enough. Thank you and God Bless you!
If you haven't already, please share our blog with your friends. The more who know, the more that can be involved through support and prayer and...
Other ways to help...
~pass out our adoption cards
~place a coin donation collector in your home, office, workplace etc.
~pray, pray and pray some more!!!!
~volunteer for the ice cream social coming in May
1. The day I found out we were expecting Church kid #4, I began filling out applications. One for our placement agency (Carolina Adoption Services) and one for our homestudy agency (God's Children Adoption Agency.) It took me a total of around 3 hours to do both.
2. Along with the GCAA application, we had to include our fingerprints, which had to be done at the police station. Thankfully, there's always a helpful officer on duty no matter what time you show up. We went on a Sunday afternoon and it was quick!
3. We've also been planning fundraisers.
We ordered our 1,000 piece photo puzzle, that will be a visual reminder of how each donation puts more pieces of the "puzzle" (which is a huge photo of our little Alma)of our adoption together. You can donate $23 to have a piece dedicated to you, and when framed it will be double sided, so we get to see all the love that was poured out that helped bring her home. (Photos to come)
Another thing we did (I keep saying we, I should be saying I, many adoptive moms, I think, can relate!!!!) was order a 250 business type cards with our adoption info and blog address on it, so if you would like a stack to pass out, or just one to keep in your purse or on your fridge, let me know!!
The ice cream social is being planned! The date will most likely be a Friday in May! It should be super fun and is open to all!
We're going to be making change collectors, to be placed in homes, offices, businesses, anywhere where someone might be so kind as to throw some lose change into a jar (photos to come). When it's full, just let us know and we'll come pick it up! If you would like a container or two, let me know and I'll get it to you ASAP!!
4. There is one adoption grant I can apply for, and plan to apply for more. Our experience with this in the past has been pretty great, however, most will not allow us to apply till we have our updated homestudy, which we will not have for at least a few weeks. Most of the fees will be due before we'll ever hear back about grants, so we are just not going to count on that for right now. But it could help with travel fees, which could be up to $16,000 total.
We were very blessed to receive two very generous donations just within the first few days of finding out about our new daughter. To those who have given and plan to give, we cannot thank you enough. Thank you and God Bless you!
If you haven't already, please share our blog with your friends. The more who know, the more that can be involved through support and prayer and...
Other ways to help...
~pass out our adoption cards
~place a coin donation collector in your home, office, workplace etc.
~pray, pray and pray some more!!!!
~volunteer for the ice cream social coming in May
Friday, March 21, 2014
Quick Prayer Request
So in looking over our fee structure, I have found hope and a challenge. Please spread the word and pray for us. I'm not asking those to give who can't, but being willing to help in any way you can (volunteering, praying, passing out our adoption cards) as we set about earning the "ransom" for our daughter will be a wonderful blessing to us and her.
Looking over what is due and when, I realized that the bulk of the fees will be due in a rather short amount of time. The first set of fees we have ALMOST covered, praise the LORD! And by the time our dossier(all the documents that will go to Uganda) is ready to be submitted, all the rest of the fees, aside from what we will need for travel, will be due. So, in the next three months, we need to raise about $7,000-$8,000.
The good news is that the rest of the time we would only have to raise funds for travel, probably around $10,000-$16,000. Still a large amount of money, but really the last third of our fundraising needs.
SO, please pray that the fundraising that we do is blessed!! We are thinking of doing an ice cream social at our church, but are sure of NO details yet. We're just praying about what would be fun for our church and community to participate in, but that would also be beneficial in bringing our girl HOME!!!
Also, we are putting together a photo puzzle of Alma. If you wish to have a piece dedicated to you/your family you can donate $23 (it's a 1,000 piece puzzle)and your name will go on the back. When we're fully funded, the puzzle will be totally finished, framed front and back so we can see all those who have contributed. If you would like to "buy" a puzzle piece, please click the donate button on the right or email me at Chicamia84@msn.com for our mailing address to send a check, or for any questions.
Looking over what is due and when, I realized that the bulk of the fees will be due in a rather short amount of time. The first set of fees we have ALMOST covered, praise the LORD! And by the time our dossier(all the documents that will go to Uganda) is ready to be submitted, all the rest of the fees, aside from what we will need for travel, will be due. So, in the next three months, we need to raise about $7,000-$8,000.
The good news is that the rest of the time we would only have to raise funds for travel, probably around $10,000-$16,000. Still a large amount of money, but really the last third of our fundraising needs.
SO, please pray that the fundraising that we do is blessed!! We are thinking of doing an ice cream social at our church, but are sure of NO details yet. We're just praying about what would be fun for our church and community to participate in, but that would also be beneficial in bringing our girl HOME!!!
Also, we are putting together a photo puzzle of Alma. If you wish to have a piece dedicated to you/your family you can donate $23 (it's a 1,000 piece puzzle)and your name will go on the back. When we're fully funded, the puzzle will be totally finished, framed front and back so we can see all those who have contributed. If you would like to "buy" a puzzle piece, please click the donate button on the right or email me at Chicamia84@msn.com for our mailing address to send a check, or for any questions.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
We're Expecting...To Bring Home A Girl!
Hello Family and Friends,
We are thrilled to announce that our prayers for a 4th child have been answered! On February 14th I saw a photo of a little girl in Uganda. I wrote a letter to her orphanage and waited for 2.5 weeks to hear back. We were the only family inquiring, but they wanted to be very sure about us. When I saw the email in my inbox saying for me to call Allie, the Uganda adoption worker with CAS, my heart began pounding and I was literally shaking, not knowing what the news was going to be.
The call was brief but contained wonderful news. It's a girl!!!!
"A" is 3 years old. She's never really known what it's like to have a mama and daddy. She has sickle cell anemia, which makes her life harder, but not necessarily shorter. She looks like a sweet, darling little girl. I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait to be her mom.
As you can see, if you take a gander to the right, we have lots of work to do. We need some prayer warriors out there to take up our cause, because aside from a whole pile of money to raise, we have lots of paperwork to get through (I've done about 2-3 hours worth since we got the news....yesterday.) However, we are absolutely convinced that if this little girl is meant for our family, the Lord will show up in amazing ways, giving us strength for the journey and the keys we need to open each door. He is good, and He is great. We're praising Him for this hope-filled answer to prayer.
To make a donation that will go directly towards adoption fees and/or travel please click the donate button at the top right hand side of the page, or email me at chicamia84@msn.com.
We are thrilled to announce that our prayers for a 4th child have been answered! On February 14th I saw a photo of a little girl in Uganda. I wrote a letter to her orphanage and waited for 2.5 weeks to hear back. We were the only family inquiring, but they wanted to be very sure about us. When I saw the email in my inbox saying for me to call Allie, the Uganda adoption worker with CAS, my heart began pounding and I was literally shaking, not knowing what the news was going to be.
The call was brief but contained wonderful news. It's a girl!!!!
"A" is 3 years old. She's never really known what it's like to have a mama and daddy. She has sickle cell anemia, which makes her life harder, but not necessarily shorter. She looks like a sweet, darling little girl. I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait to be her mom.
As you can see, if you take a gander to the right, we have lots of work to do. We need some prayer warriors out there to take up our cause, because aside from a whole pile of money to raise, we have lots of paperwork to get through (I've done about 2-3 hours worth since we got the news....yesterday.) However, we are absolutely convinced that if this little girl is meant for our family, the Lord will show up in amazing ways, giving us strength for the journey and the keys we need to open each door. He is good, and He is great. We're praising Him for this hope-filled answer to prayer.
To make a donation that will go directly towards adoption fees and/or travel please click the donate button at the top right hand side of the page, or email me at chicamia84@msn.com.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
There Is No Enough
We could make the excuse that we are doing enough, after having adopted twice, and busy with many physical therapy and assessment appointments and doctor visits. But when there are 20-200 some MILLION orphans, I am sorry but, frankly, there is no enough. No enough for me. No enough for you, my friend. That word does not exist.
You see, inside of me there is a fire. Smoldering or raging, it is always there, and it will not be extinguished till I am. My goal in life? Once it was grad school. Know what it is now? Orphan Crisis. My retirement planning? Used to be gardening. Know what I plan now? Spending my life, helping. Spending every last breath.
Why? Because I am warm in winter, I do not go hungry, I am looking at a sparkly Christmas tree, and there are children in Romania that hit themselves in the face repeatedly, because they receive no other human contact. There are babies in Africa that DIE of starvation, because no mama or daddy ever came for them. Well, that is just not ok with me. And you know what? It's not ok with me that it's ok with you...because if it weren't ok with you, you would be doing something.
Yes, the idea of an international, or any adoption is overwhelming for me too. But so is the state of my laundry and everything else in my life. It is a daunting task making in through each day sanely. However, I have Jesus with me every step of the way, and if you do too, then you can do it and I can do it. Feeling overwhelmed is not an excuse either, friend.
No one has to do everything. Every one should do SOMETHING! Please support the adoptive families you know GENEROUSLY! If you know someone who is adopting give them everything you can and more. Because every penny you give gets that child home all the sooner; it's one less penny that family will have to struggle to come up with. And support them in prayer before, during and after placement of the child/ren.
Sponsor a child. Support a ministry that helps families stay together. Pray! Pray every day for an orphan or for all orphans.
Adoption is so hard. It is so expensive. But so worth every effort. Once you see those faces, once you hear the stories and see the tears and utter abandonment and heartache, you can not be human and not do something.
Derek Loux, and adoptive father and orphan advocate, said this "Adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him."
I'm not saying it's easy. I'm just saying that is no reason you should sleep better at night, doing nothing.
So get moving. What are you waiting for?
Some personal faves that I would encourage you to research and support:
Amazima
World Vision
Steadfast Love
Compassion International
Show Hope
Love Without Boundaries
Friday, October 18, 2013
Fill Me Up God
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=yWCgyMaWcDs
I invite you to listen to this song. With ear buds. Maybe it will move your heart like it has mine today.
I question myself a lot. I question the strength of my faith. Deeply connected with this, my ability to parent. My ability to handle what may be in our future.
I question myself because I fail.
I feel small, miserable, worthless, sometimes. Like a mean, angry, frustrated, raisin-version of myself. Dried up and old. Disgusting.
I forget that it is NOT me. It is God. I forget that this life is short but packed full. It's a race. And I cannot finish without God filling me up.
My heart can be so full of ugly. Full of sorrow. Full of questions. What if? Why didn't I? NOT in regards to our children, but other decisions.
But then I worship. Best to do it when I don't WANT to, but it's getting to the point where I ALWAYS want to. It's addicting, because God never fails to fill my heart. When His loving radiance pours into my mean little heart, it expands, swells and is finally up to the job.
My one job. To LOVE. It sounds overly-simplistic. But it isn't. Love is an action. Love is patience, love is kindness, love suffers a long time, love doesn't seek it's own benefit, love doesn't seek it's own glory. Love gives. Love dies. Love pours out, out, out.
Ann Voskamp says this in "1,000 Gifts"
"'Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry, and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.' It's the fundamental, lavish, radical nature of the upside-down economy of God. Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives, and God simply will not be outdone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but the one we yearn for."
There is no me. It is Him. It is His, all of it. I just need to allow Him to fill me. I can't become poor by giving. Money. Time. My last fiber of energy and breath. Even as I change diapers with distressed hair, and comfort little boys that woke up too early. And in the end...
I invite you to listen to this song. With ear buds. Maybe it will move your heart like it has mine today.
I question myself a lot. I question the strength of my faith. Deeply connected with this, my ability to parent. My ability to handle what may be in our future.
I question myself because I fail.
I feel small, miserable, worthless, sometimes. Like a mean, angry, frustrated, raisin-version of myself. Dried up and old. Disgusting.
I forget that it is NOT me. It is God. I forget that this life is short but packed full. It's a race. And I cannot finish without God filling me up.
My heart can be so full of ugly. Full of sorrow. Full of questions. What if? Why didn't I? NOT in regards to our children, but other decisions.
But then I worship. Best to do it when I don't WANT to, but it's getting to the point where I ALWAYS want to. It's addicting, because God never fails to fill my heart. When His loving radiance pours into my mean little heart, it expands, swells and is finally up to the job.
My one job. To LOVE. It sounds overly-simplistic. But it isn't. Love is an action. Love is patience, love is kindness, love suffers a long time, love doesn't seek it's own benefit, love doesn't seek it's own glory. Love gives. Love dies. Love pours out, out, out.
Ann Voskamp says this in "1,000 Gifts"
"'Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry, and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.' It's the fundamental, lavish, radical nature of the upside-down economy of God. Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives, and God simply will not be outdone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but the one we yearn for."
There is no me. It is Him. It is His, all of it. I just need to allow Him to fill me. I can't become poor by giving. Money. Time. My last fiber of energy and breath. Even as I change diapers with distressed hair, and comfort little boys that woke up too early. And in the end...
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