Formula for Change {January Challenge}

Hello, there!

Have you been recently thinking to yourself:

What should I do with all this

source

now that this

source

is not outside of every store?!

Well, I've got your solution!

How about taking this

and using it to fill this

source

for these

source

who live in orphanages here

?!

Intrigued?  Well, as you know (if you've been following our blog for more than one minute :)), we will be traveling to Africa TWICE in 2012 and we'd be more than happy to turn your loose change into infant formula for orphans in Ethiopia.

If you are interested, here's what you need to do:

1.  Commit to collecting your change for formula through January.

2. Comment below to let me know that you're in or send me an E-mail at jnchase311 @ yahoo.com (I will keep track of who is participating and then contact you at the end of the month to remind you that the challenge has concluded).

3. Collect your household change through the month (I recommend setting out a bottle or some other symbol of your committment to remind your family of what you are doing).

4. At the end of the month, bring me your change or cash it in and send me a check.

5. We will give your money to a fund Africa which will use every penny to purchase formula for babies at the House of Hope transition home in Ethiopia!!

In case you're wondering (or would just like to donate money for a can or two of formula),

$10 = 1 can of formula in Africa

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF ORPHANS IN 2012!

Getting to Africa

One of the biggest struggles for me in this journey has been vulnerability.  I do NOT like to feel like I'm not in control.  However, I am learning through this journey what Paul meant when he wrote this in 2 Corinthians:

"That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Now, don't get me wrong...I'm not going to get all melodramatic on you.  I know that adopting a child is not even close to what Paul meant here by insults, persecutions, and the like.  However, I am really embracing the last portion of this verse: For when I am weak, then I am strong.  This adoption has made me feel weak.  So much is totally out of my control!  And, though we have been floating in bliss over our little guy, the fact remains that we are weak and vulnerable, but Christ is our strength and He is sustaining us.

One of the areas of weakness and vulnerability that has arisen since we started this journey is in the area of finances.  We have adjusted and reprioritized, but the fact remains that we still have two trips to Africa that we need to finance that are coming up REALLY SOON!!  It's exciting and scary all wrapped up into one that we will be traveling half-way across the planet in the next month or two.

We will be taking some donations with us and, if that's where your heart is, please be praying about donating to our little man's transition home or orphanage.  I will be giving more information on that in the coming days.

However, if your passion is helping us bring our sweet baby Bekele home, we wanted to give you that opportunity as well.

Another adoptive family, the Masers, {who were able to take some pics of our baby boy and let him know he had a family waiting for him when they visited Africa to bring their little boy home!} blessed us with 13 Africa-shaped cookie cutters for a fundraiser. 

*Would work great as a Christmas tree decoration, too! :)

In trying to decide how best to do this, I wanted to give anyone and everyone an opportunity to share in our blessing.  So, here's the plan:

1. Click on the Donate {Paypal} button on the side of the page.

2. Make a donation in ANY amount.

3. Ensure your address is correct.

4. Wait 2-3 days.

5. Receive your Cookie Cutter in the mail.

The first 13 people to donate ANY amount will be the proud new owners of an Africa Cookie Cutter, our way of saying "Thank You" for supporting our adoption.

No amount is too small {or too large;)}.  We are anticipating a total travel expense of $8,000-$10,000, so every little bit helps!! :)

Thank you for loving us and for loving our son,

P.S. If you don't have a paypal but still want to donate, just leave me a comment and I'll E-mail you our address!

8 Months Old

Today our baby is 8 months old.  I can't show pictures online yet, but we have received several pictures and one video {thank you so much to all our friends who have given us the priceless gift of loving on our boy and taking pictures for us before we can be with him!!}. 

Here are some things about our son at 8 months that we can derive from these snapshots into his day-to-day life:

1. He's a serious boy, a thinker.  Out of all the pictures we have received, he has not yet been smiling in one.  He looks like he is constantly thinking "Who are these people and why are they taking my picture?!" 
2. He loves his nannies.  In the video we received, the nanny picks him up out of his crib and he instantly looks comfortable. 
3. He is getting good care.  He looks good; his bed, clothing and surroundings are clean; he is gaining weight.
4. He has the most beautiful eyes and eyelashes that I have EVER seen!
5. He looks good in blue and in pink...hehe!  In the orphanage, they put clean clothes on the babies. period.  There is absolutely zero emphasis on which color to dress them in.  This is fine {of course}, but not a practice we will participate in when he's home! ;)
6. He is a half-eye-open sleeper.  I have jokingly said many times that he needs his mama there to gently close those eyelids for him.
7. You can see his tongue when he sleeps peeking out from between his giant, beautiful lips.

We simply can't wait to meet him. We consider each day a blessing; one day closer to getting to snuggle him.  Here's to not having very many opportunities to write speculative birthday posts! :)

December Adoption Fundraiser {Stocking Stuffers} and a Giveaway!

Now that we have our referral, the reality that we are actually going to be traveling to Africa is starting to set in.  We are SO crazy excited to get to go to Africa and beyond excited to meet our son! 

With that excitement, though, comes a bit of anxiety about paying for two trips.  I totally know that God will provide, but I am also willing to work hard to help get us to our boy!  That is why I am offering some opportunities for you to get some great stuff and help us bring our baby home. :)

For December, I am offering these super cute headbands that would make PERFECT stocking stuffers for the female{s} on your list.

Black and White Collection

1. Black and White Original

2. Zebra

3. Black and White Damask {no longer available}

Bright Collection

1. Gray Floral

2. Lime Clover

3. Electric Blue Links

Retro Collection

1. Retro Botanical

2. Retro Floral

3. Retro Bubbles

4. Stripes

5. Pink Floral

Each headband is handmade, so it will vary from the exact ones shown but will be cut from the same fabric.  Headbands are made in teen/adult sizes unless smaller size is requested.

Need one in a different color?  Just ask...I can customize! :)

Headbands are $5.00 each

or

5 for $20.00 (buy 4, get 1 free!)

{$2.00 flat shipping rate}

To order:

1. Click Donate on the Sidebar and pay for the amount of headbands you would like to order.

2. E-mail me at jnchase311 @ yahoo.com.

3. Specify how many headbands you would like of each color.

4. Include your name and address in your E-mail.

Easy as that.  Please order by December 18th for delivery by Christmas day.

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Would you like to win one?  Simply share this {post it on FB, Tweet about it, Blog about it, tell your friends about it, etc.} and leave a comment here letting me know that you did.  I will do a giveaway for your choice of headband on Saturday, December 10th!

P.S. Want to help out but not a headband fan?  Check out our "Current Fundraisers" tab at the top of the page...two new things for the month of December were just added to our on-going fundraisers.

P.P.S. Check back in January for another super fun fundraiser!! :)