We can BLOG it!

 Okay... SO, I have to say... This BLOGGING world was a TOTAL mystery to me about 2 years ago, before we began the adventure of a lifetime. ADOPTING our LITTLE GIRL from ETHIOPIA! ...Honestly, I couldn't believe all of the information, the stories, the ideas, the resources, the help, support, encouragement... REALLY... the LIST goes on! I have been BLOWN away on how TOTALLY AMAZING having a Blog, being part of a BLOG type community, MEEEETING AWESOME people in the BLOG world - who live far away and who live right down the street from me!!! WOW! I never thought I would be taking the time to write on a BLOG, comment on others, or whatever... But, I LOVE IT!!!! I also LOVE the idea that it can be turned into a book for our little "M" to look through someday and read about every detail from the very beginning!!! COOOOOOL STUFF!!!

Resources to use for making a BLOG into a book are:

Blog to Print

Blurb 

There may be others - I'm not sure. But, these are the ones I know of.

Okay... Well this is EVEN COOOOOOOOOOOOLER!!! My BUD, Lauren Casper 

Who so GRACIOUSLY is allowing our family to receive proceeds from the sale of her POPPIE LANE merchandise for the month of JUNE!

has embarked on another TOTALLY creative, SUPER amazing venture!!! BLOG DESIGN!!! I'm telling ya... She is ONE super TALENTED, very GENEROUS, Incredible Adoptive Momma - who knows how much an adoption costs and is reaching out to help others - OUR FAMILY - raise the funds to bring home OUR little GIRL!!! I am BLESSED - BIG TIME!  We thank GOD for Lauren, her talents and allowing us to partner with her! ...Check this out... 

Have this KILLER CHICKA create you a website, a pretty new BLOG design and HOLY SMOKES - 70% of the proceeds help OUR family bring home our BEAUTIFUL Baby Girl!!! Just go HERE to get started!! :)

These are some of the OUTRAGEOUS Designs Lauren has created!!

Click on the LAST blog - POPPIE Lane to take another look at her AMAZING Poppies!!!!

Thanks again LAUREN! You ROCK!

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 4:19

...Going PUBLIC

1 Timothy 4:12 

 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

...as Kinzi's elementary days come to an end... so will her eduction at a Christian school.  Next year she will be going 'PUBLIC'.  I will miss not seeing JESUS being taught in English, Science, Math, etc... and ALL the other spiritual elements of a Christian School - Memorizing versus in the Bible, Celebrating Easter and Christmas, PRAYING together before Meals, Sporting events... EVERYTHING! ... Her teacher gave a great talk at graduation about being an EXAMPLE to her peers, saying NO to temptations, cheating, lying, drugs, profanity.. and saying YES to Jesus - showing people who HE is with your character, personality... your actions!

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will  - Romans 12:2

...This decision to GO PUBLIC is definitely bittersweet... I have completely enjoyed the education both girls have received going to a Christian school - I have also spent 4 hours of my day in the car to get them back and forth to school.  TOTALLY not complaining here... because it was worth every minute - but, having a little one HOME soon and thinking about all that time she would have to be in the car - it just would not be FUN for her.

Matthew 28:19

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations!

 I think both girls will have an opportunity here to SHINE bright! ...to SHOW Jesus - to be an example and I am excited for both of them and the AMAZING girls that they are and I will be PRAYING that God will use them in ways to reach out to their teachers, students, bus drivers, coaches... to make disciples!

 Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 

POPPIE???

Poppie?

Me and my dear Ole Poppie

A poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorful flowers.

The Mother of Poppies??

HA HA HA! Nooooooooooooooooooooope!!! I’m Talk’n Lauren Caspers…

POPPIES!!!!

Like this…

POP!

POP!

POP!

Sooooooo POP on over to POPPIE Lane and check, check check’em out! We are partnering with Lauren for the month of JUNE… HOPING to sell many, many, many of her AMAZING creations!  We are SO GRATEFUL for this opportunity since crafty isn’t really my middle name – it is TOTALLY COOL to be able to work together on the great things Lauren has made and share a portion of her proceeds for the month of JUNE to help us bring our little girl HOME!!! ♥ We ARE BLESSED! BIG TIME!!! Thanks again LAUREN!!!! YOU ROCK…. And so do your POPPIES! ♥

Soooooo, goooooo

Get your POPPIE ON!!!

FLIPPPPED Out!!!

I TOTALLY JUST FLIPPPED OUT!!!

....just a few minutes ago - I received TWO, BIG HUGE Boxes of Sandals and Flip Flops from a dear friend I have never seen in person but share the SAME LOVE of our AWESOME God, Africa, Orphans and our buddy in Kenya, Fred, and all the Joy Divine Children!!!

Seriously, there were SO many - I couldn't even get them all in one SHOT! WOW!!!! I know these will bless the feet of so many children and even their special mothers at Hannah's Hope in Ethiopia!! I THANK God for putting DARLENE AND ED in our lives!!! I REALLY REALLY  can't WAIT to share all of these with the kids (and see my little girl) in just 29 more days!!!

WHAT AN AMAZING, AWESOME DONATION!!!

YOU ROCK DARLENE AND ED!!!!!

♥ LOVE IT! ♥

A Package, Court, Tickets and POPPIES ROCK!!!

Got this in the mail the other day from AGCI – OUR TRAVEL PACKET and a sweeeeet TREAT for our little girl - SO FUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!! It was also SUPER cool to see a lil SWEEETIE on the cover of the travel packet that we knew! ♥ Aaaaaw!

…Sooooo, it was about 9:00 in the morning on the 31^st of May and I found out our friends had received their court date!! OH WOW!!! I was SOOOOOOOOO Excited!!! I was PRAYING my call was seconds away with the SAME news… But, being the SPAZZzzzz that I am I called our agency about 5 times (okaaaaay, okay maybe a whole lot more… ha ha), I didn’t leave a message – I was just DYING to talk to our case worker and hear the AMAZING NEWS!!!  I never ever got a hold of her but at 2:30 she called me!!! Her first question was, were you trying to get a hold of me? What is your question??? Do you need something?? UH YAAAAAAA! A court date PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!! Ha ha ha! :) So I’ve now earned the reputation of a bonafide stalker!!! Ha ha! ((((SIGH)))) Buuuuuut, she told me the AWESOME news and I was RELIEVED, THANKFUL and THRILLED all at the same time!!! We have a court date!!!!! July 12^th!!!  Which just so happens to be our Little “M’s” 

YES! Her FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!! We are PRAYING we will hear the words, “SHE IS YOURS!” on that day!!! We are beyond overjoyed we will be able to be with her on her VERY FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!! PRAISE GOD!  Sooooo…. Without any delay we were on the phone with our travel agent, Erica Shubin to work something up good and cheap (oh wait, there are no cheap tickets to Ethiopia- ha!) However, Erica worked her magic and we found a desirable itinerary and price!!! THANKS ERICA! 

On the EXACT same day we swiped that credit card God put an AWESOME person in our lives with an INCREDIBLE opportunity!!! Lauren Casper emailed me and asked if we would like to be the JUNE family where 50% of the PROFITS of her AMAZING products at POPPIE LANE go to bringing home our little girl!!! What? WOW! YAY! I was moved to tears! Honored and humbled and SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Grateful for such perfect timing in this partnership! THANK YOU LAUREN!!

Sooooooooo, please, if you are looking for ways to add some AMAZZZZZING accessories to your outfits with adorable earrings, necklaces, broaches, headbands…  CHECK it OUT right HERE!!! 

 LAUREN'S POPPIES ROCK!!!!

Me - SPORT'N one of my FAVE Poppie Headbands!!!! ♥

Thanks again Lauren!!!