Humbled

I am humbled by how our God works. Never would I have thought that we’d ONLY  be $8,800.00 shy of our adoption fundraising goal. Never could I have imagined the friends He’d place in our lives at just the right time. Never would I have believed you if you’d told me that we could have purchased FOUR round trip flights to Africa, a 2 week mission trip, Immigration fees, a Homestudy, Travel immunizations, Adoption education fees, and no telling how much money spent on physicals, fingerprints, and certified certificates of every kind. Since June 2011. And paid for them IN FULL.


Um, that’s 6.5 months.


You guys. Our God is GOOD.


This adoption journey has done so much more for me than just the addition of a third child. It has renewed my faith in a way that I never realized it had waivered. I’ve never had any disbelief about our Lord and Savior – let’s clear that up. But I have questioned so many things:

1. Are we sure we’ve been “called” to adopt?
2. How are we going to do this?
3. If so, will He would provide? I knew he COULD, but would He? And how? And when?


Then I got slapped in the face. And He provided. Through friends and family and strangers from Canada. Through our blog and Twitter and Facebook. He provided. And He provided the exact amount of money needed and the exact time it was due. Best of all? He provided encouragement, strength, and everlasting friendships.


During this adoption journey, I’ve come to understand that through obedience, there should be NO fear. I should never question where He leads us or how we’ll get there. I should only say, “Yes Lord, I’ll go. Just tell me when” and leave the details up to Him.

 
Thank you all.

We Serve a God who has RAISED THE DEAD

It’s not too late to donate to Sixty Feet for the purchase of land!   www.sixtyfeet.org

Today I got an email from Shelly. According to her, Sixty Feet has raised $32,000 of the $60,000 needed in order to purchase land and to build a home for some sweet little nuggets in need. That means they need to raise only $28,000.00 by DECEMBER 31, 2011 in order to make every single cent eligible for a 100% match (up to $60k). Sounds impossible, right?

WRONG.

You guys, we serve a God who has RAISED THE DEAD. This ain't nothing for Him.

So, if you'd planned on getting me a Christmas present, don't. Instead, please consider making a small contribution to Sixty Feet. If you hadn't planned on getting me anything, well then, bah-humbug to you.

I kid. But seriously, consider it.

Please?

Terrible Blooger

I’ve been a terrible, terrible blogger lately. And I just typed “blooger” by accident. I s’pose I’m a terrible blooger too though. You know, sinuses and such.

There’s not too much going on right now with the adoption. It’s the waiting game. Which I hate. It takes patience and I’m hungry. Wow. That just happened. I was thinking “impatient”, but my fingers typed “hungry”. But I mean, I AM hungry, y’all so I’m going to let that one ride.

We are meeting Lisa, our social worker, Friday for our finalized homestudy. Next week I am mailing our I-600A application to the USCIS for “Advance Processing of Orphan Petition”. That’s basically assurance that the US gubment will grant citizenship to any child we adopt. And it’s $890.00. Nice, huh?

In the meantime, MP and I have been looking at airline costs and trying to determine the best time for us to go back to UG. Right now, it’s a cointoss between January and March. At that time, we’ll be supporting our Sixty Feet family there, as well as, visiting remand homes and orphanages AND our attorney. Hopefully since we’ll be “paper-ready” (more or less), we can expedite the process. I told you, I’m not very patient. And still very hungry. It’s not that we want to “rush” the process exactly: we don’t. But we ARE adopting a waiting child. We aren’t waiting for an infant to be born. Our child is THERE. RIGHT. NOW. living in conditions that are less than desirable. My wanting to “rush” things is more of a “sense of urgency” to get him/her into our family home. It’s the Mama Bear in me.

So there’s that. That’s our current update. I’m sorry there’s not much more to report, but I hope to book our tickets next week so maybe that’ll put a little pep in our step. And just then, I accidentally typed “poop in our step”. No one wants to step in poop. That would be gross.

Sidenote:

1-     It’s not too late to donate to Sixty Feet for the purchase of land!   www.sixtyfeet.org

2-     It’s not too late to order a cross from me and MP!! Order by 12/9/11 for Christmas!

3-     It’s not too late to sign up for a “Cuttin’ Corners” coupon class: Monday, 12/5/11 6:30 @ Corner Bakery. $10 CASH and ALL proceeds will benefit our Adoption! Taught by the fabulous, Emily Tate! Email me for details: usillypickle@comcast.net

The Kubler-Ross Model

I’ve not written much about my experience in Uganda, mainly because I don’t like the emotions it stirs within me. My trip evokes denial, anger, bargaining and depression. Basically it’s the Kubler-Ross Model, known as the Five Stages of Grief, yet I never make it to Acceptance. That’s because I refuse to. It’s like my eyes have been opened to a world that shouldn’t be. I will not accept this. I have seen firsthand the starving children that Sally Struthers talked about. I’ve met them. I’ve kissed them. I’ve held them. They have been beaten, abandoned, degraded and often by the very ones who we'd expect to love them the most. They are not just a face on a "Feed Africa" campaign. They have names like, Claire and Peter and Samuel and Abraham and Aklim and Vivian and William and Fred and some more Freds, and Aron and Tracy and Ronald and Robert and Jovia. They are in need of the very things you and I take for granted: familes, love, clothing, food, clean water, soap. These kids have stories to be told, but no one to listen to them. They carry burdens that they shouldn't even know about. They need to be allowed to just be children. They need mamas and daddies or someone to look after them. They need someone to cook their meals, mend their clothes, kiss a boo-boo, comfort a nightmare. They don't belong in the prisons I visited them in, they need to be in a loving home or a loving foster home.




So what if you could help them get that? Would you do it? If you knew that $5 USD would feed YOUR children for a week, would you sacrifice your Starbucks this morning for them? If you knew that $30 USD would send YOUR child to school for an entire month, would you decrease your cable package to cover it? How about doing it for a child that doesn’t have parents willing to sacrifice for them? I would.



Matthew 25:40 says, “The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.””



You guys, when I die, I don’t want to be known as the girl who talked about all the good things I could do. I want to be known as the girl that did great things. God has blessed us beyond measure and so often we fail to see it. More often, we fail to use our blessings where it matters most and here's a hint: expensive shoes and designer purses aren't it. He has commanded all of us to look after orphans and widows in James 1:27. Let’s all put some action in those words and help them. And no, that doesn't mean we ALL have to adopt one...


Sixty Feet has been given an opportunity to acquire land on Lake Victoria and to build a home for these very children. See below the exact words from my internet friend, Shelly’s, site or visit her directly at http://www.goodtobecrazy.com/:

“Dare to Dream

What if the youngest, most vulnerable, most desperate children at M1 and the other facilities didn’t have to be there? What if they could live in a place filled with hope, where they could grow to know and love God, where they would be deeply cared for, where they could receive an education and have a future? What if…

Since SixtyFeet first began, we’ve dreamed of purchasing land and building a home so we can remove the most vulnerable children who live in the M facilities. We can all agree, these children shouldn’t be in these conditions.

Late last year, we had a matching donation to raise funds so we could acquire land. The land was to be used as the site for a home where the youngest and most vulnerable children at M1 could live in a loving, nurturing family-like environment. Some of you may be wondering what happened to that.

Well, we were blown away by your generosity, as usual, and you sailed past the $10,000 match raising a total of $30,000. That money, unfortunately is still sitting in the bank – set aside and earmarked for the home we so very much want to build.

Various obstacles prevented us from moving forward with our original plans (we’re learning that sometimes we just need to be still and wait on the Lord). So that’s what we’ve been doing. But we never gave up hope. Ever since then, we have been praying that we would be able to raise the remaining funds to start this home.

Recently, several incredible donors have stepped forward to offer a whopping $60,000 as a matching gift in order to make this dream a reality. Yes, that was not a typo and you read it correctly. Every dollar we are able to raise between today and December 31, 2011 – up to $60,000 – will be matched, dollar for dollar.

So what does this mean for SixtyFeet and the children? With the $30,000 that was raised last year, we are hoping and praying that by January we will have $150,000 in order to purchase land, build a home and have a place where we can nurture these precious children. But we’re not just thinking land and a home. We’re thinking bigger… way bigger – as in community. We want to build something sustainable.

Given the size of this gift, we also pray we can use a portion of the funds to expedite our plans to remove and house many of the older children at the M facilities. We hope to establish multiple homes for boys and girls 10 and older where they can live with up to 20 other children and be mentored by young adults, who themselves have been in similar situations but who now have a heart to give back and serve.

So as we enter this holiday season, please dare to dream with us. Dare to dream of the eternal impact this will have in the Kingdom and in the lives of the children of M. Dream of the children who may arise from these homes. The leaders, the doctors, the pastors, the educators. All of whom may ultimately come from M and go on to serve and do amazing things in the name of Christ. Just imagine it.”

To donate to this amazing cause, to have your donation matched dollar for dollar, and to make a big difference this Christmas, click  http://sixtyfeet.org/how-you-can-help/

Please, please, please visit http://www.sixtyfeet.org/. It's my birthday today and I double dog dare you.....with a cherry on top.

Home Grown and Flown Home: Creating Our Family Through Adoption

Home Grown and Flown Home: Creating Our Family Through Adoption
**Recap of 5/4/11 post"

“In you, the orphan finds mercy” Hosea 14:3

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.” Matthew 18:5

Well. There are so many other people in the world that can do that. You know, people with no kids already. There are plenty of people with more money, bigger homes, etc? I mean, I want to help, but I’m sure it would be a lot easier for other people.

“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” Isaiah 1:17

Oh, I WILL! I will tell others about these afflicted children. Surely, I can raise awareness. I’ll talk about them and pray for them. I might even buy a cute tee shirt that says something catchy, like “I HEART Orphans!” You know, with “heart” SPELLED OUT! Ha! Cute.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

Well, I suppose I could send a little money each month. I would go on a Mission trip, but I only have so much vacation time this year, so you know, there’s that. But maybe next year, when we haven’t already planned a vacation, then we’ll talk about going. Ooh, maybe Mexico? NO, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC! Yes! THAT’S where we’ll “mission”.

“A Father to the fatherless, defender of widows is God in His Holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families.”

Psalm 68:5-6

“Set the lonely IN FAMILIES”? Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Slow your roll, Haus Cartwright. You mean BRING ONE HERE?! You want us to take in a “lonely?" Sure I saw the documentary about the Ugandan Children’s Prisons, but see -I already have two kids. And my husband and I both work full time. Mornings are crazy enough with the two kids we have. And kids ain’t cheap, yo. And, AND! Do you know how much church we would miss with THREE KIDS?! Yeah, I just don’t think we’re cut out for adoption. It’s just not “for us”.

“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.” Ephesians 1:5

Oh. Well….I never really thought about “Christians” as being adopted thru Jesus. But what would our friends and family say? What about strangers at WalMart? Think about this- a Ugandan child living in an all white family in MISSISSIPPI? What would people think?!

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27

Honestly, I am scared. The process is time consuming and confusing. There is a huge language barrier. We would have to fly to Africa. That’s like, 8,000 miles away from my home, my kids, and my Keurig coffee maker. You are asking us to bring back a child that A- has never been to America and B-speaks no English. That’s a lot of change. And I don’t really like “change”, per se. Right now, we’re a typical “All American” four unit family. And it’s easy. Having another child is more expense, more time consuming, more kids fighting at one time. We already don’t get to sleep in our own beds most nights.

“For you did not receive a spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, “Abba, Father””. Romans 8:15

Yeah, but….

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3

I’m afraid I may not love this child like my own. How can I? Sure they came from someone’s womb, but it wasn’t mine. Of course, Your Word doesn’t specify they would come from “my” womb either. But, I didn’t feel them kick and move. I didn’t get the “pregnancy glow” or the stretch marks now that I think about it...hmm? Regardless, I didn’t birth them. They won’t even look like me?! How will I know that this child is even mine?

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.” Isaiah 43:5

Yeah...well....I get that all believers are called to aide the orphans and widows, but not everyone is actually called to adopt. Some people just can’t for very valid reasons, such as health conditions, finances, etc. If not everyone is called to adopt, then why do I feel like we should?

“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”

2 Corinthians 8:12

Yeah, but wha…..

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

What if I just don’t? What if I like having all this extra money and extra time? What if I prefer to keep the extra rooms in my large house as extras? What if I don’t want to share my family or our wealth or our resources? What if I consider vacations and deer camp as necessity rather than luxury? What if I’m not ready to give up more of ME for someone else?

“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food and prosperous ease, but did not aide the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.”

Ezekiel 16:49-50

Blink.

Blink. Blink.

Gulp. Blink.

That pretty much settles it then.

Brief Weekend Recap

Here's another quick reminder about......

PLATE LUNCH for the Puckett family's adoption!!!

$5 hot dog plate / $8 burger plate 

This Sunday, Nov 6th. 

immediately after church from 11am-1pm

at Barnard Equipment on Old Fannin Rd (right next door to Pump it Up)

You guys, I am SUPER PUMPED about this. Like, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.

OK, so here's a quick recap of our weekend:

1. Friday, we hit up the Braddy's Fish Fry in Madison (and it was DELICIOUS, BTW)

2. Saturday, I slept til 9. Then Brogan and I went to Kohl's to buy a new vaccuum cleaner. Why it couldn't have been a FUN purchase, like a new Canon 18-200mm Telephoto Zoom Lens, I DO NOT KNOW. Then a birthday party, THEN back to Kohl's because I had a 30% off coupon AND Brogan needed a dress for a wedding she is in next weekend. And THEN, swung by my mama's house as it was HER birthday too. After that, MP and I hit up a costume party (pics later), but MP was a Bee-Gee and I was a pink bunny, complete with FEETY PAJAMAS AND EARS.

3. Sunday, we had Helping Hands at 11, Mazzio's Pizza (as is tradition) for lunch, a TWO HOUR NAP, and then we decorated our Christmas Tree. Oh yes, we di'id. 

Tonight, we are taking Spiderman and Cinderella out for a Trick or Treat Hayride and HOPEFULLY an early bedtime. For them. Not Me. I still feel like I need to prep our house for our Social Worker Interview (which is this Saturday!) After the interview, we're headed to a wedding and on Sunday? I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT OUR PLATE LUNCH FUNDRAISER :)

~cp

Updated, Corrected For REAL Finalized Plate Lunch Plans!

OK.

For once and for all, here are the Updated, Corrected For REAL Finalized Plate Lunch Plans!

Sunday, November 6
11am-1pm
Barnard Equipment (Old Fannin Rd, next door to Pump It Up)

Here's the change:
$5 hot dog plates
$8 hamburger plates

IT'S A STEAL!!!

Hope to see you all there!
~cp

Finalized Plate Lunch Plans!

Plate Lunch Fundraiser for Puckett Adoption:

Sunday, November 6, 2011
11am - 1pm
Location:  Barnard Equipment, Inc  (Old Fannin Road, next door to Pump It Up)
$10 per plate
Burger and two sides

RSVP via Facebook or email usillypickle@comcast.net
Pay at door OR (preferably) via Paypal - click "donate" to the right

PLEASE JOIN US FOR LUNCH!!!

Will also have CROSSES and UGANDAN NECKLACES for sale (both are $15 and are PERFECT Christmas  or birthday gifts)

11/6/11 Plate Lunch 2:30 - 6pm. Feed yo belly while supporting Adoption

Multi-task: Feed yo belly while supporting Adoption

I just got invited to a Plate Lunch fundraiser set for Sunday afternoon, 11/6/11, from 2:30-6pm.

FOR OUR OWN ADOPTION!!

Seriously, how cool is that? I have the greatest friends ever, no doubt. The location was up in the air so I’ve volunteered my house- I mean, it’s the least I could do! Plus, we will have JUST had our 6 hour homestudy interview the day before so I shouldn’t even have to clean J

So, if y’all need dinner plans for your family? Date night? Small group? C’mon! Tickets are $10 plate. Meal is burger and two sides. Company is incredible. Come and go OR come and sit. Whatever. We easy like that. We’ll also have our Ugandan Paper Bead necklaces for sale ($15) and MP’s beautiful crosses for sale ($15). I’m also hoping to have our Tee shirt designed by then, but we’ll see what time allows…..

To make it super easy, you can pay in advance via PayPal. Just click on “Donate” to the right side of the screen, enter $10 per plate, and I will personally email you a confirmation. I will also forward your name AND number of plates paid for to the hostesses. And since it’ll be at my house, I’ll be there to confirm just to avoid any confusion. Don’t have Paypal? Just shoot me an email at usillypickle@comcast.net for my mailing address and then just send a check. OR you can just email me with an RSVP, # plates needed and pay when you get there.

*I’d prefer if you could pay in advance just so we know how much food to buy, but if you wanna wait til you get there, that’s fine too. See? I told you we were easy.

Here’s where we are:

$500 Initial Homestudy fee –        PAID FOR!

$1400 is the actual report itself-  PAID FOR!

Still needed:

$470 - $705 postplacement fees  ($235 a piece, either 2 OR 3 will be required)

$970 for our immigration stuff

And THEN:

Legal fees

Airfare

etc

USPS- Don't Fail Me Now

Wow. Homestudy paperwork is no joke. We have completed it all, made copies of copies, scanned and emailed copies, and saved copies of all documents in the following formats: Outlook, Microsft Word, and Adobe

I started to sweat a little bit when I got ready to send it, but I just mailed off the most important paperwork OF MY LIFE. I even paid an extra $14.00 USD to make certain it got from Point A to Point B in a timely manner.

USPS Sonny: Is there anything of value in here?

Me:                Monitarily? No. What would you value "sanity" at? Because that's what I'd lose if anything happened to this package.

USPS Sonny: *blink*blank stare*blink

Whew. I feel like I need a cookie.

DONE

In one weeks time we have Completed:

A seventeen! page Home Study application
Financial analysis
2 autobiographies
3 Medical exams & recd results
3 fingerprints & recd results
Gotten a new driver license
Gotten medical clearance on both kids
Taken AND developed pictures of the house and every room in it
Collected certified birth certificates on all 5 people living here
Gotten our certified marriage certificate
Prepared copies of our 2010 tax return
Met with Lisa, our social worker
And scheduled our official in-home visit for 11/5

I have also cleaned our house, revamped our budget, caught up with laundry, survived a potentially devastating small house fire and for giggles?

I lint rolled all of our lamp shades.

Now, If you have never adopted or completed the homestudy process, this may not mean that much to you so just trust me when I tell you THIS IS A BIG DEAL. LIKE, HUGE.

So, "what now", you ask? Well. Now I make copies of it all and send the originals to New Beginnings. Then I breathe a sigh of relief. And gloat a little bit because I am super impressed with my timeline.

We will have provided them with everything we needed to provide them with. We still have to wait on our references to send in their letters just verifying our awesomeness and how they wish they had my great hair or something like that. And we still have to await our clearances from the great states of both MS and AL to verify that we aren't child abusers. But I feel pretty good about those results.

2:30am House fires and Hereos and Such

Let me start with a backstory here: Kaitlyn texted me yesterday and stated she was staying the night with a friend after the fair. I STARTED to send notice to MP and let him know she wouldn’t be home last night, but it was 4:00ish pm and he was busy, playing golf for work. Apparently, it builds TEAMS AND RELATIONSHIPS, Y’ALL. So since I knew I wouldn’t be able to reach him on the phone, I decided to just tell him later.

Well, “later” happened to occur at a time when Swaid hated the world and Brogan cried a lot over a lost Happy Meal toy. I can’t make this up. I finally got her consoled and MP came in at the EXACT minute I began to feel myself losing all patience with Swaid and I just had to walk away. Being the loving father he is, MP put his work down, took Swaid outside, and they jumped on the “trampleeeen”. This gave me just enough time to make chocolate milk, microwave chicken nuggets, and dump some Doritos onto plates. Because sometimes nutrition is over-rated. As Brogan ate, I prepared her bath. But THEN Swaid came in and decided he wanted to take Brogan’s bath and she was cool with that so HE ate dinner and then took her bubble bath. It's just easier for me to bathe them individually. That way, no one can fight over Barbie Mermaids and plastic dump trucks.

By this time, I’d relieved MP so he was back upstairs working. Both kids were happy and fed. Swaid was bathed and tucked in. And then I got Brogan ready for bed. Again, I forgot to tell MP that Kaitlyn was staying the night out and again I started to tell him, BUT I realized I had not eaten and it was like 8:00pm. So I ate Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I don't have to justify this. By THIS time, all was right with the world again, but Swaid had had a late nap and he wasn’t ready for bed, like AT ALL. Instead, he and Brogan wanted me to watch Minnie Mouse's Masquerade Ball on dvd in his room. So I complied and we all piled into his queen sized bed. As soon as the movie ended I remembered again that I needed to tell MP that Kaitlyn was out. But I didn’t because I promptly fell asleep with both kids.

Cue dream sequence music:

It's somewhere between 2-3am, I am barely awake, but still quite asleep. I hear a loud popping noise that soon sounds like someone dropped a metal spoon in the garbage disposal and turned it on. I hear commotion in the kitchen and hear chairs being shoved across the floor. At first I think it’s just Kaitlyn, but then I remembered she was staying out. THEN I wondered if we were being robbed. I don’t know how long this had been going one before I woke up, but I eventually got up to check it out and found MP putting a fire out in our kitchen. At 2:30am.

It was then that I actually woke up and confirmed that MP had, in fact, just PUT OUT A FIRE IN OUR KITCHEN AT 2:30AM.

The first thing I said to him was, “Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you that Kaitlyn is spending the night out.” He said, “I have been awake for over an hour WAITING on her.” For a minute, I thought he was mad, but he wasn’t. In fact, I suspect it was at that point he realized that BECAUSE I’d forgotten to tell him about Kaitlyn, he got concerned and got up to make sure she hadn’t texted saying she'd been in a wreck or something. And BECAUSE he got up, he found the fire in our kitchen.

Basically, I’m a HERO.

**I know I'm not the REAL HERO in this story. You guys, I don't forget ANYTHING. It is so unlike me to forget to tell MP that KK wasn't coming home. Like, UNHEARD OF. It is no coincidence I forgot to tell him. It was no coincidence that MP got out of bed to check on her and found a FIRE. It is no coincidence I'd chosen that night to sleep with both my children. I am a very light sleeper, so chances are I would have heard the noise, but I would have panicked and like, thrown WATER on it or something. Seriously. I don't do well under pressure. Praising the Lord for His hand of protection over us all.

You're probably wondering what that is. Well, the wrought iron stand you see holds our 55 gallon fishtank. This is where Goldie, our fancytail, and Jerry, our catfish, live. There are several other fish, but they don't have names. And yes, we have an actual catfish as a pet. And I feed him cat food.


Apparently, the condensation build-up under the tank just happened to make contact with the pump cord. The water ran down the pump cord into the surge protector. And it started a fire with real flames and errythang. Our house was filled with smoke and now it smells like burnt plastic. That baseboard may need to be replaced and the wall will most defintately need to be repainted, but it doesn't appear that there is any actual damage inside the wall. Praise God.


MP was fast thinking enough to open all the windows and doors and fan the smoke away from the smoke detector in the hallway. He didn't want it to wake me and the kids. I love that man.


And I was only 6 minutes late for work this am.

Ugandan Paper Bead Necklaces $15, $3 for shipping

Multi Color Extra Long with RED accent beads (can be double stranded)

Red paper bead necklace (can be worn as a double strand)

Brown paper bead necklace (can be worn as a double strand) - This picture doesn't do it justice!

Multi paper bead necklace (can be worn as a double strand)

Multi Color Extra Long with BLUE accent beads (can be double stranded) My personal favorite.

Natural ivory/bluish color  (can be double stranded) BEAUTIFUL!

My model (after eating Dorito's). I also have smaller necklaces; perfect for little girls. I have purple, lime green and a dark brownish color. They fit adults too though :)

My pictures really stink. The necklaces are gorgeous.

Turquiose (can be double stranded)

We Got to Pray Just to Make it Today

Ah. Wise words by one MC Hammer (of “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” fame). Good times. I laugh when I think about his pants and that typewriter dance. And the fact that I LEARNED IT. OK, you can laugh now, but I look AWESOME on the dance floor. Truth. He may have looked ridiculous, but his words ring true. We do need to pray just to make it today. Or any other day for that matter.


And today I am asking for a very specific prayer request. I have a bloggy friend of a bloggy friend of a bloggy friend of an actual friend that I know in need of prayer. Many of you know her as “The Farmer’s Wife”, I know (of) her as Lara. See- I met “Shelly” of SixtyFeet fame via blogs, through Shelly’s blog I met Colleen and through her blog I met Lara. In the interim I actually MET (and spent the night with and traveled to UGA with) Joy, also of SixtyFeet fame. Joy is actual friends with Shelly who is actual friends with Colleen who is actual friends with Lara. Basically they are the Kevin Bacons of the blog world.


Anyway- Lara and her husband are in UGA right now awaiting the verbal ruling of their sweet, Baby A. The actual hearing was last week, but they were told to come back this week. Her facebook status today asked that we simply pray. I am going one step further and asking that we pray specifically that:


1. Above all, God’s will be done


2. (Selfishly) I ask that the Judge have compassion and will allow them to be the parents that Baby “A” needs and DESERVES. Every little fellar needs a Mommy, y’all….


3. I pray specifically that he not only give a verbal ruling awarding them legal guardianship, but also gives them a written ruling TODAY. This will allow them to apply for A’s visa STAT and not have to come back to court again


4. I pray that the Visa application is accepted in record time with no problems whatsoever


5. And also? I am praying them ALL home within two weeks. Our God can do that.


You guys. I have had the honor of meeting and loving on this very Baby “A” while in UGA a few weeks ago. He is bright and sweet and VERY outgoing. His energy rivals that of the batteried bunny. He has so much potential and I KNOW in my heart that he needs to be with a Mommy and a Daddy and a Brother and a Sister (ON A FARM) that will love him unconditionally. These orphans in UGA? They aren’t the problem. They are the RESULT of a problem in UGA. HIV/AIDS, war, famine, malaria, etc- THESE are the culprits. The children are only the ones that suffer. I pray that the Judge will see that while adoption (international or otherwise) isn’t the answer to their very real problem, it IS the answer for the welfare of these kids; or more specifically, Baby “A”…..(AND our Baby Puckett)


PLEASE share this post on your blogs. Please facebook this prayer request. Please sent this to your prayer group. Whether you know them or not, whether you have adopted or not, just know that the bible commands us to care for orphans and widows in distress (James 1:27). It is not an option for Christians- it is a very real command. If all you can do at this point is pray, PLEASE, please do so.


Matt 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”    Word.

AnotheradoptionupdateOMGandIamalunatic

 

I think adoption has turned me into a crazy person. For one, I left my house wearing house shoes this morning. To work. Fortunately they are the leather slip on “moccasin” kind that could easily pass as real shoes. But I know they are not. Q: Who does that?! A: I DO.

For two, I spent last night reviewing 100’ish pages of paperwork, setting FBI fingerprint appointments, making plans to renew my driver license, and making plans to get our physicals. For this week. AND IT IS ALREADY TUESDAY, Y’ALL. Then I bleached my kitchen. Just for giggles.

For three, I don’t really have a “for three”, but stopping at two just looked naked.

Here’s our Uh-Dop-Shun schedule so far this week:

Tuesday               10/4/11               Christy fingerprint appointment / Complete all paperwork

Wednesday         10/5/11               Marty fingerprint appointment / Christy driver license renewal / Take pictures of house, but first CLEAN the house. I don’t want to come off as a Hoarder.

Thursday              10/6/11               Kaitlyn getting her fingerprints, driver license, & physical (All in one day, I think!) BTW, She’s lived with us since Feb. 2011- Everyone say Hello!  Hi, K! luh ya!

Friday                   10/7/11               Christy & Marty physicals (tentative, IF MP doesn’t have to go out of town tomorrow)

Saturday              10/8/11               Freak out / 1^st Social Worker Meeting / come home and CRASH

In addition to the aforementioned events of last night, I ALSO mailed out FOUR crosses, picked up some medications from the pharmacy, got my oil changed, balanced the checkbook, paid some bills and made a bank run while MP took Brogan to ballet and Swaid to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Now at some point this week, we still have to transport kids to/from school, cook dinner, feed kids, bathe kids, clean house, do laundry, do homework, beg for money, SELL MORE CROSSES, weld more crosses, mail more crosses, attend a Friday night birthday party, visit my brother from Japan, visit our former brother in law from Colorado, grocery shop, and each work a 40hour work week.

And did I mention we also volunteer with the Center for Violence Prevention and are gearing up for the 1^st Annual Masquerade Ball to be held 10/29/11? I didn’t? Well, we do. Oh and also? I’m co-room mom for Bebe’s kindergarten class. I am SO thankful for Tara, the other room mom. Because of her plans are underway for their “Halloween/Harvest party”. I am SPENT. So Thanks, TARA!!!

And it’s hunting season.

 

*blink*

*blink.blink*

*blink*

Adoption Update: 1

Today we scheduled our first visit with our social worker, Lisa. Under normal circumstances it'd be a little weird telling folks you are "meeting with a social worker", but nothing about adoption is normal. Plus, we are way past the point of caring what anyone thinks. So, next Saturday we will meet her at a local restaurant for our initial consult. AND THEN our actual in-home interview is set for Saturday, November 5. That's like the "Make it Or Break It" of all the interviews. And it's in our home. And it's 6 hours long. I just pray my kids don't lose their minds during those 6 hours. Also? I'm still putting my Christmas tree up in October. I just hope she doesn't think I'm a lunatic.

You guys, it's about to get real all up in here.

~cp

Ps: thank you all for joining us on this journey. Whether you donate, pray for us, or just enjoy reading about it, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. Our child is out there right now, waiting for mommy and daddy. I pray God is preparing his/her little heart/mind/body/spirit for us as He prepares ours for them. Srsly. It's about to get real up in here.

Sticks. And Fairs. And Free Biscuits.

 Anybody else dread the State Fair? The crowds, the overpriced parking fees, the heat, the germs, etc? MP once dubbed it (correctly) “The Armpit of Mississippi” and that pretty much sums it up. HOWEVER, you cannot hate the fair IF your children have been before and look forward to it every year. (Thanks, Phil, for taking Bebe last year. I love how she asks about goin’ to the “Fater” EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.)

Actually, you CAN still hate it, but you cannot avoid it. I think that’s where I am. I don’t look forward to the crowds of people, but I’ll do just about anything to see my kids happy. Oh, and for free biscuits. True, I AM a little excited about the food. CP loves to eat. Simple as that. And errybody knows that the best foods in the world all come from the fair and are served on sticks.

Think about it, corndogs, chicken, popsicles, beef kabobs, candy apples, etc. I even had a fried Twinkie one year ON A STICK. Ok, admittedly it was pretty disgusting, but I had a theme going. Oh, wait- how do you eat sushi WITH A STICK. And how do you toast marshmallows? IMPALED ON A STICK. Game. Set. Match.
 

 Now I feel like camping. Because I sort of inadvertently implied s’mores. Also? Maybe I should have eaten breakfast.

"Paper Pregnancy" Craving

Every part of me wants Taco Bell right now.

I blame it on being "paper pregnant".

That's all.

(and no, I'm not PREGNANT pregnant, but yes. We are expecting a third child. Thru uh-dop-shun)

Random: Part Deuce

“It takes a lot of effort to appear this effortless” – Me (on being the domestic goddess that I am)

“Awe, EXIT!” – Bebe (on dropping her toy out of reach on the floorboard)

“Daggum it, Mama. I luf you.” – Swaid (he steals hearts)

Whatever happened to Bel Biv Devoe?

I really want to own some “crime scene” tape. Really.

Why don’t I get candy when I pee in the potty?

If I put my Christmas tree up before the social worker comes, will she think I’m crazy? Or will she appreciate it as much as I do?

I wonder if my internet friends stalk me as much as I stalk them?

Leaving Jerry’s Catfish one night I noticed a young couple standing in front of my van. On impulse I pulled out my key, set the alarm off, and laughed til I almost cried when they jumped. MP was proud.

If I were Ms Universe, my platform would be “Adopt All”. First, every child would be adopted and THEN every adopted child would be given an adopted puppy/kitten/etc; thereby, ridding the world of all adoption needs. BAM. I just created World Peace.

My hair really is fantastic.

Email From UGA Atty!!!

Ok, guys. I’m about to jump out of my SKIN. I just received an email from our Attorney in UGA and it in is a request for our completed Home Study so, and I quote, “A REFERRAL IN YOUR AGE BRACKET CAN BE MADE.” Now, I realize I may be overreacting here, but to me this says, “Hey, we have some kids that need homes and we’d love to consider you, but we need yo paperwork.” Exciting, no? YES!

If that doesn’t light a fire under your butt, I DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL.

Only the problem is…..We haven’t completed our home study yet. Mainly because we just made our initial trip to Uganda and because it costs $2,500.00. And also because it is very time consuming. And oh, it’s $2,500.00. The breakdown is as follows:

Fingerprints (new FBI system) $150 Due now
Administration fees: $450 Due on first visit (likely within 1 week!)
Home Study Fee: $1400 Due on second visit (likely within 2 weeks!)
Post Placement Visits: $470 Due before the report can be finalized

We had our fingerprints done several months ago, but failed to send them off because the fingerprint machine was jacked up and there was almost a 90% chance they’d be rejected. Our home study agency emailed me today and advised the FBI had a new fingerprinting system where you make an appointment and have it submitted electronically and results are back in like 2 days. WHICH IS CRAZY, AND UNHEARD OF, IN THE ADOPTION WORLD. Most people wait MONTHS to get FBI results in.

Step 1: Put the FUN in FUNdraising. (Since, we don’t have $20k lying around). Please order some crosses, beads, and how much can I get for my other kidney?!
Step 2: Visit UGA. CHECK
Step 3: Complete Homestudy.
Step 4: Accept a referral for our child. OMG. I HAVE BUTTERFLIES.
Step 5: Bring them home and love on the forever (this is where it’s all gumdrops and apple trees)
Step 6: Complete the adoption in our home state…blah…blah..blah, let’s go back to Step 5

So. Marty will finish all the remaining cross orders this week and if you’ve prepaid (Jennifer, Amanda, Laurie, etc) I’ll have them to you by the weekend. We’re ready to make a fresh batch and only need to sell about 1,334 at $15 each to have this thing FUNDED! Also, I’ll be posting some paper bead necklaces purchased in UGA. They are BEAUTIFUL and $15 each. Also, they make great gifts as well!!!

IF YOU HAVE EVER WANTED TO PURCHASE A CROSS OR DONATE TO OUR ADOPTION, NOW IS THE TIME!

We need to raise $2500 to have our home study completed STAT so we can officially receive the referral of OUR THIRD CHILD. (I really like saying that) After that, we need to raise the following:

$4,500 Legal Fees
$8,500 Airfare
$1,000 Immigration
$1,500 Lodging/meals/transportation in country
$2,000 Miscellaneous (Medical immunizations, certified documents, overnight FedEx services, etc)

Remember: THE CROSSES MAKE EXCELLENT GIFTS @ $15 ($21includes shipping) & THE BEADS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND ALSO MAKE EXCELLENT GIFTS FOR THE LADIES ($15 EACH) (I’ll post pics tonight)

And I’m not too proud to accept a good old fashioned donation. Or Skymiles. And prayer. Lots and LOTS of prayer.

It’s Fall (ish), Y'all...

We are quickly approaching my most favorite time of the year. The October-November-December months mark the 4th trimester of 2011 and I CAN. NOT. WAIT. October brings the Canton Flea Market, hunting season, football, the State Fair, Pumpkin Patches, Trick-or-Treating and, in my house, A CHRISTMAS TREE. November? It is equally awesome what with all the Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes, more football, more hunting, William Sonoma’s Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Mistletoe MarketPlace, Thanksgiving, Black Friday Sales and of course, my birthday. And then December basically speaks for itself. Hello, Christmas? New Year’s Eve? Day After Christmas Sale?

It’s like a trifecta of AWESOME.

And The Panic Sets In…..

Home Study expenses. Legal expenses. Airfare.

A third child.

I know the Lord provides, but I’d be lying if I said I was stressing out about how to bring him/her/them here.

The Lord has never failed us. He has never led us somewhere He didn’t intend us to be. He didn’t help us get out of debt in an unfathomable amount of time only for us to sink back in for this adoption. I know this, yet I cannot get my head wrapped around it. The human in me would feel much better if we had the money already sitting in a pretty little account, but I know that wouldn’t require us to act in faith. We know we are called to adopt. In HIS time, not ours. I need to work on being patient. And fundraising. But mostly on being patient. I keep reminding myself that we are acting in, what we believe, is His will. And For us? We feel called to adopt. Regardless. I’ll leave the details to Him.

Just Wait....

This time next year, we are going to have three children. God willing.

This time next year, I’ll be ordering another Pottery Barn Kids Christmas stocking. For our third child.

Three. Children.

Will it be our boy, Summit? Or will it be our girl, Whitley? OR BOTH.

Four? Children?

My breathing pattern just got a little erratic. And I may have just died for a minute.

I’m teetering on the border of Fantasy and Reality right now. In my mind, three kids is gonna be all rainbows and unicorns. Everyone gets along, no one whines and they all love broccoli. And sleeping in their own beds. In fact, in MY mind, teeth brushing is THE.GREATEST.THING.EVER, they put themselves to bed at 8pm sharp and CANNOT wait for school the next day.

But then I’m slapped backed into reality when the two kids we already have start whining, pinching and crying because kid A doesn’t want to watch Dora while Kid B thinks that Dora hung the moon and wants to run off and marry her when he’s old enough. Kid A thinks Dora is stupid and prefers Hannah Montana or Wizards of Waverly or something that Kid B doesn’t quite understand. Kid B pinches Kid A because Kid A has suddenly decided to ride the Dora 4 wheeler that may or may not even belong to Kid B, but he’s convinced it does so he pinches Kid A. Kid A tells, Kid B gets punished and Kid A gloats about it. Kia A gets sent to her room for gloating. This all happens before dinner so naturally no one is hungry anymore. Until bedtime. Then suddenly it’s like no one’s thirst can be quenched EVER. And I tell myself, that this? Is reality for now because just wait- next year, WE’LL HAVE THREE OF EM.

But then they apologize and hug me. They sing me songs. We snuggle together, read books, tuck them in and say their prayers. My heart is happy and then I remember that this? Is reality for now because just wait- next year, WE’LL HAVE THREE OF EM.

The Adoption Option

I’ve made no secret that we have tossed around the idea of “Adoption” for a little while now. That word alone evokes all kinds of emotions and my mind conjures up the picture of a Word Cloud. Do you remember those? Well, the one in my head says the following:


Adoption:

Expensive
Crazy
Impractical
Like, Crazy Expensive!
Time consuming
Busy
Fear
Home Study


But it also says:

Willingness
Love
Selfless
Command
James 1:27
I was adopted thru Christ
Big enough house
No valid reason not too


Since our visit to Uganda, MP and I both feel like adoption is meant for our family. And we are fortunate enough to be able to afford a third or even fourth mouth the feed, clothe, school, care for, marry off one day, etc. The problem is the Initial Expense. I don’t have $20k lying around. But what I do have is a crazy talented husband, amazing friends, & some creativity. Also, I’m resorting to soliciting. I have no shame.


I’ve listed the crosses on Etsy (btw, no orders have been forgotten we just couldn’t make them before our trip- MP is working on the remaining orders now). Please consider these crosses for Christmas Gifts, birthday gifts, Hey-Look-It’s-Tuesday! gifts, etc. I’ll also be working on a tee shirt to sell ($25) AND I’m working on a “Best Of” type Facebook Quote book. It’s just a little lighthearted funny book of Facebook posts ($15). Oh, and Ugandan paper beaded necklaces. We bought some in Uganda to sell for our adoption ($20 per necklace).


So far, we’ve been able to cut our expenses at home by the following:

1- A strict weekly budget. I don’t like this one. At all.

2- I cut out my beloved Keurig coffee because I drink a lot of coffee and its expensive- I’m back to the old coffee pot now but saving $40 month. This one cut me LIKE.A.KNIFE.

3- We don’t have a gym membership or home phone to cut, so our utilities are pretty standard. Except cable. We haven’t canceled that, but I’m seriously tempted. Except our kids might stage a revolt against us.

4- Brown bagging it. We’re trying to limit our eating out to Sunday lunch only. Even then it is usually someplace where one or both kids eat free.

5- Oh! We have a boat for sale! I’ll ask MP to do a guest post soon about that. He’s the boat guy.

6- Our cell phone plan is about as cheap as we can go, so that’s not really an option and we have to keep internet at home.

7- I’ve been trying to remember to adjust our thermostat before leaving the house to cut costs as well.

8- Christmas gifts are being bought on a weekly basis as our budget allows. Santa has been asked to limit the number of gifts he brings this year.

9- I’m a couponer.

If you have ANY suggestions as to how to raise the money OR any ideas on cutting our monthly expenses, please let me know!

Love.
~cp

The Uganda Diaries: Volumes 2-6: The Cliff’s Notes Version

It’s too difficult to try and blog daily events at this point. I’m not a journaler so all my days seem to be running together now. This was a truly incredible trip, one I pray ALL Americans could take at least once in their lives. You cannot leave unchanged. Unless you’re heartless. Or a robot. Or a zombie. I hope you’re not.

 During my trip, several things occurred:

1.      Friendships were formed without pretense. No one had “walls” up. No one felt like they didn’t belong. There was honesty and transparency and we even talked about poop, like Day 1. We were all there for the same purpose and worked together as any good team should. Lifelong friendships were made last week.

2.      Someone tried to give me her children. True story. A Muslim lady that lived across the street from the guest house where we were staying actually tried to give us her children. With tears in her eyes, she begged me and MP to take 4 of her 5 boys to America. For her she knew they'd have a better life and she loved them enough to give them up. Heartbreaking.

3.      Ugandans don’t tiptoe around issues. We saw signs as follows: “STOP Child Sacrifice”, “Parents: STOP Giving Your Children Alcohol. It is not good for Them.”, “Prevent Unwanted Pregnancy: Breastfeed”, “STOP Something for Something Love”, “These Cigarettes Will Kill You”. Seriously, there is no reading between the lines here.

4.       Flying internationally on the 1oth Anniversary of 9/11 in a plane that will be flying directly over Abu Dhabi WILL result in you getting molested/frisked. Tomato/Tomahto

5.      Do not trust a Mr. Tastee “chicken” sandwich. Ever. Good things do not follow ingestion of a Mr Tastee (alleged) chicken sandwich.

6.      “Going to the market to get chicken” does NOT mean, “running to Kroger to get some prepackaged boneless, skinless, chicken breasts.” It means, “stopping at a roadside stand and buying 5 LIVE chickens tied together at the feet and tossed into the floorboard of your vehicle.”

7.      Nice Bumper Stickers. Because in America we have peeing Calvins.

8.      Modesty. Ladies wore knee length skirts/dresses. Men wore pants. At their waists. Every day. Everywhere. No exceptions. I never, not once, saw a butt crack or a boob. It was nice.

9.      Ugandans don’t sleep. Like, Ever.

10.   Roosters have no respect for sleep.

Oh, and when you arrive home everyone will ask you, "Did it make you appreciate America?". For me the honest answer is, "no." It makes me see how wasteful and selfish we are. I recognize that we are spoiled nation and as a people, we make mountains out of molehills far too often. It makes everything here seem silly, trivial, and just frivolous. We whine about "what to wear" and complain about waiting 2 hours at MEA (guilty), but after having spent the night with an orphan in a Ugandan hospital I am ashamed to have ever complained about anything. It makes me long for the simplicity of life in Africa. Granted, I wouldn't decline a washing machine or running water, but it certainly does put things in perspective.

The Uganda Diaries: Volume 1

Today is our first day out in the “Mission Field”. Today we visited M1. If you’re not familiar with the M1 facility, please check out www.sixtyfeet.org for more details.

Today I met “V”. “V” is a fifteen year old girl who had been dropped off by her father only 1 week prior for being “stubborn”. He mother had come to see her after a few days and declared her to be “too unkind” to come home yet. So she left her there for one month. This is not a juvenile detention center in Jackson, MS. This is a literal prison. For children. With prison cells and bars. Some kids have committed crimes of theft, some have been dropped off by parents for various reasons, some have been the unfortunate step-children to a modern day Cinderella story, some have been at the wrong place at the wrong time, some have been found abandoned and taken here by strangers, but none actually deserve to live like this.

So many things were revealed to me today. These kids have the kind of faith that I envy. They have nothing but the love of Christ Jesus and that’s all they need. I expected to see kids moping around in a state of despair, but I didn’t. These kids, although unhappy in their environments, have hope. They worshipped in a way I have never been able to do. They sang songs of praise in such a heartfelt manner that I could only cry as I listened.

I still haven’t quite processed it all. I need time.

Two Posts, One Day, WHAAA?!

Africa (specifically, the children of..) has really been on my heart today. Like, a lot. Here's why. MP and I both feel like we are being called to adopt. Admittedly, I was gung ho from the get go on the idea of it, but it took him a little longer to come around. Now it's a little more real. And a lot more scary. How do you know for sure? How do you determine what is God's will for your family versus what we want for our family? I think the answer is willingness. I don't think every family is necessarily called to adopt, but I do think that aiding orphans is a command not to be ignored. And I don't think willingness comes easily. But we ARE willing.

As our trip quickly approaches, we KNOW we'll be in a position to "put up or shut up", so to speak. It's easy to advocate for orphan rights. It's another thing to step up and do something about it. As parents, we both know that once we see firsthand the living conditions these kids are in it will completely break our hearts that have already begun to love a people we have never met. There will be no way we can stand there without contemplating a plan to adopt even just one child. I think we'll begin to see our own children in each of these kids and I feel like the Lord is nudging us to come prepared. Like, He wants us to "step up".

But I am scared. The whole idea and process of adoption is, quite honestly, a little bit crazy. It's a little uncomfortable to admit. There are intimidating amounts of paperwork to be completed. It is COMPLETELY opposite of what WE had planned for a little family of four. And it is so scary to commit. For several reasons, but for #1: adoption ain't cheap, yo. I have to continually remind myself that Mission trips aren't cheap either and yet the Lord has provided. I have to remember that it isn't coincidence that we have been brought together with a group who loves the fatherless like we do. And it is crazy that we are spending the remainder of our vacation time to fly 8,000 miles away to love on kids we've never met. Not because it's a luxury vacation, but because its something we feel like we were meant to do.

I'm telling you all of this now because MP and I are willing. We are going on this trip HOPING to meet our future child or children, but EXPECTING God to just use us. In any way possible, in as many ways as possible. We will be there as the hands and feet of Christ. We want to share our hearts and to be able to tell them about the love of a God who CAN RAISE THE DEAD. To Him, none can compare. I want them to know they are loved.

I just ask for prayer at this time. There is so much to pray for that I literally cannot even begin to make specific requests. Oh, and if you have $25k lying around, we'd be glad to take that too.

~cp

Dear Africa

Dear Africa,
    Hi! How are you? Good. Listen, I should probably give you a heads up. I am very high energy without caffeine. Even moreso WITH caffeine. And I drink a lot of caffeine. I can be a lot to take in. Are you ready for me? Because I am totally ready for you. LET'S DO THIS.

~cp

Pay It Forward

Ok guys, I want you to think back on a time in your life when someone gifted you in an amazing way. Could be financially, could be emotionally, could just be a kind word, or it could be that they were such an impact in your life that you vowed to A- never forget them, and B- pay it forward.

Now is that time.

See that button above? That button represents one less orphan in Uganda. That button holds the key to his forever family. Mothers & Fathers, think of your own children now. If they were lonely and crying out for you and ALL you had to do was click this button and donate a few dollars in an effort to free them, would you do it?

I know I would.

This is the story of my blog friend, the Farmer's Wife. I have never met her and I kinda stalk her a little bit, but in a friendly awe-inspiring way, like, I'm not creepy AT ALL. Since we have mutual friends, both have hearts for Ugandan orphans (actually, ALL orphans for that matter), and are both planning trips to Uganda in September, I can't help but feel a sisterhood with her. Plus, she also has great hair and an ADORABLE family, so it's like we're practically TWINS. *winking smiley face with a tongue sticking out* (Confession: I don't actually know how to use emoticons)

Anyway, Lara (TFW) announced this AM that they have a court date for Sept. 27. That means that airline tickets need to be purchased, like ASAP. That means that WE need to help HER do this. But wait! THERE'S MORE!

 ACT NOW AND FOR THE LOW, LOW PRICE OF JUST $15 YOU'LL BE ENTERED TO WIN THIS LITTLE BEAUTY:

Confession #2: I actually just copied and pasted the remainder of this from Shelly, who hijacked Lara's site. I don't think they'll mind at all.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital Camera (Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens included)

AND

 Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Autofocus Lens

 

TWO (2) LUCKY RUNNERS UP WILL WIN:

A $25.00 Wild Olive gift certificate

"Here’s how to enter:

You can enter our baby shower giveaway by making a donation of any amount. Suggested donation is $15 per entry, and for each $15 donation you make, you'll receive one entry to the giveaway. OR donate $20 and share the giveaway on Facebook or your blog for three entries! If you don't have $15 to donate, that's okay too... they will be so blessed by any amount you would like to give. And if you cannot give, but would like to be entered anyway, just leave a comment on this post. Please be sure to put your email address in the email field (not the body section of the comment…we want to protect your privacy) when writing your comment, as that will be the way we will contact you.

You will be assigned a number for each entry, and this number will be emailed to you in 24 to 48 hours of entering. (Don’t forget to fill in your email address when donating through ChipIn!)

Entry for the giveaway will be closed on Monday night, August 15^th at midnight EST.  The winner will be announced Tuesday, August 16^th by number (via random drawing). So be sure to hang on to your number!

Don’t stop reading yet…we’ve got an incentive for you to spread the word about our baby shower giveaway.  We want as many people to party down with us as possible!

FOR ONE BONUS ENTRY spread the word about Lara’s baby shower by updating your Facebook status and linking back to this post. Let us know you’ve done so by commenting here, and you’ll automatically receive an ADDITIONAL ENTRY in the giveaway.

And that’s it! Easy-sauce. The “donation” button is right here in the sidebar (on the right, in case you’re wondering where to find it)."