Sneak Peek!

Here's a little sneak peak at April's gift basket giveaway! Keep checking back to find out how you can win it all and help us bring Baby-O a step closer to home!

(And no, you do not win the kids.  You win the 22" LED TV that the kids are advertising.  I'd like to believe they were adopted children now living happily ever after watching movies with their fantastic television)

So Close I Can Taste It!

We are only $772 away from applying to adopt!  I'm dying of excitement over here! 

This is how it happened:

Me: God, how is this gonna happen!  This is too big of a problem!

God: Prepare to be amazed!

(Blessed with $1,000 in a 5 day period!)

God: Be blessed!

Me: We're so blessed! 

Okay, so this is not how it really happened at all...but you get my point, right?  God blesses us so abundantly sometimes, even in moments of weakness.  He is a powerful God and I both fear and love Him.  Thank you, Lord!  We are getting closer with every penny!  So excited and can't wait for the next giveaway.  It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself.  Until then, pray for us?  We'd sure love it if you did.

Adopting Patience

Oh dear!  It's so hard to write about another little 'slip-up' in the adoption plan.  I never read on anybody else's blog about the troubles that come along in the adoption process.  Is it that nobody else has difficulties or mess-ups or is it that nobody else shares???  Well, when I started this blog I promised myself to be honest.  I want people to see what our adoption adventure TRULY is rather than just share what I want it to look like...so here goes...

We went to the county adoption orientation and it was amazing to hear about these poor children and what they go through.  I just wanted to get them all and take them home with us.  But, Matthew and I really & truly feel called to adopt a baby, and we know this isn't just our own desires but something that God has led us to.  So, we sat through 21/2 hours of information & in the very last 20 minutes the social worker says

"If you are hoping to adopt a child under four years of age, we don't need any more families for this age group.  You are welcome to go through the process and be put on a wait list, but there is an overabundance of families waiting and it's going to be a loooooong time before you bring a child home."

Matt & I looked at each other, our mouths dropped open & the disappointment was apparent in our eyes.  We drove home, I cried & Matthew spoke to me about our Father's love and desire to give us the things that we want, but that His timing and His plans are far better than our wildest dreams.  Matthew spoke to my heart with the promises of our Savior.  It was just what I needed.

So, needless to say, we were now thinking "Did we hear from God wrong AGAIN!?"  But, after praying and talking and praying and praying and praying and a little more talking we knew that it is right that we have started the adoption process...but the timing isn't up to us...and obviously neither is how we go about this!  So, we are working on these things right now while we patiently seek the Lord:

• We are returning to the adoption ministry we began with.  It stole our hearts from the very beginning.
• Money is not an obstacle for God, so we wait on Him to make this all possible.
•  We will continue to save, earn & raise the funds needed & rather than look at the big (intimidating) picture, we will take it one step at a time.  Our first step is $2,500.  Then, we will see what Step 2 truly entails.
• We need to care for an orphan, like, NOW.  So we are praying for a baby out there in the world & are excited to sponsor a child.  I am thinking from the Congo of Africa with World Vision.  Any other suggestions?

So, please pray for us!  God has us on a wild adventure.  It's exciting & every dollar we get closer to our first goal of $2,500 our hearts leap for joy!  God is moving and working in all of this.  He has good things in store but for now I guess we just need to be patient.  It's obvious we are to start again at the original ministry but when can we apply and interview?  Well that's all in God's timing.  I personally hope it's soon...I cannot wait to hold our sweet baby in my arms!  But if God has other plans in store we wait joyfully & with high expectations!

So there it is, folks.  The truth. 

Time to Give Away the Giveaways!

Matthew and I were so excited when we saw such a great response for the giveaway.  I cannot express how blessed we were to see people share the link to our blog, share our story & how blessed we are by those who donated in to win.  It was especially a blessing this past week as we had another adoption blunder (but we'll save that for another blog another time!).

For now, we just want to focus on all the people who are helping us reach our financial goals.  Honestly, not to ramble on and be redundant but we truly cannot express our gratitude.  It's awesome how God is using you to give us hope and perseverance in all of this.  Your open hearts towards our creative fundraising, towards our story, and towards us as a couple is AMAZING.  These are the things that God is doing in our lives as a reminder of how much He loves us.  Through your love we see Him, so thank you. 



Anyway, enough smooshy stuff....

The winner of the Taste of Vermont Gift Basket from Green Mountain Coffee: Josh Nelson

The winner of the Glen Ivy $100 Gift Card: Jennifer Barbee

The winner of the Two Dozen Cookies from Paradise Sweets: Tiffany Blake

The winner of the $250 Tattoo Credit from Good Fella's Tattoo in Orange: Juan Arevalo

The winner of the $25 Target Gift Card: Becky Gibson

The winner of the One Dozen Gourmet Cupcakes from Glitzy Cupcakes: Tiffany Blake

I will be in contact with all you super cool winners by Monday, March 19th, about your awesome gifts!

**All winners were picked using Random.Org**

In It to Win It!

Our total monetary need for adoption has been significantly lowered ever since we decided to adopt through the county. It was amazing to see our goal go from $20,000 to below $5,000! Woo hoo! God has blessed us with unexpected cash flow, beautiful people who have donated their money to the adoption process, extra savings plus a handful of people who have so graciously donated of their time, money & talents! Below is a list of items we are raffling off including details and cash value. Once you check out the items up for grabs, at the bottom of this page are the rules and link to enter in!  You can also enter with the WePay box next to this blog (----->)

Here is the amazingness of what you can win!

Taste of Vermont Gift Basket from Green Mountain Coffee

($50 Value)

This special collection delivers the beauty of the Green Mountain State right to your doorstep in an authentic metal sap bucket. The collection includes the best of Vermont's food artisans, including buttermilk pancake mix, maple syrup and maple sugar candy from Highland Sugarworks; Rasberry Preserves from Side Hill Farm; a tin of Lake Champlain Fair Trade Organic Cocoa; and Mitzi's Maple Granola made in Stowe, Vt. Two of our most popular coffee blends, Vermont Country Blend [FT] and Breakfast blend round out the collection.

• Vermont Country Blend, ground 12-oz.
• Breakfast Blend, ground 12-oz.
• Lake Champlain Cocoa, 16-oz.
• Private Reserve Grade A Medium Amber Syrup, 12.7-oz.
• Pancake mix, 24-oz.
• Granola, 4-oz.
• Preserves, 8.3-oz.
• Maple sugar candy, 5 pieces
• Some contents contain nuts

Information was taken from this page.

Glen Ivy Spa Gift Card

($100 Value)

 

Two Dozen Gourmet Cookies from Paradise Sweets

($75 Value)

Choose between 3 different styles: Starfish, a customizable option or the flower cookies. These are all great to use to treat yourself to a yummy treat or to give as a gift for any occasion!  To see more you can visit the shop here!

A bit about the baker: I spent two years honing my skills and graduated with High Honors from The Culinary Institute of America. I have also worked at several restaurants and bakeries around the country. I currently work as a baker in a gourmet market, but wanted to have a creative side business in my free time.

Recently, I discovered that I have so much fun making decorative sugar cookies. I love to be challenged with new ideas. God blessed me with these talents and I also take much joy in sharing what I can do with others.

*ALLERGY INFO*
Contains wheat, dairy, and egg.

Cookies are baked with extra aloha and care in a smoke-free, pet-free environment.

A tattoo at Good Fellas Tattoo in Orange, CA with artist Kurtis Gibson
(A $250 Value)

Kurtis Gibson is an extremely talented professional tattoo artist.  He works at Good Fellas in Orange, CA and also has his own website displaying his work.  To check out some more tattoos you can go to his site by clicking here.  He is truly gifted!

 Target Gift Card

($25 Value)

One Dozen Gourmet Cupcakes from Glitzy Cupcakes

(A $36 Value)

Glitzy Cupcakes are offering one dozen  chocolate cupcakes topped with butter creme frosting!  Some customization is available upon request.  These make a beautiful treat for any occasion!  The cupcakes are made from scratch and the ingredients include: (frosting) crisco, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar. (cake) sugar, flour, baking powder, coco powder, eggs, milk, salt, and vanilla.  All cupcakes are made with love by baker and mommy extraordinaire: Becky Brewer!

Cupcakes won must be won by an Orange County, California resident.

How it works:

Each entry is $2.00. When you donate two dollars toward the adoption fund, in the memo section specify what item you'd like to be entered in to win. If you'd like more than one entry you can donate in $2.00 increments and for each 2.00 donated, please specify which items you'd like to be raffled in.

For example:

$2.00 donated enter in the Memo Box at checkout: Enter me into: Target gift card


$10.00 donated enter in the Memo Box at checkout: Enter me into: Target (x2), Cupcakes (x1), Cookies (x1), Tattoo (x1)

Get it? Got it? Good! Every penny donated into this raffle will be directed into our Adoption Savings Account!  You can enter on this blog page (see donation spot on top right corner of this page under the title "Bringing Home Baby O'Brien" or to see the official raffle page and enter there just click here!

Raffle Rules:

1.Contest begins Wednesday March 7, 2012 at 10:00 PM
2.Contest ends Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 10:00PM
3.Winners will be chosen & announced Saturday, March 24, 2012.
4.You may enter as many times as you'd like
5.You may earn one extra entry into the raffle of your choice by sharing this blog on your Facebook, Twitter, or blog. Just comment below with the link to your post and the raffle you'd like to be entered into.
6.All prizes, if they are unable to be personally hand delivered, will be shipped by March 31, 2012