Hey everyone...hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving. As promised, the Christmas ornament fundraiser is ready to go. Just in case you haven't been following the blog, let me back up and bring you up to date.
We are hoping to adopt again! Our prayer is that God would give us a little blessing (or blessings) from Uganda, Africa sometime next year. I traveled to South Africa this past summer and saw first-hand the needs of the poor there. We haven't been to Uganda, but have several friends who have. Eden has been begging for a "baby sister and baby brudda" ever since she saw "Big Sister Dora" a year and a half ago (LOL). I'm not sure she really knows what she's asking for...but I know she'll be a great big sister.
I really struggled with the timing of this adoption, to be honest. You can read about that a few posts down. God is going to have to move some pretty big mountains financially, and we know He can and will do that if this is His will for our family. I wanted to do a fundraiser that was both affordable for people and involved our daughter as much as possible...hence, Ornaments for Orphans.
You can click on the link on the right side of the blog to get all the info. Eden has helped me hand-make some Christmas ornaments for you to buy. Each ornament is $10.
I know there are many times when I have small gifts I need to get like teacher gifts, extended family, dirty Santa, etc. I always end up getting some small little gift that costs about $10, so I thought maybe if people were already going to spend the money, maybe it would bless the giver and receiver to know that the $10 really will help change a baby's life forever. You have my word that 100% of the money we receive will be deposited directly into our adoption savings account.
Each ornament will include an enclosure card that tells about our adoption so the recipient will know it's more than a Christmas ornament. Thank you all so much for loving and supporting us on this journey. If you have any questions, just post here or e-mail me at kerimason@mac.com.
When you click on the "Ornaments for Orphans" tab on the right, it will take you to the web page. You can pay online with paypal, or e-mail me your order and I will send you the info to mail a check. Please feel free to put the link on your blogs/facebook too, or give our blog address to anyone you think might want to help...the more the merrier!
There is an adorable video of Eden when you get to the site. She will give you all the details. Hope to hear from you soon! Thank you again. God bless!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
I'm Thankful For....
Happy Thanksgiving! Today I am thankful for:
1) That Jesus loves me and accepts me as I am...even with all my shortcomings and faults.
2) That because of this, I am free to love and accept others the same way.
3) For my husband. I don't always love him well...but as I sit and reflect, I am so very blessed to have him.
4) For my sweet Eden...there are no words.
5) For adoption...the whole idea of it, the reality of what it accomplishes, of what it teaches, the healing and restoration it brings.
6) For my brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere...I love that our bond in the Spirit transcends race, culture, economics, language, customs...etc.
7) For my family...all of you...
8) For friends that I know I could call at any time and they would be here at the drop of a hat...I have several and am therefore rich beyond measure.
9) For my new house, and the home it is now that we are all in it.
10) Starbuck's Peppermint Mochas (hey, they can't all be "deep")
11) Music...I love how the right song can turn anyone into a dancer or singer.
12) The sound of my daughter singing "Jesus Loves Me" and praying.
13) My church home, Cross Pointe
14) My Birmingham faith family at Brook Hills...we miss you
15) The Word of God...and that I can read and study it myself
16)My loyal companion Maggie, our almost 11-year-old chocolate lab...she is the most gentle creature
17) Lifeline Children's Services, for helping us grow our family
18) Our soldiers, near and far
19)Auburn and the friends I made there
20)My former singles' ministry friends at Hunter Street Baptist who helped me learn how to follow Christ
21) Chris Wilson...the leader of that ministry who is now a pastor...his sermons still ring in my ears
22) Brenda Brown...my mentor who first taught me how to study Scripture
23)Airplanes so we can take the Gospel to the ends of the earth
24)Holiday festivities like Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners with 15 people around the table (in our family), decorating cookies, trimming trees, cider and hot chocolate, cookies for Santa, Christmas cards, stockings full of surprises, etc.
25) And finally, that I can now watch "Christmas Vacation" over and over for the next month...when Clark Griswald's fingers get all that sap on them and start sticking to everything I laugh out loud no matter how many times I've seent it!
Disclaimer: This list is not exhaustive or in order of importance.
Hope you all have a great holiday. Fundraising ornaments are made and will be put on the blog very soon so keep checking. Love yall!
1) That Jesus loves me and accepts me as I am...even with all my shortcomings and faults.
2) That because of this, I am free to love and accept others the same way.
3) For my husband. I don't always love him well...but as I sit and reflect, I am so very blessed to have him.
4) For my sweet Eden...there are no words.
5) For adoption...the whole idea of it, the reality of what it accomplishes, of what it teaches, the healing and restoration it brings.
6) For my brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere...I love that our bond in the Spirit transcends race, culture, economics, language, customs...etc.
7) For my family...all of you...
8) For friends that I know I could call at any time and they would be here at the drop of a hat...I have several and am therefore rich beyond measure.
9) For my new house, and the home it is now that we are all in it.
10) Starbuck's Peppermint Mochas (hey, they can't all be "deep")
11) Music...I love how the right song can turn anyone into a dancer or singer.
12) The sound of my daughter singing "Jesus Loves Me" and praying.
13) My church home, Cross Pointe
14) My Birmingham faith family at Brook Hills...we miss you
15) The Word of God...and that I can read and study it myself
16)My loyal companion Maggie, our almost 11-year-old chocolate lab...she is the most gentle creature
17) Lifeline Children's Services, for helping us grow our family
18) Our soldiers, near and far
19)Auburn and the friends I made there
20)My former singles' ministry friends at Hunter Street Baptist who helped me learn how to follow Christ
21) Chris Wilson...the leader of that ministry who is now a pastor...his sermons still ring in my ears
22) Brenda Brown...my mentor who first taught me how to study Scripture
23)Airplanes so we can take the Gospel to the ends of the earth
24)Holiday festivities like Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners with 15 people around the table (in our family), decorating cookies, trimming trees, cider and hot chocolate, cookies for Santa, Christmas cards, stockings full of surprises, etc.
25) And finally, that I can now watch "Christmas Vacation" over and over for the next month...when Clark Griswald's fingers get all that sap on them and start sticking to everything I laugh out loud no matter how many times I've seent it!
Disclaimer: This list is not exhaustive or in order of importance.
Hope you all have a great holiday. Fundraising ornaments are made and will be put on the blog very soon so keep checking. Love yall!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Here We Go...Again!
Well, I finally mailed it...our adoption application, that is. I'm nervous and excited about what the future holds. We are applying to adopt from Uganda, Africa.
Last night at dinner, Eden prayed the sweetest blessing. She said, "Father, thank you for bringing me a baby brudda (brother) and baby sister (she has it in her mind this is what we're getting...). And I will not spend too much money. Amen." Can you tell we're in adoption mode? How precious that she is willing to sacrifice in her own way.
Eden and I are working on a fundraiser right now. I really want her to be involved as much as possible. We are making/selling Christmas ornaments for $10 each. We have already had several pre-orders. Please be checking the blog for more info. Hopefully this weekend, I will post pictures of what you can order and how to do so. So when planning for the holidays, remember you can come here for those little $10 extra gifts for extended family, teachers, etc. and know that 100% of the money will go into our adoption fund.
We are trusting God to provide in a mighty way for this adoption. If it is His will, He will have to make it happen.
Hope you all have a great weekend! Your prayers are needed, and wanted! Love yall
Last night at dinner, Eden prayed the sweetest blessing. She said, "Father, thank you for bringing me a baby brudda (brother) and baby sister (she has it in her mind this is what we're getting...). And I will not spend too much money. Amen." Can you tell we're in adoption mode? How precious that she is willing to sacrifice in her own way.
Eden and I are working on a fundraiser right now. I really want her to be involved as much as possible. We are making/selling Christmas ornaments for $10 each. We have already had several pre-orders. Please be checking the blog for more info. Hopefully this weekend, I will post pictures of what you can order and how to do so. So when planning for the holidays, remember you can come here for those little $10 extra gifts for extended family, teachers, etc. and know that 100% of the money will go into our adoption fund.
We are trusting God to provide in a mighty way for this adoption. If it is His will, He will have to make it happen.
Hope you all have a great weekend! Your prayers are needed, and wanted! Love yall
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Reason Why
This is a sweet baby I met in South Africa who is HIV positive. Her mother refused to take her to free clinic to get the medicine she needs. She was only 4 months old and had an opportunistic infection all over her beautiful cheeks.
"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." Mother Teresa
I found this quote online this morning. It communicates my heart, my passion, and I am convinced our God's passion as well. It reminds me of the reason I am mailing our application in this month to begin our 2nd adoption...from Africa this time. It reminds me why I am doing this amidst a flood of thoughts of fear, doubt and questions.
The first time I was so brave...because I was so ignorant of the process, both of paperwork, and the emotional process of bonding and healing the broken child's heart. This time I know...and I am not so brave. This time I have less time, less resources, less confidence. But this time I also have Eden...her hugs and "I love you more than the world, mommy" words that remind me of what is possible. She reminds me what God desires for every orphan. Not money, or middle-class America. But love, hope, and most of all, the chance to know Him...the One Whose wrath rages against the injustice that orphaned them to begin with. The One Who hears every cry, and counts each tear.
This time will be different. There will be fundraising and grant-writing. This time there will be more questions, and prejudice towards the stark difference in our skin color. There will be more sacrifice financially...and that brings thoughts of uncertainty and fear. That exposes the ugly sin of materialism that we all struggle with...it makes us come face to face with want versus need. And that's not a bad thing. Thankfully, perfect love casts out all fear. Thankfully God is for me and not against me. Thankfully, He will guide each step, each delay, each dollar, each piece of paperwork.
So today, among a sea of emotions...I am reminded. God loves adoption. After all, He is the One who came up with the idea (Ephesians 1). Please pray with us as we embark on this journey. There is so much that lies ahead.
The first time I held my daughter.
"I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of of sorrow."
Jeremiah 31:13
3 months later
I will give them comfort and joy instead of of sorrow."
Jeremiah 31:13
3 months later
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Happy Halloween!
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend full of fun and sugar :0) Here's what we did over the weekend:
Dressed up as Jessie from Toy Story 2 and went Trick-or-Treating (in the rain).
We also bought a house on Friday...so, not much going on around here :0) As a bonus, here's a picture my sister sent of the cutest little scarecrow I ever did see...my nephew Camp, in Birmingham. Sure wish I could have gotten my hands on him. We miss them so much!
I know, I know, he's adorable. Have a great week! We will be moving (for the second time in 6 months)...YAY!!!
Went bike riding since it finally wasn't raining...beautiful fall day on Thursday!
Played with Maggie, our dog, outside in the pretty weather.
Carved pumpkins.
Carved pumpkins.
Dressed up as Jessie from Toy Story 2 and went Trick-or-Treating (in the rain).
We also bought a house on Friday...so, not much going on around here :0) As a bonus, here's a picture my sister sent of the cutest little scarecrow I ever did see...my nephew Camp, in Birmingham. Sure wish I could have gotten my hands on him. We miss them so much!
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