Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Yet Another FUNdraising Update
My dear friend, Laura H., suggested we put the handy dandy paypal link on our blog that you will see ever so boldly at the top of this blog to the right. We aren't putting it there to beg for money, we are putting it there because we know that some will want to financially help with this adoption. We officially opened our savings account with $100 and will be putting all donations from the paypal and any other fundraising opportunities directly in that account which will not be touched for any purpose other than adoption fees. You probably won't hear me mention that little paypal link again, but I wanted you guys to know why we stuck it there. I also wanted you to know that I WILL update from time to time where we are money wise, as I think this is helpful to others who might be starting the adoption process as well and/or are wanting tips on how to help pay for an adoption. We love each of you and more than money or donations, we covet your prayer in this next chapter in our life! Love, Brea and Jonathan
Yard Sale Update
UPDATE: YARD SALE FOR BLOG READERS and everyone you forward this to: Friday, October 17 8am-4pm, advertised to public for Saturday, October 18 7am-? PLEASE don't come before 8am on Friday as I have got to get the kids to school and I want it to be fair for everyone!
For those of you excited about the yard sale, I wanted to wet your appetite with a little update on some of the stuff we will have for sale. PLEASE pass this on to your friends and family and encourage them to come shop. We are hoping to raise enough money to be able to pay for our home study (which is roughly $2K). If we make more, we will be ecstatic...if we make less, we will just plan another yard sale!
Anyway, as of today this is what I know we have to sell next Friday/Saturday. If you want to donate any stuff, please feel free to contact me at cheapbrea@gmail.com. I actually had someone email me and say that they figured we didn't need any more stuff. We need anything and everything we can get (not to sound too needy!) We realize that right now times are tough for everyone and we are so thankful for anything people can donate.
Sizes 0-16
12 (yes, you read that right) racks of Gymboree and Boutique children's clothing. All of it is new with tags and it will be arranged by size and sex. Obviously the smaller the sizes, the more there is. All of this will be $4 each except for Gymbo leggings which will only be $2. BINS of Gymboree and Boutique shoes are $4 each.
at least 2 racks of brand new boutique clothing that will be priced at $10 each. This clothing retailed for around $80-$100 each so that is why the price will be higher on these items!
*Longaberger
*Creative Memories
*Kitchen Stuff
*Home Decor
*Used kids clothing and used adult clothing. awesome brands and a huge range of sizes. Most of it will be $1 each
*Toys
*HDTV Big Screen TV - works perfectly
*Entertainment Center for Big Screen TV - like new
*other furniture
*Dyson vacuum
*American Girl stuff (including some pretty hard to find dolls-these will be kept inside so please ask for these or email for more info)
THANKS for everyone that has been SO generous thus far and thanks for your support! I'll keep you posted!
For those of you excited about the yard sale, I wanted to wet your appetite with a little update on some of the stuff we will have for sale. PLEASE pass this on to your friends and family and encourage them to come shop. We are hoping to raise enough money to be able to pay for our home study (which is roughly $2K). If we make more, we will be ecstatic...if we make less, we will just plan another yard sale!
Anyway, as of today this is what I know we have to sell next Friday/Saturday. If you want to donate any stuff, please feel free to contact me at cheapbrea@gmail.com. I actually had someone email me and say that they figured we didn't need any more stuff. We need anything and everything we can get (not to sound too needy!) We realize that right now times are tough for everyone and we are so thankful for anything people can donate.
Sizes 0-16
12 (yes, you read that right) racks of Gymboree and Boutique children's clothing. All of it is new with tags and it will be arranged by size and sex. Obviously the smaller the sizes, the more there is. All of this will be $4 each except for Gymbo leggings which will only be $2. BINS of Gymboree and Boutique shoes are $4 each.
at least 2 racks of brand new boutique clothing that will be priced at $10 each. This clothing retailed for around $80-$100 each so that is why the price will be higher on these items!
*Longaberger
*Creative Memories
*Kitchen Stuff
*Home Decor
*Used kids clothing and used adult clothing. awesome brands and a huge range of sizes. Most of it will be $1 each
*Toys
*HDTV Big Screen TV - works perfectly
*Entertainment Center for Big Screen TV - like new
*other furniture
*Dyson vacuum
*American Girl stuff (including some pretty hard to find dolls-these will be kept inside so please ask for these or email for more info)
THANKS for everyone that has been SO generous thus far and thanks for your support! I'll keep you posted!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Fall Cleaning
As the adoption fundraising yard sale is rapidly approaching, I was recently inspired by something that I heard Suze Orman say on Oprah. Now, please note, I am not a hugh (ha ha) fan of Suze or Oprah, but I just happened to turn it on this day and I did agree with Suze's statement.
She was discussing personal debt and was comparing one couple that was $90K in credit card debt to another couple who, after retiring, were living debt free in an RV traveling around the US. She and Oprah went and toured the RV and the place was immaculate. Her kitchen cabinets were neatly organized, even her clothes were neatly folded and sorted by color in the drawers. Suze noted that this is how people who don't have debt live....because they actually appreciate what they have. She also went on to say that people who have debt tend to live in states of chaos, etc. and tend to have clutter, unused items laying around, etc. It inspired me to take a look at myself. Am I living like we are in debt or like we are debt free based on how my home is organized. I was actually a bit embarrassed with what I found.
Soooo....I am fall cleaning. There are items I have moved from house to house that I have never used. It's not that I have even kept them because I think I might use them, but more of a sentimental thing (oh, my college roommate gave me that). As I looked at this stuff with a new perspective, I realize that it is just crap and that the majority of the crap is stuff that I don't really use and it ends up stressing me out. The more I pull out, the larger the yard sale pile is becoming.
As I sell something that might still have some emotional attachment at the yard sale, I will gently remind myself that it is just stuff and that I would much rather have a child in my arms than a mess in my cabinets.
She was discussing personal debt and was comparing one couple that was $90K in credit card debt to another couple who, after retiring, were living debt free in an RV traveling around the US. She and Oprah went and toured the RV and the place was immaculate. Her kitchen cabinets were neatly organized, even her clothes were neatly folded and sorted by color in the drawers. Suze noted that this is how people who don't have debt live....because they actually appreciate what they have. She also went on to say that people who have debt tend to live in states of chaos, etc. and tend to have clutter, unused items laying around, etc. It inspired me to take a look at myself. Am I living like we are in debt or like we are debt free based on how my home is organized. I was actually a bit embarrassed with what I found.
Soooo....I am fall cleaning. There are items I have moved from house to house that I have never used. It's not that I have even kept them because I think I might use them, but more of a sentimental thing (oh, my college roommate gave me that). As I looked at this stuff with a new perspective, I realize that it is just crap and that the majority of the crap is stuff that I don't really use and it ends up stressing me out. The more I pull out, the larger the yard sale pile is becoming.
As I sell something that might still have some emotional attachment at the yard sale, I will gently remind myself that it is just stuff and that I would much rather have a child in my arms than a mess in my cabinets.
Thought for the day...
I haven't done a random thought for the day in a while so I hope you enjoy!
When describing the size of your yard sale on a craislist ad, please remember that HUGH is the guy in the movie Notting Hill, not a proper adjective describing the size of your HUGE yard sale.
When describing the size of your yard sale on a craislist ad, please remember that HUGH is the guy in the movie Notting Hill, not a proper adjective describing the size of your HUGE yard sale.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
So close...
My friends Alison and Brad are so close in reaching their $12,000 in 48 hour goal. If you haven't checked out their blog, go there now and DONATE. Last I heard, they are almost at $10K. Help them bring Norah's new baby brother/sister home!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Monday 9/29: A Day of Blessings!
Monday morning at 9:00 am, Mary Elizabeth "officially" became our daughter. The technical term for this is finalization and trust me when I say, this was the EASIEST part of our adoption journey. We met our case worker from Bethany, Carolyn, and our attorney, Ned Williams, at the courthouse at 8:30am. We were fourth on the docket and I'm not really sure if I knew what to expect. What I definitely didn't expect was for Mary Elizabeth to sleep during the entire process. And I don't mean a cap nat...sister slept so hard I'm surprised she didn't snore right there in court. Even when the judge came down to hold her for pics, she never woke up!
We left the courtroom and waited while Ned and Carolyn went and got the official paperwork. We were so blessed to be joined by both my parents, Papa Eddie and JuJu, and Jonathan's parents, Papa Sam and Grandmother (also known as Gram which is what my kids have been recently calling her!). It was seriously that simple.
As we left the courthouse, Gram snapped this pictures of us leaving. Not the best, but you will notice that Mary Elizabeth sprung to life right as we walked out the doors with a smile on her face as if to say, "hey, I thought we were going in there!"
Jonathan and I took Mary Elizabeth to lunch at Mimi's Cafe at the Streets of Indian Lake, which was great. M.E. ate like a horse. I'm not sure if I have mentioned the fact that she no longer eats baby food. She just doesn't like it. For lunch she had their yummy carrot/raisin bread, roast, potatoes, carrots, and broccoli.
Daddy went back to work and M.E. immediately passed out in the car for her afternoon nap. It was at this point that I thought it was only appropriate that I call my friend Alison to tell her it was official. If you have followed my blog longer than a millisecond, you have heard me mention Ali B. Her daughter, Norah, and Mary Elizabeth are the best of friends and Alison has literally walked this adoption journey with us!
When she answered the phone, I could just tell that something was up. Alison is so laid back and I could sense excitement in her voice. What do you know? She had just found out that Norah's birthmom was pregnant and due any day with Norah's little brother/sister (they don't know the sex). She had just found out she was about to be a mommy again to Norah's biological sibling! I can't imagine getting a phone call like that, but the spirit of Christ completely was with us in that call. What an amazing testimony of their relationship with Norah's birthmom!
The last 72 hours I count myself blessed to have watched this family prepare to minister to Norah's birthmom. In all the excitement of preparing for another baby, they have never stopped to think about what is best for them. To GOD be the GLORY for this miracle...and they need our help!
In the next 48 hours, they need to come up with $12K to pay for this adoption. Now, I know economic times are not the best and many people are laying awake at night wondering where their money is going, but I can promise you that a donation to this family's adoption fund is something that you can feel good about. This is a family that is committed to raising their children to know the Lord as their savior, they are committed to Norah and this baby's birthmother in ministering to her in whatever way that looks like. Even if it means that she decides to parent. Did you catch that?
EVEN IF SHE DECIDES TO PARENT THIS BABY, they are willing to care for this baby for whatever time she needs to make a decision. So I challenge you to take a few minutes and check out her post here and put them a check in the mail, or even better, zap them a payment through paypal. Even if you had planned on giving to us, we are still a ways off from starting our process, and I would rather you give to them.
We love you Alison and Brad and can't wait to meet this new little guy (of course, my vote is boy!)
We left the courtroom and waited while Ned and Carolyn went and got the official paperwork. We were so blessed to be joined by both my parents, Papa Eddie and JuJu, and Jonathan's parents, Papa Sam and Grandmother (also known as Gram which is what my kids have been recently calling her!). It was seriously that simple.
As we left the courthouse, Gram snapped this pictures of us leaving. Not the best, but you will notice that Mary Elizabeth sprung to life right as we walked out the doors with a smile on her face as if to say, "hey, I thought we were going in there!"
Jonathan and I took Mary Elizabeth to lunch at Mimi's Cafe at the Streets of Indian Lake, which was great. M.E. ate like a horse. I'm not sure if I have mentioned the fact that she no longer eats baby food. She just doesn't like it. For lunch she had their yummy carrot/raisin bread, roast, potatoes, carrots, and broccoli.
Daddy went back to work and M.E. immediately passed out in the car for her afternoon nap. It was at this point that I thought it was only appropriate that I call my friend Alison to tell her it was official. If you have followed my blog longer than a millisecond, you have heard me mention Ali B. Her daughter, Norah, and Mary Elizabeth are the best of friends and Alison has literally walked this adoption journey with us!
When she answered the phone, I could just tell that something was up. Alison is so laid back and I could sense excitement in her voice. What do you know? She had just found out that Norah's birthmom was pregnant and due any day with Norah's little brother/sister (they don't know the sex). She had just found out she was about to be a mommy again to Norah's biological sibling! I can't imagine getting a phone call like that, but the spirit of Christ completely was with us in that call. What an amazing testimony of their relationship with Norah's birthmom!
The last 72 hours I count myself blessed to have watched this family prepare to minister to Norah's birthmom. In all the excitement of preparing for another baby, they have never stopped to think about what is best for them. To GOD be the GLORY for this miracle...and they need our help!
In the next 48 hours, they need to come up with $12K to pay for this adoption. Now, I know economic times are not the best and many people are laying awake at night wondering where their money is going, but I can promise you that a donation to this family's adoption fund is something that you can feel good about. This is a family that is committed to raising their children to know the Lord as their savior, they are committed to Norah and this baby's birthmother in ministering to her in whatever way that looks like. Even if it means that she decides to parent. Did you catch that?
EVEN IF SHE DECIDES TO PARENT THIS BABY, they are willing to care for this baby for whatever time she needs to make a decision. So I challenge you to take a few minutes and check out her post here and put them a check in the mail, or even better, zap them a payment through paypal. Even if you had planned on giving to us, we are still a ways off from starting our process, and I would rather you give to them.
We love you Alison and Brad and can't wait to meet this new little guy (of course, my vote is boy!)
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