Wednesday, November 30, 2011

2 Weeks!

We got our appointment date: December 15!!!!

Working on figuring out details now. Turns out there's no Wi-Fi here at the endoscopy center where Matt is having his colonoscopy, so I'm sending this update from my phone.

We have 2 weeks until Matt is in Ukraine! We have no idea how long he'll be there, but God does.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

We Wait Some More...

Well, I just heard from our Ukrainian facilitator that our letter of invitation is now signed and dated, BUT our dossier doesn't have a registration number yet.  The SDA told our facilitator to come back in the morning (Wed.) and assured her everything would be ready.  I was told the appointment date range for current dossiers in country will be somewhere between Dec. 5-29.  We have no idea where our case will fall within those ranges, but it looks as though my hubby will be in Ukraine in December. 

I don't recall if I ever mentioned this, but Ukraine normally requires both parents to travel to Ukraine to complete an adoption, but they will waive that requirement if there is a medical reason why one spouse cannot travel.  We were originally told that Selah would have phase 2 of her skull reconstructive surgery in November of this year, which was exactly when we *thought* we would be in Ukraine, so my husband petitioned to adopt the boys as a married individual without the spouse traveling.  Our paperwork and requirements are different than a traditional adoption where both parents travel (we have to do more steps/more paperwork), but that was the only way we felt we could move forward with adopting the boys, knowing (at the time) that Selah would be in the hospital for at least a week in November, with a 2 month recovery afterward. 

Turns out that Selah might not even have to have that second round of surgery (praises and glory to God!), but our paperwork was submitted to the Ukrainian SDA stating that I would not be traveling with my husband.  We are praying for God to show us IF He WANTS me to travel along with Matt, or if He intends for me to stay home with our other children.  We're fine with either arrangement, we just want to obey what God knows is best.

Ukrainian adoptions normally take at least a month to complete, so based upon the current appointment dates (Dec. 5-29), the boys will most likely NOT be home in time for Christmas, but, with God, we are reminded that all things truly are possible.  This is all in His hands, the most trustworthy place possible where all things happen at the perfect time, regardless of how things appear to us.

As with all adoptions, the only thing predictable is that nothing can be predicted. :-)  So, we may or may not know more tomorrow, but we will certainly let you all know the moment we hear something! 

My husband has a routine colonoscopy tomorrow (he has ulcerative colitis), so I'm hoping that while I'm waiting for him in the hospital (during his procedure), I'll be able to work on that post that's treasured up in my heart regarding the most awesome surprises our Father bestowed upon us.  I just need some time to write from my heart to try to adequately share with you the glorious blessings of our Father.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Waiting...

Just wanted to apologize for not updating today.  It's been a full and crazy day, and I haven't had a chance to get on the computer until now, and even now, I only have a few minutes.  I just wanted to let you all know that we didn't receive our travel date today.  Our facilitator said that our letter/invitation to travel is ready and our appointment date is assigned, BUT the letter wasn't signed today, so the SDA told her it would be ready tomorrow (Tuesday).  A few friends who are in the same boat (adopting from Ukraine, waiting on travel date) had the same thing happen, so we're all anxiously waiting for tomorrow to arrive so we can see if we all get our travel dates for real!

I have some major God stuff to share, but no time to sit and compose all that God did for us over the weekend.  Incredible stuff that needs more than a few minutes to churn out.  I've got a really busy week, but hopefully I'll be able to carve out some time to express my heart and share what God's been up to.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Praise God! (includes video of Selah)


I finally captured Selah "praising God"!  I just LOVE how she raises her hands and looks toward heaven when we say, "Praise God!"  What a blessing this precious baby girl is!

Today, on the second to last day of our Thanksgiving adoption fundraiser blitz, we praise God for YOU!  Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us, who has spread the word, who has purchased John 14:18 gear and gifts.  We are so very grateful for you and your support. 

It's not too late to purchase John 14:18 gear, and it's not too late to enter the giveaway!  Click HERE to do both.  Deadline is 11:59PM CST Sunday (tomorrow).

The word from our facilitator is that we should hear something this Monday regarding our travel date to Ukraine to bring our two sons home!!!  Hurry, help us raise the remaining funds needed.  About $3,000 to go!

Today we praise God for surrounding us with people like YOU!  Thank you for your support!
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Friday, November 25, 2011

Black Friday Blog: Shopping with a Purpose

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Hop on over HERE to get all of your Black Friday shopping done, without ever leaving your home!!!  No waiting in lines, no sitting in traffic.  No need to even get out of your PJ's!  Plus, when you shop HERE, you're shopping with a purpose.  An eternal purpose. 

Really, could it be that good?  That easy?  That rewarding?  YES!  Your purchases will rescue two orphans, plus your purchases will bring awareness of God's promise through John 14:18, to not leave us as orphans.  And the gear is AWESOME, with a great variety.  Definitely something for everyone on your list!

Do your one stop shopping with a purpose today!  Hurry, just 3 days left in round two of our John 14:18 sales, our Thanksgiving blitz.  Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Don't forget about the giveaway!  A chance to win a free t-shirt!  Click HERE to enter the giveaway each time you spread the word and/or make a purchase.

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Thursday, November 24, 2011

New Thankfulness, New Sales, New Giveaway!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This morning we received some new news that we are most thankful for on this Thanksgiving morning.  Our Ukrainian facilitator (whom we LOVE, BTW) emailed to let us know that this upcoming week, possibly this Monday, we should receive our official letter of invitation to come to Ukraine to adopt the boys!!!  So much to be thankful for on this day.  So, so much, but this was not something I expected to be thanking God for today!

We still need to raise our remaining funds.  I am thankful today for God's provision in this adoption.  While we had hoped to be able to fund this adoption ourselves, God always has a better plan.  It was God's plan for His people to rally around us for this adoption.  It was not His plan for us to go at it alone.  He commands us ALL to care for orphans, and for many of His people, the very way He asks them to live out James 1:27 is to financially support those He has called to adopt.

On this Thanksgiving morning, I am so very grateful for those who have supported us in so many ways.  I feel grateful for the "extended family" God has blessed us with, those who I may never meet face to face this side of heaven, those prayer warriors who God has strategically placed around the world, those who support our family through your prayers, service, and giving.  We are so very blessed by you, our extended family through Jesus.  Thank you for loving us.

This week, God put it on my heart to offer another round of the John 14:18 gear over the Thanksgiving weekend.  I really didn't know why, other than the fact that it would help us raise more funds (and I knew some of you wanted to order, but missed the deadline).  This morning when I woke to the awesome news from our Ukrainian facilitator that our boys just might really be home for Christmas (maybe, with a lot of prayer that things go quickly and smoothly!), I knew immediately why God had asked us to offer another round of the John 14:18 gear:  to raise the remaining funds.

The first round of sales was so overwhelmingly successful...it completely blew me away.  I pray for God to show Himself again through this second round.  This is not about us, it's about Him.  Would you please help us spread the word that we only have 4 days total in this sale?  Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.  That's it.  The deadline for orders is Sunday, November 27 at 11:59PM CST.  Orders will ship in time for Christmas, so do some guilt-free Christmas shopping and sow seed into the adoption of Vlad and Dima.

Oh, and just for the pure joy of blessing someone with a free John 14:18 t-shirt, I'll add another giveaway.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Click HERE to order your John 14:18 gear today!

PS  If you're receiving this via email, there will be 3 emails in today's All Are Precious In His Sight email.  Be sure to scroll down to read them all.  :-)

Thanks For Giving! And a Giveaway!

UPDATE (Nov. 24 at 9AM)!  We received news this morning that we just might have our appointment date/invitation to travel next week!  In honor of this news and this Thanksgiving, we are adding a giveaway to round 2 of the John 14:18 fundraiser.  Be sure to read at the bottom of the post how to enter the giveaway!  Someone will win a free John 14:18 short-sleeved t-shirt in the color/size of your choice!  Hurry, help us spread the word!  Time is quickly running out!  Giveaway details are at the bottom of this post. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and thanks for giving to our family as we raise funds to bring our two newest sons home from Ukraine!  We have so many things to be thankful for.  Jesus is so incredibly awesome.  He blessed us with two new additions last Thanksgiving, and we're praying He'll bring our newest two additions home by Christmas.

In an effort to bring in more funds to help us get our boys home, I'm excited to announce to you today some great news:

We're accepting orders again for the awesome John 14:18 adoption fundraiser gear!!!

This is a limited time offer, so HURRY and get your orders in today! We'll only be accepting orders through the Thanksgiving weekend; deadline to order is Sunday, November 27, at 11:59PM CST.

We pray you have a blessed Thanksgiving, and if you cannot think of anything to be thankful for, just remember His promise in John 14:18:  he does not leave us as orphans.  YOU are chosen by our King of Kings.  He will come for you.  Open your heart and let Him in.  He's waiting.  Oh, how He loves you!  Now that's something to be thankful for!

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What better way to raise orphan awareness than to sport some rockin’ adoption gear?!?! 

And we have some fabulous Christmas gifts, too!

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I am SOOOOOOOOO excited to show you the items we’re offering. Every single item totally ROCKS. Totally.

All proceeds from these purchases will help orphans. We are fundraising to bring home Vlad (age 10) and Dima (age 6) from Ukraine, and our prayer is that God will use this awesome adoption gear fundraiser to bring in the remaining funds we need in order to get these boys home before Christmas!

Please check out all of the awesome gear, spread the word, sow seed into our adoption, and get yourself some awesome gear and gifts!  Remember, we were ALL once orphans, but Jesus died in order to rescue every single one of us from being Fatherless.  He has fulfilled His promise of John 14:18, now it’s our turn to live out the promise of John 14:18, coming to help the fatherless around the world.

Be sure to read about the details for ordering this awesome gear at the very end of this post!

Hurry and place your order TODAY cuz you only have until this Sunday, November 27, to pre-order your awesome adoption gear!!!

Short-Sleeved Tees $20 (FREE shipping within continental US)

For short-sleeved t-shirt sizing info click HERE.

Heather Red Short-Sleeved Shirts with Scroll/Fancy Cross:
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The 3 photos above showcase the Heather Red short-sleeved shirts with Scroll/Fancy Cross Design, available in adult sizes only.  Features gold glitter Boss Your Heart logo on front (in memory of Chrissie).  The back boasts a large scroll/fancy cross in jewel tones of purple, teal green, red, and gold glitter.  Beautiful shirts!

Purchase Heather Red Short-Sleeved T-Shirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross $20:


Size for Heather Red Short-Sleeved Shirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross




Cardinal Red Short-Sleeved Shirts with Scroll/Fancy Cross:
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The 3 photos above showcase the cardinal red short-sleeved shirts with scroll/fancy cross design, available in adult and youth sizes.  Features gold glitter Boss Your Heart logo on front (in memory of Chrissie). The back boasts a large scroll/fancy cross in jewel tones of purple, teal green, red, and gold glitter.  Stunning shirts!

Purchase Cardinal Red Short-Sleeved T-Shirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross (available in adult and youth sizes) $20:


Adult Size-Cardinal Red Short-Sleeve with Scroll/Fancy Cross
Youth Size-Cardinal Red Short-Sleeve with Scroll/Fancy Cross




Teal/Jade Short-Sleeved Shirts with Scroll/Fancy Cross
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The 3 photos above showcase the teal/jade short-sleeved shirts with scroll/fancy cross design, available in adult and youth sizes. Features gold glitter Boss Your Heart logo on front (in memory of Chrissie). The back boasts a large scroll/fancy cross with two shades of teal/jade, purple, and gold glitter.  Striking shirts!

Purchase Teal/Jade Short-Sleeved T-Shirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross (available in adult and youth sizes) $20:


Adult Size-Teal/Jade Short-Sleeve with Scroll/Fancy Cross
Youth Size-Teal/Jade Short-Sleeve with Scroll/Fancy Cross





Pink Junior/Ladies Slim Fit Short-Sleeved Shirts with Scroll/Fancy Cross (order 1-2 sizes larger for a looser fit)

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The 3 photos above showcase the pink slim fit short-sleeved shirts with scroll/fancy cross design, available in adult sizes only (order 1-2 sizes larger for a looser fit). Features gold glitter Boss Your Heart logo on front (in memory of Chrissie). The back boasts a large scroll/fancy cross with teal/jade, purple, and gold glitter. Pretty shirts!
Purchase Pink Juniors/Ladies SLIM FIT Short-Sleeved T-Shirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross (available in adult sizes only; order 1-2 sizes larger for a looser fit) $20:


Adult Size-Pink Slim Fit Short-Sleeve with Scroll/Fancy Cross





Indigo Blue Short-Sleeved Shirt with Splatter/Simple Cross
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The 3 photos above showcase the indigo blue short-sleeved shirts with splatter/simple cross design, available in adult and youth sizes. Features tan Boss Your Heart logo on front (in memory of Chrissie). The back boasts a large splatter/simple cross with olive green, blue, tan, and chocolate brown.  Totally cool shirts!
Purchase Indigo Blue Short-Sleeved T-Shirt with Splatter/Simple Cross (available in adult and youth sizes) $20:


Adult Size-Indigo Blue Short-Sleeve with Splatter/Simple Cross
Youth Size-Indigo Blue Short-Sleeve with Splatter/Simple Cross





Cardinal Red Short-Sleeved Shirt with Splatter/Simple Cross
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Purchase Cardinal Red Short-Sleeved T-Shirt with Splatter/Simple Cross (available in adult and youth sizes) $20:


Adult Size-Cardinal Red Short-Sleeve with Splatter/Simple Cross
Youth Size-Cardinal Red Short-Sleeve with Splatter/Simple Cross






Long-Sleeved Tees $25 (FREE shipping within continental US)



For long-sleeved shirt sizing info, click HERE.


Purple Long-Sleeved T-Shirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross

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The 3 photos above showcase the purple long-sleeved shirts with splatter/simple cross design, available in adult and youth sizes. Features gold glitter Boss Your Heart logo on front (in memory of Chrissie). The back boasts a large scroll/fancy cross with teal green, two shades of purple, and gold glitter. Gorgeous shirts!

Purchase Purple Long-Sleeved T-Shirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross (available in adult and youth sizes) $25:


Adult Size-Purple Long-Sleeve with Scroll/Fancy Cross
Youth Size-Purple Long-Sleeve with Scroll/Fancy Cross




Sand/Tan Long-Sleeved T-Shirt with Splatter/Simple Cross
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The 3 photos above showcase the sand/tan long-sleeved shirts with splatter/simple cross design, available in adult and youth sizes. Features blue Boss Your Heart logo on front (in memory of Chrissie). The back boasts a large splatter/simple cross with olive green, blue, tan, and chocolate brown. Rockin’ shirts!


Purchase Sand/Tan Long-Sleeved T-Shirt with Splatter/Simple Cross $25:


Adult Size-Tan Long-Sleeve with Splatter/Simple Cross
Youth Size-Tan Long-Sleeve with Splatter/Simple Cross




 


Hooded Sweatshirts $35 (FREE shipping within continental US)



For sweatshirt sizing info, click HERE.

Hot Pink Hooded Sweatshirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross

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The 3 photos above showcase the hot pink sweatshirts with scroll/fancy cross design, available in adult and youth sizes. Features gold glitter Boss Your Heart logo on front (in memory of Chrissie). The back boasts a large scroll/fancy cross with purple, teal/jade, hot pink, and gold glitter. Lovely sweatshirts!
Purchase Hot Pink Sweatshirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross (available in adult and youth sizes) $35:


Adult Size-Hot Pink Hooded Sweatshirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross
Youth Size-Hot Pink Hooded Sweatshirt with Scroll/Fancy Cross







Grey Sweatshirt with Splatter/Simple Cross
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The 3 photos above showcase the grey sweatshirt with splatter/simple cross design, available in adult and youth sizes. Features blue Boss Your Heart logo on front (in memory of Chrissie). The back boasts a large splatter/simple cross with olive green, blue, tan, and chocolate brown. Radical sweatshirts!
Purchase Grey Sweatshirt with Splatter/Simple Cross (available in adult and youth sizes) $35:


Adult Size-Grey Hooded Sweatshirt with Splatter/Simple Cross
Youth Size-Grey Hooded Sweatshirt with Splatter/Simple Cross




Tote Bags $25 (FREE shipping within continental US)



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Dark Red bag showcases the beautiful scroll/fancy cross with colors of purple, teal/jade, red, and gold glitter.  Outstanding bag!


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Blue bag showcases the rockin’ splatter/simple cross with colors of olive green, blue, tan, and chocolate brown.  Cool bag!

Tote Bag Info:
  • 100% cotton canvas
  • Natural canvas webbing straps
  • antique brass hardware
  • inside hanging pocket
  • 13 1/2"W x 14"H x 3 1/2"D

Purchase tote bag $25:


Color Choice-Tote Bag





Vinyl Car Window/Home Decor Decal $20 (FREE shipping within continental US)



What a fun way to raise orphan awareness!  Place this decal on your car window, or apply it to ANY flat surface (walls, mirrors, tiles, plates, etc.) to spread the message of John 14:18.  Decal is available in 5 colors for all your home décor needs:  White (best for car windows), Dark Red, Navy Blue, Chocolate Brown, and Black.  You will apply the decal yourself to any item of your choosing.

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The white decal above is applied to a car window.


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The dark red decal above is applied to a tile and displayed as home décor.


Remember, you may apply the decals to any flat surface.  The options are endless!

Purchase decals $20:


Color Choice-Vinyl Decals








Purchase Details:
· Hurry, you only have until Sunday, November 27, to purchase any of these items! All items are only available for purchase during this pre-order time frame.  No orders will be accepted after 11:59PM CST November 27, 2011.


· Free shipping within the continental US! All orders will ship the first week of December via Priority Mail with USPS. If you need your order shipped internationally, please add $15 for int’l priority mail shipping charges via USPS (the package must weigh less than 4 pounds).


· Special bulk order discount! If you order 5 or more items (doesn’t have to be 5 of the same item, just 5 or more items total), save $10 off your total! You will have to manually deduct this amount from your total payment before you pay via PayPal.


· All sales are final. No exchanges/returns.

Giveaway Details:


ONE lucky winner will receive a FREE short-sleeved t-shirt of his/her design/color choice.


Help us spread the word about the awesome adoption gear and gifts! Receive 1 entry in the giveaway for each of the following: (1) share the gear with site link via Facebook, (2) share the gear with site link via Twitter, (3) share the gear with site link via your blog, (4) Order some adoption gear for yourself (one entry for each item you order)! Be sure to leave separate comments ON THIS POST telling me which ways you shared and/or which items you ordered. (Leaving a separate comment for each of your entries/qualifications is vital because random.org selects a winner based upon number of entries.)
Giveaway ends at 11:59PM CST Sunday, November 27.  (Comments left after the deadline will not be included in the giveaway.) Winner will be chosen via random.org.


PS THANK YOU BUNCHES to Zoe Windham (Rowan’s big sis) for the AWESOME artwork, and to John Powell of Print This for making all of this gear possible!

PPS  If you have trouble ordering any of this merchandise, please email your order to Lorraine (at) ForgottenSawRanch (dot) com, and I will send you an invoice via PayPal.  Thank you!
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