WINTER FIRSTS & SHOPPING FOR A CAUSE

FIRST snow...

FIRST Thanksgiving...

  FIRST holiday season snuggle movie time...

I also wanted to do a little shout out for a list put together by Domesticated Diva, another AGCI mom.
This list is a collection of links to clothing, jewelry, bags, art, Christmas decorations, etc.  All of which help a family raise funds for their adoption, feed orphans, empower widows, provide education...click on the button below, mosey on over and I bet you'll find something special for someone on your list!

As a family, we're trying to tell the story of the real Christmas by not buying a bunch of stuff we don't need and instead, buy gifts that are more thoughtful and personalized.  Or even better, SLOW down and spend TIME with the ones we love.  Yesterday, my mom took all of us girls out to lunch.  So great. So refreshing. Normally, I guess it wouldn't be such a big deal, until you think about meshing together four household schedules during the holiday MARATHON.  Or, for our family with three coaches and 10 fall birthdays (in our two immediate families!!!), it's really a four-month marathon of games, meetings, practices, babysitting, school, celebrations, normal work, etc. So yes, even this hermit delighted in getting time to reconnect with my mom and sisters over lunch and some naughty desserts.

THEN, focus on giving to others in both our local and global neighborhoods.  I love that our church is totally into this as a community -- "resist the empire" -- worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all.  It hits close to home, as so many children in Ethiopia perish due to the lack of access to a clean water source.  I'm looking into the statistics, but in the Advent Conspiracy resources, it states that Americans spend about 450 BILLION dollars each year on Christmas (verified that with a Gallup poll although USA Today says it's about 1/4 of this) and that it's estimated that it would cost only 10 BILLION to provide a clean water source for ALL.  So, I hear those numbers and see that a real Christmas, one focused on loving God and loving others, CAN change the world!  Can't wait to see how lives are changed this Christmas.  Join the story!

BELLY LAUGHS

I'm thankful for belly laughs.  Chernet has been doing this funny, loud, belly laugh the last couple days and it is irresistible.  Warms my heart.  Makes me thankful that we didn't miss out on this...makes the hard stuff fall away...

Orphan Sunday organized by Recycle Love was great!  Thanks for all those who wished us well and prayed for this event.  It was amazing to meet some other families and to listen to others who shared. Left with some things to think about.  Challenged.  Encouraged.  The two-hour drive south was totally worth it. :)

Can I tell you what I love about his new life with kids and me being at home this year?!  I relish in the absence of stress.  Work managed to consume my life.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job!  It's just that I was always fixing a lesson, grading papers, sitting in a meeting, and/or finishing a class...always.  The other Saturday, we took an unplanned adventure...something that would have never happened in the old life!  Totally refreshing!  Drove down to Portland for some zoo time, went to a late lunch, walked around a little...before, that would have needed to be scheduled a few weeks out...hehe.

 Chernet's gorgeous head of curls is getting long!  Seriously, I've spent more time and money on this guy's hair in five months than on my own hair for the last 5 years.  Sometimes I feel as though our day works around his hair; however, I'm beginning to cherish our one-on-one time when we're getting his hair done.

Out on a little adventure with daddy so that mommy can get un-crazy. :) 

The boys are lacking some basic skills that other kids their age have...partly because of language, but also because of exposure.  I enjoy working with each one-on-one as we beef up on language, counting, self-control, motor skills, etc.  It's so fun to see them grow -- to see them proud of hard work and persistence.  After math time yesterday, we did some sorting.  Such an awesome way to practice fine motor skills, control, colors...here's Derbe's end product.

RECYCLE LOVE'S ORPHAN SUNDAY

On Sunday, we're heading down to Oregon to share at Recycle Love's Orphan Sunday event.  Nervous!  Please keep this event in your prayers.  That all in attendance are encouraged...challenged...whatever it is that ultimately results in more orphans being adopted, more kids in the system being fostered, more being called to walk alongside the widow...

There's a great, very well-priced tshirt too if you want to check it out. :)  http://www.recyclelovefestival.com/

ART for a CAUSE

Let me introduce you to an old student of mine...Sam.  She's a great artist who is doing something that I deeply admire -- she's using her talents to bless others.

Several months before the boys came home, I was looking for art to put in the baby's room (before we changed our parameters) and wanted something different and special.  AND something that honored our child's Ethiopian roots.  I scoured the Internet and couldn't really find that piece that was just right.  Soooo, to make a long story short, one day, I was looking through some of Sam's work and knew that she could accomplish the task.

Here's what she did for us...how cool are these?!    The one on the bottom left is my favorite!  The background map is the region the boys spent the first couple years of life -- much like what a state is here in the US. Isn't that acacia tree incredible?!

Now, here's the best part.  Sam is going to continue to create art for adoptive families and donate 30% to Wiphan (visit here), an organization that is striving to fulfill James 1:27 COMPLETELY by taking care of orphans AND widows.  Through WIPHAN, widows are provided assistance like skills training so that they can find a way to feed and support their own families.  As an adoptive family, fighting for the widow, has become so important, because THEY are truly the ones who can prevent one more precious, innocent child from ever entering the doors of an orphanage.

Go check out Sam's art  here.  She's got fabulous ideas and can customize your art perfectly!  Buy something original and unique for yourself or make it a thoughtful gift for someone you know.  Be a part of encouraging a young woman in her desire to use her gifts to make a difference in the lives of countless widows and orphans in Zambia. 

Get those orders in now for Christmas!!!

CUTEST 3-YEAR-OLD EVER!