An incredibly beautiful way to help...and a giveaway!

   A few years ago I got to 'know' through blogs a woman who is such an inspiration to me. Kelly is an adoptive Mama who has stepped forward to transform the adoption community in so many ways. She helped create We Are Grafted In and The Sparrow Fund as well as The Nest. The Nest supports adoptions while at the same time helping Kenyan mothers make a living and feed their children (and other's children)....it is a stunningly beautiful program!
     The Nest has been so successful that it is helping these women to be able to feed their children, clothe them and send them to school, all by selling goods that these women have made. Goods that are so beautiful.

 

  Like this beautiful passionfruit necklace and earring set

and these sweet elephants

  I have some of these bracelets and they are BEAUTIFUL....

I love wearing them and get compliments all the time,

which also starts up some great conversations about who made them...

Did I mention that these are all made by the Kenyan women???

So...this is where we can help this program and these women....

January has been really slow...

and that means not being able to send very much to these mothers that are doing everything they can to feed and take care of not only their own children but those all around them.

Why not take some time and go ahead and stock up for birthday presents, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day....children's birthdays. You get your shopping done and help some very strong and brave women at the same time!

No mad dash to Target for some plastic thing or other at the last minute...and you are stocked up with very thoughtful gifts!

This is also where the giveaway comes in.....

On Valentine's Day I will be giving away one item from the Nest of your choosing!

Here is how it works:

* Go to The Nest and look around! Come back and let me know your favorites (1 entry)

* Take a minute and post about this giveaway on Facebook, come back and let me know (1 entry)

* Put it on Twitter, come back and let me know (1 entry)

* 'Pin' it on Pinterest, and let me know (1 entry)

* Write about it on your blog, and let me know (1 entry)

Thanks for helping be a part of helping mother's in Kenya!!!!!

*

A Big Old Give Away!!!!!!

       It is getting a bit cold a blustery outside which gets me dreaming of Christmas lights and the kids talking about wishlists! In perfect timing, I was contacted by CSN Stores asking if I would like to host a giveaway...seriously, you bet!

    So one of you is going to win a $65 gift certificate to use at any of CSN's 200 online stores! I have been browsing around and cannot believe how much stuff they have. There is somethign for everyone there from dining room chairs to super cute toys and just about everything possible in between.

    Here are some of my favorites:

and I know some little guys who would love this!

and these leave me drooling a bit...

and these are about the coolest!

and there is just so much more!!!!

So how the give away works is....

Go and visit CSN Stores, poke around and come back here and let me know what you would use the $65 gift certificate for!!!!

Make sure to leave an email address so that I can get you the gift certificate code at the end!

The give away will end Tuesday November 2nd!

So excited to bless somebody here!!!!

Happy clicking!

****CSN says this can only be for US and Canada only, sorry!***

Sweet, Sweet Eve Dress Give Away!!!!

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Matthew 25:40

   

Ok...just when I thought things could not get any sweeter, Erika at A Cup of Cold Water created this:

This beautiful shirt (that can also be made as a dress for little ones) is hand-made with an antique handkerchief for the top and matching fabrics for the bottom. I know, it is so cute that I wish I could win my own give away! She is offering to make two different kinds for this give away and they are both beyond beautiful!

Besides making breath-taking dresses she makes a ton of other mouth-wateringly adorable things...seriously, you know those people who are just gifted and everything they do seems to turn to gold? Erika has that touch!

Here are just a few of her other creations

and  if you are my mom or Doug's mom...close your eyes!!!!! These can hold Scripture cards or notes cards or anything cute in card-type thing (photos of Grandchildren??). What a cute way to announce a referral...

Ok...I don't want to give it all away, honestly, I am restraining myself :) But if you have little boys, nothing could be cuter...

More importantly...the reason Erika is sewing her heart out is this....

This is sweet Lulu soon to be Eve who the Give Away shirt is named after!

So let's come around this family and help get this little girlie home!!!!!!

In the process someone will win a priceless, one of a kind dress ( or shirt for a bigger kid)!

So how to your enter to win?

* First you MUST go and check out Erika's site...because you will just kick yourself if you don't! Head over to A Cup of Cold Water check out the beautiful Eve dress options. Come back here and let me know which one you like the best! ( 1 Entry)

* Head back over to A Cup of Cold water again and scroll down through Erika's great creations (don't forget to check out her fabric options on the Flicker link on the side) . Come back and tell me which is your favorite creation!!! (1 Entry)!

* Become a follower of A Cup of Cold Water

* Leave a comment for Erika and her family...how about a favorite Scripture or quote to encourage them or to pass on to Eve when she is older? Then leave it here too because I love Scripture and quotes (1 Entry)!

* Because I remember what it was like to wait while you knew that your child was sick...also head over to Till God Brings Them Home and leave them a Scripture, or quote as well! ( 1 Entry)!

* Because I love to meet new people...become a follower here! I cannot wait to meet you! If you are already a follower, just post and let me know!(1 Entry)!

* Oh...and one last way! Post about this Give Away on your blog, facebook, Twitter etc (1 Entry for each)!

Make sure that you let me know about each entry (and make sure I have a way to contact you). You can put it all in one post or in seperate ones...my trusty team judges will help me out in picking the winner (which they love). This contest will go until Monday the 19th!!!!!!

   Happy clicking and Praise God for soon to be one less orphan in this world!!!!!

And the winner is......

    We had an eventful morning drawing the winner of the It's Poppy Dip dress! I promise, we kept it clean...

We had a team of very qualified (and darned cute) judges...

We prepared the bowl...

Georgia wanted to pick the winner

But we decided that big sister should have the honor

.      And the winner is......

Tanyalea from Acorns and Cherry Blossoms !!!!!! You just have to go and visit her site and see her cute Khloe who is coming home SOON!


Can I just tell you how amazing Tanylea is? She has a serious gift for encouragement. Ever since we began our journey to Georgia, she has left comments on our blog and prayed for us. Seriously, when things were so very hard, it was Tanyalea's comment that I looked for first. It is so incredibly evident that she deeply knows the Father's heart, it just oozes out of her. She is waiting for her travel approval to go and get her Khloe (who is beyond adorable). So when Ravenna pulled out her name I just had to smile. Enjoy Tanyalea from my little Georgia to your Khloe :)

Thanks to everyone who participated...it is such an honor to know so many amazing people. I cannot wait to watch as God matches Sallee and her family with their new little one. Is there anything better than being a little piece of God's plan?

We have a winner!!!!

...and it is really fun! My three little helpers chose...

My three little helpers chose...but I have to get them off to school! Check back soon!

                     Happy anticipation !!!!!!

A Girlie Giveaway!!!!

 Ok....every once in awhile you come across something so adorable and sweet that you just have to pass it on. It's Poppy Dip Dresses are beyond cute, sassy and fun. The best part? In purchasing them you help Sallee and her family as they work towards their 3rd adoption from Ethiopia!

Some of the beautiful Poppy Dip dresses...

So on April 1st, I will be giving away one It's Poppy Dip Dress or Twirl skirt.

Ravenna can hardly wait to choose her own fabric

I can hardly wait to see my girls spinning and frolicking in these!!!!

They may wear nothing else from now on!

What girl doesn't love to twirl? Wish they came in my size!

So how do you get entries???

* Go to It's Poppy Dip (button on the right of this blog) and check out the Fabrics section. Come back and tell me your favorites (1 entry)

*Go to the It's Poppy Dip blog (top of the Poppy Dip website) and leave a comment (1 entry)

* Grab the It's Poppy Dip button and put it on your blog (1 entry)

* Write about this giveaway on your blog or facebook etc. (1 entry)

* Come out of the woodwork! If you read this blog, become a follower...I am excited to get to know you and to pray for you! (1 entry)

    VERY important! Let me know what you have done so that I can count your entries. On April 1st my trusty and adorable helpers will draw the winner....so make sure you leave a way for me to contact you!

Thanks for helping another adoptive family!!!!! I'm off to go and plan my order :)

And the Winner is........

    We had so much fun this morning! First, we put all of the names in  our oh so technical chooser (i.e. Parker's favorite hardhat....)

                  
We stirred them up with my trusty assistant.......

Draw one out (you know you love the suspense!).....

And I am so excited that the winner is.........

     Rachel from Once Upon A Miracle (http://www.onceuponamiracle.com/)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   If you have not been to her blog, you just have to check it out! She is a total delight and has one adorable little boy. Make sure to check out her True Story Tuesday from this week (scroll down for it) because it will crack you up! She is one of the funniest writers that I have read!

    Congratulations Rachel these bracelets will be on your arm before you know it (just email me your address)!!!!

Thanks for participating you guys, it was really fun!!!!!! Let's keep encouraging Daleea as she gets closer to Isabella!!!!

Last Chance...Give Away!!!!!!!!

    Let's show Daleea that we are ...

praying for her!!!!!!!!

And before she knows it Isabella will be....

Tucked in tight and smothered with kisses!!!!!!

Just how do we do that again? And just how do you get entered for the beautiful Isabella bracelets?

Go and check them out (click on the Isabella bracelet link to the right not the one below)!!!!!

      I am blessed beyond belief to be able to do a giveaway of some beautiful Isabella bracelets from Orphan No More. I recently came upon Daleea's blog and fundraiser and can say without a doubt that the bracelets she makes are fun, beautiful, whimsical and for the best cause ever! She is so talented and is prayerfully making 3,000 bracelets to sell which would cover their adoption! I love the idea of wearing something that is a reminder of how much the Lord loves the orphans of the world and wants to put them in families. They are fun and trendy for grown-ups and beautiful for little girls. this give-away will be for 2 bracelets and you can choose some just for yourself, for a little girl, a mother-daughter matching set...your choice! Every penny goes towards their adoption to bring their daughter Isabella home from China.
    A lot of people have entered but you still have a great chance at one of these!!!!!!!

How cool is it to be able to use our money not only for something fun and unique but also for bringing an orphan home...truly making her an Orphan No More!


So here's how it will work:


* Go and visit the Orphan No More site. Find your favorite bracelet style and write a note in my comments about it....that gets you one entry into the drawing.


* Become a follower of the Orphan No More site...that is another entry (and you get to follow as God does awesome things in this family's life!)


* Leave an encouraging comment on the Orphan No More site (at the very bottom of all the bracelet styles)....yet another entry.



* Read their family story and leave a comment. the link is on the right side of their blog...get another entry!



* If you have a blog or facebook...make a post about this giveaway! Spread the word! Let's bless this family like crazy!


* Also if you have a blog...add the Orphan No More button to your blog and let me know about it...another entry!


* Place an order with Orphan No More ( I made mine last week).... and get yet another entry!


There! 7 different ways to earn entries in the drawing for some fun Spring bracelets!



Do one of them or all 7 !!! Just make sure to let me know so I can get your name in there (you can comment here or some have been sending me emails)!



On March 4 (our 7 month Gotcha anniversary with Georgia and Doug's birthday!), one of my kids will draw a name out of a hat and I'll let you know!!!!! No have fun looking at all the amazing choices over there and encouraging an adoptive family at the same time!!!!!!

Don't miss out! Give Away!!!!!

Wouldn't these be beautiful Easter presents???????? Or honor Mother's day by helping a child come home! Go and check them out (click on the Isabella bracelet link to the right)!!!!!

I have never done this before...but I am blessed beyond belief to be able to do a giveaway of some beautiful Isabella bracelets from Orphan No More. I recently came upon Daleea's blog and fundraiser and can say without a doubt that the bracelets she makes are fun, beautiful, whimsical and for the best cause ever! She is so talented and is prayerfully making 3,000 bracelets to sell which would cover their adoption! I love the idea of wearing something that is a reminder of how much the Lord loves the orphans of the world and wants to put them in families. They are fun and trendy for grown-ups and beautiful for little girls. this give-away will be for 2 bracelets and you can choose some just for yourself, for a little girl, a mother-daughter matching set...your choice! Every penny goes towards their adoption to bring their daughter Isabella home from China.

How cool is it to be able to use our money not only for something fun and unique but also for bringing an orphan home...truly making her an Orphan No More!




So here's how it will work:



* Go and visit the Orphan No More site. Find your favorite bracelet style and write a note in my comments about it....that gets you one entry into the drawing.




* Become a follower of the Orphan No More site...that is another entry (and you get to follow as God does awesome things in this family's life!)





* Leave an encouraging comment on the Orphan No More site (at the very bottom of all the bracelet styles)....yet another entry.






* Read their family story and leave a comment. the link is on the right side of their blog...get another entry!




* If you have a blog...make a post about this giveaway! Spread the word! Let's bless this family like crazy!





* Also if you have a blog...add the Orphan No More button to your blog and let me know about it...another entry!



* Place an order with Orphan No More ( I made mine last week).... and get yet another entry!




There! 7 different ways to earn entries in the drawing for some fun Spring bracelets!



Do one of them or all 7 !!! Just make sure to let me know so I can get your name in there (you can comment here or some have been sending me emails)!




On March 4 (our 7 month Gotcha anniversary with Georgia and Doug's birthday!), one of my kids will draw a name out of a hat and I'll let you know!!!!! No have fun looking at all the amazing choices over there and encouraging an adoptive family at the same time!!!!!!

A Give Away!!!!!!!!

For my Memorial Box Monday story see the post below this one!

               Wouldn't these be beautiful Easter presents???????? Go and check them out!!!!!

     I have never done this before...but I am blessed beyond belief to be able to do a giveaway of some beautiful Isabella bracelets from Orphan No More. I recently came upon Daleea's blog and fundraiser and can say without a doubt that the bracelets she makes are fun, beautiful, whimsical and for the best cause ever! She is so talented and is prayerfully making 3,000 bracelets to sell which would cover their adoption! I love the idea of wearing something that is a reminder of how much the Lord loves the orphans of the world and wants to put them in families. They are fun and trendy for grown-ups and beautiful for little girls. this give-away will be for 2 bracelets and you can choose some just for yourself, for a little girl, a mother-daughter matching set...your choice! Every penny goes towards their adoption to bring their daughter Isabella home from China.

  

     How cool is it to be able to use our money not only for something fun and unique but also for bringing an orphan home...truly making her an Orphan No More!

    So here's how it will work:

* Go and visit the Orphan No More site. Find your favorite bracelet style and write a note in my comments about it....that gets you one entry into the drawing.

* Become a follower of the Orphan No More site...that is another entry (and you get to follow as God does awesome things in this family's life!)

* Leave an encouraging comment on the Orphan No More site (at the very bottom of all the bracelet styles)....yet another entry.

* Read their family story and leave a comment. the link is on the right side of their blog...get another entry!

* If you have a blog...make a post about this giveaway! Spread the word! Let's bless this family like crazy!

* Also if you have a blog...add the Orphan No More button to your blog and let me know about it...another entry!

* Place an order with Orphan No More ( I made mine last week).... and get yet another entry!

  There! 7 different ways to earn entries in the drawing for some fun Spring bracelets!
   Do one of them or all 7 !!!

     On March 4 (our 7 month Gotcha anniversary with Georgia and Doug's birthday!), one of my kids will draw a name out of a hat and I'll let you know!!!!! No have fun looking at all the amazing choices over there and encouraging an adoptive family at the same time!!!!!!