Two things on Tuesday

There is a Tastefully Simple party going on right now and 25% of the proceeds will benefit Naomi's Fig fund. You can order some yummy mixes and Naomi's FIG fund can get some of the proceeds.  If you haven't read the story of Naomi you can go here.  You can order online and all of the details are found on her blog.   Would you please join us in praying for Naomi and her future family too? 

If you are a Mom of a boy there is a great June calendar from Brooke McGlothlin and the MOB Society.  The calendar is based on the ebook Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys by Brooke McGlothlin.  You can go here to read about the MOB society and here to print out the calendar.

Happy Tuesday!

Love

Tracy



July 10th

We had some great news this week.  Totally out the blue we got a court date! July 10th! The last thing we were expecting was to be heading back to UG this summer. We are still in shock but so excited! Once again, God is showing us that he is in control of this whole process and our job is to trust. 

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23



Please continue to pray for J, those involved in the case and for our appearance in court!

Love
Tracy

I believe

I believe in the Sun even when it is not shining;

I believe in Love even when I am alone;

and in God even when He is silent.

-Words scratched on the walls of a cellar in Cologne, Germany

by a Jew hiding from Nazi persecution.

This is one of my favorite quotes and I had no idea that  BarlowGirl had written a song about it!

Love

Tracy

It's happening right now...

The coolest silent auction is going on right now.  My friend, Megan, has put together an incredible auction to benefit Naomi's future family.  Naomi is a sweet little girl who has been waiting for a family to adopt her and my good friend Meg is working so hard to find her family!  Go over to The Sweet Naomi blog and check out all of the cool items.
Just check out a few of these items:

There are so many other great things up for auction like Ethiopian coffee, necklaces, and purses/bags.  Please go check it out.

Or you can  just donate to Naomi's FIG account.  Have you heard of a FIG account?  I didn't understand it very well until Meg explained it.  I have just copied her explanation because she worded it so perfectly.

So I realized I did not explain what a FIG fund was very well. The FIG program is a program through Project Hopeful. Project Hopeful educates and advocates for orphans with HIV, and other special needs.

FIG stand for “Family In the Gap”. We are committing to being that family for Naomi for a short time until her adoptive family finds her!

Zechariah 3:10 In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.

“Throughout the Bible, the fig tree is a literal as well as symbolic fixture. Its name, ‘Te-enah’ figuratively means to ‘spread out’, giving the sense of safety and security. In this same way the Project Hopeful FIG Program exists to provide safety and security for the orphan by bridging the gap between where the child is, an orphanage, and where the child yearns to be, in a family. Each

FIG member will cover their child in prayer, advocate for a permanent family, and raise funds to help make it possible

We feel a special responsibility to God to care for orphans and to support families called to the adoption of these children. It is our dream and vision that NO child affected by HIV or other severe special need is waiting for their forever home due to ignorance or lack of funding. By becoming a FIG member you join with Project HOPEFUL in refusing to forget the children left behind.”

We are committing to pray for, fundraise for, advocate for and educate for Naomi.

The FIG fund (or the fundraising piece) is set-up to help remove the barrier of finances from a family saying “yes” to Naomi! Finances are the biggest barrier next to fear in keeping children from being adopted.

Here is the link to donate to her FIG fund!









 

If you don't want to bid on anything from the silent auction, would you consider making a donation to Project Hopeful for Naomi?

Love

Tracy

Time for another book

It has been our tradition to buy J a book each month, as we wait for him to come home.  His stash of books is getting very large so, this month I bought a book for the whole family. I have been looking for a book that we could use together to learn about UG.  I came across this "textbook" and had to get it.

This book is part of a series by Scholastic called Enchantment of the World.  Uganda's history, culture and geography are explored in detail in this book.  The authors take you from the early days of Ug's history to British East Africa to Ugandan independence to present day Uganda.  It is a well written book and has a wealth of information.  The photography in the book is so vivid and beautiful. Jake and Elyse have loved just looking through all of the pictures.  We have enjoyed learning about Ug and look forward to being able to share it with J.

Have a great weekend!
Love
Tracy

 

Fingerprints (again) and a really easy recipe

We found out today that we have a  fingerprint appointment on May 25th.    To  apply for an orphan visa you have to go through a fingerprint clearance.  Our current fingerprints expire in July.  Obviously, we had thought our process would be over by now but that is not the case.  We are thankful we got an appointment so quickly! We wish everything could be done this quickly! :)

This brownie recipe was given to me by my Mom and it is so good and so incredibly easy!

Cake Mix Brownies
1 butter yellow or chocolate cake mix
1 egg
1/3 cup of water
1/3 cup of oil
chocolate chips

Blend the egg, water and oil into the cake mix.  Once mixed, add chocolate chips (I use about half of a bag).  Grease a 9x13 pan.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.

Love
Tracy

A small update

Good things happened in our case this week.  I wish I could share the details of the  last couple of weeks  but I can't at this point.  We are closer to bringing J home than we were at the start of this week and that is a good thing.  It is still going to be much longer than we wanted or expected it to be, but that is o.k.  Thankfully we are with an agency who wants to do things the right way.

Please continue to pray for sweet J!  Also, please pray for those handling our case that they would have wisdom as they work the case.

Happy Mother's Day!  I am  excited to not only celebrate Mom's day with my kiddos but I also get to celebrate 17 years of marriage to my best friend!!

Have a great weekend!
Love
Tracy

Training starts tonight

Here are the kinds of beliefs that God our Father accepts as pure and without fault. When widows and children who have no parents are in trouble, take care of them. And keep yourselves from being polluted by the world.

James 1:27, The Message

Last October I wrote a post about the CASA program.  I was supposed to begin CASA training in March but we got a court date so that pushed my training to this month. CASA stands for court appointed special advocates. As an advocate you represent abused and neglected children in court and other proceedings. You are their voice!  I know that not everyone may feel lead to adopt or to foster but the CASA program is a way to help and get involved with children who need someone to stand up for them.  Would you consider being a CASA volunteer? 

Nobody longs for a safe and loving family more than a child in foster care. As a CASA volunteer, you are empowered by the courts to help make this dream a reality. You will be the one consistent adult in these children’s lives, vigilantly fighting for and protecting their fundamental right to be treated with the dignity and respect every child deserves. You will not only bring positive change to the lives of these vulnerable children, but also their children and generations to come.

-CASA website

If you would like information about the CASA program you can go here.

Love
Tracy

Captivate Us!

The words in this song are beautiful!

Happy Monday

She is waiting!

 This post was written by my friend, Megan.   I love Megan's  heart.  She saw Naomi on the Holt waiting child list and is advocating for this sweet, beautiful girl who needs a Mom and Dad.  Maybe you are her parents or maybe you could just donate to help fund her adoption.  All donations are going through Project Hopeful and are tax deductible. 

Can I tell you about a sweet little girl named Naomi? She was born in SE Asia. Both of her parents passed away when she was very young. She was brought to the orphanage as a very sick child. She has been there waiting for a family to adopt her for 6 years. In those 6 years, she has slowly grown healthier, and is now thriving just like the rest of her peers. The virus in her body is more under control now, and with the love of a family and the right meds, she will have a full life!!!!


Here she is described by people that know her, and the type of family she needs...
"This adorable little girl has been in care since 2007, as her birth parents passed away and her grandparents were impoverished. She is an observant little girl and is extremely shy and scared of strangers, as noted by the Waiting Child Program Manager on a March 2011 visit. She has not had any formal education, but appears to be a bright child and is starting school in May 2011. Her motor skills are appropriate, and her language is on track, though she does not talk much. She tends to lack self-confidence and need a lot of encouragement to try things. She is HIV positive and responding well to medication. She is described by her caregiver as generous and caring and is mostly independent in her self-care needs. The right family for this child will understand the medical and social ramifications of HIV, and be able to advocate appropriately. In addition, they will need to be very patient with the transition into their home, as she will likely fear them and withdraw. She will need a calm, understanding and encouraging family to help her thrive in a completely new environment."


Want to learn more?...She has been featured here...
http://holtinternational.org/blog/2011/11/with-room-to-grow-she-blossoms/



And here...http://holtinternational.org/blog/2011/11/seeing-the-child-not-the-label/

Isn't she amazing? But still she waits. I have been advocating for her for the past year, and over and over, I hear, "We would, but the money..." And I TOTALLY understand this concern. TOTALLY! Naomi will be eligible for a Holt SNAF (Special Needs Adoption Fund) Grant, and well as a Brittany's Hope grant. So there is already $8,000-$12,000 towards her adoption. AND I am committing to help raise the rest of the funds to help eliminate financial barriers presented to potential families. 


Along with Project Hopeful, I have started a safe and secure FIG Fund for Naomi. All donations are tax-deductible, and will go directly towards Naomi's adoption! Would you consider giving? You can donate below : ) Or there is a link on the side bar.

 


FINALLY....the WHOLE point of this is to find a family for this sweet little one! So please share her story with anyone that you think would be a good match for her! Tell them there are people that love this little girl, and want to help them bring her into their family! TELL THEM! OR maybe, tell yourself...is there room in your own family for Naomi?

 

 

 

 

Quote from chapter 10

I am thankful that God always provides us with comfort when we are least expecting it!

No matter what unfolds here, He is always good and we are always loved.

Ann Voskamp

Foster Care

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month.  Right now there are over 400,000 kids in the foster care system.  107,000 of those 400,000 are waiting to be adopted.  If you would like information about foster care or adoption in the US you can go here or here.  This video is about 9 minutes long but please take the time to watch it.  If fostering or adoption are not in your future there are many other ways to help.   The CASA program, and this link to other opportunities are a good place to start.