Our Three Sons!

Today we visited at Palmetto Islands County Park to celebrate a special birthday in our adoption community and thanks to some amazing photographer friends, we got some new family pics! 

Enjoy

 

 

 

 

Love!

 

Mama and her boys!

Colin, Age 15

 

Cameron, age 11

Killer Smile!

Tommy. age 7 (almost 8)

 

 

 

Can I get an Amen?! (Cuteness alert!)

I am beyond excited to finally be able to share this post!

Back in December, 2011, when we traveled to bring Cameron home to our family....

we had the honor of visiting his orphanage and meeting three precious children who were ready and waiting for their families.  Remember sweet Stewart, Willow, & Matthew? 

Well, I am so happy that I can share with you that the little peanut who first greeted me with a big ol' kiss is now going to sleep each night with hugs and kisses from his new Mama & Baba!

"Stewart", who is now Luke, is home with his family and it makes me so happy!

Believe it or not, I DID actually give this precious family a couple of days to rest before descending on them with my boys to visit. :-)

When we got the green light, we went over and got to see this precious child of God in person once again.

I just had to get another kiss! He has a smile that lights up an entire room!

(And don't even ask about his appetite!)  While we were there visiting, he downed way more than his fair share of quesadillas!  

The boys, Colin especially, were helpful in communicating with Luke and helping his mama communicate a few key things to him, although she seems to be doing an amazing job in the communication department already! 

The entire time that I was adopting Colin and Cameron, I never considered myself an orphan advocate.  (That was for those crazy, passionate types like Annie Hamlin and others! Heehee) 

But, I am so grateful to the Father for allowing me to play a small part in bringing this child to his precious family!  

Time to fundraise once more

Well, it has been nice to take a break from the fundraising for awhile, but now that we are successfully moved and settled into our new home, it is time to kick things back into gear.

This weekend, I enjoyed the Together for Adoption

conference in Atlanta at Cross Point Church.

It was a tremendous experience and if, like me, you have never heard preaching about the "Theology of Adoption", you need to get connected with "T4A". 

I could, and may at some point, do an entire post about "T4A", but for now, I just want to encourage everyone I know to check out their website here.  There are tremendous resources for pastors, orphan care leaders and everyday "Joes" like me. 

So, back to the fundraising....

While at this wonderful conference, we met a vendor who's main goal was to assist fundraising families in their quest to fund their adoptions so that one more child can come home to the love of a family and hear about the gospel of Christ.

They GAVE (that's right, gave) each fundraising family a starter pack of these gorgeous handmade pottery necklaces to sell. 

The best part is that we can return them no questions asked if they don't sell.  If they do, then we simply send them the money for each one and keep half for our adoption fund.

What a deal!

So, I am posting each one here.  At this time, I only have one of each, so when I receive a request for one and receive payment, I will mark it as SOLD.

They are well priced and are so nice!  They have a sturdy Lobster claw clasp.

The quality is great and each one has a Scripture reference etched into the back.

So, check them out and order several as gifts.  I will ship them for an extra $3.  Each one will cost $24 and would make such a nice gift for yourself or the special ladies in your life.

#1: Lam. 3:22-23--- SOLD

#2: Eph. 3:20---- SOLD

#3: Matt. 11:28

#4: Jer. 29:11--- SOLD

#5:  Lam. 3:22-23---- SOLD

#6:  Joshua 1:9---- SOLD

#7:  Prov. 3:5-6--- SOLD

#8:  James 4:8---- SOLD

#9:  Phil. 4:6-7----SOLD




#10:  James 4:8---- SOLD

#11:  Rom. 15:13---MOVED TO OTHER POST

#12:  Jer. 29:11-----SOLD

#13:  Phil 4:6-7--- SOLD

#14:  Eph. 3:18--- SOLD

#15:  Eph. 3:20--- SOLD

#16:  Prov. 3:5-6---- SOLD

#17:  1 Pet. 5:7-- SOLD

Each necklace will be shipped with its own burlap sack and the artist's info card.

Once these are gone, I will order another set. 

Get yours soon.  I think they will go fast.


Tom and I are truly blessed to have such a supportive group of friends and family members and we continue to pray blessings over each of you as you support our efforts to bring Cooper home to us. 

Here are a few new photos that I uncovered this week on the internet.


 

Not sure of his age here, but certainly a few years back.

 Children's Day celebration.  June 1st.



The Piggy Banks

All three boys have piggy banks.

Tommy's bank,

was a gift when he was born.

Admittedly, more money was put in there the first year than has been placed into it at all since!

Colin and Cameron were with me at the Goodwill and saw their piggy banks for $1 and got so excited about them...

Well, this weekend, we finally emptied the piggy banks!

This past weekend, after Colin's birthday celebration, we decided that we would open a savings account for Colin.  

I am thankful that Colin is a saver!  Only God could place a child, not of my womb, into our family with the same "frugal" genes as his new mama!

Tom sat down with the boys and created their deposit tickets for their new accounts.

Colin was flashing his cash since he hit the jackpot after his Birthday! 

(That, and the money people have blessed him with as he has selflessly offered to translate letters to and from their waiting children).

Of course, the other boys didn't want to be left out, so away we went. We all filed into the bank to open savings accounts for each of the boys.

Here is our oldest opening his first bank account.

Tommy showing off his receipt from his first deposit...

Cameron being his normal silly self!

This kid is turning out to be quite a hoot!  But, we'll save that for another day...

So, we'll see how long these savings last.  Colin and Cameron are hoping to travel to China with me when we get Cooper, so they are motivated to save.  Colin can't wait to get more Chinese books.

It is really fun to see these boys learn about money and how to be good stewards...