We can make a difference!!!!!!!

Please read the following post from my friend Amy!!! Let's make a difference.
Also, to learn more about my friend and her awesome family visit her blog at www.buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com


One Day~One Lunch
“There’s a young boy over here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” John 6:9

Often times we are guilty of doing nothing because we can’t do it all. Often times we excuse ourselves from doing God’s work because we don’t believe we can make a difference with the little we have to offer.

On February 3rd marks 100 days of my 15 year old daughter, Addisyn, eating a small bowl of soup and piece of bread for lunch, like the children at the feeding program receive. Addisyn decided to do this so that she can donate her lunch money to Lifesong for Orphans for the children at the Adami Tulu preschool. You can read about what God taught Addisyn through our trips to Ethiopia here and here.

What to some may seem a small gift, God see’s the heart behind her efforts. He sees a child who is willing to give up the little she has for others who have nothing at all. He sees a child who did something for them- and in essence-did something for Him- with what she’d been given. Through a simple bowl of vegetable soup God has taught Addisyn so many lessons- in sacrifice and in integrity. He also blessed her efforts through a friend who decided to join in- doubling the gift.

As I was praying the other morning and thanking God for working in Addisyn's life- God brought to mind the little boy with five loaves of bread and two fish…. and how He took that child’s gift of giving what he could and multiplied it.

If you are reading this today- yes YOU… I’d like to ask you to be a part of something big. God usually preferred to work through His people. People just like you and me-and my 15 year old daughter. You have two choices right now. You can click off this page and pretend you didn’t read this and go on with your everyday life- or you can choose to see that God brought YOU here- to read this- for a purpose- to be a part of something big.

Do not worry, I am not going to ask you to do something you can’t- I am asking you to do something you can. The Average American spends between $2.00 and $8.00 a day on lunch. If everyone who reads this blog post would simple choose- on February 3rd to give up their ‘lunch money’ and then donate what they would have spent on lunch that day to Lifesong for the Adami Tulu preschool - can you image what Jesus could do? A mere $3.00 feeds a child for ONE MONTH. Can you imagine the impact we could make- simply by giving being willing to make a small sacrifice for someone else?

But more than that… can you imagine how it would affect those around us as we say ‘enough’. Enough of over abundance. Enough of the waste. Enough of going on with our lives like we are the only ones that matter. Enough of turning our back to the needs of others in this world. Enough of pretending we don’t know what to do. If a 15 year old can think of something to give, then so can you and I. No more excuses- all it takes is one day and one lunch.

So mark your calendar for Feb. 3rd and spread the word about the One Day- One Lunch Project. Put it on Facebook, add it to your blog- ask your friends, coworkers and church family to join in. Let’s make a small sacrifice- to make one big difference.

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."
~ Mother Teresa

Online donations: http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/donation.html
**indicate for the Adami Tulu Preschool.

Mail checks to:
Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
For the Adami Tulu Preschool

Two more makes Seven

I want to tell a little story...
Once there were two families who lived in different states. One family was in the process of adopting a little girl from China and another a little girl from S. Korea. Well, as they were waiting to be matched their agency sent an email stating that they had two toddlers waiting for families in Guatemala. Both these families decided to switch to the Guatemalan program and adopt these toddlers.
The families were told the girls should be home in 4-6 months. Unfortunately, the process dragged on and on. These two families connected with each other since they were using the same agency and the girls were in the same orphanage. It started as support, but quickly grew into a friendship. This friendships is one of the biggest blessings to come out of our crazy Guatemalan adoption!!!!
Our girls came home just over 5 years ago. At that point, we were pretty sure we would never adopt again. We were emotionally drained, but God had other plans. Five years later we went from 3 kids (our two bio boys and their bio girl) to 11 kids (Guatemala - 2, Vietnam - 1, S. Korea - 3, Ethiopia - 2). We are truly blessed, but the story doesn't end there.
While our friends were in Ethiopia adopting their infant son, they met two special girls. These girls are around 8-9 years old and deaf. They couldn't get these beautiful girls out of their mind! So...they are bringing them home. They are now waiting for a court date in Ethiopia.
Adoption is expensive, but so worth it. In order to help out with the costs they are selling t-shirts. Please consider being a part of bringing these precious girls home.
Here is the letter I received from them:
As you know, my husband, Al, and I have both been blessed with big hearts for orphans. While in Africa this last year, finalizing the adoption of our new son,Will, Al and I had the opportunity to meet and spend considerable time with two young girls living at the orphanage. These two girls are older (estimated to be 7 and 9 years old), they have no known family and they are both deaf. These two girls are also both bright, in need of a family to love and care for them, a home to call their own as well as the appropriate educational resources.
In an effort to raise some much needed money to help with the cost of bringing these girls home and - at the same time - raise some awareness about the simple things we can all do for orphans every day, Al and I are selling t-shirts. Please see the information attached and consider buying a shirt . . . or two . . . or three . . . We expect to mail out shirts for delivery in time for Valentine's Day!

Also, I have this form in pdf format that I can email to you if needed. The shirts are nice, and I can't wait to get mine.

So cute!

Three of my kids are doing Upwards at our church. Two are cheerleading and one is playing basketball. They are all having fun and working hard.
I was never a cheerleader! I played sports throughout school and even college (ie. volleyball, basketball, softball, track, etc.) So I wasn't sure about the whole cheerleading thing, but I have to say I think my little cheerleaders are the cutest and my basketball player is very handsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A New Year

Well, it is hard to believe that it is 2011!
We are looking forward to all that God has in store for us this year.
The holidays were very enjoyable! We had family over on Christmas eve. It was so fun. We just had pizza and opened gifts, but it was nice to relax and enjoy each other's company.
Christmas morning was spent opening gifts and just relaxing. We then headed out to visit more family that afternoon.
On Sunday morning, we were blessed to hear Chris' brother preach about compassion. Then we went to his house and spent the whole day with the rest of the family.
Chris has been home most of the time the kids were off - so we had a lot of fun together!
Yesterday we went to the movies and watched Megamind. I wasn't sure how Riley and Ruth would do, but they did just fine. Riley ate a majority of the popcorn. The boy loves to eat.
Ruth did great during the holiday considering she hasn't been home too long. She had a few meltdowns, but did way better than expected. She loved being around all the family.
Enjoy a few more photos from our Christmas celebrations.