Birthday wish

It is my birthday today. I have signed up with the Spina Bifida Association to help raise money to help those with spina bifida. Why? It is close to my heart. S was born with a rare form of SB, called an encephalocele. Our close friends have two children with SB too. And several years ago we helped care for two sweet girls from Haiti with this condition named Helande and Christella.

For my birthday would you consider donating to my page? It accepts donations as small as $5.

Thank you!

http://www.4b4the4th.org/faf/donorReg/mobileDonorPledge.asp?ievent=1017489&lis=1&kntae1017489=5526567032664380A8A83738E05BFEDC&supId=354785490&team=0&scWidth=320

The winner is....

Darla W. from my hubby's workplace! Yay! Have a great time at the Chrysalis. All who donated, we can't thank you enough! Every little bit is helping get us closer to bringing M. home.

There is a benefit garage and bake sale being planned by some friends from church. It will be at Faith Community Church in Lynden, on August 21, from 8 am to 2 pm. They are asking for good donations to be dropped off at the church any time from Tues. to Fridays 9-4. There is an house behind the church where you can find some people to help you with the donations. If you can preprice them it would be SO helpful. Please come out and see if you can find some treasures!! I so appreciate these friends using their gifts to help us in this way.

An update about M: Got an email this morning that M. is doing worse and had an attack last week that is setting her back again. Please pray for her. Pray that my presence there will be helpful and that we can get things a movin'! I leave on Monday and am a ball of emotions. So much to do to prepare to leave my family. So many unknowns and uncertainty. However I am very excited to finally meet her and start the bonding process.

Five Days Left

There are five days left to enter for the drawing to win a night at the Chrysalis Inn. CLICK HERE for details.

There are around 40 entries, so the chances of winning are great! Please consider donating to help with our travel expenses. I leave in TEN DAYS!

• My ticket is purchased (obviously).
• If we get a court date, J. will have to travel at the last minute.
• A last minute ticket to this part of Africa can be as high as $4,000. Praying it is a lot lower!
• We also must purchase M. a one way ticket home.
• If I need to change my return flight, I will have to pay for change fees and the difference in cost.
• I will need money for food, ground travel and passport and visa expenses too.

Every little bit helps. A ten dollar donation will enter you into the random drawing. Many have chosen to enter more than once.

THANK YOU so much.

Enter to win...

a beautiful night stay in the Chrysalis in Bellingham, WA!

To raise more $ for our upcoming trip (more soon about this) we are giving away a gift certificate for a deluxe room at this inn and spa. I hate to give it up, as I have heard wonderful things about this place, but we really wonder when we would be ableto use it. And we really don't mind the sacrifice, considering we will be going to Africa soon!

A $10 donation will enter you into a drawing to be held on August 11, 2010. Winners will be notified by email or phone. You may make your donation by sending us a check or cash (contact me for our address or give it to us in person) or click the donate button to the right. You can make a larger donation for multiple entries.

You may use the gift certificate at your convenience, but not on Friday or Saturday nights.

Our Deluxe Rooms provide a variety of accommodation options:

• Single king size or two double beds
• Window seat overlooking the water
• Accessible rooms are available
• 2-person soaking tub

Side View Deluxe Rooms starting at $199 per night

Full View Deluxe Rooms starting at $209 per night

(All Rates are starting prices and are subject to availability)

A lot of love

went into baking these cookies. I can tell you they are really tasty too! I am trying one out as I type. Yum. I have only baked one batch so far (because I only had one bag of chips) and it yielded enough usable cookies for seven sandwiches. There would probably have been enough for more, but a few got too dark and one got smashed (then eaten by S. and E.) As I was baking my thoughts were in a far off country, where my little girl resides. If you have seen the news lately, you will understand why my thoughts and prayers are with the people there.

Vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookies..

What could go together better?

To help with the travel costs for our trip to Africa and other expenses relating to M's medical care, we are making and selling ice cream sandwiches to our local NW friends.

Vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two large homemade chocolate chip cookies. Individually wrapped. Suggested donation (please give as you are led!) of $12 a dozen. You may also order smaller or larger sized batches. They will be ready for pick up or delivery by August 14-15th. To place an order, leave me a comment, give me a call, or email me at adoptinghaiti@yahoo.com. Sorry, only Whatcom County residents please, unless you are willing to make the drive for some yummy goodness!

Photo credit to Kiss My Spatula

Raffle for Heartline/ Mercy shirts

Check out the raffle going on to raise funds for Heartline Ministries. Lots of great prizes! One of the prizes is a Mercy shirt, any size. They are 100% organic cotton short sleeved shirts with a very nice design. If you don't win, you can still buy one for $20.

Total funds raised for RHFH so far..

I did the math and so far the money raised for Real Hope for Haiti is totaling $76.76. That is great, a little goes a long way and they really need the funds. If you can still spread the word about my fundraiser, I would appreciate it so much. New pledges are always welcome, and if you would like, I can start counting today instead of from the start. I also have had one one time donation, which is very nice to be able to send in to RHFH right now. The check should be made to RHFH and it can be sent to their address (I can get it for you). It is tax deductible!

Thanks so much friends for helping me and RHFH!

A bit discouraged, but still working hard

I am a bit frustrated. I have only one pledge so far (thanks Traci!) for my fundraising attempts. I need your help! If you can't make a financial contribution, please spread the word, or link my blog to yours.  Every bit counts... I have a goal of raising at least $2000.

If you are not familiar with Real Hope for Haiti, it is a wonderful organization!  I have met Lori in Port au Prince and have worked with her and Licia for a couple years now.  Their faithfulness and passion for the Haitian people is amazing.  Here is a bit of info about RHFH from their website:

Real Hope For Haiti (RHFH) is an evangelical non-profit organization that is committed to faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ among the Haitian people. The Bible speaks of a hope that does not fail.

In Romans 5:5 Paul writes, "And this hopedoes not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who he has given us." 

RHFH is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Haitians and meet their physical needs, but RHFH also understand that these efforts do not offer a hope that extends beyond the difficulties of this life. We pray with and for the patients in the clinic and the children in the Rescue Center that God's love might be shed abroad in their hearts. That they may be filled with a hope that comes from above.  Please join with us in this prayer. 

Centre Sante de la Grace du Bon Samaritain, Cazale ("Grace of the Good Samaritan Health Center") is a medical facility established under the direction and funding of Real Hope For Haiti, Inc. As a faith based medical center serving the population of Cazale, Haiti and the surrounding rural mountain villages, we will strive to meet the medical, economic, and spiritual needs of all persons that we serve with compassion, excellence, and hope in the Name and to the Glory of Jesus Christ. 

The Rescue Center

Zach, Gretchen, Lori and Licia began taking children into there home in Jan of 1999. They started with a child that was severely burned on her stomach and leg. The dream of the Rescue Center was started and it has only grown from there. They cared for up to 10 children in their home before permanently moving to Cazale in May 2002. The Center has grown to care for an average of 50 to 60 children and 4 to 6 adults at any given time. 

RHFH is very involved in community projects, helping replant vegetation, rebuilding homes damaged by flooding, etc.  

Your donation is tax deductible and if you use firstgiving.com the funds are sent DIRECTLY to RHFH.  www.firstgiving.com/mama25bears   

If you want to follow my weight loss efforts more closely, I started a blog to journal my journey.  You'll find it here: a journal of transformation

Thanks so much for your help!

Summer Plans

What to do, that is the question. Why am I so worried about summer activities right now?  The home-school program we are in allows us to us our stipend money for summer!  The only thing is, we have to plan ahead and turn in a form with when, where and how we plan on spending our money over the summer.  So, I am left to ponder, plan and dream until June 10th, when the form is due.  

I know we would like to drive down to my sister's house to camp in her yard and visit some local sights.  I would like to do some hiking, swimming and field trips.  

L. is planning on taking a babysitting course that trains kids ages 12 and up to care for children with special needs.  He will be learning CPR and first aid too!  

I am in the planning stages of holding a garage sale to raise money for adoption expenses.  It sounds like our church is ok with having it at their parking lot!  

We have some family coming to visit in June (we are so excited about this!) and VBS is the last week of June.  

There's an American Girl summer day camp we may sign the girl's up for.  At the same time there's a preschool program that would be great to entertain E!

We are planning on attending the reunion for COTP as long as it is still a go, last we heard the attendance was slim.  

Grandma and Grandpa want the kids to stay a while at their house sometime in Aug.  

We also plan on a fun camping trip.  

We are still planning our trip to Mexico... dreaming away!