Birthday Party? Nope, try again.....Birthday AUCTION!!

     Okay, fundraiser number two...I'm having an online auction for L.  It will begin on October 21st, Little Bear's second birthday, and run for 10 days, through the end of the month.  

     Normally, for a birthday, if you're invited to a party you bring a birthday present.  This year, instead of giving presents to L for her birthday, we are selling presents for her birthday!  Really, the biggest present that could be asked for is for her to come HOME.  We know that will happen in God's time...and this will be her last birthday in that stinky orphanage!  

     The auction will run on Facebook, but will also be linked to this blog, so that those of you who do not use Facebook can still go shopping.  There will be items for anyone and everyone. It's a perfect excuse to start shopping for Christmas, for upcoming Fall or Winter birthdays, or for a little splurge for yourself! 

     And by you shopping at L's auction, you will help her move another step closer to coming home...

     And next year...we'll have the BIGGEST birthday bash a three year little girl has ever experienced!!

     The Birthday Auction is OPEN...Start your bidding!!!

Jewelry ROCKS!!!

This post is not really related to Down Syndrome (or well, maybe it can be...) and is not one of the two originally planned fundraisers for a little girl turning two this month but...it is fun news.

A friend of mine is co-partners in a jewelry business and also has a daughter with Down Syndrome (who I have determined is going to be L's future BFF...) Her business is called 'Jewelry Rocks'.  And for L...it did just that.  Rocked all through the month of September as part of their earnings were shared towards Little Bears 'break out' costs. 

The jewelry is pretty awesome! You should check it out at....

 

It was very nice to see L's FSP take a nice jump in one day! 

And to know that the people behind that jump, aren't helping 'just because', but are helping because they realize how special L is and already love her a lot even though they have never met her and how much it will mean for her to get busted out of that ol' orphanage and have a family of her very own. 

 

Thanks Jewelry Rocks,

You...ROCK!!!

October...a month of awareness and celebrations

   This is going to be a month of many things...awareness, pumpkins, trunk-or-treat, fundraisers, celebration and BIRTHDAYS!!! 
  
   October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month  I will be posting interesting facts, new information and uplifting stories all month long.  You can read the first post in regards to DS Awareness, HERE.
  

Pumpkins!!!

     October also means Pumpkins!  At our church we have a huge Pumpkin Patch that is run by our youth. (After being coordinated and then continually overseen by our Youth Director.  Could you just imagine what excitement could ensue when mixing teenagers and a field of pumpkins!?!)  Families from all over the Island come to our Patch to hunt and choose the perfect pumpkin. There are lots of 'Pictures in the Patch' and the feel of Fall is always in the air when you're walking through rows of pumpkins. This is also a fundraiser for our youth group as they earn points by working at the patch, which they can then cash in towards trips and outings throughout the year.  It's a win-win!!  As part of the pumpkin patch, we have a Pumpkin Fun Day.  Which is pretty self explanatory.  You spend the day, having fun, at a Pumpkin Patch, with pumpkins!  There will be food, games, food and lots of fun activities (and did I mention, food?) I CANNOT wait for next year when Little Bear will be running around choosing her perfect pumpkin and enjoying the fun of a pumpkin filled day!!   And at the end of the month, after the patch is closed down and the final pumpkins are hauled off the lot, we have a night of Treats and 'Trunks'?  Yep, you read that correctly.  We have Trunk or Treat for kiddos to don their first second third final choice of costume (No child ever changes their mind about what they want to be for gathering goodies, right?  Especially not within days of the actual treat gathering!) and go from 'trunk to trunk' gathering goodies.  I have wondered the aisles of many stores scanning the costumes for what could be the 'perfect' find for a certain little girl next year.  I suppose I'll let her have some input as to what she'd like to dress up as.  Though her cuteness will probably get her all the treats she could ever want!  There will be games, contests, pumpkins, fun and guess what...FOOD!  It will be treats all around!
   
    October also holds a very special birthday.  My Little Bear will be 2!  This is a big.deal.birthday, for a few different reasons.  First, uhm, 2 is just kind of a big deal.  At 2, you're not really a baby anymore, you kind of fall into the ranks of being a 'toddler'!  And, well, being a toddler is a big deal!  This birthday, turning two, will happen in an orphanage.  That is definitely a big deal.  There will not be a family to celebrate with or presents to open or cake to devour.  (Whoa...no cake...I know, REALLY big deal there!!)  Anyway, the biggest deal about this birthday is that it will be her LAST in an orphanage! and THAT is the BIGGEST deal of them all!!!  Though she doesn't know it, she has a family who will be celebrating on the other side of the world.  Celebrating her for all of her two 'long' years, celebrating that her birth mother chose life for L so she  and I could find each other and celebrating that next year, we'll have the biggest birthday bash EVER! Family and friends to party with, presents to open, cake (LOTS of cake) to devour and the big deal for her birthday next year...she'll be home!

    As this is such a special month, I have a little fundraiser (well two actually, but will tell you more about the second at another time) to share.  For the month of October, we are holding...'Loose Change for Lizzy'.  I will be passing out cups... placing them at local business, sharing them with friends, putting one on my own desk... to gather 'loose change'. (you know, those extra coins from your pocket, the change from your drive through lunch at Chick-fil-a, the 'found' dollar at the bottom of the dryer).  I'm positive, if L could tell you herself, that the biggest birthday wish she'd have is to be busted out of that darn orphanage (and that is certainly MY biggest birthday wish for her!). Isn't cool to think that YOUR loose change could help make that happen!!  To find out more about 'Loose Change for Lizzy'.  Click HERE and you'll go directly to a post dedicated just to change...

   As for the second fundraiser...you'll have to keep checking back.  That will be happening during 'birthday week'.  (TWO fundraisers for a TWO year old girl...perfect right!)
    

     

Loose Change for Lizzy

      For the month of October, we are holding...'Loose Change for Lizzy'.  I will be passing out cups... placing them at local business, sharing them with friends and family, putting one on my own desk... to gather 'loose change'. (you know, those extra coins from your pocket, the change from your drive through lunch at Chick-fil-a, the 'found' dollar at the bottom of the dryer).        
      I'm positive, if L could tell you herself, that the biggest birthday wish she'd have is to be busted out of that darn orphanage (and that is certainly MY biggest birthday wish for her!). Isn't cool to think that YOUR loose change could help make that happen!!  

      This are the cups that I'm sharing.  They are for 'kids on the go'.  I'd say that is a pretty good description of the Little Bear. 

 On the go, from an orphanage...On the go, home...

Plus they are orange and can so easily be transformed into pumpkins for the perfectly pumpkiny month of October!

 If you would like me to send you a cup, please give me your address and it will be at your door in no time.  Or if you already have a container to use and would simply like the picture to add to your collection device, I can email that instantaneously!  (Isn't technology wonderful!)   

I am also sharing a little 'blurb' to go with cups being left in businesses and for people who really wonder 'What IS this all about?'.  If you would like me to include a sheet of these 'blurbs' to share as well, please let me know.  I can add a sheet when sending your cup or in an email.  You can feel free to copy and spread around as wanted.

The pages look similar to this...

...but are adjusted slightly to explain the 'Loose Change for Lizzy' fundraiser 

and come 4 to a page!

You can fill up your cups for the ENTIRE month and at the end of October, we'll gather them all up (and the change inside), add it all together and share the total that will to go towards busting L out of that orphanage and giving her the chance to enjoy the rest of her birthdays at home with her family!

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

   Okay, this will be the first of (hopefully) many posts this month to share uplifting stories and information to raise awareness for individuals with Down Syndrome. 

    I saw this on Facebook this morning- 

"It's October 1st--the first day of Down Syndrome Awareness Month 2012. Time to reflect on a little history...check out this photo from 1984: President Reagan signs a resolution declaring October as "National Down Syndrome Month"!"

I think it's pretty fitting for the first Down Syndrome Awareness post on the 1st of October!  If you click the picture, it links to the National Down Syndrome Congress website.  The National Down Syndrome Congress is the country’s oldest national organization for people with Down syndrome, their families, and the professionals who work with them. They provide information, advocacy and support concerning all aspects of life for individuals with Down syndrome, and work to create a national climate in which ALL people will recognize and embrace the value and dignity of people with Down syndrome. 

I am also going to share a video that many of you have probably seen, but I think it's PERFECT for the 1st day of this special month!  Once my Little Bear is home safe in my arms, I can share more on how impactful this video was for me!  In this video, (which was posted on March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day) a little girl (Ace) talks about having a brother with Down Syndrome (Archie), who was adopted.  I can't watch it without crying.every.single.time!  (And I should drop a little plug for one Miss Danielle Rhymer as she is the one who shared this video when I saw it for the first time!  It goes to show, you never know who might be touched, in what sort of way, by the things that you chose to do or say!  Thank-you Danielle!) 

(If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can pause the background soundtrack to better hear the video!)

Fall

Tomorrow is the first day of the Fall season...
the leaves are starting to change (in most places),
the little squirrels are out gathering their winter meals,
the temperatures are starting to drop...


 

Fall colors in EE...



and squirrels with crazy ears!!

 

This year,

you will watch the leaves change outside your window,

you might catch a glimps of a little bushy tail scampering up a tree,

 and you are bundled in shared tights and onsies...

I promise, next year...
we will find leaves to jump in,
we will make squeaky noises at the squirrels while walking outside,
and we will snuggle together in cozy new sweats that only belong to you...


Next year...

Sombreros, Lampshades and Horses

    Saturday was successful in so many ways...  The Yard Sale went off without a hitch. The weather was perfect, the crowd was steady and the cash was flowing!  Prayers for a great day were answered!!  My friends and family were AMAZINGLY helpful... 90% of the items were SOLD!!!  And the drop off of leftovers to Goodwill was one quick trip!  Yep, success!


   Friends lent the use of their garage and driveway, which was great, and the use of themselves, also great!  Both super helpful and super entertaining…

…who would have thought that displaying items in such unique ways would get them sold. 


  

     My family was also super helpful, after baking for days to sell goodies, making baskets full of bracelets, making multiple trips to load and unload items, they also spent the morning selling and sharing about Little Bear to anyone and EVERYONE!!                                          

                        And, remember those youth 

                          that you’ve heard me talk 

                                    about before? 

        Yeah?

            

Well, they were at it again…selling, selling, selling, wandering the neighborhood to bring in more customers and then selling some more.
   There was even a little friendly competition which involved a lovely Sombrero and lunch...yes, craziness is included when these kids are around to help out!   But there was a winner and L is a pretty great beneficiary of said winnings.
    On top of the greatness of being able to share L's story and stories of orphans around the world, I got to share with a visitor who has horses and was also very interested in the world of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies.  This Mama may have finally found a barn to spend her free time at.  (I know what you're thinking...free time?) Anyway, it was an all around EXTREMELY rewarding Saturday in September.
   

APPROVED!!!!!

What an absolutely WONDERFUL Tuesday!!! 
 

I ran home to let the dog out at lunch and check the mail (which is a slight obsession at this point. Always waiting for something special to arrive in that little silver box!)  And...low and behold...today there was something VERY special!!

 

This beautiful.piece.of.paper.

 

What is so special about this paper?  Well, I'm so glad you asked, let me tell you! 

This piece of paper is my USCIS approval for advance processing of an orphan. 
(Now it's all clear right!?) Really, what approval means is that the

United States Citizen and Immigration Service

finds that I am suitable as an adoptive parent! Approval means that the US will allow Little Bear to be raised by me, in my home, in the USA, as an American Citizen!!  Wow!! 

Approval means freedom to one tiny little girl currently sitting in an orphanage on the other side of the world. 

 

These are probably going to be my favorite words for the rest of the week!

(if not longer!)

Yard Sale!!!

Time to clean out those closets, empty out those old boxes, gather the items hiding under the bed and donate to a...

Yard Sale for Little Bear!! 

Or, if you’re looking for that perfect find, come shop on

Saturday, September 15th. 

Lots of fun items have already been gathered.  PLUS you can enjoy a treat from the bake sale and a cold lemonade (or tea) while you shop.  One of a kind arts and crafts also available!! 

Don’t miss it!!!

And now...we wait...

   Well, that's it. 

 

Round one paperwork is complete. 

 

I placed it, trustingly, in the hands of the seemingly confident FedEx worker standing on the opposite side of the counter.  It may or may not have looked a bit like one of those scenes from a comedy movie, where the giver of the package doesn't really 'let go' of the package and the receiver of the package has to 'pry' said package out of the givers hands. 

I'll leave it that up to your imagination.

 

    It's an odd feeling.  Knowing that now, it's out of my hands, beyond my control. (whoa, wait a second, did I just say, out.of.my.control!?!) Yep, I sure did!  Really, I know God's been in control all this time, but at least He was using me a little bit more.  Now, He's truly strengthening my patience as I simply...wait.

    I should mention though, that there ARE still other things going on while I wait.  I'm not simply sitting idle. (That would be nice though for a minute, maybe.)

 

He is still using me, just for other things...  

 

 There are still fundraisers going on. And grants to apply for and specialists to meet and a nursery to decorate and...well you get the idea...still busy.

 

P.S....

You can check out the Puzzle Fundraiser...here and the Bracelet Brigade...here. The puzzle is going to look pretty great in L's nursery. I can't wait to see it complete and hanging on her wall! And I know MANY people have been sporting braided bracelets on their wrists in honor of the Little Bear. 

    You can also soon read about the upcoming GARAGE SALE (which will be happening on September 15).  I will be blogging with more details on that super exciting event! 

   So, as you can see, there are still things going on to keep busy with but even while keeping busy, I will still be anxiously awaiting the news of when I finally get to kiss this face...

Making a difference

     Some of you may remember a few months ago I posted about the fabulous group of youth that I get to work with on a weekly basis at my church. Kids with such big hearts and actions to follow!  

Yep, these CRAZY kids...

 

     Through other varying organizations, they have sponsored children and raised funds for the child's care for the month. The most recent children that were being sponsored both graduated out of the program and rather then jump right into a new sponsorship, they decided to raise money for the months of June and July for Little Bear. At the time I was moved to tears (surprise, surprise) and the kids were all SOOO excited to be raising funds for a child that they would get to meet and be able to interact with. Then summer arrived and with summer, the craziness of life as a kid during the summer!!  Hmmm...crazy June and July...while trying to raise money.  I was just patiently waiting to see what the outcome was.

School started back up last week, so we are back to our regular school time schedules.  A little more organization and a little more calm...

(though, with these kids, the craziness never really completely disappears!!)

     At our most recent youth night, the new 6th graders were 'promoted' and it was a fun night of catching up from the summer activities (you'd think they hadn't just seen each other the week before or even days before!) and discussing the future lessons and activities.   We had a great time sharing about a mission trip that had been attended by a majority of the youth, and how their summers had been a bit different as a result of that trip. 

     After our discussion, one of the leaders went up front with a small box, he started off saying that he was so proud of these kids (as am I!!).  He reminded them about the 'motto' of the trip, learning how one single person can make a huge difference in the lives of those around us, about being audacious and not being afraid to stand up for what they believe in.  He mentioned Little Bear and what an amazing difference was being made in her life by being chosen to come into a family.  I was told to come up front and did so, now shaking trying to hold back tears!

      He then asked how many of the kids were wearing a bracelet that one boy, Kyle had been selling to raise funds for Little Bear while sharing about orphans and how much they are in need of families.  Most of the hands in the room went up.  He stated how proud he was of that boy for making a difference.  His voice broke and he had to let the other leader finish.  I was now in tears. I had given up trying to hold them in! The other leader also mentioned how proud she was of the kids and then shared that because of the money that Kyle had raised and the amount that the rest of them had chipped in, they were giving me over $1200!!!! 

There was $1244 in that little box!!! 

One group of about 20 kids...

one boy spending his weekends out selling $2 bracelets...

raised over $1200,  in 2 short months...

for my daughter. 

        I did not have words for how grateful I was or AM!!  These amazing kids, went above and beyond.  One even more than the rest.  

They are audacious. 

 They are making. a. difference.