Thursday, August 18, 2016

Back from Italy

I gave them my camera.
 
 
I told them to take lots and lots and lots of pictures!!
 
 
And they did... they took lots of pictures of buildings...
 
 
and statutes...
 
 
And famous Domes...

 
And inside churches....
 
 
 
And outside churches....

 
and stuff in museums....
 
 
Beautiful pictures. Wonderful pictures.....
 
Pictures full of stories they will tell and many that are definitely going in our books.
 
But not ONE... NOT ONE PICTURE OF THEM.... Not one picture of Ben or Elijah or Rob in the entire lot!!
 
Insert banging head against the wall!!
 
These two are happy though because Papa brought them some cool shirts that they wore to school today!
 
 
At least I know how to take pictures of PEOPLE!!
 
Sigh!
 
 

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Today is YOUR Day!

12 years old.
 
 
Happy Birthday, Aaron!
 
 
 
 
We had to celebrate on Sunday before the big boys left for Italy.
 
 
 
 
You didn't care.
 
 
Cake. Presents.
 
 A special double birthday celebration with your cousin at a local restaurant.
 

 
Celebrating early was fine with you.
 

But today is really your day.
 
 
 Happy Birthday, sweet boy.
 
I love you to the moon and back!
 
 

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Italy, Italy!



 
He's been scruffy man ever since he agreed to be Reuben in the Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat musical.
 
24 years married and he never had a beard until now. 
 

 
Yes. I thought it was cute.
 
 
Yes. I'm glad to have my smooth-faced husband back now that the show is over.
 
 
But I didn't get to enjoy his clean-shaven face for long.
 
Right after we took these pictures...
 
These three hit the road.
 
 
 
Little boys were a bit sad about their leaving..
 
 
So was I...
 

This morning they landed in Italy for a 9 day fast blitz across the country. Their welcome to Italy was a cab driver who promised them a smooth ride from airport to hotel.  Smooth except that he drove like the Mafia was chasing him and then he dropped them off on the wrong street.  Poor jet-lagged, car-sick men had to walk the streets of Italy trying to find their hotel! 
 
Considering where they are and what they get to do for the next 9 days... I only feel a TINY bit sorry for them!
 
Little boys and I are going to enjoy easy dinners, lots of Olympics and the start of the school year....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, August 5, 2016

Friday Family and Missing Winners

I love this little girl.  Rob and I fell in love with her when she was first listed on RR. She's a tiny little warrior with a condition that means she isn't going to have a long life. That's a HUGE STRIKE against her in the adoption world. I mean - who is crazy enough to raise the ransom to adopt a child knowing that her life expectancy is short. Knowing that they are going to love and then lose.  Who does that?? 
 
 
How about a family who understands her condition in a very intimate and personal way because they have two children of their own who share the same diagnosis??  How about THAT kind of family
 
I wish I could do another giveaway on here.
 
I wish I had another whole round of prizes and I wish we all had deep deep pockets because this little girl's family isn't just adopting her but two others and all three children are in three separate regions which makes the road even harder for them. 
 
One of those children is aging out. Thankfully they have all they need to adopt him.
 

 
 
 
One of those children is blind and is heading for the mental institute at the end of the summer because she failed the 4 year old test. Blind children do not get to ever pass that test.  Ever.
 
 
They do NOT have the money to adopt her. 
 
And Elizabeth. They do NOT have the money to adopt her.
 
They need 22,000 to adopt both girls.
 
Right now they are focused on raising the ransom for Elizabeth.  Then they will work on raising the ransom for Beth.
 
 
 
How in the world can they leave Beth behind???
 
I wish I had cattle on a thousand hills.
 
I wish.
 
I know I have asked and begged and pleaded for you to help the Blooms. And you were AMAZING.  And you helped raise the ransom for OTTO and that was amazing.  P.S. HE STILL NEEDS A FAMILY!!
 
 
 
But I can't just ignore this family because if they can't raise the ransom then they will have to leave a babe behind.  Three children in three different regions is a big mountain to climb.
 
So I am sharing them today. If your pockets have anything in them, two little girls will be eternally grateful!  Neither of them want to be left behind.
 
 
 
 
 
 
-----------------------------------------
 


HELP!!!

I'M STILL LOOKING FOR THESE WINNERS...
 

 9.  PICK A FAMILY - Value $50.00 Juliette Bullock
 10.  PICK A CHILD - Value $50.00 Shannon Wilde
 
 
20.  CROSS LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Kara Wolf
21.   BAIT AND TACKLE PILLOW - Value $15.00 Anastasia Ramsey
 
23.   DESSERT HEAVEN PILLOW - Value $15.00 Errin Mills
 
25.   ROAD WORKERS PILLOW - Value $15.00 Heidi Stoll
26.   HANDMADE AFGHAN - Value $60.00 Stori Wann
27.   NEW - THIRTY ONE BAG - Value $28 Heidi Stoll 

 

 
36.   CHILD'S PURSE - Value $10.00 Kalee Magnani
 
 
 
 39.   PINK BRACELET FROM UGANDA- Value $7.00  Angeline VanHalle
 
 41.   DELICATE PEACH NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $10.00  Stori Wann
 42.   COLORFUL DOUBLE NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $15.00  Joel Durham
 43.   SILVER EARRINGS FROM UGANDA- Value $5.00  Karen Strong
 44.   HANGING BEADS NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $15.00  Rebecca Adams
 
 
 53. STORY OF THE WORLD AUDIOBOOK - Volume 4 - Value $25.00 Angie Robshaw

-----------------------------------------
 
WINNERS NEED TO E-MAIL ME your name and address at covenantb@yahoo.com - Put the item you won IN THE SUBJECT LINE of the e-mail. 
 
Make sure to put the item won in the subject line.  If you won multiple items... Send me an e-mail for each item!!  Don't forget name and address in the e-mail!!
 
THANK YOU!!
 
--------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Did YOU Win??

This is it.... the winner's list...
 
Of course the REAL winners are the 5 children who this benefitted.
 
All numbers were drawn using Random.Org. Prizes were distributed in order from #1-#53


-----------------------------------------
 
WINNERS NEED TO E-MAIL ME your name and address at covenantb@yahoo.com - Put the item you won IN THE SUBJECT LINE of the e-mail. 
 
Make sure to put the item won in the subject line.  If you won multiple items... Send me an e-mail for each item!!  Don't forget name and address in the e-mail!!
 
THANK YOU!!
 
--------------------------------------------------

HERE ARE THE WINNERS...
 
1.  A CRUISE TO THE BAHAMAS FOR TWO
 Value $836.00
Missy Voigts
 
  2.  AMAZON GIFT CARD- Value $300.00 Darla Messenger
3.  NEW NINJA MEGA KITCHEN SYSTEM - Value $230.00 Carol Hill Miller
 
4.  A NEW AMAZON ECHO - Value $180.00 Blythe Toyaards
 
 5.  A WORKING TRAIN TRACK - Value $120.00+ Naomi Herr
 6.  NEW AMAZON FIRE - KID'S EDITION - Value $99.00 Andrea Gariepy
 7.  AMAZON GIFT CARD- Value $25.00 Frankie Miller
8.  AMAZON GIFT CARD- Value $25.00 Colleen Lin

 9.  PICK A FAMILY - Value $50.00 Juliette Bullock
 10.  PICK A CHILD - Value $50.00 Shannon Wilde
 11.  PICK A CHILD OR FAMILY - Value $30.00 Ben H. 
 12.  TGI FRIDAY GIFT CARD- Value $50.00 Yvonne Opp
 13.  TARGET GIFT CARD - Value $15.00 Ben H.
 14.  NEW LOVE CROSSES BORDERS SIGN - Value $189.00 Becki Little
 15.  NEW FLOWER POWER LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Amanda Lemons-McQuinn
 16.  LOVE, HOPE PEACE LAP QUILT - Value $70.00  Yvonne Opp
 17.  SPRING IS IN THE AIR LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Colleen Lin
 18.  SCRIPTURE LAP QUILT - Value $70.00  Beth Whiteley
 19.  PURPLE SONG BIRD LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Katie Opitz
20.  CROSS LAP QUILT - Value $70.00 Kara Wolf
21.   BAIT AND TACKLE PILLOW - Value $15.00 Anastasia Ramsey
22.   MATH IS FOR LOVERS PILLOW - Value $15.00 Tammy Enberg
23.   DESSERT HEAVEN PILLOW - Value $15.00 Errin Mills
24.   RAINING CATS AND DOGS PILLOW - Value $15.00 Julie Ensor
25.   ROAD WORKERS PILLOW - Value $15.00 Heidi Stoll
26.   HANDMADE AFGHAN - Value $60.00 Stori Wann
27.   NEW - THIRTY ONE BAG - Value $28 Heidi Stoll 
 28.   AMERICAN EAGLE PURSE - Value $25.00  Stephanie Swanson
29.   COACH CLUTCH PURSE - Value $45.00 Elaine Hardwick
30.   EXPRESS PURSE - Value $30.00 Paula Dolin
31.   BANANA REPUBLIC PURSE - Value $40.00 Christa Zellar
32.   HANDMADE MEMORY BOX - Value $10.00 Susanna Musser
33.   TRADITIONAL INDONESIAN TABLE RUNNER - Value $20.00 Mary Coar
34.   TRADITIONAL INDONESIAN TABLE RUNNER - Value $20.00 Teresa Ward
   35.   NEW TODDLER CROCHETED HAT - Value $10.00 Paula Dolin
36.   CHILD'S PURSE - Value $10.00 Kalee Magnani
 
 37.   NEW EARRINGS- Value $10.00 Julie Ensor
 
38.   YELLOW BRACELET FROM UGANDA- Value $7.00  Eric H.
 39.   PINK BRACELET FROM UGANDA- Value $7.00  Angeline VanHalle
 40.   MULTICOLORED BRACELET FROM UGANDA- Value $10.00  Carolyn Johnson
 41.   DELICATE PEACH NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $10.00  Stori Wann
 42.   COLORFUL DOUBLE NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $15.00  Joel Durham
 43.   SILVER EARRINGS FROM UGANDA- Value $5.00  Karen Strong
 44.   HANGING BEADS NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $15.00  Rebecca Adams
 45.   PINK DOUBLE NECKLACE FROM UGANDA- Value $10.00 Britta McCarthy
 46. SWEET SET WOOL FELT DAHLIA PINS Teresa Ward
47. WHITE UKRAINE SHIRT - Value $10.00 Leah Hardwick
 
 48. "LITTLE RED HEN" SOAP - Value $10.00 Holly Huntley
 
 FIVE BONUS PRIZES EXCLUSIVELY FOR HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES


49.  RAINBOW RESOURCE GIFT CARD - Value $75.00 Christa Zellar
50. BIBLIOPLAN BUNDLE - Value $150.00 - $200.00 Rene Runner
51. BIBLIOPLAN: REMEMBER THE DAYS, MEDIEVAL DAYS: BOOK TWO - History for Junior Readers - Value $49.95 Taylor Tots
  52. STORY OF THE WORLD AUDIOBOOK - Volume 3 - Value $25.00 Susanna Musser
 53. STORY OF THE WORLD AUDIOBOOK - Volume 4 - Value $25.00 Angie Robshaw

-----------------------------------------
 
WINNERS NEED TO E-MAIL ME your name and address at covenantb@yahoo.com - Put the item you won IN THE SUBJECT LINE of the e-mail. 
 
Make sure to put the item won in the subject line.  If you won multiple items... Send me an e-mail for each item!!  Don't forget name and address in the e-mail!!
 
THANK YOU!!
 
--------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Blown Away!

 
I'm am sitting here this morning blown away by God.
 
When we decided to do this giveaway I wrestled with how to pray. Otto started with NOTHING in his grant account when I first blogged about him.  The Blooms needed over 23,000 dollars to fund their adoption.
 
I'm a bit on the wimpy side when it comes faith stuff.  I never want to limit God but I also am terrified to come out and state outright what I am begging Him to do. I never even posted on the blog what I was hoping and praying this giveaway would do.
 
I'm a coward that way.
 
 
Want to know what I was praying and hoping for??
 

I wanted Otto to reach $1,000 in his grant account.  That was my BIG prayer.  That was my FAITH-STRETCHING PRAYER!
 
Did you see his  grant account????????
 
HE HAS $4,712.45 IN HIS GRANT ACCOUNT!!
 
FOUR THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWELVE DOLLARS AND FORTY-FIVE CENTS!
 
That's well over four times my prayer!!! 
 
 
 
 
My BIGGER prayer for Otto is that a family would FIND HIM.  God hasn't answered that prayer yet, so I am staying in front of the throne and begging the Lord because Otto may look big in the pictures but he is just a teeny tiny little boy who needs tender loving care.  
 
 
 
Those who know him and have held him say he weighs about 20 lbs.  Twenty pounds.  He's 9 years old this year and weighs 20 lbs.  Please Please Please Mama step up!!
 
 
My prayer for the Blooms was BIG.  It was truly a Faith-Stretching prayer.  They needed over 23,000 to be fully funded and so raising $1,000 in their grant account was not going to come close to touching that need.
 
So I prayed big. 
 
I asked the Lord for $10,000 for the Blooms.
 
I wanted our little Giveaway to move in hearts enough so that they would have their financial burden eased by $10,000.00.
 
I honestly didn't think we would reach $10,000.
 
I figured that between the Blooms AND Otto we MAY POSSIBLY get to $10,000 but just that much to the Blooms alone.... HUGE prayer of faith.
 
Oh me of little faith!!!
 
YOU DONATED $11,456.00 TO THE BLOOMS AND ANOTHER $500.00 IS ON ITS WAY TO THEIR ACCOUNT THIS WEEK!!
 
WE RAISED A TOTAL OF $16,568.00 IN THIS GIVEAWAY!!
 
I don't know how many of you APOLOGIZED for your little gifts. Are you serious?? Your gifts - whether 5, 50 or 1,000 are NOT little.  They are beautiful offerings before the Lord and He took them and He did BIG THINGS with them.
 
Thank you to each of you. And thank you to those who gave and didn't tell me.  Thank you!
 
Tammy, Karen, Lesley, Brianne, Lin, Emilie, Nicole, Danielle, Rebecca, Amanda, Jamie, Holly, Naomi, Stephanie, Keshia, Leah, Tammy, Lorene, Anne, Jaime, Dana, Elaine, Kara, Anonymous, Anastasia, Teresa, Mary, Becki, Cyndi, Blythe, Carolyn, Casey, Osborn, Kim, Peter, Deb, Mary, Karen, Kim, Lindsay, Joseph, Stephanie, Clint, Stephanie, Beth, Eric, Ben, Seana, Chris, Bethany, Stori, Lisa, Frankie, Rob, Jennifer, Amber, Beth, Missy, Teresa, Alicia, Rachel, Brian, Victoria, Erika, Gene, Carolyn, Michelle, Audrey, Susan, Lexii, Julia, Regan, David, Stef, Delisa, Keely, Mrs. Post, Amy, Amy, Heidi, Errin, Paula, Aaron, Jennifer, Angie, Darla, Jenny, Yvonne, Andrea, Debby, Christa, Christina, Susanna, Colleen, Christopher, Stefanie, Daniel, Robert, Juliette, Holly, Alicia, Kim, Cassie, Laura Anne, Molly, Kristina, Tammie, Tonia, Carol, Jenny, Michelle, Judith, Renee, Susanna, Ron, Vivian, Hanna, Luba, Leah, Beth Ann, Jeannie, Joel, Dawn, Kaitlyn, Gretchen, Amanda, Ann, Britta, Angeline, Pam, Anne, Christiana, Dana, Trish, Annette, Kathy, Erika, Sharon, Nicole, Debbie, Julie, Carla, Tracy, Kameron, Jenika, Mark, Lea Ann, Katie, Taylor, Lisa, Adrienne, Ronnie, Rene, Tammie, Lucille, Staci, Amanda, Julie, Karen, Kalee, Tiffany, Annette, Molly, Amanda, Trisha, Shannon, Sherri, Micheala, Karla, Beth, Martha, Jessica, Colleen, Sarah, Cayla, Mary
 
The coolest part is that God used 5 shadow children who have been hidden away all their lives in institutes across the ocean - He used them to break hearts.  Each person who donated and each person who prayed and each person who shared - their hearts were touched by these 5 shadow children.
 
I cry just typing that.
 
I lose my words when I consider how much He loves these 5 lost babes. Their cries in their cribs do not fall on deaf ears. He has raised up a family for 4 of them. He tenderly watches over the one who waits. He is well aware of the plight of the orphans around this world and He is moving and stirring hearts to hear their cries.  Whether you can adopt, pray, give, share - everyone can take part. 
 
Otto. Violet, Amos, Lee, Daisy
 
They would thank you if they could.
 
I'm thanking you for them.
 
-----------------------------------------
 
I will be drawing names later today and will announce winners tomorrow so stay tuned.....
 
If you didn't have a chance to give...
 
The Blooms still need $11,484.00 to be fully funded.
 
Every 5.00 matters.