A Gift From God

I sometimes feel like the luckiest advocator alive...

I mean seriously...  I am so beyond blessed to get to SEE the fruit of our labor.

 

Last year at this time we were yelling for a family for this little guy... Carter..

 

This year I get the amazing privilege of having him walk into my life at a homeschooling convention....

 

I mean seriously....

 

How awesome is that??

 

 

I get to see him surrounded by family...

 

People who call him by name - Matthew - A Gift from God!

 

I get to see my little son become instant friends with a boy who shares the same birth country.

 

 

 

I am beyond lucky... I am blessed.

 

Next year....

 

Next year I hope to see another brother... another member of the family... another son...another Gift from God.

 

 

SUTTER FOR THE COLLINS FAMILY.

 

Precious words with the deepest of meaning.

 

I can't wait for next year.

 

It was a good convention.

 

As you can see... visits and movies and lollipops and other vendor kids make sitting in a booth rather fun!

 

 

It was especially nice to do a sale with my sweet husband by my side. 

 

For one thing.... he carried ALL the boxes.....

 

I AM SO BLESSED!!!

 

I'm still on my face exhausted this morning but at least my back doesn't hurt too!

 

 

P.S.  On Thursday I shared about a matching grant for the Lentz family who are adopting these two GIFTS FROM GOD...

 

 

 

They are still a bit short of meeting their goal....

 

If you didn't have a chance to donate... or forgot to donate... or thought someone else would donate for you. .. Please go drop a bit into their bucket. 

 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE to the Lentz family.

 

I'm planning on holding these babes in my arms next year in Cincinnati....

 

Donate so that next year when you see pictures of them you can smile and say to yourself... I HELPED BRING THEM HOME!!

 

You can also smile next year knowing you helped bring Sutter home too.  His family has thousands and thousands to raise to get him across the ocean. 

 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE to the Collins family.

 

We prayed for a family for Sutter... He now has one... Now we need to stand behind them and help them bring him home!

 

 

AND FINALLY FINALLY......

 

DO YOU SEE???

DO YOU SEE???

FRANK HAS $11,763.00 IN HIS GRANT ACCOUNT.....

 

DO YOU SEE THAT NUMBER????

 

COME ON MAMA!! WHERE ARE YOU PAPA???

That is half of what a family needs to get that boy home!!!!

 

 

Money should NOT BE AN EXCUSE anymore! 

 

 

Somebody PLEASE find room at your table for Frank!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're Off...

It isn't going to be a sit around the house and make a mess sort of weekend...

 

 

My messy man...

 

It isn't going to be a lie around on the couches sort of weekend either...

 

 

I wish.

 

It's going to be a weekend of selling history curriculum at the Maryland State Curriculum Fair...

 

It's going to be a few days of talking to people and enjoying the company of other vendors...

 

It's going to be a fun time with Rob who is going with me this time..

 

It's going to be BORING for Aaron as he is also going...

 

Thankfully - his cousins are coming to get him on Saturday so he can escape the doldrums of sitting in a booth and watching videos and playing on the iPad...

 

Okay... maybe he won't be too bored in our booth...

 

It's going to be a blog break for a few days...

 

See you when we get back...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Love At All...

“To love at all is to be vulnerable.



Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”


The Marrs are in Aaron's old village.

 

As of this morning they have met Alexei (Benjamin). 

He's tiny but solid.

No pictures yet but I am rejoicing.

They lost one but instead of walking away in grief and bitterness - they have chosen to love another.

Oh sweet Alexei - Your Mama has come!!

Please pray for them.

You can follow their blog HERE.

Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.

  

It was a hard day yesterday.

 

Reece's Rainbow made a difficult decision in light of recent meetings between our government and Rus*ia's government concerning adoption.

 

In a nutshell - The closed door on Americans adopting over there is not opening any time soon based on that meeting.

 

In light of this sad development, Reece's Rainbow has decided that the money that was donated to all the Rus*ian babes is being transferred to children in other countries whose doors are open.

 

I know this news is going to set off a firestorm.  Please keep it off my blog.

 

I agree with the decision.

 

It doesn't mean that I didn't sit here yesterday with tears running down my face thinking about all the babes we have yelled for, raised money for, prayed over... I LOVE those babes. 

Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.

 

But the decision was wise and prudent.

 

To let sit thousands and thousands of dollars for babes in a country that may not open for years is not good use of the money donated.

 

There are hundreds of other babes who ARE available for adoption who need families.

 

There is NO guarantee that those countries will remain open.

 

International adoption is predictable in this one fact - It is never predictable.

 

In light of the Rus*ian situation - it is even more prudent to do what needs to be done to get the babes out who CAN get out and keep praying that the doors will open again for those who are stuck inside.

 

So the money is being moved.

 

Reece's Rainbow is going to be as transparent as possible so that people will know exactly where the money has been moved to. 

 

I respect their decision and though it tears me apart inside - it is a good decision. 

 

My prayer is that as the money is moved into accounts of other waiting children - that it will open doors for those children to find families.

Please pray with me.


Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”


 This is Jocelyn - 6 years old.


Just a few weeks ago I met her brother...

She hasn't met him yet because she is still across the ocean...

Her Mama and Papa are adopting TWO babes.  Jocelyn and Lillie.



This past week they were given a $900.00 matching grant to help them raise the funds they need to get these babes home.

Do you see the size of Jocelyn???  She weighs 15 pounds!!

This is a GREAT family.  I sat in their kitchen.  They LOVE their kids.  They are AMAZING with Eli and he is THRIVING.  Next year when I travel to the Cincinnati Convention I want to see these two babes THRIVING in their care.

Please would you consider dropping something in their bucket?  I know we just finished raising boatloads for the stew and people are tired of having me yell and beg but I can't help it. 


Please.... I didn't help them raise the funds to get Eli and though I was in Cincinnati and spent time with them - they didn't ask to be part of the stew despite needing funds for their two babes.  I was so grateful to hear that they had a matching grant offered.  Please support them.  They are not rich in earthly treasure but they are rich in love!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

To Love at all is to be Vulnerable....

 

 

 

51

 

Sometimes I don't need words...

 

 

 

 

You decide the meaning of that little burned out match!!

 

To all you people who wished me a happy birthday yesterday....

 

THANK YOU!!

 

I promise I will give an Aaron update soon. 

 

Please pray for all the families who were/are in process to adopt from Rus*ia.  The news is bleak and despair is wrapping around their hearts.  Only a few babes made it out and now the door is looking shut with no hope in sight of it ever reopening.  The battle looks lost and it seems that all that is left is to gather the remains and go home.

 

I don't have words for all the precious parents who have sacrificed all and sit empty-handed with their babes across the ocean.  I don't know the future and have no idea how long the doors will stay shut.  I see them grieving and I don't know what to say except that I know God has not abandoned them.  I know that God loves their babes.  I also know that we live in a fallen world and sometimes evil wins for a season.  But not forever.  God always prevails.  I don't know how or in what way, but I know that in the end.... God will prevail.

 

The battle may look lost... but in the end... we CAN put our Trust and Hope in HIM...

 

Isaiah 40: 25-31

 

“To whom will you compare me?
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.

Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?
 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

 

 

Please pray for our Rus*ian families.  Pray God's peace and comfort into their hearts as they wait.  As they wait. 

The Butterfly Hunter

 

Where oh where are those butterflies...

 

 

 I know they are around here somewhere...

 

 

Looking...

 

 

Waiting...

 

 

 

 

MAMA - QUICK!!

 

TAKE A PICTURE OF MY BUTTERFLY!

 

ISN'T HE BEAUTIFUL?

 

YES HE IS SWEET BOY...

 

 

YES HE IS!

DO OVER

I LOVE BLOGGER

I HATE BLOGGER

Nuff said...

Blogger has an annoying way of deciding that my e-mail address should NOT have a 'b' in it...

so it takes out the 'b' every single time I put it in....

covenantb@yahoo.com

I am too busy typing to notice that it is dropping the 'b'. 

I hate blogger.

This morning a whole bunch of you tried to e-mail me and claim your prizes....

You used the e-mail without a 'b'.

I didn't get it.

Can you PLEASE try again????

Winners need to e-mail me at covenantb@yahoo.com

PLEASE.....PUT WHAT YOU WON IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE E-MAIL. 

Then put your address and any other instructions in the e-mail itself. 

Winners need to claim their prizes by Monday, April 22nd.  Prizes not claimed will be redrawn and new winners will be announced!!

 

I will be gone most of the day tomorrow to take my oldest son to check out a college.  I will respond to e-mails as soon as I can!!

 

Wii U Game Pad Deluxe Set

$349.00

(THANK YOU P.R.)

WINNER KRISTEN FERGUSON

 KINDLE FIRE HD TABLET

$199.00 Value

WINNER ALICIA SCOTT

James Avery Cross of Loops Neclace with Pearl

$280.00 Value

(THANK YOU S.W.)

WINNER LYNN AYERS

 

PICK A CHILD OR FAMILY

$250.00 PICK A CHILD - THANK YOU N. P. WINNER PATRICIA RILEY

$50.00 PICK A CHILD or FAMILY - THANK YOU L.A. WINNER AMANDA NACHTMANN

 

 

1. $100.00 dollar ANYWHERE gift card  (THANK YOU C. N.) WINNER JASON AND LISA BROWN
2. $100.00 Chevron Gas Card (THANK YOU S.W.) WINNER ANNE ROSS
3. $100.00 Chevron Gas Card (THANK YOU S.W.) WINNER CATHY (PRAYING FOR PAULINE BLOG)
4. $100.00 Target Gift Card (THANK YOU L.C.) WINNER KELLY KOHRMAN
5. $100.00 gift certificate to Caps for Causes:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Capsforcauses  (THANK YOU B.A.) WINNER JENNIFER DJAMBOV
6. $100.00 gift certificate to Caps for Causes: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Capsforcauses   (THANK YOU B.A.) WINNER PATRICIA RILEY
7. $50.00 Target Card (THANK YOU P.L.) WINNER KALIA PADRON
8. $50.00 Amazon Gift Card (THANK YOU D.M.) WINNER CELESTE GREEN
9. $50.00 Bloomingdales Gift Card (THANK YOU A. B.) WINNER STORI WANN
10. $50.00 Mobile Gas Card (THANK YOU A.B.) WINNER JOLENE O'DELL
11. $30.00 ANYWHERE gift card - (THANK YOU K.D.) WINNER KELLI MUNI
12. $25.00 Amazon Gift Card - (THANK YOU E. S.) WINNER GWEN SMITH
13. $25.00 Gift Card to Maggiano’s... (THANK YOU S.H.) WINNER LOREE BUTLER
14. $25.00 iTunes card - (THANK YOU B. S.) WINNER JENNIFER DJAMBOV
15. $25.00 CREDIT to a Scout Shop:  (THANK YOU K. L.) WINNER INNA ZAIKIN
16. $15.00 Jamba Juice Gift Card  (THANK YOU K. A.) WINNER SASHA FERA-SCHANES
17. $10.00 Cold Stone gift card - (THANK YOU  C. S.) WINNER JENNIE LEUNG

A $100.00 RESTAURANT.COM CARD

THANK YOU A.

WINNER LYNN AYERS



Glass Wine Decanter with 6 glasses
AVRIL GLASS
$100.00 Value
THANK YOU D. B. 
WINNER JULIE DIKE 
 
 
4 pack of ItWorks wraps.

Value:  $99.00
THANK YOU Amanda.U.
WINNER
GINA ZINGARO
 
 
16 GB Kingston Data Traveler Flash drive
$60.00 Value
THANK YOU E. J.
WINNER
JENNY (OUR PLANS MULTIPLIED BLOG)
 


GENTLY USED BOG BOOTS
Retail $110.00 dollars
Classic Mens, size 8. They fit Ladies size 9/9.5
THANK YOU F.M.
WINNER PAM DOLOSKI
 
 
 
Jessica Tote
Value:  $59.00
THANK YOU T. E
WINNER CONNIE RENEE
 


A Custom book gift package  
(8-10 new and gently use books of the donor’s choice)  
$50.00 + Value  
THANK YOU A.
WINNER KATRINA MORRISS
 


Baby/Lap Quilt (40" X 52") Value: $50.00 THANK YOU T. T.
WINNER NEVIN SMITH 
 
 
RAG Quilt - 35 x 25
$45.00 Value
THANK YOU A.U.
WINNER ERIC HOLLISTER
 


Brand New Vera Bradley wristlet with tags in plum petals pattern.
$30.00 value
THANK YOU A.R.
WINNER JOY BLACK WARNER
 


Thirty-One mini organizer in the minty chip pattern
$30.00 Value
THANK YOU A.B.
AMANDA (WHERE HOPE BLOG)
 
 
One dozen Cupcakes or cake balls from the "The Cupcake Patch" (winner’s choice)
$25.00 value
THANK YOU K. H.
WINNER KIM AND ANDREW
 


One dozen Cupcakes or cake balls from the "The Cupcake Patch" (winner’s choice) $25.00 value THANK YOU K. H.
WINNER VIRGINIA MAMA V 
 

Mama Bird Necklace -
WINNER DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF EGGS ON THE NECKLACE
Value $25.00
THANK YOU S.L.
WINNER KELLI MUNI
 
 
 
THREE THEMED OUT OF PRINT BRAND NEW WORKBOOKS
$25.00 Value
THANK YOU J.L.
WINNER NAOMI ADAMSON
 


Customized Video
Winner's Choice
$25.00 Value
THANK YOU B.G.
WINNER KATIE BETH
 

EasyLunchboxes Set -- 4 containers and cooler (pink)

$21.00 value

THANK YOU G. S. 

WINNER ALYNN BAKER

 

 

Set of Duct Tape Hair Bows and Wallet

Value $20.00

THANK YOU B.G.

WINNER MICHLLE PADRON/BRENDAN

 

Set of Duct Tape Hair Bows and Wallet!

Value $20.00

THANK YOU B.G.

WINNER SIERRA HOLLISTER

 

 

Happy Hartman Hope Soap - 4 bars Handmade - Value $20.00 WINNER MICHELLE PADRON/KALIA

Happy Hartman Hope Soap - 4 bars Handmade - Value $20.00 WINNER DARLA MESSENGER

Happy Hartman Hope Soap - 4 bars Handmade - Value $20.00 WINNER LIZ KULP

THANK YOU M.H.

 

HANDMADE OWL PURSE

Value: $20.00

THANK YOU B.S.

WINNER KAYLA GLASCOCK

 

 

CUSTOM MADE CROCHET HATS

Winner's choice

Value $20.00

THANK YOU L.B.

WINNER JULIE DIKE

 

$18.00 gift certificate at Hooked on Hope

THANK YOU F. M

 WINNER LYNN AYERS

 

 

Personalized Necklace... Winner's choice

$16.00 Value

THANK YOU K.J.

WINNER KRISTY THASIAH

 

Wooden Gnomes

15.00 value

THANK YOU J. L

WINNER MICHELLE PADRON/SIMON

 

 

SIGNED COPY - There's a Green Plastic Monkey in My Purse: And Other Ways Motherhood Changes Us by Jessie Clemence
$12.00 Value
WINNER LAYNA HALSTEAD
THANK YOU D. W.
 

ANCIENT CRAFT BOOK FROM BIBLIOPLAN FOR FAMILIES
$12.00 Value
WINNER ANIKA (YOUNG)
 
 
 


4 WOODEN DISNEY PUZZLES 10.00 value THANK YOU N.B.
WINNER ALICIA SCOTT
 

Autographed Blake Shelton CD
$10.00 Value THANK YOU K. A.
WINNER MICHELLE PADRON/LIAM
 

Bright turquoise Disciple cross - THANK YOU J. R. - Value $10.00 WINNER HELEN CONSTANTINE

Light Pink Disciple cross - THANKYOU J. R. - Value $10.00 WINNER KELLY HANDL

Tortured for Christ Book
Gently used
$10.00 Value
THANK YOU A.
WINNER ELAINE LAWRENCE
 

 A fabulous devotional book "Jesus Calling"

$10.00 Value

THANK YOU J. R.

WINNER CELESTE GREEN

 

Handmade Crocheted headband

5.00 value

THANK YOU D.W.

WINNER THERESA DAGOSTINO FORGE

 

  

Bible Card Games

5.00 value

THANK YOU N.P.

WINNER DENISE POARCH

 

BEAUTIFUL - HAND CROCHETED HAT

THANK YOU T.S.

WINNER DARLA MESSENGER

 

BEAUTIFUL INFINITY SCARF!!
Frosty Green Fleck with Amber Fun Fur & glass beads
THANK YOU G.C.

WINNER STORI WANN

 

BEAUTIFUL INFINITY SCARF.SHOULDER WRAP

Homespun with Terra Cotta Fun Fur

THANK YOU G.C.

WINNER ELAINE LAWRENCE

 

 Forevermore necklace $15.00 
THANK YOU C.W.

WINNER AMY BOROUGHS

 

Worthy bracelet $15.00 
 THANK YOU C.W.

WINNER TINA OSBORN

 

Chosen bracelet $15.00 
THANK YOU C.W.

WINNER LISA WILLIAMS

 

 

Wonderful bracelet $20.00
THANK YOU C.W.

WINNER SARAH DEVAN

 

 

Pink ring $5.00 

THANK YOU C.W.

WINNER TERESA CUNNINGHAM

 

Pink/Purple Dress with headband $25.00

THANK YOU C.W.

WINNER STORI WANN

 

Set of matching powder blue dresses & headbands -$40.00

THANK YOU C.W.

WINNER BETH ANN VICKERY

 

Red/Black/White dress - $20.00

THANK YOU C.W.

WINNER DEBBIE MARKS

 

Two Pack Jam

Two equal sized bottles of your favourite jams (125mL). There are afew varieties to chose from!

THANK YOU A.

WINNER SIERRA HOLLISTER

 

 

Winners need to e-mail me at covenantb@yahoo.com

PLEASE.....PUT WHAT YOU WON IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE E-MAIL. 

Then put your address and any other instructions in the e-mail itself.  Please don't send me facebook messages or leave the info in comments.  With 100+ prizes I am trying to do this in the easiest way possible!

Winners need to claim their prizes by Monday, April 22nd.  Prizes not claimed will be redrawn and new winners will be announced!!