the widow's mite

We celebrated Christmas last night with my in-laws.  With 14 kids between 4 families, its always loads of fun!

There was a bit of talk about the hopes of our little girl being in the mix with all her cousins next year at this time.  My very crafty sister-in-law (who had my name) made this lovely hat for me and a matching one for our sweet girl!  So fun, and so beautiful!

We stuck around my brother-in-law's house for a bit after everyone had left.  They called their 4 kiddos (11, 8, 6, 4) in and had us take a seat.  The subject of adoption had come up in their home and they had been talking about the adoption of our daughter, their cousin.  It touched their sweet little hearts in such a big way.  So big that they busted into their piggy banks and collectively gave us a huge gift of $51.  I wept.  Our sweet nephew and nieces reached in deep to help bring their cousin home.  We consider this a huge gift.  It makes a small dent in our expenses, but it was a huge sacrifice for them to give it.

This passage immediately came to mind:

Luke 21

A Widow’s Contribution

 ¹Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box. ²He noticed a poor widow drop in two small coins. ³He said, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. ⁴All of these people have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”

They gave of the small amount that they have...
        which clearly means so much more to Jesus (and us) than giving what can be spared.

Kiddos, thank you!  We are so blessed by your gift and the sacrifice you made for your cousin.  She will be  told of your sacrificial gift and how it helped to make her an Anthony.  Love you guys...hugs...big hugs!

surprised?

God sure isn't, but I am completely blown away that we are nearly at the $6000 mark for adoption fundraising!  I am completely humbled at what God has done and is continuing to do with some fabric flowers and feeble hands.  I am blown away by His continued grace and blessing on our lives and this path of adoption.  I've been making flowers feverishly and am taking a break from it for a couple weeks while the kids are home and the mister has a few days off.  What a way to grow a family!  It is so much more work than carrying a baby for nine months and birthing him/her.  I'm finding it almost a bit more rewarding, though. 
This baby girl
...so far away
...maybe not even a thought to her birth mom yet
...has completely captured my heart! 

Just a month ago I was so unsure of whether or not I could love her as much as I love my boys.  Those fears have been erased...ERASED!  I am smitten.  So smitten that last night my man and I had a short little date.  So we went to the store and picked up this...

for our nameless baby girl who we don't know, but God knows intimately!  It's screaming for a crocheted hat with a flower on it :)...on the docket to purchase as soon as that etsy shop opens back up.  Little things like this are keeping me focused when the flower orders start to overwhelm me. 

Merry Christmas sweet girl...we're praying that next year you'll be home for Christmas!

getting there

I have been completely blown out of the water with how fast these flowers are flying out of my house!  Our thermometer of fundraising keeps going up....we are so thankful.  To all of you who are adorned with flowers...or going to be once you open your Christmas present...THANK YOU!


Let me tell you a little story about last weekend's craft show.  I got my table all set up...which, by the way, was set up directly in front of everyone who walked in the front doors.  I had a chance to sit down and look at the program which listed all of the vendors and what they were selling.  The very last vendor was a woman with the title "Hope for Honduran Program".  "Hmmm.  What's this all about," I wondered.  I almost walked right past her table when she noticed the flower I was wearing and wanted to know where I got it.  We chatted for a bit and I noticed that this was indeed the Hope for Honduran Program table.  She owns an orphanage in Honduras (with unadoptable children), travels to Honduras every 6 weeks, and was selling things that these children had made to help fund her program there.  We had an instant connection.  She invited me to come with her on one of her trips to teach the children a craft that they can make to sell.  What a cool thing.  It is so great when God places people in your path not only to confirm that you are on the right path, but to help you along the way.  Our God is so big!  The bonus is that she LOVES the flowers and has purchased 7 so far.  She wants to be an east side vendor and tells everyone she knows to buy these...and they do!

Above is a picture of the little doll that I bought to remind us of Honduras and our baby that waits for us there