Thankful Thursday

So thankful for this man who has worked so hard to provide for our family everyday. Thankful that he has been willing to listen to me and my crazy ideas and love me and our children no matter their origin or backgrounds. Not all men are open to adoption I have found out over the many years of being involved in the adoption and foster world. It takes a special man and father to take any child and raise them as their own, to love them as their own even if for a short period of time. One of the reasons I fell in love with him was his love for broken and hurt children and every time we start a new journey in life I fall even more in love with him. He does not always go willingly, lol. He sometimes needs me to pull or drag him, but once we are there and he sees with his own eyes he thanks me for helping him step out of his comfort zone. We balance each other out that way. He is reason, a thinker, I am a by faith, follow my heart person, both are good and wise in their own ways, but together strong. Thank you K.C. for all the journeys we have been on together. Each year is even more exciting then the next!

Wordless Wednesday

Pies, Cobblers and Fruit OH MY!!!

We have started our next fundraiser!!! We have teamed up with Willamette Valley Pie Company and are selling pies, cobblers, bags of frozen fruit and their fruit snack bars! This is a for locals only fundraiser as these pies are handmade right here in Salem, OR! This is a perfect time to stock up for Easter, Mother's Day, 4th of July or just an evening in with friends! Wow, yummy, yummy in my tummy. I am not just saying that either. I went out and bought a pie and cobbler to make sure they were as delicious as everyone had said and the stories are true, these pies got my vote!

These Pies are All Natural, The two crust fruit pies are trans-fat and dairy free, 9" and a full 40ounces! The Fruit pie flavors available are American Apple, Cherry Crunch, Raspberry/Rhubarb and Marionberry. There is a special Pie of the month also Available Lemon Silk (Real whipping cream is folded into their homemade lemon creme and placed in a hand rolled trans-fat crust. Topped with more whipping cream! Sounds delicious! Pies will be selling for $14.

Fruit Cobblers available are Forrest Berry - A combination of Boysenberries, marionberries and blueberries. Peach and also Marionberry. The cobblers are 26 ounces and serve 4-5 people. $9

For people who like things in smaller portions or have a small family. Single, Retired couple etc. We have Mini Pies. They come in a case of 6 and are 10 ounces each. Flavors available are American Apple, Cherry, Marionberry, Peach, Rasberry/Rhubarb or a Variety Pack! $27 for the case!

Fruit Snack bars are the perfect snack or lunch add on. 100% fruit, nothing added. Loaded with fiber and only 2 points according to Weight Watchers! Flavors available are Marionberry, Marionberry/Blueberry, Marionberry/strawberry. $32 for a box of 20 bars!

2-pound bags of fruit are available in 8 varieties. Pure, Ripe, Frozen fruit perfect for cooking, baking, snacking on or smoothies. Loaded with antioxidants and packaged in a re-sealable bag! Available flavor - Berry Bonanza (Strawberries, Bananas, Marionberries), Blueberry, Boysenberry, Forest Berry (Marionberries, Boysenberries, Blueberries), Marionberry, Peach, Raspberry, and Strawberry. $8

10-pound Box Fruit Varieties- 2-5lb bags per box. Berry Bonanza(strawberries, Bananas, Marionberries), Peach, and Strawberry $27 - Boysenberry, Forest Blend(Marionberries, Boysenberries, blueberries), Marionberry $29 -Blueberry and Raspberry $31

This is a great buy, for a local company, just in time for all the holidays when pie is a must. The pies are flash frozen for delivery and are good frozen for 6mo. Money is due upfront when ordering and checks are made out to me. I will be sending one very large(I hope) payment to Willamette Valley Pies Company! Last day to order is March 5th. Delivery day is March 19th at my home in Sherwood. You will need to make arrangements for pick up as I do not have the freezer space to store. I suggest talking with groups of friends, Bunco groups, Moms groups, play groups, Bible study groups, people at the office take a big order and send a representative for pick up. This could be a big fundraiser for us bringing in the money we need for our next step our I800A!!! Please pray, and share with all you know. If you have any questions please ask. Fostermummy1@yahoo.com

New development on our Pie Fundraiser we now have a contact in Eugene, Oregon if anybody near that area would like to order and also my mom has graciously offered to meet the Pie truck here and pick up all the Eastside orders. So as we move closer we will let you know more, but there will be a pick up point in Gresham for Pies also!!! We are trying to make it so everybody can be included and I know Sherwood is not always fun to drive too. So let's sell some pies!! Tell all you know please. We have only 1 week left!

Light The Sky We Did!

Lantern Festival as per Wikipedia - The Lantern Festival is a festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar year in the lunar calendar marking the last day of the lunar New Year celebration.[1] During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns (simplified Chinese: 猜灯谜; traditional Chinese: 猜燈謎; Mandarin Pinyin: cāidēngmí; Jyutping: caai1dang1mai4).[2][3]

In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, and only the emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones .[citation needed] In modern times, lanterns have been embellished with many complex designs.[3] For example, lanterns are now often made in the shape of animals. The lanterns can symbolize the people letting go of their past selves and getting new ones, which they will let go of the next year. The lanterns are almost always red to symbolize good fortune.

In Hong Kong, it is commercialized as the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day.

We chose the last day of the Chinese New Year to have our Light the Sky Lantern send off. This is often referred to as the Lantern Festival. I first have to say, thank you, thank you. We sold all but 20 Lanterns!!! That is amazing and we so appreciate the support! We chose to Light the Lanterns at the coast over the water to avoid all the rules and regulations of the city. I was not really into getting permits etc. Although at first I had this lovely plan of calling the city, getting permits, getting the local paper involved, having a big to do. Now after all is said and done, I know it all worked out how it was supposed to and we were right where we were meant to be the whole time.

So the week of February 14th I started getting the Lanterns ready. Writing the many names and messages that had been emailed to me on them so that every wish, dream, and prayer would be sent up. It was an honor. There were some that I cried tears over as I wrote, because they hit me that hard. There were so many children I prayed for as I wrote their names down. It was just truly an honor and blessing.

We headed to the coast mid-day on the 14th praying that the weather would stay dry and the wind would stay at bay so that we could light these Lanterns. I told my husband that I was feeling some anxiety as I did not want to let anybody down (people who had purchased). We made it to the coast just before dark and knew we better feed the munchkins some dinner as we were not sure how long it would take us to light 80 Lanterns. Now I have to also explain, we had been planning this trip for about a month. My brother and Sister in-law made plans also to come to the coast to help at the launch, I have many relative that live there that we were all going to gather and make this thing big. Little did we know God had other plans. Remember how I said it all worked out and we were all where we should be. Well my Grandfather had been sick and on that Friday, February 14th he took a real turn for the worse and we knew that he would be gaining his angel wings very shortly. I knew that all my family that originally wanted to be at the Lantern Lighting needed to be with their Father, my Grandfather. They were all right where they should be. A special lantern was lit that night. It brought such peace in a hard moment.

My Husband, Children, Brother, and Sister In-law went out to the beach, driving to a quiet, private place. We slowly started unfolding the lanterns and lighting them. Reading each name and letting me say a quiet prayer as each one rose to into the sky. All following the same path. They would float higher and higher until we could no longer see the light anymore. With only 3 of us lighting we were only able to get 3 or 4 up at the same time for the pictures, but I promise you it was beautiful. We could not believe the size of the lanterns and then as they rose the beauty. This was such a fun and special first fundraiser. We will remember and cherish it always. Again thank you to all who donated, prayed and shared our story. You are forever apart of our children's story and how they came home.

This fundraiser was also a blessing in disguise for our family this weekend. As it brought us all together in the same town as my Grandfather earned his wings early the next day, February 15th. He will be missed by so many. I loved that man. He was the strong, silent type unless something needed to be said. He bit my head to show his love and you may think it sounds weird, but I already miss it. Here he is pictured with a lot of the Legacy he left behind. He is right in the middle.

Wordless Wednesday

Thankful Thursday- Happy Gotcha Day Baby K!

One year ago today we brought home our 3rd Little Blessing. She was chubby and cute and so over whelmed by what was going on in her little life. It showed on her sweet little face for quite sometime.

But slowly and surely the spunky, giggly, happy little girl came alive before our eyes. It was so amazing to watch. We call her the Town Greeter. She has got a Hi and smile for everybody, but likes to to tell everybody who here mama is! She is soooo smart and just a joy to be around. We are so blessed to call her our daughter. Happy Gotcha Day Baby K!

Wordless Wednesday