Icecream for our girl!

A Little Bit Closer!

We had an amazing turn out for Little Miss as we hosted a big rummage at our home during our town's Rummage Days. We were so blessed by all the donations to our rummage and the amazing turn out! It was the biggest we've done and we've done a rummage every year! Normally our street doesn't get a lot of traffic and often we are the only rummage on our road. However, this year their were 3 other rummages right around us drawing in more traffic and we had so many items we had to go back for more tables! 

What a blessing!

  The best part was watching the kids really get excited about being a part of bringing their sister home. We baked together treat after treat and then they set up their own table and became awesome little salesmen! Tricia sang, danced, and bounced around saying "want to buy a cookie?" and everyone was smitten. :-) Brayden with his perfect charm carried around his money box accepting payment for the cookies. Truly, they were a huge help for their sister and I am so blessed to watch them learn a lesson in selflessness through this. A few people asked if the money was for them and with out missing a beat they told everyone it was to help bring their sister home. It never seemed to occur to them that they could have spent the money on themselvesand when the suggestion came up, they weren't interested. 
  It was afterall, for their sister. 

The highlight of my weekend was watching these two

We are still selling Kwagala Jewelry!

When we first announced that we were adopting, some expressed concerns about the impact that it would have on our biological kids. What about their rooms and personal space? What about their toys? What if we can't buy them as much stuff cause there is another child? What impact will a special needs child have on her "typical" siblings? Will they feel left out cause there is another child who may require a little extra attention? Some of the questions surprised me. Some of it seemed worth considering. After all this will have a tremendouse impact on our family. This wasn't just Dale and I's decision. This will forever alter how our entire family operates. I've been watching the impact a special needs child has on families for most of my life, and certainly in depth for the last ten years. And I have watched countless families adopt, and have been privilaged to story after story of the impact, the long term effect, both good and bad on families. 
Overwhelmingly, the lessons, the love, the effect on those around them is so GOOD! How many countless people have I seen serve God whole heartedly because they were inspired by someone they loved? How many children have I watched show extended compassion and grace to others because they have a special brother or sister that taught them more about grace than they ever learned in Sunday school? To learn to share, to value human beings above things, to see God's mercy and workmanship in the life of another? All first hand, in your own home? Those are the things my children are trading their extra toys and space for. 

Is it worth it? You betcha, and I say this confidently with every fiber of my being!

(Which by the way, Tricia is beyond thrilled to be sharing her room, and has been begging us to set up the bunk bed since she found out she was getting a sister.....and Brayden has been asking us to adopt a boy too so that things can even out, hehe. He even has a name picked out!) 

So today I am blessed to share with you what God did this weekend. What my kids learned.
 And where we go from here! :-) 
This weekend we raised a total of $642.44 including $55.60 from the kids' bake sale!
I am so proud of their hard work. This money will go towards our USCIS application, then onward to finishing our Dossier. We were about to sign our homestudy, but unfortunatly CIS asked for more info so we have to gather a few more documents. That is ok, we know adoptions are filled with delays and we trust that God has great purpose for each and every extra day of document gathering and fundraising.
Next up on the agenda? An ICECREAM fundraiser! 
You know you want to participate in that! :-)