Personalized Doilies by Brenda - New Fundraiser!

Are you looking for a unique, handmade gift for that special occasion coming up?  Well I have just the idea for you, and I can bet that no one else will give the same gift!  My mother-in-law, Brenda, makes beautiful, handmade, crocheted name doilies.  She is offering her talents as a fundraiser to help us bring Sophia home from Taiwan.

Now for the details...these unique doilies are available in white or ecru/tan, horizontal or vertical, with a lacy shell or pointed edge border. They are beautiful matted and framed, or as a pillow top, and are usually ready in 1-4 weeks. They make great holiday, graduation, wedding, birthday, teacher or baby shower gifts and are excellent for first and/or last names, nicknames, slogans or favorite sports teams. The doilies cost $25 for up to 5 letters and $3 for each additional letter. You choose the color, edging, and of course, the personalization.  This is a fundraiser for our little Sophia with a minimum of $10 per doily being donated to Sophia’s adoption...and you get a unique, personalized keepsake for yourself or to give as a gift!

We are taking orders on a first-come, first-served basis, so get your holiday orders in as soon as possible!  To place an order, e-mail me at tfisher83@myexcel.com with your desired color, edging, and personalization.  I will then send you an invoice via Paypal.  As soon as I receive your payment, your order will be processed and filled!  (For those orders requiring shipping, an additional charge of $5.00 will be added to cover priority shipping costs.)  Please help us pass the word around about this fundraiser, and thanks for supporting our family and helping us bring our daughter home from Taiwan!

Raising the ransom for our Sophia's adoption as creatively as possible...

Sophia's Room...Sneak Peek!

"lighthearted pink" paint on the wall--chocolate brown accents to be added later

sparrows and cherry blossoms as the "motifs" in the room

Designing and dreaming while awaiting Sophia's homecoming...

Crazy Love Challenge - A Place Called Simplicity

This post is part of another Crazy Love Challenge over at A Place Called Simplicity.  I have followed this blog for quite some time and am in awe of how this family puts into action the heart of Jesus in their own lives and the lives of others...check it out!

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My husband and I have been married for almost 15 years, and have four sons, two through the miracle of adoption from domestic foster care, and two through the miracle of birth. They range in age from 15 down to 2 and keep us on our toes! However, we have always had a desire to adopt a little girl from an Asian country, as God has placed on our hearts a love for Asia and her people in many ways throughout our lives. We started the process of a special needs adoption two years ago, first thinking China, and then being led to Taiwan through a variety of open and closed doors. At the beginning of June, we were matched with a 2 1/2 year old little girl with special needs, whom we have named, Sophia Elizabeth. She is currently in foster care in Taiwan. (We are unable to post a photo at this time, but trust me...she's beautiful!) We are waiting for legal documents to arrive from Taiwan so that we can return everything that is needed for our referral dossier and start the Taiwanese court process. We are hoping to travel to bring Sophia home in the spring of 2011, but only God knows the exact timeframe!

We stepped out in faith for this adoption, and God has provided in many amazing ways, especially through the generosity of His people, our family and friends.  We have also done a series of fundraisers such as garage sales, various home party fundraisers, flower bulbs...the list goes on and on.  Here are some ways you can help right now if you wish to help provide the "ransom" to bring our daughter home from Taiwan:

1.  Pray for us!  God is teaching us much patience during this adoption, and we are slow learners sometimes.  Your prayers really mean a lot!

2.  Order one of our Forever Family cookbooks which were compiled and published by us specifically as an adoption fundraiser.  The reviews of this cookbook have been awesome...there's something in it for everyone.  Click on the sidebar photo or the link above for more information.

3.  We have set up a "100 Good Wishes" link on our sidebar that allows you to donate directly to our adoption fund and leave a good wish or blessing for little Sophia. 

We are currently fundraising for the last bit we need for this phase of the adoption which is our orphanage fee and the related expenses for paperwork and authentications. We need approximately $2500 more to meet this goal. Then we will start saving for our travel expenses which will range from $5000-$7500, depending on when we travel. I know God will provide in His time, and we appreciate everyone's prayers and encouragement as we wait on Him!  We will be launching another fundraiser this fall just in time for Christmas, so check back with us often.  Thanks for praying for us and all the other families who are on this journey with us. To God be the glory!

Trusting and praying until Sophia is home...

A Bit Bummed

Okay...so I'm about full disclosure, you know?  And I just really need to do some venting, so here goes...

I'M A BIT BUMMED RIGHT NOW!!!

Now don't get me wrong...I know God is still at work and everything, but we waited for so long prior to our referral (which we requested--in God's providence, of course--or we would still be waiting!) and now we are waiting for over two months again for paperwork to come from Taiwan so we can hurry up and wait some more!  In the meantime, other blog friends of mine are rejoicing in finding their children and getting their paperwork to their respective countries and in probably traveling in late 2010 or early 2011 for their children.  And while I'm REALLY HAPPY for them, it kind of bums me out that we are still waiting, and we initiated our process before some of these families.  Before you chide me and tell me that every adoption situation is different and God is in control and yada, yada, yada,  please know that

I KNOW!

It's just that I'm a bit bummed right now, that's all.  Thanks for listening...

Hoping Sophia knows how much we love her and want to bring her home...

Crazy Love Challenge

In perusing blogs this afternoon I came across this blog and a post from a couple of days ago entitled, "Crazy Love Poured Out".  I am familiar with Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love, and if you haven't read it, you will be challenged in your Christian life if you do.  Anyway, the post was a call for adoptive families who are in the process of fundraising to bring home their kiddos to link to the post and just see what God might do...so, here's a little about us and what we are doing to bring home our daughter, Sophia Elizabeth, from Taiwan:

My husband and I have been married for almost 15 years, and have four sons, two through the miracle of adoption from domestic foster care, and two through the miracle of birth.  They range in age from 15 down to 2 and keep us on our toes!  However, we have always had a desire to adopt a little girl from an Asian country, as God has placed on our hearts a love for Asia  and her people in many ways throughout our lives.  We started the process of a special needs adoption two years ago, first thinking China, and then being led to Taiwan through a variety of open and closed doors.  At the beginning of June, we were matched with a 2 1/2 year old little girl with special needs, whom we have named, Sophia Elizabeth.  She is currently in foster care in Taiwan.  (We are unable to post a photo at this time, but trust me...she's beautiful!)  We are waiting for legal documents to arrive from Taiwan so that we can return everything that is needed for our referral dossier and start the Taiwanese court process.  We are hoping to travel to bring Sophia home in the spring of 2011, but only God knows the exact timeframe!

On this journey God has provided in amazing ways for our expenses.  We have done a variety of fundraisers including garage sales, home parties, and our Forever Family cookbooks (which are still for sale!).  We have also been blessed by gifts from family and friends.  We have never had all of the finances ahead of time, but just exactly when we need them...God has been, and will continue to be, faithful!

We are currently fundraising for the last bit we need for this phase of the adoption which is our orphanage fee and the related expenses for paperwork and authentications.  We need approximately $2500 more to meet this goal.  Then we will start saving for our travel expenses which will range from $5000-$7500, depending on when we travel.  I know God will provide in His time, and we appreciate everyone's prayers and encouragement as we wait on Him!

Trusting and praying until Sophia is home...