Monday, November 17, 2014

School Pictures

Claudia's Kindergarten school pictures just came back!  Posted below are her Preschool and Kindergarten pictures.  See how much she has grown and matured!




I love this girl so much and I can't wait until her brother and sister are home!  I am hopeful that we will hear something any day now!  Right now we are still waiting on Prime Minister approval and then travel dates.  Please pray that we hear soemthing soon.

Angel Tree and Christmas Shopping

It is that time of year again, the temperature is getting cold, the snow has started to fall, stores are playing Christmas music, I don't know about you, but I'm ready to do some Christmas shopping (or Holiday shopping if you prefer).  I have chosen to do my best to help others while I do this shopping.  Knowing what I know about the care that orphans often receive in orphanages and institutions and seeing the progress they make once in loving families, I have chosen to help them.

This year, my friend Natalie is helping to host an online Virtual Craft Fair.  This online event will benefit several causes. 50% of the profit of each purchase will go to help buy ipads for the Speech Pathologists at Elim Christian Services and to help two little girls with special needs find their forever families through Reece's Rainbow.  In addition to these causes several of the vendors will use the remaining profits to benefit other children or causes.  I have  Celebrating Home and Origami Owl parties set up through this even and will be donating 50% of my commissions to my Angel Tree Child Annalise.  Visit the Virtual Craft Fairs Blog to learn more. 

It is easy to shop, here are some simple instructions from the Virtual Craft Fairs Blog:

*You can shop any time between November 16th and December 6th.

*Just go to this blog post
 and see who the vendors are.

*Click on the link that says Website Page and shop away.

*Make sure to look and see if there are any special instructions listed so we get credit for your order.

*That's it!! 
Make sure you join the FaceBook event.  Vendors will be featuring sales, special items, and special offers on that page. We will also be featuring a vendor daily and sharing their story.

Please share this blog and the Facebook event with your friends and family. Everyone is Christmas shopping. Why not help someone else with your purchase? 

Please consider doing your Christmas shopping with others in mind this year.

 
 
I am still hosting an online fundraiser through Celebrating Home specifically benefiting Annalise, please check that out HERE.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Angle Tree 2014

Hi everyone  it is that time of the year again!  Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree.  I am excited to announce that for the very first time, I will be participating!  I have chosen to be an Angel Tree Warrior for Annalise, a very special little girl who is from the same country as our Chance and Callie.  As a matter of fact, she lives with and is BFF's with Callie.  My goal is to raise at least $1000 to her Angel Tree fund.  My ultimate goal is that this will help her family step forward more quickly.  If she is not adopted in the next few years, she will likely spend the rest of her life in an institution and will have no hope at a "normal" life.  Here is what we know about Annalise:
Born August 2003 (or maybe December)
Down syndrome, CHD (repaired)
This energy filled and vibrant little girl was born with Down syndrome in August of 2003 and is ready for an active family with lots of structure. She can understand and speak two languages, including English. She had surgery to repair a heart defect in 2003, but has required no additional treatment. Annalise is beaming with sunshine and loves cell phones and cameras, like all curious little girls! She loves to be the center of attention and is very smart!
Updated April 2014:
Annalise Photo 2014 - April 2014
Annalise is an active, friendly girl who speaks clearly with an extensive vocabulary. She uses short sentences and understands two languages, one of them English. Annalise walks independently, including up and down stairs.
Annalise has great self-help skills. She eats and drinks as well as dresses and undresses without assistance. She can wash her hands and brush her teeth on her own.
Annalise attends school where she has learned to count, recognize 25 letters, cut with scissors and paint. She can re-tell a short story and participates in simple games. Annalise likes to listen to music and dances very well. She would thrive in a loving family.
MARRIED COUPLES ONLY.

I have an online Celebrating Home Fundraiser set up specifically for Annalise, 50% of the sales made through THIS LINK will go towards Annalise's Angel Tree Fund. You will find candles, aroma beads, wall and desk plaques, purses, baked goods, cookbooks, books, and more! Please check out the fundraiser and share it with your friends. I'm sure you will find some great Christmas gifts!









If you don't find anything you would like to purchase above, you can make a donation to Annalis'e Angel Tree fund directly through Reece's Rainbow.  Here is the link to Angel Tree:
http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltree2014/  The easiest way to find Annalise is to CTRL, F and type in ANNALISE.  If you can't figure that out, just search through the children on that page.  If you donate $35 or more to her Angel Tree fund, you can get a Christmas Tree Ornament with her picture on it.