Most of you remember when Russ and I first shared that we were preparing to adopt, we asked for support.  You supported us in so many ways!  Most importantly, your prayers.  But you also supported us financially, and we could never thank you enough for the difference you made in our journey.  Adoption is a difficult process, and it can be very expensive.  Although we could have gone into great debt to cover the costs of our adoption, we didn't have to.  Thank you for that!  So many adoptive families gain support through fundraising.  I've asked McCall to speak to adoption fundraising today.  I got to know her and her precious family through Mississippi Women Bloggers, and I am honored to have her share with us today.

When God first placed adoption on our hearts, we said NO. 

That's right. 

It wasn't the idea of adding another child to our family.  It wasn't because we believed we couldn't love an adopted child the way we love our biological kids.  In fact, it actually had nothing to do with us wanting or not wanting another child.

 It was the money.

Adoption is expensive, and $30,000 is intimidating.  We were willing to follow God's call to add another child to our family via adoption, but the money was just too overwhelming. 

So we prayed.

And I quickly realized what I'd really known all along-- that God is so much bigger than any amount of money, even one with a lot of zeroes at the end.  And if this is His plan, He will take care of  it and provide what we need to bring our daughter home.  I am not willing to miss out on the blessing God has in store for us because I'm scared of the money factor.

And so today, I want to talk to you about adoption fundraising.

Adoption fundraising can seem a little overwhelming on its own-- there are a lot of options out there.  Here are a few things that have really worked for us so far.

1. T-Shirts

First things first, t-shirts.

T-shirts can be a great way to raise funds as well as a great way to increase adoption awareness in your community. So far we've sold over three hundred shirts and are hoping to meet the five hundred mark to help bring our daughter home. You can read more about how we are selling t-shirts here. 

A few tips: 

• go with a gender neutral design, something that guys and gals can both enjoy. 

• offer kid sizes. While we don't make as much off of our kid shirts, I love knowing that moms and dads are talking to their littles about adoption. 

• promote, promote, promote! Simply posting on facebook once or twice isn't gonna cut it. Be prepared to share on Twitter, in emails, etc. 

• use a hosting site where people can directly order online using paypal. We are using www.bigcartel.com for ours and really like it. 

2. Use Your Gifts

Next, let's talk about using your gifts.

Can you sew?

Can you bake?

Is there something you've made before that you could possible make in bulk and sell?

This may take you thinking out of the box a bit or enlisting the help of a friend, which is what I did for our cross canvases. 

I called up a close friend, we spent a Sunday afternoon painting, and then I had a very successful Instagram sale. This fundraiser was good because it was quick and easy. It literally lasted about an hour and a half, and we made several hundred dollars towards our adoption. 

3. Expanding Your Reach

One thing I wanted to make sure of when we started fundraising was that I wasn't just going to the same people over and over and over. 

I wanted to make sure I expanded my reach as much as people, which is why our Grow Your Blog Giveaway was such a success. 

I asked six big name bloggers to donate ad space for the month of August and collected a few other blog-related prizes. I then offered one entry to win for every $5 donated and offered additional entries for people to share on social media. We made right at $1200 in a week with this fundraiser. Here is the post where I announced this fundraiser and here is the post where I give the details of how I pulled it together. 

4. Involve the Kiddos

I just love the idea of our adoption sparking conversations within families about adoption, and I'm hoping our Little Houses for Emily fundraiser will do just that. We've sent out 115 little houses to families across the country who requested them. They are filling them with change this month and will then donate the money they collect at the end of this month. While this fundraiser is still on-going, it's gotten a great response so far, and I'm so excited to see how God will use it to help bring our daughter home. 

5. Make It Personal

I have found that the more honest and open we are about our adoption and the more people feel like they are involved, the more successful our fundraising efforts are. 

If possible, make a video to go along with your fundraiser. It's a great way to tell your story, easy for people to share with others, and really helps people connect to your family and your adoption journey. 

Here are the two we've made so far: 

Little Houses for Emily from McCall Aldridge on Vimeo.

But the most important things to remember about adoption fundraising?

God is in control, and your kiddo is worth every late night packaging t-shirts, every Facebook share, every Paypal invoice, and every penny counted. 

One Year Pictures

 Our dear friends, Matt and Leah, kindly took Millie Janalee's one year pictures in August.  We have gotten sneak peeks here and there...and even shared a couple with you.  This weekend we got the entire CD, and I am obsessed as always!  There is no way for me to choose favorites.  I want to frame them all! 

Take a look a few that I love...

It's amazing how one year changes everything!  It's hard to believe.

A Fun Announcement!

A few weeks ago, Millie Janalee got a big surprise from her Uncie Lee and Auntie Kristin!  She learned that it was time to share...and make room for a BABY COUSIN!  Baby Grape, as we refer to him/her right now, will arrive around April 24, 2014. 

And we couldn't be more excited!

When Uncie Lee and Auntie Kristin came in town to tell us, they gave Millie Janalee a book (the one seen in the second picture above) about sharing.  In the front cover, Auntie Kristin had written a precious letter to Millie Janalee telling her all about what a precious gift she has been to our family.  And how Auntie Kristin and Uncie Lee were ready to give a special gift back to her...the gift of a COUSIN!

We were all shocked, surprised, and completely thrilled!  We are counting down the months until we meet Baby Grape.  Although by that time, he/she will be much larger than the grape he is now.  You know, we don't have much practice waiting nine months.  After all, we only had one month from the day we found out about Millie Janalee!  Ha!

Congratulations to my little sister and her hubby!  Welcome to parenthood.  Your life is about to change for the better!

Just a Walk With My Little Lady

Thursday afternoon, I took my little lady on a walk on such a sunny day.  We are soaking up these last days of heat.  Don't be fooled.  I do love a pleasant fall day!  But, why not soak in the heat God is giving us now?  Our pool is closed, and I'm pretty sure after five minutes in the sun...I would have been happy to dive in fully clothed!  I grabbed a sunhat on our way out the door, thankfully, and my little lady looked so precious.

 

My original idea was to play in the green grass...because, you know, grass gets brown pretty soon.  So I strolled her over to the courtyard area of our apartment complex.  She, however, is such a dainty little thing.  Only the sidewalks would do.  She seriously never stepped foot in the grass.  She politely reached over to grab the nearest pine cone, and that was as close as she ever came to the green stuff.

The sidewalk breaks off into three directions.  She would walk down one sidewalk until she got a little too far.  I would walk over and coax her to turn around.  She did.  Then she took another sidewalk until the same thing happened.  She picked up pine straw and brushed the bushes with them.  She sat a few times to rest.  And only fell once...no scrapes to be found.  Yay!

By the time I was dripping sweat from head to toe, I decided it was time for this little lady to head back home for naptime.  I followed her to make sure she didn't choose the wrong path...leading her toward the stroller. 

My view was the best!

This little lady of mine!  I love her so. 

Thank you, God, for the sun so bright and the changing of the seasons.  And for a walk with my little lady!

The Friday Five

It's time for our Friday Five!  See what's been going on around here this week.

1.  {Foodie Friday Link-up}  Today, over at Mississippi Women Bloggers we are hosting a link-up full of tailgating and "homegating" recipes and tablescapes.  Do you have something fun to share?  Go ahead and link up!  Make sure to register with us while you are there!  Here's my go-to tailgating recipe (outside of those break and bake cookies) - Greek Pasta Salad.  (Thanks to Roan for sharing her recipe with me years ago!)

Greek Pasta Salad

1 box angel hair pasta, cooked and drained

1 large jar chopped pimentos

1/3 can chopped black olives

1 small jar chopped mushrooms, drained

2 Tbs. Cavendar's Greek seasoning

3 Tbs. mayonaise

3 Tbs. lemon juice

3/4 cup olive oil

6 oz. feta cheese crumbled finely

Mix everything without pasta first.  Then, toss it with pasta.  Tastes best refrigerated several hours or overnight.

2.  {God Gave Us Love - Jamie's Story}  If you have not been following these amazing adoption stories, you can click here to catch up.  Jamie shared from the perspective of the adoptee, and it was amazing.  Touching.  Uplifting.  I needed Kleenex.  Stick with us on Wednesdays through November...maybe even December if stories continue rolling in!

3.  {Like Mother, Like Daughter}  And I'm not talking about having to dig the dog food out of her mouth twice this week.  Although I used to eat it too.  I am referring to the day Millie Janalee ordered something off Zulily when playing with my phone.  I might mention that I am, once again, taking a break from Zulily (advised by my husband).  However, Millie Janalee took it upon herself to get into my Zulily app and make a purchase.  Thankfully, it was less than $15, cute, and something I can hold back until Christmas.  Maybe her daddy won't be too mad since she's the one who did it.

4. {3 Blind Mice...or Just One?}  Let's discuss my anxiety this week that caused me to text my mom to let her know "I am DYING!"  Of course the panic button set in as she wanted to know "WHY?"  Russ and I were in bed Tuesday night when I heard something around my window (right beside my head!).  This scaredy cat got Russ to get up and check outside.  Then we heard something behind our dresser.  Russ dismissed it as some kind of bug.  I swore it sounded huge.  At 4 am, we woke to the sound of something rustling around the Walmart sacks of clothes at the foot of our bed.  Don't judge.  I had not unpacked since our last roadtrip.  We both sat straight up, unpacked everything, searched high and low, and found nothing.  Around 5 am, we were back in bed.  The next morning, we found mouse poop while cleaning.  In THREE different placed, y'all!  I panicked!  I've never had a mouse before, and I would just DIE if I saw one.  Or worse...if Millie Janalee found one!  Thankfully, no poop was found in her room.  But, I loaded Millie Janalee up and we headed to Lowe's and purchased 6 mouse traps and 4 glue pads for our 1,000 square foot apartment.  I was determined to catch the thing.  And we did.  Note to all mice that may still be lingering...there are many more traps out there.  Beware!  We don't play 'round here.

5. {Toddler Time}  Millie Janalee and I have been having fun adding a little something fun to each day.  This toddler time thing is incredibly laid back.  You can see Day 1 here.  Like the day I went in search for the mouse...we only did one activity on my list, because I was so distracted and cleaning and moving things and putting traps out.  We have managed some cute art this week though...

Well, that sums up the week that you haven't seen yet.  What about you?  How was your week?

Showering Selah Grace

This past weekend, Millie Janalee and I loaded up with my mom and sister for a fun weekend with our cousins.  Clancy is expecting sweet baby Selah Grace in 5 weeks or so...although we are pretty certain it will be before that.  Selah Grace is growing very well!  We weren't able to attend the upcoming shower, so we decided to throw her a shower with cousins.  The female ones only of course. 

Keeping it simple, we reserved a table for 8 at one of my favorite restaurants in Jackson - Bon Ami.  We stopped by the florist on our way to the restaurant Saturday morning to pick up a small arrangement for the table.  It was a shower after all!  And no shower is complete without pretty flowers, right?  They were beautiful!

My mom's cousin, Alice, was the first to arrive.  Background info:  Alice's mother was Millie...Millie Janalee's namesake. Alice is a hoot!  You really just have to meet her to understand.  My family loves nothing more than being around people who are what you see.  People like that make you feel at ease and comfortable.  That's what family is about!  We visited with Alice while we waited on the guest of honor.  Alice's sister-in-law, Ruby, also joined us!  We were so glad to see her.  We don't get to see this side of the family often, so it is nice to reconnect and just have fun!

Of course, Millie Janalee sat at the head of the table with the guest of honor and put on her own little show.  Pretty soon, we'll need to let her know she can mellow out some when we are celebrating others.  Ha!  We did work on our "nice restaurant manners."  She wasn't all that into the manners part...as she took off racing around the room screaming a high pitched squeal of delight.  I suppose it didn't help that Auntie Kristin was chasing her around.  Hmmm... 

We enjoyed our delicious lunch/brunch before Clancy began opening her gifts.  She received so many nice things, including this handmade rocking horse frame our Uncle Shoo Shoo made.  Alice gave Millie Janalee one too...and she's saving some for Kristin and Dustin as well.  Alice painted Selah Grace's horse and cross stitched her name in it.  LOVE!  I'm seriously gonna ask her to make Millie Janalee one just like it.  So sweet!  And such an heirloom!

Millie Janalee and I shopped for next summer.  We are looking forward to matchy matchy pictures on the beach, so we gave Selah Grace some matching summer outfits for next year.  We also gave her a cute swimsuit and sunhat for our Panama City Beach trip and cute name bands for her bottles and sippy cups.

Kristin and Mama used their experience with Millie Janalee to give Selah Grace gifts she will use.  Kristin picked up the cute Bumbo seat, and Mama gave her a ZCush sleeping bag.  I plan to do a separate post on my most loved and used baby items.  This sleeping bag is one of them!  Millie Janalee slept in this thing until she couldn't fit anymore and made the decision herself not to.  She could not and would not sleep without it!

Kristin also crafted an adorable sign for the hospital door!  She bought the cute canvas and frame.  Then, she personalized it and put it together as a door hanger.  Such a crafty sister!

We had such a fun time seeing Clancy so glowing!  Isn't she the cutest pregnant woman ever!?  I'm so thankful for the relationship we share as cousins.  If you don't know by now...one of my favorite things in this world is family.  There's nothing more constant and accepting...except the love of Christ.

After our little family shower, Mama, Kristin, Millie Janalee, Clancy, Aunt Patsy, and myself loaded up in our car headed toward Hobby Lobby.  Kristin needed to put finishing touches on Selah Grace's nursery, and we picked up some flowers for an arrangement at the cemetary. 

It was a beautiful day, and we were honored to place a fall arrangement on Nonnie and Pops's grave.  Millie Janalee played in the grass while Auntie Kristin worked.  The rest of us just kinda stood around and talked about family history and stories.  Old family stories are ALWAYS a part of our get togethers.

It was a gorgeous day to be outside...smiling and laughing at the old stories.  I can't wait to share the stories with Millie Janalee one day.  I've never heard anything like them, and I want her to learn from them.  Lessons like laughing at yourself, taking care of family no matter what, and never missing the opportunity to make a memory.

Selah Grace's nursery is just adorable!  Clancy joined us in our hotel room for a cousin slumber party, and Millie Janalee entertained us both nights until nearly midnight.  She is just a big shot of energy these days..cracking me up...and herself!  I love the sound of that cackle.

And soon, there will be even more baby cackles to join her!