Calico pie Fundraiser

Whats up:  A big fundraiser….well a fundraiser with big hopesJ  Calico Pie http://www.etsy.com/shop/calicopie,  a tiny shop on Etsy with a big heart is donating 50% of it’s sales to help with an adoption journey.  Calico Pie makes hand sewn soft cloth dolls that are baby safe and mama friendly (being 100% washable

When:    Monday, November, 28th!   Shauna at Calico Pie will donate half of any sales Placed on Monday the 28th to our adoption!!!  This is called cyber Monday.  This is the equivalent of Black Friday to the retail shops.

Who:  That would be us:) Troy and Judy Deaton from Kansas are adopting 2 girls from China,  4 year old Wren Da Yu, who is Deaf, and 4 year old Iley XiaoKui, who has a heart condition and needs surgery.

Why:  There are 147 million Orphans in the world that need families.  The biggest obstacle between the orphan  and their forever family is expense.  It costs between $20,000 and $40,000 for each adoption.  Please help us raise the ransom for these two little girls to come home.

What you can do:  Order a doll, or  Spread the word to all your friends to help us bring business to Calico Pie.  Or  Donate directly, and tax deductable through: Brethren Charity Fund
                                                                       (BCF)     
                                                                  PO Box  365
                                                            Brookville, OH  45309

Please note: ** "Troy & Judy-adoption"  on check memo line**

http://www.etsy.com/shop/calicopie This is the link! Check out more of her cute dolls!  There are many more options.

The Story Of the Doll

I ordered a doll for Wren Dayu from Calico Pie  way back at the end of March of this year.  When placing the order on line, there was a place to leave a comment, or special request.  I wrote and asked the owner, Shauna, if she could make the dolls eyes look more Chinese...like Wren's.  She wrote back and said sure.....send me a picture.  I sent her a picture, and told her we were adopting Wren from China, she then shared with me that she worked in an orphanage when she was younger.  These emails went on for several months.......we chit chatted, and got to know each other.......and then we  kind of tapered off... and i hadn't heard from her for a while, but she had said to be sure and send her my blog information when I got it up and going.   So I sent her an invitation, and she emailed me and said she had gotten it.  Then I didn't hear anything for a while......and I really didn't expect to, cause after all....she lives in California, and I had no reason to hear from her....she sold me a doll...went above and beyond to make it special.....sent extra outfits....just because she has a heart for orphans.......so her part was certainly done!  Then out of the blue....This lovely lady sent me an email....saying that she had been thinking about us, and wanted to help with a fundraiser!!!  This totally caught me off gaurd!  Remember.....I have never met this Girl!  She is giving up income, and MUCH time.....to help a family she has never met!  I cried......(not that that is unusual these days)  But seriously!!!  ONLY GOD could open a way to raise money through "buying" a doll!  So Please everyone that has a brother, sister, neice, nephew, child, grandchild, or friend......that would like a nice little doll......for Christmas...or a birthday maybe.......order one on November 28th!

Thank you one and all for your help in bringing two more orphans HOME:)

I hope to do a post soon about the expenses.....where it all goes.....how much is paid up......and how much is left to pay.

Mr. Mess in Disguise

When Harrison disappears to his room.....



Sherman gets bored.  When Sherman gets bored....we know a mess will soon be forthcoming....in one form or another.  If water options are unavailable....he will look for another source. 

He disappeared for a bit, and reappered announcing....Look mom, I'm Ross. (Ross is our oldest son's boss and lives nearby)  In Ross' defense...He is not quite as chunky as Shermans shirt suggests. 

My Bear in his Cave

Some of my readers have commented on the fact that I don't post about Harrison very often.  It's not because he is less loved! Or even less present.  He is just quieter, and less "busy", much more.."behind the scenes" than Mr. Mess is.

This is Harrison's idea of a well decorated room.....every poster that you own, and any magazine page of interest.......all find a spot on the wall.....(We should have bought stock in the sticky tac company)......along with every piece of junk treasure you own on display......He has not read the decorating manual that refers to editing your displays...or the less is more articles........nope.  It's ALL good stuff in his book.

                           

We Love this book devouring, PSP playing,  information sponge.... with a wealth of knowledge stored in that  top knot of his.  He loves collecting information......for what???  if nothing else, to keep his friends well entertained.  He is a delight.

Waiting Stinks

"Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within myself the unanswered question, lifting my heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon my thoughts."
~Elisabeth Elliot

I'm trying to learn this....but as my mother and husband can attest to.....I'm much more of a NOW person, than one who likes to wait:(  My little girls are in CHINA for Pete's sake!  And they NEED their mama! And yes their mama NEEDS them:)  We just received this update from a friend who is in China now getting her little girl from the same orphanage our girls are in, she is  also getting an older girl that is almost 14, and will age out of the system on her birthday later this month.  They got her just in time.  Praise the Lord!  One less child surviving on the streets.  She says about our little girls........

So now the good stuff!  I saw your baby Wren today!  Oh Judy, when we got in the van to leave I broke down and cried. How i hated leaving her there.  I truly felt connected with her.  When I first saw her she was eating and pulled away when I tried to touch her.  So I took pictures and videos and moved on to the other children.  Then I made my way back to her and let her look through the camera with me.  She loved this and let me get close to her and laugh and look through the camera.  I put my arm around her and snuck a couple kisses on her cheek!  Judy, she is beautiful!  Really really beautiful and so sweet.  She has such a bright smile!  I saw her again in the crib room and she was all smiles this time.  She made great eye contact and I kept looking at her and waving as we left.  She smiled, looked me in the eyes and kept waving back.  Words cannot explain.  It was truly like leaving a child I knew.  You need to go now!  

My guide asked about Xiao Kui and Ms. Zhong said she is doing really well in foster care.  She said she is with a really nice family and is much healthier since she has been there.  I wish I could have seen her too. 

                                                   Wren is the one in the pink turtleneck with the pig tails:)

I'm SO ready to go:(  I remind myself that God's timing is perfect.....and most days it works.....but today....my Heart is in China, and i just want to bring my babies HOME.

When I grow up...

How is it that I can honestly say that I want to be like some one 18 years younger than me.....when I grow up?  I feel like in terms of faith.....this girl is light years ahead of me.  I want this kind of  faith, I want this kind of love for humanity, I want this kind of  relationship with My God and Jesus.  Please God, draw me to you, use me to your glory. Amen.
http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/   Inspiring, humbling, Amazing.......READ!

Let's Do This Thing

We had an interesting Bible study last night.  Sherman's question was "did Jesus WANT to die on the cross?  Was he scared, or worried  or was he like "Lets DO This Thing" Oh my......I love this kid:)  Then we were talking about Jesus walking on the water and Harrison says, Good thing it wasn't like that when he was baptized or he would have been like "Bonk, Bonk, Bonk.....Give it up John, this just aint workin"  Not one of our most edifying studies, but we had some good medicine:-)  Prov. 17: 22  A Merry heart doeth good like a medicine.  We were certainly medicated tonight!!!!

Where did my babies go, and who are these big boys with crazy questions?

Sherman                    Sherman and Kyndahl

                Harrison                    Harrison and Kaitlyn(Kyndahl's sis)

Harrison and Sherman love this family of midgetts that we've adopted:) Ha Ha!  It makes them look so BIG:)  They always use Grandma Knaus to measure by too, but I tell them Just because you're taller than Grandma, doesn't mean you are tall!  Maybe when you are taller than Thatcher you can have bragging rights.

Sorry Ash, I think he still owns the bragging rights, tip toes don't count..... but nice try:-)





Mario Man

Sherman does all things with enthusiasm. He planned his costume down to the last eyebrow.  He was not happy that we couldn't find big yellow buttons to put on his overalls.  He couldn't wait to get to school and show his friends his costume.  The reaction must not have been what he hoped for, because as soon as he got home, he wanted to make sure he could go trick or treating in town.  "People need to see me" he said.     

Harrison had no interest in dressing up, but he was happy to collect candy.  I say, no costume, no candy:)  But most people must be nicer than me, because he came home with a nice bag full.