Cupcakes Kids

It might seem totally random that I'm posting about cupcakes today, but it's not, actually. I've just learned about Cupcake Kids and I'm all over it. So here's the basics. This year Cupcake Kids takes to the street on May 5, 2012 (though you can feel free to host one any time). That's still a few months off, but I'm starting to think about it today cause when it comes to cupcakes I don't want to mess around. I want the perfect stand with the perfect cupcakes, liners, and toppers. I'm just into that kind of thing. So we'll just be chatting about that as it gets closer. Today I'm just letting you know about it and getting your juices flowing. If you'd like to sign up to host a cupcake sale you can do so here.







If you aren't familiar with 60 feet, it's a great organization. You should check them out. The content is sort of hard. We're talking about imprisoned children living in horrible conditions in Uganda. 60 feet is bringing hope and restoration to those kids by creating homes, medical clinics, schools and libraries, and child sponsorship. They do a million different ministries over there. I'm excited about my kids helping other kids. Abby is 3 and she'll probably be eating the merchandise, but Will is 6 and a very compassionate little guy. This is right up his alley. But I think as the big sale gets closer we can all discuss how much information is too much information and how to set the tone for empathy without totally scarring our kids. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. But like I said, today we're just brainstorming and daydreaming about sugar, sprinkles, and warmer weather. If you sign up for a booth come back and tell me in the comments section. I would LOVE to see who will be out there with us!

A New Project

Good morning, all! I hope you're doing well this week.

I wanted to tell you about something new that we're doing. You know how every few months or so we do a project? Well, now we'll just always have a project going on. It'll be something that has to do with orphan care. That's kind of our thing. So let me tell you a little about or current project. This is Emily Barton.



She has impressed me like crazy. Emily is fundraising to be able to go on a mission trip to Uganda this summer. She'll be spending a month there. Half of her time will be spent teaching abstinence to students her age, which is actually a crucial ministry everywhere. The rest of the time she'll be living and sharing the gospel in a camp with orphans and former child soldiers. I do think it's bold and brave to even do such a thing at all. I'm particularly taken with how effective she may be there just because of her willingness to go now. But it's not just that, either. She's been so responsible fundraising and keeping people informed. She has set up a Facebook page for her mission trip. In even doing that she's ministering to her friends stateside. She has been selling artwork, bracelets, and Tshirts in her Ordinary Hero shop. She is working so hard to get there! Really busting it! I would be honored to pick up the slack and help this girl do what she's been called to do.

Remember Katie? This is exactly what she did at this age, and look at the impact in Uganda she has made. Heck, look at the impact she has made everywhere! If she's going to be the hands and feet over there, we can help by being the... checkbook? Ok, I'm not fantastic at analogies, but you get my drift. My thought is that these people need to be reached and I'm not in a place to physically reach them myself right now. But if there is someone willing and able, I can at least help put a few of the dollars that God has put in my care towards spreading the Good News. That's the whole point, right? What's a better way to spend His money? I can't think of any. So if you'd like to donate to Emily's mission trip you can do so here. I'm sorry to bug you for another dollar. It's just that the more I spend on God's purposes the more I want opportunities to do it again. So maybe it's the same for you. :)

Right On, Francis.

I love this quote. Sometimes we get caught up in our lives, don't we?  Meal plans, crafts, fat thighs, parties, decorating, errands,  etc etc etc. This is life. But this is a great quote. It's so easy to forget why we're here. But it's also really easy to strip it down and get back on track.

If you like this quote, hey, he's got about a million more. I love pretty much everything Francis Chan writes. If you want to talk about real, authentic Christianity you need to read Crazy Love if you haven't already. It's a staple.

New Week, New Family

Hey Everybody,

I hope you had an awesome weekend. Ours has been a little strange. First off, I've been eating like a crazy person for a week due to birthdayness. I loved it, but now I'm just really full. Thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes, too, you guys. Today started at 3am. My husband ran (most of) the Houston Marathon, which is kind of a big honkin' deal. In mile 16, though, he injured his ankle and had to stop. Huge bummer. But he still rocked it and raised $775 for Living Water International, so he's still a rockstar obviously. But now, folks, I'm ready for a glass of wine  cup of tea, some Once Upon a Time, and a new family of the week! Allow me to introduce you.

This, everybody, is the Morris family. *Hi Morris family!* The are adopting a baby girl from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They've already received their referral for a beautiful baby girl who is 9 months old right now. This week we want to pray for this little girl, her nannies, her tiny little friends, and her new family waiting for her. And of course, we'd be honored to bless this family with a few of our dollars. This is our tiny part to play in the life of this orphan. A small offering to our Father who is working some beautiful stuff in the lives of this baby girl, her family, and us. I'm thankful for the opportunity.



If you're new here, let me tell give you the scoop. We're all going to give a dollar to the Morris' to help them adopt their baby with as little stress as possible. Financial stress is a whopper and we have the ability this week to just remove it. I hope we do. This week that'll take $4,000 so we'll need 4,ooo team members. The best thing you can do to help (after you donate your dollar, of course) is to spread the word on your blogs, your facebook page, and your twitter ... um, thingy. OK, I don't fully understand Twitter yet, but if you do, work it. :) Ready to change some lives? Me too. Here we go. Donate here.

This I Believe

So now for some inspiration. This week, I came across a really great article about adoption. It was featured on the series This I Believe, which you may have heard on talk radio from time to time. In a piece called, “Love Beyond Boundaries,” Brian Schoeni writes:

I know adoption isn’t a perfect fit for every parent-to-be. But I do believe this: adoption is a perfect fit for every kid in every corner of our world who needs the love of a family.

These true and powerful words reminded me of the Give1 family. The readers of this blog, the people who post about it on their blogs or send it to their friends, and the families who are featured each week all have something in common…you care about the millions of children in this world who don’t have a place to call home or parents to tuck them in at night with a kiss on the forehead. Some of us have the option to pursue adoption. Some of us support those who are adopting. But whether we’re called to do this by instinct, or scripture, or just because a friend asked us…we support adoption because the kids need us.

Imagine if the Hapners or the Chase family got too scared to answer the adoption call, simply because they didn’t have enough money saved in the bank. Imagine if all their friends (or the generous Give1 strangers) didn’t support them with prayers and dollars… If any of us hadn't followed through, there would be one more orphan in the world who needed a family.

Being involved in Give1 or supporting orphans around the world isn’t a complicated mission. We do it, because there are millions of kids who need us. We do it, because we can.



Here is the article that inspired this rant. Please give what you can to help the little boy on the other side of the world who is waiting for the Chase family.

Glad You Were Born

Happy Thursday, everyone. This is Lindsay, the Friday Give1 blogger. One of the benefits of being involved with Give1 is that I can go behind Beth’s back and let you all know that today is Beth’s birthday! In honor of her birthday, I am going to embarrass her, of course!

[caption id="attachment_1315" align="aligncenter" width="506" caption="Click the card for instructions on how to make this!"][/caption]

Beth, on behalf of the Give1 families, I cannot thank you enough for coming up with this Give1Save1 idea and being talented enough to make it so darn fabulous. You have helped so many orphans get so many steps closer to having permanent, loving families. And I know that you’re gracious enough to say that God deserves all the credit, but it took guts (and a lot of energy) to take the path He wanted you to, doing everything in your power to care for His children.

You have shown how just one person, or one dollar, can make a huge difference in this world. You make us laugh, you make us cry, you open our eyes, you inspire us…and you make us more stylish with your impeccable taste.

On a personal note, I am so glad that you were crazy enough to let me be a part of this venture. My heart is so full of joy from working on this. Through our hundreds of emails over the last few months, you have become such a dear friend to me. I can’t wait for the day that we can finally meet our girls…and each other.

Please join me in wishing Beth a very happy birthday. And I imagine Beth’s birthday wish is for this to be the best Give1 week yet…so remember to bless the Chase family this week by blasting that Donate button!

Mountains Moved

Here's a little note from Emily Hapner, our mom of the week. Check out this awesomeness!!!!

Friends, Family & Strangers, 

Thank you does not adequately describe our gratitude. God has worked in incredible ways during the last two days and mountains have been moved!  We are humbled and blessed beyond measure by the love and support from y'all.  The body of Christ is a beautiful thing.  In two short days, the remaining fees for our adoption have been raised and we cannot thank you enough.

However, our week on Give1Save1 is far from over....and we have big plans for the next five days! 

Fourteen months ago God brought another family into our lives.  We have experienced every stage of our adoption together--from fingerprinting to referral.  We have stayed up countless nights talking {and rejoicing and crying!}  However, we have never met in person. Our prayer has been that God will unite us in Ethiopia--someday {soon!}. Our sons have spent their lives together at the same orphanage, and now transition home.  We cannot wait to wrap our arms around our boys--and finally meet each other!  

So, without further ado, let me introduce to you....The Chase Family!

Jen & Trevor are waiting to bring home Bek, their sweet nine month old baby boy, from Ethiopia.  They have sacrificed much in the past two years as God has brought them on a whirlwind of an adoption journey. They're an incredible family with a huge heart for God, family and orphan care.  They need to raise the needed funds to travel to Ethiopia, twice.  Will you help us bless them--with love, support, prayers and dollar bills!??!  

Thank you in advance!  I can't wait to watch the rest of this week unfold!!!