tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1553257717890444932024-03-14T07:57:43.041-07:00The Story of 1000Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-41661064332059988462015-12-02T08:27:00.004-08:002015-12-02T08:27:55.320-08:00Adoption Update ADOPTION UPDATE (sorry if it gets lengthy):<br />
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- We are about thirty days from flying to China. Should be able to fly out 1/1/2016. Please pray with us for ticket prices. I just got quotes yesterday. Some looked good and some were astronomical.<br />
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- We have had to resend (AGAIN...for like the THIRD time) our paperwork concerning the waiver. I am still working on certifications of the document here in the U.S. So it is not even to CHINA yet. Much less approved. If it does not get approved then we will have to pull together an additional $5800 at the last minute. Whew...breathe, momma. PLEASE join us in praying specifically for this to come through.<br />
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- We have made room for John Preston in our family closet. Can I tell you how good that feels? Now to fill his cubbies with clothes. We have had some sweet friends send us things for him and now I need to get busy with all of the basics. I do not want to buy too much until I know for sure what size he is. Just enough to get him home.<br />
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- Excited that it is time to get his booster seat for the car. I already bought new ones for Ellie and Ethan so we can rearrange the seats to make room for our sweet boy. It is TIGHT but oh, so cozy. ;-)<br />
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- We need to start making plans for a friend to come and stay with the girls at our home while Bryan is at work each day. (Probably 6:30 am to 4:30pm) If this is something you might could help with, please let me know. My momma heart is aching at the thought of leaving MinLan especially and I want these two weeks to be as smooth as possible for her. We have poured ourselves into attachment with her for the last year and a half and are praying that we do not take huge steps backwards because Ellie and I leave for two weeks.<br />
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- I know everyone is in Christmas mode, instead of adoption fundraiser mode but I feel strongly that I need to press forward towards raising this $5800 in the event our waiver is denied. Have we done a fundraiser that you would like to see us do again? Something you missed out on? So many fundraisers have been done to death in our adoption community so I hesitate but I am willing to do whatever. I am looking for ideas that can knock this out quickly in a big way. We have very little time left and I'll be honest, that my brain is in a million different places. If we raise additional funds and then receive our waiver, we will donate to another Reece's Rainbow family adopting a little one with Down syndrome that is close to travel and not fully funded. If you want to make a tax-deductible donation, you can at any time to John Preston's Reece's Rainbow account. He is listed here as "Timothy": http://reecesrainbow.org/88597/sponsorparris-2<br />
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- In closing, we covet your prayers. For God to provide for us with this waiver, for health for all of us as we prepare to travel, for MinLan to not suffer setbacks from us being gone, for John Preston's heart to be prepared to join our family and for Bryan as he coordinates life here at home and work while I am gone.<br />
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God is faithful. He has proven it over and over again to me, even when I am filled with doubt. Today, after crunching adoption finances, is one of those doubt filled days. The devil uses days like today to weaken my resolve...to make me doubt my sanity...he is the master of lies....he wants us to believe there is no way that this will all work out...he wants us to believe that God will not provide...he wants us to believe that the addition of our son to our family will be chaos....but we know better. We know that God is a God of order and not chaos. We know that He has plans to prosper us AND John Preston...to give us hope and a future.<br />
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That future begins when we step on that plane, take John Preston's hand, and bring him home. Forever. He is a son. An heir. With all rights and privileges that come with the status as a son. He is so loved. We are racing to get to him. We are prepared to march through any hurdle the devil puts before us. This momma wants her boy home. NOW. <3<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-40908078762866935452015-10-23T09:57:00.002-07:002015-10-23T09:57:40.574-07:00John Preston Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 3.75pt 0.5in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">We got an update today on John Preston! Praise the Lord! We got one recently but the pictures were all the size of postage stamps! ACK!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">1. Height and weight</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">height 121 cm = 47 inches</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">weight 20 kg = 44 pounds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">head 49 cm = 19 inches</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">chest 58 cm = 22 inches</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">foot 19 cm = 7.48 inches</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">teeth 17</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 21px;"><i>In case you are wondering, his measurements are almost EXACTLY Roo's measurements. Though he does look taller in the pics and videos to me.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">2. His current sleep arrangements. Does he sleep in a bed alone? Does he sleep with a foster sibling or foster mom? <i>He goes to bed at 9:00pm and gets up at 7:00am. He goes to bed by himself but shares bed with another foster child.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">3. His favorite song? <i>All music. He will dance once hearing music.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">4. His </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">favorite</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> foods? <i>He can eat most things but does not like sweet food, bread or bun. He likes soft food.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">5. What is he </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">afraid</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> of? <i>Not found.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">6. Does he know we are coming for him? <i>Foster parents have been teaching him. He has some idea and can accept it.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/the-story-of-1000/296518" target="_blank">Click here if you'd like to donate to help us get our son HOME!!!</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">We are so thankful for everyone who has helped us get this far! We have anywhere from $14,000 to $20,000 to go by December 8th to bring him home.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CcNEYqm5p8g?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-17314355455459962402015-10-20T16:03:00.004-07:002015-10-20T16:03:54.774-07:00Possible Travel Scenarios<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn5lnUcBuU275rTCs95oLW1X0oBMXxfI0Z1JpOjK2GS3KaLxQsuWPsCVrLzSXqrZQ_xRaT0UKfmvmM9sfj_mo3NSGNG2PQC2_xALomAn6Oh43UH7HJOhNn497DE8o9VSGU-doOzkcLkE/s1600/DSC02550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn5lnUcBuU275rTCs95oLW1X0oBMXxfI0Z1JpOjK2GS3KaLxQsuWPsCVrLzSXqrZQ_xRaT0UKfmvmM9sfj_mo3NSGNG2PQC2_xALomAn6Oh43UH7HJOhNn497DE8o9VSGU-doOzkcLkE/s400/DSC02550.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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On October 15th we received our LOA!!!!! Wooohoooooo!!!!! This is China asking us if we accept John Preston as our son. </div>
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Uhhhmmmmm......YES WE DO!!!!! </div>
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So now is crunch time. We have two different funding scenarios and we are not sure how either will work out.</div>
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Scenario #1</div>
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China grants our waiver request and we still owe about $14,000 to get John Preston home.</div>
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Scenario #2</div>
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China does NOT grant our waiver request and we owe about $20,000 to get John Preston home.</div>
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<i>Can you guess which one we are praying for?</i></div>
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The way the calendar is playing out right now, we should most likely get travel approval (TA) from China between 12/8 and 12/11.</div>
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At that point, China sends us an invitation to come and get John Preston. That is the date that we will have to decide if we have enough money to travel. If we do not have all of our funds at that point then, we will have to delay our trip. I just can't even wrap my mind around that right now. The thought of not traveling immediately when they say we can is heartbreaking. </div>
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But God has been so faithful to us. We started with zero dollars towards his adoption and God has brought us over $12,000 closer to getting him home. I just can't even comprehend how faithful God has been!</div>
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Please help us by sharing our story and donating if you feel led. We know that we can not do this without you. </div>
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Love,<br />Jenifer</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-63667198609324057322015-10-15T11:03:00.000-07:002015-10-15T11:04:08.651-07:00Adoption Auction<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/11164643_10153853883583448_3471972094069718353_n-2.jpg"><img alt="11164643_10153853883583448_3471972094069718353_n-2" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1448" height="147" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/11164643_10153853883583448_3471972094069718353_n-2.jpg?w=660" width="400" /></a></div>
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WE NEED YOU!!! If you would like to donate an item to our adoption auction we would be so grateful. Would you mind filling out the quick form below to help me track items? If you don't have all the details just fill out what you know and I can get back with you this coming week.<br />
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We will start on November 1st and run for only two weeks!<br />
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DONATION IDEAS:<br />
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***store gift cards<br />
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***items from direct sales companies that you represent<br />
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***food items if you're local or they can be shipped<br />
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***know a friend that sells something, would you contact them to see if they would be willing to donate? Their business and website will be listed in the auction listing.<br />
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***any items you would like to purchase and donate
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***services that you can offer locally
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ANYTHING!!!!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for helping us get John Preston HOME!!!!
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<strong><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1irrXhIUv5F7DoiJBmG8iiDUdkXuh10OWs2VDjGrXtfY/viewform?c=0&w=1" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO DONATE AN ITEM</a></strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D155325771789044493%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6366719860932405732&media=https%3A%2F%2Fjeniferparris.files.wordpress.com%2F2015%2F10%2F11164643_10153853883583448_3471972094069718353_n-2.jpg%3Fw%3D660&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=AKPezW7d9zKd&description=11164643_10153853883583448_3471972094069718353_n-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D155325771789044493%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6366719860932405732&media=https%3A%2F%2Fjeniferparris.files.wordpress.com%2F2015%2F10%2F11164643_10153853883583448_3471972094069718353_n-2.jpg%3Fw%3D660&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=AKPezW7d9zKd&description=11164643_10153853883583448_3471972094069718353_n-2" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-82685324278906036812015-10-15T10:42:00.004-07:002015-10-15T11:04:39.011-07:00LOA Baby!!!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/loa.jpg"><img alt="LOA" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1445" height="400" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/loa.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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WE GOT LOA!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!</div>
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This beautiful piece of paper is on its way over the ocean to our agency!!!!! They will overnight it to us, we will sign it saying that we ACCEPT John Preston, complete a little bit more paperwork then we are on our way to China!!!!<br />
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FRIENDS, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY with us! We need a miracle from the Lord to pull together the remaining funds needed to go! Bryan reminds me constantly that He is faithful, that He called us to adoption and He is going be to make a way. Time is slipping away, I'm finding it hard to have faith! Pray that I stay confident in the Lord's promise to us! If you feel led to help us, tax deductible donations can be made into John Preston's account with RR at anytime at the link below!<br />
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They will send us these funds when it is time to travel and we will use them to go get our boy!!! Please pray with us, please share our story, please give as you feel led....God is calling some of you to be a part of our story! Thank you for partnering with us to change John Preston's life!!!!<br />
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"We adopt, not because we are rescuers but because we are the rescued." ~ David Platt<br />
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<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/88597/sponsorparris-2" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">http://reecesrainbow.org/88597/sponsorparris-2</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/bw-parris-51.jpg"><img alt="BW Parris (5)" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1399" height="266" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/bw-parris-51.jpg?w=660" width="400" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-39819606247613235862015-10-06T22:44:00.003-07:002015-10-06T22:44:44.349-07:00PRE-PAID SOAP ADOPTION FUNDRAISERTime for a soap fundraiser to help with our adoption of John Preston!<br />
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Thanks to everyone who has ordered from us before. I hope you'll select some for yourself and buy for gifts as well! Great time to stock up!<br />
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<strong>Our sale starts Wednesday, October 7th and ends Friday, October 16th.</strong><br />
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They usually take about three weeks to come in and then we have to cut them and let them dry for a week or so.<br />
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All bars are $4 each. Shipping info at the very bottom of the order page.<br />
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Please send payment via PayPal using the "friends and family option". My PayPal email address is jmparris@cableone.net
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12WGOy_Sg338DMIab20D67_RzwKoA6HD1Isqf1x3biAQ/viewform?c=0&w=1" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO ORDER AND SEE FRAGRANCE OPTIONS</a></div>
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Thank you for helping us get John Preston home!</div>
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<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/garden-mint.jpg"><img alt="garden mint" class="wp-image-1439 aligncenter" height="600" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/garden-mint.jpg" width="600" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-15242413637902090592015-10-01T09:54:00.000-07:002015-10-01T09:58:43.665-07:00The Finish Line<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2h9er-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2h9er" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="2h9er-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2h9er.0:$2h9er-0-0">Well...here we are...October the 1st. I have missed checking in with you during the day this month but it has been a good break. Got a minute? I'd love to share a few things with you. This will be long, but I love you...please hang with me. <3</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="cffha-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$cffha" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="cffha-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$cffha.0:$cffha-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$cffha.0:$cffha-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7v15d-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7v15d" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="7v15d-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7v15d.0:$7v15d-0-0">We took September off from actively fundraising and selling anything for our adoption. I feel like it gave me focus and helped me regroup. I really thought about things we might offer you, that you would be interested in and that would also help us get John Preston home.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a17hl-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a17hl" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="a17hl-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a17hl.0:$a17hl-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a17hl.0:$a17hl-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="c9oqt-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$c9oqt" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="c9oqt-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$c9oqt.0:$c9oqt-0-0">In the next few days, I will share about several fundraisers that will run concurrently.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7k0jt-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7k0jt" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="7k0jt-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7k0jt.0:$7k0jt-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7k0jt.0:$7k0jt-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="ek95t-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$ek95t" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="ek95t-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$ek95t.0:$ek95t-0-0">First, we are hosting a Diffuser Necklace Fundraiser. This is right up the alley of all my oily friends. You drop your essential oils on the pendant, place around your neck and your oils go with you. I have been wearing Lavender around my next for the past two weeks. If you know me, you know what it is for but I don't think the FDA will let me tell you. ;-) I encourage you to get one of these not only for yourself but for your kids. What an easy way to help them! My oily business friends, these would be a great gift for friends you have enrolled. I know I have TONS of friends that use essential oils. This would be such a huge tangible way you could help us AND help your family. We have a REALLY ambitious goal for this fundraiser and we need your help!</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7onpf-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7onpf" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="7onpf-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7onpf.0:$7onpf-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7onpf.0:$7onpf-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="20pe0-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$20pe0" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="20pe0-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$20pe0.0:$20pe0-0-0">Here are all the details:</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="cbhh-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$cbhh" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="cbhh-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$cbhh.0:$cbhh-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$cbhh.0:$cbhh-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="63at1-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$63at1" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="63at1-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$63at1.0:$63at1-0-0"><a href="http://jeniferparris.com/2015/10/01/diffuser-necklace-fundraiser/">http://jeniferparris.com/2015/10/01/diffuser-necklace-fundraiser/</a></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CkbiPa4Mlw0KCDMEC_AsVS8zABPKOH_grId0jR7HSVavUcHPygRWebUL4fnK9p3vIDRgtYeZrn6RnU-Z04Qau4ZlyDICsnKgISnWFUKZVQ12LXjTiud4FbRU5KqRW_UVYfLR8T6Sjw0/s1600/LAVENDER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CkbiPa4Mlw0KCDMEC_AsVS8zABPKOH_grId0jR7HSVavUcHPygRWebUL4fnK9p3vIDRgtYeZrn6RnU-Z04Qau4ZlyDICsnKgISnWFUKZVQ12LXjTiud4FbRU5KqRW_UVYfLR8T6Sjw0/s320/LAVENDER.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="63at1-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$63at1" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9c7vs-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9c7vs" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="9c7vs-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9c7vs.0:$9c7vs-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9c7vs.0:$9c7vs-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="8m1bn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8m1bn" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="8m1bn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8m1bn.0:$8m1bn-0-0">Next we will be putting together another soap order. I can not tell you how much I love these soaps. And everyone that buys them from us loves them too. We are constantly being asked when we are placing another order. We need to get them ordered soon so they will arrive and have time to be cut and dried to use as Christmas gifts. Please consider helping us with this fundraiser when it is shared in the next few days. All soaps will be pre-payment orders and we'd love for you to help us when the time comes by getting the word out. I expect to have all the details ready sometime tomorrow.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="6d66i-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6d66i" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6d66i-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6d66i.0:$6d66i-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$6d66i.0:$6d66i-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="9ema-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9ema" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="9ema-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$9ema.0:$9ema-0-0">We will also be hosting an iPad Mini Giveaway. You'll have the chance to donate $10 per chance. You can purchase as many chances as you'd like! This would a great Christmas gift or even a treat for yourself if you win! I'll be sharing details about it probably on Monday.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="814a-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$814a" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="814a-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$814a.0:$814a-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$814a.0:$814a-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="73a17-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$73a17" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="73a17-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$73a17.0:$73a17-0-0">We have also been blessed with a matching grant. We are not allowed to give towards this grant...our friends and family make donations and then the organization matches them for up to $2000. So that would mean $4000 total to help bring John Preston home if we reach our goal. More details coming soon about this. If you want more information, please let me know.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2uil3-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2uil3" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="2uil3-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2uil3.0:$2uil3-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2uil3.0:$2uil3-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="5rrs3-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5rrs3" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="5rrs3-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5rrs3.0:$5rrs3-0-0">Tax deductible donations can also be made anytime to help bring John Preston home in his Reece's Rainbow account at <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/88597/sponsorparris-2">http://reecesrainbow.org/88597/sponsorparris-2</a></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="5rrs3-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5rrs3" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/88597/sponsorparris-2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OBb-uEHR-TDZxPrzkDVy3SeepG14tlu0PLHFcLnseHGTtf5ZyQ_GHjattfnpKk_0zVmW3E19AWm3dhl15WrxdTtioEMRNhMisHhSOoOYirNX-9hlWXqqKFevDnqGd8JDNs4Jk19oack/s320/1000miles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/88597/sponsorparris-2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSBXmbp2shQdvqwmn8Nxa6JUNf4nuZa0JPt9IHNveBe_jjOdWPjpACb-GDvNdnd0e93cyIiULa8niZiCX8fUw_EWcVaeitJRTpLNe5RKl8UaeYdlUD866KLGs0FTn-4KQ9padel8Baws/s320/shaketheworld.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="5h2uf-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5h2uf" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="5h2uf-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5h2uf.0:$5h2uf-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5h2uf.0:$5h2uf-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="4i5m9-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4i5m9" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="4i5m9-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4i5m9.0:$4i5m9-0-0">We have about $2100 left to be finished paying our agency fees and then we can begin to focus on travel expenses of about $13,000. I am praying that these fundraisers above help us knock out the agency bill in the next two weeks. Ambitious? Yes. But I serve a big God. We started this adoption process with nothing and God has met our needs right on time. Have we struggled? Yes. But who doesn't?<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="4i5m9-1-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4i5m9.$4i5m9-1-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="4i5m9-1-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4i5m9.$4i5m9-1-0.$4i5m9-1-0"><span data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4i5m9.$4i5m9-1-0.$4i5m9-1-0.0" style="background-color: white;">Bryan</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="4i5m9-2-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$4i5m9.2:$4i5m9-2-0"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>reminds me of this constantly when my faith waivers. When I look at the numbers on paper and begin to wonder if God will make it happen in my time. Oh, how I want it to be in my timing. But God's timing is perfect. He is right on time. Pray for me specifically to stay strong, work hard and continue to have faith that God is going to meet us right where we need Him. </span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7n8d2-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7n8d2" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="7n8d2-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7n8d2.0:$7n8d2-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7n8d2.0:$7n8d2-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="evd2c-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$evd2c" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="evd2c-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$evd2c.0:$evd2c-0-0">Can I tell you that the thought of traveling most likely towards the beginning of December has me wanting to jump up and down. We are not financially ready to go yet but my heart is. Our boy has waited over EIGHT years for a family to love him. EIGHT YEARS. If you have children, can you imagine missing that much time with them...missing all the milestones, not celebrating birthdays and holidays? We have a lot of time to make up for. We have a lot of love to give. John Preston is loved and wanted. He has a family waiting for him. Our family. He has siblings that are waiting on pins and needles to get him home. We have friends and family and a whole community of people who can not wait to love on him.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2ob66-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ob66" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="2ob66-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ob66.0:$2ob66-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ob66.0:$2ob66-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="8jm0a-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8jm0a" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="8jm0a-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8jm0a.0:$8jm0a-0-0">I know we are all stretched thin. Everytime we turn around money is needed for something..to pay a bill...a kid's sport equipment...school supplies. It never ends. I know. We are there too. Sometimes I wish a money tree would pop up in our backyard and I could play catch up on everything at once. But instead we do what we can each payday, much like you, I'm sure.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="2gkij-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2gkij" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="2gkij-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2gkij.0:$2gkij-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2gkij.0:$2gkij-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="5al2u-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5al2u" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="5al2u-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$5al2u.0:$5al2u-0-0">We do not take for granted even ONE dollar you have used to help us bring our son home. Not one dollar. We are so thankful. We could never really communicate to you how much it means when you purchase something we are selling to fundraise...or the times you have just made straight out donations...you just stopped and wrote a check to help us bring our son home. I know you could have spent your money on other things. I know you didn't have to help us. I know you helped because you love us and you love John Preston.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="a80ls-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a80ls" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="a80ls-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a80ls.0:$a80ls-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$a80ls.0:$a80ls-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="bf6ne-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$bf6ne" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="bf6ne-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$bf6ne.0:$bf6ne-0-0">We need you. We need you to come alongside us. We knew in the beginning we could not do this alone. We need you to hold us up on days when it feels like it is harder than we can handle. We need you to hold us up when we are wondering where the next fee will come from. There are so many of you that have told us you are praying. That is exactly what we need. You standing in the gap for us. </span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="8r8q2-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8r8q2" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="8r8q2-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8r8q2.0:$8r8q2-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8r8q2.0:$8r8q2-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="7843o-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7843o" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="7843o-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$7843o.0:$7843o-0-0">We need our community...we need our church family...we need our ballet friends..our soccer friends...we need strangers. Anyone that agrees with what Scripture tells us in James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows their distress..."</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="528fm-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$528fm" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="528fm-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$528fm.0:$528fm-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$528fm.0:$528fm-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="e3b8t-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e3b8t" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="e3b8t-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$e3b8t.0:$e3b8t-0-0">Will you commit to pray with us?</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="clmin-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$clmin" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="clmin-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$clmin.0:$clmin-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$clmin.0:$clmin-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1eh8e-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1eh8e" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="1eh8e-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1eh8e.0:$1eh8e-0-0">Pray for John Preston's safety and health. Pray that his needs are met. Pray that he feels loved by his foster family and pray that his heart softens to begin to love us as much as we already love him.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="30h04-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$30h04" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="30h04-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$30h04.0:$30h04-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$30h04.0:$30h04-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="1g2qq-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1g2qq" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="1g2qq-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$1g2qq.0:$1g2qq-0-0">Pray for the hearts of our children at home. Pray that God will protect their hearts form what potentially could be a very hard transition. MinLan came home as basically a baby. John Preston is going to bound in the door as an eight year old. Very different circumstances. Pray that our children already home, will know that family is forever...even in the hard days...pray that they will know that we love them, even when their new brother is likely to be taking a lot of our attention and time.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="d1vlb-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d1vlb" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="d1vlb-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d1vlb.0:$d1vlb-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$d1vlb.0:$d1vlb-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="51dhc-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$51dhc" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="51dhc-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$51dhc.0:$51dhc-0-0">Pray for </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="51dhc-1-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$51dhc.$51dhc-1-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="51dhc-1-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$51dhc.$51dhc-1-0.$51dhc-1-0"><span data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$51dhc.$51dhc-1-0.$51dhc-1-0.0" style="background-color: white;">Bryan</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="51dhc-2-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$51dhc.2:$51dhc-2-0"> and I. That we will be strong...that we will work hard...that we, with God alone, can move these mountains to get our son home. Pray that our relationship stays strong and that we work together as one in the final two months especially.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="ffqto-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$ffqto" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="ffqto-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$ffqto.0:$ffqto-0-0"><br data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$ffqto.0:$ffqto-0-0.0" /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="er5nn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$er5nn" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="er5nn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$er5nn.0:$er5nn-0-0">Friends the time is here. I can see the finish line. And let me tell you...it is beautiful. I see that ribbon stretched across the horizon and I am sprinting. Running as hard as I can to our boy. Pray we don't stumble right before the end. Pray we stand tall and burst through that ribbon in victory with only the Lord receiving the glory. It is He and HE alone that has brought us here. No one else. He has been faithful.</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="er5nn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$er5nn" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="er5nn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$er5nn.0:$er5nn-0-0"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="er5nn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$er5nn" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="er5nn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$er5nn.0:$er5nn-0-0">Love,</span></div>
<div class="_209g _2vxa" data-block="true" data-offset-key="er5nn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$er5nn" style="color: #373e4d; direction: ltr; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="er5nn-0-0" data-reactid=".151.1.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$er5nn.0:$er5nn-0-0">Jenifer</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-27909720924923005562015-09-30T23:02:00.005-07:002015-09-30T23:02:50.652-07:00Diffuser Necklace FundraiserHello world! We are so excited to be offering these fabulous diffuser necklaces from a retailer to help us bring John Preston home! TONS of designs to choose from! Here are just a few of my favorites!
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<strong>Each necklace is $8 plus $2 shipping and handling if needed. </strong></div>
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<strong>If purchasing more than one necklace shipping is ONLY $2 total!</strong></div>
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Dragonfly</div>
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<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/dragonfly.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DRAGONFLY" class="size-full wp-image-1424 aligncenter" height="400" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/dragonfly.png" width="300" /></a></div>
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What Would Jesus Do?</div>
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<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/wwjd.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WWJD" class="size-large wp-image-1425 aligncenter" height="400" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/wwjd.png?w=300" width="300" /></a></div>
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Cross</div>
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<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/blessed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="BLESSED" class="size-large wp-image-1426 aligncenter" height="400" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/blessed.png?w=300" width="300" /></a></div>
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Heart</div>
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<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/heart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="HEART" class="size-large wp-image-1427 aligncenter" height="400" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/heart.png?w=300" width="300" /></a></div>
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Chinese character for family</div>
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<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/family.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FAMILY" class="size-large wp-image-1428 aligncenter" height="400" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/family.png?w=300" width="300" /></a></div>
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Star of David</div>
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<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/star_of_david.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="STAR_OF_DAVID" class="size-large wp-image-1429 aligncenter" height="400" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/star_of_david.png?w=300" width="300" /></a></div>
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Lavender</div>
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<a href="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/lavender.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LAVENDER" class="size-large wp-image-1430 aligncenter" height="400" src="https://jeniferparris.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/lavender.png?w=300" width="300" /></a></div>
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Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jeniferparris/media_set?set=a.10154221614913448.1073741869.535633447&type=3&pnref=story" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see all of the designs we are offering! Go many great ones!</div>
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<strong>Information from the wholesaler of these diffuser necklaces.</strong></div>
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<li>These diffuser necklaces are made from pure, chemical-free terra cotta clay.</li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Terra cotta clay is the perfect diffusing medium for essential oils. Kiln-fired terra cotta clay is a very hard porous substance with tiny air pockets throughout. These air pockets hold the oil and slowly release it into the air around the pendant creating an oasis of aroma in the wearer’s personal breathing space.</span></li>
<li>Lay the pendant flat and apply one drop of essential oil. Allow the oil to become completely absorbed into the clay. When the oil is completely absorbed, it is ready to wear.</li>
<li>These pendants come with waxed cotton, sliding-knot cords which can be adjusted in length to approximately 38 cm (15 inches) to 76 cm (30 inches) long.</li>
<li>Sizes: Round Pendants – 1 1/8 inches across; Oval Pendants – 1 1/4 inches by 1 1/2 inches; Rectangular Pendants – 1 1/8 inches by 1 7/8 inches. The Car Diffusers are 1 1/8 inches.</li>
<li><br /></li>
</ul>
I'm getting one for EACH of my kiddos and hubby....I have loved wearing mine already the last few weeks!
<strong>This fundraiser begins Thursday, October 1st and ends Friday, October 9th.</strong>
Our goal for these necklaces is AMBITIOUS!!! Hoping to sell 200 of these and to put a HUGE dent in the remaining fees we owe to our agency. We need your help though!!!! Can you help us by sharing this post and sharing about John Preston? Click Facebook or Twitter button below to share!
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1td0D6WTBnhhGrwIwlQQVIzBqJr5dX6Y0lrBcSnws8wY/viewform?usp=send_form">CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO ORDER</a></div>
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Thank you so much for continuing to support our fundraisers and help us bring John Preston home!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Love,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Jenifer</div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D155325771789044493%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2Fjeniferparris.files.wordpress.com%2F2015%2F10%2Flavender.png%3Fw%3D300&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=AKPezW7d9zKd&description=LAVENDER" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 203px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2886px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D155325771789044493%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2Fjeniferparris.files.wordpress.com%2F2015%2F10%2Flavender.png%3Fw%3D300&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=AKPezW7d9zKd&description=LAVENDER" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 203px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2886px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-25249152114515200082015-09-22T13:11:00.002-07:002015-09-22T13:15:27.010-07:00John Preston Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7n0BJUh-9PyiEXEdeYwx9O7ocUWbjaHUGCaTsN6sKKidOk7kyvVHtf9VHhjyNOItF7-f5mL96PYP6JH7OyefCHyC7ZCfOSjNZ7P6QC0Y9hsxSEmTmdshfwOttpSfHFB_t6Ojxf0P5eE/s1600/Parris+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7n0BJUh-9PyiEXEdeYwx9O7ocUWbjaHUGCaTsN6sKKidOk7kyvVHtf9VHhjyNOItF7-f5mL96PYP6JH7OyefCHyC7ZCfOSjNZ7P6QC0Y9hsxSEmTmdshfwOttpSfHFB_t6Ojxf0P5eE/s640/Parris+%25282%2529.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
September is nearing an end.<br />
<br />
One month marked off the calendar and closer to our boy coming home.<br />
<br />
We are so encouraged each time you ask about him or ask about how close we are to meeting our financial goals to bring him home.<br />
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Thank you so much for loving us AND John Preston.<br />
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We can't wait for you to meet him and see his beautiful smiling face in person. You are going to love him.<br />
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In the beginning of the adoption process, you feel like you just have to get to the next thing.<br />
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<br />
What is the NEXT payment we have due?<br />
<br />
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What is the NEXT piece of paper I have to fill out?<br />
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<br />
Now that we are nearing the end, a large amount of money related to travel is due just about all at one time. It can be quite overwhelming to look at it on paper.<br />
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<br />
I know my God is larger than that number on the paper though.<br />
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But yet, I have to keep reminding myself.<br />
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I wanted to share below where we are financially.<br />
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It helps me to look at it and I wanted to share with so many of you who have asked.<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>John Preston's Reece's Rainbow account was at $2752 when we committed to him.</li>
</ul>
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<br />
<ul>
<li>Since we have set up our FSP with Reece's Rainbow, others have donated $2003 to his account (after our matching grant is applied).</li>
</ul>
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<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>We are asking John Preston's orphanage if they will waive his orphanage donation fee of $5700. This is a huge prayer need for us. If you want to pray specifically, please pray that his orphanage is willing to waive this. We will be submitting the request this week to our agency. It might be a while before we hear back.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>We have been offered a matching grant with an organization called <a href="http://www.brittanyshope.org/" target="_blank">Brittany's Hope</a>. Basically, we raise $2000, send it to them, they match is with another $2000 for a total of $4000. This will be dispersed to us after we arrive home with John Preston. That is different than when we were gifted this grant with MinLan. With our first adoption we used this to help with our air fare. We have several fundraisers in October planned with help us reach this goal.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Our plan has been all along for Ethan and Ellie both to travel with us. I feel like Ethan will be so wonderful to make John Preston feel comfortable with us. And Ellie is a HUGE help! I am so thankful that she went to China with me to bring MinLan home. She helped so much and the thought of her not being able to go has me sweating a little honestly. When it comes time to buy our plane tickets, we will have to make a decision quickly about my ability to take them with me this time.</li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div>
So with all of the above taken into consideration, that leaves us with around <b>$15, 000 to be fully funded</b>.</div>
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<i>[$2000 will have to be sent to Brittany's Hope but we will get it back after we travel. Confused yet? ;-) ]</i></div>
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I have stepped back in the month of September.....have not actively done any fundraising and God has continued to provide. </div>
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We have had friends host fundraisers for us.</div>
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We have had friends walk up to us at church and hand us a check.</div>
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We have had friends reach out to take our hands and leave cash money in our palm.</div>
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Times like these the tears come freely.</div>
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We are so grateful.</div>
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I can not even begin to tell you how much this means to us. Not only that you are willing to support us through our adoption but that you love John Preston already and want to see him home.</div>
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We are on day 58 of waiting for our LOA from China. This is the next big step. Once it arrives...could be any day as China is processing families right now that had log in dates the last week of July like we did. Once our LOA arrives, we probably have only about two months before we will travel. As I type that, my heart is giddy with excitement and terrified at the same time.</div>
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Will you pray with us? Pray that we make effective and wise decisions regarding raising the remainder of our funds to bring our son home. Pray that God continues to bless our adoption process as He already has.</div>
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If you feel led, donations can be made anytime to our You Caring site <a href="https://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/the-story-of-1000/296518" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <br />
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Tax deductible donations can be made to our Reece's Rainbow account <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/88597/sponsorparris-2" target="_blank">HERE</a> as well.<br />
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We would be so honored if you would share our site with friends and family by clicking the share button below.</div>
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Love,</div>
<div>
Jenifer</div>
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<a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-33190781289776819192015-06-30T11:46:00.004-07:002015-06-30T11:47:21.526-07:00Sheet Fundraiser for John PrestonDo you need new sheets?<br />
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Have you been meaning to get new ones and just haven't gotten around to it?<br />
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Do you need an extra set?<br />
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Kid going off to college this fall in need of new sheets?<br />
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Need some for a wedding gift?<br />
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<i>Well, now you can get NEW sheets and AND help us get John Preston home!!!!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<b>We will place our order on July 10th! </b><br />
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<b>King sizes are only $40 and all other sizes are $35!!</b><br />
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And I'll deliver!!! <3<br />
<br />
Need them shipped? No problem!<br />
<br />
<b>Only $12.95 to ship them to you!</b><br />
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Check out the colors and info below! Feel free to shoot me a message to order or comment below!<br />
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All orders are pre-paid and you can send payment via <a href="http://www.paypal.com/" target="_blank">PayPal</a>. My PayPal email address is jmparris@cableone.net and be sure to choose the "friends and family" option so there are no fees! :-)<br />
<br />
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THANK YOU!!!! Please feel free to share!!!! #operationgetJohnPrestonhomeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-62037814014254458402015-06-13T10:41:00.004-07:002015-06-13T10:43:34.000-07:00A Special Gift.....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Down syndrome has brought so many people into our lives...I've spoken about it before....we have met professionals...doctors and therapists....we have met parents of little ones with Down syndrome and other special needs....all placed in our lives through the Lord because of a little extra chromosome. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have also met people who have loved and lost sweet souls with Down syndrome. We are blessed to know them too. They may not be walking the daily path with us but they know...they just KNOW. They know without a word how amazing our little ones are. They understand what a blessing God gave to us all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today we received a very generous donation towards our adoption from one of those friends. Kelli is a fellow local oily momma friend. She and her husband have two beautiful daughters and were blessed with a precious son named Elijah who passed into the arms of Jesus. Elijah had Down syndrome just like our girls and our John Preston. Look at that precious face below...isn't he beautiful?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you Kelli and Les. Our family will never forget the gift from your family in Elijah's honor. Each time I see your face, I will remember. I will remember your sweet boy and I will know that he helped to get our boy home to his family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I sit here with tears streaming down my face, I am reminded yet again what a big God we serve. He has overcome death and the grave. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You will hold your sweet boy again one day, Kelli. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John Preston will know the love of a mother and a father...the love of siblings and extended family...because God will make it so. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is making a way...He has knit our stories together through time and space....God is good.</span><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://theblessingofelijah.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Elijah Christian Wright</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D155325771789044493%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6203781401425445840&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Aih75kUlE-Y%2FVXxq2t63WMI%2FAAAAAAAAFJ0%2FVXU255MoBT8%2Fs320%2FScan.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 818px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D155325771789044493%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6203781401425445840&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Aih75kUlE-Y%2FVXxq2t63WMI%2FAAAAAAAAFJ0%2FVXU255MoBT8%2Fs320%2FScan.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 818px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-29997877509887210242015-06-11T13:43:00.000-07:002015-06-11T13:43:04.982-07:00Liberty Fundraiser<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's talk for a minute about LIBERTY...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do you teach your children about liberty?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Do you?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sort of a hard topic to wrap your mind around isn't it? You know what it is but maybe not how to explain it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">"Until now, freedom-minded parents have had little to no educational material to teach their children the concepts of liberty.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">The Tuttle Twins series of books helps children learn about political and economic principles in a fun and engaging manner. With colorful illustrations and a fun story, your children will follow Ethan and Emily as they learn about liberty!"</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The first book is "The Tuttle Twins Learn About the Law".</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;"><i>Grab your copy of the first book in the brand new Tuttle Twins series—and help the children in your life <b>learn the principles of liberty</b>!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Tuttle Twins Learn About the Law is 62 pages long and full of fun, colorful illustrations. Recommended reading age: 5-11.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">The second book is "The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil".</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zjk_Xoa8IWcx0ibf9AdSq20CetaHIHx02ZMVRQ3jRJAzxP_xFtVNdTDQ8HVrxaDs-qAYWAn453Y_ihxot7yvygSE0fTQwSUP18mg_AiM1IR3aIPj7CTw7h60kVsy7u0u2BESakXNJlA/s1600/ttpencil_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zjk_Xoa8IWcx0ibf9AdSq20CetaHIHx02ZMVRQ3jRJAzxP_xFtVNdTDQ8HVrxaDs-qAYWAn453Y_ihxot7yvygSE0fTQwSUP18mg_AiM1IR3aIPj7CTw7h60kVsy7u0u2BESakXNJlA/s320/ttpencil_small.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Grab your copy of the second book in the brand new Tuttle Twins series—and help the children in your life <b>learn how the free market works</b>!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Tuttle Twins Learn and the Miraculous Pencil is 64 pages long and full of fun, colorful illustrations. Recommended reading age: 5-11.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are selling these amazing, must-have books to help us bring John Preston home! Details below!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">With each book you </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;">purchase, you'll also receive a FREE DOWNLOADABLE ACTIVITY BOOK!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;">Here's some more info on the Tuttle Twins:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do you describe liberty to a 7-year-old? Should your preteen care about the government? Are your kids learning about proper political principles in class?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For too long, parents have been at the mercy of professional curriculum developers to instruct their children. History is watered down, key principles omitted altogether, and time and attention given to things of lesser importance. Freedom-loving parents have long been left alone to shoulder the burden of educating their children and passing down a love of liberty.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While there are many books to teach these ideas to adults, there has been a profound void in the children’s literature market. The <em>Tuttle Twins</em> series aims to close the gap, helping parents convey the principles of liberty to their kids in a fun way.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each book in this series will focus on a different subset of individual liberty. The first book, <em>The Tuttle Twins Learn About the Law</em>, is a children’s version of Frédéric Bastiat’s <em>The Law</em>, written in 1850, that clearly and concisely summarizes what the proper role of government is. With an engaging storyline and bright illustrations, kids are exposed to the fundamentals of freedom in an easy and enlightening format.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Subsequent books will focus on the free market, the non-aggression principle, personal responsibility, protectionism, and a variety of other issues—all boiled down to core concepts that children can easily grasp.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;"><b>To purchase your books:</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Go to <a href="http://www.paypal.com/">www.paypal.com</a></b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Click to "Send money to friends or family".</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Enter my email address jmparris@cableone.net</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Enter the amount for one of the three buying options below:</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">OPTION 1: $10 for book #1 - </span><span style="background-color: white;">"The Tuttle Twins Learn About the Law".</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">OPTION 2: $10 for book #2 - </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">"The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil"</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OPTION 3: $19 for BOTH books</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;">Shipping to you is included for FREE!!!</span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Click "next" and <i><span style="color: red;">be sure to put in the notes section which book/books you are ordering.</span></i></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will take orders until Friday, June 18th!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for your interest and for helping us bring John Preston HOME!!!!! Can you help us spread the word by sharing with your friends?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jenifer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-80489961076455763482015-05-19T19:17:00.001-07:002015-05-24T20:26:29.205-07:00Tieks Adoption Fundraiser Giveaway!!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am not a big "shoe" person....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I own a few pair...definitely less than ten...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wear them until they are no longer wearable...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could buy more shoes, really I could....it just doesn't ever really cross my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#donotrevokemygirliegirlcardplease</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But these shoes......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaVAOEB8ebrPF5OKbprWUVyT7ViU4w9unm_A1K7ic-uAROrOSrIwREvM0wjZvQNM5FD6JAV4fpECvjiwg1WSJBt06gO8BltYMuPkPuA4cM7l0c433nYuY28AgwhNByYqwMwcq1DAsxKE/s1600/10676127_10152866111519610_3564727755334254176_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaVAOEB8ebrPF5OKbprWUVyT7ViU4w9unm_A1K7ic-uAROrOSrIwREvM0wjZvQNM5FD6JAV4fpECvjiwg1WSJBt06gO8BltYMuPkPuA4cM7l0c433nYuY28AgwhNByYqwMwcq1DAsxKE/s400/10676127_10152866111519610_3564727755334254176_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do NOT own a pair...but I KNOW I would love them...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are called Tieks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have wanted a pair for YEARS....I kid you not...YEARS.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They cost $175.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">YIKES.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mommy brain can not rationalize buying them. I have tried to convince myself that since I spend so LITTLE on shoes, that these would be a good investment. But I haven't persuaded myself yet.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One day, when you finally see me in a pair (or two), please don't judge me...</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm guessing you want a pair as much as I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's what Tieks has to say about them on their website...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Tieks are made from </span><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">100% premium, soft, full-grain leather</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">. The upper of each pair of Tieks comes from a single piece of leather. The upper is designed to wrap around the foot to slim and elongate it. Our highest end leathers are custom made in Italy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">The back of your Tieks are </span><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cushioned</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> rather than elasticized to ensure your Tieks are never too tight on your heel.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-size: 14px;">Whether on your feet or in your purse, Tieks ar</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">e designed to add flexibility to your lifestyle by ensuring comfort is close even when wearing heels. The </span><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">foldable split-sole design</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> is compact and lightweight, making it easy to bring your Tieks along when you are in heels. When you need to take off your heels, Tieks provide comfort without compromising your style.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">The </span><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">non-skid rubber patches</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">and </span><span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cushioned instep</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> assure comfort with each step, so you can wear your Tieks all day, every day. The thick padding of the space foam cushion ensures a safe and comfortable heel strike.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Want a pair now?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I knew you did.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Well, we are giving a pair away. Your choice of one of the classic colors seen <a href="http://tieks.com/boutiek/#classics" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Aren't they SCRUMPTIOUS?!?!?!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC6dvu1N9Bl33Xh4w9d1tcuKS-DLWI_x8AF2OBjrOknKEzAfrPlMu0EeoI22vhNOMe1ZqbE0AMajyY3Dc7lp4FQbT0KwWV_7P3YGjXoYYUNV31Rp55RQzvIPcziOd5YHmqPdNxwBuUn8/s1600/11080991_10153263896974610_3478258989388181299_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC6dvu1N9Bl33Xh4w9d1tcuKS-DLWI_x8AF2OBjrOknKEzAfrPlMu0EeoI22vhNOMe1ZqbE0AMajyY3Dc7lp4FQbT0KwWV_7P3YGjXoYYUNV31Rp55RQzvIPcziOd5YHmqPdNxwBuUn8/s400/11080991_10153263896974610_3478258989388181299_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Each $10 donation gets you one entry to win.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">You can enter as many times as you wish.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>To enter:</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>Go to <a href="http://www.paypal.com/">www.paypal.com</a></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>Click to "Send money to friends or family".</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Enter my email address jmparris@cableone.net</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Enter the amount..... $10 .... $20 .... $30 .....how many ever entries you would like.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Click "next" and be sure to put in the notes section that your donation is for the shoe giveaway.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">We will draw on Friday, May 29th. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Are you excited? I am! I wish I could enter to win!!!!!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">If you win and wear a size ten, then maybe you'd let me borrow them for a day.......</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Remember donations via Paypal are not tax deductible. If you would like to enter to win without making a donation, please email me at jmparris@cableone.net.</span></i></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D155325771789044493%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-xdeFV9XuU9U%2FVVvq0EOeRVI%2FAAAAAAAAFIc%2F9rnkqbww9vQ%2Fs640%2F10676127_10152866111519610_3564727755334254176_n.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 360px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D155325771789044493%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-xdeFV9XuU9U%2FVVvq0EOeRVI%2FAAAAAAAAFIc%2F9rnkqbww9vQ%2Fs640%2F10676127_10152866111519610_3564727755334254176_n.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 360px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-78188386858267028342015-05-04T00:24:00.002-07:002015-05-04T00:24:32.878-07:00It's May the Fourth....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you know today is May 4th...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My kids would say, "May the fourth be with you"!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would say...</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday John Preston!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Except he's not here...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It doesn't seem right to celebrate without him...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It doesn't seem right to enjoy cake and ice cream...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder if he even knows today is his birthday?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder if he will be celebrated today?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My guess is no...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But next year? Go ahead and mark your calendar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will be celebrating our sweet boy AT HOME!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will celebrate his birth....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will celebrate his life...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will hug him and kiss him and tell him we love him and that he will never celebrate another birthday without his family.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-18b1E2zVg76bWx0y3gnHB0RJJu-iNNfX10KPF4VAelQGcoq0jP3T6VCK3f4h9cqr5y_gKl8bzEA-VGshGW_kAPi7ldDFy9cKUNUJ9JSJq28LYvU_SsGuDOP4I4OmEHLv-Fn5z9ub40/s1600/11071820_10153718059128448_6682423453199181092_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-18b1E2zVg76bWx0y3gnHB0RJJu-iNNfX10KPF4VAelQGcoq0jP3T6VCK3f4h9cqr5y_gKl8bzEA-VGshGW_kAPi7ldDFy9cKUNUJ9JSJq28LYvU_SsGuDOP4I4OmEHLv-Fn5z9ub40/s1600/11071820_10153718059128448_6682423453199181092_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For years now, we have requested "no gifts" for our kids' birthday parties. They have all they need and more and we truly have just wanted friends to celebrate with us...no gifts required.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, for John Preston's eighth birthday, I'd like to make an exception.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have many upcoming expenses regarding adoption, but probably the most important is his plane ticket home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will get on that plane with our boy and he will...from that point forward....always know the love of a family.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In honor of John Preston's eighth birthday today would you consider donating $8 to <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/88597/sponsorparris-2" target="_blank">his Reece's Rainbow account</a>? </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for your continued support and prayers. Thank you for asking us about John Preston when you see us. Thank you for asking us how the process is going. We are making progress....continuing to wait on our next approval...we know it is all in God's perfect timing. We are coming sweet boy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jenifer</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-26929661665050443552015-04-29T09:59:00.000-07:002015-04-29T09:59:04.193-07:00Butter Bees Salve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have super dry skin?</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you like to mix your essential oils with coconut oil but it is too runny?</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, Butter Bees Salve is just what you've been looking for!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is made from all organic ingredients...shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each tin holds 2.5 ounces of our salve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each tin of salve is $8 if you are a local friend that I see already during the week or if you'd like to come and pick up from us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cost is $11 if we need to ship it to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Proceeds received from the sale our salve go towards helping us bring our sweet John Preston HOME!!!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0Au3sUuWN1oRAhVOzeHUefvKcicdP8QjyscRB8bMRhLGVeSrz-SksNstDP8ogxa8oes3XHARRCAQZU75lpUnyhrpYrIq7JO71v0A-nIHvz55457BPg74R40n_dqGagPIqoAxe_PayZ8/s1600/11102623_10153711655483448_7636015055866581491_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0Au3sUuWN1oRAhVOzeHUefvKcicdP8QjyscRB8bMRhLGVeSrz-SksNstDP8ogxa8oes3XHARRCAQZU75lpUnyhrpYrIq7JO71v0A-nIHvz55457BPg74R40n_dqGagPIqoAxe_PayZ8/s1600/11102623_10153711655483448_7636015055866581491_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How to purchase:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To order yours, send payment using <a href="http://www.paypal.com/" target="_blank">Paypal</a> using the "friends and family option". My Paypal email is jmparris@cableone.net</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be sure to put "salve" in the comments! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i><i>Note: Payments made via Paypal are not tax-deductible.</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-22033223029863460232015-04-25T10:24:00.001-07:002015-04-25T10:25:12.091-07:00I-800A MAILED!!!!!<div style="color: #141823; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">JUST MAILED OUR I-800A PAPERWORK!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FINALLY!!!!! Took me forever to get myself to the post office! Now we wait!!!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With MinLan our approval took 64 days I think! Please pray with me that this time the wait is much SHORTER!!!! Once this approval comes in, we can send our dossier to CHINA!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For my friends and family that none of this makes sense to, our I-800A is basically our approval from the US government saying we are approved to adopt. Once they get our paperwork, they will give us an appointment to go to Birmingham and have our fingerprints done (again) and then when those come back with no issues they will send our approval.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once we get our approval, then we can send all of our documents (the big stack called the dossier) to China. Once the dossier goes to China, the typical timeframe is around six months until travel....praying for faster of course! A HUGE blessing this time is that we were able to reuse our dossier from MinLan's adoption. Whew......saved us LOTS of time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friends from our placing agency recently went to visit John Preston's orphanage. They reported that he was doing well, he seemed to love his foster momma and they sent several pictures and even a video! The neat thing is that we have met John Preston's foster momma in real life! We were introduced to her while we were eating lunch at the orphanage on our trip to bring MinLan home! How cool is that!?!?!? She seemed very sweet and kept commenting on how beautiful Ellie's hair was! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many of you have asked how we are coming with raising the funds required to bring John Preston home. I love that you ask and that you are cheering us on towards reaching our goal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are still working towards coming up with the rest of the money to get our dossier to China. Total it is about $3700 if my figuring is correct. Once we get it sent off to China, then our focus will turn to travel expenses and John Preston's orphanage donation. Please pray with us that his orphanage will agree to waive all or at least part of this donation. It would be a HUGE blessing to our family!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WITH the orphanage donation, we still need to pull together around $22,550.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WITHOUT the orphanage donation, we need $16,850 by my calculations (an estimate of course).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To just look at those numbers is overwhelming....they bring tears to my eyes. But seeing those numbers also strengthens my faith. I know that God has called us to bring John Preston home to be a part of our family. He is going to make a way where we see none. I don't know how and I don't know when but He is going to show out in a mighty way and bring our son home to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Could you help us by being part of our Story of 1000? Many of our friends and family have already given so generously. We are so grateful you have partnered with us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now we need your help to spread the word. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Could you share our story with your friends and family? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Could you ask them if they would be willing to be a part?</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.youcaring.com/thestoryof1000" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.youcaring.com/thestoryof1000</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please pray with us too as we begin the process of applying for adoption grants. There are so many families that apply for these same grants. All of us in need of help to bring our little ones home. I am praying that God lays it on their hearts to choose us for grant funds that are available. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pray one day our family can pay it forward and set up our own grant foundation for families adopting little ones with Down syndrome. How awesome would it be to be able to bless other families coming after us!?!?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for following our story...thank you for praying for John Preston...thank you for supporting my over-posting on Facebook, supporting our fundraisers and continuing to walk this journey with us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are coming John Preston!!!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy these beautiful pics and video of our sweet boy!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-62401143401864140692015-04-11T16:09:00.001-07:002015-04-11T16:14:48.187-07:00Suds of LoveSUDS OF LOVE FUNDRAISER!!!!!<br />
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<br />
<br />
Ok, let's talk detergent...<br />
<br />
I have made my own for a long time.....<br />
<br />
1) We save so much money making our own and it really is easy! But a lot of my friends don't want to fool with it.<br />
<br />
2) I have thought I was making this "great" recipe for years for my family until I read all of the bad stuff out there about Borax...geesh! So I set out to find a recipe WITHOUT Borax!<br />
<br />
3) I finally found a recipe I love!!! You can even put it in a glass container and add your favorite essential oils if you'd like to!<br />
<br />
3) So here's a way for you to try homemade detergent and see if you like it! If you do, I'd be happy to share our recipe and you can make your very own!<br />
<br />
4) In the meantime, your purchase of our detergent helps us bring John Preston home!<br />
<br />
Each bag is approximately two pounds and sells for $9. If you need it shipped, shipping will be $5.95 Priority Mail. I totally get that you don't want to pay to have your detergent shipped to you all of the time...that would not feasibly make sense.....but this is a great way for you to give it a try AND help our sweet John Preston get home!!!! <3<br />
<br />
Our family has been using it for about two months and I had several friends test it out for me....the response from them has been great! <3<br />
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So ask yourself:<br />
<br />
- Do you have dirty clothes?<br />
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If you do, then:<br />
<br />
- Help bring John Preston home ("Timothy" on RR) to his forever family.<br />
<br />
- Have clean clothes. ;-)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">To order yours, send payment using <a href="http://www.paypal.com/" target="_blank">Paypal</a> using the "friends and family option". My Paypal email is jmparris@cableone.net</span></b><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Note: Payments made via Paypal are not tax-deductible.</i><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-48544087751689894952015-03-26T12:59:00.000-07:002015-03-26T12:59:12.601-07:00Update....but not really an updateHey friends! This is the part of the process where a lot of things happen behind the scenes but not much DAILY excitement.<br />
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Our first big step was to get a list of documents to our home study agency.<br />
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They, in turn, copy all of that and send it to our social worker and she writes our home study update.<br />
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This home study update then goes to China as part of our dossier (AKA big stack of documents).<br />
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The good news is that we get to reuse our dossier that we used with MinLan. Can I get a big hallelujah!?!?!?!? That thing is a BEAST to put together!!!!<br />
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Ok, so all of our documents have been delivered to our home study agency.<br />
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Last I heard, our social worker was still waiting on a few documents to be sent to her.<br />
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Once she has them, she can sit down to write and update our home study to reflect MinLan's addition to our family and to add in our desire to adopt John Preston.<br />
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Then she will send a draft to be approved by our placing agency in Delaware. Our goal is to have that rough draft sent to our placing agency by March 31st.<br />
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Once they approve it, the official copies with be signed, notarized and ready to go.<br />
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Once our home study is done, we can also begin to apply for grants for our adoption.<br />
<br />
Our next big hurdle is the funds due to get our dossier to China. It is a real possibility that it will be ready to go but that they will be waiting on us to pay our balance due them in order to send it.<br />
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I think this is one part that scares me. Not that I LIKE waiting on other people to do their part, but I hate the thought that everything will be ready to go and they will be waiting on US.<br />
<br />
To think that our precious boy has been waiting almost EIGHT YEARS already for a family and that now he will wait even longer.<br />
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We have been busy though...<br />
<br />
We have had several fundraisers and are grateful to all of you that have supported us.<br />
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We have had several friends join our <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/thestoryof1000" target="_blank">Story of 1000</a> and we are so thankful.<br />
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Bryan has been able to work some overtime at work so that has helped too.<br />
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On days like today, I feel like I am not doing enough. I wonder if I am wasting my time on fundraisers that might not be successful or if there is a better way that I could spend my time in order to get John Preston home more quickly.<br />
<br />
Thanks for checking in with us. I hope that soon I am able to share with you two things:<br />
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<ol>
<li><i>We have paid our current balances with our agencies.</i></li>
<li><i>Our home study is written and our dossier is on its way to China.</i></li>
</ol>
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<br />
Please continue to pray that our sweet boy is happy, healthy and cared for in his foster home.<br />
<br />
Join us praying that God continues to show out in a mighty way in the area of financial resources for our adoption. I know He wants us to depend on Him. I have never felt closer to and more dependent on the Lord than I have during the adoption process. <br />
<br />
But the uncertainty is hard. <br />
<br />
He made a way for us to bring MinLan home and I know He is going to do the same for John Preston.<br />
<br />
One of mine and Ethan's favorite songs is "Jesus Paid It All".....<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The lyrics say:<br />"Thy strength indeed is small<br />Child of weakness<br />Watch and pray<br />Find in me thine all in all."</blockquote>
<br />
We are watching and praying...expectantly.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Jenifer<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-65320795978988811032015-03-13T16:24:00.001-07:002015-03-13T16:24:12.233-07:00God continues to blow us away.....Can I just tell you that I love to see God work? I think most often we are in such a hurry that we don't even take the time to notice. He's working IN us and right in FRONT of us and yet we are too busy....<br />
<br />
Today I had to take all five little ones to the dentist. Our three big ones did great (except for the four cavities) but the little girls went B-A-N-A-N-A-S! HA! But praise the Lord, their teeth are clean and the dentist was surprised at how good MinLan's looked and even bragged on Neely's "bite". YAY!!<br />
<br />
While there, we chatted with the staff about adoption and John Preston. You don't have to twist my arm to get me to tell our family's story.<br />
<br />
One of the ladies in the front, asked how we had decided to adopt children with Down syndrome. I shared about our desire to adopt even before we were blessed with Neely....shared about how the Lord led us to MinLan and then shared about how our kids were CONVINCED that John Preston was going to be their brother...even before WE knew.<br />
<br />
In the midst of sharing our story, one sweet lady says "Hold on...let me go get my checkbook!"<br />
<br />
Then another sweet lady, grabbed her checkbook.<br />
<br />
Then our sweet friend who works there, handed me a check.<br />
<br />
All three wanted to be part of <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/thestoryof1000" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Story of 1000</a>....<br />
<b><br /></b>
God just blows me away...when we started we had no idea how we were going to make it work financially. We knew immediately that if this was the Lord's will then He was going to have to show out in a MIGHTY way.<br />
<br />
And do you know what? HE IS!!!!<br />
<br />
Our friends...and complete strangers...have come alongside us in our Story of 1000....you guys have bought soap and Sonic cards....you've donated chances to win a quilt, bought Tupperware.....you've sold your own belongings to help give toward our adoption...I can't even name all of the ways. You have blown us away.<br />
<br />
<i>And we are grateful.</i><br />
<br />
And one day our son will know your name....and he will know that you helped him come home to his forever family. He will know that he is loved by so many and most importantly he will know that he is loved by his Heavenly Father.<br />
<br />
Thank you. We are forever grateful.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Jenifer<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S. Take a look at these sweet videos of our little John Preston. Couldn't you just smooch those cheeks!??!?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-35085332654464735262015-03-07T21:10:00.001-08:002015-03-07T21:10:50.472-08:00Moving Along....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Well, the adoption process seems as slow as molasses sometimes....but right now we are in one of those times where I can affect change, depending on how quickly I get things together.<br />
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<div>
We have a few more papers to deliver to our home study agency:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>our medical reports, mine is done..the kids are scheduled for appointments this week with the new pediatrician...Bryan's appointment will be this week as well.</li>
<li>one financial form </li>
<li>our references...I think they are almost all turned in...our friends and family send them in to the agency themselves.</li>
</ul>
<div>
After all of the paperwork is turned in, they will officially assign our family to our social worker. I'm excited that we will have the same one that we had with our adoption of MinLan! She feels like part of the family! We had an already scheduled post placement visit with her the other day that hopefully will count as a needed visit for our adoption of John Preston. I called our agency the other day to confirm all of that and they are getting back to me.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The next step after being assigned a social worker, is for her to update our home study. She'll add in all of MinLan's information, update mine and Bryan's work information and anything else that has changed since we adopted MinLan.</div>
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Once that is written, it will be reviewed by our home study agency and then it will be reviewed by our placing agency in Delaware. Once it has their approval, then we can file our I-800A paperwork with USCIS. This is where the United States government determines our suitability to adopt John Preston. This paperwork is running about a month right now to come back with approval, according to our agency. With MinLan our approval took SIXTY-FOUR days!! We are praying for a much shorter wait this time!! Please pray with us!</div>
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Once the USCIS approval is back then our dossier can be sent to China. The great news is that we get to reuse our documents from our adoption with MinLan. So getting it to China hopefully will be a quick turn around process. </div>
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Thanks so much for continuing to pray for our family and for John Preston. Thank you for supporting the fundraisers we have had and for generously giving to our Story of 1000. We are blessed!</div>
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Love,</div>
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Jenifer</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-5009846340195624202015-02-25T17:15:00.001-08:002015-02-25T17:15:06.058-08:00Kantha Quilt Fundraiser!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can not even begin to tell you how much I love these quilts!!! Aren't they beautiful!?!?!?!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWEV-uARUo_Uk8HAp2dVy9rnEH8Gm5bca_x05rYUnk5l8nmMY9T3MJjHqn7UItUsstOXUeE0Q9c3a1OdCyqhggZf2E2KMRg47Vp3YZihnc_favXSvmrLlSaFdlSZrl9TWqG7qbnfe0Po/s1600/11023818_10153615132948448_7900062237628436449_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWEV-uARUo_Uk8HAp2dVy9rnEH8Gm5bca_x05rYUnk5l8nmMY9T3MJjHqn7UItUsstOXUeE0Q9c3a1OdCyqhggZf2E2KMRg47Vp3YZihnc_favXSvmrLlSaFdlSZrl9TWqG7qbnfe0Po/s1600/11023818_10153615132948448_7900062237628436449_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are hand quilted blankets from India and are even more gorgeous in person! They are made with two layers of 100% cotton and natural vegetable dyes. They are reversible and the back side is a solid coordinating color.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">They are completely hand stitched by women artisans in Rajasthan, India.</span><br style="line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">These would be great as a throw in your family room, a picnic blanket or even a great bedroom quilt for a twin size bed! They measure 60 x 90 inches.</span><br style="line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">There are five colors </span><span style="line-height: 25px;">available:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Green</span></span></li>
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These quilts are hand stitched which may result in rare uneven edges or loose thread. However, this adds to the character and beauty of the kantha products and make them unique and one of a kind.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">Only a $5 donation to our adoption gets you a chance to win one of these beautiful </span><span style="line-height: 25px;">blankets!!!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>When you check out via Paypal, be sure to let me know the color you'd like to win! Your name will be entered into the drawing for that color quilt!</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i>(Feel free to donate as many times as you like and choose different colors too!!)</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Purple</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhk3sSUdAsZLf091TuTMlt7IU8yBwE1j3GuxFsM32LFNGqYGX4dV4lBICiRehJPyAAu6kJERauOAuQ9d5yx_P9h7GGHWfjXixXhv-cAxIQ2OkmkSJFWTZgS0WWYrm3safzj1yOUi0IVU/s1600/IMG_1516_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhk3sSUdAsZLf091TuTMlt7IU8yBwE1j3GuxFsM32LFNGqYGX4dV4lBICiRehJPyAAu6kJERauOAuQ9d5yx_P9h7GGHWfjXixXhv-cAxIQ2OkmkSJFWTZgS0WWYrm3safzj1yOUi0IVU/s1600/IMG_1516_2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEo3A2zlQur-kLZPsBRebpS8obP3016D4l97qlPgiMnl-Ud9v1C9ZLxuOCHMSxSwSLcBiIQEgzlu8Nm1WwUG7uKoySgFmT-l78Q2mg70eqPYLT_ROWQgrQEOGDbWY9FNCBKxCn2c3jsw/s1600/IMG_1514_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEo3A2zlQur-kLZPsBRebpS8obP3016D4l97qlPgiMnl-Ud9v1C9ZLxuOCHMSxSwSLcBiIQEgzlu8Nm1WwUG7uKoySgFmT-l78Q2mg70eqPYLT_ROWQgrQEOGDbWY9FNCBKxCn2c3jsw/s1600/IMG_1514_2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjs9Vkm1zjTmBCUio1NN5Gf7ue4ANG2AJsPC7K33F8hxeQ2sFDyNA-snzRvy5V3__0doM9xin04wM4OCj0kW35B5aaW8dknErWHpFcXegCd9jNWs9ax__Nnu158-IMPU0YsVVARjm4QSU/s1600/IMG_1512_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjs9Vkm1zjTmBCUio1NN5Gf7ue4ANG2AJsPC7K33F8hxeQ2sFDyNA-snzRvy5V3__0doM9xin04wM4OCj0kW35B5aaW8dknErWHpFcXegCd9jNWs9ax__Nnu158-IMPU0YsVVARjm4QSU/s1600/IMG_1512_2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each $5 donation gets you one chance to win…so $10 gets you two chances..$15 gets you three chances, etc.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s how to enter:</span></div>
<ol style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit <a href="http://paypal.com/" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">www.paypal.com</a></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Click “Send money to family and friends”</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enter amount you are donating…$5...$10...$15, etc.</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enter our Paypal email address jmparris@cableone.net</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out to complete your donation.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Winner will be notified at the email address on your Paypal account as well as posted here on our blog! We will draw for a winner in two weeks, on Wednesday, March 11th!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Please help us by clicking the Facebook button at the bottom of this post to share on your page! This </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">fundraiser will help us raise the remaining funds due to our home study agency when our home study update is complete! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you so much!</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jenifer</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-69555143050482706992015-02-15T11:10:00.000-08:002015-02-16T11:28:57.577-08:00ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE are part of our story!!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember this status from January 7th?</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Roo just asked me for some white paper and then ran off to write. She brought these back to me and said "Now we can adopt Timothy, these are his adoption papers!!" Oh how I love this girl's heart!"</span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymj4FNdLYPK4uB5A-tBBFMpq5OdJucPHdB7R-O3RPexgpSxjpTe-zqUKlC5CGzkS4s5bBt4J_H1oK_wXcZiSQ9EhM7q2Q714Vds9NW2ofr18JAX7MBZKjsbg60TER59mupW0qguqpoeM/s1600/10425896_10153493982028448_5740415112557821416_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymj4FNdLYPK4uB5A-tBBFMpq5OdJucPHdB7R-O3RPexgpSxjpTe-zqUKlC5CGzkS4s5bBt4J_H1oK_wXcZiSQ9EhM7q2Q714Vds9NW2ofr18JAX7MBZKjsbg60TER59mupW0qguqpoeM/s1600/10425896_10153493982028448_5740415112557821416_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On January 7th, we were not pursuing an adoption....we were not pursuing our sweet boy...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God had other plans in mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God used the hearts of our children to speak to us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So know it is February 15th...and we are ACTIVELY pursuing our son to bring him home. We are knee deep in paperwork to bring him home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This sweet little boy...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn5lnUcBuU275rTCs95oLW1X0oBMXxfI0Z1JpOjK2GS3KaLxQsuWPsCVrLzSXqrZQ_xRaT0UKfmvmM9sfj_mo3NSGNG2PQC2_xALomAn6Oh43UH7HJOhNn497DE8o9VSGU-doOzkcLkE/s1600/DSC02550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn5lnUcBuU275rTCs95oLW1X0oBMXxfI0Z1JpOjK2GS3KaLxQsuWPsCVrLzSXqrZQ_xRaT0UKfmvmM9sfj_mo3NSGNG2PQC2_xALomAn6Oh43UH7HJOhNn497DE8o9VSGU-doOzkcLkE/s1600/DSC02550.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He has a FAMILY...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can not wait to bring him home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the conversation came up, the desire was there but not the funding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any way you shake it, adoption is expensive. I wish it weren't so. But it is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we started, we had no IDEA how we were going to make it work. We knew God was calling us and we trusted that He was going to provide and make a way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can see Him going before us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friends have joined our "Story of 1000"...they have donated to help bring John Preston home. We are forever grateful for each of you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are grateful that you are as excited as we are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are grateful that you have given without any hesitation. Because you want to be part of the story...because you want to see our boy home too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love hearing your stories too...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love that a dear friend told her husband about our story...then he went and told their church congregation. Then they wanted to know where to send us a check for $200. A church congregation that does not even know us. How amazing is that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are friends with a family that also wanted to help. They declared their desire to help before we were even READY to move forward. Today they brought us a check for $1000. Then I went into the worship center and the first song to ring through the building was "How Great is our God!"...indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have another friend that wants to help and has started her own Facebook group, where she is selling extra things around her house to help, not only our family but other families in need. How amazing is that?!?!?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are so thankful to the Lord for each of you who have donated and prayed for our sweet boy. Thank you for letting God work through you. You have encouraged us...you have brought tears to our eyes...you have confirmed over and over again that God has called us to this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is good...all the time, God is good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Want to be part of our "Story of 1000"? Visit <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/thestoryof1000">www.youcaring.com/thestoryof1000</a> to donate! THANK YOU!!!! Please help us by slicking the Facebook icon below this post to share to your page!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jenifer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-41739078114314660412015-02-12T18:49:00.000-08:002015-02-12T20:24:45.065-08:00EIGHTY are part of our story!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXphwErtnqZITe41NWXyW7IUu6sBW8qc8vBvTRz71jI0B1tt57_kqA80Zv2AGLnk5QTt3bzgMX2piB_iBPkN0srnPtLiy8_TC6KuGu-QDDQhkNQyvb3Iay2Gg8ySdBEoqAPJV8Z9a0xM/s1600/father+to+the+fatherless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXphwErtnqZITe41NWXyW7IUu6sBW8qc8vBvTRz71jI0B1tt57_kqA80Zv2AGLnk5QTt3bzgMX2piB_iBPkN0srnPtLiy8_TC6KuGu-QDDQhkNQyvb3Iay2Gg8ySdBEoqAPJV8Z9a0xM/s1600/father+to+the+fatherless.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were so excited to get an update on John Preston today!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was able to email our agency a list of questions and they sent it to their contact in China...our guide Richard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Here's what we found out:</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are his favorite foods?最喜欢吃什么?He is not picky about food and eats everything.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are his favorite toys and activities?喜欢的玩具和活动?He likes remote cars, balls, puzzles. He likes sports, music , dancing.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is his current height and weight?身高体重?Height 112cm, weight 19kg (44 inches and 42 pounds....such a little guy!)<u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does he know that he has a family coming for him?是否知道自己要被收养?He does not know it yet. He is in a foster family.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What name does he go by in the orphanage? Bao Song Lang.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does he have a nickname?有小名吗?Langlang, Laba <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is he in school? What grade is he in? First grade</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If he attends school, what are his favorite subjects?如果上学,最喜欢什么科目?Music and PE.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does he have any spoken words?会不会说什么?"Mama", "ayi", sometimes "eat", "yummy"<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who is he closest to in the orphanage? Any special friends?在福利院和谁最亲密?要好的朋友是谁?Bao ******, a girl in the same class.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you so much to the EIGHTY that are part of our "Story of 1000"!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are so honored that you have generously donated to help bring our sweet boy HOME!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Today we delivered about half of our paperwork to our home study agency and paid our contract fee and half of our home study update fee. The ball is ROLLING thanks to your </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">generosity!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Would you like to be part of our "Story of 1000"? Click <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/thestoryof1000" target="_blank">HERE</a> to donate only $25 to be ONE of 1000!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-51213298539963105812015-02-10T12:33:00.002-08:002015-02-10T12:33:52.244-08:00TWENTY-EIGHT are part of our story!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gybEOeBtb47jsf0VWI9EqzSDKFy0WrVlymOCeRxSAGU_Mutt2hNoYcMd8jqJdSu0xIKlfZHoWZ1GfTQzZWPZCSTgAjSPLBKR_xPvZqz8gToRnlJ9sXJmX_qYUStk1oBFrcDyUQBTuvY/s1600/DSC02550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gybEOeBtb47jsf0VWI9EqzSDKFy0WrVlymOCeRxSAGU_Mutt2hNoYcMd8jqJdSu0xIKlfZHoWZ1GfTQzZWPZCSTgAjSPLBKR_xPvZqz8gToRnlJ9sXJmX_qYUStk1oBFrcDyUQBTuvY/s1600/DSC02550.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">Most of you know our sweet little boy as "Timothy". This is the name assigned to his file, not only to protect his privacy but so that it is a name others can easily pronounce when discussing him or advocating for him.</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">Although we love the name Timothy, it has no special meaning to him and we already have a nephew with the same name. So a name change has been in the works!</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">The kids have thrown out MANY names...some of them silly and crazy...some of them quite good! We have discussed and discussed and discussed again. Bryan and I finally had some time the other day to sit down over dinner and discuss by ourselves. </span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">At first, I had not considered keeping part of his Chinese name. But it was important to Bryan and so we settled on dropping his Chinese surname and keeping his two other names but putting them together as one name. </span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">Preston has always been a name that I loved. It was my grandfather's name and my uncle's name as well. It was part of the name we had picked out for Neely if she had been a boy. I never knew my grandfather but I love my uncle who is also named for him. What a good way to honor them both.</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">John is another favorite of mine. I have an uncle and a cousin named John...both whom I love dearly and our little ones have an uncle named John as well. All three are great men of the Lord and it is special for us that we can honor all of them by naming our son John. John also means: "the grace or mercy of the Lord" and in Hebrew means "Jehovah has been gracious". I love both of those translations.</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">Now, we would not be a true southern family, I don't think, if at least some of our kiddos did not have double names. We already have Ruby Kate (Ruby Kathryn) and the Lord knows, she's got enough persoanlity for two names! One just isn't enough for her!! HA!</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">So our sweet boy will go by his double name as well...</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">John Preston Songlang Parris</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">And we'll call him "John Preston"!</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">Thanks to those of you who have been covering us in prayer and who have partnered with us to be one of 1000.</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">God is going before us...we can see it daily.</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">Exodus 14: 14 says, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">We are still in the peace that the Lord has given us in pursuing our son. We see Him fighting for us...making a way...from the waiver we needed...to financial obstacles being laid aside in front of us...from you who have partnered with us...you are all part of our story...part of John Preston's story...part of something bigger than you and I....thank you for letting the Lord use you to bring a little boy all the way in China home to his forever family. Your $25 donation is making a difference.</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">#oneless</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">Love,</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">Jenifer</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155325771789044493.post-74506706780033633802015-02-06T08:57:00.001-08:002015-02-06T08:57:36.946-08:00SIXTEEN are part of our Story of 1000!A huge thank you to the sixteen people who have partnered with us already and donated towards bringing our son HOME!!! We are so grateful for you and pray for God to bless you ten-fold! Only looking for 984 more people to partner with us and become part of the story!<br />
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Be sure to check out our little ticker to the right...it will be a running tally of how close we are to our goal...right now we are at $720! When it jumps a little more, you'll be able to read the number at the bottom better...it is kind of squashed right now! Praying it jumps up today and is readable! ;-)<br />
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We are so thankful for all of you who have committed to pray for our little guy and our process to bring him home. Feels like it has got to be mentally easier on us the second time, right? Because we know what to expect? Praying that is the case!<br />
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The kids are beyond excited...now they are talking in terms of "when we go to China" and "when 'Timothy" is home", etc. So sweet to hear them talk about their brother. Amazing how God can create a bond a world away. I have no doubt that God puts families together just as He wants them. What a miracle. Who knew when Ellie was hugging this sweet little boy in China, that one day he would be her brother...<br />
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I have talked to several families with a new diagnosis of Down syndrome in their family...many times they are afraid of how it will affect their other children. Let me tell you...there is NO doubt in my mind that having siblings with special needs is a positive influence on children. Are there times it makes things hard? Of course, but overwhelmingly it changes who they are for the good. It makes them kinder, it makes them more understanding and compassionate. It makes them the best cheerleaders...have you seen how excited my big kids get when Neely or MinLan hits a milestone!???!<br />
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Please pray for us as we begin putting pen to paper to complete many forms for our adoption. The great news is that MANY can be reused from MinLan's adoption...can I get an AMEN!?!?!?<br />
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We have to update several forms that have expired, things like our medical reports on all seven of us, our fingerprints, and our clearance from the US government to be approved to adopt another child. None of these are terribly difficult to do...will just take a little time. This weekend, Bryan and I are sitting down to sign our names, fill out forms and get our thoughts together on our to-get-done list! So excited! Who knew paperwork could be so exciting!?!?!? When you have a precious face staring back at you on the fridge, it gets very real and you get very busy!<br />
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Our next financial goal is to pay our contract fee with our home study agency and half of our home study fee. These are BIG mountains to us but I know to God it is nothing. Our social worker can not be even assigned to our case until that is paid. So even though we can get all of the paperwork ready on our side pretty quickly, things won't progress with our home study until our next fees are paid.<br />
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But let me tell you something....I have never felt more at peace. I'm at peace knowing that God has called us to this. That he has placed our boy in our family and that He is going to provide. Do I know how? Nope...not a clue. But I know He always amazes me. I know HE can do more than I could ever possibly dream or imagine.<br />
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We are praying.<br />
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We are watching and waiting.<br />
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Would you be willing to be part of our story...part of only 1000 people who feel called to give a donation of only $25?<br />
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We know we can not do this alone. We know that God is going to work a miracle through 1000 people that He calls. We would be honored and blessed to have you as part of our story.<br />
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Would you be willing to personally share about our story? Maybe call up a friend on the phone and tell them about our "Timothy"?<br />
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Maybe share with a co-worker over lunch about how God has woven our family together and how we would be so grateful for their help.<br />
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Maybe share with a family member about our precious girls with Down syndrome and how they are such a blessing to our family and how we can't wait to bring our little guy home to join them?<br />
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We are blown away by your prayers and blown away by your giving hearts. May God bless you as you have blessed us.<br />
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You can <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/the-story-of-1000/296518" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to donate today and be part of our "Story of 1000".<br />
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Love You All,<br />
Jenifer<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365071400678923536noreply@blogger.com0