Making my Giveaway even better!

Ok so I was all ready to do a giveaway but I learned about this

sweet little treasure. 

So I have a way for you to help and get something in return.

           Look at this little sweetie.  She is just precious. 

She is 2 1/2 just like my Max.

except she doesn't have a family. 

She doesn't have cuddles, love and security that every child

deserves.  Her name is Anika.  I was introduced to her by

Lovelyn she is a friend who also happens to write one of my

favorite blogs.  Lovelyn decided to start fundraising so that

the cost of adoption wouldn't be the reason that she isn't

adopted.  She is a waiting child in Russia.  As many of you

know Russia is not a good place to be a waiting child. 

Children who are considered unadoptable usually end up

growing up in institutions.

You may be wondering why doesn't this treasure have a

home yet?  Well there are a few barriers that may scare most

families away.

The first is that Anika is HIV positive

if you haven't heard the truth about HIV, you have to visit

Project Hopeful.

the truth is that there is ZERO risk of transmitting HIV to

someone else through casual contact.

this includes: hugging, kissing, biting, sharing food,

taking a bath, sharing a toilet seat.

HIV is very manageable and with proper care,

people with HIV have a normal life expectancy. 

Children with HIV need to take medication twice a day 

and see their pediatric infectious disease

doctor every few months.

that's it.

The other hurdle for Anika is that her adoption is going to

cost $33,000.  Lovelyn decided to start fundraising so that

the cost of adoption wouldn't be the reason that Anika isn't

adopted. She proposed to have 150 people sign up to have a

party where they invite 9 people.  Everyone has a great time

and gives $20 each to Anika's fund.  This will quickly add up

to $30,000.  Anika's adoptive family won't have the financial

hurdle in the way of bringing their daughter home.

Those of you who have adopted know how hard it can be to

raise the funds needed for adoption.  This may sound like a

crazy amount to expect to raise.  But trust me we serve a

mountain moving God and I know from my own personal

adoption journey that God provides even when their seems to

be no way.  Our adoption was expected to cost around

$39,000 but through financial aid, adoption grants and

selling fundraising items we ended up only paying $11,300.

Seriously all these things happened out of nowhere after we

committed to adopting our children.  With trust and faith

God will provide. 

So I had been selling my fundraising items to

pay off our adoption loan but my children are home, safe and

loved.  The loan will get paid off.  

On the other side of the world Anika waits.

So here is my party give away.  I have added a chip in button

on the side of the page to raise money for Anika.  %100 of

that money will go to Anika.  If you donate an amount of $20

or more you can pick any of my fundraising items and I will

mail it to you free of charge.  I will even pay shipping as long

as it is to the US or Canada.  Mother's day is coming and the

necklaces are beautiful.  For just a $20 donation to Anika you

can get a $36 necklace for your mother with a great story

behind it.  After you make the donation email me which item

you would like and your address.  The items may go fast.  I

will update my page as often as I can but remember there is

only one of each item left so please contact me right away to

hold an item for you.  Also the t-shirt sizes vary so email me

with what size and color and I will let you know what I have

in stock.

Let's work together and show God's love for sweet Anika. 

Let's show her we care about her and that there is a Father in

heaven who loves her even more.

Remember no donation is to small.  Even a dollar will help. 

You will be amazed with how quickly it will add up.

Can't wait to watch this unfold.

My email is growingwithjoy@yahoo.com

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A little of Zoe's bday/Easter party

I hope you guys had a beautiful Easter. 

 We had an amazing one. 

We spent it with family and also had Zoe's birthday party. 

Eli and I had an overwhelming sense of piece at the Easter

service.  I was teary for all of worship just overcome with

what Jesus did for me.  

He has been working in us, changing us, preparing us.  

It is amazing what only God can do. 

My next post I am going to do a giveaway. 

I loved my last giveaway. 

 I loved getting to know you guys. 

I am trying to think of a question to ask everyone for the

giveaway.  I would love some suggestions. 

I will leave you to think of some with way to many pictures of

our Easter/Zoe's 1st Birthday party.

Yummy

Daddy can I really eat it?

My very talented Mom made this cookie house for the kids

 The boys with the best Grandpa in the world

 Zoe is supposed to be opening her presents but notice that her brother's and sister's are the only ones holding her presents {they were very eager to help}

This one isn't very clear but I love the way Zoe looks sitting there and she really loved the piano

Didn't get many of Max....the party was during his nap time so he was a little grouchy.

 {but still adorable}

 Look at Zoe's tongue on this one it was dyed for the day from the icing on the cake.  She had a very pink tongue.

Alright so lets get nosey and think of some questions that 

me and the rest of you will have to answer for the giveaway. 

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

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Thank you Jesus!

Thank you Jesus!

He is risen!

Happy Easter everyone!



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One

This spunky little beauty is ONE today!

This is a very emotional day because Eli and I realize how

lucky we are to get to share this first birthday with her

I remember the first day I held her 5 months ago.

She was a timid little thing. 

She clung to me for dear life for a good couple months. 

She spent most of her time in my "pocket".

Now she is a gorgeous little giggle box with a

head full of curls. 

 She trusts us now and she is quickly taking over.

She bosses all 6 of us around {seriously}.

She is just days away from walking and she is so proud of

herself when we all clap for her efforts.

Her favorite food is anything on Max's plate. 

Seriously I could give her the same exact thing as Max and

she will crawl over to Max's plate and eat off of his instead. 

Max doesn't find this to be so cute.

She is so loud and already has such a fun sense of humor.

She still loves her cuddles and hugs and I hope she never out

grows this.  I think Eli and I melt every time she hugs us. 

It never gets old.

Zoe Lucia God couldn't have given us a more perfect baby. 

I can't wait to see you smash cake all over your face

{because I know you will}

Happy Birthday!

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I am back

This little girl scared us.

Last Monday Eli was out of town for work.

Ayla woke up with a fever she seemed tired, was really

thirsty and wasn't interested in eating.  As a mom of five I

have been there before many times with sick kids. 

I gave her some Tylenol and let her sleep it off. 

She threw up a couple times.

We had a really long day outside the day before so I just

thought she was tired from the day before and needed to get

some extra rest.  She slept most of the day and drank a lot. 

I decided to have her sleep in my bed that night because she

had been throwing up and I wanted to keep an extra eye on

her.  She said she wanted to watch cartoons in my bed while I

got the other kids ready for bed.  So I was standing in front of

my bed flipping through different cartoons. 

While still looking at the TV I said,

"Ayla how about Max and Ruby?" 

No answer

So I turned around and there she was blue.

I ran up to her and yelled "Ayla, AYLA!"

No response.

Her eyes were rolled back and she was foaming at the mouth.

I screamed for Jackson to bring me my phone.

I quickly realized that would take to long and I needed to get

Ayla to the ER now. 

I had 4 other little ones and Eli was gone.

I ran little blue Ayla out the front door and yelled for help

while our hero Jackson started banging on our neighbors

door.  Ayla's coloring came back but she was lethargic.

Praise God our neighbors had just gotten home and

ran right over to stay with the other kids. 

I called 911 and off we went in the ambulance.

Once we were in the ambulance we were pretty sure that

Ayla had a seizure.  I was so scared though because she

barely reacted when they put and IV in her little arm.  I kept

thinking of her blue body and thinking could she have brain

damage.  The Ambulance driver's probably thought I was

crazy as I was praying out loud for Ayla.  The ER doctor

confirmed that she had a seizure and as scary as it was for me

to see her blue and unresponsive it was more common then I

knew for kids to have fever induced seizures.  It is a

hereditary condition that triggers some kids to get seizures

with a high fever.  I had never seen a seizure before or heard

of anyone in my family having one.  Now we have learned

that my sister in law has the same condition. 

She had a seizure as a child and never had one again.  We are

hoping that this was Ayla's first and last seizure.  They

monitored her for a few hours that night and

she slowly returned to her normal silly self. 

She was thrilled that they let her have two purple popsicles. 

I barely slept for a couple nights just watching her to make

sure she didn't get to hot.  So I was wiped out and then last

Thursday we went on a trip. It has taken me a few days to

get reorganized and caught up and make time to post this.

Seeing my daughter like that really knocked the wind out of

me.  In the few moments that she was blue and unresponsive

I was so so scared of loosing her. I suppose this really wasn't

as big of a deal as it felt in the moment but it made me realize

the blessings I have in my life. 

 I have 5 healthy children. 

My husband and I are healthy. 

My sister's, parents and in laws are all healthy.

I don't want to take that for granted.

Praise God for our health.

There are so many mommies, brothers, sisters, fathers, sons

and daughters watching there loved ones suffer and praying

for their health.  What they would trade for health.

Thank you Jesus for giving my family health!

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Ever think of adopting an older child?

Hey everyone I was contacted this weekend about a little girl

that is in urgent need to find a family to avoid being placed

into foster care.  She is a 7 1/2 year old beautiful little girl

who has had a rough start in life.  It is recommended that she

be the youngest child in the home.  The state is not involved

so it could be a quick adoption with just an adoption attorney

needed. Just message me for more info and pictures at 

 growingwithjoy@yahoo.com

Let's all pray for this sweet little girl to feel God's arms

around her in this time and pray that the family meant for

her comes forward quickly.

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Patience

God is really trying to teach me something

There are so many things up in the air right now, good things,

fun things but they can't seem to happen fast enough.

They are out of my control and there is nothing I can do to

speed up the process.

Anyone who knows me knows I like to do things fast. 

Once I make a decision I work non-stop to complete the task. 

Very soon I will know what God has planned and I am sure it

will be so much more then I could have imagined. 

Continuing to trust in him.  I know his "slow" timing is for a

reason.  I have been growing so much closer to him during

this time of trusting and praying.  Praying for so many friends

waiting for there adoptions to be complete, praying for so

many people suffering right now going through some of the

hardest times in their lives and giving praise for all the

answered prayers I see and hear on a daily basis. 

He never ceases to take my breath away.

Meanwhile I am loving life and who I get to share it with.

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