Completely Organized Chaos: July 2009

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life....

Help me in Defending the cause of the Orphan.... From Tom Davis' blog: http://tomdavis.typepad.com/

In your own words and experiences express your POSITIVE and FULL OF LOVE adoption story, here's your chance to help defend the orphan:

1. Write a "positive protest post" on your blog that references the movie, Orphan.2. Focus on your orphan care or adoption story that is positive, redeeming, and full of love.3. Link your post here via a trackback or comment.4. Send out an e-mail, Facebook message, or tweet to get others to do the same on their blogs.

If you don't have a blog, post your store on the Christian Alliance for Orphans Site.

Just finish this sentence: "Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life..."

MY POSITIVE PROTEST!!
I am the mom to 3 amazing children. All 3 a blessing. All 3 make my heart melt. All 3 make me laugh and give me my highest highs. All 3 make me cry and give me my lowest lows. All 3 require my sweet kisses on their boo boos. All 3 crave my attention. All 3 are the reason I get up and work my ass off everyday. All 3 call me MOMMY and I couldn't live one day without anyone of them.

Did I mention one of 3 was adopted??? Ummm, NO. In our eyes it doesn't matter how our child came to be a part of our family, whether it was through the amazing miracle of birth or through our amazing journey of adoption. Both journeys have their own ups and downs, neither one more significant than the other-- just different paths that led me to being a mommy of 3.

I THANK GOD for the option to grow my family through adoption, without it, my once "orphan" daughter wouldn't be one of the (3) biggest miracles in my life. Oh, and there is NOTHING about her that is "HARD" to love. Quite the opposite actually!! She is simply amazing, simply sweet, simply naughty, simply beautiful, simply MY DAUGHTER (adopted or NOT)

Obviously anyone who would think that a once "orphan" child would be hard to love, has not been touched by a child who is now thriving in a loving family. A family who wished, prayed, and longed for a child to call their own. A family whose life is much richer because of an "orphan." A family whose dreams have come true because of an "orphan." A family who is a FAMILY because they were blessed to be parents of an "orphan"

Orphan = simply a BLESSING

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Almost out of Stock!

One of my favorite items from our shop is almost permanently out of stock. This cute little frame is painted black, lightly distressed and finished with a super gloss finish. It hangs with black and white ribbon. It's an adorable addition to your nursery or any room in your home. The quote "As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person" By Paul Shane Spear, is written around the design. This custom design was created by Jim Goodell, it features a child's hand print sketched over the earth. The shape of Africa with a red heart over Ethiopia.

Thanks to everyone who has purchased this item and supported our daughters village of Aleta Wondo! Only 5 left..... Visit our shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7194025

Thursday, July 9, 2009

I just ordered these adorable cards and can't wait to get them in the mail. They are made with love to make a difference! Kids helping kids!

VISIT THEIR ETSY SHOP!!! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6463429

10 cards created with art work by Oskar and 9 friends. The etsy price is $12.50 as it is USD this takes into the currency rate as they are being sold in Canada for more. The theme Selam (Peace) was the inspiration for all of these cards. Each card has the name of the artist on the front and a description of the Oskar for Ethiopia Project on the back. The cards come with 5 yellow and 5 green envelopes and are tied with a red ribbon. These are the colours of the Ethiopia Flag! 100% of the profits go to put children in Ethiopia in school. It is Oskars wish and his goal is to send at least as many kids to school as he has in his class, 25.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

A special gift.....

The night before we left for Africa to bring home our sweet little girl my sister gave me a special little gift. A gift that would have more meaning to me and my daughter than I even realized. In the small little gift bag were two matching necklaces one small and one large, both in the shape of circles, light pink with polka dots. The larger one with the letter "V" for Valerie and the smaller one with the letter "F" for Fasika. I, of course put my necklace on right away and put Fasikas in my suit case to bring with us the next day.

After 26 hours of travel we arrive in Ethiopia, anxious to meet our little girl for the first time. Our driver picked us up at the airport, drove us to the guest house, unloaded our bags and then walked us to the orphanage where our daughter was. When we arrived all of the children were eating lunch. I spotted Fasika right away..... she was wearing the pink sweat suit, slippers, necklace and bracelet's I had sent for her months before. I couldn't wait to touch her, I wanted to run over to her and squeeze her as hard as I could..... but I didn't =) We spent about 3o minutes at the orphanage before Fasika was packed up and ready to leave and head to the guest house with us, where we'd be spending the week. When we got back to our room i pulled out her necklace and put it around her neck. right away she noticed it was the same as mine, just smaller and with a different letter. From that second on, we were bonded. She was officially MINE and I was officially HER'S. We'd go back to the orphanage to visit with the other children over the course of the week and she'd show everyone that we were the same and we were TOGETHER and that I was HER mom and she was MY daughter.

We've been home for a year now. I have put Faskia's necklace away in our special treasure chest full of little treasures until she is old enough to take care of it. I wear my necklace often and she always says "mommy your Africa MY MOMMY necklace" It's soo cute!! Our necklaces will always represent togetherness for us

So, in the works for my etsy web site, i am creating a mother/daughter pendant in hopes that it will bring the same special bond for another mother & daughter as it did for me and Fasika. Also makes a great gift for best friend, cousins, or sisters!!