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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thankful

"He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them."
Hebrews 6:10

We have many, many reasons to be thankful!  Most recently, two specific acts of selflessness remain on my mind to share. 


1.  My brother-in-law, Kurt, works very hard at his job and at home.  He is a firefighter and also has a second part-time job.  Recently a tree fell in his neighbor's backyard so hevolunteered to chop it up and haul it off.  In the earnings he made, Kurt and Robyn chose to donate to our adoption fund! 



2.  Last weekend we were invited to a birthday party for Deb and Brent's kiddos, Jaclynn and Jayden.  Jayden was turning 4 and Jaclynn will be 7 at the beginning of December.  We played games, ate cake and ice cream, and opened up gifts.  After the gifts were opened the kids ran over to us and tossed a large wad of cash in our laps and shouted, "Here, this is for you!"  As we sat there unsure of what to do, Deb announced that they had requested donations for "Little Bo" instead of birthday gifts from family and friends.  What a beautiful family and selfless act!

Jay and Jaz in their Halloween costumes!:)


Sunday, November 14, 2010

Adoption Garage Sale Fund Raiser


Here are some before pictures of the garage sale.  Isn't my sister cute??:)  Thank you Adrian for making them...they look great and attracted many people!



Thank you Deb and Adrian for helping me organize...you did fabulous:)

Weeeeellllll, after a cold, rainy weekend, God truly reigns!  Despite the weather conditions, people came and were VERY generous!  My mother-in-law made chili dogs...thank you Marlene!  My mom made some home-made caramel corn to sell as well!  We heard many adoption stories and were encouraged throughout the weekend by our family and many friends.  Love you guys!  Thank you for all your support and prayers...we are now a step closer!  Here are some pictures from our weekend!:)
We STILL have 5 racks of QUALITY baby/toddler clothes if anyone is interested:)
Daddyo was our money keeper...doesn't he look official??
My girlfriend made these chocolate, covered Oreos to sell!  WOW!!  Thanks Kayci!:)

Here is my mom organizing some adoption bracelets on a tree!



Friday, November 12, 2010

Experiencing God

We are doing a study in our Sunday School class named Experiencing God.  Last week's lesson stood out to me in many ways.  The beginning story was entitled "God as Provider".  I related to the man in the story because I keep asking myself "How in the world will God make this provision?".  Here is a quote from the lesson that struck me.
"Then it dawned on me, that as long as God knew where I was, He could cause anyone in the world to know where I was.  As long as He knew our situation He could place our need on the heart of anybody He chose." - Blackaby  
God knows where I am right now and where a child without a family is at this very moment.  God also knows we have a garage full of items for sale on a rainy, cold weekend!  I don't know why trust is so hard, and how doubt creeps in so easily, but I am reminded through this study and through real experiences that God is in this situation.  He has a plan to form forever families for children and for parents throughout the world.  "He is a able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20


Praise God for my parents who came into town a day early to help set up and go without sleep!  Who also have organized and moved items, made meals, and even did a load of laundry!
Praise God for friends who bake brownies, baby chocolates, sort clothes, borrow out their truck, their donations, and for words of encouragement and especially prayer!
Praise God for a husband who works so late to continue getting the paperwork sorted, faxed, and organized!
Praise God for our Little Bottorff...he is already loved and I can't wait to tell him all the stories about how his mommy and daddy are loved by so many!
God has a perfect plan and I am excited to see how this story unfolds and I know all of you are a part of this story with us!!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Garage Sale November 12-13 - fund raiser!

Hey everyone,
We are holding our first official fund raiser this weekend!  We have had so many friends and family donate items for our garage sale.  Thank you all!  We are still collecting items until Friday so if you have any items you want to donate let us know.  Also please spread the word about the sale!

It is Friday Nov 12 and Saturday Nov 13 at our house at 8 am each day.  20903 W 53rd Terrace, Shawnee, KS 66218.  Pray for success and thank you for all the prayers so far!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Random Acts of Kindness

Phil 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.  And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus".  


This has been a challenging week with a bunch of little things adding up to one big thing.  Busyness leads to sleeplessness which leads to weepiness which leads to failing to pay attention to detail.


Mistake one:  Intentionally slept late to catch up on sleep, got caught in traffic on 435 for over an hour and STILL not to work.  Very frustrating!

Mistake two:  Called in a sub but needed it cancelled.  I cancelled it in one system but didn't cancel the sub in the other system...short story...I had a sub and was going to lose a 1/2 day of work!!


Kindness 1:  My secretary stayed calm and collected then took care of my sub and fixed my mistake.  WOW!

Kindness 2:  My principal gave me grace and made certain I was able to keep my 1/2 day without consequence.  WOW!


Kindness 3:  My co-workers were patient and helpful as I came into work late and cheered me up!  WOW!


Kindness 4:  Our dog sitters stayed with our less-than-obedient puppies this weekend and didn't take the check we wrote them!  They wanted us to use it toward our adoption.  WOW!


Kindness 5:  Friends from Sunday school mentioned our garage sale to their parents and we picked up items tonight.  They also asked many questions about our situation and said they would pray for us.  WOW!


Kindness 6:  My dear friend has offered to help us fund raise on her own time using her own resources.  WOW!

Kindness 7:  My parents are coming into town early to help us with the garage sale including set up, selling caramel corn, cookies/brownies, making and selling bracelets.  So far they have put many hours and prayers into this effort...WOW!

Kindness 8:  Friends from church are inviting us over for dinner (WOW) and donating car loads of items.  WOW!

Kindness 9: A friend from church created a hand-made card and wrote me an encouraging and much-needed note.  WOW!

Kindness 10:  Another donation today!:)  Thank you for all your many prayers and words of encouragment.  WOW!