Ari and Ian (kinda)

My baby boy turned 4, and we had a great pool party for him. It was wonderful, but we sure missed Ian being there.

So.....we made sure he could see all the fun.

My little four year old surf monkeys. I love em.

We are a GO!

The FBI Package

Our FBI prints and clearances came back to our Homestudy agency today and so we are GO FOR HOMESTUDY completion! This is GIANT! I expect a completed and apostilled Homestudy inside of two weeks (you would not believe how exacting this document has to be). This is also big in terms of fund raising, as we will have to submit $3500.00 to Ian's Agency and about $850.00 to US Immigration to get the ball rolling on that end.

I have NO DOUBT that we can do this, we will have to raise another $3219.23 in two weeks! God says do your best and he will do the rest. This should scare me but honestly, I'm excited to see just how God is going to work this out. I love that we get to stand by and watch the magic, it is such an awesome thing to know faith.

There is some other news brewing about adoptions in Ian's city but I will hold on that because frankly, I fully expect, because I fully believe, that we will be covered, and that we will get to Ian before he is moved to an institution.

Ari's turns 4 this week, my beautiful boy, the joy of my life, the best gift I have ever gotten besides being saved, is growing up too fast for this mama! For all the news that is fit to print on Ari, visit HERE.

A Special Give-A-Way

...inspired by people, places, philosophies and feelings...an influence of things both external and internal. Embracing the imperfections found in nature, the gemstones in this collection are chosen for their individual beauty. Raw beauty over bling.(artist quote)


A very special friend of Ian has donated a series of beautiful necklaces to the Hope for Ian Adoption Fund. It's all I can do not to keep even one of these stunning pieces for myself!

These pieces and the artist that created them have a special connection to the country Ian is from. What is even more rare, is that each stone she has presented us with cannot be sold in stores because they have what society terms, "a small imperfection." HOW PERFECT!

What beauty and deep cut meaning then, does each of these special, unsellable in stores, imperfect necklaces hold. Ian was taken "off the market" at birth, because of one tiny little extra chromosome that made him unwanted and "imperfect." Looking at him, I see nothing but God's perfection, and I am proud to "wear" one of these imperfectly cut stones to honor him.

Normally, these lovely necklaces sell for $80 to $100.00 in stores all over the world. They have even been worn around the necks of some very famous folks (look below)

Now, YOU can have own of your very own! All you have to do is click below to make a donation to Ian's adoption fund.

For every $25.00 donated
your name will be entered 1 time in the drawing for a necklace
(an absolute steal if you win!)

For every $50.00 donation
your name will appear 5 times in the drawing!

and, for those who simply must have the very best shot at one of these deliciously delicate pieces of wearable hope
for every $100.00 donation
your name will appear a whopping 25 times!

This special event will run until April 1, 2011. A winner is drawn every week. When donating, please be sure to note which necklace you would like to win (make a first and second choice) in the message area.

Click HERE to see each individual necklace that we have up close.
We are giving away 12 of these perfectly lovely pieces