I left my heart in...

I love to craft. I have very little practice in sewing, but tried my hand at it and created an awesome fundraiser. Check it out! Just in time for Christmas...

These are 3" customizable "Love Where You Live" ornaments. Choose your state, choose your fabric, tell me where to put the heart (if you want one), choose twine or silver ribbon. (See your choices here) Send $12 via Paypal to crazyforjp@yahoo.com. Order 3 or more and only pay $10 each. Every penny goes to Reign's AT fund! I love making them so I hope to be getting lots of orders!

...but can I trust Him this far?

Am I the only one who always swears I will go to bed early, and yet ends up staying up late anyway? When will I learn?

Sigh.

Things have been pretty busy. I have been going crazy prepping and then running the auction, preparing for two other fundraisers (selling ornaments and homemade scones) and organizing a schedule so I can have everything done for my in-home event in less than two weeks. I am great at planning parties & events, but horrible with the time planning. I end up running out of time to get things done. I don't want that to happen! So between all the AT fundraisers, homeschooling, taking care of my own family/house, my Ava business, etc...I am exhausted.

I have committed to doing a study called "30 days to experiencing spiritual breakthroughs." I've had the book for several years but never got past the third day. I have lots of books around the house that I started and never finished. Anyway, so far it has been great. The first day really hit home. The author was talking about how he was having a mid-life crisis and went to visit a good friend for advice. His friend told him, "Bruce, I can help you. Will you do what I say?" Of course, he asked him what he wants him to do. He replied, "will you do what I say regardless of what I ask?" After a while, he spoke again and said, "do you believe I love you? ... then trust me."The author then wrote:

"I knew he loved me. I knew he could be trusted. But could I trust him this far?"

Oh, how that resonated with me so strongly it brought tears to my eyes. How often do I look at God and say that? I KNOW He loves me. I KNOW I can trust Him. But I don't feel like I can trust Him that far. I have always struggled with trusting God, but I realized a few days ago, I don't allow Him a chance to prove He can be trusted. I am always trying to control things so I don't NEED to trust Him. Life is much more predictable and tidy when I can control and manipulate it into a nice, neat box.

But it never stays that way.

The raw honesty here is this - I am scared of God letting me down. I am scared that I will trust Him with something so dear to my heart, and He will fail me.

Of course, I KNOW He won't. The Bible says He will never leave nor forsake me. But I also know that terrible things still happen to those who trust God. Children die, people get divorced, sometimes no amount of prayer actually stops the destruction that wreaks havoc in our lives. Do I believe God is to blame? No. But that vulnerability...that putting myself out there and allowing His will, not my own...it's a scary place to be. And yet it's necessary.

He is calling me to that place.

I hear this song often, and every time, I sing it as if it's a prayer straight from my heart. I ask that you please say a prayer that God will continue to lead us, and that we are not afraid to trust.

I want to live this life unsafe, unsure, but not afraid
What I want is to give all I've got somehow
Giving up letting go of control right now
Cause I'm already out here, blind but I can see
I see the way You're moving
God how I believe that
I can push back the mountains, can stand on the waves
I can see through the darkness, I'll hold up a flame
Take me to the ocean, I want to go deeper
I'm not afraid, no, I'm a believer

 - Audio Adrenaline

Our Auction is LIVE!

Phew. I never realized how all-consuming fundraising for my AT child would be! I'm always thinking about her and how I can help make her adoption grant grow.

We purchased an ornament with Reign's photo on it. (Donate $35 or more to her AT fund and you can choose to have an ornament sent to you) My daughter, Cora, who is 7, studied the photo for a long time. She asked me lots of questions, like, "why is her head shaved? Will she ever be able to walk? How is she 14 and still so small?" I answered all of her questions. She loves Reign. I am grateful that we have had the pleasure of raising such a sweet little girl. She donated a watercolor painting she made to the auction I am doing.

Speaking of the auction, it is live! Please check it out and share, share, share. We have some awesome products, everything from Pampered Chef to jewelry to cupcakes! Lots of great gift ideas, and all for a great cause.

Official Start of Angel Tree & How You Can Help

Actually, it was yesterday...but yes, the Angel Tree program has begun! Being Reign's

Angel Tree Christmas Warrior, my job is to try to raise $1,000 or more towards her adoption grant. I have some really excited things planned! Here are a few ways you can help. (There is something for everyone, so dive in and help out!)

• Donate to her adoption fund! Click here and scroll down to her photo. Any amount is helpful! Maybe consider giving up going out for coffee for a few days? She is worth it! :) If you donate $35 or more to her fund and you can choose to receive an ornament from Reece's Rainbow with Reign's photo on it! 
• Donate an item to her online auction by e-mailing me or sending me a message on Facebook. (Use the links on the top right of this blog!)
• Shop her online auction which is slated to begin Sunday, November 10th. Make sure to "Like" Reign's Warriors on Facebook, that is where I will be posting the auction album! I have also been posting many sneak peeks of auction items, so check it out!
• Come to my Hearts For Adoption event! I will have all my Ava Anderson items out on display for sampling. My commission from all purchases will go directly to her fund! I will also have refreshments. There will be a table of baked goods and homemade ornaments for sale as well, and a "Pamper Me" raffle basket full of Ava products and other goodies! 
• Purchase raffle tickets for the "Pamper Me" basket, even if you are not local. I will ship within the US! Tickets are 1 for $5 or 3 for $10. You can pay by sending the ticket money to Paypal e-mail crazyforjp@yahoo.com and specifying "raffle" and the number of tickets. So far, we have the products pictured below but I will be adding much more!

• Purchase Ava Anderson Non Toxic products using my link  www.AvaAndersonNonToxic.com/ChristinaPoulsen and party number "17372". When you click validate, you should see "Reign's Warriors." 
• Pray and share! Pray that her family finds her. You can share my Facebook page with friends. Many orphans have had their families find them during Angel Tree! The more exposure we get her, the better!

I will be updating the little meter on the right sidebar of this blog to show what we have raised. So far, we have $27 but we still have $973 to go! Please consider joining me in advocating for this sweet girl. 

Busy making plans!

I'm really excited! I've been busy planning fundraisers for November to benefit Reign.

*As of November 1st, I will begin taking orders for my famous scones. (This is pending a few cross-country shipping trial runs!) I am not 100% sure what flavors I will be offering, but I plan to sell 8 scones for $15 which includes shipping.

*Early November, I will be doing an online auction on Facebook. I have some great items so far, like new baby clothes, gift cards, jewelry, etc. I'll post the link here, so keep an eye out! (And contact me if you'd like to donate anything!)

*November 24th I will be hosting an event at my home! I will have all of my Ava Anderson products out for sampling, (commission from orders placed will go to Reign!) a table of baked goods, and (hopefully) handmade ornaments for sale. I will also be selling raffle tickets for a 'pamper' themed basket full of Ava products and other goodies. There will be refreshments as well.

I pray I can raise the $1,000 for her. But even more than that, I pray for her family to find her. I know she is not forgotten! Sometimes I feel so helpless to do anything to help, but even this small act can make a difference.

A few days ago, we scheduled our first home visit with someone from CT foster/adopt. I am so glad we are moving forward, but I don't think it's really hit me. I am also very unfamiliar with the domestic adoption process, because I have done much more research into international. Although that would still be unfamiliar ground, too! I am just hoping things will go smoothly. And if this isn't the right choice for us, I pray God will close doors!

Will you rise to the challenge?

When God first burdened my heart for orphans, I will admit, it was (and still is) extremely overwhelming. The need is great, so great that it takes my breath away.

It is estimated that there are 153 million orphans worldwide. That is 153 million children that do not have a mom and dad to hold them when they are scared, kiss away their tears, or love and nurture them the way they deserve. That number does not include abandoned and trafficked children. It is staggering, and if it does not bother you, it should. 

These are not numbers...they are faces. 

I believe that once you know,  once you understand, you cannot turn away. If you are a Bible-believing Christian, God commands you to not turn away! 

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed." - Psalm 82:3

Friends, use this as your call to action! You CAN help, you CAN make a difference! I used to be caught in the lie that unless I can do something big, it doesn't matter. This is simply untrue - every little bit does matter. God sees you and your acts of kindness! And it matters to them. 

It matters to Carol.

It matters to Timothy

It matters to Eva

It matters to Tanner

These children are all in need of Christmas Warriors. As a Christmas Warrior, you commit advocating for your child and raising $1,000 for your his/her adoption fund. The Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree program is their most important fundraiser. Money is the biggest obstacle for families wishing to adopt, so by raising money toward their adoption, you can help alleviate that stress. Advocating for your child also means getting their face out there, so that their mom and dad can see them! Many children have found their adoptive families through this program. It's something small you can do to make a big impact on an orphan's life. (To see a full list of girls in need of a Christmas warrior, click here. For boys, click here. Any child without a green icon next to their name is in need of a warrior.) 

Can you take some time and help the least of these? Then go sign up to be a Christmas warrior...what are you waiting for??? I promise I will do whatever I can to help you raise funds for your child, so please comment below if you decide to take the plunge!

I want to be part of a generation of believers that rises to meet the needs of the fatherless...how about you?

A few updates!

Tonight, Justin and I went to an informational meeting on fostering & adopting in Connecticut. We had been feeling for a few weeks that we should explore all our options, as we haven't been feeling led one way or another. We filled out some information and will be contacted about being certified for pre-adoption. (At this point in our lives, we do not feel it's a good idea to pursue foster care.) It was great because I was able to get all my questions answered (I had a lot!) and we both feel this is the right way to go right now.

I have been doing a lot of fundraiser planning for Reign! I will be hosting an event at my home on November 24th. It will be open-house style, so if you are local, let me know and I will send you an event link from Facebook! I will have my Ava Anderson products out for everyone to sample, a table full of baked goods to buy, hopefully more crafters, and a raffle for a basket full of Ava products and other goodies! This raffle is open to those local and anyone else in the US. 1 ticket is $3, or 5 tickets for $10. ALL commissions and sales will go to Reign's adoption fund!

I am also planning an online auction in early November, so keep an eye out! I am gathering some really great handmade items and gifts, so you can get your holiday shopping done early. If you are interested in donating something for the auction, please contact me!