HUGE diaper sale!!

I have never bought diapers online before but must share this sale with all you momma's of littles. Amazon has most Pampers, Huggies, Luvs and Seventh Generation diapers and wipes on sale. Go to this page and just under the blue bar across the top you will see an icon (sort of in the middle) that says "Special Offer.....". Click near it. You will be directed to the page of sales. Most items on these sale pages are 12%-30% off- BUT WAIT!! Click on the item you would like to buy. In my case, it was Pampers Baby Dry size 3 Economy Plus Pack (204 diapers for $40.49). In the right hand column on that page I clicked "quantity 2 "and then "Subscribe for 1 month" (I didn't want to receive 2 huge packs of diapers every month for 6 months!). Just by subscribing, I got an extra 30% off- woohoo! So, for one huge pack of diapers I spent $28.34. Oh, and you know what else?! Shipping is FREE!!


The one thing I did found that was kind of strange was that I had to order different items separately. I could order multiple quantities of the same item at the same time, but not different items. This really didn't slow me down because all my info was saved, but a little weird nonetheless. I was able to order 2 boxes of size 3s and size 4s- wondering if I should go back and order more, but I just don't know how quickly Charlie will grow.


Here are some comparisons for all you warehouse store shoppers-

Sam's- 112 size 3 Pampers Baby Dry diapers for $38.77

Amazon- 204 size 3 Pampers Baby Dry diapers for $28.34 and FREE SHIPPING!!


I have no idea how long this sale will last, but hop on over and take advantage of the great savings. And you don't even have to leave your house!

In Him,
E

WINNERS!!

Okay, sorry for not posting last night. After all kiddos were in bed, we had a storm here that knocked out our internet. Geez, what a day. And for those of you who are waiting for news, Charlie's chest is still red and swollen today, so I have a feeling we will be heading down to Emory in just a bit. Yippee!

And now for the winners.......

Prize #1- A sign from Signs of Faith....

Barbara Ledbetter

Prize #2- Soap dish, soap and cross from Shaping Lives Pottery....

Mama Bears Fleece Blankets (Jody Campbell?)

Prize #3- Brown Sugar Vanilla Sugar Scrub from Rubies and Pearls....

Dawn Campbell (not related to Jody)

And Prize #4- Earrings of your choice from Freebranch Jewelry....

Rachel Chapman

I will try to email each winner today, but it truly all depends on how Charlie is doing. Hang in there...I'll get with you to set up shipping.

THANK YOU for supporting our family with donations and prayer!!
In Him,
E

Heading to the ER....

No, wait...staying home. Nope.....heading to the ER. No....staying home. Charlie gave us a scare tonight- his incision site is swollen and red about 1 inch surrounding the site. We've been in touch with the cardiology team and for now we are staying home. That may change during the night. I'll keep you posted. Please, pray for our sweetie pie.

As long as things remain calm here, I will draw the giveaway winners in just a bit. What a day.
In Him,
E

WOW...what a day

Happy Birthday to me!! BUT....waking up not feeling so well is not my idea of a fun day. Yucky stomach stuff. Middle daughter also not feeling swell now- fever and throwing up. Chills all day...vegging in front of the tv. For those of you who know me, tv is NOT one of my favorite things. A perfect picture on my birthday- 4 ladies covered in blankets watching the tube while little one takes a nap. Just kidding. I'd much rather feel loads better and be having some fun memory making time with my family.





On a HIGH note- the Giveaway ends in only 5 hours!! If you wish to enter, please view the details here. From the depths of my heart, thank you to each of you who have committed to pray for our family. I know each $1 donation was given with prayers attached. Thank you.
In Him,
E

Getting so close....

We only have 3 more days until the Giveaway ends!! Please, visit the original post if you wish to participate.

Crazy how many lives this Challenge has touched. It's gone as far as Switzerland, Germany and South Africa!! YAY GOD! I continue to receive emails from people who are just beginning their adoption journey or are praying about adoption because they see how $1 can literally change a life. God is moving mountains for orphans and I stand in awe that He has chosen to use this little corner of blogland to do that.

I urge you to pray about what God is calling you to do in the life of an orphan. I KNOW that we are not all called to adopt, but you may be surprised.

Feel free to email me (nogreatergiftmom@yahoo.com) with any questions or if I can pray for you!

In Him,

E

Every night while getting little one to sleep I write blog posts in my head. Then I turn on the computer and...........nothing.

But tonight is different. I still have it swirling around in there somewhere.:)

Several weeks ago the sermon was about what we have. What we literally have as in physical possessions. I love hearing sermons like this one probably because I know they are pointed directly at me. One line in particular hit me like a ton of bricks. I've heard this before and can't quote it exactly, but it went something like this- "Give me your checkbook. Let me walk through your house. Let me take a peek at your calendar. Then, I'll tell you what you truly worship." YIKES!! HELLO?!?! Was he just preachin' to me?

Hubby and I have been in deep prayer about where God may be leading our family. We aren't searching for bigger and better. We aren't looking for what next adventure we may join in on. We just know that He's not finished with us, and pray that we will hear His clear voice that will navigate our journey.

We are so blessed. We have a great home with lots of land. It bothers me, to be quite honest, to have this place- for what reason? To look out my window every day and think how beautiful it is?! To selfishly enjoy the picturesque view every morning? Why are we here?

We live frugally (shopping at thrift stores for things we need or we do without)- could always do better at this though, I'm sure. But despite all of the things we do without and the ways we cut back, I'm afraid to show anyone our checkbook. Or have them look through our home or calendar. And why? Simply because I know that we get caught up in the earthly things that have no relevance to our eternal life. We are taught (by society) to hoard our money. Gather belongings. Make sure we are set for the day when we work no more, but I don't remember any mention of these things in the Bible.

I am afraid that God will tell me one day that I horribly missed out. That I was too focused on preparing for when I was old or fitting in or making the house look pretty. I'm afraid He'll tell me that these "things" took up too much space in my life and pushed aside the world, the people He wanted me to reach. I don't want to miss what God is calling me to do. I want to live so completely in Him that there is no question what my calling is.

I read this earlier tonight and it says everything I feel perfectly. And so I continue to pray without ceasing while listening for HIS PERFECT WORD!

A Basketful of Earth - #5053

A Word With You - Your Hindrances
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Ellis Island - that was the first piece of America that millions of immigrants ever touched. It's a little island in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. When you visit the island, there's a long, granite wall with thousands of names of immigrants who passed through there. This was the point of entry for all the immigrants coming through New York. They would book passage and get the cheapest price they could often down below decks. Finally, the boat would reach America, they would step off the boat and enter this long, red brick building on Ellis Island. It's cavernous; it echoes on the inside. But this is where they went through the steps that eventually permitted them to move from the island and on to their real destination, which was New York City and the rest of America. The tour guide says the people carried all their belongings in a basket. That was okay. They knew the island wasn't where they would live, so out of all those thousands who came there, not one ever set up a house there. They weren't going to be there very long.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "A Basketful of Earth."

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 1 Peter 1:1 . Peter writes to "God's elect, strangers in the world." Remembering that image of believers, in verse 17, he says, "Live your lives as strangers here, in reverent fear." In 1 Peter 2:11 he continues, "Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world to abstain from sinful desires." Peter says, "This isn't home, man." It's like the old hymn, "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue."

We're all immigrants according to the Bible. Earth is our Ellis Island. We have, oh, maybe seventy years here that are just the preparation for billions of years, but the quality of the billions of years is determined by how we live the seventy. Here's a question. If we're just immigrants passing through earth, why are we setting up so much stuff here on Ellis Island? In Luke 12 , Jesus addresses this issue of accumulation, and He says in verse 22, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear." Then He says some radical stuff in verse 24, "Consider the ravens. They do not sow or reap. They have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds?" He's saying that for your security, you don't need a big stored-up reserve somewhere.

That's the opposite of everything we have been taught about security. Here is Biblical security. He says, "Your Father knows you have need of these things. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourself that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." There's no storeroom, no pile of earth stuff. Send it ahead to the place where you're going to live forever. Don't accumulate it in the place that you are just visiting.

We are all guilty of the sin of accumulating. We build that earth kingdom, earth reserves, earth security; get as much earth stuff as we can. One day, Jesus may come back and say, "What are you doing with all of that tied up? I had a world to reach." He calls us to live simply on this immigrant island and to pour everything else into eternal causes. Give to that for which He gave everything He had.

If you want a bank full of heaven, then be content with a basketful of earth.

In Him,

E

Only 7 more days...

Just wanted to remind everyone that there are only 7 more days to enter the "One Dollar Adoption Giveaway". The Challenge will continue for a couple more months, but my birthday is next Monday and we will be choosing the winners on that day. What better way to celebrate than to bless a few people who support our calling to adopt!!!:)

The specifics of the Giveway are listed in my original post, but there are 3 easy ways to enter the giveaway-

1. Donate.

2. Share our Challenge.

3. Commit to pray for the Challenge.

It's that easy. Thank you SO MUCH for your continued support for our family!!
In Him,

E

It's 10 o'clock...

....and he's still outside jumping on the trampoline with our 2 middle daughters. After eating Dairy Queen icecream! What a great Daddy!

Happy Father's Day, Honey!

WE LOVE YOU more than you'll ever know!

Thanks for being our perfect (strongest) pumpkin carrier.:)

In Him,

E

10 Months Today...well yesterday

I can't believe it. 10 months ago today (well...yesterday now) our little blue-eyed wonder was born. In the last 10 short months, he has grown by leaps and bounds and shown us how to slow down and enjoy every single moment. We marvel at his accomplishments. Maybe because we haven't had a baby in 9 years or maybe because we know how hard he works to reach the next step.

He makes me laugh at some of the things he does. Bathtime- he LOVES bathtime!! Crazy loves bathtime. Excitement consumes him when the water turns on. He splashes and laughs his way to clean. Charlie has figured out that if he bends down just far enough he can sip some of the water. Oh, I hope that water is in fact clean because he drinks over and over and over. Maybe this is why I have to change his clothes because they are soaked every morning....hmmmm.

Reading- I am absolutely sure that he can read. Bring out the books and he will sit for many, many minutes intently "reading". Not flipping through pages, tossing the book around, ripping out pictures, but taking in every inch of every page for 15 or more minutes at a time. I just know that as soon as he begins talking he will tell us every detail of every book he has read.

And sadly for some, Charlie has moved past being a vegetarian to the wide world of carnivorism. He has now added chicken and ground turkey breast to his menu. No teeth yet, but that doesn't seem to slow him down. The girls often say, "Is there anything that Charlie doesn't like?!". The answer- no. We have not found one thing that he dislikes.

Self-feeding!! I wish I could say that this happens all the time, but it doesn't. He has, however, fed himself enough times for me to know that he can.

I am confident that crawling is just around the corner. It's hard having major surgery when you are in the midst of such physical progress. We have not seen him regress, but the fast paced progress we saw has slowed down a bit. It's really not possible to do alot of movin' when your sternum is newly broken and wired closed.

And can I say "GO CHARLIE!!" He's finally up to 17 lbs 5 oz. Last week he was down quite a bit- 16 lbs 7 oz. Maybe, just maybe one day he'll break the 20 lb mark and see the world in a different light from his carseat.

This week we finally mastered waving. He doesn't seem to care if it's "hi" or "bye bye"- he just loves to wave. And dance. And "shake it". It probably helps that he always has an audience with 3 older sisters.

Break out the camera, and he knows to perform. He is such a nut! It's absolutely hilarious! And the toupee. We know it needs to go, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

This is "the face". I don't know why he does it but it cracks us up everytime. Maybe that's exactly why he does it!!:)

Thank you, Lord, for entrusting our family with such a beautiful treasure. We are so unworthy.

In Him,

E

Migraines....revisited

Migraines.....I HATE them! And I don't like the word "hate", but migraines are one thing that I loathe. I got an email from my sister this morning saying that she was sick again (migraine), couldn't keep anything down and was heading to bed. I'm sad to say that today we had more in common than our shared DNA. Today we both suffered from migraines.

I have been a migraine sufferer for more than 17 years now. 17 years!! I had come to the conclusion that my migraines were hormone related, for the most part. Occasionally, I have a migraine for a different reason.

My hubby laughs at me in the summertime. He says that he knows when I begin to overheat.... my entire body language changes and my face turns bright red. He says that slowly the devil begins to emerge. Yesterday, my Mom and I took a long walk before the day heated up too much (it was only in the 80s during our walk!!). I have overheated before and the result- a migraine. In the past, I thought the migraine was caused by dehydration. Yesterday, I drank plenty and still got sick. My new realization- overheating=migraine!! YAY for me considering we are in the midst of temps reaching the mid 90s! It looks like my love of summer (insert much sarcasm here) continues! I am officially a hermit.

Any ideas how to treat or get rid of migraines all together, please let me know!! My sister and I will be forever grateful.

In Him,

E

ONLY UNTIL 4PM EST!!

Hurry! This sale is only good for the next 3 hours 7 minutes! We LOVE Amanda Bennett Unit Studies! Here is a copy of the email I received from Amanda-

Finally - it is WEDNESDAY, and time for our WOW Wednesday $1 Special:From Noon to 4 PM Eastern time today, June 16, 2010:

Independence Day Unit Study
A 1-week unit study for the upcoming holiday, with five days of fun and learning for grades K - 12.
Normally priced at $5.00 - it is only $1 during the WOW Wednesday Special from noon to 4 PM ET today!

Here's the special link to find out more:Independence Day Unit Studyhttp://bit.ly/9CtibM <http://bit.ly/9CtibM>

In Him,
E

Let Freedom Ring!!

I just wanted to quickly highlight a BEAUTIFUL piece that our oldest created this week just in time for July 4th. It is absolutely stunning- the pictures truly do not do it justice! The platter is a large 17 x 14 1/2 inches and has raise edges. Oh, I wish you could see it in person!

But, wait a minute!! You can! She is selling these beauties for $50 plus shipping. She is also making a smaller version (14 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches) for $40 plus shipping.

Only a very small number of platters will be available and orders must be placed by June 19th.

Please, feel free to email me with any questions- nogreatergiftmom@yahoo.com.

In Him,

E

Changin' it up...

What do you think? I thought it was probably time to add my 4th (almost 10 month old!!) child to the header. And I wanted something a bit fresher...not so dark. Still a work in progress. Hopefully it will all be finished in the next few days.
In Him,
E

Calling all homeschoolers!!

I know I have many homeschooling readers, and I want to hear what works for you. My main topic of interest right now is curriculum- what do you love/not love- but, anything pertaining to homeschooling or family life would be so helpful. Which curriculum works best for your family and why? Do you have secrets about housework and chores? Do you limit your children's activities? Are you a sit down at 8am and finish at 3pm kind of family? Eclectic, classical, unschooling or somewhere in between? If you homeschool multiple children, do you school all children together or does each work independently?

Anything and everything goes here. If you'd like to email me privately (nogreatergiftmom@yahoo.com) that's fine, but I'd love your ideas to be posted in the "comment" section for all to read.

We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE homeschooling, and honestly, never think about sending our kids to school!! We have decided to change things up a bit this year and buy curriculum for our older 2 (ages 13 and 17) to do almost completely on the computer. I've never bought a complete curriculum, so this will be so different. I have been watching a few auctions on Ebay and the prices there sure beat $370 from Alpha Omega!!



We are thinking about Switched on Schoolhouse and The Latin Road to English Grammar.....at least. I will supplement with other things as needed. Our main concern- Bible, first and foremost.



As for our youngest daughter, she loves doing book work. I'm still undecided as to what she'll be doing. I am leaning towards having her start The Bridge to the Latin Road.

I don't care about sitting down for a certain number of hours each day, every day. I am much more concerned about my children knowing the Lord and LOVING the Lord, being able to converse and interact with all types/ages of people and to love learning. With that being said, I do expect certain "school" things from them.



Please, let me know your thoughts. I love hearing about and gleaning from others.
In Him,
E

SMACK!!

Two different quotes I found that I had tucked away some time ago...they both SMACKED me in the face this morning!
In Him,
E

"We are not all called to adopt these children into our families. But we are all called to look at them, even though it makes our eyes burn, and be willing to let their needs disrupt our lives."
~Kristin Swick Wong



"Realize that life, not stuff, is what matters. Objects are just objects — if you lose them, if they get stolen or destroyed … it’s not a big deal. They’re just objects — not your life. Your life is the series of moments that is steaming through your consciousness right now, and how you use those moments and what you fill them with is what truly matters, not what you fill your home with. At the end of this short journey, you’ll look back and remember your experiences, the people you loved and who loved you back, the things you did and didn’t do. Not the stuff you had."
~I can't find who said this :(

Update

Yay!! We have almost reached $200! Praise God!!! Actually, we've broken the $200 mark, but I'm not going to update the Chipin until the extra money clears.

To view all details about the Challenge, please read posts below.

Do you know what that means? In only 3 days we have had 200 $1 committments. Awesome, everyone! Please, help us continue to spread the word. Not for our family, but for the millions of orphans all over the world. I pray this Challenge opens the eyes to so many who see money as the only obstacle standing in the way of bringing a child home. It's as simple as $1 at a time ....really.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

In Him I am,
E

One Dollar Adoption Challenge GIVEAWAY!!

**UPDATE- NEW GIVEAWAY ITEM LISTED BELOW**

Giveaway Day is HERE!! We stand in awe of the generosity of so many and have truly seen the hand of God through the One Dollar Adoption Challenge. I have received several encouraging emails- one from a childhood friend that I haven't spoken with in 15 years or more! It's amazing how God intertwines our lives. Thank you.



The Giveaway details-


The Giveaway will end on my birthday, June 28th, so there is plenty of time to enter yourself and your friends. Between now and then, I will be adding additional prizes. As of today, we have 4 separate prizes (one being posted about tomorrow).


You can enter one of three (or all three!!) ways-

1. Donate. Even donating $1 will enter you into the giveaway. You will be entered as many times as dollars you donate. For example, donate $10 and your name will be entered 10 times.

If you have already donated, your name will be entered as many times as dollars you donated.


2. Share our Challenge. In order for the Challenge to be successful, we must spread the word. If you share somewhere (blog, Facebook, email), please leave me a comment letting me know where and your name will be entered once per place you shared.


3. The most important- PRAY for our family. Without prayer this Challenge will fail. If you can commit to pray for our family, please send me an email (nogreatergiftmom@yahoo.com) or leave me a comment and your name will be entered.



So, what's up for grabs?!



Item #1- Of course, a Sign of Faith. Any sign of your choosing, even something custom, up to 10 letters. So, start thinking about what perfect word you would like to proudly hang in your home. Each sign comes with a card about our family and adoption. Printed on the card will also be a special Bible verse that goes along with the word on the sign. I wish I had more photos to share, but my workspace looks like a bomb explosion. Just a sampling of the signs I'm working on-


love wins dance serve gather family


believe sit kiss me forever servant


i am miracle adopted welcome kneel





Item #2- Both a cross and soap dish from Shaping Lives Pottery. I have the honor of parenting the young lady who makes this beautiful pottery- our oldest! She has discovered her God given talented and thrives creating beautiful pieces to share. I have written about her several times. She loves the Lord with everything she has and continues to challenge my walk with Christ on a daily basis.

You will also receive handmade gardenia scented soap made by a local friend. Oh, it smells delicious!!



Item #3-And certainly not least, a heavenly Brown Sugar Scrub from Rubies and Pearls. Notice the verse on the tag- Proverbs 3:15. Our middle daughter is a new entrepreneur and just began making these delicious scrubs as gifts. When she saw what a hit the scrubs were, she decided to share the love. I'm telling you, you will have a hard time not taking a bath in the entire jar!





One of the things I love about these scrubs (besides the little girl who makes them!) is that all materials are recycled. Well, the scrub itself isn't, but the container, tiny spoon and all fabric is! She collects beautiful glass jars, makes her own firecrackers out of fabric and searches high and low for perfect scrub spoons! No 2 are alike. Isn't she the coolest?!







Item #4- One pair of earrings of your choice from Freebranch Jewelry (please note, both of her websites will be down until this weekend due to a server problem- new updates coming soon). These beautiful pieces of jewelry are handmade by my sister, J. Each are one of a kind and absolutely stunning. We are incredibly blessed to live very near my sister and her family, and our kiddos love hanging out together (watching Barbie and Tinkerbell movies)!


J and her husband share my passion for individuals with special needs. About 9 years ago, they founded a camp for these angels called Camp Caglewood. Camp Caglewood embraces and celebrates each campers uniqueness whether they have Down Syndrome, Cerebal Palsy, Autism..most any special need. Find out more about the ministry that Camp Caglewood provides by visiting their website. Watch the videos- you will be touched and smiling for the rest of the day!


Please, join us in praying for a successful One Dollar Adoption Challenge- not just for our family, but for the thousands of adoptive families and millions of orphans in the world. I KNOW that if each member of the body of Christ were to support adoptive families, there would be NO MORE ORPHANS! Challenge yourself. Challenge others.

In Him,
E

One Dollar Adoption and GIVEAWAY!!

Okay, I know that I said I'd post about the giveaway tonight. Well.....I lied. I didn't really lie- I'm posting about it, right?!:)

I just couldn't get pictures taken before the sun went down of the items up for grabs. A few hints- a sign, pottery and sugar! And just to tease you a bit, here is just a very small sampling of the many signs I've been working on.

For those of you who have already donated to our One Dollar Adoption Challenge, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You will be included in the giveaway for as many $1 you donated!! So many of you went above the $1 challenge and gave wonderful reasons why. I love the idea of donating $1 for each member of your family or for each of your children. Love.

I promise I will post giveaway specifics tomorrow. And you do not have to donate to enter the giveaway! Until then, visit our Challenge at the below post and please help us spread the word! The tiny seed has been planted!

In Him,

E

One Dollar Adoption

God has been working on me. If you've been with me for a while you know that adoption is my heart. I KNOW that not every person is to adopt but I also know that each of us are commanded to pray about how we can care for orphans and ACT UPON those commands. Whether you are called to adopt, to pray, to spread the word or to financially support adoption, you are called.




I don't think it's a secret that we see another adoption (or 36- that's a joke between my hubby and I!:) in our future. We feel called to special needs adoption and are so incredibly blessed to have been chosen to raise our precious Charlie. Our lives have been changed in ways that we never knew possible. It took me praying for about 6 years for God to answer my pleas for children through adoption. I knew that this was in our future and was relentless with my prayers. Some nights I cried and cried wondering why in the world God had placed such a huge desire on my heart when it didn't look as if hubby would ever hear what I had so clearly heard.



And then the day came that changed our lives forever. The day that God so clearly spoke to my husband. That was last February and here we are today, and we can't imagine our lives any other way.



Recently, an opportunity has been placed in front of us. We are in deep prayer about this situation. We know that God will work out every single tiny detail and are waiting.




The One Dollar Adoption-

This Challenge is something that God planted a seed about a while ago. I read about something similar a couple of years ago and stood in awe of how one tiny seed grew into something that very quickly helped bring a child home from Liberia. I have searched for the place where I read the original story and cannot find it anywhere, but I know that God lead me to that site 2 years ago for a very specific reason.



The Challenge simply works like this- pray about giving. Obviously, we pray that each person who reads this blog will donate $1. $1 is all we ask. Really. We have seen $s multiply like crazy when prayer accompanies the donation. We also urge you to share our challenge where you hang out whether it be your blog, facebook, email.



Consider this- if you donate $1 and share this post with 10 people who also donate $1, that's $11 in a moment. And I promise you will NOT miss that dollar! $1-that's one item from the Dollar Spot at Target!! How often do we snatch up one item from the Dollar Spot without even thinking twice? Can't each of us give up that $1 item in order to save a child's life?


To make it easy, I have set up a Chip in in my sidebar to the right.



Please, pray about this Challenge. Prayer will make this work just as it opened our eyes to the blessings of Down Syndrome Adoption. And to put a face to the Challenge, I'll leave you with this. Our angel God blessed us with through the miracle of adoption~



And yes, that's sand he is enjoying for snack!




Also, please stop back by later this evening for a giveaway announcement. I am crazy excited about this one!!

In Him,
E