Struggle = Strength

I have really struggled, struggled with the NEED to ASK for help.

In the beginning I had to call my Best Friends and be coaxed into continuing. They would remind me that 'I' was not asking for ME, I was asking for Peter. This I knew and understood on a conscious level, but I truly struggled that if I Was to be his parent, and this is what GOD wanted, then why didn't he also provide the finances to make it happen.

Today as I ranted and worked through my feelings (that are ALL OVER the Spectrum)  I realized something I have known all along.

The STRUGGLE is a BLESSING, the pain, suffering and ASKING have been a most amazing part of this journey.  Seeing SO MANY wonderful friends, neighbors, and strangers that are so generous and kind, that give so freely to help make the world a better place for someone else. It is TRULY a gift. The greatest gift my Heavenly Father could give me right now.


I get to see SO many Miracles and be a part of the generosity of SO MANY.

This is what I have observed so far, Here is the surprise.

It is the loved ones of few means that have made the BIGGEST impact on our fundraising. The friends that have lamented to me that they have NO excess to give, they write beautiful and heartfelt requests to THEIR circle of influence and ask for support.

I have no way of knowing where the donations come from, it would be WONDERFUL If I had thought of that in the beginning, everyone WANTS to know that their VOICE made a difference.

In so many ways, YOUR VOICE and YOUR ACTIONS have moved mountains.

The donations had come to a halt for at least a week. And then at least 3 of you wrote or shared our story in your own way, and in two days we have had over $2,000 donated!

THAT IS HUGE FOLKS! we are ALMOST there!!!!!

I sincerely wish I could HUG and THANK each and every donor individually, and let them know how MUCH they are appreciated.

This Virtual HUG is as close as we will get for now.

Memorial Day!

Happy Blessed Memorial Day.
We are deeply humbled and grateful for the MANY sacrifices made to exercise our freedoms.

What a BLESSED country we live in!

Our words are Our Future.

The Proverb states, “As a man thinketh, so is he…”
What you do is a manifestation of what you think. Want to change what you do, and therefore your results? Change what you think.
To manifest a better life, you must first envision a better life.
In other words, you need a clear, concrete, and compelling "Life Manifesto" of your ideal life.
A bold declaration of your noblest ideals and highest aspirations, which saturates your thoughts and leads to the manifestation of heroic actions.
That's why I urge you to check out Life Manifestos, an extraordinary company dedicated to helping you live your ideal life through artistic, manifesto posters.
Their works of art warm your heart, enlighten your mind, and inspire you to greatness. They train your subconscious mind to align with truth and excellence.
Without such a conscious guide, you will manifest the programmed, contradictory, and limiting junk of your subconscious.
You will be caught in the act of operating on autopilot: blindly accepting social programming, submitting to false labels, believing negative self-talk, accepting unquestioningly what is “known” to be impossible.
By default, every human being is a manifester — whether consciously or unconsciously.
If you’re going to manifest anyway, why not manifest consciously and positively?
Knowing thoughts manifest as actions, why entertain limiting and degenerate thoughts?
Ensure noble, uplifting, inspiring thoughts and get closer to living your ideal life by purchasing manifesto posters from Life Manifestos.
They'll change your thoughts, and your results are sure to follow.

SIMPLE Ways YOU Can help!

We are looking for Sponsors for the Following items!

$50 to finish the quilts we will auction off on June 29th

Graphic Design work to design a custom T-Shirt to sell.

Attorney Pro-bono to help create  our 501(c)3 to help OTHER families adopt! (there are 147 MILLION more kids that need a home!)

Share our Story through the VIDEO or the BLOG or the FACEBOOK page!

LIKE the "CoupAid" page and COMMENT in support of the GORDON family! (Contest ENDS MAY 30th!)

When others (THAT IS YOU!)  SHARE our story and put in a personal note(either by facebook, or by email) we have seen a HUGE influx of donations, if you challenge your circle of influence to donate a SMALL amount ($15) and give them a MONEY BOMB date. Each person in the group donates on ONE DAY between certain hours, this gives them the incetive to do it NOW! Many have the intentions to donate, and they get busy and forget. but when you give them a specific small action to follow, they will DO IT!

You DON'T have to be LOCAL to help get donations for Zumba and for the Auction. Anyone with TIME, long distance, and internet with the ability to google can search businesses in Cameron and St. Jo and help get donations!!! Then we can pick them up. For Zumba we need small stuff for ladies/families. Like certificates to Beauty & Tanning Salons, restaurants, massage, retail outlets, chiropractors, Merle Norman, gift baskets .... For Auction, larger items from antique stores, furniture stores, motels, hotels, and small items, too. Below is a script for your use if you'd like to help!!!

Good Times as the Clock ticks.

Last night was a great party. We had 4 awesome and talented bands perform, and many friends joined together in support and celebration for Peter!

Peter was overwhelmed and clingy, I should have made a plan to leave with him for a bit. It was too much for him, even though he could not hear the music (IT WAS LOUD!) he was feeling insecure in all the busy-ness.

Today, we rest and relax in our comfortable zone. Home.

June 15th is our next big event. It is planned for McKorkle park in Cameron join us for a FUN evening of ZUMBA in the PARK!

Pictures of the battle are forthcoming.

Love and appreciation for ALL who CAME! (even if they had to leave early cuz it was too loud!)

TODAY! May 26th 2012

Where does the Money GO?

SLOW DOWN, YOU MOVE TOO FAST.

The list of items that MUST be completed by June 21st is HUGE. with not enough ENERGY (notice I did not say time in the day) I am worried about the outcome of the goal.

We can only run so fast, and I am just about out of running power, I still have to file for a passport, I need to find bands for the battle, since a few have not returned calls, I must make copies of everyone's birth certificates, and fax  few documents, I have yet updated the Etsy store, I have gobs of items in my house that are for the Etsy store, and I need to get those items listed and SOLD!

I have a Precious daughter turning 9 this week!

and another one turning 16 in a couple weeks!

I have plane tickets to put on hold.

I have about 354 Doctor and Dentist appointments to make.

I have to take kids to Shave Ice Shack and then pick them up when they are done.

I am BEGGING for prayers that the shack start making some money, at this point we are barely breaking even!

I also have the Business Commitments we have made for our catering business.

Yes, busy people get the most done, but Busy people also need the prayers and support of many.

Thank you for that. Thank you for reading about our family, our journey and our precious Peter.

he is totally worth it.

Why not?!

Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows”.


Please read this post on Adoption. It can be a tough pill to swallow, but it is a commandment from God! 
http://crossroadsofamericaadoptionconference.com/gloriously-mad/

Easy to Shoot!

These kids are so cute. How can you NOT love to take their photos. Gone are the days of pulling out a wallet full of photos, now you get to sit through hours of slide shows and photo albums!

ENJOY! (I sure do!)

The Arms of a Mom

Mother's day is over. The expectations of the day can be overwhelming, but most of the day I spent pondering on all the mothers who are missing their children, or the children who have no mothers.

Peter has a mother, his mother loved him. She cared for him, and she offered him a chance at survival, what an amazing and loving woman!  She did not have the wealth of resources and support to provide for his basic needs. Food. Shelter. Medicine. She recognized this, and admitted to the need., as hard as it was, she did the harder thing and gave him to the Forget Me Not home to provide for his needs. Unfortunately even they could not protect him from Malaria.

Malaria is such a minor illness, it is painful, and it is dangerous, but the medicines and solutions are simple. For a modern facility they give a round of antibiotics and fluids. Then send them home once their blood counts are normalized.

However this was another resource that was unavailable  to the FMN home that was caring  for his needs.

Some days I  cry out wishing there was a way I could provide for Peter's Mothers need enough so that she could care for her own children, including Peter.  Wishing there was a chance that he could remain with his natural born siblings and mother, wishing that Malaria was not a risk for his well-being, wishing that poverty and famine did not take so many lives in his home country. even that would not be enough, Peter's mother has other children, and in order for her to remain with them, she must work very hard to maintain her present relationship. She terminated parental rights to keep him safe, healthy and give him a chance in life. With 5 other children, she was not able to care for his special needs, and especially provide care for his ongoing medical needs.  She will always be the woman who gave him life, she will always be a precious part of our prayers.

I am ever so grateful, I want to have this little boy in my arms every night, I want to see his eyes light up with every new discovery, I want to cradle him when he has a boo-boo, I want to see him master sign language, grow, gain weight, get tall, most of all I want to see every minute of his life. I want him to be mine.

I share him, I share him with a mother who lives 5,000 miles away, who probably cries herself to sleep at night wondering how her little angel boy is doing. I wish there was a way I could speak with her, let her know he is being a good boy, he is being cared for, loved and fed. I worry , i wonder. i hurt.

A mother does not cease to be a mother, if her child is not in her arms.


Malaria has robbed Peter of the chance that he will ever live in his Mother land. he is too fragile, his liver too damaged, and his spleen nearly ruptured during his last bout of Malaria.

There is not a vaccination against Malaria, There is no real long term protection from the infection.

If Peter is forced to return to Liberia, it will only be a matter of time for him. At best a year, the odds of an infection are nearly 100% in the first year back in the country.

Please join me in prayer. Prayer for Peter, for his Mother, for his extended family, and for his American family, that are doing all in their power to make his future full of hope.

Half Way point. what can we do now?

We are gearing up for the 2nd wind. We made it to the half way mark, and need FRESH RESOLVE to complete the fundraising. 

Next on the list: Battle of the Bands, (We need to pre-sell tickets, if you are willing to pre-sell 10 tickets, stop by the Ice Shack and get some PINK tickets, tickets are $3 early, or $5 at the door)


We also need volunteers to solicit MORE items locally for the auction, we have permissions to use the 501c3 status of Global Orphan Outreach, PLEASE offer to print off the letter, and follow up with up to 4 retail locations. We need items to auction or raffle off at BOTH events coming up, battle of bands, AND BBQ FINALE Auction and Dance. 

comment here, and I will fwd the letter to your inbox, and you print, and mail to retail locations, (PLEASE notify the group of where you sent it, so we are not duplicating contacts/requests)


Thank you to my tireless supporters, I NEED the help, and I APPRECIATE all you do! Every donation makes me smile, the 25 cent donation from a child, as well as the $100 cash/checks that come in the mail. 


I APPRECIATE IT ALL! 


THANK YOU


UPDATE!


Mary @ The Health Store in Cameron is Carrying MY Healing Salves. They are $2 each or 3/$5 great for bumps, bruises, stings, and can be used as lip balm too!  Help us Help Peter! 

YARD SALE! (done) Check

Today was long, cold, exhausting and so wonderful.

At 5 a.m. I woke my crew of helpers and started loading the last of the items for the sale.

Wes got everything loaded and he & Shaun left to empty the trailer.  I got Madi and Skyler and we headed out to Cameron.

By the time we arrived we were dismayed to learn another group was having a yard sale for their fundraiser. We were SO BUMMED, but we made the best of it, our location was poor visibility behind a row of Sheds on display.

Press on...

We got everything set up and customers came right away, we had TONS of baked items, and MANY hand made/crafted items to display, Erin Galbraith and her wonderful mother Mindy Simpson both worked tirelessly till the end on setting up, pricing, and facilitation the sale.

And then the rains started.....

We had hope it would blow over and we would not get soaked.

then the rains came, it was pouring....

And Pouring.

And raining, and blowing, it was cold, wet and miserable.

But we pressed on....

Around 1 we were done, we were not selling much, and had TONS of leftover, we did NOT want to haul leftovers, we did not have the manpower or the time to try again.

We BEGGED our facebook friends to come relieve us of the items, and did not see a huge influx of takers ;)

Sheli Started counting up the funds, I was hoping for around $500.00 since it was such a miserable day, It was disappointing that so many had sacrificed so much for this event, but I had faith that we had done ALL we could do. and the Lord would make up the difference.

Without taking all the coins to the bank, we have estimated the grand total.

We just added $1200.00 to Peter's savings account!!

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your generous donations and support!!

A lull before the rush.

This Saturday is our BIG RUMMAGE SALE! I have been so blessed to have MANY friends step up and help make this a HUGE success, it has been mentioned in the Radio, Newspaper, and Online.

I am praying for a big turn out, since the last week we have seen a big drop-off in paypal donations. I wonder if it is the dispute we have been having with them over the raffle tickets,

It looks as if the account is working since Jenni in Orem Utah sent a donation this afternoon (Thanks Jenni & Jon! Jon was my assigned dance partner in Romeo & Juliet in 8th grade.)

Since we have had fewer online donations I am anxious to see the gran total for the Rummage sale, so if you are out and about, bored, and not occupied.... WHO AM I KIDDING?! Even if your day is CRAMMED with GOODNESS PLEASE stop by!

We will have

Pies

Cakes

Cookies

Jewelry

Hand sewn items

Natural remedies

Floral Arrangements

yard Sale GOODIES

Hot Dogs, Drink & Chips

Chair Massages

Cool People

Fun Times

Great Weather (I am hoping)

Come on out and drop in your pennies, Shop for Mothers day gifts, and Support Peter's Adoption!

Corner of Grand & Walnut in Cameron 8 a.m. - ????

A compasrion Chart for International Adoption

Many have asked "Why is it SO expensive to adopt?"  Our adoption is "CHEAP" in comparison. Take a quick look at this chart and you will see what I mean.

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly.

Peter has been learning very quickly the dynamics of our family. He was hitting and biting a bunch when he first arrived (as I would too in his situation) but with consistent reminders of what is expected, he has promptly stopped, and instead now seems to follow right along with what is expected.

Friday evening our family was helping with the Simpson Family Fundraiser (they lost their home to a fire on 3/18/2012) we were delivering tables and a trailer to be used for the yard Sale.

It was minimal effort on our part, this family has been close friends since we left Alaska in 2006.

I did not make it far.... I buckled all the kids in the Suburban, loaded up the trailer and pulled out of the driveway. The stop sign at the end or our road is set back from the intersection, and often times we have close calls with oncoming traffic.

This time the oncoming car collided with my suburban.

It totaled both vehicles but luckily none were majorly injured.

We were blessed with safety.

The Good is we are all ok, the bad is we no longer have a vehicle that fits our family of 9, and the ugly is we will be forced to go into debt to purchase a new one.

We have avoided debt since 2005 and we are not thrilled to go back.

My 3 Boys

Peter weighed 24 lbs in May of 2012.
His waist is a size 12 month
Length 4 toddler
His gross motor skills are about 18 months.
Fine Motor skills are like 24 months.
today he weighs 32 lbs.

Peter got the flu in February, he lost 7 lbs in one week.

When he is in a diaper/pull up, he looks like all the malnourished children that roam around Africa.

Why Peter?

On February 2nd at around 12 noon my best friend sent me a massage via text that said I had better take a look at this sweet boy on a 'special needs' wait list.

When I saw this picture. I knew.

I knew, like when I saw my newborn babies. I knew that he was meant to be in our family, and I knew I would do whatever it took to make that happen.

It was as much a surprise for me, as it would be for anyone else.

I have gazed at photo listings for more times than I care to admit.

So what was different about this child? what made it undeniable that it was different was the feeling that came over me when I gazed into his eyes.

It was if he said. "I'm Yours."

and that was it. He Was Mine.

Busy weekend

We had a VERY busy weekend, not only did my kids perform in a AMAZING Cultural event with 3,000 other youth, but we also had our home visit for our home study, since Wesley is only home every 2 weeks, all of your paper work has to be worked around this schedule.

So Friday, Saturday, Sunday we could not have packed anymore into the weekend. It was beautiful, amazing, wonderful, exhausting, trying, humbling, each element of the week were their own bit of test, can we handle this? Are we prepared for the future, have we done enough for our children, What more can we do for and with them?

Take a look at the thermometer. 

Can you believe it? Can you believe that in a little more than a month we have raised $5750?!

The support, and LoVe has been FLOWING like a river into our hearts, homes and savings account for Peter.

We are truly humbled.

I have many to THANK.

and many more to HUG.

For now, please accept my gratitude and know....YOU have made a difference, your ONE plate of Brownies, or your ONE donation of $5, or your ONE share of the video, or your ONE comment of encouragement, or your ONE email you sent in our behalf. ALL OF THEM add up...
currently they add up to $5750.00

 THANK YOU!

Peter. Dee. and the rest of us.

heart and gut

When it comes to decisions, I make them with my heart. I hear or feel a pull to fix something or to be involved in something, and I am lead to action, my heart and legs are directly connected.

this does get me into trouble occasionally, I have been trying to think of a metaphor for where I am at in life.

I realized a few things,
ONE- I have always been this way, and do not see any reason or logic in changing it.
and TWO-I can not imagine living life without the motivating drive to make a difference.

It does not matter if it is one person, one dollar, one smile, one life. I can NOT live a day without being on the look out to lighten the load of another.

So many times when we are feeling alone and feeling like the weight we carry has become too much, such as during a crisis or an emergency, what we need to remember is that no man is an Island, and that we are NEVER lone. The weight we CHOOSE to take on is never carried alone. Our family, our neighbors and our friends carry it with us, through prayer, through service and through worry.

This Journey, This Challenge and This Choice have been a beautiful awakening for me.

Many times I have felt alone, I have felt sad or worn down, and I have had the tender mercies of the Lord when someone (one person) has come to my aid.

But what did the Master & Savior say? He said "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you"

I realized that so many of my needs are met because I sit back and try to solve them on our own.
 But that is not the intent of the Lord, We are His hands, we are His voice and we are His feet.
When we see the burden of another we are called to lift and help that person carry the burden.

It is not a question or an option, it is a COMMANDMENT.

When a house burns down, we come to their aid, When someone is Ill, we come to their aid, If someone is left Fatherless or destitute, we do all we can to aid.

This is the gospel, this is HIS word, This is HIS work.


SO many wonderful friends, near and far have come to support Peter's adoption, so many have offered words of encouragement, suggestions ,Baked items, Sewn items, Delivered announcement,s organized bake sales, volunteered to sell Lemonade, or Snow Cones, or Cookies in a jar, Crafting bows, or Doodads, or offering their plasma to sell (for real)  .

It is more than I can catalog, I can not keep up with it, I can not recall each person who has dropped off a card with cash, or paypal a donation, or a plate of cookies for the bake sale......

It is a FLOOD of support and love. and I feel it. I am working feverishly to write it all down, to keep track of each kind act so that one day Peter and I can look through a picture book, and a listing of each person who has sacrificed for Him.


When we have done it it unto the LEAST of them....we HAVE done it unto Him.

It has not gone unnoticed.

Thank you, once again. Thank you for ALL you are doing.

Adoption is a CHOICE, and we appreciate all the support  we have gotten as we CHOOSE to parent this special little boy, who is learning, growing and THRIVING.

Button Bracelets for Peter

My SWEET friend and neighbor made these for our fundraiser, we will have these and many other items available for purchase! suggested retail price ;) $10.00

A death in the family.

this week we lost yet another beautiful soul! Precious Baby David passed away in his foster home late Monday night. he died from untreated tb. (it was just discovered he had it)
so many children are gone. so many will still die. 

if they were children in your neighborhood would you notice? would you do something then? 

know that every effort you do to reach out and help just one child matters....

regardless of when God calls them home. When Ye have done it unto the LEAST of them.... Ye have done it unto me. 

Please Click LIKE and COMMENT on this Facebook page!

PLEASE take a moment to "LIKE" the page, and make a comment that mentions our name "We support the Gordon's adoption" 


We are in 5th place, and 1st place is a $300 Cash prize for Peter's adoption.


Please CLICK, LIKE, and COMMENT








We still have many Likes without comments and comments without page likes. 

Now for an update on the leaders of the Giveaway Contest:

1. Castagnos
2. Yoder
3. Dismuke
4. Flagler
5. Gordon
6. Mohr
7. Toth
8. Nelson
9. Alexander

The contest is very close, the top 3 places are still up for grabs!