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We have 43 pounds of formula and three days to go!   I'm hoping we surpass 50 pounds and have more for a second family to take over.  We can't have too much.  This might look like a lot of formula for one baby... but it won't last long in an orphanage with many, many babies. 

If you are looking to get the most out of your formula purchase, powder weighs less and makes more.  The large box of Enfamil on the top makes 250 ounces of formula and only weighs 3 pounds.  We would also love to have some Duo-Cal (if anyone can find it) or Nutramigen.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!! 


 
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Help us collect 50 pounds of formula in one week!

We are collecting formula of any kind for Kids Care Orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  We will take any brand, type (soy, infant, toddler, etc..) and any size container.  We need to collect 50 pounds of formula by next Thursday, June 2nd.  The formula will go straight to Ethiopia on June 9th and will go to immediate use for the babies.  

Why? 
A fellow AWAA mother is traveling to adopt an older child from Kids Care orphanage.  A child that she met two years ago, during a previous adoption.  This child was malnourished as an infant, as many are in Ethiopia, and this family wants to donate formula to the orphanage that has cared for their child for the past five years.

How does this involve me?
Yesterday she asked me for help.  Adopting an older child is quicker than adopting an infant and so their adoption expenses have all come within the last few months.  They don't have the money to fill their last 50 pounds of luggage with donations.  But the real kicker is that they have tried to rally support themselves, from their church, but with no luck. 

Why should this involve you?
Only God knows how many hungry babies are in Ethiopia today.  We do know that there are many at Kids Care Orphanage and Aster, the woman who runs the orphanage, says they are "in desperate need for formula for the very malnourished babies."  And the truth is that our baby, our future daughter, might be one of those babies.  She could be there right this minute.  Or she might have passed through there on her way to the transition home. 

Buying formula here is easy.  So many options and so many prices.  Buying formula in Ethiopia is difficult.   It's hard to find, the containers are smaller, and the price is higher. 

So please, if you live in the Linton area, please consider donating some formula.  We will ship (hopefully 50 pounds!) to the family next Thursday, June 2nd.  You can drop it at our house, at Lewellyn Technology, at Smidgens, at the Linton First Christian Church Ethiopia drop box (just inside both entrances), or contact me and I will pick it up from you.  If you live outside of the area and would like to help please contact me and I will put you in touch with the family directly and you can donate or ship to them.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:
  • You can print a $5 Enfagrow Coupon for toddler formula at Enfamil.com.
  • Ask your pediatrician or family doctor if they have formula samples they can donate.  
  • We would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have donations of Duo-Cal or Nutramigen.  These are high calorie formulas used specifically for malnutrition.  Available on Amazon.com and at some pharmacies. 
 
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There's a town in northern Ethiopia called Lalibela. In this town are 11 "rock-hewn" churches. These churches are monolithic, meaning they are made from a single block of stone. They are usually hewn into the ground or into the side of a hill or mountain. Most of these were created in the 12th century.

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This is a view looking down at the Church of Saint George.
(The same church is shown above from a different angle.)
We would love to take time during one of our trips to Ethiopia to see these stunning architectural masterpieces.

-Logan
 
Logan and I sold a few handmade crafts at our yard sale this weekend.  These six items didn't sell, and so we thought we'd post them here.  All of these items were handmade by us and are original.  There is only one of each.  The prices include shipping.  If you are interested in an item, please email me at BrandyDWade (at) gmail.com.  Thank you!
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Scripture Bracelets $10
I thought up the idea of these scripture bracelets last year for a Holiday Bazaar that we did in November.  Each bracelet has the letters and numbers of a certain verse of scripture.  This one is Phillipians 4:6  Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.  SOLD

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John 15:12  My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.  $10


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Luke 12:22  The Jesus said to his disciples:  Therefore I tell you, do not worry about our life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  $10

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Matthew 5:16  Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in Heaven.  $10

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This is a canvas tote bag with side water bottle pocket.  Hand painted with black acrylic paint.  $15  SOLD

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This canvas tote bag with side water bottle pocket is hand beaded with semi-precious stones.  $15
 

If you are visiting for the first time and would like more information regarding adoption.  Here are two great places to start:

The US Department of State - Intercountry Adoption

includes the PDF Intercountry Adoption A - Z

Adopt US Kids - database of US Foster Children available for adoption

 
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We will be having our second Adoption Fundraiser Yard Sale Friday and Saturday May 20th and 21st at 760 D Street NE in Linton.  We'll have all kinds of good stuff.  Along with the general yard sale we will be selling handmade items such as afghans, jewelry, paintings and a quilt.  We're even having a bake sale!  

We have sold $56 in coffee over the past two weeks.  There are still two weeks left to order coffee and help us raise $150 by June 1st.  If we reach our goal, we win a bunch of free stuff from Just Love Coffee that we can then sell to raise even more! 

Shop at our store here: 
http://www.justlovecoffee.com/OurEthiopianDaughter
 
We came home from surgery one month ago today.  The balloons are deflated, the food has been eaten, the last of the flowers are wilted.  Life has gone back to normal.  Except that I haven't gone back to work yet, and won't until June 1st.  yay! 

I feel great.  Hours go by that I don't even remember that I had surgery.  I'm already getting very comfortable with hearing out of only one ear and days go by where it isn't even an issue.  And both sides of my face are working together again. 

Thinking back to how I felt and looked on April 16th, I can't believe I feel and look this good on May 16th.  Prayers have been answered.

As far as the adoption goes, we are still tied for #4 for an infant girl on the waiting list.  That hasn't changed since March 31st.  AWAA is holding a conference call tomorrow afternoon, so maybe we'll know a little bit more about what is going on after that.  We hope so.

River, on the other hand, has been working as a hired ranch hand at Mamaw and Papaw's house. 


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River gives Penny the Pony a bath.
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If you are thinking about buying your child those color-tinted bubbles... just don't.
 
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For Christmas this year I asked my mother-in-law (see Meme in the Mother's Day Post below) for this book: 29 Gifts - How a Month of Giving can Change your Life. 

The author is a young woman, living in California with Multiple Sclerosis.  She is very ill and can hardly walk.  At her lowest point, an African medicine woman asks her to try giving one gift every day for 29 days and see what happens.

I didn't get around to reading this until a couple of weeks ago when we were just home from my surgery.  I'll be honest, at first I didn't really like it and I thought about not finishing it.  This is not a Christian book per se, it's a combobulation of... everything.

But hang in there, the lessons are worth the while. 

She learns that even in her condition she has a lot to offer the world.  She learns that when you give... you always get back and so she becomes a more gracious recipient.  And most importantly she learns that what she has to offer is enough.

So for all givers out there, big and small, I would say there is a lot to learn from this book.

I hope you live in the Linton, Indiana area and feel like giving BIG this evening.  There is a fundraiser concert at the Linton-Stockton High School at 6pm tonight (May 12) for a local family whose nine-year-old daughter is going blindThe one chance at regaining her sight is a $60,000 operation in China, where insurance isn't accepted.  You can read more about their story here.

Of course if you live out of town and would like to donate, we would love to get you in touch with the right people.

 
 
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My Dad is 50 years old today!  (And his little lady will be next month.)  As much as it pains me to miss out on making fun of them today... I may have a bit of a milestone birthday coming up myself.  So I'll keep the internet humiliation to a minimum. 

Happy birthday Dad.  I hope you have a really good one. 

River is working on your cake.