Blessings and fundraisers abound :)

I wanted to share some blessings with yall!  It has been a very neat few days.  I have had some just wonderful support from dear friends by way of phone calls, posts, emails, etc at a time when I really was needing that and for that I am eternally thankful! :)  In addition to that things have been kinda nutty, one thing will go wrong and then a blessing shows up :)  I am so thankful for the blessings in my life :)  One such thing is that I was contacted by a couple of dear sweet ladies who felt called to help with Jeremiah's Adoption but weren't really sure what they could do.  So they prayed and put their heads together and decided that they could use their sewing talent to help Jeremiah.  They designed a digitized embroidery set and are selling it on their website FOR JEREMIAH!  They are giving 100 percent of the sales direct to our Adoption Fund!  Is that not amazing.  If you are anyone you know sews and might can use either this set or anything from their webstie PLEASE check them out and support them.  Go to THE CHARMING STATION to see what they are selling for Jeremiah :)  and from their you can explore their whole site :) 

As if that was not enough, they also sell a thing called "monsters" on their website.  Well for quality control purposes they make one of each pattern they sell, to make sure it works right I guess and to photograph for the website maybe.  Anyway they have a bunch of these Monster Samples and they are mailing them to me to sell for Jeremiah! 

They thought maybe we would have an opportunity for another craft show or something and can sell them there and I said, not sure about another show but go ahead and send them and we will sell them somewhere! :)  So just a short time after I find out they are on the way I find out about a craft show coming up for a local Gym to fundraise.  They are renting booth space to others to raise money for the gym.  Anyway the booth and table rental is VERY reasonable and if we have these monsters, and our sonic cards

left over from last time, the things from the last sale that were not perishable and the Born in My Heart Adoption bracelets

 we had donated we will have plenty to sell with no cost other than the space rental :)  So I am actually excited!!! She said at the very least they were hoping to help us make back what we lost at that craft show that flopped.  I am so incredibly blessed that they would do this for us :)

And in addition to the blessing of these ladies and their generosity, We have been blessed to have several folks donating items for us to hold an online auction on the fundraising blog.  I am hoping to have it up by next week.  I am waiting on some information and hoping to get some more donations before we start it.  Basically folks can bid on what they would pay for it and at the end of the auction the highest bidder will win.  Bidders will need to pay postage on the items.  PRAY for us please to get some more donations and that folks will want to bid on the things we have.  Also we will need help spreading the word and those who do will have entries put in our Spread the Word Giveaway that will be drawn right before we travel to Taiwan to get Jeremiah when that GLORIOUS time comes :) 

We also have had a few more folks sign up to be involved in the benefit for Jeremiah that is this friday night!  It is funny a few back out and a few more sign up.  But I know it is going to be an amazing night of giving Praise the Lord for who HE is, who Jeremiah is, what God has done in Jeremiah's life and what He is going to do in all our lives! :) 

Barefoot Books Fundraiser! LOOK!!!!

GUESS WHAT!!!

You won't believe this!  I have found the most wonderful books!! I'm in book heaven!!!  There are adoption books, multicultural books, educational books, books for all ages! Single books, or lots of books.  Take a look!!


If you have or are adopting you HAVE to have this book!

Motherbridge of Love


Cherish the special bond between parent and child with this beautiful, anonymously written poem. Through the exchanges between a little girl and her adoptive parent, this poignant selection celebrates love and family.




Text royalties from this book are donated to Mother Bridge of Love, a charity that reaches out to Chinese children all over the world in order to develop a connection between China and the West, and between adoptive culture and birth culture. Xinran, the acclaimed Chinese author, broadcaster and journalist, is the founder of Mother Bridge of Love.


For all ages


Illustrated By: Josée Masse


Hardcover ($ 16.99)


Do you have a child of Chinese Heritage??

The Great Race

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac






Race with the animals of the Zodiac as they compete to have the years of the Chinese calendar named after them. The excitement-filled story is followed by notes on the Chinese calendar, important Chinese holidays, and a chart outlining the animal signs based on birth years.


Ages 4 to 9 years


Retold By: Dawn Casey
Illustrated By: Anne Wilson
Paperback $7.99
Hardcover $16.99

We're Riding on a Caravan


An Adventure on the Silk Road


Join the caravan for an exciting yearlong trek along China's ancient Silk Road. Following the rhyming, treasure-filled story are informational endnotes about the history of the Silk Road, the story of silk, important cities of China, and a full-spread map.


Ages 4 to 10 years


Written By: Laurie Krebs
Illustrated By: Helen Cann


Paperback on sale for only $5.99

What about Tibetan?

 

Tenzin's Deer
A Tibetan Tale




Meet Tenzin, a kindhearted boy who discovers a wounded musk deer high up in the hills. In this Tibetan tale, Tenzin nurses the deer back to health, and must learn the most important lesson of all: how to love enough to let go.


Ages 5 to 10 years


Written By: Barbara Soros
Illustrated By: Danuta Mayer
Paperback 7.99
Hardcover $16.99

Adopted from India?

Indian Tales


A Barefoot Collection

Venture to a country that is bursting with color, life and contrasts in these lively folk tales. The eight stories in this anthology, each from a different Indian state, feature educational facts and information about the cultures from which they are chosen.

Ages 8 and up
Retold By: Shenaaz Nanji
Illustrated By: Christopher Corr

Hardcover ($ 19.99)






African Heritage??

Hidden Hippo




Journey to the plains and rivers of Africa in search of a hidden hippo. Lots of different African animals are introduced throughout this rhyming, hide-and-seek adventure. Hardcover edition includes endnotes with information about conservation, endangered wildlife and facts about each of the animals featured in the book.


Ages 1 to 4 years
Written By: Joan Gannij
Illustrated By: Clare Beaton
African Tales

A Barefoot Collection
Explore this colorful continent and uncover the rich ways of life of the many peoples who live there. The eight stories in this collection, each from a different African country, feature educational facts and information about the cultures from which they are chosen. The stories are retold by award-winning Xhosa storyteller Gcina Mphlope, from Durban, South Africa. Includes a full-color map.
10% of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Books for Africa, an organization that collects, ships and distributes books to children across the African continent.


Hardcover on sale for $14.99


What about Russian??

BabushkaAND THERE ARE TONS MORE!!!



Meet Babushka, a woman who is so busy focusing on the little things, that she hardly notices the miraculous events going on around her. This touching Christmas story shows that the more you give away in love, the more you will receive.


Ages 3 to 7 years


Retold By: Sandra Ann Horn
Illustrated By: Sophie Fatus
Hardcover ($ 16.99)






These books are all from Barefoot Books. AND they have started a fundraiser for Jeremiah for us! :) 

If you LOVE these books too, and just have to get one,two or twenty, please do so through my BAREFOOT BOOKS STORE!!!! A percentage will go to our adoption fund. :) . I would be extremely grateful if you would think about our store the next time you are in the market for children's books. And Chinese New Year is just around the corner. How about some great books featuring Chinese culture wrapped up in some pretty red paper for you little one??? 

What about a book from your child's birth culture to read together through the years as you teach them about their cultural background?

I personally love books and think they are amazing tools to help us learn and spend time with our kids, so I really think this fundraiser should do well!  I can't wait till Jeremiah is home and I can just buy some of these books for my boys! :)  Please be praying for this fundraiser and share with everyone you know that might want to buy some books!  These type of books can't just be found anywhere and I am so thrilled to have found a resource for them :)

PLEASE share this fundraiser with everyone you know!  If you spread the word on your blog or facebook or by email and send me to link to see that you did I will add you a chance at our spread the word giveaway we will draw right before we travel to get Jeremiah!  Again go HERE to see our new Barefoot Books Fundraising Store

Lots to share...

I wanted to share about some things we are doing to raise funds for Jeremiah :)  PLEASE keep them all in prayer and if you can possibly help that would be amazing, even if allyou can do is share with others and maybe they can help, and of course prayer is the biggest help.  MONEY is all that separates us from Jeremiah and makes this journey so long for him.  January 15th we will be having a "Get Your Praise On" Benefit for Jeremiah at our Church in Shreveport, LA.  A love offering will be taken that night :)  Check out the flyer I made!  If you are local and are willin to share a flyer at Church or with folks please feel free to print this or let me know and I can send it to you in Word or I can get you one if needed.  So what do you think of the flyer?

We have also been blessed with some adoption bracelets to sell.  They are red and say Born in my heart!  We are selling them for $2 plus postage if you need them mailed.  Let us know if you are interested.

We also have had 300 Sonic Cards donated to us by Sonic.  We sell the cards for $5 each (plus postage if we need to mail them) and there is $17 to $20 sonic value on each card!  A good deal for anyone that ever goes to  Sonic!

We have also had a baby afgan donated to us to auction off!  I will be taking bids on how much you would like to bid.  The highest bidder gets the blanket.  I hope maybe doin it this way will draw more interest than just chances by donation, though as always donations are MOST welcome!  The blanket will be mailed to the winner direct from the friend who made it!

here are the details on the blanket

Size:  49" x 50".

Colors: pink, peach, pastel yellow, pastel green, baby blue, and lavender

And so noone forgets what it is all about, Jeremiah's newest update pictures from November!  PRAYING for december updates soon!

Ain't he beautiful!!!!! :)

I am so proud!  I can't WAIT to hold him in my arms!  PLEASE KEEP all fundraisers in prayer and also the puzzle fundraiser is still going, would love to have some more interest in that!  Goin to be puttin the peices sponsored so far into it this week and posting pics soon :)  Pray for a grant possibility we have to get to them our app by the 7th and still waiting to hear from Show Hope!

Target Gift Card Winner Announced!

Tonight was the drawing for our Target Gift Card! I want to say thank you to all who donated and entered the drawing. We are so blessed by the generosity of you all :) So without further ado here is the drawing and the winner announced!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Congratulations to you!!!!!! I can't wait to hear how much fun you have with your gift card! :)   Thank you sooo much to everyone who has donated towards Jeremiah's Adoption :)  EVERY penny helps so much more than you know :)  From the Target Card Giveaway we raised $140 in donations! :)  Praise Jesus! :)

Jars for Jeremiah! Christmas Shopping...LOOK!

HI all,
Well we have been blessed to get a spot in a local Sale Show at our local Convention Center in December. This sale is the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas and tons of people attend it! We will be selling Jar Gifts at the sale along with baked goods and Christmas Goodies and Sonic Discount Cards. Anyway, We thought we would try selling the Jar Gifts on the blog as well. Alot of folks are shopping for Christmas right now and so you can get gifts and help Jeremiah at the same time. We also thought by offering the Jar Gifts on the blog we could see what is more popular of some of the MANY choices we have come up with and that way if someone orders one then we will make a batch of that kind to sell at the show! Please browse through our list of possibilities and contact me either by commenting below or direct email at Tamijoysisemore@aol.com if you would like to discuss ordering some gifts. As a guide the costs for the small jars is $4, for the medium is $7 and for the Large is $11, and Extra Large $15. Plus shipping. Shipping will be determined on an order by order basis.


A friend just suggested that for online orders I offer to put the mixes in decorated bags and boxes to make shipping more economical, so that is another option if you are interested!


Also, if anyone wants a way to help out with our fundraising efforts and happens to have any Jars with lids of any kind, mason jars, plastic Jars with the lids that kinda seal, glass jars with lids, or any type of Christmas material or ribbon that you have laying around and don't need please feel free to donate these items :) Ok, on to the choices:


Edible and Non Edible Gifts are available. All will be in Jars that are decorated to look very pretty. The will come with instructions for the gift receiver.


Butterscotch cookie mix in a jar
Spiced Tea Mix
Hot Cocoa Mix
Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix
Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix
Amaretto Cocoa Mix
Chicken Noodle Soup Mix
Ministone Soup Mix
Spiral Soup Mix
Jambalaya Mix
Red Beans and Rice
Blizzard Bites Snack Mix
S'mores in a Jar
Gingerbread Cookie Mix
Spicy Ginger Cookies Mix
Applesauce Muffin Mix
Peach Crumb Cake Mix
Gingerbread in a Jar (already cooked and sealed, will stay fresh a YEAR in the sealed Jar)
pumpkin bread in a jar (already cooked and sealed, will stay fresh a YEAR in the sealed Jar)
Trail Mix
M & M's , Jelly Beans, or possibly the Candy of your Choice.
Almond Joy Browines Mix in a Jar
Butterfinger Cookie Mix in a Jar

Candy Cane Bath Salts
Peaches and Cream Bath Salts
Mandarin Orange Bath Salts
Lavender Bath Salts
Bath Salts from the Sea
Vanilla Bath Salts
Effervescent Aromatic Bath Powder
Milk Bath Powder

Again the prices as a guide are for the small jars is $4, for the medium is $7 and for the Large is $11, and Extra Large $15. And Shipping will be determined on order by order basis and calculated to your zip code.


Also if you would like the jar personalized that can be accomadated for an additional fee.


PLEASE help spread the word about our Jars for Jeremiah online Fundraiser!

Camcorder for Jeremiah Winner!

First of all THANK YOU to Amanda for donating the camcorder and running the fundraiser! It is so amazing to have someone come alongside and help you fundraise! I am blessed to have Amanda and a couple other friends who have sold things on ebay or had garage sale for us and sent direct donations to the agency! God is amazing and so are His people! Thank you to All who donated towards the Camcorder online and offline and are so wonderrful in helping bring Jeremiah home! This fundraiser raised $390!!!! God is amazing!

Here is the video my friend Amanda made when she drew the winner!



Congratulations to Maria and many thanks to all!

God bless,
Tami

Adoption update

I wanted to share where we are with Jeremiah's Adoption. FUNDRAISING as always is the majore word of our life. We are in crunch time at this point. We have been at this 6 months and we have to move quicker. Our paperwork is all being authenticated and all that and we have about 3 weeks to raise $3000 agency payment and $1030 to send in our USCIS and fingerprints. Having 4 Adults in the house is really making that fee HIGH! Anyway, PLEASE be in PRAYER for this as we do all we can and PRAY PRAY for God to show off in a big way! We did meet with the principal of a small private school yesterday about doing a Jeans for Jeremiah day where the kids pay $1 to wear jeans instead of their uniform. She has to take it before the board so it may or may not work, BUT it just so happens that the principal is herself an adoptive mother and very good friends with another adoptive mother! God was SOOOO in all this! Well, she calls this other lady at the school into the office because she herself is good at raising money. They are talking about ways to help us. They want to know total how much more we need and so we are like with travel and all bare minimum about $14,000. They are like, to you that is a big number, but its really not! WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! To me it might as well be a Million! Anyway, they are tossing ideas left and right, asking if they can share with other people. I told them they could brodcast on the news if they wanted. We NEED HELP! Anyway, prayerfully their "contacts" will be able to help like they think they can and we may have some good fundraisers coming with some folks who are willing to walk alongside and help us! I also got good news that a dear friend is selling some items on Ebay for us! What a blessing! It so blesses my heart that she is wanting to help :) I know that God is going to use this journey to touch so many lives, and I believe that Jeremiah will touch hearts and lives! What testimony it will be when he is home! God bridged the ocean to bring Noah home and we KNOW without GOD it would not have happend. I can hold onto that as we journey to Jeremiah! :) Please keep our fundraisers that are going in prayer. The camcorder fundraiser lasts till the 3rd I believe. Contact Amanda about that one :) We also have our Puzzle Fundraiser going which has not done well at all. That makes me sad because I really was looking forward to having the puzzle up in Jeremiah's room with people's names on the back :) Its only $2 per puzzle peice so I had really hoped it would do well. CLICK HERE to find out more about it! and also our Target GiftCard Giveaway is going on till Thanksgiving. CLICK HERE for more information about that one! We can use ALL the prayer we can get and if you can spread the word that would REALLY REALLY HELP! Please remember we have a Target Card Giveaway going for those who help spread the word about Jeremiah! That will be drawn for right before we actually travel, so each time you help spread the word between now and then you name will be entered. With facebook, myspace, email, sharing with friends, adding the button to all your pages there are so many ways to get the word out. And you never know where God may have a person who has the gift of giving! Thanks for caring yall! It helps alot to KNOW there are some who care, especially when receiving critque and ugly comments from some. Everybody may not agree with my fundraising to bring home Jeremiah, but I would move heaven and earth, STOMP on my pride, and do just about anything it took to help that baby boy come home to a family! Saturday we literally had someone who had money in hand to buy, ask what it was for, take a look at Jeremiah and WALK OFF. He may have cerebral palsy but that angel deserves a family to love him and a chance to have the best life he can! I feel sorry for anyone who can't understand that.

Noah at our Sam's Candy Sale for Jeremiah!

Bobby and Milie selling! LOOK AT THE JUG! WHAT A DAY! Y'all this is our FIFTH Candy Sale in front of Sam's. The most before was 2 hundred something, this time we raised $520!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have a sale the saturday before Thanksgiving and the tuesday before! PRAYING those are at LEAST as good. We might can get some dates before but they won't be a saturday.

We have not gotten new update pics on Jeremiah in a while but the new program director sent me some older pics she had and some of them I HAD NEVER SEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my favorite picture of Jeremiah to date! It was taken in December 2008 but is a GREAT SHOT!

LOVE that face! :) Looks like he might have been laughing! :)

If you are a follower here and have not found my main blog please join us over there as well.

www.tillGodbringsthemhome.blogspot.com

Jeremiah my sweet frogie boy! I love you SOOOO much and we are doing ALL we can to come get you as quickly as possible! Hand tight little man and until I get there, catch my kisses in the wind!