Streyle/Swanson Rummage and Bake Sale

Thought you all might like to see a picture of our crazy first day.  Our Adoption Rummage and Bake Sale started at 7:30 this morning...complete with rain!  There was a steady stream of die hard 'rummagers' (I just made up that word) for whom we are VERY thankful.  (As my sister said, 'you grow some hardy folks in SD'.  Indeed we do!) 

Our day made for exceptionally chatty dinner conversation as the girls talked about who they saw, what sold, and the encouragement received from complete strangers.  One of the girls said, "It will be so fun to tell our siblings about all the people who donated items and purchased items to help bring them home".   Oh..the joy we feel for children we've never met but truly love.

Today, one young couple, whom we never met, gave $4 beyond what they purchased commenting "This is for the adoption.  We had to be sure we came to this rummage sale."  That $4 dollars made a very BIG impact.

As you can see in the picture...these crazy days of a rummage sale are so much more fun because we are partnering with the Streyle family.Our rummage/bake  sale will run Wed, Thur and Friday of this week. 

Matching Grant Opportunity for our Adoption!

This week we received more encouraging word about our adoption. Lifesong for Orphans graciously approved us for a matching grant. They have also established a tax-deductible account for contributions made to our family's adoption through Lifesong. This is a "double blessing" from God. We are very humbled and grateful that God has provided for us in this way. 

If you desire to give towards this matching grant, here is what you do:  send a check (made payable to Lifesong for Orphans)indicating our last name in the memo section (preference Swanson #1929 adoption) to:

Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40 / 202 N. Ford St
Gridley, IL 61744

OR~ you may also give online.  

Note: In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.

Once again, we are in AWE as we walk through this adoption journey. God's mighty works on behalf of our little child (or children) continues to amaze us. We look forward to the day when he/she can understand how God was being their Father when they were fatherless. 

James

April Numbers!

We received our April Numbers this past week.
Here they are!

  

For The Boy List

For The Sibling List

 

The prayer requests for this month are:

#48-That we would get a sibling referral.
#47-Provision for a sibling referral.
#46-Private prayer request.
#45-The plight of the orphan would be made known.
#44-Sweet friends for you as you grow up.
#43-Creative fund raising ideas.
#42-That you would be completely loved and accepted by your extended family.
#41-That we would stewards this process well for God's glory.




Myriah

Changing the World for One

 Fund raising is not a comfortable activity for us. However, Ordinary Hero (one of our fund raising partners) has some great gear 20% off now through Sunday. (The eco shirts are soooo comfortable).     We receive 40% of all purchases made under our name.  PLUS...Ordinary Hero has a $500 grant for the top seller now through Sunday.  All proceeds will go directly to our adoption agency to help with expenses. 


So, if you are interested in supporting our adoption with a purchase, please visit Ordinary Hero. http://www.ordinaryherostore.org   Simply choose our name from the drop-down affiliate box.  You may also purchase items to be donated to an orphanage.  These purchases support orphans in Africa and our adoption both.  :-)

When you make a purchase, you will help  CHANGE THE WORLD FOR ONE!   And that one....is our child that God knew, before the foundations of the world, would be placed in our family.
 
Purchase or no purchase, we appreciate all the encouragement and support we have received FOR THIS CHILD.  Can't wait to introduce ya all.  
     

Encouraging Words from Habakkuk

It is not very often that one quotes verses from Habakkuk.  Most probably have to look in the table of contents to see where Habakkuk is located in the Bible. (That would be page 785 in my Bible)  However, a few weeks ago a sweet friend sent me this verse.

But these things I plan won't happen right away.  Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow, be patient.  For it will surely take place.  It will not be late by a single day.   Habakkuk 2:3
(bold, italicized added). 

I have read and re-read this verse many times in the last few weeks.  What a precious reminder to our family that God's plan for us will not be late by a single day.  Rarely, is His timing our timing but His timing is ALWAYS perfect.  

As we WAIT for the implications of  the recent changes with MOWA and Ethiopian adoption to be 'lived out', we hope in God.  We pray that He is with our child/ren and their birth family; that He is sovereign over all the paperwork and that all documents will be correct.   Our home is ready.  Our hearts are more than ready!  May God continue to grant us grace and mercy as we slowly, steadily, surely wait for the time that the vision He put in our  hearts will be fulfilled.