Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Story of the Star Fish



163,000,000 orphans worldwide. A staggering number. How will our single adoption impact this crisis?! Its JUST ONE out of sooooo many!!!!!

I'd like to share a very special story with you. One that holds a special place in my heart. 

Its the story of the Star Fish. 

This is a beautiful illustration of adoption! One rescued orphan may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things....but I can promise you one thing...it will make a difference to that one!

"While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.

He came closer still and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

The old man smiled, and said, “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”
To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it into the back into the ocean past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.”

THIS is our calling. Our Passion. ~ "I am only one. BUT STILL, I AM ONE. I cannot do everything. BUT STILL, I CAN DO SOMETHING. And because I cannot do everything, I will not hesitate to do what I CAN DO!" Hellen Keller ~ 

Monday, March 9, 2015

AUCTION! 3/12 through 3/16!


Our Auction Page is up! 

I'm adding pictures of auction items to our album! Please "like" the page and help spread the word! 

You won't want to miss this! 

We are hoping and praying for a successful event! 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Want to Help?! Check Out Our Current Fundraisers!

Check out our current Fundraisers! (Follow the Hyper-Links!) 

Donate A Tax Deductible Gift Here!  

AdvoCare!  

Mary Kay Fundraiser!

T-Shirt Fundraiser! 

DVD Sale!

Children's Book Sale!  

Gift Basket Sale! 

Origami Owl Jewelry!  

Sugar Cookies! $10 suggested donation/dozen
(I can do many different shapes/colors)
e-mail: heselby@liberty.edu to place an order!

*Please consider shipping charges if you do not live locally.






Amish White Bread - Suggested donation of $6 loaf / or 2 for $10. Seriously, this bread is the best!

e-mail: heselby@liberty.edu to place an order!

*Please consider shipping charges if you do not live locally.
Gluten Free Mixes! $7/bag (Or $15 for all 3!)*
There's 3 left!
1 - Pizza Crust Mix
1 - Bread Mix
1 - Sugar Cookie Mix

*Please consider shipping charges if you do not live locally.

e-mail: heselby@liberty.edu to claim them!



Are you a busy parent? Are you like me and often forget to pack your child's lunch until that morning?! Or even for yourself at work?!

Well, what about ordering 5 bagged lunches! Use them all up for the week or save them for those busy mornings!
This is a good sized lunch for most ages. You could add in some fresh fruit or veggies too.  

Would you be interested in a week of packed lunches for a $25 donation? Send me an e-mail!

The lunches would include:
*Juice Pouch or Water bottle (Your choice)
*Fruit Cup (or) Apple Sauce
*A fruit Strip (or) Fruit Rope
*A salty snack
*A sweet snack
*A snack bar
*A type of nut (almond, cashew, peanut, etc) - make me aware of ay allergies!
*2 napkins and a plastic spoon


Would anyone be interested in Care Packages for your college student for finals?! I can load a package full of goodies and ship it out to them! If you're interested, shoot me an e-mail! heselby@liberty.edu!  
 
Click here to see our Facebook Page: 
Follow Our Facebook Page for Regular Fundraiser Updates! 

***Can't give financially? We would also be happy to take donations of things we could auction off or sell in online garage sales and raffles. (i.e. nice clothing, unused items, gift cards, toys, movies, gift sets etc)***


Our Sponsorship Consultant Page

 ~ Helping Hands ~


 We have been generously sponsored by these private consultants! 

If you are in need of any products through these companies, please consider supporting these donors! (Just Follow the hyper-links!)






If you have any items or gift cards from your small business that you would like to donate for us to use in our fundraising efforts (or would like to host a party for us as a fundraiser), I'll be happy to share your consultant info on the blog and share it with others as a THANK-YOU for supporting us. 
I hope this will bring you some support in return!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Grants!!!




Filling out grants is like filling out forms to buy a house! But we are thrilled that we have completed and submitted FOUR grant applications! We are praying for favor and that perhaps our story will touch the hearts of the committees. Please pray with us that we would be strongly considered for financial gifts from these generous agencies. 

We continue to work on additional grants and continue to pray and trust that God will provide! We are so thankful, humbled, and blessed by the gifts and support we have received. Thank-you for all the prayers and donations. We are so very thankful! 

 "I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything. But still, I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do what I can do." - Helen Keller 

We are in pursuit of making a difference - even if just to ONE! Thank-you for sharing the journey with us and for helping us change a life!


Thursday, February 19, 2015

Pay it Forward

     Yesterday, a friend bumped our Adoption Family Sponsorship Page (FSP) to help us meet our matching grant and when I wrote and expressed my gratitude, she responded, "My friend did something nice for me at Christmas & I told her, when I could, I would pay it forward. It just so happens that my husband got a really nice bonus from work, so I am able to pay it forward & I chose you."

     The concept of "Pay It Forward" is that when you have been blessed by someone, you return the favor and bless someone else when you are able! We have been generously blessed throughout this adoption process and we are so thankful!!!! We still need to raise $21,000. Yes, its a lot of money....and yes, we need it quickly (Only 16 weeks until we hope to travel!) But, with our combined efforts, our fundraisers, and our promise to pay-it-forward and return the favor when this is all said and done, we believe it can happen!

    If you chose to "pay it forward" to us, you are investing in an opportunity to not only help our family in particular, but to rescue a special needs child from an orphanage. And not just our "Xavier" - this is an opportunity to create a program to help all the children in Macedonia with special needs to be adopted into a loving family! 

    Please consider "paying it forward" - even if just in a small way. Your gift will be blessed, we will be grateful, orphans will be rescued, and we promise to return the favor and pay it forward when we are able. 

 Click here to view our Our Adoption Sponsorship Page 
*All gifts donated through this link are tax deductible*

"Remember, there is no such thing as a small act of kindness. 
Every act creates a ripple with no logical end". – Scott Adams