13 Year Old Boys

I do not often have the opportunity to talk about how cool 13 year old boys are.... I think most people would agree with that statement.  Usually, they are too cool to talk to you, playing video games, texting or on their cell phones or just goofy and awkward.  Not tonight.

JT's previous boss and mentor, Peter Herrmann (who he coached college basketball with at Western KY University and UGA), was in town tonight with his wife to watch their grandson's traveling baseball team play.  We love the Herrmanns but have not seen them in 2-3 years so we were happy to hear they were town.  We headed over to the hotel where they were staying and the baseball parents were cooking out.  I did not bring swimming trunks for Tedi because I knew he would think he is a better swimmer than he is.... My intentional "forgetting" made Tedi mad and he was being ornery...demanding to leave and go home.  Well, the boys, all thirteen and fourteen years old, starting spilling out of the pool to eat burgers and chips... Tedi just stared.  He is enamored with older boys (he was the youngest of six in Ethiopia) and just watched these them.  As all the boys sat on the sidewalk 30 feet away next to the corn hole boards, I heard "Hey Tedi, come eat with us!" All the boys were motioning for him.  His eyes grew large and looked up at me.  I told him it was okay and to go on.  He ran over and they all greeted him with fist pumps and high fives.

These boys, baseball players that could have been way too cool for a four and a half year old, played wiffle ball with Tedi.  They played corn hole. They helped him fix his food.  One boy, Carter, spent the next hour and a half with Tedi.  It was heart warming for me....not only as his mother but as a person to know there really are good kids out there....kids being taught to love others regardless of their language, color, age, abilities....to love others because that is what you do. 

We had a great time and are blessed to still have the Herrmann family in our lives.  Below is a picture of Tedi with Coach Herrmann as well as T playing corn hole with the older boys, or trying to at least.



Adoption and Kung Fu Panda 2

I have written before about the life lessons from the original Kung Fu Panda and the second one did not disappoint.  Interestingly enough, the focus on the second edition was Po, the panda, trying to find out who he "really was".  If you don't know, Po is a large panda bear raised by a goose who makes noodles.  He finally realizes that he is not the "actual" birth son of his father, the goose.  His mission: find out who he really is.  He asks Dad how he (Po) came to live with him (dad).  Well, the dad explains as much of the story as he knows....and Po is not completely satisfied with the story and even has flashbacks of what happened when he left his parents.  He discovers at the end of the movie that his birth parents, his panda family, really loved him and that is why they spared his life.... he returns to his dad who ask him what he learned while away, and Po explained, "I learned that YOU are my dad.".....but the real lesson throughout the movie, that the writers precipitated throughout the search for Po's birth family and heritage was this:

"The beginning of your story may not be happy but the end does not have to be unhappy. The only thing that matters is who you choose to be now."

How much does this message speak to the heart of adoption?  I admit, for some children struggling with their identity as an adopted child, the movie may need to previewed first by their parents.  However, Tedi is not quite there yet.  As an adoptive parent the movie resonated with me..... I could identify with Dad, the goose.  At what point will Tedi look at us and realize we are not brown skinned with dark curls?  When will he want to seek more information on his birth family only to find we have little more to offer than love?  Will he realize that who he chooses to be is more important than the life he had before us or even more, while with us....that choosing to be happy is inside of him? How do we, as adoptive parents, empower our children to WANT to know and seek information on the birth family without being hurt while also inspiring them to grow into independent, God loving men and women? I pray for answers to these tough questions.  I pray for support from friends and family.  I pray God strengths us as parents for each phase we will go through with Tedi and our future adoptive children. 

I highly recommend the movie....despite some of the fighting and search for family, the message from these movies are always superb, but heed the warning of previewing if you have any concerns. 

Living Local....

.....or at least eating that way.  My love for local restaurants is not a secret.  Lately, I have been trying to visit local places... They are always so much more interesting, fun and you are giving back... I would rather give to a family biz than Wendy's or such  (not that I don't ever eat Wendy's but you get my point..) So below are a few of the restaurants we have enjoyed recently!!  Check them out if you are in Louisville...if not, then visit

Safier Mediterranean Deli
My med student Ashley suggested we get takeout from Safier over the weekend.  (we get take out on call....coping mechanism though normally unhealthy...not this time)   I had the chicken shawarma with a salad, a pita and garlic Greek yogurt for $6.99.  It was so great.  JT and I love Mediterranean food and this was a great find.  I did not actually visit the restaurant because I was stuck in the hospital but the food was excellent.  I highly recommend it...and my students said the staff was welcoming very great!  And the carryout wait time was only 30 minutes for eight orders...not bad!

Toast on Market
A Louisville favorite!  I first ate here with my best friend Sarah last year after finding out I matched at the University of Louisville for residency.  Since then, I have fallen in love.  On the weekends, it can be a two hours wait.  They have even opened a second location in New Albany, Indiana.... I had the lemon souffle pancakes with hash brown casserole today...um, fabulous....                                                                           

The New Albanian Brewing Company
JT and I went on a date this past Friday to a new place....Again, they have two locations, both in NewAlbany, Indiana, just over the river from Louisville. One location is a pizza joint with a brewery while the one we went to was more of a "real" food type of place. Both the small plates and large plates menu looked great.... we had the fries served with seven dipping sauces.... YES you read correctly...SEVEN.... along with the goat cheese salad and wings, we were set.  I can not wait to go back and try one of the large plates....for instance, the night we were there, seared chicken with curry risotto... I mean, sounds amazing, huh?  Definitely check this out... plus they have a great beer selection!

Adoption Celebration Question

I have been doing some reading lately and wanted to get opinions of others in my adoption world.  Coming up in less than 2 months will be the day we became the Henderson Family as it is now.....some call it gotcha day, some adoption day.  I know the day changes as children get older, more children are added to the family, or you have biological children.  It is an important day in our world as parents but I do not want to highlight Tedi's loss of his birth family.  I want to be a good mom, do the right things for my son. 

Not sure what we will decide upon but I wanted to see what everyone else's thoughts on this are... 

Jacqueline and Chris's Wedding

On May 7, 2011, my dear childhood friend, Jacqueline, married Chris.  I was honored to be part of the wedding and see her marry such a wonderful man.  I must say...it was one of the best weddings I have attended, and by far the most fun.  I was quite nervous and even a bit bummed because I was coming to the rehearsal following a thirty hour hospital call.  Thankfully, the amount of fun we had kept me going on very little sleep....you will see a picture below.  It was a nice weekend for JT and I to spend as couple...dancing, having fun, and loving on some dear friends.  It is one of those times that you want to pause and keep enjoying.  Enjoy the pictures below!  Congrats, Jac and Chris.  I love you more than you know!

The Rehearsal

the wedding site, Glenview Farm, owned by Jac's family

 practicing....

 my handsome husband, always with phone in hand

Eaven, me, Jac, Karen, Laura

Pre-Wedding Activities

 yes, this is me hiding under the covers

 Jac and Eavan, her step sister, getting their done

 Jacqueline with Andrea (who I went to high school with)

 Laura perfecting her makeup

 the entry table

 Jac's first saddle

 Jac and Laura

 Me and the beautiful bride

with Nate and Will, Chris's son

Post-Wedding Activities

 JT and I

 Laura and Rachel

 Father and Daughter

.....then my camera died.... sad times.  Stay tuned for more blogs to come very soon

May 10, 2010

This day last year I was seeing patients at the neurosurgery clinic, wearing my classic scrubs and random cardigan.  I spent the day before, Mother's Day, crying mostly...wondering when I would find out if Tedi would pass court, if I would be a mother, and a host of other issues that develop in the "waiting" part of adoption.  I got a call on my cell around mid day on Monday, May 10, 2010.  It was a Louisville, KY number.... JT was already living there and working....  When I picked up, our agency director asked if I was sitting, then explained that we, TEDI, had passed court in Ethiopia.  As I have explained, I am not a "crier"....I sat in shock for a few minutes and then asked if I could call JT myself.... He was beside himself with excitement.  We then separately spent time on the phone calling our friends and family and sharing our news.  We could not believe Tedi was "offiicially" ours. Mothers Day last year was one day late....  That night, with JT away, and my heart floating, my dad handed me red roses (and a glass of wine) and we celebrated.  What can change in a year! 

May 10, 2010

For those of you waiting, I know it is tough.  As a woman without a child, the waiting was painful.  I am sure it similar for a woman with a child/children already.... Nevertheless, the wait was painful.  I can re-read my blog and journal from that time and hear the ache in my voice.  I would like to say I forget all of the aching and pains of waiting...  I do not remember them all, but trust me, the laughter and joy and fun and trials definitely overshadow the agony of the wait.  I did not believe them last year when people told my bitter, anxious heart this...  This year, though, as Tedi incessantly misbehaved and we fought to get a few pics, I realize the blessing of Tedi's life.  I can attempt to comprehend the sacrifice his Ethiopian mommy made to make ME a mom....

This year....I celebated being a mother.  We dedicated our son in a "baby dedication" (yes he was a giant compared to the babies) and we celebrated Tedi making me a mom.... and today we celebrate him LEGALLY becoming ours.

 May 8, 2011

Mother's Day

May 10, 2011

Playing golf in a Run DMC t-shirt

Happy 10 Months Home!

Top 10 Tedi-isms

(in honor of 10 months home):

1)  when he says "You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'"

2) he will do it in "a lil WHILLLE" (lil while said like southern black lady from the bayou)

3) "what are you doing" said with an Indian accent

4) listening to him sing God Bless America while doing the hand motions

5) "I need a happy Neal" (ie, happy meal)

6) "That's my Jesus" (pointing to church)

7) "you be Buzz, I be Woody, you be Corkchot (porkchop the pig), you be Jessie" to whomever is here

8) "I need you in my bed" meaning I want you to lay down and cuddle with me

9) "I no like it" while shaking a finger...at cheese, ice cream or whatever he does not like.

10) "Mommy broke it.  Daddy and Tedi fix it".....this started in September but continues with ANYTHING that does not work in our house.... I am a bit annoyed but everyone else enjoys it.

and a great quote:

Me to my friends, "Watch me cross this street.  I lived in New York City."

Tedi, unprompted, "I lived in Ethiopia."

 Hanging out with his best buddy, his Daddy

Tedi doing the "Doron Lamb"

(since we are always told they look alike)



Bits of the World

"gathering up bits of the world & setting them out in an order that her children can understand"

~storypeople~

If you have read any of my blogs or know anything about me, you know I love storypeople.com quotes.  They make me laugh, cry and laugh until I cry.  But most of them really make me think....about life, how I want it to be, the people in my life and the relationships I have with them.

I really got to thinking about stuff today as I shopped for Mother's Day cards....How do we live our lives, as mothers...as people, so that our children or the children with whom we spend time, become better people.  The quote above really struck me after reading it tonight....reminding me of thoughts I had wandering the aisles of Target....how do we take the parts of our lives, the world and Christ love and make then applicable to a child.  I read in one of the parenting books (yes, I need help so I read), that regardless if you are a parent or not, every encounter you have with a child can leave an impression on their life, whether good or bad....only we are in control of that impression.

~I try to have fun.  Admittedly, before Tedi was here, I was bit more uptight, reserved, and boring....now, I play more.  I realize I can laugh easily at myself, with others, and at others that I love.  We are constantly laughing in our house...if you have been, you know this.  I hope that by teaching Tedi that laughter is truly the best medicine, he will grow up a bit happier and a little less serious.

"There are lives I can imagine without children but none of them have the same laughter & noise."

~Love.....showing love to the child, by discipline, in hugs, in kisses, in actions.... but more than that, our children must see us love those that may not always love us.  Love those that don't love us...that society tells us are not lovable...that is where the lessons really are.   Also, I can tell you that there is nothing that warms my heart more than watching others love my child....hearing my son tell my friends he loves them, watching him run into the arms of his grandparents...what does that mean... More than demonstrating your love for others to children, ( both your children and other children)...I find it important to surround your children with others who love them and will make a positive impact in their lives. 
"Everything changed the day they figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in their lives."

~Work.....some people will say that women should not work.  Let's not have that argument here... But whether you are a working couple, working dad, working mom, single working mom..... Some days I am at work caring for other people's children wondering if I am doing the right thing being at work giving my life to other children rather than my own.....  Then I realize what I learned from watching my mom and dad wake up early and trek off to work..... I learned how to work, the importance of work and what it means to do your work well...too much of this is missing in so many of the children I see on a daily basis.....all I can do is live it, for Tedi and for the kids I see in my work daily....
"Standing by the window watching his father go off to run the world."

These are just a few things...but ones I wanted to jot down and share.

Read and Be Blessed

Please take a moment to read this article. Hug your child, spouse, friends.... Thank God for the small details, like actually being able to be busy with work, little league and cleaning rather than deciding between chemotherapy or none.... life and the quality of such life. I know I am more thankful. What a beautiful family this is. Trust me. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110427/SPORTS02/304270162/1002/sports/Blood-Brothers-Young-leukemia-patient-practically-member-Louisville-team?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

This is Home

Natalie is working the night shift and I have been listening to this song all day.  My prayer for Tedi is that he will be able to believe lyrics like these (I highlighted the lines I really like):

This Is Home

by Switchfoot

I've got my memories/ Always inside of me/ But I can't go back/ Back to how it was

I believe you now/ I've come too far/ No I can't go back/ Back to how it was

Created for a place/ I've never known

Chorus:

This is home/ Now I'm finally where I belong/ Where I belong

Yeah, this is home/ I've been searching for a place of my own/ Now I've found it

Maybe this is home/ Yeah, this is home

Belief over misery/ I've seen the enemy/ And I won't go back/ Back to how it was

And I got my heart set on/ What happens next/ I got my eyes wide/ It's not over yet

We are miracles/ And we're not alone

And now after all my searching/ After all my questions/ I'm gonna call it home

I got a brand new mindset/ I can finally see the sunset/ I'm gonna call it home

Now I know/ Yeah, this is home/ I've come too far/ And I won't go back

Yeah, this is home

Don't you feel like that song was written for this beautiful boy?

I could not be happier that God chose for Tedi to be HOME with Natalie and I!!!!

Here is the video if you are interested. 



Easter Story: Henderson Style

There is nothing hotter than listening to your husband teach your son the Easter story.  (Let me tell you single ladies out there....this is more important than looks, age, education, experience, money, image, cars, houses, jobs, clothes, height, weight, past mistakes.... a Godly, family leading, respectful man....Now that is who you want to wake up to every day.... Think about it.  Sorry to digress.)  I mean there are a lot of reasons I love this man, but none more than the moments I steal listening to him and Tedi say prayers, tell secrets, learn Bible stories, and chat.  Below is the Tedi Easter Story (if you know Tedi, imagine his accent)....thank you to a beautiful God for a caring husband, who both look after my little man's heart....

"Jesus died on cross.  He was very very sad.  He carry cross.  Dropped it.  Was naked. And he had glue (we don't know what this means)  Had boo boo and cut with knife in hands and in feet.  He was very sad and he cried.  Then he happy and went to heaven.  With Mamaw."
I am not sure the Gospel could say it better.

                                                              * * * * * * * * * * *

After hearing Tedi's Easter story, you may not read this but I feel compelled to write it.  I was sitting in church tonight listening to the sermon.  The message was spot on.... In my journal I wrote "God is not opposed to effort but rather opposed to earning.  We do not have to 'earn' it because, simply, Christ died so we wouldn't have to.  Thus our daily action of "earning" it should change.  Rather, we are selfish, getting good at keeping score with our good acts and bad acts."  It was the "selfish" word that got me. I can tell myself  "Natalie, you are not selfish."  but I am.  We all are.  With this, I admit, my mind bounced around a little, but then it halted.  My selfishness in another form.....please keep reading....

While JT and I were engaged, we decided to go to Opry Mills IMAX to see Passion of the Christ...(not a great date movie, especially in IMAX).  At 20 years old (yes, I was a child bride :-) I still remember the deep ache I felt and tears that snuck from my eyes as I watched Jesus' mother Mary run through the streets peaking at her son dragging His cross.....weeping at His feet....wiping His blood......listening to people mock and bully Him.... I remember her pain.  At twenty years old without the inkling of what having a child may be like, I was broken for her.  Today, in the eighth pew back sitting between two of my most coveted blessings, the image of Mary's grief collided with my selfishness.  Could I give up any of my beloved?  Even more, could I give up Tedi to save merely one person, much less generation upon generation?  God gave His only Son for us (something unfathomable), but I wonder if Mary ever felt like Jesus, her son, was taken from her....that no mommy should watch her son die....probably not.  God chose a lady much better, much stronger than selfish little me to mother the Savior of the universe. 

Then it hit me....though different in magnitude, but quite similar in pain.....He chose me to mother someone else's most valuable gift....how did Tedi's Ethiopia mommy feel as she watched him walk through the gate to the orphanage or up the steps onto the bus (we do not know how it went down).  Did she wail and make dirt turn to clay with her tears?  Did she turn helplessly and walk away?  She, my friends, was not selfish.  Regardless of motive or circumstance, she gave her most precious gift.  I am entrusted with his life, his well-being, his becoming a Godly man..... And thus, I must choose now to NOT be selfish, to embrace the gift of the Cross and stop trying to earn Christ's love and salvation..... I, along with JT, must do this because a lady far far away saved her son, giving us the gift of Tedi, and our Savior gave His life to save us.

                                               

                                                              * * * * * * * * * * *

Check out our Easter Challenge pictures.  Even at our casual church, many people were dressed "up" for church.  I felt proud in my shirt!  If your family or church or friends did the challenge, I would love to see pics!  Love toooo and I will post them! 

 The Hendersons

Natalie and Elizabeth Lauer, rocking our challenge like champs!

with his "Easter Gift", a Panda Pillow Pet "kung fu pana"

 The Fox Family

My beautiful, Godly, inspiring friend who started this Easter Challenge with her Forget the Frock blog post.... I can't even begin to thank God enough for this blessing, this friend, He has given me.

Check out this girl in Emily's Sunday School class.  What an example and what parents!!!! 

The O'Leary Family

the ones responsible for inspiring the challenge and truly living it!

You must check out their website!

An entire church I do not know that rocked "Feeding the Orphan" shirts this Easter!!!

Adoption = Easter

This blog was written by JT.


***Full Disclosure: I “borrowed” some of the points in this blog from Ben Hardman, our pastor at the Avenue Church. Ben and his wife, Sarah, adopted a little girl from Ethiopia about the same time as us. If you would like to hear his version of this story, go here.  

If you have missed out on our Easter Challenge, catch up by reading here and here. I find it incredibly appropriate and poetic to blog and speak about adoption during the Easter season because there are so many similarities.

God is the biggest advocate for orphans (read Isaiah 1:17 and James 1:27 if you need any reminding), so it’s fitting that we are going to celebrate adoption and the manifestation of the Gospel on the same day, Easter Sunday. I am going to use Tedi and myself as examples below to tie the two together.

A little over a year ago, Tedi had little identity. He was given up as a three year-old. He was a victim of the harsh realities of being born in a developing country. Tedi’s identity is no longer that as an orphan; he is an heir, handpicked, redeemed. Tedi is now an integral part of our family’s story. My identity is that I am no longer lost. No longer am I an orphan. The God of the universe loved me enough that He sent His only son to death. He sent His son to the cross so I could call him Daddy. This fact did not weigh heavily on me until I became a Dad. I cannot imagine allowing Tedi to die to save people who ridicule, mock or upset me. The exciting thing is that God feels this way about everyone who has ever lived!

Today, there is absolutely nothing that Tedi can do to separate from my love. It doesn’t matter how badly he acts or how many times he asks me “Why?” (by the way, we are at about 250 today- UGH!!!). The same can be said of my relationship with Jesus. No matter how many times I screw up (and people that know me know that is a lot), Jesus only loves me more. What an amazing example of unconditional love He shows each of us. The first moment I met Tedi, I got down on one knee and let him walk slowly to me. I embraced him and whispered in his ear, “Mommy and Daddy came a long way (I meant that both literally and figuratively) just for you, Tedi. We love you so much.” I felt him trembling in my arms; he was scared. I quietly started singing the chorus to one of my favorite songs:

“And I’ll be by your side whenever you fall, in the dead of night whenever you call. Please don’t fight these hands that are holding you. My hands are holding you.”

I find myself singing this song to him often. My hope is that one day, Tedi will realize that this song is not only being sung by a father to his son, but by our God to him.

Tedi knew no English when I first met him in Ethiopia. Our first few days together were like the world’s longest game of charades! I think it is a good thing that he could not communicate to me because, if he could, I am sure he would have said things like this in the first few days:

-“Who is this crazy white dude and why does he think he is funny?
-“Does he really think I am getting on this plane?"
-“Why are all these people cheering for me at the airport in Louisville? I can get used to this.”


One of the coolest things in adopting a child is watching him/her gradually (some slower than others) trusting their new family. Unlike if he had been born to us, Tedi had experienced life without us and was living as independently as a three year-old could. He did not and does not have to trust us. After nine months home, I still get chills when Tedi chooses to call me “Daddy.” When he first got home, he would wake up in the middle of the night and we would find him standing in the dark living room moaning pitifully. Gradually, he would come closer to our room if he woke up. After a month or so, he would stand at the foot of our bed and moan. I vividly remember the first time, instead of moaning, he yelled for his Daddy!!! Much like the process Tedi went through; I have gone through stages of trust with my Heavenly Father. I think God gets the same joy when I call him Daddy.


One thing that scared us before we met Tedi was the reports we received from other families who had visited with Tedi in his orphanage. Every one of them told us the same thing: Tedi was very shy, didn’t open up and was kind of a loner. Several described him as sad. Natalie and I were scared that perhaps he was severely traumatized by his experience and would suffer extreme attachment issues. Here are some pictures of Tedi before we met him.

Those of you that have met Tedi know that he could never be described as shy, closed off emotionally, or sad! When Tedi became a part of a family and had a Mommy and Daddy that loved him, everything changed for him. He went from being all alone to being accepted and loved. The same can be said of our relationship with Christ.

I hope you all have a great Easter and will proudly tell the world that you have been ADOPTED by your Heavenly Father.


I am going to leave you with a video that I found on YouTube that I think is excellent. It is one of my favorite songs. Also, don’t the bridges in the video look like the Kennedy and Big Four bridges in Louisville?  Someone tell me I am not crazy.

Talking with Tedi

Tedi: mommy, you broke the lights.  Kitchen light and Bedroom light!
Me: no, I did not.
Tedi (emphatically): you tell me the trufth. You broke lights and that is not nice to boys!
Tedi: that was a very very bad girl!
Me: I am telling the truth. I didn't break it.
Tedi: you did and I am telling the trufth. We have to get new light you broke.

Tedi: I tell you my secrets (whispered). Jesus loves you and tedi loves you too....
(This comes from his bedtime routine.  JT tucks him in nightly, mostly because I am gone at work, and tells him two secrets....that Jesus and Daddy loves him..  I love seeing how he gets it now.)

In the movie theatre watching Rio, there are human characters scantily dressed...specfically one girl in a bikini-like costume.  Out loud in the theatre, pointing, Tedi says:
"Mommy, she is NAKED."

Fundraising: Sharing Others' Idea

I believe in the power of fundraising.  I know it works and it is one of the many ways God will step in and blow your adoption away.  I was very concerned about fundraising (ie..."asking people for money") in the beginning of our adoption...then we sold ornaments, then tshirts and then a cookout fundraiser....several thousand dollars and many blessings later, our son is home cuddled up with me on the couch.  The most true and yet the most difficult concept to accept in relation to adoption funding is that WE CAN NOT SET LIMITS ON GOD.  If we fully trust Him and are truly called to the journey of adoption, He will step along side you and provide (granted, in His timing, not ours).  Below, I am going to highlight some families who are fundraising currently while also interjecting some additional ideas. I hope this helps!  (Please feel free to email me with any questions or if you would like your fundraisers posted... nataliehenderson21@yahoo.com)

Working with other agencies/grant giving organizations:
Lifesong for Orphans: Not only do they do adoption grants and loans but they have another awesome program called Both Hands.  Our friends, The Uchereks, who we met last year at Adopted for Life, shared with us their experience with Both Hands...Here is what she said:  "We planned for a Both Hands project and got our friends, family, and small group involved - God provided $20,000 through that project!!!!! AND changed many hearts to see how we, the Church, are called to serve the orphan AND the widow. Because of that project, our small group ended up serving a couple other single moms in our church and several of the guys that are handy are realizing that God wants them to use their 'trade' to serve others... been really eye opening for some new believers in our church and small group!!" Another family, The Sweeneys, also did a Both Hands project...serving to both fund their adoption while serving widows here in Louisville. 
ShowHope: Similarly to Lifesong, they give grants for adoption.  However, they also partner with families to sell their gear in order to fundraise.
147 Million Orphans and Ordinary Hero both do similiar programs....helping families raise money by selling the respective companies' gear rather than designing your own.  Both organizations I love!

T-Shirts:
I am always a fan of a good adoption tshirt.  They are great fundraisers, not just for your friends and family, but many other adoptive families and adoption supporters like to rock these! Tips from someone who has bought and sold adoption tshirts:
Pricing and your shipping.  For our family of three, if we find a shirt we like but it cost $25 each plus $5 to ship, we are looking at $80.  That is a lot of money when we have multiple adoptive families and causes to support.  Consider your audience.  This may also help you pick your designer and supplier.

Design: Find a good person to help you design shirts....most of us think we know something about design, but if we are honest, we don't.  Try to find something both stylish and that makes a point.  Good colors, good material
Advertise: Put them on facebook, twitter, your blog, your friends' blogs..... You do not have to beg but just put it out there.  It amazing who will be willing to step up and support you!

The Borders' Family 

awesome shirts for their Congolese adoption 

Crafts:
I like arts but I am not good at crafts.  Ask my Bible Study friends....not that I don't try, but I really can't craft.  But the beauty is, some people can.... really well!!!  I have a friend making coasters, another doing keyfobs, another doing flip flops....There all kinds of options.  Ornaments were the closest to crafting that I got.  Try to think of practical ideas that do not require more effort and time than financial reward....adoption is busy and stressful and costly so you need to make the most of your family's time and money! Check out my friends' ideas below:

Sarah Elliot is now selling coasters, set of four for $15 a set.  This is just one of the coasters.

 The Jochims have several craft ideas, such as the onesie below:

Events/Cookouts/Yardsales/Get-to-Togethers:
Summer is coming and yardsales seem to have been one of the biggest money makers for our friends last year.  One family we know raised close to $9000 with three different yard sales.  I highly recommend this option.  Ask friends to donate items.  Choose different locations in different neighborhoods.  Advertise!  We had a cookout with a $5 charge to eat and had raffles and such.  Another family in our circle did a chili supper and silent auction....one of the auction items was being the first person to hold the child (outside of the family).  The Jochims, a family making multiple crafts, also did a photography fundraiser.  Their friend, a photographer, charged a reduced fee for mini sessions and gave all of the profits towards the adoption!  How awesome!  Another family did a date night at church.  They, along with a few friends, babysat children in the church so that the parents could go on Valentines Day dates.  They accepted donations and made $1000 in one night!  These are just a few ideas to think about!

Support Others:
The biggest way to gain the support of others, in the adoption world specifically, is to support them.  You may be thinking "I am trying to save $25,000 here.  I can't afford to help someone else."  Yes, you can.  Pay it forward and trust me you will be blessed....others will begin stepping up and supporting you.  It also connects you to others and provides a network of support during tough adoption times. 
I hope a little bit of this helps.  Again, if you want your fundraiser posted here, please drop me an email or comment.  I will do it for sure.



A Few Pictures

I am working on a few other posts but in the meantime, here are a few pictures from coloring Easter eggs and my intern retreat last week.  Let's not pretend I am domestic so don't judge the egg quality....we had so much fun with this.  The pictures do not show the volume and quantity of laughter that filled the night!

Our Intern Retreat

(aka....friends from work getting out of work in order to play)