ETSY SHOP PREVIEW!

I have been a busy little bee getting ready for our Etsy shop launch NEXT WEEKEND! So much great stuff will be in there, lots of "reusable "green products(family cloth, unpapertowels, cloth wipes, reusable tissues, snack/ sandwich bags...), some baby/kids items(booties, personalized hooded towel/washcloth sets, birthday shirts, capes...) but what I am MOST excited about are our sweet Africa shirts. I tried our prototypes on the kiddos today and ahhh... I think my kids are going to be wearing Africa shirts until we bring our new one home, and maybe then all of them will! There will also be grown up sizes(and you can be sure I will be sporting one often!) So get excited for our shop, and if you have anything for us to add to our launch, let me know and I will come pick it up for you(or paypal you money for shipping!).

Our little rag-a-muffin daughter

Africa onsie, 24 months with pink stiching around; will be in the shop :)

The wee model, a little "fat boy in a little shirt". Going in the shop!

Favorite Product Friday...or Sunday :) {Vitalizer}

It's no secret I can't stomach pills. I can't, they make me sick sick sick! But I NEED to take supplements. My body has been revolting on me(more details on that once we FINALLY figure out what is going on), and before it becomes any worse I am trying my hand at "real food", no gluten, casein, and refined sugar, and copious amounts of supplements.

The Shaklee Vitalizer is great, it has everything an average person needs in a convenient little strip. (I say average because it does not have therapeutic levels of anything, so in situations like mine I take extra of certain things). Oh and have I mentioned that it doesn't make me sick?

This oh so much more than a multivitamin, and when compared to the individual price of every supplement included the price isn't even that crazy! Interested in the science behind it or the complete list of vitamins and minerals included? Check out the Vitalizer in our shop. As always, proceeds go towards Malot's Hope {adoption fund}, and if you aren't satisfied completely you get your money back, even if you have used almost the entire box!

God is good

This is kind of a "fake it until you make it" statement for me. Don't get me wrong I fundamentally KNOW that this is true, and theologically I believe this as well. But when it comes to the nitty gritty of life I don't. I have a lot of questions that many people have. How can a good God allow x, y, or z to happen. And when that x, y, or z, rocks you to the core it is a lesson in trust!

BUT with that said, my prayer for the past while (long while) would be for me to trust God again, for me to believe to the very deepest part of my being that He is GOOD, yesterday, today, and forever. And He is answering. He is using the this adoption to show me He has not changed. He is renewing my hope, and showing me He is good.

What does that mean? It means are "plans" are changing. We are taking out the safety net of saving first. The saftey net of watching our pup for a bit longer "just in case something happens". We still don't know an exact timeline, but we do know soon. I know this may seem reckless to some, irresponsible, naive, we get it. We also get that when our God calls us to something we can do no less than listen.

So that is why the new little button is up on the left. A direct response to following direction. We know that our God wants to knock our socks off, and wants to draw people closer to Him, as well as recognize the call that WE ALL HAVE to help the least of these.

With Love,
The Garrett's

A Dream Renewed

Once upon a time we had dreams. Really big dreams. God sized dreams.

And then we had our sweet boy. (if you don't know Pup's story you can read it here)

Dreams crushed. Our life was changed more than we could ever imagine.

We used to sit before we were married and shortly after and talk about opening a fully sustainable orphanage. Teaching kids to be self- sufficient with trades, and having a school. How awesome would that have been?

But that's the thing about God, he brings us to places to places we never would go on our own and will see us through to the other side. As I watch our little boy pushing a chair across the room I am grateful. Grateful for the patience I have acquired. Grateful for the ability to navigate hospitals, and therapies, and doctors in my sleep. Grateful to have my little girl who has taught me so much in the more minor "issues" in childhood. We have AMAZING doctors. I am familiar with therapies and techniques that most people don't even know exist. It is my daily life, it is our normal.

We know that adopted kids often need a little "extra help", at least a first. But I am confident God has prepared us for this point. He has let us experience their culture, see first hand the heartbreaking way orphans often live. Has taught us through our own two kids how to exist through these issues.

This is where we are supposed to be. God has put us in this very place, for a time just like now. Our own little "orphanage", except I think we will just call it HOME.

With Love,
The Garrett's

Thirty WHAT?

So I emailed the adoption agency today (Adoption Ministry of YWAM Ethiopia), and while it was a positive and encouraging response, one small thing was brought to my attention. Although this is kind of a big thing.

I missed a line when adding the total cost.

Not a big deal right? Except the fact I missed the 8000 dollar airfare cost line.

That brings our grand total to 33,000 dollars (and some change, give or take a couple thousand in areas where costs are not fixed such as travel.) That number seem so much bigger than 25,000!

So yea, setback number one of the 33,000 or so we will run into in the next 3 or so years.

(and I realize this is a crazy lofty goal, but I believe it will happen!)

Christmas is coming...

The goose is getting fat. Please help us launch our Etsy Shop!



Okay, lame, but in all seriousness, we want to launch an Etsy shop come the end of the month, and we need goodies for it. I'm trying to get my creative genes going, and I have a few items I will be working on once the kiddos head to bed. (a few stroller blankets, family cloth, cloth wipes, "un" paper towels", and reusable tissues...) We would LOVE your help in this. Anyone with a creative bone in their body (and even those without!) are welcome to donate goodies to our collaborative shop. We will be open to all ideas, doesn't have to be fabric or kid related. Want to make a few paintings for us or do some etching on glass? Sweet we would LOVE it!

We can help out with material cost if that is an issue, but prefer free to nearly free items. (have you seen the fabric selection at the local thrift store :)) After all this is a fundraiser and the lower the overhead the better! So contact me (facebook, comment, email...) if you are at all interested in helping out! Also if you have extra fabric lying around that you would like to donate, we would gladly take it off of your hands!

A few goodies... oh and product friday{Basic H2}!

This week has totally flown by. We have been consumed with house hunting, cleaning, and cooking more gluten, dairy, and sugar free food than any one mom should ever have to make(or ingest!) And come to realize today is Friday and that means another product feature!



Last night was our Kickoff and I had a great time learning about Shaklee with all of those who came! If you would like to host a Malot's Hope Fundraiser in your home, with the chance for rewards as well for you, CONTACT ME! We would love to help you partner with us! It is an easy low cost/no cost way to support us! We had some fun snacks which I stole from other blogs that were G/S/C free, so check out those links at the bottom if you are interested.

Ahhhh... Basic H2. THE most versatile product on the planet.

Alright I totally just made that statement up. But it is the most versatile product in my house that I know how to use. It can do everything. 2 drops to 16 ounces of water makes window cleaner. 1/4 tsp. in the same amount makes an all purpose cleaner that rivals anything on the market. It is safe to use on organic gardens as a fertilizer AND a bug killer. (and yes you can still keep your "organic" status. It will keep ants at bay, deworm dogs, keep fly's off of horses, and bugs out of chicken coops. It is just that cool :) So check it out, we will never be without it over here!





The promised Links!



Gluten/ Casein Free Pumpkin bread



I made these as muffins (same temp, around 20-25 minutes), omitted the sugar, swapped the honey for 1/2 brown rice syrup, and swapped all of the GF flours for a GF all purpose flour (Bob's). Oh and a put 2 droppers full of liquid stevia(sweet leaf) in for good measure. So maybe I should have just wrote new directions :)



Grain Free/Sugar Free Marble Cake



Again Muffins, and only made the "chocolate cake" portion, omitting the vanilla marble half. I also used brown rice syrup again for the honey, but the same amount. Whole foods doesn't carry the vanilla cream stevia, so I just use plain liquid and add a tsp. extra of vanilla. This made 20ish cupcakes, so if you do marble be prepared for LOTS of goodies! They are oh so much better the second day! They were topped with a simple allergen free chocolate (enjoy life, what else?) melted with some coconut milk, and chilled to make a "frosting". Man, I wish we weren't out. MMMMMMMMM