Birthdays!

It is our little guy's birthday, and he rang it in with TAKING HIS FIRST STEP! (Scratching your head why this is SUCH A BIG DEAL!?! Read the full story here.) Not that I saw it or anything (daddy did!) because I didn't, and it was only one step not holding on, but still! Wohoo! Praise Jesus for our little man!

As for me I will spend a chunk of his birthday with a Hematologist, pinpointing down exactly why what happened, happened. So prayers would be greatly appreciated, a lot is up in the air, and we just want some answers and what it means for all of us. (Not to mention I need a clean bill of health for adoption!)

So Happy Birthday to my small one, light of my life, and thorn in his sisters side. We love you oh so much!

When you live in our house any type of bread like substance by your first year is an accomplishment in an of itself! MMMMMM pumpkin muffins :)

Maybe We should pray to Jesus...

Our daughter is a crack up. She knows it, she tries to be funny. She is getting so old, but is still a little off to understanding "big" concepts. She is a typical toddler on the verge of preschooldom, self centered to the "T".

We have been slowly introducing the idea of adoption to her. Explaining how there are little kids without Mommy's and daddy's who need Mommy's and daddy's to let them come live with them and love them. (Life is so simple in kid world!) We have asked her if she wanted to pray for them, we have told her that one day, once we get our new (or "newt" in Lizzy speak) house, we will have a new brother or sister who doesn't look like her. (Side note the "doesn't look like her is key in explaining all of this to her, lets just say her close interactions with "non white people" have not gone the greatest!) We have started explaining differences in people, and how we all are the same and just want Mommy's and daddy's who love us. Sometimes she seems interested, others not so much. We try not to push it, there is still time.

But tonight after tucking her in, and singing her goodnight song, she asked me the most perfect, precious question.

"Mommy, could we pray to Jesus for a newt brother or sister who doesn't have a mommy? They could share my big girl bed, I would love them."

I left her room with tears in my eyes, my sweet sweet 2 year old girl doesn't care whether she has a bed of her own, or if she would have less. She just wants to love them.

Because we all need a Mommy :)

Christmas Frenzy

We obviously are not the only people on this journey, and there is a wonderful rescorce over at My Cup Overfloweth called Christmas Frenzy. Here you can find links to all kinds of goodies, with all of the proceeds going towards SOMEBODY'S Adoption. We are linked up over there, and I have personally drooled over every last link! So go check it out, and start thinking christmas!

Africa Shirts!

Welcome if you are coming from Christmas Frenzy! Please check out all of our fundraisers on the right hand side of the page, including coffee, Shaklee, and a Christmas Card Fundraiser! All proceeds will be going to our adoption fund. The below shirts are in our Etsy shop, as well as plenty of other goodies for the home and babe! Looking for something handmade in particular(a set of cloth blocks? a tool belt for your "little handyman"?) Convo me and we will set up a custom!

So our Africa shirt fundraiser is in full swing and can I tell you how sweet they are? I love them! We had our family photo shoot today, and were all sporting ours, in the black variety. They are so comfy, and look great! Look for adult additions to the shop in the next few days. Head on over to Malots Hope {Etsy Shop} to pick up one, or a whole set of shirts for your family. 100% of the purchase price(like everything else in our shop!) goes directly to our adoption fund! I know I am super humble right now, but they are definitely my favorite thing! Check out a sneak peak of our shoot, you must wait until Christmas to see the rest though!

With Love,

The Garrett's

We have an Etsy Shop!

Wohoo!

No it is not all of the way full, and no I don't have nifty little button made for the side yet, but in due time! The push was on to have it up by today, when we are featured on modernalternativemomma.com and we made it!

There are some awesome things listed, and lots more to come. We welcome your ideas AND donations, so keep 'em coming!

So go check out our store, maolotshope.etsy.com. And while you are surfing, check out our feature on Modern Alternative Momma!

Dolcetto Designs Christmas Card Fundraiser

***I have samples in my possession and all I can say is I am so impressed. I never questioned the quality of the more expensive items(let me tell you they are some of the nicest cards I have ever seen!) but I was more sceptical of the digital image. She printed the samples off of Kodak.com, the type of place that sells 4 x6 prints for .08 cents a pop. They are so, so very nice! You will not be disappointed if you go the digital image route!***


Does it seem like all I am doing is fundraising... well I am! We are so excited to get this process moving, and the very first part is the hardest! Right now we are working towards application and home study fees which are around 6000! Once we have an approved home study we become "legit" in the eyes of the adoption community, and we can apply for more standard funding such as no interest loans as well as grants.


Anyways, I am so very excited about our newest fundraiser. Dolcetto Designs is a Canadian company which I have been "following" on Facebook for quite awhile now. They have super cute products, and really affordable options. I actually was already planning on using them to create a digital image for our Christmas Card! (A digital image allows you to print off boutique quality cards at any place you would like, for a fraction of the cost!) They have over 80 customizable designs, and they use your own pictures (that of course you got taken by yours truly :)). Sheri(the owner) has been absolutely amazing in getting this set up, even though we are not a registered non-profit, and the proceeds we receive will NOT be a tax write off for her! Check out a few samples of her work-










So I have you sold right? Oh did I mention we get 15% of your purchase price? Every little bit helps! Remember, this is a Canadian site, meaning the cost is in CANADIAN DOLLARS. The exchange rate varies but it seems to hover around 90 cents to the American dollar.


So here is what you do :


Go to the website.
Find your favorite card.
Fill out the order form (be sure to put Malot's Hope in it, that is how she know you are with us!)
Pay, and wait for your beauty to arrive! It is that easy!

What about the Boy?

When we have told people we are starting the process to adopt our first question is often, "Are you crazy?". Since that is an easy answer(quite possibly :)), the next question I get is, "What about the boy?"

I get it, adoption will change everything. It will stress and pull our family in new ways. And it will take some of my energy away from our biological children, Pup included. (scratching your head about why the boy is more of a concern, catch up here)

I can promise you there is not an instance that you can think of that I haven't already thought of, prayed about, came to terms with, and moved on. I have stressed about it all. But here is what I have discovered. You may not like it.

All children are equal in the eyes of God. They are all equal. I don't think God prefers my American born children any more than He cares for the orphan, actually I think the reverse is true. So will my children get less attention from mom when a new addition comes into our home? You better believe it. And I don't think there is a more biblical way of parenting.

And just to pacify you naysayers out there, I have already talked to our pediatrician. You know the one who we see so much of she can tell my voice when I call. The one who knows more about both of my kiddos crazy medical history than anyone else on the planet? She thinks us adopting is a splendid idea.

So What about the boy? He wants another sibling!