Our Ethiopian Adoption Blog

Trying not to be a helicoptor mom on the first day of kindergarten

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:21:00 +0000

I know that it's probably a little too soon to be calling myself a helicopter mom. I think that's a term that's normally reserved for moms who hover over their kids when their kids are in college and don't constantly need their parents anymore. Well, I'm trying to be there for my daughter but also respect her space as an upcoming kindergartener. I don't want to be that embarrassing mom at the drop off that is crying and just won't let go of that hug. I just wouldn't ever have the chance of being a cool mom then!

Well, I looked online for some tips on how to best handle that first day of kindergarten goodbye. While I was online looking up that stuff, I ran across the site http://ClearWirelessinternet4g.com. After I looked through it a little bit I decided to change over our home internet provider to one of the packages that I saw on that site.

I did find some pretty good tips. Like I might just cry the night before instead. Just let it all out so that my daughter won't see me bawling and then get either concerned for me or worried about school.

Guest post written by Kim Lockart

Raising Money For Your Adoption Online part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 20:39:00 +0000

In a previous post, I talked about using your blog to educate others about yourself and your efforts to complete your family via adoption. What I didn't talk about fully was how to complete the task...

My mentor recently asked me to stop giving away so much valuable information. I think his exact words were "the rules of the marketing game should be sold and not told" I know that he means well, but like I said God has a plan that will help me to raise the funds I need for my adoption. I trust Him and I can't wait to see this journey of love unfold.

Raising Money for your Adoption

So here's a few adoption fund-raising ideas to get the ball rolling for your Adoption Fundraising website.

Setup a blog using Google's Blogger service.
Tell people about your blog; direct them to your blog's address
Engage with others that are interested in your favorite things
Plan and host a charity event in your community and pass out fliers about your blog and make sure your Blogger address in large/bold.
Host an online party and charge $$ (donation) to talk about your adoption experience.

These will get the ball rolling, if you need anything more leave a comment I'm full of ideas!!

Turkey Bacon Wrap Even My Husband Will Eat

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:46:00 +0000

Guest post written by Farrah Gregory

I'm pretty open to different kinds of foods. If I can help it, I never try to go to the same restaurant twice, or order the same thing off of a menu. I just like trying a variety of different foods. My husband is the complete opposite though. He is so obsessed with steak and hamburgers. He knows what kinds of foods he loves, which I respect, but sometimes I wish I could just fix something really new and different for dinner without having a back-up ready for him.

I like to eat some lighter things too than steaks like my husband likes, so I thought that I would make a New Year's resolution to find other foods that he would like. I went online to try and find some recipes to fit that tall order, when I came across the site www.Get.WildBlue.com. After I looked through the site a little bit, I decided to change over our home internet service to that provider.

Last weekend I thought that I would try out one of those lighter recipes on my husband and fixed both of us a turkey bacon wrap for Saturday lunch. He actually liked it, so that's one point for me!

Fundraiser Ideas For Adoption

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 18:35:00 +0000

How Do I Fundraise?

It is out of love that people choose to "fundraise" and ask for support for their adoptions because without that support they would not be able to give a child a home.

Undertaking the big financial hurdles of adoption, I have learned to trust God with my money more than ever before. He is so faithful to what He has called His children to do. He provides! That isn't just a saying, but it is a reality that I have faced! I've said it before and I have no problem saying it again!

God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called....

While preparing for my "journey of love project", God told me to share my talents to help others that may not understand how to correctly fundraise for an adoption online. So in an effort to do His work, I've decided to offer my brand/product marketing skills to anyone who needs help creating adoption fundraising websites.

Adoption Fundraising Websites are a great way to raise money for your adoption because with a little know how your adoption blogs can bring in money everyday. Since I consult for a living, I spend alot of time helping people focus their efforts to achieve the desired results.

Fundraising for Adoption

I am proposing a challenge to all my fellow families looking for fundraising ideas for adoption....

Learn to Earn $250 a month blogging about your adoption efforts
Engage with others in your community (adoption forums, adoption blogs, etc.)
Share your success with others through pictures, kind words, and mini-donations

Opening My Adoption Agency Mail

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:03:00 +0000

TGIF!! I can't believe how fast this week has gone by... I made my first appointment to attend an international adoption meeting with the Barker Foundation. The website has loads of information; plus they passed my preliminary adoption agency check, so they've got my attention. I got more agency mail today, this time it's from Dillon International!

Adoption Agency Mail- part 2

At first glance the folder really impressed me, the words "Until Every Child Has a Home..." proudly stands next to a cute baby's face..

Inside the folder: This one is definitely a keepsake to remind me of why God brought me here and what it is that I must do. The DVD folder insert features a very handsome little Ethiopian boy with the words "watch me first". I am so excited, I can't wait to pop it in the DVD player. Tonight after dinner when the gangs all here I think that's what I'll do, since we've already made this a family affair.

I'm not kidding! My parents, the cat, the kids, and my neighbors are all doing their part to make this dream of mine happen. What I mean is - the kids ask for less expense items, the cat eats less (I wish), and my neighbors are buying more cupcakes than ever before. I did a cupcake tasting last weekend and now everyone wants my Dirty Cupcake recipe. Well, I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it's not for sale!

I 've got to have something to raise money for my adoption, so this baby is staying tucked away in grandma's recipe book. That old thing has been around forever, I got it from my mom and she got it from hers. Long story short - it's old! Ok, so I veganized most of the recipes, but it's 2011 and nobody uses REAL butter anymore. Lol

Finding the Right International Adoption Agency

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:10:00 +0000

The hunt is on to find the BEST International Adoption Agency to bring home my beautiful bundle of Ethiopian joy!

It's truly amazing how time really flies when your having fun! I've been so busy putting together fundraising material that I haven't had the chance to look over the piles of mail sitting on my desk. The large envelopes clearly signify the multitude of adoption agencies offering to help me open my home and complete my first Ethiopian adoption.

Most single people would probably run away from the idea of adopting (locally or internationally), but my life has dealt me so many hands that folding is never an option. My parents always taught me that good deeds without action, cancels out the good deed, so I always make it a point to "talk the talk and walk the walk".. Lol

Opening the Adoption Agency Mail: part 1

The first envelope on the list is from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption the tagline reads Finding Forever Families for Children in Foster Care.

Inside: A Step-by-Step Guide to Adoption - request your own adoption guides!

At first glance the booklet is filled with lots of information about adoptions in general, then it gets specific to your local hometown. I will admit that the technicalities of the adoption process scares the crap out of me, but every time I hear the statistics of Ethiopia's orphans my heart continues to break. God has a place for us all! I understand that everyone is not called to adopt a child, but when you are called - waiting until your time is right is not apart of His plans, so you'd better move your buns and fast!

So that's all for now, I've got three more envelopes to tackle before I have to get my son to basketball practice.. A mother's work truly never ends!!

Adoption: Where Do I Start?

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:09:00 +0000

OMG!! With so many hoops to jump, I honestly can relate to most peoples apprehension when it comes to the adoption process. So as I embark on my "journey of love project", I'll do my best to fill you in on all the mail and websites that are helping me figure this international adoption process out.

Going to check the mailbox these days is like a surprise party in my mailbox and me and my child in waiting are the only invited special guests. I love all the attention from the agencies and child welfare organizations! Today's mail came from the Child Welfare Information Gateway. There are three informational booklets inside titled:

Adoption: Where Do I Start?
The Adoption Home Study Process
Adoption Options

I want to just take a moment and elaborate on my favorite one because its where I am spending the most time. It's the (hold your applause please) Adoption: Where Do I Start? I absolutely love this adoption process outline:

What's Inside....

Step 1: Educate yourself
Step 2: Understand the law
Step 3: Explore your options/Select an agency
Step 4: Complete a home study
Step 5: Engage in the placement process
Step 6: File necessary legal documents
Step 7: Parent your Child
Additional Resources

Please go to the site and request this booklet, because the information will be an asset to your journey! Continue to follow my International Adoption Story...

Let Courage Have Its Way

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 05:36:00 +0000

The Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

the courage to change the things that I can;

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

taking as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

that I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

forever in the next.

Amen.

Women of Positive Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 07:03:00 +0000

Today while going through the things I needs to do in order to get started with the Karis House fundraiser, I felt the need for some direction. I grabbed my faithful companion the Possibility Thinkers Bible: New King James Version the by Robert H. Schuller & Paul David Dunn, searching for the words to lead my path today. I arrived at page 266 where a picture of my beautiful daughter was being used a bookmark. It's my guess that these words had given me guidance one time before, because I had used a regular ink pen instead of a highlighter to draw stars around these words:

Which is the ending of the story titled "Women of Positive Faith", my favorite part (also underlined with that old black pen) goes:

Throughout the Old Testament women of positive faith speak out. Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Deborah, Leah, Rachel, Miriam, Rahab, Ruth, and Hannah are all excellent examples of God's work in the lives of women. They were not perfect saints who never lacked in belief, but they had a positive and a decisive faith. They faced the future unafraid and ventured into new territories. They stood up for their convictions and won a place in history by believing in God.

I thank the Lord for holding my hand today! Stay blessed and journey to your life lessons by believing in that God uses ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things......

Moroccan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner 33.8oz

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 07:23:00 +0000

I have very thick, coarse, extremely over processed hair was that was in need of a miracle. Honestly, I couldn't wait to use this product line because I heard so many great things about it from a trusted website.. I've bought so many hair products before and I never get the results that are promised, but this product really worked for my damaged hair.

Although it's a bit pricey, I splurged on the MoroccanOil Shampoo & Conditioner with a Free Oil Sample. I felt the difference in my hair almost immediately (about 2 weeks). For the first time since going natural, I'm actually getting comments on how healthy my hair looks. My hair stylist was even blown away by the difference. The shampoo & conditioner lasted for 6 month, I wash my hair once a week....a little goes a long way.

My review of the Moroccan Oil Hair Care Line: It's worth every penny and I would definitely recommend this line if you're transitioning from relaxed to natural hair.

Where can I get MoroccanOil Shampoo and Conditioner? I did a little leg work (finger work it you wanna get technical) and found a great deal that I think you will appreciate! Don't worry about thanking me, the pleasure was really all mine =)

Go get the Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo & Conditioner Liter DUO! (33.8oz Each) now!

Confirmation

noreply@blogger.com (Garlands Rose) — Sat, 28 May 2011 22:19:00 +0000

It's truly funny how God speaks to us... He grabs our attention in the most peculiar ways, be it a song on the radio that plays at the right time, or in my case Tyler Perry's Madea Big Happy Family (the play) that spoke volumes to me. I was looking for god to confirm the plans that he sent me and I truly believe it's him and not me that's the driver of this dream.......

I read a quote this quote that started my got my heart racing:

God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called.. Thanks and congrats to The Frasier Family!

So now my journey to Ethiopian children begins....

Most people go through life searching for purpose and meaning, I just was looking to bring happiness to everyone that crossed my path. Even in the face of adversity and I'm talking about some heavy stuff that I'll get into on another post, but god always gave me a reason to genuinely smile. I've seen people and I'm sure you maybe or know someone that keeps a smile to keep from crying, I'm hear to tell you that whatever your going through is never worth the heartache and pain it maybe causing you right now!

If your ever wondering how you'll get through, just do what I do look to the sky, ceiling, roof of your car and thank god for anything that you have or are able to do in your life right now!

James 1:26 "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is deed".