I did a lot of praying about adoption. I researched different adoption agencies and read blogs from other families that are currently adopting internationally or already have. One thing was similar in so many of these blogs...adoption is a journey of faith. Indeed, it is. We are still in the beginning...so much to go through and experience yet...but I have already felt this journey of "faith". How could it be anything else?! If someone wants to step into the adoption world, money is a must. For some, money is no object in paying for all the necessary fees for adoption, but for most families wanting to bring another child into their lives through international adoption, money is an obstacle. Money is their first step in the journey of faith that God will provide the funds.
We have done well thus far...since November 2012, we have raised $2866.50. My goal was $10,0000 by the end of January....I have now lowered that goal to $5,000 by the end of February (if y'all want Katrina and I to run a half marathon). It is attainable...$2133.50 in 10 days..but again, that is my goal, not God's. He may have an entirely different plan for us...patience and prayer...
I titled this blog "blessings" because of those friends and family that have come along side us and been an encouragement. Fundraising can be difficult - whether it is for sports, school, etc. My family has also been HUGELY blessed by generous donors and good friends and family. It isn't just the financial piece that is important, it is prayer, and encouragement - whether by note or verbally - it means so much. Again, THANKS...just isn't enough....your kindness and love will forever be remembered!
Yesterday we had a snow day...8 inches of the beautiful fluffy stuff fell...I welcomed the day off. The day off meant spending time with 2 of my favorite people, my kids. We frolicked in the snow all day...walked to Subway for lunch, then came home and took the dogs for a walk, returned to the woods to capture some of God's beauty with our cameras, and then came home and played a game of snowball tag and made snow angels. The day was a blessing. Even this morning, the snow is beautiful to look at...as much as I dislike the cold, snow has a certain beauty about it.
Today is the end of the challenge...we were hoping to reach $10,000 by the end of January in order for Katrina and I to run a half marathon. We have a total of $2041.50...which, in itself, is amazing. I am humbled by every dollar donated...every person wanting to be a piece in bringing this little girl home. So, after discussion with Katrina, we have decided to EXTEND the challenge. The date has been extended to February 28...yep, we are giving y'all another month to try and make us run this half marathon!!! We are also announcing our next fundraiser....keep reading...
We have had some incredible people donate their time and efforts in making hats, gloves, and dishrags to help us raise money for our adoption. Well, we have decided to do a craft/rummage sale this spring. So, if you are so inclined to donate some craft items or rummage items, please let us know. I will be happy to pick it up or you can drop off at your convenience. We want to start collecting now so we can organize and price as we receive items.
Thanks again to all of you that have donated your time, crafts, and/or money...it is appreciated more than words can ever say. Your kindness and love will never be forgotten.
 Hmmmm….so I said I would try to write more often…time slips away and it isn’t getting done. I will try for twice a week, but I am not making any promises! I admit, I am busy…2 jobs, 2 kids, and, well, life! I am never sure what I am going to say in these posts…whether I should say exactly what’s on my mind, or if anyone will even be interested in what I write. Writing has become a bit therapeutic for me, so I will just write…boring or not!
If you would have asked me what I wanted to be when I was a kid, you would have gotten an answer of either a veternarian or neonatologist. I have always liked medical and have always enjoyed taking care of people. I guess you could say it is in my blood! I went to college right after high school…and got a business degree. It was okay…but I didn’t feel fulfilled. I returned to college later and got my nursing degree. I now work part time in a middle/high school as a nurse and part time in a hospital as a nurse. I take care of many different generations with these positions – each offering their own challenges. Life is good.
But what is my REAL passion?! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy nursing, but I LOVE being a MOM. Being a mom fulfills every part of my being. They were born just shy of 13 months apart…surprise, surprise! I love to hear the chattering of my kids, even when they bicker. I love them sharing their lives with me…telling me about their day, their frustrations, their dreams. I have enjoyed watching them grow from little kids to young adults. It is hard to believe they are already 13 and 14 years old. Where has the time gone?! I don’t have a favorite age…some ages are easier than others, but I have enjoyed them all. Russell and Katrina will make an incredible big brother and big sister to young Ali, and we will all be blessed by her presence in our home!
Good Sunday to you all! I have a lot to share in this post, so bear with me. I feel like I should be updating the blog more than once a week, as my followers have seemed to have increased (YAY!), having anywhere between 30-50 readers a day really excites me. Thanks to all you that are following,,,and, with that, I will try to write more often!
Today marks my Grandma Dorothy's 96th birthday. I have so many memories with her as my sister and I use to spend a couple weeks every summer with my grandma and grandpa. We had such a good time. I LOVED macaroni and cheese (in fact, I still do!) and Grandma would make it EVERY day...so much so that Grandpa got tired of it. We would go fishing, eat ice cream, make donuts, go swimming, visit with Grandma and Grandpa's friends, and just have a great time. I will forever treasure our times together! Happy Birthday Grandma!
A gal from my church is going to be traveling on a mission trip to Uganda, East Africa, in May. You can help her in several different ways. First and foremost, PRAY. Second, you can help financially costs such as transportation, mosquito nets, malaria medicine, water filtration supplies, cost to send extra suitcases, etc. The third way to help is to donate items they are need of: toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, school supplies. clothes, purses, water bottles, flashlights, old laptops, towels and bedding. This is an amazing opportunity...please contact me or leave a comment if you would be interested in helping and I will get you in touch with her!
This week's update for the jigsaw puzzle and hat fundraiser is $1800.00. It is simply amazing how much we have raised in just over 2 months...thanks to all of you! Each of you that has donated has been a piece in bringing a child home. Each dollar is a step closer...and my appreciation cannot be expressed enough. We are not able to give information in regards to our adoption, but would like to give a name to the girl we hope to give a home to. This is not her real name, and it won't be her name when she arrives home, but this name is special to me, and thought it would be appropriate for a special girl. We will call her Alison, and when she arrives home, you will all then be able to see her picture and know her real name. Until then, this puzzle and hat fundraiser is helping bring Alison home. Again, if we reach $10,000 by the end of January, Katrina and I will run a half marathon. We have just $8200 left to raise in 11 days...can you make it happen?! I think you can...and I know He will provide...so I will keep pounding the pavement (okay, maybe not in the below zero temps, but as soon the wind chill subsides, I will be out there)...actually, the elliptical...and having faith these funds will come in.
Blessings to each of you. May you have a wonderful week and be blessed each day!
 Happy 13th birthday Katrina!
13 years ago today, January 18, 2000, I was blessed with my "baby", my daughter, Katrina! I now have 2 teenagers in the house...and, really, all is well! Katrina...she was my "surprise" being born almost 13 months after her brother. My dear Katrina...
*is active in basketball, cross country, band (clarinet), and piano...
*loves critters...especially our pets...and frogs...and toads...
*is a collector of elephants...she has all sorts of elephants...stuffed elephants, decorative elephants, pictures of elephants....
*loves spending time with her family...
*has a huge heart
*is a HUGE Detroit Tiger fan...she knows more about the history of the team than most!
*has swam with dolphins (incredible experience...if you have the chance, you must try it!)
*is respectful, sweet, and smart...
Happy birthday Katrina...I am so proud to have you as my daughter!
Well, I must admit, I am finding it hard to do blog updates more than once a week...even though I do enjoy it. Life is too busy. This was a rough week...no particular reason, but it just was. There is a lot going on in life right now...and sometimes I have a rough time wrapping my brain around it all. I have thought and prayed about adoption for some time, and well, now that we are in the midst of it, I don't think I really ever imagined how much there is to it. I have had to do a lot of praying and turning things over to God this week. My heart has been heavy with the stress of funding the adoption. Well, God certainly works in mysterious ways. A dear sweet lady makes these darling hats and gloves...and she has donated them to me to sell to raise money for the adoption. I am so very humbled by every dollar that comes to us and when people do such kind gestures, it makes tears come to my eyes. Really...it does. So, every dollar that comes in for the hats and gloves as well as the jigsaw puzzle, will be put towards the total for the half marathon. The total for this week is $1760!! We have 3 more weeks to reach our goal of $10,000.....
I have been trying to use my creative juices to raise money for this adoption...and, well, I am just not crafty. I decided that today would be my last hair cut until she comes home. In December I kept track of how much I spent on soda...those funds will now be going into our adoption fund (and I will also be healthier by not drinking it daily!). We will be having a rummage sale this spring (if you have items you want to donate, let me know!). I have also been making our own laundry soap for quite some time. If you have any great suggestions, please let me know...I would love to hear them!
I will be posting pictures of the hats and gloves on facebook...will try to get them here too...
I have great faith that the challenge will be met...so much that I have started my half marathon training. It isn't easy training in the bitter cold...last night I ran in the dark in about 17 degree temps. BRRRRR. I would typically train inside, on a treadmill, but I decided that if our friends and family will help us reach this goal, I am going to be tough and train outside...pounding the pavement...having a faith so strong that will not only get me through this training, but also faith that our goal will be met.
Update for week 1 of the challenge....another $600 donated, bringing the total to $1680!!! THANK YOU to all those that have claimed a puzzle piece...only 832 pieces left, or $8320 to raise before Feb 1...if all the funds are raised, then Katrina and I run a half marathon!!! Be a "piece" of bringing home a little girl!
Happy New Year!
It is hard to believe it is 2013 already. Instead of making resolutions, I have decided to make a bucket list for 2013. Here it goes...
1. Read the Bible, cover to cover.
2. Knit a hat.
3. Run a half marathon (all of YOU can make this happen!)
4. Adopt a child.
5. Travel to Africa.
6. Have a garden.
7. Have a food fight.
8. Lose 40 pounds.
9. Go to my family reunions...Door County, WI, and Black Hills, SD.
10. Raise all the necessary funds to adopt.
11. Hike Pictured Rocks.
12. Finish my painting projects.
Attainable?! Absolutely!
Hello! I have been extremely blessed by the incredible support of prayer and donations thus far. The jigsaw puzzle pieces are having more and more names, words, and Bible verses written on each piece...and it looks pretty incredible! Once all the pieces have been "claimed", I will post a picture!
I can't wait until each piece has something written on it, hence, one of the reasons for the challenge we will begin today! So far, approximately $1230 has been donated. This, in itself, is incredible. I appreciate the love and support people are showing not only us, but the little girl we are seeking to bring home. YOU are a PIECE in bringing her home. AMAZING! I want to challenge you, your family, your church, your friends...to make HUGE happen by February 1. Thus far, we have raised a total of 12% of our goal of $10,000 for the Jigsaw Puzzle Fundraiser...well, we want to challenge and encourage you to make that 100%! Here is a breakdown of how little it can be...
To meet our goal, if just...
50 people gave $175...
100 people gave $88...
200 people gave $44...
300 people gave $30...
350 people gave $25...
If each friend on my facebook account donated just $22, our goal would be met!
If we reach our goal of 100%, or $10,000, by February 1, my daughter, Katrina, and I will run the Green Bay Cellcom Half-Marathon! Yep, you heard it right...a half marathon...or, 13.1 miles! For those of you that know me well, know that I have participated in 2 marathons...but that has been 12+ years ago and many pounds ago! Do I think I can run 13.1 miles? Absolutely (well, okay...maybe...lol)! Do I think the training will be grueling and difficult? Absolutely! Do I have faith this goal will be met? Absolutely! I have faith that HUGE will happen...by our incredible friends and family...and by the will of God.
If you would rather give anonomously, you can do so!
Nicolet Bank, 2009 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143 "Beaudin Africa Adoption Account"
"God will generously provide all you need." 2 Corinthians 9:8
Merry Christmas! God bless each of you! It was snowing ever so lightly today...just beautiful. It reminded me of how very blessed I am.
I was thinking about my Christmases as a child...so many wonderful memories...going to grandma's, making peanut butter cups and other goodies,Oyster stew, the anticipation of opening gifts, and the best of all, candlelight church service. Something magical about church on Christmas Eve...so very beautiful.
I hope this is a beautiful holiday for you. Remember the real reason for the season. Spread the joy. Share the love. Merry Christmas!
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