I Will Not Leave You as Orphans, I Will Come to You

Orphan Sunday is November 4th, 2012 this year. Orphan Sunday is a day where Christians come together to support, encourage and promote adoption, foster care, and other ways of caring for orphans.

There is a full range of resources for Orphan Sunday here. Which includes bulletin inserts, ideas for orphan sunday, posters, flyers and a lot more. You can get badges for your blog as well. It is getting late as we have 2 weeks(one Sunday) before Orphan Sunday, but there is also speakers for your church,you can find for orphan Sunday(keep that in mind for next year). You can also contact christian agencies such as Bethany Christian Services (they are now working hard for foster care in many countries as well as adoption) and AWAA- America World Adoption Agency (which just started up doing domestic adoptions as well as international) for information on how your church can help/programs that they need the most financial support for. Also Show Hope is a christian organization that financially helps christian families adopt through grants and fundraising as well as caring for orphans needs.


Orphan Sunday 2012 from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

  Steven Curtis Chapman from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.


Financial support is so very,very needed, but it is not just about that. It is about helping those families who have adopted get the spiritual and emotional help and support as well. For the adoptive families it may be, sending them a card letting them know you are praying for them, being graceful and compassionate (without judgement) when their child is throwing a "fit" or not being responsive or polite-realizing that there is much more going on than what you may see and that discipline may look very different for these children and care for them may look different as well, the rules of caring for a adopted child are not as cut and dry as they may be for biological children who have from the beginning been given the love and attention they need- so try your best not to judge or offer opinions. It may be picking up their other children from school or activities, or taking them for a few hours. Different families need different things, and I think some things may be more harm than good- so just ASK what you can do, and be open that you truly want to help- your not just asking to be polite, but also give them space if they just came home with their child. I am sure there is so, so much more that could be added to this and having never adopted myself  I cannot say what is truly needed- but I do know that everyone needs prayer.

As you read and watch webinars/videos on adoption you may realize how many things can "go wrong" in adoption when you hear about disorders and fetal alcohol syndrome, aids etc.- which seems to be what I hear most if I am causally talking about adoption, people talking about everything that can go wrong as a reason why no one should adopt unless they want to put themselves in a bad situation. While, yes these kids can come from very terrible situations- not to downplay the very true fact that you might have a really really rough road, and no one can be fully prepared for what your child may need. I think it is important to remember that- if you are called to something by God- the fact that it is hard does not change the fact that you are called. It's not about who else is or is not adopting and what their reasoning is, its about your relationship with your creator and what He has for your life/your family.A little side note on the "horror adoption stories", you also hear numerous terrible stories when your pregnant about birth- but the fact is many many people have very healthy babies and perfectly fine labors. I would know the same to be true of those who have adopted- things can go wrong but over all that child is totally "worth it".

Russell

Lastly, Yes- everyone is NOT called to adopt, but please do not assume you are not just because it is not in your life plan. Pray about it, and pray about how you can help since as Christians we ARE called to care for orphans and widows(not just one or the other- both) and you can find some ways to help through the links above. So don't just talk about how you would "like to adopt someday", do something to care for the least of these Now, you don't have to have a ton of money, you can do a garage sale and give the money to Show hope or a family in need- or even choose to support a child from Compassion International- these children are often not orphans but they are some of the "least of these" and need basic need to be met and to learn about God.

In writing this post, I was starting to wonder- as more days have gone by since I had planned on writing it, and with all I have to do with projects and preparing for my baby coming( in about 3 months) and possibly moving soon- I wondered if maybe God did not want me to write it. Maybe I just don't have the time, it won't make any difference- who is going to read it etc. Then it hit me- it is not God who did not want it written, it is the enemy. I am in no way a amazing writer or a miracle worker, but I know someone who is and He helped me write this- when I wasn't sure where to start. (This is my disclaimer) Although this post may not be perfectly written, or maybe something is not politically correct etc. Please know that it is only with good intentions that it is written, to promote something that is very important to me and I feel the churches of America need some help with- and here is a great way to help.

Romans 8:14-16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God

DIY Wool Dryer Balls & Projects in the making

First off, there is a new burp cloth set in my Etsy shop Here.  I also had a custom order for a boyish crinkle square this past week :-) Here is a picture.

Recently I have a lot of projects in the works and a gigantic list planned. The Ones I am working on right now are a Wool soaker pants(aka longies) for my almost 19 month old, so that I can cloth diaper him at night without any fears of leaks. Wool is supposed to be amazing for absorption, keeps the babies feeling dry, and breathable. It has been a lot of work and this was my second go around(with a different pattern the second time), long drawn out single crochet(boring) but I appreciated the boring over- is this going to turn out?:-) sorry no pictures till its done:-).

My second project in the works is a big one as well -two identical Dr. Suess quilts for my little boys for christmas (which will be appliqued with their names in a square on the back). I am so excited to have it all cut out and started :-), cutting it out was a huge project in itself- I am enjoying finally sewing something!

My third project( on the side, something I do while the kids are watching a show or I have a few min) winding wool dryer balls, another great use for wool- dryer balls, they dry your cloth diapers quicker- and work as a natural fabric softener (since dryer sheets and fabric softener are a no- no with cloth diapers. they also help the diapers/inserts to separate and not stick to each other making them more musty if they dont get thrown in for a second dry cycle right away. What is allowed is tea tree oil- so i put a few drops of that on each ball. I had 3 dryer balls before and noticed an improvement bust still needed quite a bit of drying and I was uncertain. Then i read you really should have 6-8 to really notice a difference- so I made (with the help of my sister in law, several more- now I will have 8 :-).. it also worked out that I used my yarn from that first soaker that did not turn out and the yarn was cut in a ton of pieces cuz I had to yank it out(i could have cried,pregnancy hormones and crafts don't always mix :-D).

Make sure the wool yarn you choose says 100% wool on back (and good for felting) 2 of this size will give you 3 large dryer balls(or 6 smaller)

First I wound it until it was HALF the size of what I desired(left one)

Then put it in a large sock with ties of yarn in between(make it snug), throw it in for HOT wash cycle and dry cycle (kept in sock)

Cutt the yarn off the outside

Add on winding the ball until desired size or just slightly bigger(since it will felt)

It helps to tie the yarn under other layers of yarn for when you throw it in the sock

After your done winding, repeat the process of putting it in a sock (ties in between the different balls) and  HOT wash, dry

Add a few drops of tea tree oil if preferred and keep them in your dryer.

Please note, if you decide to use regular fabric sheets or fabric softener on your clothing-take your dryer balls out of the dryer as to keep them free of fabric softener for your cloth diapers. Also, tea tree oil is safe for cloth diapers because of what it is - all scents are not equal or compatible with cloth diapers.
Disclamer: This is not at all something new, there are many different methods to making these and with other types of wool, I originally made my first ones nearly a year ago I believe but cannot find the original tutorial- I prefer a wash dry, add on wash dry method, but some only do the process once and make smaller wool balls. Let me know which ones are your favorite:-)- i still love my colorful ones  best I think but they didn't have them in stock when I got my new yarn:-(.
Other wool dryer tutorials/methods:
http://www.earthycrunchymama.com/2012/04/how-to-make-and-use-wool-dryer-balls/
http://goodmama.typepad.com/goodmama/2008/05/make-your-own-wool-dryer-balls.html

DIY Kids Wall Decor/ Dr. Suess Room

For my sons 3rd birthday my mom gave him a gift card to Amazon. We bought him a few Dr. Seuss books to read and two books we bought the same of for wall decor ideas ( The are you my mother book we were able to find used on amazon so I did not feel bad "ruining" a book) I had found online/decided on. I admit not a original idea, but planning the boys Dr. Suess room I had looked online for all things Dr. Suess and wall decor. I couldn't afford to buy most (or would not spend the money;-) ) of it and many was not exactly what I wanted anyways. So I folded and rolled the pages, scotch tape where needed and hot glued each page into the seam of the book-I am very happy with how it turned out and my son loves it. It is hot glued on to a canvas I bought at Michael s, they had a special where you buy 7 for $14 bucks I believe, which was cheaper than buying 2 by themselves!

The next one I just finished last night, it really takes maybe a hour?! However, I have been rather distracted with life;-), getting my home under control after HG and spending time with the kids. It is 3 canvases with pages from "Are You My Mother" it was Isaac's favorite book when he was 18 months, and now it is one of  Levi's favorites(although Hop on Pop definitely tops it- I may make one with that for Levi) The boy's will be sharing the Dr. Seuss room when we move.

This one is my favorite, I love the little bit of red color, it was actually quite fun to make!

For this one, you need :
A paper back(used for cheaper) book
Scissors
Modge Podge (can be found at walmart) or watered down Elmer's glue may do the trick
Paper towel, or paint brush brush (don't use sponge)

You want to pick the phrases from the book and pictures that your child will recognize/loves the most, we always read from the beginners book so it does not have the plane and boat and car in it like in the regular Are You My Mother. I mainly focused on what the kids like and would notice. Try to cut out the paper in different ways, circles,squares, snip the corners etc. to make everything fit the best. I decided what I wanted on each canvas, I wanted it to go in the general story line of the book. Then I cut everything out so it would fit in a way that looks best( try to cut in different ways, squares, circles, snip ends etc),and then put just a little Modge Podge on top where the pictures that were going on top would be, the great thing about Modge Podge is its thin- so often times people will put it over top of fabric a paper and it will not leave that glossy glue look and it will be clear( as long as you don't use too much), I would do that as well for tough edges-it helped :-). I let it dry and then put sticky tack on the back of the canvases.
Tip: Do whatever you can to not move any of the paper after it is placed, a little sliding might be ok but only if you have just the right amount of glue as to not have the paper tear or be ripply (my first canvas you can see a bit of bubbling)

Enjoy:-)

If you are looking to buy something like the first one, there is a someone on Etsy who has one with Cat in the Hat and may take custom orders( I can't find it now but I am sure if you type in the right words you could:-) ).