.oh, gracious.

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.oh, gracious.  EXHALE.  Life gets so busy!  So completely busy.  Today I had mom to mom and the theme that I kept hearing was about how sometimes we need to learn to say, "NO".  I think I might just take that motto on in the new year, starting a month early.  Because, right now I feel so swamped with everything.  .oh, gracious. 

Busy news: We have adoption education to complete.

The good side:  We have one more adoption class tonight and then we are done with those, yahoo!  Then, all we need to finish our classes are the book & article evaluations.  I love reading about adoption and taking the classes that will help us when our son comes home....however, since we started in March we have been JAM packing them in and we will be happy when they are done.  

Busy news: I am selling at a craft fair this weekend.  And I have to make stuff to sell (eek....), make a sign, price items, and sleep sometime too.

The good side: Everything we make will be for our adoption.  With travel expenses coming (hopefully) soon, we are excited to raise more. 

Busy news: Christmas is coming and I am so not ready.

The good side: Christmas is coming and it is NOT about the gifts or cookies.  And that is news I can take any day :) 

I hope you have a blessed day, even if your completely swamped like me.... 

.filled with praise.

.filled with praise.  Today we are privileged to say that Filled With Praise is featuring our adoption story.  I love all the adoption features and have had a great time looking back at all of them and reading other families journeys.  Please go check us out over there.  .filled with praise.

If you came from over there welcome!  I hope you stay a while and get to know us a bit more.  

In Hannah James news: Today if you purchase ANY item from the store you get a FREE pair of earrings - just list the color you would like in your notes at check out!

Happy Thanksgiving

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.Happy Thanksgiving.  This year I am beyond thankful for the life the Lord has blessed me with.  I am thankful for my beautiful family, our adoption journey, our friends who have supported us more then ever, our family for not thinking we are too crazy, Aaron's job, the friends I have meet because of the adoption & am connecting with (both at classes and here online), the generosity of complete strangers, and the passion that the Lord put in me.  I hope you are all celebrating with friends, family, turkey, pie, & football.  I know we will be.  Have a wonderful day!  .Happy Thanksgiving. 

.why I love Kal.

image by Kal

.why I love Kal.  I know many of you have heard of Kal Barteski.  If you haven't you should know she is my favorite artist + she is awesome.  I found Kal searching online for animal art prints when Lydia was about 2 weeks old.  That is when I stumbled upon her grow big dreams, dude collection.  And that is when I instantly fell in LOVE with Kal + her art.  

I continued to follow Kal's blog and vi-erred out to find other blogs through her.  Eventually I started mine.  Until I read her blog I had no idea that bloggers were cool.  Seriously cool.  creative. fun. and amazing.

If you have never checked out Kal's work please do.  Right now she is having a mega event in her shop.  Its pretty rad.  .why I love Kal. 

ps:

HAPPY 11:11 

on this 

11/11/11!

just because :)

.jelly beans.

In your Arms by Kina Grannis


.jelly beans.  I must be all about videos this week.... why not be.  There are some seriously talented creative folks out there.  This video amazes me - it is all shot in jelly beans.  Way cool!  Thanks Anna for sharing!  Check out how it was made for a more in depth look behind the scenes.  I am totally impressed.  .jelly beans. 

PS: I wonder if they ate any of the jelly beans?  

I would have if I was on that set.... :)

.unwrap purpose.

Unwrap Purpose

This Holiday Season Unwrap Purpose.  Help Families Adopt by Shopping Hannah James! 

.unwrap purpose.  This weekend an idea popped up into my head and I ran with it.  Why not?  To make this movie I took a million pictures and cropped like crazy.  I also brightened the pictures a bit because it was so cloudy and gray when I took the photos.  Note to self: wait for better lighting next time.  Then I uploaded them to Windows Live Movie Maker & added music by Michael Bublé.  Feel free to share this video and inspire someone you know to shop with a purpose this holiday season.  .unwrap purpose. 

.celebrating adoption.

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.celebrating adoption.  November is National Adoption Month and to celebrate I want to post something adoption related every Friday.  This week I wanted to highlight a couple adoption posts that I found inspirational, truthful, and helpful.  I love, Love, LOVE each one of these.  Do you have any favorite adoption posts?  .celebrating adoption. 

Living Life with a Child that is HIV+ by Joining the Journey

Why Adoption Costs So Much & Why We Didn't Just Send That Money to Haiti  by Rage Against the Minivan

After the Airport by Jen Hatmaker

.purposeful giveaways.

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 .purposeful giveaways.  Have you been over to Kelly's blog yet?  At My Overthinking.  If you haven't you are in for a treat.  Kelly has organized a wonderful month of November for everyone called purposeful giveaways.  She is hosting 25 giveaways during this month.  Incredible right!  

The best part is that each shop featured in a giveaway is truly remarkable because they are all open so that others can shop with a purpose.  Many of the shops featured, so far, are raising support for their adoptions, we were included and featured yesterday!  Two days ago a sweet girl named Robin was featured because she raises money for families who are battling childhood cancer, something she herself went through.  Seriously, a great list of shops are going to be popping up daily.  I suggest everyone bookmark it.  

Each day there is a giveaway from the store or stores mentioned.  If you want to win a pair of earrings from Hannah James check out our feature to enter.  And if you really want some they are only $8.00 at Hannah James - you could start shopping for a purpose early!  .purposeful giveaways.

.one year.

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.one year.  One year ago, this previous weekend, we decided we would adopt.  As we loaded up the car for a weekend in Saint Louis to celebrate our friends wedding, we had no idea that we would be making a life changing decision on the way. 

One year has passed and it boggles my mind to think of all we have learned in a year.  It is crazy to think of how our hearts have expanded and how much we have said, "We trust you Lord with this".  I never in my wildest dreams would have thought we would adopt an older child.  I never imagined that in one year we would already have our referral and sweet pictures of our precious son.  

One year ago we thought we would wait a year to start.  God, thankfully, gave us open hearts and this Saturday 364 days later we signed our official referral accepting our son!  .one year.

November & December Parnerships

Hannah James is going to run a little differently in November & December.  We are not going to have just one featured partnering family, but we will have an unlimited number of families partner with us!!! In addition to the past partnerships we are also gaining a couple more families into our Hannah James team.  These families will be featured sometime in 2012 but are starting their partnership now; The Menzer Family, The Wayman Family, and Zach & Michelle.  

If you would like to support a family please leave a note upon purchase that specifies the family!  Examples include, "I am purchasing through the Crockett Family", "Shopping to support the Menzer Family", "We love the Wayman family".....you get the point!  

*If you or someone you know is interested in partnering with us please contact us.  We would be delighted to have you become part of this community!