To Get You Here

Aaron and Jamie Ivey are in the process of adopting from Haiti.  They adopted Story from Haiti and are still waiting to get Amos home.  They, like so many other couples, are waiting to hear news about their adoptions since the earthquake.  Please pray for all of the families who have children living in Haiti right now.


Aaron is a talented songwriter. I just want to share this music video with you...such a great song. Russ and I love this song...such a great song about adoption.  And I am pretty sure Russ has a man crush on the writer for writing this song :) 

Listen to the words...remember all of the orphans in the world...and think about what you want to do to make a difference. None of us are exempt...we all can do something.

Sacrifice

Haiti...there are no words to describe the images and the destruction that we have witnessed on the news this last week.  They are real people that need our help.  Right now, prayer is the number one thing we can do. But, the second is giving our money. This past week, I have spent money on things I did not need and my heart has been in constant turmoil everytime I go to buy something else....something else that is not necessary...something else to fill up my house. 

I just received an email saying that the cookbook I have been wanting for the past couple of months is on sale...going from $40 to $18. I was giddy and clicked on Amazon to order it.  Then that voice...you know the voice I am talking about...deep within my soul...began to speak.  Is now a really good time for that? Are you really going  to use that? 

The images of the destruction and the orphans panned through my head as if I were looking at a photo album. Then, I made the decision.  I would donate that money towards Haiti instead of adding one more book to my collection that I probably would not use.  I don't always make the most sacrificial decisions but for today...I did.  And I encourage you to do the same.

Here are a few ways you can help.

Click HERE to give to Compassion International's efforts to help Haiti. 
                   ---Russ and I believe in Compassion and fully support them in anything they do!!

Also, a couple that are in the process of adopting from Haiti are also selling shirts that will benefit several organizations in Haiti. Click HERE to purchase these shirts.
                     ---You can click HERE to read Aaron's blog and about the organizations the money help.

40 days of water

Blood: Water Mission provides clean drinking water to the people of Africa. How many times during the day do we spend money on something to drink--instead of drinking water? $4 per latte (times 2 or 3 per week), $1.50 per coke or $4.00 for a case, well...you get the point. We spend lots of money on drinks...when water is free.

Blood: Water Mission is calling people to only drink water for 40 days. During these 40 days, they want you to put aside the money you would normally spend on drinks...then at the end of the 40 days...give the money to help African communities get clean drinking water. Remember $1 will help one person in Africa get clean drinking water for 1 year.

Now, will this be easy?? I am going to have to answer a big NO for us. We love coffee, tea, diet coke and Dr. Pepper. We have at least one of these per day..if not more. But, we are interested to see how much we will be able to give away at the end of the 40 days. Everytime we have the thought "I want a _______" then the money we would have spent on that drink will go in our Clean Water Jar.

Choose to make water your only beverage for 40 Days between March 1 & April 9 to help Blood:Water Mission provide clean water for people in Africa who don’t have a choice. Click here to find out more info!! Let me know if you decide to do this!!

love,

anna

Bethel Home

I want to share with you a place that has captured my heart. While in China in October I had the privilege of getting to visit Bethel Home. Bethel is the only home for blind orphans in all of China. They provide for them in amazing ways and truly care for them. Bethel cares for almost 50 children but...there are millions more that need a caring home. I was able to meet the director and see his heart. He and his wife have an amazing story of obedience and hearing God's call for their lives. Russ and I are praying for ways to financially help Bethel...they are in need and I feel like God is calling me to share their story and find others that want to help. Please take 10 minutes to watch this incredible video. I will post more once Russ and I figure out how God wants to use us to help Bethel. If you want more info...please contact us!!! (or go here and see the different ways you can help).

anna

hope, love, and cards

(Copied from www. givecards.org)

Give Hope:
Impact the world. Shape the future. Give hope to the hopeless in a very real way. How? Give Cards.

Give Love:

Love. A simple word that means so much. Give love to the needy hundreds of miles away and in your own community. How? Give Cards

Give Cards:

GiveCards, a registered non-profit, specializes in collecting unused gift cards and converting them into cash, which is then donated to selected charities.

Charities they are now giving to: Salvation Army, Blood: Water Mission, American Heart Association, and then urgent disaster relief.

It was estimated that over 8 billion dollars were left on unused gift cards last year. 8 billion dollars left on cards in such small amounts that people either forgot about them or threw them away. I KNOW I am the worst about wasting gift cards. Sometimes, I use them and they still have several dollars left and then I never spend the remaining money. Well, this makes it easy. YOu can go to this website and see how to donate your leftover giftcards. They even give you free postage to send it!! All they ask is that the card has at least enough to cover the cost of postage.

Click here to get directions on how to send in your leftover gift cards!!! If we spread this word, then slowly the 8 billion could be used for something amazing!!