Besides being exhausted from three days of getting up early and being on our feet all day...the garage sale went great! Even though we were exhausted it was definitely worth it. We made about $700.00!! Thank you everyone who made donations and helped in any way. It is appreciated more than you know. Thank you!

Our fundraiser shirts arrived today!! They look amazing...and even our UPS guy signed up to buy one! We've had a few delays with our paperwork but it should all be turned in by next week and then we will meet with the social worker...

So I have been seeking the Lord much lately about what I can do to help the orphans. What can I, one person do? I believe the Lord is leading me to help start an orphan ministry at our church. I am so passionate for these children...many of whom are living lives without hope, without family, and without love.

I know this seems like such a big "task"...for there are roughly 132 million orphans in the world. Really what can one person do to help these children? That is why I love this story...

The Starfish Story (Original Story by Loren Eisley)

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die."
"Son," the man said, "don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!"
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…"I made a difference for that one."

This is so true for any orphan. If we can make a difference for one child then it mattered to them. Please pray for me as I seek approval & begin the orphan ministry.

Thank you all for your support! :)

We have our very first fundraiser this Friday night Feb. 13th, 7-9pm at It's a Grind Coffee House. It's a free event with donations taken for our adoption! The addres is 2010 E. Carson St. in Long Beach. If you have a free night and want to support us stop by.

Also we will be having a garage sale on Feb. 21st, so if you have any junk you want to donate all proceeds go toward the adoption...Thanks.

Here is a poem Charlie wrote the other day when he was thinking of our little child to be...

The Gift That Goes Both Ways by Charlie Beal

I’ve been in this world for six months alone
The only women that I’ve ever known are suddenly gone
Now I’m surrounded by this couple and a little one too
Everything around me seems so scary and new

Fast forward three months, I’m changing inside
All my unheard cries are quickly falling by the wayside
The house is warm, not like that room where I used to lay
These people say the words “I love you” each and every day.

What these words mean, I’m still not entirely sure of,
But I’m positive that these people were sent to me from above
It’s weird, when I smile, they smile, could it be true
that possibly I was sent by God as a gift for them too?

Fast forward another three months, my birthday’s today
Surrounded by friends and family, I laugh and I play.
I eat cake, open presents, and I’m starting to see
I belong in this place, this is my family

As I lay in my crib at night, they surround me and pray
A feeling rushes over me that I haven’t felt til today
They finish up, give hugs and kisses and as they’re leaving my room
They say “I love you” and for the first time I say “I love you, too.”

As I drift off to sleep this feeling doesn’t leave me
Without the love of God this feeling just could not be
Am I a gift to them too? I thought back in those days
I thank you Jesus for this gift that truly goes both ways.