Let giveaway...

Friends...I have a pallet art giveaway!
Give little or give big...everyone can receive an entry! Why am I offering a giveaway?
Because..Foster hope needs our help! Don't know what foster hope is? Check out my last blog post...they are currently trying to fill 900 care kits that are needed right now for kids entering foster care that come into care with nothing. Don't let the numbers scare you...everyone can be a small part. :)
What's needed for care kits?
600 bottles
460 wipes
500 pairs of socks..kids sizes
500 pairs of undies for both boys and girls
Pjs in sizes newborn to 2t.

Now the giveaway details...
Everyone has the opportunity to Win a similar piece of the below pallet art. For every $5.00 donated cash or needed merchandise..you will receive 2 entries in the drawing for the pallet art. For everyone who shares this post will also receive 1 entry into the drawing.. All who have already given for this last week will be included in the drawing.

How to get items or cash to me..email me at tgiraud@gmail.com..I will send you my mailing address or I can pick up if your local, to Michigan...genesee county or metro Detroit area. We can also accept chase to chase quick transfers. :)
Thanks friends!
Be blessed!
Gina

There are kid in your back yard in need!

Hey there friends!
Normally as you all know I'm a big advocate for the orphans in Ethiopia...specifically ebenezer grace children's home...
But today I'm coming to you with a burdened heart for the kids right in your backyard. Your community. My community. Your families community. My families community.
There is a huge need for care kits for these kids coming into foster care. 900 to be exact! Yes 900! Wow, 900 kids in need...
What is a care kit? well I'm glad you asked. A care kit is this...
An outfit or two
Pjs
[2] pairs of socks
[1] bottle depending on the age of the care kit
[2] pairs of undies
[4-5] diapers depending on the age of the child
[1] container of wipes
Toothbrush
Toothpaste

Now my friends at foster hope who are running this program for these kids have the clothing, the pjs and the toothbrushes and toothpaste...all by donation already.
So based on my evaluation [1] care kit should run aprox. $7.00 that is less than what I spend on my coffee weekly. [ouch! That hurts!]
Do you have $7.00 to provide a single care kit for a child in desperate need?
Is $7.00 too much? You can buy [1] bottle for $1.00...or undies for $3.00...
Is $7.00 too little...any amount donated to me for this care kit operation via our friends at foster hope...I will take the money and purchase the items for you...or you can bring me items you pick up...to my house or a church.
I'd love to see what God does with this.
He is such a big God who loves each one of these 900 children in need.
Please pray about your part in this. No amount is too little, nothing too large.
Thank you friends!
Love,
Gina

His ways are not my ways....

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

For this I don't understand....But I hold tight of this verse.  Today we got "the call"  saying Baby girls next of kin was licensed and ready to take her.  
My heart sank.  Thank God I was in a store...and had to keep my composure.  

I still don't understand why she was left...abandoned by everyone, even this next of kin...If it were me...next of kin, I would have been at that hospital in a second...spending days and nights with her...but no one did.  Just us...the foster parents who so badly want to keep her.  Those are my thoughts...and my plans....
But in Isaiah His thoughts and plans are not mine.

I've spent the day praying over her...praying for our family...praying that God would intervene if He saw fit.  
 Tomorrow is the day. [unless GOD!]  4pm.  

If i'm not answering my phone or text...please forgive me...its just how I do when i'm sad...

Trusting that His ways are higher than mine. I mean after all if His Grace is an ocean, were all sinking.

Pray for us.

thanks friends.
Gina
P.S.  Foster care is hard.  It hurts.  But I know the pain I feel is nothing compared to the blessing it is following Jesus' will for our family.
 

Happy Friday.

Here is two more pallet art designs. 
The harvest one is $65.00.  If you'd like to order one from me, shipping isn't too bad.  Around $20.00..but that is depending on how far it is going.  Feel free to email me if your interested in purchasing a pallet art...or leave a comment here and I will get back to you.
Of course if you live in Michigan and want to pick it up then there is no shipping charges.

The peanut gallery one, my son made up.
I thought it would be very cute for  a nursery.
Its $15.00

Today I'm designing new pallet art for the Christmas season.  Of course Christmas music is essential when designing for Christmas.  :)  The hubs would totally disagree...but thats okay..he's at work.

The house is cleaned up.  I was suppose to have a new washing machine delivered today...but boo.  GE didn't get it shipped in time..so now I must wait.  I will be so thankful to not have to set a timer to go manually switch the laundry to rinse with each load of laundry. Sometimes I just so cheap...this time...i just had to bite the bullet and pay for a new machine.  I know I will be so happy i did.

On another note...I was suppose to be up at the hospital each day visiting our newest placement...snuggling her and bonding..but birth dad had other plans...
so for now I sit and pray for her, thinking of how she must be feeling sitting in a bed all by herself all.day.long.  I can't wait to bring her home.  I pray its soon. 

Hows your friday looking?

peace,joy,and love.
Gina

family photos...and a little on fostering.

i told our photographer that she had her work cut out for her.
we recently added a new child to our home...
We try not to do things for atleast a month when we add a child to our home.
For multiple reasons...
to give the child a chance to adjust...
to give them a chance to get through the honeymoon stage...
to give us a chance to, well for lack of a better word, bond.
Most foster children like to go to anyone at anytime for anything they need or want.
[which is opposite of what your bio children will do which is come to their parents first.]
in their minds..if they don't like the answer they get from their foster mom or dad just wait cause our environment could change...by maybe just going to church...
or going to the store...
Fosters look for these times...they depend on them...
its there way of not having to deal with their new parents...not having to bond to them...and not letting them attach themselves to them...
so they don't have to have their hearts broken again...if and when they are moved around again.
Its there way of building up walls...and getting what they desire.
and I get that.. i really do.  but its my job as a mom to change that.
to show them they can trust us.  to show them we love them.  to push past the attachment issues and hug them even when they may seem standoffish.
I have seen this in every placement we have had.
Its so hard.
Hard on the foster.
Hard on the foster parents.
Hard on the bio kids.
its just hard.
But if you can get through this initial stage it...some only takes a month...some takes up to 6...it just depends on the child...but if you can get through this the rest of there time[which could be their entire childhood] in your house will be more normal.

so with that in mind...our photographer had her work cut out...but she did a beautiful job.

Our family photos include our new placement because well that is our family at this time.  yes we have some without..but we left that up to the photographer. i have a feeling if we did our family photos now the pics with "K" in them would be even more precious...you would see more of an attachment which he does have with us now..but that is the beauty of pictures..while situations change around you...that pictures doesn't change...it was our "now".

hope you guys have an amazing weekend...

Euchre totals will be up soon.
Totally overwhelmed by our friends response to give.

with a thankful heart.
Gina

[victory] is His!

[victory]

I'm praising Him for victory.

This week has been a week of...

victory in attitudes 

from the littlest.

victory in being able to choose joy

from the littlest .

victory in sweet affection 

from the littlest.

victory in tender words...

mama-bear i love you.

from the littlest.

victory in parent visits.

Our agency is helping.

victory for ezra's baseball team.

they won the championship!

[it was a long season.]

victory in seeing God's hand in this life.

I'm praising the one who has brought this victory.

Love to you all.

Gina

just having a little fun....

While we were waiting for Em to finish her swim class... [she rocked it btw!]
K and I had some fun with my camera... and yes we were making funny faces...hence my eyes!LOL!

and because I have a tendency to do this to make kids laugh...I know lord help these kids! LOL.

He's meshing well with our family.  Praise God.  

Working on potty training.  Learning to love. Learning to trust. Learning to hug.Learning to say please and thank you. learning to pray.  Praise God.

XOXO!
Gina

The Lord gives...and the Lord takes away...Still I will bless him!

Many of you... friends and family have traveled this short road with baby boy in tow of our family for the last 2.5 months...

 
Man how you can love someone so fierce in that short amount of time.  I know this is the Lords plan.  To love him somthing fierce.  My heart at times wonders why?  Why we have learned to love so much, so crazy and then to take it away...Part of me says its prep for Africa...part of me says its part of him teaching us to truely love with no strings attached...and part of me says its what he has wanted all along...do you think you could look after the orphans and widows like it says in james 1:27 without LOVE?  After "looking after" baby boy for just the short time we did...I know its just NOT possible.  Not for me anyway.  Not for my Sugar Dumplin either.  Nor for my kids...
The Lord constantly amazes me with his word.  It seems to really minister to me right where I am at.  This week in a bible study at home with a friend... Its right where I'm at.  Having faith in God.  Not man.  Having faith when we pray...not doubting Gods promises!...

James 1:5-6 says
If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
  [see that doubting thing...thats where I really struggle!]

And what ministered to my heart in my footnotes...
[It , wisdom,  begins with genuine reverence for God and a steadfast confidence that God controls all circumstances, guiding them to His good purposes]

I reminded the kids last night as they were sad...and crying because they love him so...that We are just a vessel...but God is the one who is actually looking over Senny.  Its not in us to be able to care for him the way we have been...But Jesus who works through us to accomplish his will for Senny...And then I asked them..."now do you think that God is going to take His hand off of Senny's life, just because He is changing homes?"  Thankfully they sincerely understood...And dried the tears up...and was able to fall asleep without any problems.  

back to our study....David's decision not only affects him...It affected the whole town.  I've really been pondering this lately...because Tony and my decision to take Seneca and really any child doesn't just affect us...It the kids, My parents, his parents, grandparents and friends...After much thought and prayer...I believe its What God has for our family...My kids are learning to love selflessly[as am I !]...they get nothing in return...except for maybe a smile or two from a baby they've never known before......but they for sure get the opportunity to LOVE unconditionally.  and for that I'm grateful to the Lord for. 

Friends and family...I'm sorry if this is hard on you as it is on us...But I know God is birthing in us something He desires. 

You all have blown me away with your love and support...every Facebook or text saying your praying for us makes me cry all over again...because the Lord is so good in great friends that LOVE.
Your generosity in letting us borrow so much baby stuff the week we brought him home still overwhelms me. 
The fighting over who he loves more...is such a blessing to me to hear and see...its as if the Lord has breathed fresh air into our hearts with your love.  Thanks friends and family...
And as I posted in my pics on Facebook...I hope to do it again really soon [please Lord!]

And to end with my prayer for my little man....
Lord nothing has changed...As we did almost a month ago, we leave Senny's life in your hands...knowing you created him...you love him something fierce more than me...I'm amazed by that thought...Thank you for letting us have him for the time you did...thank you for letting us love him...thank you for teaching us to love him even while he was angry and detoxing...thank you that you have brought him through most of that...Lord thank you for the opportunity to be used by you! We pray protection, and honor and praise on Sennny's life...we ask for your loving kindness to always be extended to him...protect his mind and heart from being anywhere but right next to you...the safest place to be Lord....We ask Lord if it be your will to bring him back to us permanently...we ask your will be done only Lord! You Lord gave and you Lord have taken away...blessed be your name Lord.
Amen.

XOXO!
Gina

Where the sweat stops the tears begin...

This morning i was running/walking/running/walking on the treadmill.  I'm not a runner.  Never have been.  So wish I was and always had been.  This is my first year of trying to learn to run and run correctly.  The best description of running for me is like a toddler who just learned to walk that really wants something bad and trys to run...there feet go every which direction and there knees start to buckle maybe even bow in a little...yep that's me.  sad I know...but i'm working on it.  learning to not be so lead-footed when running...man that's hard too!
Anyway enough about that...I was working out this morning..while little bubba took a nap...and i was just pouring with sweat.  I mean I'm just gross.  and i'm almost done...my 30 minutes was about up, and this song came on "how he loves us" by John Mark Mcmillan and i was walking for my cool down and just singing to HIM...and the Lord, not through just this but through the course of my bible study this morning and my constant praying for little bubba and GODS will for him and our family...through getting our passports done...putting feet to our faith because of his faithfulness and LOVE in our lives...spoke to my heart....which is what I was asking for today[earlier in my study with him] litterally it just broke me down to a complete sob.  I couldn't sing anymore verbally but my heart was still singing as loud as it possibly could to the one who loves me!  Loves me enough to give me a husband who loves him...who loves me enough to give me my beautiful sweet and sometimes fiesty kids, and who love him....who loves me so much to give me bubba [and how much he has taught us through this]....and who loves me enough that I can trust in and walk next to and who reminds me just when I need to be reminded yet totally sideswiped by his LOVE for me!
I hope your day is totally blessed!
XOXO!
Gina

oh baby...

This past Sunday we had baby boy dedicated to the Lord.  This is something the Lord layed strong on our hearts.  Especially if he is to leave our family to go with his family.  I wanted his life to be dedicated to Him...
I wasn't prepared to be so emotional.  But as the pastor spoke before hand that we wanted to dedicate him before he went to his grandma...i started to feel emotional.  I was like...whoa.  slow your role...as my man prayed over this baby boy and then the pastor...the tears were fierce.  i did my best to hold them in.  This little man is so special in so many ways...not only is he sweet even if he does like to throw some crying fests my way...and my love for him is strong...like my own babies...but he has helped answered many questions in my heart.  Could we ever adopt?  Could we love another child as our own?  Could we fulfill the calling God has placed on our family and still go to Africa this summer[another calling on our lives].  All with the answer of yes. 
So as we gave his life over to the Lord asking God's hand on him always...we still continue to pray YOUR will be done Lord in this situation. 
I'm sure many are wondering what if it doesn't work out with grandma?  They will call us first.  And yes we will take him back.  Is it a guarantee that he is going to be with Grandma?  Not yet...we can not get a hold of our DHS worker...to find out if the home study was approved or not. 
I asked my husband...honey what was the point of having this sweet little guy only a month?  His answer "

⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42


Not that we do this for a reward..but it blesses the Lord.  That is why.  
So thankful for his Biblical answer!


Today as I took baby boy to see his mom...I was early and praying for the visit...the Lord lead me to this scripture.. 
 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:18-20 NKJV)



I was so thankful for this.  The Lord new exactly what I needed today.  Took him to see His mom...got there a little early.  As she walked in she was already irritated.  I was not surprised..but said good morning and showed her her baby boy.  She asked for our case worker and then walked away with him.


As I headed out to the car, i passed by the room...and the mom with her newly done hair and nails was picking at her nails instead of paying attention to her baby boy.  I couldn't believe it.  I left in tears.  I called my husband and in tears said I don't understand.  He asked me what is wrong.  I told him, i don't understand how someone who hasn't seen her baby in 4 days could not be bothered with him.  I don't understand how he has to leave our car and go into some other situation that is unknown when we love him so much.  I don't understand why she is his mother?  My husband comforted me...with gracious words...I hate calling him in tears.  I hate crying.  i cried out to the lord and said once again...Lord your will be done.  
Please family.  pray with me.  pray that something changes with this situation if its God's will.  pray that this moms heart is softened.  pray that she learns how to love.  pray for me.  
I'm thankful for where the lord has taken me and softened me towards this mother...but still so difficult sometimes to understand.


The Lord after the visit opened up opportunity to share with a case worker why we do this.  Why we love these babies even if we have to give them back. to love them something fierce even when mom hates.  That its only by the grace of god none of us have traveled down the same path this mom has...by His grace we are saved.  [so thankful for that!]

So here's to another week with baby boy and my awesome kids and amazing husband...thank you Lord! 
Have  a blessed day friends!
xoxo
Gina

A birthday, a crazy life, and surgery...

So its been a bit since I posted last.  I think it would be because i'm just a bit overwhelmed lately.

This sweet boy turned 11 this last weekend!  I can't believe it.

  I still remember this boy squeezing the junk right out of my neck because he loved me so much and never wanted me to let him go.  I'd take that all over again if I could...if he would.  thankfully he still snuggles with me.  Two weeks ago we were walking through the mall...[which mind you I don't do very often because.. well, its crazy!.. with kids and trying to stay sane and find something your looking for] and this boy grabbed my hand and squeezed it with the same love and affection he use to when he was little.  Melted my heart.  He didn't know this but he could have asked me for anything at that moment..and I would have said yes. 

We of course ate a Buffalo wild wings on his birthday...because he LOVES that place...all the sports you want and food.  This boys dream!LOL.  He got a cool base guitar.  We then made special dinner and dessert the night before.  and then the next day we went to the movies...well the boys did while I kept baby boy.  Birthday party festivities continue all the way through this friday...when he has his family birthday.  Which consists of french toast for dinner with bacon and ham and eggs....for dessert he asked for coldstone ice cream...sounds like a sugar coma if you ask me.  And then some much needed facetime with our family that just moved across country.  I wish facetime was a larger camera...i'm sure the next one will be :)

Baby boy has been extra cranky.  Extra erpy [is that a word? prob not..but lets just go with it.]  wanting to be held every second.  gasy.  constipated. congested.  shacky.. Today I wrapped him up in the biorn and he loved it.  fell asleep, woke up and cried for a bit...fell back to sleep....he was much happier in that little biorn.  Guess its gonna be our days for a bit...until he gets out of this stage. Seasons is what I tell myself.  His sleep pattern at night is getting more routine which is good.  He goes to the doc tomorrow to see if there is something going on or if its just normal infant stage...my thought is there is more to this than normal infant stages...but we will see.  Because of all the things he is dealing with it makes me a little more worn out...but i'm doing my best.  praying for the strength of the Lord....I love that song " you must think i'm strong to give me what i'm going through...forgive me, forgive me if i'm  wrong, but this looks like more than i can do...i know i'm not strong enough to be everything i'm suppose to be...i give up...i'm not strong enough...hands of mercy won't you cover me...,lord right now i'm asking you to be strong enough...for the both of us."

Its not that I regret anything we are doing [i love this little guy!]...just tired...and little overwhelmed somedays....but I also know there is a lot worse things out there...and its not the end of the world...i also know God is using this time in our lives...and I just want to be a beautiful example of Him...who i serve.  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  :)

 And this sweet boy had a tonsillectomy and adnoitectomy today.  He did amazing.  he is resting somewhat comfortably at home right now.  throat soar...but he has such a great attitude.  He is so sweet...i love how even when he is in pain he has the most amazing manners...the nurse would ask if he wanted juice and instead of ya..he said yes please.   He said on the way home..Mom i can already breath better than yesterday.  Praise God. 

hope your week is beautiful.
XOXO!
Gina