Christmas TV Specials Calendar

I wanted to share something that I have been working on for a few weeks. With the holidays coming up, if you are like me you love to watch all the holiday specials. Well I have created a calendar (ical) for your smartphones and other devices that give you a good list of shows for each day leading up to Christmas. Click on the link below and it will open up the iCal.  I have also put a listing of the shows below. Feel free to share with your friends and family. I will update this as any new shows are added.

2013 Christmas TV Specials iCal version

2013 Christmas TV Specials - A downloadable list of all shows.

$500 Grant received

It's always exciting to share good news, and we received some over the weekend from one of the grant organizations, Families Outreach. They gave us a $500 grant toward our adoption. This is a great blessing and we know it's just one step closer to bringing a child into our home.

Every little step gets us closer. It's going to happen we are just holding on for God's plan and for Him to show us His path. Don't forget to check out our ongoing fundraisers with Just Love Coffee and Adopt Together.

Hope you all have a great week.

Great Day...Full of Success

We had our Pancake breakfast at Applebee's today and it was a success. We are so blessed to have the family and friends  that we have in our life. It was great seeing everyone and even though I didn't have a lot of time to mingle with you all it looked as though everyone had a great time.

I am so proud that our not so little boy was ready to help anyway he could. He seated people, he got people drinks, he asked if anyone needed anything. He helped out with anything he could. He is such a big kid and can't wait to be able to bring home a little one. We are hoping it won't be too long, but That is all in the good Lord's hands. Clayton created some awesome paintings to auction off at the event and they all went to great homes. He also had some smaller paintings that he sold and was really excited. Thanks to everyone who purchased one of his paintings. He has already said he will do more if anyone wants one, :) ! He is super excited and really enjoyed serving everyone today.

I didn't get a lot of pictures as we were pretty busy, but here are a few of those I took. Hope everyone had a great time and got a lot to eat.

Applebee's Flapjack Fundraiser

August 17, 2013 

Happy

I am happy! No we don't have a placement, but I am happy.

Yesterday was full of good things. I got to celebrate 14 years of marriage with my wonderful husband. These have been the best 14 years of my life.  God put us together and I know he is leading our lives.

I am happy that I have a precious son who I love SOOO much and is growing up so well.  He started 2nd grade yesterday and loved it. He wants to be an artist when he grows up. He's pretty good!

I am happy that God has put us on the path to adoption once again and that I know he is going to lead it. He is going to bring us another child to love and care for.

I am happy. God has blessed us greatly in our life and I know He isn't done. I have a house, a car, food to eat, air to breathe, I have all I need. What more could I ask for.

I am just happy today.

Have you had your cup of coffee today?

We are always on the look out for unique, low cost fundraisers for the adoption. We know we have a ton of coffee drinkers out there and found this new fundraiser that we think could be a nice option, with a good amount of proceeds for our adoption. It is through an company called Just Love Coffee!

Thanks for taking a look!

Visit our link below to see what they have to offer:

https://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/lawsonadoptionjourney/

In order for the purchases to go toward our family, you must visit the link above.

What we will profit from the purchase of their products:
13oz. Coffees (non-small lot): $5 (average price for bag is $12.95)
8oz. Coffee (non-small lot): $3.50 (average prices for bag is $10)
Tastes of Africa (4) 8oz. Sampler: $7
Tour of The World (4) 8oz. Sampler: $7
Coffee Cupper's (11) 8oz. Sampler: $19
Jamaica Blue Mountain (small lot): 4oz. ($3)  13oz. ($9)
Special Blend–I Love Mom: $5
Special Blend–Pinky Beans (Available in October only): $0
T-Shirts: $5
Sale T-Shirts: $3
Sale Hoodie: $4
Beanie: $3
Hat: $3
Stoneware Mug: $2
16oz. Steel Tumbler: $2
Aeropress: $5
Aeropress Microfilters: $.25
Coffee Scoop: $1
Chemex Brewer: $3
Chemex Filters: $0
LaMarzocco Espresso Machine: $0

Crazy Month

Do you ever wonder what other people would see if they saw you in a particular moment? Would they think you are crazy, happy, sad, disturbed maybe. Well we have thought that this month. We have felt a bit of each of those this past month and it has been a crazy but its been good.

We signed on with Christian Adoption Consultants exactly a month ago and we have already seen a stream of situations come to us for our review and prayer. Only 2 situations have had circumstances that fit with our family, one chose to go another way and one chose to parent her child. We had prayed that God would lead her to her perfect family and he did in both situations. Many of the other situations had mothers with drug addictions or the fees for the agencies were too high. This past month has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride. You see the email come in that says, Re: new situation. Then you open it and start to read and realize that you don't feel comfortable with the situation or it doesn't fit your family. Or like the ones we were shown to, you try not to get your hopes up and try to keep the faith that God's will would be done. So we ride the coaster! You keep riding it know that at some point it will come to an end and it will have all been worth it.

We wonder some days, if our situation is going to come soon. Will we have a new addition soon? We have thought, God is just teasing us with all of these situations. But we know that He is giving us these glimpses for a reason. He isn't teasing us but he is showing us that there is hope. We have seen 4 this week. One we are still deciding on whether to be shown. We are prayerful that the answer will come in God's time. This is a scary process and it takes a lot of faith to believe that it will work out. We have had our moments of weakness and lack of faith, but we know that God has a plan.

So there isn't much to tell you at this point. Not much news. But there is always hope that tomorrow, or the next day or the next week or month will provide Good news. It's coming. We don't know when, but it is. God is good!

If we cross your heart, please say a prayer for our little family!

Love as always,

Mandy and Matt

It's time to try something NEW...

It's time to try something New for our adoption. We have been waiting for over a year and we want to do everything within our power to make this happen. We are depending on God that he will lead us down the right path but we know that we have to listen and go where He wants. So we have signed on and are officially clients of Christian Adoption Consultants. We are excited about this venture and look forward to working with Karalee and this agency.

You may notice as you read this post there are some new links to the right. We have added a few Amazon links and search boxes. These are going to allow us to make money that will go toward our adoption when you follow the link and purchase through that link. The percentage of the purchase will vary, but as we have said every penny counts.

You will also see that we have added a Donate button at the top. This organization is a 501(c)(3) non profit that is accepting donations on our behalf and accepts online credit card payments (both named and anonymous) and is helping us get closer to our goal of raising the $30,000 it is going to take to bring a new child into our home.

We get a lot of questions about why does it cost so much? Where does all that money go? Well let me try to explain it. Adoption fees fund a variety of professional services and enable an adoption to progress safely and legally. Here are a few of those services:

• Reviewing application to adopt
• Homestudy & Yearly Homestudy Updates
• Locating children available for adoption
• Locating prospective birth parents
• Professional counseling, education, and training for birth and adoptive families
• Pre- and post-placement visits to the adoptive home by an adoption social worker
• Paperwork processing
• Birth Mother expenses
• Travel Expenses
• Consultant fees

I could probably go on. It is expensive but to ensure a legal and safe adoption these are services we want to pay for. Each agency has different fees and different requirements. I hope this helps clear up a few questions people have had in the past.

We are going to have more information on a Pancake Breakfast to be held in Louisville soon. We are just starting to work on it and hope to have a location and date soon. We will be sure to let you know when anything new happens. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We know that God has a plan for our family and in His time it will be revealed to us.

God Bless,

The Lawsons

Trying a different path

It's now been a year that we have been waiting to bring a second child into our family. We have had our ups and downs, but we have held on to God's faith. The past couple of weeks have been great with the teaching and gospel that God has provided. He seems to provide exactly what we need when we need it. One of my favorite verses in the bible reads: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.

God is going to bring us a child.

I titled this post, Trying a different path, because we have decided to begin working with a Christian Adoption Consultants. Our only delay is that we must raise the $1950 fee due with their application to begin. This organization works with agencies all over the country and will help us through all aspects of the adoption. Here are some of the reasons they say families should use a consultant:

Here are some of the Benefits for using Christian Adoption Consultants:

• Shorter wait time - Our adoptions typically take less than 6-10 months! (This sounds good to us.)
• Referrals to Multiple agencies in adoption friendly states.
• Financial advice - Knowing the resources you have available to you as an adoptive couple will help you make sound, wise financial decisions and save you time and money.
• Education and guidance for your adoption - Our individual consultations and step by step reference manual will guide you from your first questions about adoption until your adoption is finalized.
• Higher level of protection and security from adoption fraud - Let the experts advise you on the warning signs and help you find the right agency and adoption situation for your family.

We are looking at ways to raise this fee and the remaining amount needed to complete our adoption. We know that whether it is a small fundraiser that raises $10 or a bigger one that raises $1000, it is all because of God and I know that He will give us EXACTLY what is needed and when.  His plan is perfect and He has a plan for our family. We just have to pray believing, trusting and FULLY having faith that it will be His perfect plan. "But let him ask in faith, nothing  wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." James 1:6-7

Your prayers, thoughts, suggestions for fundraisers, donations or just being there for us are all greatly appreciated. We can not do this alone and we need the prayers of those we love.

More later,

Mandy

Bearing it all with Patience

Patient is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint. I can say that I truly believe that definition is correct but I am not always patient. As We move closer to the one year mark we are dealing with the wait in our own ways, some more patient than others. The hardest part of this is to watch Clayton want something so bad and not know the best way to explain to a seven year old why we are still waiting. I know His plan is perfect and He wants us to bear it all with patience. I read today 1 Corinthians 13. It was perfect for how I was feeling. Here is part of what I read (click the link to read the entire chapter):

1 Corinthians 13 (KJV)

⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

¹³ And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

We are depending on God's love to provide for us exactly what we need. Not what we want and when we want it but what God wants for us. That is all that will work. We are still in the waiting process and trust in God and His plan. We have given our profile to an attorney in Louisville with the hopes of her being able to match us with a birth mother.

We have redone our profile to match Matt's job change. Yep you heard right, he recently took a new job!! He is now a Commercial Vehicle Inspector with the KY State Police - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement division. He has been in training a lot lately but we are glad for the change as he is now home at night. We are excited for this change!

Another recent development is that We have been approved by Lifesong for Orphans to utilize their adoption account for tax deductible donations. Any donation made to them will assist our adoption and will also be tax deductible. To make a donation to our Lifesong for Orphans account, please follow the directions below:

Checks should be payable to ―Lifesong for Orphans. In the memo, note ―family account number" and "family name" (Lawson#3554) to assure it goes to the correct account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744. Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fund-raising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.

o To pay online go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select ―Give to an Adoptive Family.‖ Complete the online form and fill in ―Family Account Number‖ and ―Family Name‖ fields. Note PayPal charges an administrative fee (2.9% + $.30 USD per transaction). Your donation will be decreased by the amount of this fee. 

o NOTE: In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use. 

o "Individual donations $250 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $250, will gladly be sent upon request. Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

 

As we continue through this process your help is greatly appreciated. What we need most is your thoughts and prayers for God's will to be done. 

Photo Book

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Our latest Update

It's been a few weeks since we posted any information on the adoption. We have been presented a couple of times, but have unfortunately not been chosen. As we grow closer to the year mark of making the decision to adopt, we have begun looking at our options. We are praying that our child comes in God's time but as any waiting parent, we want to increase our visiblity with potential placements and are now looking at different avenues. By looking at different options we will increase our chances of getting a placement sooner. We are still depending on God and know that he will provide exactly what we need.

With that being said, we are again looking at ways to raise more money to cover our fees. We are hoping to raise another $5000 in the next few months. Just like before we need your ideas and help in making this goal possible.

Sales and Auctions. We are looking at doing some yard sales and an online auction. If you have items you would be willing to donate please let us know. We are looking for any items. If you have good gently used items that would be good for an online auction let me know.

Donations. We have recently registered with a new non-profit organizaiton that is taking donations for our adoption and you can go online and make the donation. Visit Adopt Together and take a look at our page. For any donation made you will receive a tax receipt for next year.

Pizza Cards. We still have Dominos pizza cards. $10 will get you a peel off buy one ge one card. This is good at any Dominos.

Easter Baskets. I am tossing around the idea of making filled Easter baskets for a variety of prices depending on the size. Still just an idea, but looking for any suggestions you may have.

Do you have an idea to share? We are looking at all of our options. Send me an email if you have any suggestions.


We appreciate all the help that eveyrone has given over the past year. Whether we borrowed your house for a yard sale, donated items for it or you offered your services at our events, we thank you. If you gave a donation at any point, thanks so much! All of your help has and will make this adoption possible.

Celebrating 7 Years!

One of the best days in the adoption process is the day you receive your referral. Every adoptive parent waits for that day, they dream of that day and in most cases it is pretty perfect. My little family waits for that day when we receive our match and learn that Baby L is on the way. We know that we must depend on God and have faith in his timing. When the time is right and the right situation arrives, it will be exactly what God intends. We know from experience that it takes alot of patience and prayer to get through the waiting process of adoption. We know where the patience comes from and are praying for God's timing and patience with our adoption. The Bible tells us that:

"...Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience and experience hope..."
Romans 5:3-4

"But hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
Romans 8:24-25

You may say why all the talk about referrals and matches. Well, ths weeks marks a couple of great days for our family. The first was Clayton's birthday on Tuesday and the second was Clayton's referral day! It was 7 years today that Matt and I first saw his sweet little face. During his adoption process I kept a blog similar to this one. Here is what I wrote 7 years ago today...

Well Tammy from the agency called me this morning about 10:30. She said that she had some of our documents that I needed to get redone, AGAIN. I was a little frustrated. She said she really needed to get these so that she could get it out in the mail today. So I said ok. I took an early lunch, which I always hate, and went and had Marsha redo her part and pick up Selene's letter she had mailed to us. Once I had those in hand, I went to the agency.

Well when I got there she said, "so did you get it?" I said yeah it came in the mail, well what I thought and what Tammy thought were two different things. She went on to tell me that everythong looked great and that she had heard that we had received our Immigration approval and that we should get it in the mail tommorrow. I was so happy... Well she then went on to tell me that Lydia needed to talk to me and that she was trying to reach her by phone. I was trying to figure out what Lydia needed from me. So I waited around for a bit. She finally called. She said that she would be by in about 15 mintues. (SORRY TO RAMBLE) Well Tammy insisted that I talk to her, so I got on the phone. She proceeded to tell me congrats on the 171-H approval and then tell me that she had something else for me. At that point I thought what else could there be. She said, " We have a referral for you" I about fell in the floor. What? I told them. Tammy had just pulled up his pics on the computer. I couldn't believe it.

There was my little boy. He was only two days old and is the most precious little thing I have ever seen. He was 5 lbs 13 oz. He was 17.4 inches long and was only 2 days old. Born on January 22, 2006. I was in total and utter shock. It was the most amazing feeling that I had ever had. I had to go pick up a letter from Matt's work so I took the pics over to him and showed him. When I pulled in the parking lot I called him and told him he needed to come outside, I had something to show him. He wasn't sure what was going on so I met him as he walked out and I turned the pic over and he said what is this, I told him this is your baby. He was like WHAT??? Are you kidding? He was like me, in total shock. It was so unexpected. But so worth it

I look forward to the day that I can have this same type of memory for Baby L. It will come in God's time and we will be sure to keep everyone updated with the latest information. Praying for our

In God we trust

Our country was founded on the desire to have freedom of religion. Our fore father's believed and trusted in a God who could do all things. Why is it that so many years later we don't Trust in God?  The one who died on the cross for our sins. He gave up all for you and me, but we can't give up simple things for him. I say all of this because I realized that I had not given all my trust to him regarding Baby #2. I know he can do all but I don't allow him.

We had some great services at church yesterday and they have renewed my Faith and trust in the Lord. We have so many that we want to see saved and so many things we want to see done that there is no place to stop. We can't continue to shoulder all the worries of our adoption on our own. We know that we need prayers and we know that these prayers will be answered in God's timing. We ask everyone who prays to remember us and that God's will be done in our adoption.

We are still working on some fundraiser ideas and will be doing another yard sale in the spring.  We have about $5000 more to raise and could use any help or ideas you all may have. We have applied through a new donation organization that will be able to take donations through the internet and they will be tax deductible. I will post more info as I get it.


Psalm 56:9-11 KJV

When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

Great Things in 2013

We all try to make resolutions at the beginning of each year. This year I'm not making resolutions, instead I am turning all my worries over to a higher power. It's almost been a year since we decided to start the adoption process and we are still holding on, Matt more patiently than me most days. We are depending on Gods timing and know if we depend on him our child will come into our family  right on time.

Since it has been so long since my last post I wanted to let everyone know how things have been going.

The chili supper went very well. Thanks to everyone who came out and enjoyed a bowl of chili and some great entertainment by my good friend, Brad McCrady. Thanks to our parents and all of our friends for all the help to make this event a success. We raised over $1400 and are that much closer to our goal.

The holidays came and went like a flash of light. They were great and we are so blessed. Clayton got all he wanted and more. We spent two great weeks off work and school. It was great family time and I look forward to more this year and to hopefully have an extra person in our family.

On the adoption front not a lot to talk about. We have had a couple of situations come up but we were not chosen or it was out of our budget. Yes we have an adoption budget. Some cases are more expensive than others, so we are waiting patiently for our child. We ask for your prayers if we cross your mind.

We are looking for new fundraising ideas. We need to raise between $4000 & $8000. We are still waiting on one more grant that will not consider our application until We are matched. So we are going to start planning some new fundraisers, but we are looking for any ideas. So if you have an idea let us know.  We still have Dominos buy one get one free cards for$10, if you are interested in purchasing one email us and we will get one to you.

So no resolutions this year, only faith in God's timing and trust in his path. Our child is in His hands and I am so thankful for that. Great things to come in 2013!