Thursday, May 23, 2013

Eliana's almost 2

After a few months away from the blog we are back into the blogosphere just in time for Eliana's second birthday.  Not that there wasn't a lot to say, but life with 2 kids, a business, work, etc. has taken up all the available time.  I am sure those of you with kids can relate :)

On June 26th, 2011 this wonderfully cute bundle of joy came into our lives at 3lbs. 6oz.  She came home from the NICU in August and what a journey it has been.  Not only is she a wonderful, joyful and terrifically independent little girl, but she is a wonderful little sister to Patrick.  We love these kids in ways that can only be explained by God and parenthood.



This year we are having a lady bug birthday party with a NO GIFTS component (Grandparents excepted).  Evites will be forthcoming.  The reason behind this is twofold.  The first reason is that 2- year-olds don't need a ton of gifts.  The gifts from parents and grandparents will be plenty and won't overwhelm the play area with more stuff.  The second reason is that it allows us to ask you to help support our friends, Alison and Cheyenne Kroeker as they raise money for their second adoption.  Please use the money that you were planning to spend on a gift for Eliana (whether your propensity is to purchase from the dollar bin at Target or something much more extravagant!) and let it help the Kroekers adopt their second child.  Eliana was given to us by God as our beautiful second child through adoption, and we desire to see that blessing extended to our friends.  Adoptions are expensive (in the range of 20K - 30K,) so we would like to do whatever we can to help our friends raise the necessary funds needed.  Vivian and I are passionate about adoption and can't wait to see what little child is brought into the Kroekers' lives by God through adoption.  Below is the fundraising article from the Kroekers' blog which you can find at the following link.

Kroeker's Blog


We have chosen a PUZZLE FUNDRAISER to fund a majority of the costs for our adoption. (Domestic Newborn Adoptions range from approximately $18,000 to $30,000) We have two methods you can use to make a donation through sponsoring a piece of our adoption puzzle!  Will you please help spread the word?

We are asking for a donation of $10.00 per puzzle piece (puzzle pictured above).  You can, of course, sponsor as many as you would like... (if you choose $10 = 1 piece, $20 = 2 pieces, $40 = 4 pieces, etc...). When every piece of this puzzle is sponsored we will have raised $10,000!! Which is what our agency fees will be (not including birth mother costs).

We will then write your name on the back of the pieces you sponsor, and once our puzzle is completed, we will frame the puzzle in a double-sided frame.  We will be able to see the names of all the individuals who helped us bring our baby home! Each piece we put together will make this process come to life as we see the puzzle grow into the beautiful picture!

For both methods, in the comment or memo box, please put in the names for us to write on the puzzle piece(s)

To donate with a tax deductible receipt go to our Ordinary Heroes fundraising page:http://www.grouprev.com/kroekeradoption and click on the "Donate Now" button!! ***All donations through our fundraising page at Ordinary Heroes are charged a 2.9% processing fee***

To donate where 100% of your donation goes to our adoption costs, go to PayPal and send it via bank account transfer to Cheyenneandalison@yahoo.com ***All transactions through bank accounts are not charged a processing fee***


We are so excited to see with our God is doing and going to do throughout our adoption journey as we grow our family! 


Please feel free to share this with anyone and everyone you know!!!! Every little bit helps so much! Even if you can't sponsor a puzzle piece or donate towards our cause we'd cherish your PRAYERS most of all!!!!!!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Colorado Skiing February 2013

If your ideal vacation is one where the kids don't fight, kids eat perfectly and have wonderful manners all the time.  One where kids go to sleep the moment you tell them then this vacation wasn't it!!
BUT
If your ideal vacation is one where kids experience the beauty of God's creation, have a great time, learn to ski and enjoy the snow country at Copper Mountain.  One where the parents share the duties of kids and still get to ski themselves then this was that kind of vacation. 

Seeing Patrick learn to go downhill by himself was priceless!! (We will save stopping for another time :))
Seeing Eliana be our little snow bunny was equally priceless!
So all in all when you add up the costs, the effort, the situations you end up with only one thing left to say.  Thank You God for a priceless week at Copper Mountain Colorado.
Enjoy the video of our time here
Colorado2013 from Jim Turner on Vimeo.