Teddy Bears, Coffee, a Video, Prayers and a Thank You!!!

***What If your child HAD NO ONE to tuck them in?? NO ONE to snuggle with at night?? NO ONE to comfort them when they wake sick or scared?? Well...let me introduce ya to a little girl I know that is determined to make a difference in the life of a child "on a 7 year old scale"!! My daughter Helen has a friend since birth named "Sarah"!! Sarah was challenged by our church to MAKE A DIFFERENCE and PAY FORWARD A KIND GESTURE!! Our church, one Sunday, handed Little Seven Year Old Sarah 5 dollars (along with everyone else in the congregation) and they were told to "Use the money to MAKE MORE MONEY...THEN give it away to help others"!! Sarah and her Mommy came up with the idea to GIVE ORPHANS in Sierra Leone their VERY FIRST TEDDY BEAR EVER!!! You see...orphans in Sierra Leone aren't adoptable, yet they live in orphanages dreaming of a future!! Sarah's mommy helps with the group: The Raining Season and Sarah heard of the need of the orphans in Sierra Leone and HOW LITTLE they all had!! Finding food, medicine and clothing is a challenge each week for all the children..SO...a stuffed animal to call their very own would NEVER be able to be afforded!!! So....Sarah took her 5 dollars and had lemonade and brownie stands ALL WEEKEND to raise money to buy each child their VERY OWN FIRST Teddy Bear!! Each bear costs $10.00 and she is TRYING and BELIEVING that she can reach her goal!! You can read more about it by going to http://www.teddybearsforsierraleone.blogspot.com/ !! You will see a Pay Pal button if you'd like to donate $10.00 for a bear!! The next group from The Raining Season will travel in May to deliver these precious bears to each child!!

Oh, and I didn't mention that Sarah is also STUFFING all the bears too!! Well, she'll probably get some help from friends to get them all stuffed...but these are bears STUFFED with little American hands for the little hands in Sierra Leone to love on!! So, these children may not have a person to tuck them in OR someone to care for them when they are scared at night...but they will NOW have their very own bear to squeeze and love on BECAUSE of a little 7 year old girl in America!!Again, you can click HERE if you are interested in helping Sarah reach her goal or reading more about it!! Way to go Sarah!!!

***I'd also like to give a SHOUT OUT to The Read family from http://www.lovingourleah.blogspot.com/ for introducing me to some delicious Ethiopian Coffee!! This family is currently adopting from South Korea and they are selling this coffee to raise the money needed!! My Ethiopian Coffee just arrived and I enjoyed a cup RIGHT AWAY!! (i'm slightly obsessed with coffee...and this was some fabulous coffee :) You can order your own by visiting www.justlovecoffee.com/TheReads Thanks Read Family!!

****Also...My sister, Kelly, is organizing and planning her next Mission trip to Africa...She went 3x last year...and her first trip this year will be in July!! She is taking a group with her to represent Ordinary Hero and they are headed to Ethiopia....Let her know if you'd like to join the group....Watch her little, short promo video below...it is too cute:

***Also praying tonight for all the changes taking place in the Ethiopian Adoption world!! Ethiopia announced yesterday that they'd now require TWO trips during your adoption!! I can find many positives in this change and certainly welcome it IF it helps a child's adjustment and long term care...BUT praying for those families that NOW must come up with the extra money IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME!! Please know that we "old timers" in the Ethiopian Adoption world ARE PRAYING for all of you currently in the process!!

Ok, that's all i've got tonight...Stay tuned for tomorrow night's GIVE AWAY POST!! I have some cool stuff to give away :) Happy Thursday to you all, kj

P.S. A huge thank you goes to to my girl Karen for this fabulous GIFT this week:

What a great surprise!! I love it and will cherish it always!! (it is a 20 X 20 now proudly on display in my home :) Thanks Karen!! You are the best!!! kj