Puzzle Prayers for Solomon

As you are all aware, were 5-6 weeks away from travel and still need $6,950 before we can travel. CRAZY...I can't believe we are getting so close!!!

This idea came to me at the beginning of our journey and I think now is a beautiful time to start this. Thank you to my precious friend, Erica, for encouraging me to do this!!

While we waited for baby C we made a 100 Good Wishes/Scripture quilt. A beautiful reminder of everyone who loved her before she was even home. She LOVES to talk about who gave what square. It's become a very beautiful part of her story!!!

I have been thinking about this puzzle idea and how this can become an amazing part of Solomon's story. A puzzle that is put together by his family but held together with the names of everyone one that has been praying for him, loving him, & supporting his homecoming! It actually leaves me breathless to think about it...can you imagine having a 513 piece puzzle with names on the back of each piece representing all of you!! SOOO AWESOME!!

Wanna be part of

513 Prayers for our Solomon!!

Want him to know how loved he was while we were waiting for him for him to come home?

I have ordered this picture as a PUZZLE!
There are 513 pieces!!
For each piece you sponsor, YOUR NAME will be written on the back of the piece. Your prayer/scripture to Solomon will be put in a scrapbook along with a picture of the back of the puzzle so he can find what piece you sponsored.

How to sponsor a puzzle piece?

Each sponsored piece costs $10..you can use the chip in to donate and leave your scripture/prayer in my comments section, email it to me, or the comment section when you pay with paypal.

We will take pictures of the back of the puzzle and include them on his journal pages. Once the puzzle is completed it will be framed...hopefully we can find a double-sided glass frame!

Piece by piece our precious son

Prayer by prayer our baby boy

You will be home FOREVER so soon!

Sugar...

Baby S: Mama, can I pweese have sugar in it?

Mom: I don't know....
Baby S: Cause I like sugar...it's good for me...
Mom: Really, it's good for you?
Baby S: Yes (like duh)...I wub sugar...I need sugar...

Don't tell baby S but I wub sugar and I need it too...LOL!!! Now my behind says otherwise!

UPDATE: We could be leaving in 5-6 weeks!!

So here we are...approx. 7 weeks away from travel and $7000 away from being able to travel...what are my thoughts? Am I worried, scared...do I wonder how the rest will come?? Remember my post HERE...the post I said I would go back to a remind myself of all the Lord has done...it's CRAZY to see how far we've come since that post just 2 months ago.

When I think through those questions I can't help but be instantly drawn to my Lord...drawn to the fact that He IS providing for this financial journey to our sweet son. The journey that began on Jan. 18, 2010...the first time we saw his precious face...we had zero...ziltch...nada...dollars to begin the process but we did have instant love, faith, confirmation, guidance, and peace from the Lord.

During these last 6.5 months God has provided in ways I could have never dreamed of...
He provided through your prayers for our family...
He provided through EACH of you tolerating all of our crazy raffles ;)
He provided through families who stumbled across our blog and felt moved to donate thousands of dollars...
He provided through our Solomon Beads...
He provided through our super cool shirt sales that took forever to come ;p
He provided OVER $19,000 in 6.5 months!!!

He did it...we didn't...He called us to Solomon and is fulfilling the promise He made to us...the promise that HE would provide IF WE TRUSTED.

So, what about the last $7000...HE WILL PROVIDE. We are honestly waiting with great excitement to see how He is going to do it...who He is going to use...How He is going to bring our baby boy home! Stay tuned and watch what our God is going to do!!! This truly is a miracle story...ALL glory to God!!

We are so thankful for each of you...for your prayers and unconditional support!!!

Finale has ended...

The Grand Finale Raffle has ended...

Thank you to all who prayed and generously donated!!

I will email all of the entrants today with what you've won :) and ship them out asap!!

Can you believe that we raised $2600...

YOU guys are AMAZING!!

Our LORD IS AMAZING!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME HOME!!

Tonight at midnight (PST)

Sorry for the confusion!!!

TONIGHT (July 28th) at

11:59 pm

the raffle will end.

Sooo...

You still have time :)

Tomorrow....

We are $8000 away...we need $8000 to be able to travel to bring Solomon home. All is still looking good for mid-September travel so that means we are 7-8 weeks away! Exciting, crazy, scary all at the same time :)

Tomorrow is it...the last day to buy your raffle tickets...

Solomon's GRAND FINALE raffle tickes...

The tickets where EVERYONE WINS!!

YES, I said EVERYONE WINS A PRIZE!!!

Every entry WINS!!!

For each $20 ticket you purchase,

you will be entered into our raffle and each ticket will win a prize!

spread the word..tell all your friends about all the cool prizes :)

Prizes include:

James 1:27 Junk Posse/Solomon bead necklace ($110 value)

"Be the Change..Adopt" Junk Posse/Solomon bead necklace ($110 value)

Panasonic Electric Shaver ($130 value)

Ipod Shuffle ($60 value)

Signed Jeremy Camp CD

Night Owl hooded towels

Quillow

Children's blankets

Ladybug blanket

Solomon Beads necklaces

Solomon Bead bracelets

Solomon Bead earrings

Pure Religion T-shirts

Simply Love China T-shirts

Shubin family T-shirt

Nichol Shubin Jewelry

Disney totes

$10 Itunes gift cards

$5 Starbuck gift cards

more prizes coming!!!!!

Addicted....

When you first hear the word addicted, what do you think...what are your feelings? For me, I immediately have negative feelings. As I looked up definitions of addicted they all typically led to some kind of substance abuse and we all know there are millions of other types addictions. Here is one definition: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming...

So when someone asks me if I'm addicted to adopting...it really, really irritates me!! If addictions are typically a bad thing, are they implying that I have a problem with tending to the cry of the orphan & that I should get help for my problem?

For whatever reason this thought came to mind today...the thought of being 'addicted' to adopting & what that really means...does addiction always have to be a bad thing?
~Am I sold out to answer the CLEAR call of the Lord to care for the orphan...YES!
~Do I feel that every child deserves a forever family and am I willing to do whatever it takes to advocate...YES!
~Has raising awareness, advocating, adopting, encouraging & supporting adoption become habit forming...YES!!
~Am I affected by the devastating reality that there are over 153 million orphans in the world...Is it something that can keep me up at night weeping over...YES!
~Is the orphan situation something I pray about, talk about, & share about like non-stop...YES!!! (just ask my friends ;)

Hmmm, so I guess in light of my little revelation...I must be completely sold-out, 100% addicted to adoption & the care of children without a voice! I am completely engrossed with my one and only Savior, Jesus Christ...the Savior who has boldly and clearly called our family to not only adoption but to raising awareness. Sorry my friends...but I'm addicted...addicted to obediently following my God!

today...

Today my precious son (the middle one ;) turns 7. S-E-V-E-N amazing years with this boy...the boy who has the best and I mean BEST giggle ever...his name suits him very well!!

My sweet son, we love you so much and can't even begin to imagine our lives without you. You are a precious gift...a gift from the Lord!! You have an amazing birthfamily that loves you so much, too!! What a treasure to have them in our lives and for them to be able to watch you grow!

Happy, Happy Birthday my baby boy...uuhhh, I mean BIG boy :)

Oh my, you are growing up so fast!! Just look at you my beautiful son...

God has great & mighty things planned for you!!!!

In Honor of...

our precious Solomon's birthday...

 

I want to remind you that there are 

ONLY 7 days left to enter in

HIS GRAND FINALE RAFFLE...

the raffle needed to raise the FINAL funds for him to come home!!

 

Remember, the Finale where

EVERY TICKET WINS!!

You can see all of the prizes and details HERE!!!

We are $8000 away from being able to board the plane in 7-8 weeks (waiting on TA, still).

We will NOT be able to travel without the remaining funds...while that is super scary to think we could come this close and then not be able to travel until we have all the funds, God is moving mightily to bring our son home and we are excited to see how He is going to provide $8000 in 8 weeks!!!  Come along and watch all the Lord is about to do!  We are so blessed by all of you that have helped us financially and by praying for us...each of you are a HUGE part of Solomon's story...as story we can't wait to share with him!!!

Would you please spread the word about our raffle or beads??

Our Birthday Boy....

Today, in China, it is now July 21st....our sweet, precious baby boy's birthday. He has just turned 4 years old. Oh how I had hoped we'd be there for his birthday but God's plans are greater so we celebrate here and anxiously await travel approval.

We love you so much son and we can't wait to scoop you up and love on you! It will be soon...sooo very soon!!!

I was in tears as I worked on this collage...what a gift to have so many pictures of our peanut. Tears of sadness that we've missed out on so much...tears of joy that THIS is OUR BOY...tears of sheer excitement that we will be united soon! Ohhh, How we miss this sweet one!!!!

Enjoy the faces of our boy!!!