Crazy Love Challenge

A very precious mama, Linny, over at A Place Called Simplicity has once again amazed my heart with her love for the orphan....her love for adoptive families....her love for her bloggy family! Her hearts greatest desire is minister to the orphan and she loves to help them home!! Her family is a beautiful example of all the Lord has called us to be!

Linny has opened her blog for a Crazy Love Challenge. It's a way for families to share about the journey that they are in the middle of...the journey of bringing their child home. LINNY...thank you for allowing us to share about our family and for opening your precious blog to help the orphan and their families!!!

We are coming close to the end of that journey and the beginning of a new one. We are so close!!!

So, here's the scoop on this crazy, awesome journey to our Solomon!!

~Article 5 will be picked up from the consulate on August 16 (next monday)
~It will be taken to the CCAA and we will wait for TA (travel approval)
~If things continue they way they have, we should have TA by Aug. 30th and travel ASAP...prayerfully that week!!!!!

Soooooo we could be leaving in less than 4 weeks!!!! We are still $6500 away from being able to board the plane. Bottom line...if we don't raise the rest of the money, we will be delayed in bringing our sweet son home until we have the funds. If we don't travel in September, we will be delayed until LATE November because of all the Chinese holidays. Sooooooo...if the Lord will's, we need to be leaving early Sept.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
~Prayer...the most important need...pray for our sweet son, our family, and God's continued provision
~Shop...LOL...BUY Solomon shirts...BUY Solomon beads...it's not too early to be thinking Christmas gifts folks :)
~Puzzle...SPONSOR a puzzle pieces for Solomon's Prayer Puzzle

Little by little and sometimes Big by big...God is providing through each of you and just look what He's done...we are almost there!!

SOLOMON BEADS HERE!

SOLOMON SHIRTS HERE!

SOLOMON'S PRAYER PUZZLE HERE!

Just look....

at what we got today...an update on our little man...he is getting so big!

He is 38" tall and 33 lbs.  Shorter than the girls by 2" and the same weight as baby C.  Ohhhhh, I can't wait to hold him!!!!!!!!!!!  The second picture cracks me up...we have a couple where he is making this face..it's kind of a "What, who me...I'd never do that."  

Urgent Prayer Request

9/10: Your prayers and love have been a precious to us. The Lord has heard each one & has answered them! From the entire Richards family...Thank you so much!!!!!!

9/9: UPDATE: Praise the Lord...we just got home from Hemet...Caleb is home SAFE with my in-laws!! Please continue to pray for the aftermath of all that has happened! Thank you sooo much for praying!!!

9/9: no news, yet!

9/8: My brother-in-law has just filed a Missing Person's Report for my sweet nephew! We are asking you to please pray for his safety as he could be in great danger and God's guidance as the Hemet Police Dept. and CPS try to find him.

If you hear anything, please call the Hemet PD or let us know asap.

Happy Birthday to our girl

To our miracle girl..the girl who showed us the amazing beauty of adoption...the girl who has shown us adventure and joy in ways we could have never imagined...to the girl who's excitement for life is contagious...

9 years ago today, we walked into the hospital terrified, excited, and completely overwhelmed with the unknown. Your beautiful, precious, amazing birthmama (R) welcomed us into the labor room and gave us a baby shower for you...while she was in labor! We then waited in the waiting room for the announcement we will never forget...'she's here..she's here...and she is gorgeous...hurry, 'R' wants you to meet your daughter'. We rushed up to your room and there you were...in your sweet birthmommy's arms...as she handed you to us, she said, "Here is your new daughter." 'Your daughter'...those were the most beautiful words we had ever heard. It was all mommy and daddy could do not crumble in tears. You were so tiny, so beautiful, and the overwhelming joy of you was unbelievable. The depth of your adoption has forever changed us...it has forever opened our eyes to the absolute, unconditional love that the Lord has for us...to the understanding of what it means to truly be adopted by God.

Baby girl, we love you so much and are so proud that you are our daughter. Your ability to bring joy to anyone is amazing! You are a beautiful gift and we are so thankful that the Lord blessed us with you! Happy 9th birthday gorgeous one!

Solomon Shirt SALE!!!!!!!!

SALE...SALE...SALE!!!

We are getting VERY close to travel so we are having a SALE!!

1 shirt is $20 shipped

2 shirts are $35 shipped

Go HERE to see what I have left and order yours...
This may be your last chance to buy your Pure Religion & Simply Love China shirts....
And they are on SALE :)
And they will ship right away...
And you will be helping our boy home...
Home in prayerfully a handful of weeks!

So HURRY over HERE to get YOUR shirt!!!!

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 :)