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Thursday, June 7, 2012

Believe........

"Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see he glory of God"?  -John 11:40

by Ten For Orphans
LATEST NEWS!! The Dewberrys are FULLY FUNDED, Pending $5K!! See below!!
The TEN Thousand for TEN Thousand in TEN days for Taylor actually turned into a Three Day Extravaganza! When we first felt impressed to sponsor Taylor and fund raise for the Dewberrys, we knew that there was no way we could raise the money. Not only was it a large amount, but it was a large amount due in a short time! However, God knew just the right people to send to support the Dewberrys–people like Julia Nalle, Patti Rice, Deanna Jones, Denise Collins, Anonymous Donors with matching grants, and others who joined in to help with this truly urgent need! Julia Nalle issued a TEN for TEN in TEN challenge to hopefully bring in $1,000 a day for ten days. We never made it past the third day because the:
1st day total was: $3,865.81
2nd day total was: $2,523.54
3rd day total was: $5,329.90
The three day total was: $11,719.25!!!
How did this happen??? It was obviously a God thing and something only He could do, but in His wisdom, He chooses to use people, and those people have to choose to listen. Thank you to every one of you who listened and reached out to Taylor and the Dewberrys in their time of crisis! If you feel you were only a small part, please remember that ALL donations, big or small, are a blessing, and God looked at the widow’s mite as very precious because she gave even in the midst of her need.
With that in mind, we want to highlight a special group of young people. On Sunday, we received a donation from the youth choir at Calvary Baptist Church of Smyrna, GA. These young people wanted to do something to help someone in need, and their choir director, Sheila Price, encouraged them to consider helping an orphan–something which could have a huge impact in the life of a desperate child. She also told them that there would be no offerings taken up–that anything donated should be given from their heart and from their own resources anonymously over a period of a few weeks. The youth choir president, Nathan Hadden, collected the donations, and when the total was added, it was $238! Our hearts were so touched when we received the donation! We knew this was given in sincerity and cheerfully. At the time it was received, there was a $2,000 matching grant challenge, and this donation was enough to finish meeting the match, and $128 dollars of it was essentially doubled. In the end, God multiplied their $238 and turned it into $366! God has a way of doing that! We never know how even a “small” donation can touch someone else or make a bigger impact than we expected! Thank you Calvary youth choir for reaching out and caring about a precious orphan! May God multiply your generosity back to you!
As for the Dewberrys, with the promised grant money, they are actually $76.02 OVER the amount they calculated for their need as of this posting, but they do have a couple of prayer requests! 

1. The cost for renting an apartment in the country where Nicole Dewberry will be staying has been increased to around 10 times the normal amount due to the Euro Cup, and they are praying that they don’t end up with an exorbitant apartment cost during Nicole’s nearly two month stay. This possible expense has not been taken into account in their amount needed. Please pray that the rent will not become an issue!
2. In the latest update we heard, the paperwork from the last $5,000 that is part of the $10,000 matching grant is in process, but it is still possible that it will not be available until the very end of Nicole Dewberry’s stay in country or longer. Please pray that it reaches them in time! We will keep you updated on progress if further fundraising is needed!
Taylor will remain on our home page as a sponsored orphan at least through the weekend as we are making plans for a new transition. Thank you all for your part in making a HUGE difference in Taylor’s life! We are excitedly awaiting her arrival HOME!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Unless To Lord Builds

                by Julia Nalle                 

 ~$6519.35~


Unless the Lord builds the house,
 those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.


Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.
 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.

 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.


Last weekend Rob and I felt the Holy Spirit tapping on our hearts about helping the Dewberrys adopt Taylor.

We looked at our schedule over the next two weeks and shook our heads in utter dismay.

It was absolutely NOT a good time to be doing a fundraiser.

That was putting it mildly.

I'm leaving for the Virginia Homeschooling Convention tomorrow (Thursday) for three days of selling and right afterward we are taking Aaron to Wilmington, DE for a three day appointment with some specialists who are going to be working on his arm.  (I'll share more of that story another day).

We have curriculum that is currently selling but we have not finished writing it.  Deadlines are looming.

Our stress level is high.

Our exhaustion level is even higher. 

On top of that.... After committing to yell for the Dewberrys....  Rob woke up on Monday feeling sick and after a trip to the Dr., he has been diagnosed with a virus that isn't going to be gone in a matter of a few days.  Ugh!

This is NOT a good time to do a fundraiser.

UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE...

Unless the Lord builds...

I sat in church during prayer time on Sunday reading those verses over and over again and praying for God to build this house.  As I sat and whispered prayers over this family and their great need, feeling overwhelmed at how much needed to be raised in such a short amount of time, I was reminded how utterly dependent we are for Him to be building - not us.

Here's the honest truth.

This is His building project.

On every level.

Rob and I don't have it in us right now to do more than share the amazing news that someone was willing to match donations up to $10,000.00 and then cheer wildly when we see how many people are giving their hard-earned cash for Taylor.

We figured it was completely the right timing because for us it was the completely wrong timing.

The same holds true for the Dewberrys

It was also the wrong timing.



 Conventional wisdom would have said wait to raise the funds - at least part of them.  And most of the time people should have at least something in their bank accounts before jumping.  There is wisdom in taking inventory.  I am not a big proponent of cliff jumping without some kind of reserve though I know God does provide.  But sometimes... sometimes...

Sometimes you have to cliff jump when it is the Holy Spirit standing right behind you and pushing you off the cliff!

They jumped.

They jumped praying and believing that GOD WAS BUILDING THEIR HOUSE.

We agreed to help them believing that God is building their house.

He's raising up their family... their labor over the last months is not in vain. Their sorrow will soon turn to joy.

And when God is building the house.... When it is in His design... using His blueprint... When He is directing the process...

Then rest is assured.

"For he gives to his beloved sleep."

This is God's building project.

He's building the Dewberrys house.

I'M GLAD.

I can't build houses.

I can't fund families.

I can't stir hearts.

I can pray.  I can give. I can yell. I can grab friends to help yell beside me.
(THANK YOU PATTI FOR ANSWERING THE CALL).

I can cheer wildly when I see Him stirring in hearts.  Our hearts.  Your hearts.

I can stand in awe as the house is being built knowing that all off us are part of the house design.




Each and every one of us who has responded to the Holy Spirit promptings.  We are helping build a house.

A family.

A Mom and Dad.  A brother.  A sister.

You are taking part in the impossible.

THANK YOU.

You have given  $6519.35  which means that only $3480.65 is left to raise to meet this MATCH GRANT.

If you haven't given... will you throw a donation in the bucket?   Get this house built?

THANK YOU!!



---------------------------------------------------------

So here's the deal... There are -TWO GIVEAWAYS with our TEN for TEN in TEN days!!
One of the Giveaways is the MacBook Pro Laptop.
You can enter into that Giveaway either here on my blog or tell Patti on her blog!!

On top of the MacBook, Rob and I and our wonderful BiblioPlan partner are again offering a free BIBLIOPLAN COMPANION e-reader - winner's choice for either the ANCIENT, MEDIEVAL (soon to be published), EARLY MODERN OR MODERN COMPANION TEXTBOOK!!

THE OTHER GIVEAWAY is a whole host of very sweet prizes (see below).  You can enter into that Giveaway HERE.

You have several ways to donate to Taylor and her family... (all are tax deductible)....

or 
 or 
Ten For Orphans Project
TEN FOR ORPHANS


So donate, then leave a comment on
Patti's blog for the MacBook/BiblioPlan Giveaway.  And then leave a comment on THIS BLOG for the 2nd Giveaway.

AND REMEMBER.... PUT YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME IN THE COMMENT SECTION ON EITHER BLOG.  We ARE going to be checking to make sure that the winners actually did donate.  This is to keep it fair for everyone. The minimum donation to be entered for the Macbook Giveaway is $10.00 and you can earn extra entries by Facebooking or Blogging.  But we can't check winners if you leave only a strange user name because we can't check that against the donations received.  SO IF YOU WANT TO BE LEGITIMATELY ENTERED.. YOU NEED TO LEAVE A FULL NAME.


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Hands and Feet of God.......



Now I know why a couple of days ago the Lord put these words in my head "Hands and Feet of God".  I was trying to piece together why these words circled in my head over and over not sure what God wanted me to see.  Everyday since we found Taylor the Lord would put either a verse or words that would stick with me and then he would show me why.  Whether it was a verse to help encourage me to trust him or as my friend Julia said "Nicole God is asking you to let go of your load.  Take it off your back and drop it...your trying to do it alone." So she was so awesome to even show me the motion of taking off the backpack and dropping it, several times I might ad.  Obviously I was clinching it and did not want to let go of my bag and she could see it!  Thank you girl for that demo that will never leave my mind!   It was mine to clinch and I wanted to keep it even if it was heavy.  I am a stubborn mule if some of you folks have not personally met me, I will fight, kick and scratch to hang on until God bonks me over the head and then I will let go.  I HAVE BEEN BONKED OVER THE HEAD and I have let go but slowly....that's the stubbornness.  Every accident I have ever been in from dirt biking, horses you name it I HANG ON and go down with whatever I am attached or hanging on to.  Doesn't always work in my favor.  Actually it has NEVER worked out in my favor.  Daah!  You think I would get a hint.  But God has been good to put the right words, verse or put the most amazing people in our life right in the nick of time right when I needed it the most to pray or knock some sense into me or to just give confirmation.  Thank you Julia & Deanna my boxing coaches to encourage and help me stay in the ring and fight for his glory, his girl, Taylor. 

Why was the hands and feet of God circling through my mind? God was going to show me he was going to rock my world by using the hands and feet of others for his glory for my family to witness and be blown away.  I AM BLOWN AWAY!  I do not know each and every one of you that is choosing to step up to help us bring our girl home but you are answering the call to help.  God sees that, honors it, blesses it and knows your heart.  Blessings done in his name DO NOT go un-noticed by him.  I know many of you have chosen to stay anonymous in your giving.  I hope someday I will cross you path with my husband, son and little girl that you help bring home to us.  I want to make sure each and every one of you know that you have not gone un-noticed for your selfless giving to my family whether it be by prayer, spreading the word about Taylor by just hitting that powerful "Share" button on Facebook or by donating to bring her home.  IT ALL COUNTS....and I can say without a shadow of doubt it will not be un-noticed by our heavenly Father.  We still have a ways to go fundraising but we have come so INCREDIBLY FAR.  Like Deanna my friend said "God has this one girl".  He sure does.  He sure does.  He has brought us to her and he will see us through to bring her home.  So again our family thanks you for being the hands and feet of God.......

So I want to thank each and every one of you that is helping bring her home! 

MacBook Pro Laptop Giveaway

MacBook Pro Laptop Giveaway

~$3,995.81~

TO FOLLOW OUR THE MOST ACCURATE TOTAL RAISED PLEASE VISIT:
www.tenfororphans.org

For all of you that know me... You would most definitely NOT be surprised to learn that AS SOON AS I posted the TEN FOR TEN IN TEN DAYS BLOGPOST yesterday... I went into full panic mode!!

HOW IN THE WORLD ARE WE GOING TO RAISE $10,000.00 IN TEN DAYS FOR THIS LITTLE GIRL???
(Blog Post Written By Julia Nalle)


Are we crazy?

What have we done?

I sent my dear sweet steady husband a message saying we had made a huge mistake.

I sent my sweet friend Patti Rice a panicked e-mail.

I was falling a bit apart!

My husband didn't reply to my message because he is sweet and steady and figured I just needed to vent.

My dear sweet friend Patti picked up the phone and called me.

She didn't call to knock me upside the head though I sorely needed it...

She called to tell me that she had just received an e-mail. 

When I heard her voice I thought it was bad news and I was ready to melt right into the floor....

WRONG!!  Not bad news at all... 

She called to tell me to put my panic on the back burner because the same Holy Spirit that moved in our hearts to support the Dewberrys, the same Holy Spirit that inspired a family to donate a 10,000.00 matching grant, that same Holy Spirit had also just moved in another family's heart to donate a $1,200 MacBook Pro Laptop for us to use as a Giveaway for the Dewberrys.

Guess what I did?

I burst out crying.

Poor Patti had to calm down a blubbering mess on the phone.  She handled me well and within a matter of time I had gained my composure enough to have a rational discussion with her.

So there you have it.  Those who think I go into these crazy adventures with any faith at all... Think again....

I'm pathetic.

YOU GUYS ROCK!!

TAYLOR HAS SOME MIGHTY WARRIORS OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR HER!!  PRAISE GOD!!  PRAISE GOD!!


Current Sponsored Orphan: Taylor

ALREADY WE HAVE RAISED $3,995.81 FOR THE 10,000 MATCHING GRANT!!

DID I SAY YOU GUYS ROCK????

So here's the deal... There are actually TWO GIVEAWAYS going on along with our TEN for TEN in TEN days!!

One of the Giveaways is the MacBook Pro Laptop.


You can enter into that Giveaway either here on my blog or tell Patti on her blog!!
On top of the MacBook, Rob and I and our wonderful BiblioPlan partner are again offering a free
BIBLIOPLAN COMPANION e-reader - winner's choice for either the ANCIENT, MEDIEVAL (soon to be published), EARLY MODERN OR MODERN COMPANION TEXTBOOK!!


So leave a comment....but....

PLEASE DO US A BIG FAVOR.... PUT YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME IN THE COMMENT SECTION ON EITHER BLOG.  We ARE going to be checking to make sure that the winners actually did donate.  This is to keep it fair for everyone. The minimum donation to be entered for the Macbook Giveaway is $10.00 and you can earn extra entries by Facebooking or Blogging.  But we can't check winners if you leave only a strange user name because we can't check that against the donations received.  SO IF YOU WANT TO BE LEGITIMATELY ENTERED.. YOU NEED TO LEAVE A FULL NAME.  Those who didn't do that yesterday... just leave another comment to let me know your first and last name.  I won't post those if you don't want me to but we do need them for verification.


THE OTHER GIVEAWAY is a whole host of very sweet prizes (see below).  You can enter into that Giveaway HERE.

You have several ways to donate to Taylor and her family... (all are tax deductible)....




or 

 or 

Ten For Orphans Project

-----------------------------------------

And now....

Check out these very precious gifts that are being offered
HERE... Many of them are handmade with lots of whispered prayers for the orphan. 

Adorable Girls Skirts. We have two to give away. You get to pick the size up to 4T. One will be the blue/green combo and the other will be the giraffe/stripes combo. Please state your preference and size you would want.

Antique Book #1: "When a Man's a Man," Vintage novel by Harold Bell Wright. First edition! 1916. (from Allison's Attic of Rare Books)

Antique Book #2: "My Story that I Like Best," Vintage short-story collection. First edition, 1924. (from 




Gorgeous Throw Blanket with 2 Matching Pillows From Sew Elegant (Retails for $85)

Beautiful Lined Baby Sling (Retails for $75)

Close up of sling fabric

8x10 Print from Andie Eggimann. We have 8 of these to giveaway. See some sample prints below or visit Andie's shop and let us know which one you prefer. You can visit her Etsy shop  (These retail for $18)








Mountains

Refuge

Satisfy

Fatherless

Self Control

Dwelling Place

Gently

Goodness

Brokenhearted

Knitted Aqua Beanie Cap for Baby

Knitted Red Sweater for Baby

Small Red Felt Tote

Little Girls Purple Felt Backpack

Purple Knitted Beanie Cap for Baby

Rainbow Knitted Sweater for Baby

Knitted Yellow and Purple Sweater and Matching Beanie Cap for Baby

Knitted Pink Stripe Beanie Cap for Baby

White Knitted Beanie Cap for Baby

Light Blue Knitted Bonnet for Baby

Blueberry Knitted Beanie Cap for Baby

Tomato Knitted Beanie Cap for Baby (2 available)

Strawberry Knitted Beanie Cap for Baby

Pumpkin Knitted Beanie Cap for Baby (2 available)

Pink Knitted Breast Cancer Awareness Scarf

White Breast Cancer Awareness Knitted Wash Cloth

Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Knitted Wash Cloth (7 available)

Pastel Stripe Knitted Wash Cloth

Pink ABC Knitted Wash Cloth

Have a Coke and a Smile Snack Gift Basket - Ultimate size. Retails at $127.99. You can see more details about this basket from Doodlebuckets here