Sarah's Treasure Box Pendant Sale!

I am continually amazed by the hearts that come forward in generosity for adopting families. Thank you again for each and everyone who donated a prize or made a donation to the Rippee's fundraiser. I'm still working on contacting some of the winners. If you have won something and have not emailed me your home address or contact email please do so ASAP!

And with that fundraiser behind us and lots of room moving forward, I am super-glad to announce a One Day Pendant Sale at http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahstreasurebox!

Sarah and her husband operate an etsy shop called Sarah's Treasure Box. They are adoptive parents themselves and are blessing other adoptive families by "paying it forward" with the opportunity to have $5 from EVERY pendant that is sold on October 5th to go to The Rippee's Adoption Fund!

WOW!

OCTOBER 5th is The Rippee's Day!

And it's coming up fast. Can you help spread the word?

Could you blog about it?

Twitter about it?

Tell your neighbor?

Tell your friend?

Your Mom?

Your sister?

Your Adoption Chat group?

Just check out all the cool faith pendants and adoption ones too, more being added daily so check often as she restocks her store before the big Oct. 5th day!

The necklace pendants range from $7.99 to $16.99 (a wee bit more if you choose the custom design option listed.) It's a super price for a little bling! Especially bling-with-a-cause.

Here's what you do:

1• Go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahstreasurebox

2• Choose some super sweet neck wear for your favorite people for Christmas, Birthday or Just Because.

3• When you check out on October 5th, MAKE SURE TO PUT A NOTE THAT IT IS FOR THE RIPPEE'S FUNDRAISER.

That's it! (The sale that donates to the Rippee's is only on Oct. 5th AND the note designating it for The Rippee's is what will get them the $5/pendant so don't forget that!)

Here are a few more ideas of who to buy a pendant for:

That Hard to Buy For School Teacher

A Sunday School Leader

Your Faithful Mail Carrier

Your Sweet Bloggy Friend

Your Mom

Your Sister-In-Law

Your girly-girls

Your Secret Sister

Your little girl's best-est friend

Your baby-sitter

Your Operation-Giggle child (if she's old enough)

... Yourself ...

My goal for this fundraiser? Two-Hundred.

Seriously ... this is so do-able if you help spread the word and won't you please?

Oh yes, and International shipping IS available!

And what a conversation starter when you wear your pendant and someone comments on it. You can say that it helped bring a special little girl to her Forever Family and who knows what seeds of faith you may plant!

P.S. Here is a page sized jpg of 6 cut-apart card you can hand out to your friends at church or throughout the week to remind people to donate by buying ON next Tuesday OCTOBER 5th!

12:00AM through 11:59PM

One Day.

It's Gonna Rock.

Blessings!

Valerie

Here are a few more of my favs from Sarah's Treasure Box.

Dad Has Returned!

As most of you know, Randy made a trip back to the states for his dad's surgery. I purposely didn't publish the dates he was gone as it isn't something you want to advertise publicly. He has now returned and we are all so joyful!! Dad was missed so very much by the girls and myself. Things weren't exactly easy around here while he was gone. 16 days was a terribly long time for all of us and especially these girls!! I was just getting to write up some of our experiences of dad's absence if you'd like to read all about it, you can go to the following website http://chinaloveministries.blogspot.com/ You can also read plenty of stories of what all goes on at the Forever Home!

Now, we will be working on getting our physicals completed and sent in to our caseworker. I talked with her this past week and she is still lacking a few pieces of paperwork that our agency is collecting due to the fact that we live outside the states. I do not yet know how much longer this will be before completion, but these sort of things are never fast enough for the family involved!! I'm sure that many of you, who have also adopted or are in the process, can relate to this quite well. Anyway, that's the latest on the adoption progress.

Update

I just thought I'd also mention that Randy's dad's surgery went quite well and he is out of ICU into a regular room. He's supposed to be in the hospital for a total of about 5-6 days. Thank you so much for lifting up this situation!!

And the Winners Are!!

I have listed the prizes and the winners in the order we drew the names. A special thank you to all of you who have donated these absolutely wonderful prizes!! Congratulations to all our winners! Please be sure to email Valerie { almquist(at)fmtcs(dot)com --remove the (at) and (dot) and replace with @ and . } with your mailing address so that she can send you your prizes.

Again, thank you so much for your generosity and encouraging words!! And now.....the list of winners!!!

MeiFaith Studio (Shelley): two stunning pieces of jewelry from her etsy-site

1.) PURPLE PASSION SET --The winner is: Ella Bella Designs

2.) THE FAR EAST Pendant—The winner is: Michele Corday (HeMoves Mountains)

It's Poppy Dip (Sallee):
3.) An adorable size 5T dress—The winner is: Caleb & Christy Phillips

Firefly Photo Jewelry (Shawna): Two beautiful necklaces

4.) I Love You to the Moon Hand Stamped Soldered Pendant Necklace—The winner is: Shannon Miller

5.) Handstamped adoption necklace- Born In My Heart.--The winner is: Caleb & Christy Phillips

6.)Kay Bratt: an autographed copy of the Encore edition of Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage . --The winner is: Molly Wilcox

7.)Scarlet Threads: Scarlet Threads apron --The winner is: Caleb & Christy Phillips

8.) GirlyGirl Bowtique Package—The winner is: Caleb & Christy Phillips

9.) Girly Girl Bowtique: $20 Gift Certificate --The winner is: Rufflestiltskins
(this was something I WON last Fall when I gave my VERY first donation to an adoption fundraiser. WHAT A BLESSING to include it as a prize here!!! My prayer before checking to see if I had won THAT give-away was that God would use the winners to answer deep prayers from the heart. Wow. God is SO cool!)

10.) Junk Posse (Tracy): a gorgeous "China Necklace," valued at $70.00! --The winner is: Vicki Cupp

Jewels of My Heart (Daleea): 2 packages of 5.47" x 4.21" notecards

11. "LuLu Friendship Note Cards" --The winner is: Kim0

12.) "Sophie Friendship Note Cards."–The winner is: Ashley, reynoldsmommy at gmail.com

13.) Debbie Gentile: "Sisters" Photo, matted 8x 10 black and white photo ready for framing!--The winner is: Sarah Tien

14-28.) Heather: FIFTEEN! ultra-funky camera straps.

The winners are:

14. Kay Bratt

15.Tara Anderson

16. Angie Sanders

17. Mary Kim Herndon

18. Donna Luce

19. Michele Leonard Pompei

20. Christian Hayes

21. KRISF

22. Mary Howard

23. Angela Karum

24. Chris from The Land of Cheese

25. Vicki Cupp

26. nightowl

27. Stephanie (Ni Hao Yall)

28. Football & Fried Rice


29.) Heather: a $50.00 gift certificate to Amazon.com! --The winner is: Tara Anderson

30.) Ruffled Feathers (Valerie): $25 gift certificate from RuffledFeathersCompany.blogspot.com—The winner is: Timothy Tien

31.) Rufflestiltskins (Melanie): a gift certificate for $50.00 toward anything through her website, rufflestiltskins.com--The winner is: Gretchen

32.) Wheat and Wildflowers (Kimberly): a $50 gift certificate to anything in her store of the winner's choice.--The winner is: Vicki Cupp

Molly

33 and 34.) Two handcrafted and designed, beautifully-beaded wrist-watches.

33. The winner is: Mandi Yager

34. The winner is: Mary Kim Herndon

Ruffled Feathers (Valerie)

35.) a little painted chair.

Dimensions are 23"h x 12"w x 12"d—The winner is: Molly Wilcox

Wit & Wisdom Interior Lettering (Valerie)

36.) $30.00 gift certificate toward a custom designed vinyl wall art saying from Wit and Wisdom Interior Lettering. --The winner is: Jenna Hardy

SewShay (Sharon):

37.)The Rainbow Roll—The winner is: Jenna Hardy

http://shopsewshay.blogspot.com (Valued at $18)

ella bella designs

38.) Adoption Announcements Pkg.—The winner is: Sarah McClintock

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ejstoll

39.) Sara (donation by her from Jewels of My Heart):The winner is: Sara McClintock

a bracelet of the WINNER'S Choosing from Daleea's 3,000 Bracelets Campaign to bring her daughter home!

http://orphaned-no-more.blogspot.com/

Baby Be Blessed Dolls

40.) a gift certificate of $56! Enough to cover a PERSONALIZED doll including s/h!—The winner is: Mary Kim Herndon

As This Fund-Raiser Draws to a Close

I just wanted to let you know that as this fund-raiser draws to a close, we are thankfull for many many things. We especially want to thank you for your prayers and encouraging words that mean so much to us. We also want to thank you for your financial generosity. Thank you for helping us to spread the word about our adoption. All these things have meant so very much to us!! Words cannot possibly express all the love we feel in our hearts for your generosity!! I also wanted to reassure you that I've received all your comments, donations so far, and have spent much time in the last few days making sure the counts are right and that everyone has the proper amount of entries. I have to say, we have a few with really high counts--50-80 believe it or not due to very large donations they've given!! We have truly been blessed by everyone from the smallest donation to the largest, for your comments and encouraging words, and help in spreading the word so we can make this adoption a reality and our special girl finds her forever family!! I will continue to check email and such up until drawing time and announce the winners tonight, which will be your tomorrow morning on the 10th. Good luck in the drawing and God bless you all for your generosity!!!

Final Hours!--Don't Miss Out!

The drawing for the FORTY really cool prizes ends tonight!!!
September 9th at midnight.

I wish it could go on forever ... but then again, wouldn't you all like to have some winners?!
I think Chip-In is going to shut down early ... I'm not sure what's up with that ... but I see the clock will end around 6pm CST as it stands right now. HOWEVER!!! If you still want to donate we will honor your donations and other entries through midnight!! Simply email rita with the address on the sidebar:
ritasblessings(at) gmail (dot) com
OR me
almquist (at) fmtcs (dot) com

We will let you know an address where to send anything you might wish to add to the pot and also cheerfully enter you in the drawing!

ALSO, make sure to post a comment to ANY of these posts to let us know what entries you qualify for. They will roll over through our email and you'll be entered. Just need to leave a comment :-)
ie: Valerie 1. blog post (address to the blog) 2.) button on my sidebar 3.) donated (although Rita will know that via Chip In or your email to her or I. 

And make sure we have a way to contact you ... in case you win!

SO Post, Blog, FB, put that button up, call your neighbor or your friend or your sister ... it's amazing to see the drops flowing in and the thermometer rising!

To Him be the glory!

Tomorrow at Midnight

Tomorrow at midnight the GREAT-BIG-GIVE-AWAY  for The Rippee Family's Adoption will close!

Have you entered?
Have you prayed for them?
Are you a follower of the site?
Have you put their button on your blog or FB or wrote a post about them?
Have you posted what you've done to make sure we know?

If you have, thank you SO much!! If you are still thinking about it, please don't wait too long and miss out. There are an immense amount of VERY COOL prizes.

FORTY PRIZES to be exact.

Beautiful jewelry, rockin' lil' girl stuff, some things that would make great Christmas gifts for you or someone in your family or with which to surprise someone. Seriously, if you win something that you don't exactly need ... maybe the true gift will come when you have the opportunity to bless it forward to someone else! And you just may want to check out the donator's sites because there are GREAT BIG THINGS happening through these generous and creative hearts that have donated here. Many of them have their own journeys underway. Support them!

Here's a brief summary. Please link over to the site/post for a full description! And remember to not only check back after the drawing ends to see if you won, but also continuing forward as there will be some really neat up-coming things you'll want to know about AS WELL AS a photo and introduction of The Rippee's daughter when they get the green light from the official folks. THAT will be such a cool day! I can hardly wait!

Here's the Prize-List:

MeiFaith Studio (Shelley): two stunning pieces of jewelry from her etsy-site

1.) PURPLE PASSION SET 

2.) THE FAR EAST Pendant

It's Poppy Dip (Sallee): 
3.) An adorable size 5T dress

Firefly Photo Jewelry (Shawna): Two beautiful necklaces

4.) I Love You to the Moon Hand Stamped Soldered Pendant Necklace

5.) Handstamped adoption necklace- Born In My Heart.

6.)Kay Bratt: an autographed copy of the Encore edition of Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage . 

7.)Scarlet Threads: Scarlet Threads apron 

8.) GirlyGirl Bowtique Package

9.) Girly Girl Bowtique: $20 Gift Certificate 
(this was something I WON last Fall when I gave my VERY first donation to an adoption fundraiser. WHAT A BLESSING to include it as a prize here!!! My prayer before checking to see if I had won THAT give-away was that God would use the winners to answer deep prayers from the heart. Wow. God is SO cool!)

10.) Junk Posse (Tracy): a gorgeous "China Necklace," valued at $70.00! 

Jewels of My Heart (Daleea): 2 packages of 5.47" x 4.21" notecards

11.) "LuLu Friendship Note Cards" and 

12.) "Sophie Friendship Note Cards." 

13.) Debbie Gentile: "Sisters" Photo, matted 8x 10 black and white photo ready for framing!

14-28.) Heather: FIFTEEN! ultra-funky camera straps. 


29.) Heather: a $50.00 gift certificate to Amazon.com! 

30.) Ruffled Feathers (Valerie): $25 gift certificate from RuffledFeathersCompany.blogspot.com

31.) Rufflestiltskins (Melanie): a gift certificate for $50.00 toward anything through her website,  rufflestiltskins.com

32.) Wheat and Wildflowers (Kimberly): a $50 gift certificate to anything in her store of the winner's choice. 

Molly

33 and 34.) Two handcrafted and designed, beautifully-beaded wrist-watches. 

Ruffled Feathers (Valerie)

35.) a little painted chair. 

Dimensions are 23"h x 12"w x 12"d

Wit & Wisdom Interior Lettering (Valerie)

36.) $30.00 gift certificate toward a custom designed vinyl wall art saying from Wit and Wisdom Interior Lettering. 

SewShay (Sharon):

37.)The Rainbow Roll

http://shopsewshay.blogspot.com (Valued at $18)

 ella bella designs

38.) Adoption Announcements Pkg.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ejstoll

39.) Sara (donation by her from Jewels of My Heart):

a bracelet of the WINNER'S Choosing from Daleea's 3,000 Bracelets Campaign to bring her daughter home!

http://orphaned-no-more.blogspot.com/

Baby Be Blessed Dolls

40.) a gift certificate of $56! Enough to cover a PERSONALIZED doll including s/h!

THANK YOU for the GENEROUS donations from:

Mei Faith Jewelry

It's Poppy Dip

Kay Bratt

Heather

Scarlet Threads

Girly Girl Bowtique

JunkPossee

Jewels of My Heart

Debbie

Rufflestiltskins

Wheat and Wildflowers

Firefly Photo Jewelry

Wit and Wisdom 

Ruffled Feathers

SewShay

ella bella designs

Sara 

The Home Study Visit

This has been one busy week! Not only was our social worker here, but on the last day she was here, some guests from out of town arrived. They called me the day before and said they were coming to New Day and wanted to visit us at our home. Then even the same day, later in the evening, we had a very important Skype call to the US for paperwork. Sooooo, our social worker is here all morning doing interviews, our guests arrive during that time and have to wait until she is finished, then when they leave that evening, we are busy doing the important Skype call!! Oh and one more thing that day, as it it wasn't enough!! It was the girls first day back to school! So we're also trying to home-school them and shuttle the others back and forth to New Day for preschool and Serena to her new Chinese teacher. Needless to say, it was difficult for the home schoolers (Shawna, Elise, and Elizabeth) who had little help from us that day! Shawna and Elise work well on their own with questions here and there so they did fine. Elizabeth (who does an English program), however, is only in the first grade which pretty much requires a full-time parent. Whew!! What a day! I was glad that day was over!! But a little more about our home-study visit.

On Tuesday, our social worker arrived to begin our home-study. We had several hours of interviews and a home inspection. She was here 2 days. She interviewed Shawna and Elise, boy were they nervous! I kept telling them not to be nervous, just be open and honest. When asked how they felt about all the foster kids, Shawna said she said it was good but hard sometimes. I told her that was a good, honest answer--nothing wrong with that! They did fine. All went well to our knowledge and we just have to get our hands on a few pieces of paperwork before it can all be finished up. Although we asked, we really didn't get an answer to when it would be completed. She definitely did not want to be pinned down to a time-frame. Our agency quoted us a 6-8 week time-frame if memory serves me right. We still need to get our physicals done for the whole family. Since we can't go to our local doctor as if we were in the states, we have to locate someone here who can do fill out the forms in English and run all the required tests. Hope it's not too difficult a task! All this needs to wait until Randy returns from the states. I'll locate the place and make an appointment while he's gone. As soon as he returns, we can get it done. There's also a couple of documents we have to get, other than that, we've already given her most everything else. It's always a relief when one more step is accomplished in this journey! We will rejoice together when the home-study is complete and in our hands! Until then, just keep it all lifted up. By the way, as soon as we have this, we will be able to begin to apply for grants.

Preparation

As we prepare for the social worker to come this week to do our home-study, our family also prepares for another journey. Last week while making all the preparations to get the social worker here, we received some distressing news and were also making preparations for Randy to return to the states. His father has had cancer and a couple of tumors already removed and a round of chemo therapy done only to have it return again. Now the entire bladder must be removed. His father had his 80th birthday in March so having a surgery like this is concerning. Keep this situation lifted up along with the adoption process.

The Home Study Begins

The last few days we've been working with the social worker to get her here to do our home-study. She lives in Shanghai and needs to travel to Beijing to do ours, and another family's home-study. Although we don't know many other details, we have made her plane and hotel reservations to arrive on Tuesday, August 31st. She will be here a couple of days to do the study. Are we nervous? You bet!! I'm not sure why, as we've been through this a couple of times previous when we got our other 2 precious daughters, but there is just something unnerving about having a complete stranger come in and laying out your entire life. You want to make a good impression and also make sure that everything is open and honest without any misunderstandings or hidden areas. Yet, I guess that is the hardest part, it is just hard to do that with a complete stranger. It's something we are only accustomed to doing with people we've come to know over time and became close to. It's something revealed over a much longer process of time and not just a few days or some home-study sessions. Anyway, we will be glad when that part is over and we can move on to more paperwork and yes, the real prize of course--the child!! Oh, how we'd love to give a few hints or be able to reveal this wonderful, special girl!!! But.....we must wait until we get the go ahead from our agency. Oh what a day that'll be!! I know that you'll be rejoicing with us!!

Moving Along Slowly but Surely

I know it's been awhile since we posted anything on our progress. We've been waiting on our agency to send us some paperwork to begin the home-study process. Our adoption process will be a bit different than others as we will be applying for grants and fund-raising. As soon as the home-study is finished, we can then apply for grants and move a bit faster. Anyway, now that we are pre-approved and our agency's social worker has now returned back to China, we can schedule an appointment to begin this process. Of course, none of this can happen soon enough for us!! We are very anxious and just as soon move like the wind on this, but alas, we must be patient!!

The Day We've All Waited For!

Last week was quite a stressful week as twice they came back wanting more specifics and for us to produce extra paperwork!! I have to say, however, it has all paid off as we got up this morning to hear that we officially have pre-approval!!!!! I can't tell you how excited we were! I do have bad news, or not so pleasant news. Although we were told by our agency earlier that once we got pre-approval, we'd be able to name our daughter, they told us this morning that they don't yet want us to. I know it's frustrating!! But, we do want to abide by what they say, so we will not. The best news is we have pre-approval and can proceed with the adoption. As soon as we get the go ahead, we will give as many details as we can on who this new daughter is.

They've already sent us things to begin preparing for the home-study. We hope that will begin in a couple of weeks. We'll keep you posted on the process. Thanks so much for all your prayers and encouraging words while we anxiously waited for our pre-approval. Now, the second request is getting the finances to fund the adoption:) I know that He will provide--all we have to do is trust Him and follow His lead in how to go about it all!

Savoring the Journey

I feel compelled to post today as my heart is anxious from the waiting ... and waiting! 

And just in case you are anxious too, I wanted to share something that keeps coming to mind and covering over my heart like a blanket. I'm not even sure where it comes from ... but I think I have an idea because it comes in a quite hush that is deep.

It's the word. SAVOR.

I'm going to take you back to THIS post and the words to this song by Chris Tomlin. Add in the obvious "G" word in the blank:

Our ___ is greater 
Our___ is stronger
 ___  you are higher than any other ...
Our___ is healer
Awesome in power.
Our ___ ... our ___ .
And if our___ is for us
Then who could ever stop us?
And if our___ is with us
Then who could ever stand against us?

It was what I was singing and dancing to with my 2 yr. old while lifting up good thoughts about a BIGGER plan that is taking shape beyond this one family's journey. I know that my heart has a little bit of trouble at times wondering how long this is going to take. Why is this a marathon and not a 50 yard dash? What could possibly be the purpose of this?? Why? Why? Why? I feel like an antsy 4-yr. old over this!

But have you ever just felt your heart so full of hope? It's a feeling like right before you open a present ... so many good unknowns ... so much potential ... the anticipation, the love, the hope ... is bubbling over from something like that. And I am so filled with that right now ... like the top of the climb on a roller coaster. I hear the slow clink-clink-clink as the track disappears when it reaches the top of the hill and it seems that I can see forever into the distance ... it is then that I realized that I don't want to hurry the appreciation along so fast that I forget to SAVOR it. RELISH it. GRASP it.

Yes, I want to rip the paper off of this "gift" for the Rippee's and find out all the details and celebrate! But I'm reminded to slow down and just SAVOR the moment of anticipation and wonder at all that is being done that we cannot see, the hearts and minds that may be changing through the hoops and challenges this family is going through to make this girl their own. And yes, the journey is part of the gift. (See this post here for a GREAT story that I posted about last year!) It's good to be reminded of that.

So it has been laid on my heart to SAVOR this time, SAVOR all the work that has gone into the process, SAVOR the joy of anticipation that His hope brings. SAVOR that He is good. And through that, SAVOR the idea that the joy will build and the glory to Him will overflow in His time.

Yes, the journey is part of the gift. And my anxious heart will just have to learn to SAVOR these moments.

Blessings,

Valerie

Good News

This morning we received an email from our agency that they have everything they needed. Our paperwork has been resubmitted to the CCAA and they tell us "hopefully we will have a decision soon." So...........continue to keep this uplifted. Thanks so much for standing with us and we are believing that the next post will be to introduce our new daughter!!

Delays, Delays!

All the paperwork asked for was submitted to the agency and they have more questions and possibly more paperwork to be done. I know, I know, we were hoping to have it all finished up and get a decision (favorable of course!) soon. Naturally, we rather have it all right and the best it can be so whatever it takes is our thing! I hate to disappoint, but any of you that have done or know about the adoption process, these things are not uncommon. As soon as we know more, I'll let you know. Thanks for standing with us!

Ruffled Feathers: Skirts With Heart

Ever ruffle feathers? Well, sometimes it can be a good thing. I've definitely been ruffling some feathers recently with my family of ALL boys. Check out my newest creations of "Ruffled Feathers Skirts" at:
almyfamilyjournal.

So what's the scoop? Well, I love making skirts and dresses for little girls ... and after donating several skirts to the Love Without Boundaries fundraiser in April as well as a few other adoption fundraisers, I decided to keep "ruffling."  Instead of wasting this passion by just letting it sit idle, I'm "ruffling some feathers" in my passion for orphans and in particular for The Rippee Family. I even have a new lead model Chloe who really puts some F.U.N. into modeling these skirts and dresses--check it out! 

Everything sold through this summer will be split 3 ways between cost, my church's basement flooding repair and The Rippee's Fundraiser ... AND you get something spunky and new to wear to church or school!

Available now are skirts starting at $21 and apron dresses for $35. (Scroll down through my recent posts or check the post history on my sidebar. You can leave me a comment on the almyfamilyjournal site or email me at almquist at fmtcs dot com  (replace the words (at and dot) with the appropriate symbols.)

Blessings! --Valerie

No Word Yet!

Hi guys, I know you are all wondering if we've heard and I just wanted to let you know that we still have not. Waiting is so hard isn't it?!! Especially when it's something as important as a child! We have long completed the extra paperwork they required, but think others are still in the process of completion and they will refile as soon as it is all received. I promise, as soon as we hear, we'll let you know something! In the meantime, please continue to lift up our situation and pray for favorable news!! Thank you for being so patient!!

Another Blessed Addition!-Baby Be Blessed Doll Gift Certificate

BabyBeBlessed Dolls

Another blessing is being added to the bounty of the give-away! And how perfect for a fundraiser for the adoption of a little girl--a gift certificate for a doll! But not just any doll. This is a doll from BabyBeBlessedDolls and if you are not already familiar with them, hold onto your heart because they are SO adorable!

See?!
Isn't your heart all floppy and full now?!
Here is a little bit about BabyBeBlessed:

"Baby be Blessed  is a doll m*nistry.   We are a family of stay-at-home Chr*st*an Mommies who love the L*rd and desire to share His hope and truth!  Each handmade doll has the Word of G*d printed on a patch sewn to their belly.  Our mission and  deepest desire is for each child to come to know, understand and live for J*sus Chr*st.  

 

We pray that each child who receives a Baby be Blessed Doll would be ready to hear, accept and embrace that truth! We encourage each parent to stand on the strong foundation of G*d's Word and to teach it. We pray that these dolls would be a part of the tools you would use to do that."

"Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

(I've added the * in places to keep this website a bit safer for those reading it in restricted places--please understand that this is to help keep this blog open to more people and not meant to take anything away from His glory! Thanks for understanding!)

Look at these tummies!

And the folks at BabyBeBlessed have generously donated a gift certificate of $56! Enough to cover a PERSONALIZED doll including s/h! 

I am already so excited for all the winners. Can this fundraiser get any better?! 

Check out their site at

http://babybeblesseddolls.com/

They also have pre-made dolls (both girls and boys and animals) and doll accessories and clothing. 

And also a separate blog found here: http://babybeblessed.blogspot.com

Remember you can donate via the ChipIn link OR email rita or me (valerie) for a mailing address to send a check (yes, this is one more step for you, but it assures that all the funds go to The Rippees AND still WILL absolutely get you entered into the drawing!)

Blessings!--Valerie