ALMOST THERE!!!!

OK, so here are the shirts! Designed by me. I kinda love them.  If you would like one, please let me know-cost is $20/shirt.  The come in Youth and Toddler (only in Red) and in Adults they also come in Military Green as well. XS-XXXL.  $5 to ship.  Please contact me if you would like to purchase.

I can't believe this, but to date I have ONLY $409 more to go!   You guys have ALL blow me away with this, and I really am so thankful.  When I considered this trip, we put it all in God's hands that it would all work out.  Whether it was us having the funds (which over time we would) or for people that love us and support us would WANT to help out.  So, it's great to see that it's been a combination of the two.  More so, we have not had to put much $$$ into this, and for that we are very thankful.

Some people, me included have a hard time asking for help to fundraise for an adoption or mission trip.  Sometime you have to put your pride aside, and understand that if it is in the plans, it will happen.  If people aren't willing to take the trip themselves, for whatever reason-i think as God's children, we're all obligated to help those that want to or are able.

When we started this journey to Ethiopia 4 years ago, there was a reason for that.  It's SO clear to us now WHY we went through everything we did.  Thank you God for putting us through complete misery for 3 years, only to find out you had something MUCH bigger planned for us!  WOW, it's SO clear to us, and it's SUCH an amazing thing!

There are MANY emotions that go through my head when I think about my trip back to Ethiopia.  I have faith, I will come back a changed person, once again.  Thank you for BEING THE CHANGE.  Thank you for supporting our cause!!!!

You DID IT!

I am ABSOLUTLY blown away by the generosity of people, especially this time of year.  Everyone is already buying Christmas gifts and getting ready for the biggest time of year! But throught that time, I also wa BLESSED with being a GRANT WINNER fom Ordinary Hero! I know that WE also during this time, CHANGED THE WORLD for ONE!  Donkeys, Sheep and Chickens were purchased for families in Ethiopia! Adorable T's and such like this below were also purchased! Now, I can't exactly see what everyone purchased but I do know who helped during this time-I can't let that go un-noticed! Thank you Thank you Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  I already am giddy with excitment of going, but I also get a tear and bit of a pit in my stomach at the thought of going 10 nights without kissing my babies while their sleeping before bed at night......The difference is, I KNOW our kids will be ok with all the love they have here at HOME.  The children of Kechene need Love.  We need to show them they are LOVED and God knows their name! He knows their name! They are not forgotten.....Please continue to pray!

I have raised, in total almost $1700! WOOT! $1800 is due March 1st, I think I can handle that :) Next up, I am designing a T that we'll be selling, details to come! and AGAIN, THANK YOU so so very much!!!!

One Year Later.......

Ok friends. SO lmost ONE year later, I am taking "THE LEAP".  Both feet are in, and I am on my way to getting my funds raised and saved to head back to Ethiopia in June with Awake & Alive!  First-I MUST THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK you to ALL of you who have already donated in ANY way. 

I have NEVER liked or wanted to ask for "help" in things.  However, I feel when you jump into Mission Work it is truely God's calling.  I have pondered it ever since Rylee came home. I finally got word I am meant to go! Yes, yep I did : )  Can't remember His exact words, but it was something like "You go girl" ! So.......I am

There is not ONE thing in this world that i feel so passionate about.  My children are my passion. My children are from Ethiopia and they have taught my about life.  It's not MY plan. 

So, I am shouting it from the rooftops-I AM GOING BACK TO ETHIOPIA and taking some friends with me! I am blessed. It's not the exact exact people I would have guessed, but they're the ones that have stepped up and said I AM COMING WITH YOU, and i couldn't be more thrilled!!!! Thank you everyone! I am still on the hunt for MORE chicken buyers! We need to get those peeps in Ethiopia their CHICKENS!!!!

ANY purchases made via the Oridnary Hero Store (another amaaaaazing organization that I love!) 40% goes towards my mission trip! AND if I am the TOP affiliate by the end of Saturday I will get an EXTRA $500 towards my travel costs! Plus, it's shopping with a purpose. However, you're more than welcome to buy a realllly cute shirt for yourself or children too-I sure do love their message!  But again, I thank you so very much! I'm going to do BIG things while in country and I can't wait to share it all with you!!!

 

www.ordinaryherostore.org

 

 

 

BLESSINGS~
Meggan A.

Take the Leap

"We would love to adopt, but then my kids would have to share a bedroom"........


These children would LOVE to have A bedroom (photo courtesy of abc news)

"Adoption is so expensive, we just can't afford it"


But we can drive a $40,000 car

"I don't know that I would love an adopted child as much as my biological child"


How could you NOT?

"I'm just over that stage of my life now, I know that sounds selfish"

Older children need homes too

" I would be nervous about a bi-racial family"


I can't imagine it any other way.....


I understand adoption "might" not be for everyone.  And by all means if it really is "NOT" for you-don't do it.  But I believe that true christians CAN do it.  If they put a little bit of their selfishness aside, and take that leap of faith-you can do it.  It's hard not to get frustrated when I hear all of these above things.  As American's  what we have in life, we "expect" we should have it.  For all of you that read what I write, you think about it for a minute, for a day maybe-you ponder it, it might really "touch" you-but then what? The next day, you probably forget, carry about your day and live the typical "american dream".  Or some of you really probably say "Yes, Meggan we get it-adoption is a beautiful thing-but can we talk about something else"-I don't really know, but what I do know is that it's life changing.  So much so that when I hear all the above statements, I can't help but get a pit in my stomach, and feel sorry that someone "doesn't get it".  There are 147 million (and counting) orphans in this world.  A child that is longing to call someone "mommy", someone to have their daddy hug them everysingle day, tuck them in a night and know they are loved unconditionally and they feel safe, at their FOREVER home, with their FOREVER family.....pray about it, take the leap of faith-you won't be sorry.........

"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you" John 14:18

Help purchase a Donkey for Christmas!

http://www.ordinaryherostore.org/Product-Donations-For-Children-In-Africa-c15/

Looking to purchase a donkey to feed children in Africa! If you would like to donate, we are looking for 23 people to donate $10 to help us! Spread the word, message me for payment! $10-and you will help BUY a donkey! A whole donkey for $10! 

Watch for the signs.....

You have all heard me talk about Ordinary Hero before.  They are an amaaazing organization that has definitly impacted where I am today.  They inspire me!  I want to share a little back log of my life, who I was-where I thought I wanted to be and what i thought I needed in my life.

Growing up, I came from a family of 6-a mom and dad 2 brothers and a sister, I am the baby in the family, the youngest of 4. I remember being 6-7 when the cabbage patch dolls came out, I begged for one, my mom took me to the store to get one, well the white ones were all sold out....Hmmm, so what did I do? I cried first of all, but after that my mom picked me out the brown cabbage patch doll. Her name was Gina-Edy.  I loved her.  When I was in high school, I always "said" I wanted a black baby. WHY? I have no idea why at 13, 14 or 15 I would have said that but i remember it. I remember thinking how stinkin' cute.  Well, I went thought high school, dated people from my small lil' town of about 1,000 people-ALL white people. We had one stop light in our town. ONE. There was ONE "major" intersection if we can call it "major" but it had a stop light, so it was major to us-then.  I had 52 people in my graduating class. I was a cheerleader.  I didn't really care if people liked me or not, i just had my group of friends and that was that.

I graduated, went to a local community college in which I thought for child development.  I worked in a preschool for about 2 years, soon I realized "NOPE". Not for me. I decided hey, Cosmetology sounds fun, let's try that.  In that time I started dating Ryan (that back log story is for another time) : )

We got married at the ripe ol' age of 21 and 27, we expected to "have" kids by 23-24.  Well, after 3 ectopic (tubal) pregnancies, lots of crying, sadness and thinking we were being punished we gave IVF a shot.  I produce A LOT of eggs, which in turn produced LOTS of embryos.  Long story short, I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks (baby had passed at 9 weeks 3 days) . It was a baby boy.  But my feelings after hearing those words at my appt. was different than my other losses. At this point I was just MAD. But I also had this feeling come over me that said "stop fighing me"..... I got home, Ryan was there waiting for me and I said to him "we're adopting". He graciously says to me "Babe, whatever you want to do, I am on board, Let's do this".  It wasn't an hour later my girlfriends were here consoling me, supporting me, making me laugh and I was on the computer searching international adoption. It was a moment that I wanted to scream and praise the lord I had finally felt some sort of relief all at the same time.

Fast Forward through all of our process and BOOM-here we are. (If you would like to read our adoption stories, you can visit our family blog here ) Now, onto my point.

After thinking we were being punished by God with all of our failed pregnancies, it was not that at all. My goodness, he was telling us-YOU NEED AFRICA IN YOUR HEARTS!  Our adoptions have done SO mch MORE than giving us 2 beautiful children-as if that wasn't enough!  Some of our closest and most dearest friends are from our adoptions.  I know the word of Jesus Christ SO much more now, and not only do I know the words of Jesus Christ, I LOVE it and I "get it".  The person I used to be would want want want want and think that I needed more more more.   And I'm not gonna lie, most of those wants and "needs" were material things.  The bigger house, more money, the best hand bag, jeans, shoes, etc.  Don't get me wrong, I still love all of those things, and sometimes I do splurge on those items for myself and the children, but not without giving to others first, and doing more for others first.  And definitly not at the rate I used to, not only because i see things differently now but because our lifestyle has changed (at times I thought our world was going to end, turns out we will survive! WHEW! haha) and we just can't anymore.  I have a different passion. And the others i still do love, they just take a different position in my life now days. They're still there, just not quite like they used to be.

So, turns out God had my hand the whole time, from "Gina-Edy" , the failed pregnancies, until now.

This holds true.



Awake & Alive

As the holidays are fast approaching, everyone will begin to get into the madness of shopping, parties, families, etc I wanted to give everyone an opportunity that is so very close, near and dear to our hearts!
We have a very very good friend Jolene Shrock (http://www.awakeandalive.org/) and her friend Danielle, that have started a nonprofit, to help the children of Ethiopia. As a matter of fact they are going to be starting a school in Kechene, Ethiopia! Kechene, Ethiopia is in the slum of Addis.
Some of you might have the tradition of helping a family, organization, group, or something around the holidays-well, this year I am asking if you would donate money to the school of Kechene, ET.  The beautiful thing about this, is I am praying and hopeful that I will be able to go with Awake and Alive on their mission trip next year! I would love to know that I have taken a big chunk of money from all of our friends/family to give to Awake and Alive for this amazing opportunity! 

I am asking that this year, when thinking about what your children "NEED/WANT", to think about the true, NEEDS/WANTS of children that literally have NOTHING.  I am not saying that our children should not be a lil' bit "spoiled" at Christmas, I am just asking to think of what's going on with the children of our world that do not have a family, food, mommy's, daddy's, a home, shoes, clothes, etc, etc etc.  If maybe this year, your children get "one-less" gift and that money is maybe donated to Awake and Alive? Can you do that?  Are you up for the challenge? Can you be the one that can change just one? One child? Click on the link below to donate!

http://www.razoo.com/story/Meggan-Fundraising-For-Awake-And-Alive?referral_code=share