Tis the Season

The holiday season is all about...opening our wallets?  No, this is not another post about how we are over-indulgent Americans frolicking mindlessly through shopping malls, spending massive amounts of money on useless things for ourselves while there are people all over the world living on less than $1 a day.  While I do agree with that 100% (self included), The Advent Conspiracy has already done it much more artfully than I and they have background music.  Actually, I'm here to ask you to 

OPEN YOUR WALLETS!

WHAT?!

It's true!  They're already open wide so why not spend some money on these fabulous, amazing, wonderfully awesome opportunities for you to give, give, GIVE!  And, some of them will even help you cross stuff off your Christmas shopping list at the same time.  It's a WIN-WIN!

1.   Christmas Music for Jack.  Guitar Hero is MY Guitar Hero.  I was hopelessly wooed when he performed a song that he wrote as a wedding present for our friends Glen and Lisa at their wedding.  Totally swoon-worthy.  Well, now you can hear him croon out some Christmas tunes and the profits from the sale of the CD will be donated to off-set the adoption costs for Jack!  Jack is a favorite of many of us in the adoption community whose hearts have broken reading in his description where he asks families visiting his orphanage, "Do you know if they have found a mother for me?  Do you know someone who would want a boy like me?"  Yes, Jack!  We do!  Several families, including our dear friends Joy & Dave have tried to commit to adopting Jack but it hasn't worked out.  The adoption requirements in his country are very strict.  Now, Jack FINALLY has an officially committed family but they need help raising funds so Dave put together this album with Guitar Hero and several of our friends from church as a fundraiser.  Can you say, "LOVE"?!  Adopting from Jack's country is mucho expensivo.  Please consider purchasing the album from iTunes, CD Baby, or Google Play and helping to bring Jack home!

2.  The Little Boy of Her Dreams.  My friend Shauna has dreamed since she was a girl in high school of adopting a child with Down Syndrome.  How can you NOT help fulfill a dream like that?!  Look at that sweet face!  Her little guy is in Eastern Europe and have I mentioned that adoption is mucho expensivo?  Their family has been blessed with some fun donations for a giveway - an iPad Mini and a Keurig.  All you have to do for a chance to win is DONATE and SHARE and then tell her about it here!  That's it!  But, she's not done yet.  Until this Saturday (12/8), Funky Fish Designs is also doing a fundraiser for the Saubers' adoption costs.  Make sure to mention "Saubers Adoption" in the notes for your purchase and they will get credit toward their adoption.  I LOVE Funky Fish jewelry and so will the people on your Christmas list!!

I had one more giving opportunity but it's not needed now because the purchase of a new building for some Dominican orphans has been FULLY FUNDED!  Now, THAT'S a home for the holidays.  However, if you'd still like to give, they would love to have extra funding to buy furniture and other household items for the orphanage.

Thanks to all of you, my generous friends and readers.  May this Christmas season bring peace, joy and reflection on the most blessed gift of all, a small baby, born in a manger, who came to save the world from itself.

Merry Christmas!