Due to my HopeChest Project and the HIGH number of T shirts I have to roll & pack & mail out this next week… please hold off on contacting me about “Pick My Country.” I promise I will be available when all the T shirt craziness is over.  I appreciate your understanding & excitement about the new fundraising project- Adoption in a Box!!  I can’t wait to help you!!!

My crazy readers, here’s an update on what’s coming up next …

• Adoption Life LIVE & Adoption 101.- I really want to know what you are interested in learning more about in the adoption process. Please leave me a comment if you have any suggestions for live talk video and adoption talk.  I want to be a source of encouragement to you from A to Z.
• Wednesday WOW Recipes- we’ll start back up with tasty yummy non-beefy recipes to please our crazy families.
• Fun, Family Photos, Flips, Games & Giveaways- we will continue to have lots of fun here at My Crazy Adoption!!  I LOVE Giveaways and appreciate the special donations I receive to give to you.  Adoption Tuesday Trivia series will start back up again and I need your interaction to make it a helpful tool for families.
• Mommyhood stories, Mommy DIY crafts and activities to do with your kids.
• My Personal Crazy Picks-  things that I love.
• Please keep adding your personal photos up on Your Photos and your blog links at Inspired Links.
• We’ll end our week with scripture and meditations on Simply Sunday.

When do you bring back your Simply Love T shirts?

• My adoption Simply Love shirts are Coming back Soon – First, I need to get all the HopeChest T shirts out in the mail.  I don’t want to confuse anyone, but our 2 Simply Love T’s- Women & Men’s Man Up styles will be available again in Feb.  100% of proceeds goes directly into our adoption account.  We are also adding Youth to the batch- copy cat of the grown up T’s, but in black.

• Big Surprise- I will officially launch in 2 weeks…“Pick My Country” Package for fundraising families or groups that want to spread some love.  I like to call it- Adoption in a Box.  We are introducing 9 new Simply Love Countries for you to pick and use for your own personal fundraisers, projects, mission trips, travel groups and more.  I have prayed for an opportunity to help others raise the necessary funds for their own adoptions.  We’re all in this together!!  You will receive a detailed virtual packet with photos to download, fundraising ideas and details on ordering your own T shirts.  The most exciting news- if you are the first to order a “Pick My Country” you get to name the T shirt.  Africa- Zoie, Russia- Lanie, and China- Annie, but the rest are up for grabs!! Also, if there is a country you want, but it is not listed-  We can custom design your Simply Love Country in 1-3 days.  I will officially launch the new project in 2 weeks (after I mail out almost 700 HopeChest T shirts! whooohooo)

• Countries Available for “Pick Your Country”:  USA, China, Africa, Napal, Haiti, Russia, India, South Korea, ?

Sneek Peek- Simply Love China

Please follow Crazy Me- join Blog Frog and let’s stay in touch!!  You can add your own blog link- just click.

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Big News for my crazy readers!

As of today, we have sold 650 HopeChest T shirts!!  I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I know Tom Davis and the children are jumping up and down right now in Africa!  Please join me and praying that we hit 600+ by Feb. 1st!  Together, lets break some crazy T shirt records!

We’ve exceeded the 400 goal and are now opening up to older kids…we have set a new goal for HopeChest Project “Shirts For Shoes” Please pray we can sell an additional 200 T shirts to provide new shoes for OLDER orphans at the Kolfe Orphanage in Ethiopia. Their shoes cost 3x more $.  Please donate now-Click Here.

Do you see these orphans….

and these smiles…

and this adorable craziness…

and these 3 miracles…

Can you wrap your hearts around an orphan’s reality?

Micah 6:8 (The Message)

⁸But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously.

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Hubby and I needed a treat last night, so we grabbed the baby and headed for ice cream. We got home and had a little creamy surprise (this is a first) I wonder what was going on in her cute little head?  This 40 second Flip will make you laugh.

Have a fun Friday…

Do something crazy…. Click button everyday 2 Vote- that’s it to make My Crazy Adoption #1 mommy blog.

I just asked Hannah to randomly pick a number between 1 and 35…. she has not read any of the comments, but I did and loved reading why you wanted to win the 2 HopeChest Simply Love T shirts.  I wish I could send all of you a T, but the WINNER for the romantic giveaway is #5…. here is your winning comment:  Congrats & email me!!

Jenn says: January 27, 2010 at 9:16 AM

I’m so happy you hit the 400 shirts mark! I’m praying for the extra 100 (or 200!).  Who wouldn’t want a shirt to help spread orphan awareness?!?!?! I want it because I bought one for me and the kids and now dh could match us too!

Crazy Update: We’ve exceeded the 400 goal and are now opening up to older kids…we have set a new goal for HopeChest Project “Shirts For Shoes” Please pray we can sell an additional 200 T shirts to provide new shoes for OLDER orphans at the Kolfe Orphanage in Ethiopia. Their shoes cost 3x more $. Please donate now!!

I LOVE romance and I LOVE Giveaways = combine the two for a special Valentines Day happy just for you & your sweetheart.  All you need to do to win 2 HopeChest Project T shirts is leave me a comment and share with me why you want this giveaway.  This is a 3-day Giveaway, so feel free to enter 1 time a day. I will announce the winner right here in 3 days!

Giveaway- a value $75 of crazy love.

Couples, even if you don’t win, please be a part of our HopeChest Project and help us reach our new goal of 600 T’s by Feb. 1st!!!

You win…

• 2 HopeChest Project T shirts- you pick style & sizes.
• 2 autographed books- As Long As We Both Shall Love by Gary Smalley & Ted Cunningham.

Winner- email me so I can get all your mailing information.

Will you do me a big favor?  Please take the time to help My Crazy Adoption win #1 Top Mommy Blog.  Just click on this cute button & it automatically grabs your vote- that’s it.  Click & Click- you can vote everyday for craziness!!  We only need 300 votes to jump up to #3rd place today.

Here’s the neat thing, we have pictures of the kids who can be YOUR Valentine!  Here are 3 boys who need shoes and shirts. Guess what?  You can be an even better Valentine by actually sponsoring these boys!  All 3 (and 47 more) at Kolfe Youth Orphanage need families to step up to sponsor them!  Sponsorship means $34/month and the ability to have a relationship with him through letters!

Email David Held at

I wanted to let you know when to expect your HopeChest T shirts in the mail. Special note: customers who received an email confirmation from Paypal that your shirts had been shipped out-  not yet, sorry for confusing you.  I was organizing things & didn’t realize it send that notice out.  We had a huge snow storm in my neck of the woods, so UPS did not deliver my first HUGE T shipment.  We will start with a bang and T shirts will start mailing out next week- 2/1 and on.  It’s just me & a few crazy friends, rolling and packing and mailing out your shirts- pray:)

We want to help save HopeChest every penny we can and order T shirts in bulk, therefore we do not have inventory.  I just called in a HUGE order today of T shirts- every order from Day 1 through today. I was told I should expect to receive the first shipment of shirts at the end of the week.  I have a crazy team of friends helping me roll, package & mail out your T’s!! Our goal is for everyone to receive their shirts BEFORE Valentine’s Day!! I will continue to call in orders in bulk through Feb. 1st. Thank you for understanding and your incredible support!

HopeChest Project New Goal:  600 for 600
The bottom line- We need to sell 600+ T shirts for the 600 orphans to receive their new pair of shoes & a new shirt. Please continue to pray that we reach our goal of 600 by Feb. 1st!!  It helps so much when you share our project with your friends via FB, Twitter, Blogs and email.  Your enthusiasm and passion for this project has been overwhelming to me, Tom Davis and HopeChest!!  You are making a special difference in the lives of orphans in Ethiopia. 

(all photos used with permission from Tom Davis and HopeChest)

We have a brand new video LIVE from Tom Davis who is currently in Africa- just dropping by to say hi to us today!!  Our friend ROCKS like crazy!!  We are getting so close to our goal of 400… this morning we hit the 350th T shirt mark!!!  Please join me this week, spreading the news about HopeChest Project and pray that God allows us to fulfill our goal of 400 T’s to take care of 400 orphans (or more!!)  Lets make this Valentine’s Day all about Simply Love.

Did you know you can sponsor a HopeChest child today?

UPDATE TODAY 1/25-  only 7 more orphans left to sponsor.  God is so faithful… thank you for opening up your hearts wide.

What is Kind Hearts?

“Kind Hearts” is a care-point on the southern edge of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.  It is a safe place for children to go during the day and they are able to attend pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade.  The children attending Kind Hearts are identified by the local government as the most needy in the area – many are single or double orphans (meaning they have lost one or both parents) and are living with relatives or neighbors that can barely provide for an additional mouth to feed.  Others may live with a parent but are in an extremely destitute situation.

How can I help?

Tsehaynesh (above) is still waiting for a sponsor family.

HopeChest Orphans Need Food & Love.

“As we noticed their blank looks and lack of excitement, we asked if they had eaten recently. “We are only able to feed the children on Wednesdays,” we were told. Kind Hearts was able to provide a safe place and a basic education, but they could only provide a meal of rice one day each week. Other than that, the children came to school hungry, ate no lunch, and hoped to have a little something in their belly before they fell asleep at night.  I did find out that funds have been so short, that the two teachers/caregivers on staff have not been paid in the last 2 months – and of course, they have families to provide for as well. Hopechest stepped into the gap to pay the staff last month, but going forward, I’d like to find a few families that would be interested in “sponsoring” the teachers. We all know how important teachers are for these kids … education is the difference between a life of opportunity or a life trapped in grinding poverty.”

The other thing that struck me about “Kind Hearts” is the potential to become more self-sufficient and the opportunities to develop micro-business that can benefit destitute women and some of the mothers of the children at Kind Hearts.  Kind Hearts is situated on 10 acres of farmland that can be developed into small business opportunties to fund Kind Hearts and to provide a trade to area women.  We are currently putting together plans for a chicken house – which will not only provide eggs and meat to the children and other area orphanages, but will provide jobs to area women.  The land can also be used to plant seedlings that can be sold to local farmers.  We are also investigating the building of a bridge for a nearby polluted river that many of the children have to cross in order to come to school.  The water is so polluted that the children get sick or get infected sores from the water.  I was there, and I have never been so choked by toxic fumes as when I stood next to that river that the children need to cross in order to attend school at Kind Hearts.

So in addition to the child sponsorship program, we will be raising funds for capital projects like the chicken coop, bridge, textbooks, teacher’s salaries and playground equipment.  If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please contact Karen Wistrom, Kind Hearts Sponsor Coordinator.  If you are interested in giving a one-time gift to fund one of the development projects, please contact Karen or go directly to the Hopechest website at www.hopechest.org, specify the amount of your gift and clearly specify KIND HEARTS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

Please check Karen’s blog regularly for updates from Kind Hearts at www.family-from-afar.blogspot.com. The children at Kind Hearts have already begun to see and feel the impact of their sponsors as food is now available every day!

I am beyond CRAZY EXCITED to announce today a very special mission trip that you can join me, Team Kari – this summer.  I am co-leading a trip with Ashlie Fulmer to Uganda and Ethiopia with Visiting Orphans …we are building a team of 25 crazy, passionate, loving, inspiring, adventurous bloggy friends to join us – July 19th through August 1st on a trip of a lifetime.  I promise you, your life will change forever serving and loving and caring for orphans in Africa!!  Here’s the best part, you & I get to meet Katie Davis, my bloggy hero Kisses From Katie and work side by side with her at Amazima in Uganda.  They will pre-warn Katie that a crazy mom and her team will be leaping out and hugging her to death!  If you are as crazy as I am about orphans, then you will be a perfect team member for Africa in July- BLOG  ( www.africainjuly.blogspot.com)

ETHIOPIA & UGANDA

Apply NOW!

• This trip is available for individual sign ups.

• Dates: July 19th to August 1st, 2010

• Co-Leaders: Ashlie Fulmer & Kari Gibson

• Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia & Jinja, Uganda

Details:  The Uganda portion of this trip will be spent working at Amazima Ministries (http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com) with their feeding program and with the Karamajong children.  Also, we will be working with the orphans at Canaan Children’s Home in Jinja.  If you have never heard of Katie Davis and her incredible ministry, please head to her blog and meet a 21 year old woman of God who serves relentlessly the beautiful children and people of Uganda.  She has adopted 13 precious girls and writes daily about her adventures of crazy love.  You will be inspired!!

The Ethiopian portion of this trip will be spent working with Kid’s Care orphanage, (Zoie’s orphanage) Mother Teresa HIV orphanage, AHope HIV orphanage, children living and working in the dump in Addis Ababa and a ministry for street children.

There will also be a day of ministry at the Ethiopia Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa. I spent the day at Fistula Hospital when I was in Ethiopia bringing home Zoie.  I was stunned by the beauty of the grounds, staff and facility, but the part that pierced my heart were the women- beautiful women who had walked hundreds of miles to seek help from professional treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention.  I was deeply impacted touching the faces, holding hands, hugging and encouraging women who had lost all hope.  FH is a place that brings back hope to the hopeless.  I will never forget the 10 women I met, all lying in beds recovering from a miscarriage.  I was able to share with them, through a translator that I, too had lost a baby boy and that I was so sorry for their loss and prayed for their recovery!  They started crying and I started crying… we had an instant connection of the heart.

You can find out all the details of the July 19th- Aug. 1 Uganda/Ethiopia Mission trip at Visiting Orphans Website. All you need to do is request an application, fill it out and turn in your $200.00 deposit to hold your spot!

The official blog site hosted by Ashlie Fulmer- www.africainjuly.blogspot.com.

Cost of Mission Trip: $3,400.00 (includes everything!!)  This trips will fill up very fast, so contact Amanda Clark (Visiting Orphans Website) to get your application packet today.

A Walk to Beautiful- Fistula Hospital video (2 min)

A Walk To Beautiful Trailer – For more amazing video clips, click here

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My Birthday Happy Just 4 You!

Hannah & Zoie picked the number #25 for my b-day winner.  I’m so blessed reading all your comments & wishes… I wish we could all have cupcakes together right now!  Here is the winning comment- Congrats Becky!!

#25 Becky says January 21, 2010 at 2:30 PM

Happy Birthday Kari… May you continue to inspire & encourage (whether you know it or not) in the coming year as you have in the past… And may you be “BLESSED” like you bless others. Happy Birthday to one of my bloggy “friends”. Love in Christ, Becky.

email me Becky!!

I’m 43 years old today and I wanted to give you a present from me.  I love family, parties, cupcakes, and friends, but I realllly love {GIVEAWAYS}  It would be a little hard for me to mail you cupcakes, so instead I’m giving you a HopeChest Project T shirt and my very favorite handmade Ugandan necklace.  You get to pick the T Design and size- just for you!

This is just a 1 day Giveaway, so please leave me a comment and a birthday wish (I hope they all come true)  At the end of the day- after my birthday cupcakes are gone, I’ll randomly pick a name.  I will announce the winner right here on this post.

What do you win?

• 1 HopeChest T shirt (you pick Design & size)
• and 1 beautiful Ugandan necklace.

My Crazy Winner- email me, so I can give you information on your gifts.  If for some reason, I don’t hear back from you within 48 hrs- I will pick another winner.  Thank you for your understanding.

My birthday wish is that even if you don’t win the giveaway, you would purchase a HopeChest Project T shirt for Valentines Day!  I’m praying for a special goal of 400 T’s by Feb. 1st.  Please help make my wish come true!  xoxo

1 more b-day wish…

Will you do me a big favor?  Please take the time to help My Crazy Adoption win #1 Top Mommy Blog.  Just click on this cute button & it automatically grabs your vote- that’s it.  Click & Click- you can vote everyday for craziness!!  We only need 200 votes to jump up to #3rd place today.

Bloggy friends, I’m ecstatic (yep- I’m jumping around like crazy) to share a miracle with you today for Wednesday WOW- this is the best WOW news ever!!  I’m a brand new Auntie of a beautiful 2 year old named ANTOINETTE “ANNIE” ROSE SMALLEY!!  She currently lives at New Day Foster Home in China and her new family (my family Greg, Erin, Taylor, Maddy & Garrison) received the news today that they have been officially matched with Annie.  The story is miraculous from start to finish, but you’ll have to read their story firsthand on my sister’s blog- It’s A Smalley World.

On a personal note, we started the adoption process 4 years ago and was accepted into the China Program with AWAA. We had prayed for years for clear direction from the Lord about our adoption and dreamed of a daughter waiting for us in China.  God paved the way and we moved forward with our home study and collecting the necessary documents needed for a China adoption.  We had no idea that we would be redirected in such a crazy way- turning upside down all expectations of who our daughter was and where she was waiting for us.  We now understand that typically God does not shine Neon Lights flashing in the direction to move when you are following His ways.  The single reason we could not adopt from China at the time was the fact that my hubby has hearing loss and wears hearing aids in “dual” ears.  The new rules made it impossible for us to move forward with confidence that we would be approved by China’s regulations.  It was painful to say good-bye to our dreams of a China adoption, but we had to trust that God had a different, perfect plan for our family.   We could not have dreamed a baby girl named Senait was waiting for us in Ethiopia.

I want to challenge you to pray, seek, follow your dreams, move forward, set aside all expectations and be willing to go wherever God directs… the miracle waiting will take you to places you never dreamed possible.  Every adoption story is unique and special and challenging and difficult, but the best is yet to come. (I promise!!)  In the end, we received the miracle of a niece from China- God knew all along that my family would expand from Africa to China!  We are celebrating the joys of adoption together!!

Will you do me a big favor?  Please take the time to help My Crazy Adoption win #1 Top Mommy Blog.  Just click on this cute button & it automatically grabs your vote- that’s it.  Click & Click- you can vote everyday for craziness!!  We only need 200 votes to jump up to #3rd place today.

Update- we just hit the 200 T shirt mark.  We need 200 more to go!! It’s been such an amazing week launching the HopeChest Project- we are half way to our goal of providing 400 orphans with new shoes and shirts.  We need to sell 400 Valentines Day HopeChest T shirts to give each child their gift of love.  400 for 400- I don’t want any child left behind!  Please pray for the Project every day and help spread the word.  Last day to order, Feb. 1st.

On a lighter, fluffier note- are there any Cake Boss stalkers fans out there in bloggy land that love this crazy show like I do?  My family loves this tasty, sugary, high energy, fiery tempered reality show with Buddy Valastro and his family.  If you’re feeling lost in the batter, Buddy is one of the most successful and renowned cake artists in the United States. Master baker of Carlo’s City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey, Buddy IS the cake boss. He supervises a team that includes his mother, four older sisters and three brothers-in-law. And when you’re working with family on a daily basis, there is bound to be a lot of drama. The Valastros know drama but and at the end of the day they also know love.

I wish I could have one of his specialty cakes for my birthday.  If I could sit down with Buddy and give him my cake order, I would have him build me a 2 layer red velvet cake with his “dirty icing” in chocolate and covered with butter cream.  My theme is simple- children of the world.  He can make it look scrumptious with his spunky personality and amazing creativity.  What a great way to celebrate my birthday and adoption all in one yummy buttery crumb cake.

Just for fun- if you could order a cake today, what would you pick?

Here’s Buddy’s Recommendations for Wedding and Specialty-Cakes

Red Velvet cake with Vanilla or Cream Cheese Icing
Black and White Cake with Hazelnut Cream
Black and White cake with Chocolate Fudge
Devil’s Food Cake with Chocolate Ganache and Fresh Raspberries
Devil’s Food Cake with Chocolate Mousse, a thin layer of Chocolate Ganache, and Fresh Raspberries or Fresh Strawberries
Vanilla Cake with Lemon French Cream and Fresh Raspberries
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Cake Boss Newbies- take a peek

Will you do me a big favor?  Please take the time to help My Crazy Adoption win #1 Top Mommy Blog.  Just click on this cute button & it automatically grabs your vote- that’s it.  Click & Click- you can vote everyday for craziness!!  We only need 200 votes to jump up to #3rd place today.

Crazy Winner:

I had several break-ins this week- friends trying to steal a peek at the number taped up on my fridge, but my awesome bodyguards kept them at bay.  I promise the number stayed top secret!!  I picked a special number for my giveaway- I’m turning 43 this week, so it’s not hard to guess…. the winning #43!!!!  Some of you were sooooo close, but we can only have one big crazy winner!

Congratulations, Tonya for being the VERY first to guess the #43.  Here’s a look at your comment & proof of your brilliant choice:)  I just need you to email me asap for shirt picks & sizes!

Tonya says:

43

—————————————————————

Welcome to My Crazy Adoption. We love {Giveaways} here! I can’t think of a better reason to have a giveaway to help celebrate – Shirts For Shoes! Get ready, this is a 3 Day Family Giveaway.  You can enter to win until Monday evening- I’ll announce the winner after Zoie goes to bed!

What do you win?

• 2 adult T shirts (you pick Design A or B & size)
• 2 youth T shirts (you pick size)

How do you win?

In honor of the 400 orphans we are providing a new pair of shoes and a shirt- please pick a number between 1 and 400 and leave me a comment. (add your first name)

Bloggy friends, I have already picked a number and it’s taped up on my fridge…no peeking.  The FIRST person who guesses the # or is the closest- wins the family giveaway! If you don’t win, I still want to encourage you to purchase a HopeChest Project T shirt- 100% of proceeds go to our Project!  We want you to wear them together for Valentines Day!

This HopeChest Family {Giveaway} ends late Monday night.  I will announce the winner right here on this post.

Winner- please email me so I can give you information to shop online using your virtual gift certificate.  If for some reason, I don’t hear back from you within 48 hrs- I will pick another winner.  Thank you for your understanding.

Will you do me a big favor?  Please take the time to help My Crazy Adoption win #1 Top Mommy Blog.  Just click on this cute button & it automatically grabs your vote- that’s it.  Click & Click- you can vote everyday for craziness!!

HopeChest News:  Why do the orphans need shoes? Many of the kids in Ethiopia are coming to us with clothing that is either worn out, too small, or even too big. Children who have lost their parents to AIDS are wearing the clothes left behind by mom and dad.

These recent photos show you the need and demonstrate how much a pair of shoes will make a huge difference.

(photographs provided 1-15-09 on Tom Davis Blog)

Please help make My Crazy Adoption #1 top mommy blog- Click button 2 Vote- that’s it!