Hello crazy bloggers, if you are new to My Crazy Adoption blog, I want to welcome you!  In case you’re wondering if you heard the rumors correctly – YES YES YES I’m giving away a mission trip with Visiting Orphans Ministry. Well, in honor of my son’s 18th birthday TODAY I’m throwing a mini-giveaway party!

(Happy 18th Michael- we love you!)

This is a Mini Giveaway! I will give away 1 mission trip tee shirt (you pick) and 1 Free Mission Trip entry. This is huge… someone could WIN a mission trip just participating in the mini giveaway fun! Even if you have already purchased a Simply Love/Man Up tee, you can still play the mini!! Please limit to 1 comment only

Here’s what you need to do to enter the mini: (you pick 1)

1.  Add MY CRAZY ADOPTION button on your blog located on the right side column. Just copy & past code.

2.  Shout out on FB, Twitter, or an email blast and share the Mission Trip Giveaway to your friends!

3.  Write a blog post about the Mission Trip Giveaway craziness and inspire your readers to enter the contest!! (you can use any of my posts & pics)

4.  Share with me why you want to win this mission trip giveaway.

Now, leave in the comments how you entered to play the Mini Giveaway today.  I will randomly select a winner and update post [here] on Monday, November 14th. Get ready, get set, goooooo!! Please limit to only 1 comment.

Q- What do I win?

You win 1 mission trip giveaway tee shirt (you pick) and 1 FREE entry to WIN the mission trip!

You can purchase mission trip GIVEAWAY tees here.

 

{UPDATED WINNER}

**Congrats Andrea** Email me your sizes!!!

Are you ready to be a real-life super hero and take the oath to protect, love, and defend the fatherless? Well, every super hero needs a tee shirt to stand tall and boldly testify his commitment to live James 1:27.  I’m giving away 4 tees (2 adult + 2 youth) to a family (singles, too) that faithfully dedicates to simply love orphans together – minus the cape. You can go Up, Up, and Away with NEW super-hero Simply Love tees.

You Pick One to Enter:

(Let me know what you pick)

1. Leave a comment and share who your (or kids) favorite super-hero is.
2. Add My Crazy Adoption button to your blog or blogroll for daily feeds.
3. Share the Super-Hero challenge on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter.
4. Le me know how you would use your super-hero gifts to make a difference?

This is a 3 day GIVEAWAY!  I’ll announce the winner [here] on Monday with an **UPDATED POST**

Check out My Crazy Adoption Store.

You can purchase tees, hoodies, prints, beads, coffee mugs, and more!

{Updated with Winner’s names!!} 

1. Congrats to Chante: “We have adopted a nine year old son from Haiti and a nine year old daughter from Ethiopia. We would love to have this book for our family!”
2. Congrats to Becky: “Our now 5 year old daughter, born in Ethiopia, has been home for 13 months. I would love to read this book, we have felt the effects of so many of the listed losses, feelings, etc.”

When we started our adoption process, a friend gave me the book by Sherri Eldridge. Honestly, it scared me to death! I tried to read a few pages, but it made me feel tense, weepy, and afraid.  I remember talking to Roger about my feelings and he encouraged me to wait until Zoie came home and read it when I felt more confidence with our new daughter. It really was the best advice for me … I think sometimes we can read so many books and helpful advice pre-adoption, it can cause a lot of stress. I’m not a professional, but an adoption coach/cheerleader/mom who has gone through the adoption process from start to finish.

Here is a great list (straight from the book) you can read and gain a sense of understanding about how your adoption son or daughter might be feeling. Zoie is only three years old, but I want to make sure we stay on top of her feelings and validate her unique needs. I’m confident that when challenges or issue surface with our adoption, Roger and I will have some great resources to help us through.

{Giveaway} Today only, I’m giving away 2 copies of the book for 2 special adoption families.  Leave a comment and share with me what country you adopted/or in process of adoption.  I will update this post with the winners names.

Special Mission News: Are you interested in going to Uganda & Kenya in October with Visiting Orphans- GREAT NEWS: We just found out that there is a BOGO sale on airfare for our October 12th to 24th Kenya/Uganda trip. You could save BIG (by $1K-the total trip cost now would be $2300 to $2500) and visit orphans at the same time! Sign up ASAP here:

1. I suffered a profound loss before I was adopted. You are not responsible.

2. I need to be taught that I have special needs arising from adoption loss, of which I need not be ashamed.

3. If I don’t grieve my loss, my ability to receive love from you and others will be hindered.

4. My unresolved grief may surface in anger toward you.

5. I need your help in grieving my loss. Teach me to get in touch with my feelings about my adoption and then validate them.

6. Just because I don’t talk about my birth family doesn’t mean I don’t think about them.

7. I want you to take the initiative in opening conversations about my birth family

8. I need to know the truth about my conception, birth, and family history, no matter how painful the details my be.

9. I am afraid I was given away by my birth mother because I was a bad baby. I need you to help me dump my toxic shame.

10. I am afraid you will abandon me.

11. I may appear more whole than I actually am. I need your help to uncover the parts of myself that I keep hidden, so I can integrate all the elements of my identity.

12. I need to gain a sense of personal power.

13. Please don’t say I look or act just like you. I need you to acknowledge and celebrate our differences.

14. Let me be my own person but don’t let me cut myself off from you.

15. Please respect my privacy regarding my adoption. Don’t tell other people without my consent.

16. Birthdays may be difficult for me.

17. Not knowing my full medical history can be distressing at times.

18. I am afraid I will be too much for you to handle.

19. When I act out my fears in obnoxious ways, please hang in there with me, and respond wisely

20. Even if I decide to search for my birth family, I will always want you to be my parents.

Q- Are you dealing with any of the twenty things with your adopted child?  Will you share ….

[WINNER: JULIE]  CONGRATS!!!!!

I love being a mom!  In honor of our day, I’m throwing a special giveaway for moms (adoption waiting moms too) here on my blog and on My Crazy Adoption Facebook.  If you have not joined yet- I’m giving away a Simply Love Tote bag filled with goodies- a few of my favorite things!  I will randomly select a winner on May 8th! This is a 2-day giveaway.  Don’t forget to wear your Simply Love Gear on Mother’s Day- together we can make a difference for the fatherless.  **I will post the winner on Twitter and MCA FB… also at the top of this post sometime on Sunday.

Praying for all the mom’s I know who are waiting, grieving, longing, and loving.  Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is LOVE. (1 Cor. 13:13)

1 Mother’s Day Giveaway Winner (you get this…)

• Simply Love Tote Bag
• Dig Deep Coffee Mug
• Simply Love tee (exclusive)
• Priceless book- Tom Davis
• Strand of Uganda Magazine beads

Two Ways To Win…

1.  Leave a comment here and share with me: pick one

• How many kids do you have?
• What do you love most about being a mom?
• How are you spending your special day?

2.  Facebook Entry:

• Wear your Simply Love Gear and post your photo with your kids!

If you are selling Simply Love gear- please leave your link on My Crazy Adoption facebook, so readers can purchase your products and help celebrate Mother’s Day all year long!

{UPDATED with WINNER}

Congratulations to Marybeth Rolfe !! You are the winner of the Mama Kiki Tote- email me and let me know the color you pick and your mailing address!! 

This is a 4 day giveaway- you can enter 1x a day.

Last year, on my Uganda mission trip, I was named Mama Kiki by my beloved friend, Pastor Isaac where we served at Canaan’s Children Home.  You have no idea how much fun it was for me to hear hundreds of orphans calling me “Mama Kiki!!”  I adore my nickname and to celebrate my son’s 1st mission trip visiting orphans in Uganda, I want to offer you the chance to WIN your very own Mama Kiki Tote + 1 Uganda Magazine Bead Necklace.  You have 6 tote colors to choose from- this is EXCLUSIVE ONLY for the Giveaway winner.  colors- army, black, natural, navy, red (shown), and safari.

How do I win the Simply Love “Mama Kiki” Vintage Tote?

(you pick two)

Leave a comment and how you entered to win.

1. Click on my “Like” badge on the right side to follow my craziness on Facebook- shown on home page.
2. Add my new My Crazy Adoption blog button on your blog and stay in touch.
3. Shout out my Simply Love Tote Mission Fundraiser on your blogs or FB.
4. Share with me- where do you want to take your “Mama Kiki” tote bag?

What do I win? (tote details)

You win 1 Mama Kiki Tote and 1 Uganda Magazine Bead Necklace.  I’m stuffing the tote with a few of my favorite things… my crazy surprise for you!  Value- $50

This stunning vintage bag has the Simply Love Crazy Heart design, but faded to look really vintage.  The pockets and key hook help keep Mama Kiki organized on her mission trips.  Celebrates the verse- Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is LOVE. (1 Cor. 13:13)

Product details- canvas tote bag with double handles. features two outer pockets, one lobster clasp and one o-ring for compartment closure.

• 100% cotton canvas
• 19” length x 17” width
• this item is custom vintaged for a perfectly worn-in look and feel. nuances in color and texture are unique to each piece. hand wash with care.

Giveaway Ends April 18th- I will randomly select 1 winner and announce the name here on April 18th (top of this post on winning day!) and add your blog site, if you have one. Look for the *UPDATED with WINNER.*   You have 48 hours to email me your address and color choice… or I will have to pick another winner.  Thanks for your understanding!

How can you help my son go on his 1st mission trip?

• You can purchase a Simply Love Tote bag {exclusive design} Click on the store button here. My Crazy Adoption store closes on April 18th, so don’t miss out!
• Follow Man Up 4 Orphans
• Pray for his mission trip!

The 2 WINNERS of the Mini-Giveaway for Visiting Orphans Mission Trip Giveaway: (random.org)

#28- SARAH says: November 8, 2010 at 9:50 PM

#3- TISHA says: November 8, 2010 at 9:37 AM

I’m throwing a double mini-giveaway party at My Crazy Adoption Blog!!  I’m soooo excited to share that Visiting Orphans Ministry is giving away a Missions Trip to ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD- 13 countries to pick from.  El Salvador, Costa Rica, Haiti, Ecuador, Honduras, China, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, India (new in 2011), Ukraine (new in 2011)

This is a 1 day only mini- giveaway!!

How to play the mini? (you pick 2)

No purchase necessary!!

1.  Shout out on FB, Twitter, or an email blast and share the Visiting Orphans Missions Trip Project to your friends.

2.  Write a blog post about the Visiting Orphans ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD Missions Trip Project and inspire your readers to enter the contest.  Read more about their ministry here.

3.  Share with me why you want to go on a missions trip with Visiting Orphans – where would you pick?

4.  Add Visiting Orphan button on your blog or website. (copy & paste)

What do I win? (2 winners!!)

You win 1 Pure Religion tee shirt (you pick) and 1 FREE entry.

Leave 1 comment-

Now share with me in the comments how you entered to win the mini-giveaway.  I will randomly select two winners (random.org) tonight at 9pm (CT).  This is such an incredible opportunity to go on a missions trip anywhere in the world.  Winners email me.

My dear friend Amanda Lawrence (executive director) shares her heart why they are giving away a missions trip:

Please pray for Visiting Orphans Ministry and their amazing project!!  If you live in the Nashville, TN area- check out the Give2Go Event 11/11/10

Give2Go is a benefit concert to draw awareness to James 1:27… to visit the “fatherless” in their distress, and to help Visiting Orphans lead more trips to orphanages around the world.   Visiting Orphans is PURE RELIGION.  Come out for a night of Great Music and Great Purpose.

Date: Thursday, 11/11/10.

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Red Rooster

1530 Demonbreun St

Nashville TN 37203

Featuring: Michael Logen
JohnnySwim
Will Solomon

Event Cost: $15

FREE t-shirt with Advance ticket purchase!! Can’t make the event? Help us reach our fundraising goal and donate to the Give2Go event here!

Let’s end this crazy party with a bang, pop, toot, and blast!!

8:30am tee update- 165 tees!!!!!!!!!  I’m speechless!!

I double dog dare you to dream big today and purchase TWO tee shirts to double your chances winning the Missions Trip Project!!  This is your LAST DAY to enter the contest – the Simply Love Store closes tonight at midnight!  I don’t think I will be sleeping tonight- too giddy!!

I can’t wait to see WHO God has picked to join us on a 10 day life changing adventure to Ethiopia to serve & visit orphans!!

Thank you for your love, support, cheers, excitement, shopping and prayers!!!  I love you!!

Missions Trip Project ENDS tonight- click here to purchase your tees!

My Crazy Adoption Store Closes at midnight!!