I want to be your billboard!  I know that sounds a little crazy, but I’m heading to Haiti and want to share your adoption products/orphan T shirts on my blog all week.  Many of you are FUNraising with shirts and I want to help you make a difference.  All you need to do is mail me your donated T shirt or item and add a note with your website or blog URL.  I will feature your products right here on my crazy adoption blog and link readers back to your site.  Also, you can use any photographs with me wearing your shirts or sharing your items in Haiti on your site, too.  This is a fun, unique way for us to promote adoption and advocating for orphans together.

Here is my plan.  I’m blogging compassionately thru Haiti starting April 11th-16th.  Our team of 13 are hand delivering 170,000 meals and 500 pounds of formula (that YOU helped raise)  I want to wear a different adoption/orphan T shirt every day.  If I receive more T shirts than the 6 I can feature each day, I will still show off your shirt in a very creative way (wink)  I will post after I return home from Haiti for 6 days, due to lack of international bloggy juice.

If you are currently FUNraising with T shirts and want me to promote your shirts in Haiti… email me. I will need your T shirts mailed by April 10th.  My size- I wear a Medium if Unisex cut or I wear an XL if slim, women’s cut… just let me know!!  My blog friend, Kelly just suggested donating her Ugandan necklace that she is fundraising with- I asked her if I could wear it and give it to someone I meet in Haiti to encourage her and pray for her.   I will take photos!

WINNER OF MY CRAZY GIVEAWAY…. #11 comment was randomly picked!!!  Congrats Alison!!!  Please email me and share your mailing info to receive 2 T shirts and gift cert.

Alison Douglas: March 20, 2010 at 1:21 PM I love to watch him with our little boy… it comes so natural to both of them.

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Don’t forget to click on Top Mommy Blog button and vote to help make my crazy adoption #1 blog!  Click everyday 2 Vote- that’s it!

Hubby, we met when you were 12 years old and I had a crazy crush on the boy with an attitude.  I still have a crush on you and can’t believe we’ve been married 18 years!!  Your heart is compassionate, your spirit to serve the Lord is contagious, and willingness to chase the Wild Goose is the adventure I’ve been waiting for!  We have 3 crazy kids and now waiting to bring home our new daughter… well, that’s the craziness I love being married to you!

To celebrate my anniversary- March 21st!  I wanted to throw a romantic Giveaway for 2!  Your love basket includes:  2 Simply Love T shirts and a gift certificate for dinner at a popular restaurant in your area!

How to win?

Leave me a comment and share 1.) What’s 1 thing you love about your spouse or fiance or a special friend or 2.) What’s your favorite gushy mushy Love Song?

I’ll announce the winner (random pick) right here on this post in 2 days.

Do you feel like you’re going a little crazy coming to my blog and seeing T shirts again?  I never wanted to delve into the apparel business, but I have to tell you… I’m crazy about adoption T shirts!  I have officially completed HopeChest Project and now ready to offer you MY Simply Love Africa T shirts that support our 2nd adoption.  We are adopting an older girl from Ethiopia and can’t wait to bring her home.  100% of proceeds from our T shirts go directly into our adoption account.  Thank you for wrapping your heart & supporting my next crazy adoption.  Love will always find a way!

T SHIRT BLITZ ENDS APRIL 4th!!  You should receive your T shirts 7-10 days after your order.  My Mens T shirt shipment arrives on Thursday (2-25) thanks for waiting for Man Up!!

What’s New:

1. I have inventory of Simply Love shirts for Men & Women… a brand new batch ready to go.  You can purchase my Simply Love Africa T shirts with Paypal button or send me a check- email me.  My T shirts Blitz ends April 4th… to save every penny, I will continue to order in bulk batches of 25.

Simply Love Store-

Simply Love Africa is our fundraiser for our 2nd adoption to Ethiopia. Every T shirt helps us bring our new daughter home. 100% of proceeds goes directly into our adoption account. We ask that when you wear our T’s that you pray for our family throughout the adoption process this year. Thank you for your support, prayers, and cheers!

WOMENS SIMPLY LOVE AFRICA T:

The Women’s T shirts are UNISEX extra soft and they will fit like a unisex/men cut- loose & roomy like your hubbys T.  (ladies… this is NOT A SLIM SHIRT!!!)   The black T has Tiffany blue swirls and the saying on the back- Love Will Always Find A Way.  The verse Phillipians 4:6-7 surround Africa.  (special note- all Canada & International- email me for additional shipping costs)

MENS SIMPLY LOVE AFRICA T:

The Men’s T shirts are extra soft and fit normal.  The army green T has black, red colors- and the saying on the back “Man Up. Protect and Love the Fatherless.  The verse Philippians 4:6-7 surrounds Africa.  (special note: for Canada & International -additional shipping costs necessary- email me.)

YOUTH T’S- I need to have pre-order of 25 youth T’s before I can sell.  Email me.

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)

Happy Valentine’s Day + HopeChest/Simply Love = Shirts For Shoes!!

Starting this week, when you purchase a HopeChest Project T Shirt, you are providing an orphan in Ethiopia with a new pair of shoes and a new shirt.  1 shirt = 2 gifts for a child.   I am so excited to present you with a video of  photographs provided by Tom Davis and HopeChest.  Tom is an award-winning photojournalist, and the beautiful children featured from Ethiopia are the REAL orphans you will directly help.   Your contribution will provide basic needs & the greatest gift of all -  Love.  Make this a Valentine’s Day you will never forget.  Wrap your hearts around each face and pray for them every time you wear your shirts.  Your gift of $25.00 is a special way you can show crazy love.  We will open our store on Friday, January 15th through February 1st…. stay tuned for our exclusive shirts, amazing products, giveaways and surprises!!  Sneak peek of T shirts tomorrow- the best is yet to come! Will you do one big thing for me, please pray that God will stir the hearts of readers to help make this project a crazy success.

How can you help?

• You can start a FaceBook Event- invite your church family, Life Groups, Bible Studies, schools, and friends to purchase a shirt and wear it together on a special day- Sunday, Feb. 14th- Valentine’s Day!!
• Here’s what one friend shared- “My hubby and I decided that we would skip our annual meal out and purchase two matching HopeChest T Shirts instead. How romantic is that!” Thanks Teri Boosalis!

(photos by Tom Davis and HopeChest – special thanks to Hannah Leman and Simon Scionka)

Why Simply Love?

“What makes Tom Davis and his vision and passion so contagious is the simplicity of the Gospel. He translates the voice of the orphan into our world through the age-old method of story telling. Stories that would otherwise remain untold connect to our intrinsic desire to make a difference for eternity partnered with practical steps every believer can and should take deeply to heart. Once you hear and see what breaks the heart of God, you are moved to become the hands, feet, voice and heart of Jesus in the earth. When we join heart, mind and hands together, we are stronger and in that we fulfill our calling – that the world would know we are His by our love.” Caleb David, One Child Campaign

Giveaway ends December 15th at midnight.

For my LAST GIVEAWAY of the YEAR, everyone can join in on the craziness…. you and your kiddos. You can earn up to 5 entries for doing something crazy. Here’s what you do- you choose:

1 entry- share your favorite Christmas carol title. (I love singing them loud and all day long!)

1 entry- spread the word to all your FB friends about my Crazy Christmas Giveaway on your status or wall post will do.

1 entry- add our Simply Love Button on your blog.  Your readers can learn more about the crazy adventure of mommyhood & adoption.

2 entries- Give me a shout out on your blog! Spread the word about our Simply Love T shirt fundraiser in a post, and you will receive 2 entries!  Comment on this post and let me know where to visit you!

You can pick one or do them all!  Make sure you leave in your comment how many entries you’ve earned = up to 5 entries. I trust all my bloggy peeps.  I will count all your entries & pick a random winner from Santa’s hat.

My Grand Giveaway Winner will receive-

• 2 Simply Love T shirts (you choose!)
• 1 Free Child’s Pass (Courtesy of Disney) to the NEW Princess and the Frog movie.
• Autographed copies of the Best Seller Redemption novel series (5 book set) with Karen Kingsbury & my dad, Gary Smalley.
• Kisses From Katie handmade Ugandan beaded necklace (extra-long & beautiful)
• My 2 Children’s books- Mookie Series
• 1 dozen Krispy Kreme donut gift certificate (Zoie’s favorite)
• Sugar Cookie mix & mit for kids- Target goodie
  
• Chick Flick- Julia & Julia (Meryl Streep rocks in this DVD)
• $20 Starbucks Gift Card
  

You win a value of over $200 in gifts…from me to you.  Thanks for ALL the donations…you know who you are.  Our stack of Christmas goodies just got BIG BIGGER!  Email me if you have any questions.

There will be 3 Mini Giveaways for 3 random winners-  1 Free Child’s Pass (Courtesy of Disney) to the NEW Princess and the Frog movie.

Also, 5 random winners will receive my dad’s brand new book autographed- As Long As We Both Shall Love.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Crazy New Year!  Don’t forget to Pre-Order your Simply Love T shirts by 12/15 for 2nd adoption fundraiser.  100% of donations help us bring our new daughter home!