Archives for July 2009

Our local church is working on getting a team of adults together for a mission trip to Nassau, Bahamas to work in the All Saints AIDS Camp who house children and adults with HIV and AIDS.  I first heard about this Sunday, as we have been in Ethiopia and Josh went last week with the kids while I stayed home with Sol.  When I read this Sunday in the pew, I knew then, that I was suppose to go on this trip and be apart of this team.  I only wish I could give people around me my eyes and let them see and hear all we did while we were in Ethiopia.  It is a county ravished by AIDS and there are approximately 4.7 million orphans in a country less than twice the size of the state of Texas.  I am now even more overwhelmed and cannot ignore this verse, “…once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act.”(Proverbs 24:12)  Josh and I are committed to not just sitting back anymore and watching while we know we are suppose to be DOING.  So come January I will be headed out on this trip and have asked several good friends if they want to join me.  If you would like to join us too, please shoot me an email and I would be more than happy to share all the details about the trip with you.  SO…from now until January 2010 all the money I make on orders will go directly to help fund this trip for (hopefully) many people.  Money is hard to come by right now and I would hate for something like that to stand in someone’s way of going..so not only will you get a great, unique item, but your money is going towards a good cause.  Starting August 1st I will be taking new orders.

Well life has been CRAZY, but oh so much fun and we have just been rolling with the punches.  Everyone is getting quite adjusted to life with 3 under 3 and I even ventured out today to make a Walmart run with all the kiddos.  They did great.  I wanted to post some orders that I completed right before leaving for Ethiopia and 2 that I have finished since I got back.  I had a huge order list about 2 weeks before leaving and knocked them all out except 2 and still have one big order that needs to be completed.  Not too shabby though for just getting back.

This first order was placed by Ellen who orders from me all the time.  She should get the customer of the year award.  Seriously she’s the best.  Anyways she is due any day with her little Audrey Kate.  Thanks Ellen and hope you are surviving.

Next is a pink girl monkey shirt for a little one in Kentucky.  Her grandmother Penny ordered this for her 2nd birthday…a monkey party of course.  Thanks so much Penny.

This sweet #1 shirt was ordered by Brooke for her little Aubrey who just turned one this week.  She had a sweet little flowered skirt, so I matched the flower on the shirt to her skirt.  Really cute.  Thanks Brooke.

Lastly is just a pure fun project for me for my sweet little niece McKinley.  Her birthday was Wednesday and her party is Saturday.  Unfortunately Harper is sick with none other than hand, foot, mouth disease and is extremely contagious…so no birthday party for us.  Really, really bummed.  I saw a tutorial a while back on a felt letter set and would site it if I could remember where I saw it, but I have been itching to try my hand at it.  McKinley was the perfect recipient for something like this.  Matches her to a tee.  I sewed her envelopes that have Velcro on the outside so she can switch up her stamps, addresses and return addresses.  Also made some post cards and letters.  She has a plethora of return addresses, stamps and addresses to go right along with it.  I also cut some cute little paper for her to make her own letters and piled it all into a hot pink organizer bin.  I am really pleased with how it all turned out and hope McKinley loves it.

I also with be offering this for purchase.  A set will include:  2 envelopes with Velcro on the outside and Velcro closure, 3 stamps with Velcro back, 2 letters, 2 post cards, 2 blank address labels and 2 blank return address labels with Velcro on back as well (personalize with a permanet marker).  The set will be $25.  I currently have an order list going, but am not starting to work on any new orders just yet.  So if you want me to put you down, just let me know.

We’re home, our trip was amazing and Sol is perfect.  Enjoy!

Tonight was our last night as a family of 4 and tomorrow we are headed to Ethiopia and we just cannot believe this day is here.  Our flight departs from Nashville at 1:30pm and we arrive in Addis Ababa on Thursday night at 8:45.  The nerves are officially setting in so please say a little prayer for safe travels, that Sol will bond quickly with us and that Harper and Hud have a total blast while we are away.  Some great news to report is that we have officially Pitter Pattered and fundraised our way through this adoption.  It’s official every last dime of our adoption is paid for in cash.  What an amazing feeling that is.  God is SO SO good and we know He deserves all the praise.  And a big thank you to everyone who has placed an order, bought a ticket or just donated in anyway period.  We are SO SO grateful.  We also had a family call us and tell us they wanted to pay for our plane tickets, but wanted to remain anonymous.  How AMAZING is that.  I gladly accepted and I must say what a family this is…especially that they want to remain anonymous.  That takes quite a person to just want to give with wanting nothing in return.  We are extremely grateful.  Lastly a huge thank you to our family.  You’re the best and we love you tons.  And in the category of family, I have to mention the relentless love and support from my mom and dad.  They have made it their personal mission to help bring Sol home and they have done it with a vengeance.  They have donated like nobody’s business and never want a thing in return.  They give because they love us and they love Sol and it’s just that simple.  I know that without them I would not be saying that financially this adoption is sealed and done with.  They have given just that much and worked relentlessly on fundraisers to bring in as many donations as possible.  You both have out done yourselves in every category of giving.  Sol will hear of this amazing love you have shown him.  Thanks you from the bottom of my heart.

We cannot wait for everyone to meet Sol.  We will be landing in Nashville next Friday afternoon and are so excited to have our family of 5 all together.  I will try to update my site while in Ethiopia…hopefully the connection will be good.  Oh and check out the necklace my dad gave me the other day.  It’s the shape of Ethiopia cut out of a Tennessee quarter.  I love it.  Thanks dad.  So thank you again and Solomon James Altaseb we’re on our way.

Awesome Bill From Dawsonville.  Congrats Awesome Bill.  Sorry this is so late being posted, but I have had camera and computer (really just Flickr) troubles.  And I know my picture of the name is totally aweful, hence camera problems.  Anyways…thanks to everyone who bought tickets.  5 days from now we will be headed to Ethiopia.  YEA!!!

we will be boarding a plane bound for Ethiopia to finally meet our little Sol.  We have been absolute crazy people since we got word about having to travel so quickly.  Of course I wanted to make him some items.  His art is still not done, but I added an “s” to his blankie and added his initials to his baby bag.  I have had my eye on this bag at Target, but have been waiting for it to go on clearance and Sunday Josh and I went out to run some errands at Target and that’s when I saw Sol’s bag was finally on clearance…so excited.

And now if you will look closely to this darling picture of me (ha)…what’s that around my neck you ask?  Do you remember this post? Well if my Bible study ladies hadn’t done enough already, Monday was my last meeting before we leave and this is what they gave me.  Was I totally shocked?  Yes and no.  Yes in the fact that I never expected them to get this necklace that I completely adore, but not for the fact that they are just that generous and loving and thoughtful.  Thanks Alissa, Ashley, Courtney, Jessica and Karen.  I really, really love it.

Now for some orders.  This set of paintings are headed to North Carolina to three brothers.  Their mom Lindsay contacted me about these and was so nice to work with.  Thanks Lindsay for your order and good luck with everything.

Next is a baby girl gift that my friend Jess ordered for a friend of hers.  Jess always gives me free rein which I love.  Thanks again Jess.

Lastly is a birthday order for two sisters.  There mom wanted tea towel calendars on the front and their age on the back.  They are having a joint party this year with lots of blues and greens.  Thanks again Vonda, it was a pleasure…as usual.

And don’t forget our Starbucks coffee raffle ends this Friday.  Tickets are just $5 each and buy any 2 tickets and get a third free.  Go here for more details or just scroll down.  Thanks everybody.