Thursday, April 25, 2013

Shopping With A Purpose - Spring Edition!

I wanted to do another Shop with a Purpose post in time for Mother's Day, graduations, and whatnot  as a lot of people really appreciated the Christmas edition! So, here's the Spring Edition! If you have any that I missed or you'd like added, please contact me at nunezfamilyadoption@gmail.com



***T-Shirts and Apparel***



$25.00 for adult, $20.00 for children - email caroline.garza@ymail.com to order


These super cute tshirts (The Next Level brand for adults in stonewash denim and Gildan brand for children in light blue) have Africa along with the words "hope redemption healing love". Perfect descriptive words for adoption! The proceeds from these shirts go towards the adoption costs of a sweet couple waiting for 2 siblings from Ethiopia. They are $25 for adult or $20 for children which includes the cost of shipping. To order, please e-mail Caroline at caroline.garza@ymail.com.









$16.99-22.99 - ORDER HERE.


Choose from these 3 tshirts ranging in price from $16.99 to $22.99 (varying on size and type). I must say I love the middle one which has the Amharic and English words! You can order them HERE. Proceeds benefit another Ethiopian adoption! You can read about their journey on their blog!










 


These tshirts benefit an adoption! Cost is just $20 and can be ordered HERE. To read the meaning behind the shirts and why they say The Lucas Legacy, read THE STORY.








$22.00 - ORDER HERE


These tees benefit a non-profit that works with African orphanages. They are currently raising funds to provide Sanyu Babies Home with a year's supply of diapers. Would you be willing to pay $22 for a tshirt (that comes in various sizes and colors!) to help? Look HERE for more info!








$18.00-$20.00 - ORDER HERE

These super cool tees say Just Love and cost just $18.00-$20.00 depending on the size. Their inspiration for the design of these shirts came from 1John 4:19 "We LOVE because He first LOVEd us" + Micah 6:8 "And what does the Lord require of you? To do JUSTice and to LOVE kindness and to walk humbly with your God."  Proceeds from the sale of these tees go towards supporting our adoption from Ethiopia! AND 10% of proceeds will be given to ministries supporting social justice issues (like orphan care & prevention, education, sustainable jobs initiatives, etc.). Order them HERE!











$20.00 - ORDER HERE

These pretty tees come in adult sizes only and cost just $20. Proceeds benefit an Ethiopian adoption and can be ordered HERE.












$15.00 - $20.00 - ORDER HERE


Another great shirt benefiting The McGinty Family Adoption. The adult shirts come on a charcoal gray, soft, vintage style shirt (think American Eagle feel). Kid shirts will be on REGULAR COTTON TEES. . Adult shirts are $20 each and kids shirts are $15. Order online HERE.








Norwegian Style Cap



This cap, from a classic Norwegian pattern, is ergonomically knit to cover the ears without falling over the eyes. Knit in bright pink and green, it will be hard to lose sight of a child wearing this cap! $14.00 She has other options on HER ETSY SITE as well! Proceeds support their adoption!

















****Jewelry and Accessories****


Chevron Scarves
$18.00 EACH - ORDER HERE!

These chevron summer scarfs will make a great accent to your spring and summer wardrobe!  This scarf is approx. 72" long and is sewn in a tube. It is available in coral on white, mustard on white, black on cream, lime green on white, eggplant on ivory, chartreuse on white, watermelon pink on white, red on cream, teal on ivory and perfectly pink on white. Are these cute, or what?! They are $18.00 each and can be found HERE. 100% of the proceeds are going towards bringing home a sweet one year old girl from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to her forever home! You can read more of their story on THEIR BLOG.








Scarves



Check out these cool scarves made from upcycled tshirts! They will make any color combination you want and you can also choose a couple of colors for your links and then a separate color for the ties that keep the links together - that is a great way to add just a pop of a certain color. Colors are as follows: Sky, Robin's Egg, Turquoise, Royal and Navy blue / Butter and Sunshine yellow/ Kelly, Lime, Hunter and Celery green / Plum and Lavender purple / Tiger and Volunteer orange / White / Light and Dark grey / Black / Apple red / Cotton Candy, Bubblegum and Raspberry pink.  Scarves are $10 each, can be made in lengths for an adult or child, and can be shipped and even gift-wrapped! Shipping is $2 per scarf and gift wrapping is $1 per scarf. If you would like an order shipped for Mother's Day giving, please order no later Tuesday, April 30.  ORDER HERE. or email at jenniferjparris@att.net










Hair Ties
$5.00 for a set of three - ORDER HERE!

These fantastic hair ties are made of beautifully dyed elastic. They come in sets of three. $5.00 each and can be found HERE.100% of the proceeds are going towards bringing home a sweet one year old girl from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to her forever home! You can read more of their story on THEIR BLOG.









Handmade Necklaces
$20.00 each - ORDER HERE!


These beauties are handmade. Each necklace has 5-7 flowers and can come in any color you want (or fabric she can find.) They come on a metal chain with lobster claw. They are $20.00 each and can be found HERE. 100% of the proceeds are going towards bringing home a sweet one year old girl from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to her forever home! You can read more of their story on THEIR BLOG.










Ugandan Paper Necklaces


These BEAUTIFUL necklaces were made by women in Uganda. These are just $15.00! They have other options on THEIR SITE, too. Proceeds benefit a non-profit that works with African orphanages. They are currently raising funds to provide Sanyu Babies Home with a year's supply of diapers.










Handmade Necklaces



These cute and creative necklaces are being made by two sisters fundraising to help bring home their 5 year old brother with a special medical condition from a rural orphanage in Eastern European. They are calling them "Warrior Necklaces" because his name means "Warrior". Singles are $5.00 and doubles are $7.00. They are asking for an extra $1 to help cover shipping. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and you can order them via their blog HERE.













These beautiful necklaces are handmade and come in a variety of colors and types! Prices are very reasonable and vary from $5-10 and 100% of the proceeds benefit an Ethiopian adoption. You can read about their journey on their blog! Order the necklaces HERE.











Oh my! How beautiful is this?! For just $30, you can order this gorgeous custom handmade necklace that benefits an Ethiopian adoption! Includes ~3/4" copper pendant ~heart charm ~one 18" chain . This would make a beautiful gift for any Mom! Go HERE to order one!









Bracelets

$25.00

$15.00

The sale of these bracelets benefit an Ethiopian adoption! Please visit their site HERE to order!











Hair accessories

The following SUPER cute hair accessories (and there's more on her website) are handmade and the proceeds go towards their next adoption, which you'll be able to read about soon on their blog. Are these not the cutest things ever? If baby Nunez ends up being a girl, I may just have to purchase a few of these! :)

$3.00
 These adorable handmade chiffon mini clips are so simple and sweet, the perfect accent to any little one’s outfit. They measure approximately 2.5 inches. They are attached to a high quality partially lined single prong alligator clip. $3.00 each and comes in a large variety of colors! They can be found HERE.


$7.00-$9.00
This handmade elastic headband shows off an adorable 4.5 inch silk flower. The flower is backed with felt for a clean finish. Headbands are stretchy and can fit a baby through teen. These vary between $7-9 and comes in a variety of colors/patterns. These can be found HERE



$3.00
These bows measure about 4 inches. They are attached to a high quality single prong alligator clip. They come in a variety of colors and compliment any outfit. They are $3 each and can be found HERE








Sling Bags

These beautiful handmade sling bags are the perfect purse for someone always on the go. The long strap lets you wear the purse across the shoulder, allowing you to have both hands free! Cost is only $20 and come in a variety of 5 different fabrics. These bags benefit a non-profit that works with African orphanages. They are currently raising funds to provide Sanyu Babies Home with a year's supply of diapers. Would you be willing to pay $20 for a bag to help? Look HERE for more info!








***Household/Miscellaneous***



Sheets


Lots of adoption friends are selling these sheets which are super soft and amazing from what I've heard! An entire sheet set for ONLY $35.00 is practically unheard of. Pair that with helping fund adoptions and you have something incredible!! You can choose ANY size in any of these colors (burnt orange has been replaced by black) for only $35.00!! Please order through one of these links:

Olsson Family Adoption or email them at olssons@gmail.com (They are adopting a 7 year old daughter from Ethiopia!)
Lance Family Adoption  (They are adopting two HIV+ twin baby girls from Ethiopia!)
Gourley Family Adoption (they are adopting from Ethiopia as well!)






Paintings


Help support another adoption by purchasing some handpainted art HERE.






Notecards




HERE you'll find unique note cards for every occasion. Spectrum of Amber note cards are known for their bold colors, unique angles, and humorous verses. Take a look around - you'll like what you see! Prices vary and proceeds go towards this super sweet couple's second adoption from Ethiopia!










Coffee

 

Order coffee for your mom in these cool special tins, or you can order a variety of other coffees (samplers, light roasts, dark roasts, espressos, etc.) that are all fair trade and benefits another Ethiopian adoption! Order HERE.








***OTHER COOL THINGS***


~*~*~*VISITING ORPHANS*~*~*~









Visiting Orphans is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Established in 2005 by America World Adoption Association as a way to further help the orphans of the world. Visiting Orphans works to fulfill the biblical mandate given in James 1:27 of "visiting orphans" in their distress. Visiting Orphans conducts many missions trips for churches, schools, and individuals from around the United States to orphanages all around the world including China, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Ecuador, Ukraine, Haiti, El Salvador, Honduras, India and Costa Rica.  They have marked down ALL their shop items just in time for Mother's Day. I LOVE their stuff! GO HERE TO SHOP



~*~*~*ETERNAL THREADS*~*~*~




Eternal Threads is dedicated to improving the lives of women and children most at risk of extreme poverty, trafficking and other forms of exploitation by providing sustainable livelihoods through income generating projects" They sell goods made by women in Uganda, Nepal, India, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Ghana (just to name a few). They sell just about anything you can think of! What better site to order a gift for Mother's Day than through this site that helps employ many working mothers around the world?












~*~*~*AUCTION*~*~*~

Here's a GREAT opportunity to join in an auction of a BUNCH of different options, all benefiting an adoption that is near and dear to my heart... The adoption of a sweet 5 year old HIV+ little boy from Ethiopia who lived in the same orphanage as Mikiyas! PLEASE take a look and consider bidding! But, you only have until tomorrow at 12 CST before the auction closes! Here are just a few different choices:

Some auction choices -- GO HERE FOR MORE!!






AMAZON

If you plan on ordering something through Amazon, be sure to order through THIS LINK. A small portion of whatever you order through Amazon goes to help another Ethiopian adoption! How cool is that? You can read about this family's journey on THEIR BLOG.











Also, just a quick little note for anyone who is adopting/has adopted. A friend of mine is helping head up a retreat for adoptive mommas in September! Check out  UNFAILING LOVE RETREAT for more info. This could make another great mother's day gift for those adoptive moms!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Mikiyas is turning 7 and has a HUGE birthday wish!!




In less than a week, we will be celebrating Mikiyas' 7th birthday as a family and then in a little over a week, he will be celebrating with all his friends and supporters as well! If you are local and want to come to his party, PLEASE contact me at nunezfamilyadoptions at gmail dot com for details. We would LOVE to have you there, even if you haven't gotten to meet him yet!  This is the first birthday that he has ever celebrated before and he's SO excited! He has a HUGE birthday wish that he's asking everyone to help him meet.... Please, please check it out here and consider donating just $1.50 to his special cause!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Orphan Justice

We have begun trying to get our orphan ministry at our church going and in order to do this, we were unsure of exactly where to start. We decided this year it would be important for us, as a couple, to attend Summit, an awesome two day conference on orphan care in Nashville, Tennesee on May 2 & 3.  Before we chickened out, we bought our tickets, signed up for the breakout sessions we wanted to attend, one of them was called "Orphan Justice in Local Church - Practical Ideas for Any Orphan Ministry" lead by a man named Johnny Carr. We are SO psyched to go and SO thankful for my sister and brother-in-law who are willing to watch our 4 kids (along with their 4!) while we're gone for 4 days!

Little did I know, just days after signing up for Summit and signing up for that breakout session, I would receive an e-mail from someone (not even related to Summit) asking if I'd review a book called Orphan Justice. By Johnny Carr! The same guy leading the breakout session we signed up for! I was pretty excited, said yes and patiently waited for them to send me a copy of the book in the mail. I spent the last couple weeks devouring every single word in this book...




Let me tell you, I've read all sorts of adoption/orphan books and none of them quite hit me like this one... It's raw. It's truthful and honest. And it's just downright convicting... Often times people love the idea of adoption, but they feel like adoption is not their calling. And that's ok! The thing I loved so much about this book is that it did not just leave you with conviction, making you ask "Well what can I do to help?" He gives you lots of practical ways where you CAN help.Where you CAN make a difference. In ways other than just adoption.

You see, while God commands the church to care for orphans, the Christian church is not doing enough. Johnny Carr states: 

"As an interest in orphan care and adoption ministry begin to sweep through the American church culture, we can't treat it like a one-week summer VBS. We need "Orphan-focused Sundays," but we also need far more - we need orphan-focused churches. Choosing to stand by and do nothing where we see justice suffering and evil is wrong. It is sin. We must take active steps to care for orphans. To do anything less is blatant disobedience." (pg. 20)

I couldn't agree more, which is why an orphan ministry is at the top of Michael's and I "to do" list. If our church, First Alliance Church of Port Charlotte, FL, is going to be a great church living for God, we need to be an orphan focused church as well. I had no idea just how great this book would be to help kick start some ideas for our future ministry.

As he continues throughout the book, he touches just about every topic possible in regards to orphans and orphan care:

Chapter 1: True Religion: Orphans and my family 
Chapter 2: We can’t handle the truth: Orphans and Human Trafficking 
Chapter 3: The Unseen Enemy: Orphans and HIV/Aids 
Chapter 4: Home Sweet Home: Orphans and Orphanages 
Chapter 5: The Prolem with Bootstraps: Orphans and Poverty 
Chapter 6: To Love Is to Risk: Orphans and Foster Care 
Chapter 7: A Change of Heart: Orphans and Racism 
Chapter 8: More than Sandwich Boards: Orphans and Abortion 
Chapter 9: Buildings vs. Children: Orphans and the Church 
Chapter 10: This is War: Orphans and Spiritual Warfare

This book is amazing for anyone wanting to learn more about orphan care. For families going through adoption, but feeling like adoption is NOT enough. For church pastors and ministry leaders wanting to help their church step up to God's call/command in James 1:27 "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." I encourage each and every one of you to get your hands on this book. It is one of the greatest books on how to care for orphans in so many ways!

You can order HERE.

And get other information and resources HERE.