This is SUCH a great thing for anyone that likes to SEW!!

PILLOW CASES TO DRESS THE POOR!!

















Check out this link for a GREAT project for anyone-even if you can't sew it is really easy! Would make a great project for anyone to do-even classes OR even kids can do this! Change a Life!
http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/

MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS

So my dear husband gave me TWO Mother's Day Gifts that I loved so much and I thought I would share-the first is a necklace made by http://www.etsy.com/shop/JUNKPOSSE it is of Africa with a heart cut out and I love it!

The second is a Willow Tree http://willowtree.info/ figurine entitled "OUR GIFT" of a mom and dad holding a African baby-now before anyone gets excited, no, Willow Tree isn't selling figurines with African babies, but my husband hand painted the baby so that it would look like Abby! It was SO sweet of him and I am in love with it (as well as my hubby)!

T-SHIRT *SALE*

OK, SO SINCE WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR ADOPTION T-SHIRTS STILL, WE ARE PUTTING THEM ON-SALE. ANY SHIRT IS ONLY $12!!! WE HAVE KIDS, WOMEN'S AND MENS (regular cut) sizes. Click on the link on our main page on our blog to buy through paypal or get us a check or cash!

Sizes Available:
KIDS: x-sm (2-4), sm (6-8) med (8-10), Lg (10-12) x-Lg (same as adult small size)
Adult / Mens (regular cut) small-X-Lg
Women's (slightly shorter arms and more narrow through body) small-X-Lg

A Beautiful Testimony of God's Plan for Adoption

Evyn's Gotcha Day + Adoption story from emily Vogeltanz on Vimeo.

SINGLE DIGITS BABY!!!!

WE ARE FINALLY IN THE SINGLE DIGITS!! Although we thought our "unofficial" number would be 1-2 lower-we are SO glad to finally be here!

Since the twins are both the age of our number-they wanted to show you that WE ARE NUMBER 8 FOR MAY!!!

COME ON REFERRALS!

OUR NEXT ENDEAVOUR~

So, as our number goes down, we know that in the very near future, we will be traveling not once, but twice to Ethiopia. Adam and I want to take these opportunities and give back to the orphanage there that have cared for the many children while they wait for their homes, sometimes this is for years. We have asked the orphanage what their needs are and the coordinator gave us the list below.

So, what we are going to do, is start collecting donations from now until JUNE 15th-this will give us time to pack them up and arrange them so that we can take over as much as we can to donate.

I also have access to having a local doctor get medications at cost from the local hospital-so I will be getting as much as I can to take over there. For just over $2, you can buy a dose of amoxicillin to heal a sick child with many different illnesses-pneumonia, painful ear infections, strep throat, etc...we SO take it for granted hear that we have such easy access-well these children don't have access to medications like we do and for the $2-it can be lifesaving to them! Think of what the average person spends on their coffee each month-this could save SO MANY kids! We will order as much medicine as we can -and will gladly take donations to JUST use for medicines.

We are asking that each of you considers whether or not you could donate even one item on this list....please contact us via this blog, our e-mail or anything and we will even pick up stuff if we need to. We thank you for helping these orphans! Adam and Amber

Dear Friends and Family-We are coming to you today to ask for your help in gathering donations to take to our future baby daughter’s orphanage-Hannah’s Hope. The orphanage is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia-and the needs are so great! We will be collecting the following items, as well as monetary gifts to purchase items to fill in the blanks. We will be taking ALL donations to Ethiopia when we travel sometime this summer to pick up our baby girl and deliver them to the orphanage. We will be collecting things from now until June 15th. This will give us time to organize and pack everything. Please feel free to bring them to the car line or give them to Jacob at school or drop them off at our house-in downtown Silverton by the city park, bring them to our works, etc.... We would be able to pick them up too if it is needed. Below is our address-thank you again for the blessing that these donations will bring to the lives of the children at the orphanage! Your support and prayers for us throughout this journey has been amazing! Much love to you all!
Information on the orphanage: Since All God’s Children (AGCI) opened Hannah's Hope Ethiopia in 2007; more than 300 children have been united with their adoptive families. Hannah’s Hope is a transitional home meant to provide love, shelter, safety, and medical care to orphans waiting to be placed with their forever families. Staffed with wonderful caregivers and supervision, each child there receives the best care possible. Today Hannah's Hope serves as a home for over 65 children from the ages of 1 month to 15 years old. In addition, AGCI sponsors over 300 children monthly through their orphan care program.
Facts on Ethiopia: Ethiopia’s annual per capita income is less than $160-this is per year! 1 in 6 children die before their 5th birthday and 1 in 10 die before their 1st birthday. More than ½ of all of these children’s deaths are due to malnutrition. The average life expectancy is 53 years old. There is one physician for every 34,988 people! (And we think we have a health care crisis)! :-)Finally, the country is twice the size of Texas with a population estimated at 85 million people-and over 6 million of these are orphans. SIX MILLION-that number is just too great to even imagine! This is the equivalent of taking the entire populations of the states of Oregon, Idaho and Montana!

Things Needed at Hannah’s Hope Orphanage Ethiopia

For babies:
a) Diapers-most needed size for newborn babies
b) Pull-ups
c) Simple board books
d) Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo
e) Lotions, baby oils and baby wash
f) Diaper rash cream—Desitin is the best, or whatever other kinds you think is a better protector of babies bottoms (Desitin ointment is stronger than the paste)
g) Baby Wipes
h) 4oz only AVENT Brand Bottles.
i) Organic flax seed—ground or oil form
j) Vegetable or soy based formula—this is the kind that is most needed
h) Milk-based formula
l) Hanging mobiles for cribs

Things for older children:
m) Shampoos and conditioners that are fortified for curly hair
n) Dandruff shampoos
o) Body soap
p) Bubbles, punch balloons, beach balls (deflated in pkg.),orange outdoor play cones
q) Soccer balls and any gear
r) Body lotions—especially for dryer or ashy skin
s) Clothing for boys and girls between 4 and 16 years old and especially need pants and pajamas
t) Shoes including crocs, sneakers (these are especially good for the older boys to play soccer in), for 4 through 16 years old children (not cleats)

Medications and Supplies:
u) Q-Tips and Cotton Balls
v) Boxes surgical gloves-any size-(found in pharmacy section)
w) Adult Iron Tablets-over the counter
x) Infant and children Iron drops or pills-over the counter
y) Medicine for older children, all kinds-cough, cold, Advil, Tylenol, Maalox, etc.
z) Braun Thermometer Covers
aa) Multivitamins for babies with iron—liquid drops

Other things
bb) Air freshener (any kind that is safe to use in children/babies rooms and bathrooms)
cc) Regular size bath towels (both blue and pink).
dd) Large & extra-large scrubs
ee) Deodorant for men and women
ff) Cloth Diapers and Covers—these are donated to Government Orphanages
gg) “Boppies” for infants (‘C’ shaped pillow)
hh) Infant Bouncy Seats or Bumbo Seats
ii) Foam mat for under the swing set
jj) If you are looking for things to carry these donations over, something that would be helpful is to put them in different size storage containers. This is helpful as we store donations.

**Thank you! It is because of families and friends like you that they can continue to care for these children with the finest and the best supplies! Thank you for your participation!

Adam and Amber Stutzman e-mail: awitha@verizon.net
404 Charles Ave.

Visit our blog for more information: www.adamandamberstutzman.blogspot.com
Silverton OR 97381 Phone: 503-873-6934

WAITING.....

So, here we are-we wait and we wait-it seems like my life is built around waiting. At least with a pregnancy, you know that due date, but this, it is just an indescribable journey with highs and lows. I have been somewhat emotional today-I have been thinking a lot about our daughter's birth mom and how even if our baby isn't born yet, she is alive, growing in her mommy's tummy and that wonderful, sacrificial lady will have to give her up. It crushes me that this is how our family will get to have this wonderful baby girl and that in this world, this occurs. I know in the perfect world, which we won't see until heaven, there won't be any separation, no baby's being taken from their mother's arms and no sadness, but here in this world, it happens. I pray for her and her birth mom daily and pray that she is surrounded by Christian people that love the Lord and can uplift her in her time of grieving for her baby. I pray that she will have a peace and that she will feel God's presence. I can't even put my mind there-can't even begin to think of how it would feel to give her up and pretty much know that chances are you won't see her again-but on the other side, I am excited, thrilled and SO ready to meet our daughter!

I have to share with you what happened today. I went to our kid's school and one of the little girls that is in the 2nd grade came up and she gave me a pencil box with money in it. She had made bookmarks and had been selling them to family and friends and it was ALL for our baby-to help bring her home! She gave me her money-all twelve dollars and twelve cents-this is the most precious gift to me-it brought tears to my eyes-what a doll! I was blown away that she would do this for our baby to "help bring our baby home"! I am in awe at how her giving heart thought of Abby and can't wait to tell her all about it when she is older! God is so good.

God is all about providing for adoption. I know a lot of people that say that they would adopt IF they had the money. It isn't about having the money-it is about watching as God provides for what he wants people to do-give homes to and provide for orphans. It has been miraculous to watch him bring in the money when we need it. We had 2 different people give us $1,000 with in the last 2 weeks and that is amazing! It is done out of such sacrificial love and support and we are just amazed that people would do this for us. It comes in all forms, fundraising (more than I ever thought I could do), grants, loans, gifts of $5, $100, $1,000 and even $12.12! It all adds up and it is such a testimony of how everyone call pull together to accomplish a larger goal and how the Lord will provide for you when you follow him

That is something about this adoption story that I will always remember-it is simply a miracle-that is the only word worth describing it! Miracles happen all around you and YOU get to actually watch and experience it! I mean think about it for a minute-how could God pick out a woman across the world, have her get pregnant at the right time, ordain every single step that needs to happen -thousands of steps-to get the baby that HE picked for us into our arms at the exact moment that he wanted it to happen in time! Right there-tons of miraculous steps have to occur-I am just amazed when I really stop and think!

I know I am rambling, but this has been a somewhat emotional week for me-I am just ready, I am nervous, scared, happy, thrilled, excited all rolled into one and what is about to occur. We don't know our official number yet, and I have to admit I am getting impatient at the waiting game of all of this-but I know we are getting closer. Really after you get to five and under, you could get "The Call" of your referral any time-OR you could wait in the #1 spot for weeks-it totally depends-but I just want to see her face!
This song is a slower version of the one I love, but the words are so great! I love it and it really ministers to me! I'm Amazed by Rory Noland on you tube