Adoption Ornament Fundraiser

Don’t you just love this time of year?!  It’s my favorite.  After Halloween is over it’s Thanksgiving season, in my book.  I start talking to Momma about what we will eat on the big day (as if it ever changes) and stalking Pinterest for Christmas decorating ideas.  Thanksgiving, to me, is Pre-Christmas season.  I love that Thanksgiving makes us pause and appreciate what God has blessed us with.  Hopefully it helps us all focus on what actually matters before being accosted by the tempting deals the day after!

This year, as in years past, I can’t help but wonder as each holiday rolls by, “Will we have another little one to buy a Halloween costume for next year? Will we need to squeeze another chair around the table? Will we be filling that empty stocking this time next year?”

Lord willing, and by His will alone.

But things are going so well with our adoption, it’s hard not to be hopeful!!  The state committee in Baku has all of our paper work, including the translations.  We have established great relationships with people who work at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington, D.C. and they are well known by the state committee and speaking positively on our behalf.  The committee is working through every detail, making sure we will be good parents to a child from their country.  They have the enormous responsibility of matching our family to just the right child.  I pray daily for wisdom for each member of the committee and that the Lord would lead them to just the right child for us.

With things looking so positive for our adoption, we must start looking to the future and preparing for the possibility of a referral in the coming months.  Along with a referral will come many more fees and several international flights.  Kyle and I have prayed about how God plans to provide for our upcoming expenses and decided that the National Adoption Awareness Month (November) and the Christmas season is a great time to do an

Ornament Fundraiser!

Here is the plan:

We have made 100 ornaments (crafty, I know) like this one:

There are a variety of colors--red, green, yellow, orange

Rather than sell them all for one flat fee (cause that’s boring) we will be numbering the ornaments, 1 through 100 and selling each ornament for its number’s dollar amount.  For example, the ornament numbered 61 would cost $61, and the ornament numbered 5 would cost $5.  Our hope is that this will open up the door for a variety of people who want to contribute toward bringing our little one home.  

So what do you do if you want to be a part of this fundraiser?

1. Send me a private message on Facebook or direct message on Instagram, or catch me wherever you happen to see me and tell me which ornament you would like to purchase.  If it has not been claimed, I will get it to you as soon as possible!  If you live here in Virginia, the best way to pay for the ornament would be cash or check and we will give you the ornament in person.  If you live elsewhere, we have a link here on the blog for donating through a PayPal account.  Just let me know that you have paid through PayPal (I will also get an email from PayPal).  You can also send a check through the mail, if you would prefer!  If you live in Alabama, we will probably send several ornaments to our families in Birmingham and have you connect with them to deliver the ornament so we can save money on shipping!

2. When you receive your limited edition Kelley Adoption Ornament (you like what I did there?) hang it on your Christmas tree and snap a photo!  Share the photo on Facebook or Instagram with #kelleyAZadoption to spread the word.

3. Every day when you admire your lovely Christmas tree (you know you do) and you see your limited edition Kelley Adoption Ornament, please pray for our little one.  Pray that God would show our little one love and comfort and that He would see fit to bring him/her home soon.

4. Save your ornament to hang on your tree year after year as a reminder that God asks us to care for orphans.  In future years when you see the ornament, pray for orphans around the world and ask God how he would have you care for them.

We are opening sales for the Kelley Adoption Ornament today!  Sales will end on Christmas Eve.  Please prayerfully consider claiming an ornament for your Christmas tree!  We will use a chart like the one below to let you know which ornaments are still available.