This week high and this week low (linking up)

I am linking up this weekend with Amy to celebrate our week in review!








Our high this week was last night! At our gold stash party we raised $778. My friend Mckenzie hosted for us but gave us the host benefits. We had lots of people that showed up unexpected which was so wonderful. Then we had several friends that donated what they made on their old gold to us!  This was a huge high for me as we are getting closer to our goal.   Yay! Yay! Yay! Feeling so thankful  today!                                                                                                                                    




Our low this week was a tornado that hit the south. Our street  lost many trees and some house damage here and there but many throughout the south lost lives. I pray for them and their pain this week as they suffer the loss of their loved ones.
  

                                        

Fund Raiser Blog!

We created a new blog to make fund raising easier! We have a couple more weeks to finish up our profile, adoption paper work, picture files, and fund raising. We are hoping and praying to be funded by the end of May!  Our yard sale is coming up fast May 7 and our gold rush party is this Friday night at 6:30!

Click here to order away!!!!

Special thanks to all those that are helping us so much. We are so thankful!

He is Risen Matthew 28:6 Sunday will come

Gratitude with the good bad and ugly

Last night we went out collecting yard sale things for our upcoming sale. We got home late. Steve  and I were grumpy. We were lifting heavy things and he was short with me and I snapped back. Let's just say it ended up me grabbing my pillow and moving to the couch!  LOL! I only tell you this personal stuff because it is important part of the whole story. 

I couldn't sleep. I was fuming all night.  I kept getting up and reading my scriptures but it didn't work!  If I heard him snore I got madder! (Told you some of this was ugly) I could feel satan's influence as I let myself think negative thoughts and feel grumpy!   By this morning we had many things to do and went on our ways. He was actually nice and trying to apologize but I was still mad! (grudge holding!) I took one look at my house and my garage and got completely overwhelmed with all this.  It felt bigger than me. It is bigger than me.   I spent my morning driving kids to different events feeling grumpy and selfish and overloaded. 

Then the mail came with a card that said Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." with a $100 check. 

Caroline said, "Mom, why are you crying so much." HA!  I was so overwhelmed with the timing and the blessing all in one.  I am so thankful for the atonement and that I can repent of my sins and be forgiven. 

We have never been on the receiving end like we are right now. This is truly a witness of daily miracles. As I realize that this is bigger than us but it's not bigger than Him I am again reminded that this is His plan not ours.  How grateful we are to get to experience this blessing. 

Lady BUTTERFLY

Our classroom caterpillars have arrived. We are in deep investigation in our classroom. I was so excited to be in 2nd grade just to be able to teach this science kit!  Our county has the neatest science program! I barely made the training Wednesday afternoon and my kit was delivered just in time to begin the unit. 

The little guest were delivered Thursday. They were placed into their new habitats and are still alive as we speak! 

Fasting and answers

After graduation in Dec. I found myself completely exhausted. It was a different kind of exhaustion from when I used to stay up all night doing picture work or had new born babies exhaustion. It was mental exhaustion. I feel like the entire time I was in school I really never put my feet on the floor. I worked part time,crazy loads of  homework from taking too many hours of school at once,  Steve worked two jobs and callings, kids sports then we through the PATH classes and homestudy in there but the all time hardest but most painful and exhausting part of school was Dad being so sick and in the hospital then loosing Dad. By the time Dec. rolled around it had been 10 months since we lost him but I had not let myself really rest. I was so excited to get a job teaching that I was not about to let myself take a break over the holidays. I had to get my room ready and lesson plans. It was so exciting and fun!   Then,  a little miracle took place...snow! We got so many snow days! We got more snow days than I remember ever getting since Blake started school. I feel like Heavenly Father was giving those snow days just to me! Finally, the exhaustion hit me and took me down.  I literally could not pick myself up off the couch. I was so exhausted like I can't explain exhausted. Snow day after snow day I slept and laid around with some much needed time with my kids! One day in particular I remember thinking what is wrong with me! I never lay around like this!  Wednesday night church was cancelled giving me even more extra rest from  my new youth calling at church.  I was able to focus on my classroom and my family and rest. It was a blessing. I could feel the peace coming over my body with the rest I needed to move forward with a lot of the pain that was lingering. 

What happened next took me by surprise. I thought I would snap out of it. As the weather picked up I would get up early. I loved getting to school super early and work before the children arrived. At school I was fine. I had tons of energy. I would stay late  at work getting organized but by the time I got home I had nothing left for my family. I would find myself crashing early-not being able to have the energy to do the things here at home that I loved to do. It was really bothering me.

 I decided to fast  and really pray about it. I have fasted for many things in my life but not something as simple as to have the energy I needed to be a good mom when I got home from work. I kinda felt like it crazy to ask for something so simple since I am in good health and have so many blessings why can't I just snap out of it. I needed energy to finish all this adoption paperwork that we felt so strong to do and I couldn't help but think if I'm this tired how could I handle a new born!  Another miracle happened as quickly as I asked for this simple thing...more energy....I got it. I found myself coming home and getting things done and being with my kids more than ever.   I mean it was one of those answers to my prayers that I didn't have to wait a day for. 

At first I thought I was just dreaming it and had a sudden burst of energy but then after a couple of days I was amazed. Now I can say I still have a day here or there that I am tired but I am shocked at the difference. I never really thought about asking the Lord for the smallest thing like energy when I was asking for 14,000 more dollars for a baby! But, I am reminded again and again the scripture in 

Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

What a blessing I received even for the the smallest things like energy to help me fulfill these small callings as well as the bigger ones.  This just confirms the testimony that He lives and loves us all and wants to help with the smallest things. 

Fine arts!

Fine Arts night + this girl = Fun Fun times! 

Winner of shirt and tote and adoption updates!

We have news our first free giveaway.....

Leah Beth drew the name of the green family tonight for our first free giveaway!

Leave us a comment and tell us the color-size and school name!!!

EXCITING!

More giveaways soon!

Adoption updates:

We finished all of our paper work for AA. We are working on collecting pictures (recent) of our family and mostly steve and I. Finding really good pictures of just the two of us has been kind of hard. I need to take some. I spent last forever last night looking through photos and I 've come up with the conclusion it's diet time again. I was disgusted!

We have a 90 minute phone interview with AA at some point where we have to be together during work hours...that might be impossible. We may have to take off work. Steve has to finish reading a little bit of literature and then when we are finished with funds we will be ready! I'm still hoping toward the first of May to go live! 

We are setting our match budget to $22,000. This means we will be helping the birth mom with certain things but not all things such as living expenses, medical, legal.  We may continue to save and raise  then as we have more we can raise budget a little at a time. 

So this is where we are at now....

We have had tons of people contact us for yard sale donations. Some we have already collected on the weekends and others we will be collecting over the next two weekends. We feel so blessed.

We have a number of items on craigslist and have sold many things already. This past week-end $300 worth of stuff sold! Yay!

We have gotten $200 on blog of donations from you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Several people have asked me if I still have to pay for the donation button 4.95 per donation. NO! I finally figured this out but I forgot to blog about it. I have a little learning curve with some technology! Funny that I am married to a man that does technology for a living! The donation button only charges a few cents. I have just been so overwhelmed with the generosity of others. This is so exciting and fun to be a part of as we pray for miracles and get to be a part of them every single day. Our kids are the so excited as yard sale or donations come in! Thank you! Thank you! 

We are currently working on restaurant night and gold rush party with McKenzie and hopefully a fun walk/run 5K. 

We are also looking for a good blog item for our blog fundraiser.  Heather has given me countless ideas I just have to find the time to follow through with them. 

One more thank you for being so willing and open to us as we embark on this exciting endeavor! 

Gold Stash Party!

Announcing our gold stash party! April 29 at 6:00. Email me at steveandgretchensolomon@gmail.com for directions. 


My friend Mckenzie is having a gold stash party for us. It is a really neat idea. Here's how it works. 


You come to Mckenzie's and bring all your old gold and silver. The company that will be there will purchase it. You go home with a check. Mckenzie is giving us the host rewards for having the party. 


It's really simple and you can really help our adoption by just simply coming and selling your old stuff. You get the money for your stuff!
If you can't come and want to participate give me a call and I will take your stuff and bring you back your check!




Silver is really going for high prices right now. 


Here's what they purchase:


Gold Items- 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K and 24K
Silver Items- 925, Sterling and .999 Bullion
Platinum Items- 950 or PLAT 
Dental gold
Silver and gold coins
Rare American Coins Pre 1964
Silver serving sets (complete or incomplete sets)

Prom #2

Friends are the sunshine of life!

new nephew

Our new little nephew came in for a visit this weekend! How fun to hold our new little buddy!

He sure is a wiggly little guy and likes to see what's going on all around with his big cousins!

How your desires change!

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor dust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matt. 6:19




It has been amazing to me how when we are "called" to do something slowly as the  release of our will takes place to the will of God the desires of our heart  begin to change!


When we began this process  I was very content with my four big kids and we were looking forward to me graduating college, getting a dream job teaching, building our house on our land, and enjoying life. NEVER did I image I would have the desire to have a baby...not just another child but a baby!  I love babies but oh I remember all the work that came with those little bundles of sweetness. I have been long out of the baby stage-sleepless nights, crying, doctor visits often, diaper bags, diapers, formula, and all the other little goodies that come along with them!

As our adoption plans changed from an older child  to an infant my hearts desires have changed also. I am so content in my little house. The land is the farthest things from my mind! I can not wait to hold, smell, feed, bathe, and cuddle a new little one. It almost sounds weird to say it!  I am excited for my girls to experience this part of being a big sister to a new little one. I crave to hold our newest addition.  I can't wait to see if we get a boy or girl!

Wonderful Wednesday!

A few months before we lost my dad he gave Blake a wonderful treasure! This guitar has been such a joy for me. I grew up with my dad playing and singing it all the time. It brings me joy to hear it still strumming along. 

Don't forget the t-shirt and tote giveaway

It's free! 

 Just leave us a comment of what your thankful for! We will put all your names in a bucket and draw next Monday night!!! The lucky winner will be get a cute t-shirt and tote with your school or sports name! 

Singing praises and Prom part 2

Psalms 147:7

"Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God"

While I was at work today we got another donation and two more friends contacted us with yard sale things!!! I am counting my blessings and feeling so thankful. Thank you...thank you ....thank you!

Family is a little piece of heaven on earth.

Prom part 2

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118: 24

Laundry backed up from a crazy busy week...church work still to do...adoption paperwork coming out my ears...

BUT...it all stopped and stood still on Sat. when.....make-up scattered across my room...glitter and sparkles filled every inch of my house...big puffy dresses laid across my bed....although I was still exhausted from the morning dreaded chores of cleaning out the garage to prepare for our upcoming adoption yard sale I tried to embrace each moment of my little nieces and their friends getting ready here on Sat.I dreamed of these days with all of them since they were minis! The twins were going to the same prom as Blake so it worked perfectly for them all to go together.   When our friend Meredith pulled up in the driveway squeals of joy went wild!  I felt an instant pang of sadness missing Heather but so thankful GA is close enough for them to still come visit!

 Saying goodbye to another nephew the first nephew on my side to "officially leave the nest"...wishing him well for a two year church mission. We are so thankful for his example as he gives up two years of his time and money to dedicate to teaching people about Christ.

Nana soaking up every last moment of the 10 together!

Now this is what I'm talking about...me hanging out with family watching conference. How blessed we are to be able to listen to conference in the comforts of our home. I love it!

 Finally family time at last. Wrestling season over....spring football and baseball work schedules...dance recitals begin but in those few moments in between I savor any extra time I can get with these five people...the loves of my life.

FREE giveaway! A friend of mine donated a free tote bag and t-shirt with your school name embroidered. To enter just simply leave a comment and tell us the thing you are most thankful for! We will draw a name next Monday night during our family night!



Happy Monday!