FUNdraising for Sophie Joy

The last several weekends have found me in the kitchen on Saturday and my family behind the church's snack bar.

Our church has graciously allowed us to use the snack bar as a fundraiser for Sophie Joy.   And The Lord is truly blessing it!   We have,  to date,  been able to pay our first agency fee,  home study fees, and USCIS fees!!!  One step at a time,  He is providing!

So far we've done three weeks at the snack bar and we are slated for the entire month of August.

What has been on the menu?

Week 1: Chicken BBQ sandwiches, chips,  soda, basis baked goods.

Week 2: Burrito Bowls with chicken,  cilantro lime rice, black beans,  salsa, sour cream, cheese and cilantro.   Chips, soda and baked goods (including Crystal's yummy cupcakes), of course!

Week 3: Chili and corn bead, chips, soda and,  you guessed it. ...baked goods!

I must say,  of the baked goods, the brownies are the most popular.   They are the most moist,  bestest brownies in the world.  I only say it because it is true!

Week 4 is coming up and I will have to go simple because I have a great event called Poured Out Saturday (fellowship,  worship, corporate prayer. .. join us!).  And we have to pick up Emma after church,  so clean up has to be fast!

Hot dogs and nachos?   That's an old throw  back to the Luke fundraising days.

What do you think? Throw out some ideas!  Walking tacos?  Spaghetti?

I'll tell you more about 2 other fundraisers we currently have going tomorrow.

But until then I'll leave you with 2 hints. ..a word.  JAVA

And some pics. ..

And She's Off!

Today is a big day for Emma!

And her Mama and Daddy!!

This afternoon Emma boarded a plane bound for Chicago to meet up with her Show Hope Mission trip team to China! In a few hours she will be flying to Beijing!

Her journey began many months ago with a handwritten letter left on my pillow. In it she detailed her heart to go to China for the summer.  The Lord guided her through a series of closed and open doors to the Show Hope team. The very day she applied someone had dropped out of an already full team and she was added in.   The hand of God was so evident!

Over the next several months she raised funds and God graciously brought in the entire amount!  Emma is so ready for this trip. She is responsible, mature, dedicated, compassionate, willing to hear from the Lord. We send her off with great pride, admiration, and anticipation of what the Lord is going to do in and through her at Maria's Big House of Hope!

Please pray for her and her team as they continue their travels and minister to the orphaned in China. Pray that Emma will come back with a fuller understanding of what the Lord's purpose is for HIS life in her.

All that said, I would be lying if I told you that neither Kevin nor I shed a few tears watching our baby girl fly away from us! 

Always a difficult thing for a parent to do but this is so good and we couldn't be more happy for her or proud of her!

In Him, 

Mandy