ABLE.

Oh, friends. This was such a labor of love and I'm so excited.

WE WROTE A BOOK!

This was a much more tedious process than I imagined. 

Creating the book was easy... editing, formatting, processing, publishing was tricky (tricky tricky tricky tricky... just a little Run DMC to get you pumped.)

It's not perfect, so it suits us well.

I don't have my copy in hand just yet, but I can't wait. So nervous, ha. 

Layla and I wrote this together on our front porch one Sunday afternoon. We tried to blend her sweet 12-year-old ideas and what I know about some special kiddos.  We also worked together on the watercolor illustrations. I loved doing this together with my big-hearted, talented girl! 

Official book cover ^^

Able. is about a group of animals, each with something that makes them a little "different".  We don't list their specific needs, because our hope is that every child will recognize a little of themselves in at least one character.

Maybe they wear glasses or are a little clumsy, maybe they communicate differently, maybe they are extra tall or extra small, maybe they sometimes act without thinking, maybe they feel anxious or get upset easily, maybe they aren't as physically strong as some, maybe they talk a lot or are extra wiggly, maybe they have extra medical needs...

(I will say the animals are inspired by six of my favorite humans...)

No matter their "differences", EVERYONE IS ABLE. Period.

We also chose a large print font making it easier to read for children with vision impairments or dyslexia.

One of my favorite passages:

Everyone continued toward the

watering hole together, talking excitedly.

Tiger feels crowded and the chatter is too loud.

He begins to roar!

Leopard pounced onto a tree stump,

 but tripped and lost her glasses.

Leopard can’t see without her glasses!

When she puts her glasses on,

she sees Tiny Panda signing ‘help’

and pointing off the path.

Tiger has gone to the Calm Down Cave

where it is quiet. 

He will feel better soon!

When he is ready, Tiger joins the others.

Tiny Panda gives him a tight squeeze.

Tiny Panda is able to help.

We really really think this will be a fun read for all kids.  We hope it will inspire all to value differences and recognize special ABILITIES in others and themselves.  We would love for this to be in homes and classrooms all over. That's why we took the time to make it available in several ways. 

It is for purchase now!

You can order your copy (copies?!) from the CreateSpace eStore HERE. 

(We earn more per book if you choose this option.) 

It is also available on Amazon HERE. 

And it should be available on Kindle soon- we have a few more details to work out there. 

**PLEASE NOTE: 100% of royalties from now through December will go toward our adoption of Lincoln, but we do plan for the book to be available permanently. 

The more visibility the book gets, the more it sells! So please please please share in in your adoption communities, special needs communities, school communities, advocacy communities, work, family/friends-- everywhere! Share! Help us get this sweet baby girl HOME!!

So grateful for your support and I hope you love Able. as much as my kids do!!

*As a reminder, if you wish to make an additional tax-deductible donation, you can do that HERE. 

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happenings.

I had hoped to type an adoption update last week with a big fat D T C {dossier to China} stamped across it, but that didn't happen. blerg. The issue was resolved, now we are waiting waiting waiting for one document to get through the embassy and then everything will finally be on it's way.

So cute how I'm brushing past the absolute and complete nervous break down I had.

Honestly, we've handled each little delay well I think, trying to just go with the flow. Until last week. Last week it was just too much.

House falling apart, vehicle falling apart, kids acting crazy and more and more ... another adoption delay just put us over the edge. Totally typical in adoption or... life, but not easy. However, we know when you are walking in obedience that devil gonna try to get ya.

Maybe the timing is so we can sell our other house. Maybe it's so Layla doesn't miss school to travel. Maybe it's because of who we are suppose to cross paths with in country. Who knows. but God is working in the meantime. And we were gratefully reminded several times over to praise from the pit. So, we worship. Plus eat junk food and cupcakes. It all feels better.

I fell apart for just a minute and then I handled it.
Some day I'm going to tell Lincoln the story of how we ran all over the state (several times, actually) and trudged UP HILL IN THE RAIN to get her home. These kiddos are good people.

We have been less vocal about adoption funds this time around for a few reasons.

1) We have been able to pay all of our fees so far. Give Jesus a hand praise.
2) We hoped our old house would sell by now and we planned to use that to fund the adoption. It hasn't... yet. It needs some work and we haven't had the time/money to put into it (See also: adoption and previously listed complaints.) Working on that now and will soon re-list. I'm confident.
3) Life.

Best I can tell, using estimates for flights/accommodations, we need about $13K to be fully funded.

Since the house hasn't sold... yet...  here are the back up plans:

First,
Our tee shirts sold well! We sold 78 and made over $800 with additional donations.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
I know several of you said you missed out. We *are* planning to re-open the tee shirt sale at some point- be on the lookout and let me know if you want me to tag you when we do.

The puzzle fundraiser is open always- but moving slow. I haven't pushed it because ya'll don't seem too excited about it. If you missed it... we have a globe puzzle to put together for Lincoln and AG's room. For every $5 you donate to our FSP, we will write your name on a piece of that puzzle so she can see who all helped bring her home. Sweet, huh? **If you donated before we mentioned the puzzle OR if you bought a shirt/shirts, your name will still be written on a piece. It's has lots of pieces, so plenty of room for more names :) Tax-deductible donations can be made HERE. Send me your receipt so I know how many pieces you've claimed!

We also have a give away coming up! People love to win stuff, right??
My MIL **made** a quilt for us to do this.  <3 nbsp="" p="">Right now it is exactly one bajillion degrees out so I was planning to do that in early fall when there's a chill in the air and everybody is all "Ooohhh I wish I had a warm, cozy handmade quilt right now." We gotcha covered.


Still trying to figure out how to bring the cupcakes back and make that work somehow. TBD.


And... AND... the big one. The my travel buddy (Layla!) and I have been working on a project together we are so excited about. Details coming, but you're gonna love it. I can't wait to tell you more! Here's the sneakiest sneak peek....

Worth celebrating:
Lincoln's first (and second and third) mail came- swoon. It was the snuggliest little panda that we ordered for her. We put together a small package and sent it to another China mama who will be visiting her orphanage soon. Can't wait to get another peek of our girl and this time, with pictures of HER FAMILY. And I can't wait to do this for other waiting families when we go :)

Also, monogramming all the things because she shall be a southern belle, ya'll!  I mean, "we" monogrammed the actual beach.

Layla's new passport has been ordered! Look at this sweet baby-turned-almost-teen who can't NOT smile like she was instructed. So funny.

And other much-much-muchness, but I'm trying to stay adoption related right this second.

DTC next week and then the BIG WAIT! So close!

Romans 8:6New International Version (NIV)

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Summer Summary.

heyyyyyy.
Haven't blogged for a bit. I never do much in summer anyway and I am almost thinking blogging is obsolete considering social media? But each time I come here, I notice how many times this page has been visited, and I realize it has spread well beyond my FB friends and family.

Apparently, it has recently been shared somewhere new. I don't know where, but an influx of  ....anonymous... RACIST comments were waiting for me when I returned. Comments about me, our children... most of them completely ignorant and nonsensical.

Given the timing of it all, I assume someone shared our blog in some gross hole in the internet wall for this purpose specifically. I'm not sure what it was meant to accomplish, but it's inspired me to continue writing. Too write more, to write bigger, to write louder. You've only proven it necessary.

So... Hello, to all readers. I hope you find something positive here.

**********************************************************

It feels very weird to be shifting out of summer and back to routine on only August 1st. 

It's good though. Necessary. 

Our summer started off so weird with Cale being so so sick. I kept it kinda breezy, but the truth is, things got pretty scary there for a minute. Thankfully, he/we recovered and even though it seems like summer flew by in a rush, looking back I see we actually squeezed in some worthwhile memories. 

Our gifted vacation fell right smack dab in the middle and was everything we needed but I don't want to miss the tiny moments either <3 p="">

{so many pictures}

Cale took this at one of the  manymany doctor appointments when he was finally on the mend. SO tired. But I love it. 

Everyone finally well enough to get out and play. 

Our future paleontologist looking so paleontological.

Morning after recital smoothie <3 p="">

Prepping for kindergarten....

Swim days with grandparents are obvi.

Everyone working together on the old house, getting it ready to sell...

Hanging out at the Secretary of State's office (while I get adoption paperwork authenticated)

Layla speaking at VBS.

Sweet smiles.

Things that really made me smile:

Brothers who tell everyone they are twins (four months and 16 inches apart)

"Triplets" who get along sometimes and play flag football in the rain. 

Layla fishing from a canoe (never thought I'd say that)

Big brothers who give piggyback rides.

Little girls who take a stethoscope with them everywhere they go (bed, bath, doctor appointments, church... never know when you'll need one. )

Little girls who spontaneously get baptized <3 p="">

(A friend at church captured THE most angelic pictures on her phone of Brynnie coming out of the water in her white robe, but her phone was stolen before she could send them to me! So sad.  This was right after.)

We summered well. Really well.

Now, on to the next phase....

Prayers appreciated as the Growing Wests head back to school!

Changing routines is hard for these littles.  Anxiety is powerful, but so are confidence and declarations! Thumbs up emojis. Or do finger guns and make clicking sounds. And pray :)