Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Updates & New T-shirt Info!

There hasn't been many posts on the blog lately and I haven't given many updates on Matsy Grace. To be honest, it is mainly because waiting is hard and I don't know any answers. And some most days, it's just easier to just not talk about. If there is anything I have discovered, it is that most people don't understand adoption. People understand pregnancy. They understand that in 9-10 months, there will be a baby. The process to getting to the end of the 9-10 months may look different with sicknesses, scares at the doctor, easy pregnancies, etc.. But several things are certain... there is a baby, a specified time for the baby to be born, and ultrasound pictures to constantly look at. 

Adoption is different. There is never a timeline. (Any timeline you are given can change at any minute.) There aren't pictures until close to the end. And I don't know the answer to most of the questions people ask. If you ask me and I take a deep breath, don't be offended. It's the constant question... when is your little girl coming home? And to that question... I do not know the answer.

We filled out our first application to adopt in March of 2013. When we filled that out, I'm not sure what I thought. I can tell you that I never thought we would experience as many delays as we have. But, in all things, God is working for the GOOD of those who love Him. We feel very confident in being called according to His purpose. So... we wait. 

For now, I have two blessings that wake me up every morning that I am choosing to not miss out on. They deserve for their mommy to enjoy the joy they bring. I'm choosing to live in this moment. When God is ready for us to have an official referral for Matsy Grace, He will bless us with #3. Until then, we are excited to enjoy life with our 2 boys and (are being refined daily to) be content in waiting. 

So......... on the fundraising side. 
God has blessed us beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine. I would never imagine that people would be so generous to us. It just makes me cry joyful tears thinking about the way God uses His people. 

To be completely transparent, we have raised about half the funds we need to bring Matsy Grace home. No, we don't know a timeline. But there are different stages in this process when different fees are due. We are prayerfully ready to get back on the fundraising train and be ready when these parts of the journey come! We are going to do one more set of t-shirt orders and then we have some other fundraisers planned for the fall! Please join us in praying for these!! 

So... for the t-shirt order info!! 

Our old design is back!! Yay!! Our last order was slightly different, but we got that worked out since changing printing companies. We are also adding a NEW COLOR AND STYLE!!!! 

I am super excited about it!! If you haven't seen our design before. This is it....



They are printed on SUPER soft Next Level Apparel Unisex t-shirts. The cost is $20 and the sizes run Youth XS-Youth XL and Adult S- Adult 3XL. Shipping (if needed) is $3 per shirt. If you are local, we deliver :) 

Ok.... ready for the big reveal???? I am SO excited!!! THE SHIRT IN THE PICTURE IS NOT OUR SHIRT! Our shirt will be a Front Print ONLY with the same design as the other shirts. However, the Africa will be gray. 


V-NECK TAHITI BLUE NEXT LEVEL SHIRTS! I am in love. I hope you are too :) 

They are $20 as well. And you will never want to take it off. I'm sure of it. 

So.... that's it! You can purchase t-shirts through PayPal on the right side of the blog (enter size/s by clicking special instructions) or by mailing a check to 345 Westwood Ave, Jackson, TN 38301. 

ORDERS WILL BE OPEN FOR 1 WEEK. I AM ORDERING JULY 30. Shirts will be printed in around 10 days and shipped within one day of being printed. 

Thank you for being a blessing to our journey to Ethiopia to bring home Powell #3! She is so blessed already. God has big plans for our youngest! 


And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28



Wednesday, July 9, 2014

June 2o14!

June brought lots of excitement to the Powell household! 

Highlights:
  •  Noah completed 2 weeks of swimming lessons! 
  • Micah's thyroid levels at his check-up were perfect! 
  • Aunt Megan came for a week long visit before their big move to TX! And... she passed nursing boards! Yay for a smart auntie and new adventures for Uncle Craig and Aunt Megan!! 
  • We experienced our first MudFest... Tennessee style. 
  • The boys had their first sleep over! We braved it with 2 of our sweet friends' babies overnight and had a BLAST!
  • I think we may have set some type of record... we were in 2 wrecks... in 7 days. And neither were our fault. So... the minivan is on vacation at the body shop for about a month.
  • I turned the exciting 2-7... It was so exciting that my beloved Wal-Mart birthday cake (the one thing I request yearly) had my name spelled T-i-s-s-a-n-i. It made for a good laugh since wreck number 2 happened on my birthday :)
  • The boys have gotten old enough to play together. It has been such a joy to enjoy their interactions and watch their love for each other grow!! 
Happy July!