{Almost} Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes I miss my baby boy.........it goes too fast.

Support the Adoption Tax Credit

Please contact your state representative and your senator and urge them to pass H.R 213 in support of the adoption tax credit. Even if you are not planning to adopt, please support adoptive families and advocate for orphans by contacting your representatives in Congress to voice your support for this bill.

For many families, this adoption tax credit makes all the difference in the world. And, when there are 147 million orphans in the world just waiting for a family, any extra financial help we can give families who are willing to bring another child into their family is SO WORTH IT. There are so many people that are willing, but financial barriers keep them from pursuing adoption- and that is WITH the tax credit. I fear that many more children will remain orphans if we don't continue to provide financial help to adoptive families.

For 2010, the tax credit for adoption is $12, 170, but this tax credit is set to expire in 2010 unless Congress votes to continue it. I'm afraid with all the other more high profile issues facing the Congress, this will slip through the cracks. But, YOU CAN HELP. Please call or write your Congressional Representatives and encourage them to pass The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R 213.

It only take a few minutes for you to write or call your representatives, but they need to hear from those of us who are impacted by the tax credit and a broad spectrum of others who support the tax credit becoming permanent.

Write your U.S. Representative.

Write your U.S. Senator.

Thank you for your support of orphans and adoptive families in this way! And, please, spread the word to your families and friends!

Another way you can help Haiti!

Don't have money to give?

How about this?

I couldn't find where to grab her blog button, so that's only a picture. But, go to her blog post here. She is donating $1 for every comment left to two relief organizations helping Haiti (to be chosen from the ones suggested by commenters, so make sure to say which organization you support.)

THEN......go to each of the other blogs listed in her post (including my new favorite, Pioneer Woman) where you can also leave a comment that will be turned into a donation.

No money required and hardly any effort.

I hope we will all prayerfully consider how we can sacrificially give- meaning that we will truly give up something we would have spent money on and use that money to show compassion for the people of Haiti by donating it instead.

But, if nothing else we can all leave a comment on a blog. It is quite literally the least we can do for people who are suffering beyond what most of us will ever understand.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3+4

Have you given yet?

I'm blatantly copying the first part of this post from Rebecca, because I don't think she will mind and because I whole-heartedly agree.

And because I'm lazy. ;)

HOW DONATIONS WILL BE USED:

All funds raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to provide for Compassion-assisted children and families affected by this crisis. Any funds raised in excess will be stewarded by Compassion for additional and future disaster relief efforts.

You can provide immediate relief today.

$35 helps provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week.

$70 gift helps care for their needs for two weeks.

$105 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain two families for two weeks.

$210 gift helps care for two families’ needs.

$525 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain 10 families for two weeks.

$1,050 gift helps care for 10 families’ needs.

$1,500 helps rebuild a home.

$2,100 helps supply 20 families with the basics for three weeks.

Due to the high number of responses it may take longer than normal to process your transaction.

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I personally made my donation to World Vision, but I don't think it matters where you give. It does matter THAT you give though. And, don't forget to check to see if your employer will match a charitable donation to double your gift!

If you'd like to read the blog of a family living and serving on the ground in Haiti, check here. They confirm that what the relief agencies need is monetary support to purchase the most needed supplies and deliver them where needed. It is so easy to make a donation to support agencies already on the ground in Haiti serving the people in crisis there.

It's easy, but it makes ALL the difference.

Will you miss $25?

What about $10?

Let's all give sacrificially to help Haiti.

I'd pray someone would give if it were me.

4 Already?????

It's hard to believe, but my baby just turned 4! It's been an absolute joy to watch her bloom in to a little person (4 going on 14 for SURE). Anyone who has met Chloe will tell you she's got some magic. If I had a dollar for every time people tell me this, I'd be rich. (She doesn't get it form me. I am completely magic-less.) She just charms the pants off of everyone.....it's like she's done this before.

The thing I love best about Chloe right now is that at 4 years old, she still loves her mama best- over anyone. Some days this is tiring, but I remind myself that if it's still like this when she's 24 it will be better than winning the lottery! :) Her favorite thing to say is, "I just love you, mama."

Like 100x a day.

And I love that she's a fancy girl. I feel bad that just like, F@ncy Nancy, she's got a plain mama. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to bother Chloe much. She loves a good outfit, and her addiction to shoes rivals her father's. The arrival of her pink boots at Christmas made her very happy indeed. She worked out the perfect outfit to go with them!

Sometimes I wonder how so much amazing fits into one little body! :)

Semi-Wordless Friday (has a ring to it, don't ya think?)