And the Winner Is........

The winner of the Flitterbugs Giveaway (according to random.org)

comment #92.....JL!

Congratulations JL (and I just sent you an email with some instructions!)
Get ready, because there is going to be a Flitterbugs giveaway WEEKLY for the next MONTH! A few on this site, and a few I will sponsor on other sites. Check back often to find out how you can win! Thank you, thank you to everyone who entered the givaway and a BIG thank you to Freebies 4 Mom who helped to spread the word!

I have a new design for girls, and had planned to post it today. But ya'll,,,I think I've sewn 20 of the past 24 hours.... so picture taking and site updating will have to wait until next week. Speaking of pictures, have you noticed the pathetic photo quality on the home page? Sure you have! It is difficult to "see" the garments and a major overhaul is needed A sweet friend of mine has offered to help me with my photography skills (aka, take the pictures for me!). Hopefully, things will be looking much better soon! In the meantime, here are a few flitterbug creations from the past week or so:

FREE GIVEAWAY! Just leave a comment to enter....

How about another FREE GIVEAWAY!

To enter, just leave a comment!

Plus... you can leave up to 4 extra entries....for a total of 5 chances to win any one garment (any size and fabric) of your choice!

Leave a separate comment for each extra entry:

* Facebook about this giveaway for 1 extra comment

* Twitter about this giveaway for 1 extra comment

* Blog about this giveaway for 1 extra comment

* Join the group flitterbugs on facebook for 1 extra comment

http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Flitterbugsdesigns-by-Julie/241071743587?ref=ts

Keep watching....new designs and fabrics are in the works. I've been pouring over my Kelly's Kids, Chez Ami and Just Ducky catalogs...and a few "designer-inspired" but for a cause brother sister coordinates are on their way!

Thank you for entering the giveaway!

The winner will be chosen on Saturday night!

Fundraising to the Fundraisers

Who dreamt up telemarketing?? Someone determined, desperate, with a vision? Hum, I'm not sure....but count me among them. I find myself, quite without planning, turning the tables on these "professional fundraisers.

Last night, phone rings:

(me) "Hello?"

....the give-it-away-I'm-a-telemarketer second of silence and ..

(voice)"Hello. I'm calling on behalf of....

and then comes the totally unsolicited, five minute, no chance to interrupt, reading from the prompter spill on who knows what.

......so can we count on you at the platinum level for a one time gift of $250?"

(me) in the midst of folding clothes, changing baby and pouring cornbread into a sizzling skillet...

"I appreciate what you are trying to do...but actually, we are also fundraising. We are in the process of adopting a little girl....and I launch into my well rehearsed, trying-to-capture-your-heart monologue on Ethiopia, our adoption, the need, the children, the process......

(voice) "Oh...," pretty sure she was scanning her prompter at this point, totally at a loss as to what to do next, "um....do you want to give us $15?"

If you want your name quickly placed on the "do not call list", just try to fund raise to them. Who knows??!!!?? Isn't that the way they operate :)

(Oh, and don't worry, if you call my house, you will not get my speech :)

A little fundraising update: We are 30 days out from our contract fees deadline. I realize we are not in control, and the Lord has His own good plans regarding this adoption..... after weeks of stressing, trying, and venting over this, my heart (most days!) is at peace and confident in Him!! Those of you who have told me adoption does not change others, it changes you, are so right. (And glory to God for it!) The sewing is going well, and in the future we pray it will be a complete tool to fund future adoptions. Though it is not moving fast enough to cover upcoming funds, we are thrilled at what the future holds for Flitterbugs:) Yesterday was sooo encouraging! A few weeks ago, my younger sisters and I set up a little site, www.bringelianahome.blogspot.com . I have been a bit timid about pushing it. (The idea behind the site stems from a $10 donation from a fellow adoptive family, the Silers. My sisters and I started running the numbers, and thought..hey, what if 2000 people gave $10 to bring Eliana home? I was a bit skeptical, but most everyone I have mentioned the idea to has loved it!) Well, yesterday, two friends of mine surprised me and sent out mass emails to all of their contacts telling them about the site. Those emails raised about $200, most from total strangers!!! We were so encouraged by this generosity, and so encouraged in the fundraising process. I guess everyone sets out in their adoption, thinking the money will come in quickly. The desire to bring your child home is so strong, and money, unfortunately, is the major barrier to moving that process along, that you sort-of think you can "will" it in. The Lord is teaching me that day by day, little by little, in His time and with Hi vision this adoption will take place. I need to stop demanding, step back, and watch His perfect plan unfold!

Loving the Hard to Love

Since the time our children were born, Kenny and I have made a point in talking to them about loving and caring for those who are hard to love. The value of life, how we are all made in God's image, equality and intrinsic worth have all been typical, everyday conversations in our home. My baby brother, Stephen, who is 12 years old, was born with severe special needs, and his life has made the great value of life so much more a reality for us. We desire that the children not judge others by their ability or how easy it is to love them, but loving and caring for others "in humility, not considering yourself as better than another."

This past Sunday at church, one of Evangeline's sweet friends come up to us in the hallway. In her hand was a little pink suitcase, with what appeared to be part of a stuffed animal poking out.
Ella tapped my hand, and in her sweet, little voice, quietly asked if she could give it to Evangeline. Evangeline was beaming. "Of course Ella, thank you for being so generous!" Ella handed off the suitcase to Evangeline, Evangeline gave her a huge hug, and then Ella happily skipped away. Evangeline was all smiles as she looked down and began to unzip the suitcase...

And then, she pulled out THIS:

OH, MY.

Meet "Tiny Puppini". Evangeline has loved on that little dog like nobody's business these last few days. She has brushed, "fed" and cared for her new found treasure, all the while telling me how, "it is just as beautiful as my other animals" and "we take care of everyone, no matter how they look. "

I think all of those "teachable moments" on loving the harder to love have taken root deeper than I realized. Needless to say, I think "tiny puppini" is here to stay.

$18 Sale!!!

Hey Ladies! It's time for a sale.... I'm making room for new spring fabrics...and hoping to boost our fund!!!All of the below pictured garments are new and ready to ship flitterbugs. First come first serve... just email me if you would like to buy one. (Hit the contact button up top to email me!)

The dresses are on sale for $18 (shipping will be $4)

Top row, left to right:

1. Size 4...metro market chickens green ...short sleeve flitterbug (SOLD!)

2. Size 12 months..... Sweet cakes allover....shortsleeve flitterbug

3. Size 5....Puzzle pieces corduroy..... ruffle sundress

4. Size 2....metro market chickens yellow..... ruffle sundress (Sold!)

Bottom Row, left to right:

1. Size 2..... Muli plaid seersucker.... ruffle sundress

2. size 24 months....light blue corduroy..... long sleeve flitterbug

3. Size 3....Blossom blur....long sleeve flitterbug

4. Size 2.....XO the cat blue....short sleeve flitterbug-SOLD!

More sales to come!

And the Winner Is....

April

April, I'll email you today :) Thank you for everyone who entered the giveaway! Ya'll. I am getting excited about fundraising. Your sweet emails and encouraging words are filling me with energy for this uphill climb. I do not know how the next few months will look, but I do know Who holds those months!

Get ready for lots of giveaways and sales. My fingers are itchin' to sew! Looks like the kids and hubby are gonna be livin' on Ramen for awhile. Check back on Monday for the first big $18 dollar sale!

And a little picture...just to make you smile!

If you don't know... my "wheat grinding supposedly natural lovin' self " has a thing for Dr.Pepper. Hummm... we may be in trouble.... butterbean seems to be following in my tracks!

Flitterbug Giveaway!

A new year, new designs....I think it is time for a giveaway. The winner will receive any one garment, of their choice.... any size and fabric of your choice! This giveaway will end Saturday (Jan 9th) at midnight. Here's how to enter:

* Leave a comment and tell me your favorite flitterbug fabric. (If your comment does not link to a blog, be sure to leave your email so that I can get in touch with you! If you are not sure how to leave a comment, just email me and I will leave one for you!)

For "extra" free entries:

* Facebook about this giveaway (leave 1 extra comment)
* Twitter about this giveaway (leave 1 extra comment)
* Blog about this giveaway (leave 1 extra comment)
* Follow me on facebook ** if you already follow me on facebook, go ahead and leave an extra comment!! (leave 1 extra comment) http://www.facebook.com/#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000497904346

Whu-ho.... that means you can leave up to 5 entries!

I also want to thank all of you who have left me such wonderful messages of encouragement this past week, and have been telling your friends and family about my site. I know so many of you have walked, of are in the process of walking through the adoption process and know the discouragement and heartache fundraising and waiting can bring. You have reminded me that we serve a Living and mighty God, who will provide for his children (in His way and on His good timing!) I have printed out all of your sweet notes and emails, and they are all tucked away in my adoption journal. I am thrilled for all of you who have your numbers, and can't wait to join your ranks :) And I really can't wait to join all of you travelers!!!!!

Thank you for entering the giveaway!

A few new designs!

A few new designs are up, including some for the boys! I have a few more patterns I will be adding over the course of the week. Go here to see whats new!

Encouragment

I have been reading, "When God Weeps", by Joni E. Tada over the past couple of weeks, and tonight I came to a paragraph that hit home within my heart:

"Emotions are one of the least reliable yet most influential forces in our lives. One day we are hopeful; the next, we hate. Despair at one time; delight, the other. Emotions are the surging, restless tides that keep ebbing and flowing, drawing us up, then pushing us down."

As you may well know from reading this blog, or if you have seen me lately, the "ebb and tide" of my recent emotions has been such discouragement. A constant reminder is ever pressing down, adoption fundraising. I know many of you have been there, are there, and I know you stay awake at night with the same concern I do, "how will we get our little one home? WHEN?What if it doesn't come?"

This process is bring into the light my fragile, fleeting trust in the Lord's provision. Have I not seen Him provide? Do I not know the stories since the beginning of creation His compassionate and abundant provision for His people? Did HE not create this child? Does HE not love her far more than I can imagine. I think my heart hurts for those precious little ones in Ethiopia, how much greater does His? He has His own good plan regarding our family, and we will be faithful to Him, however that provision looks, and what ever HIS timeline of that provision is. (And my finate self still seems to think that I can worry this child home!)

Last night I was so discouraged, thinking, "the economy is too bad, the money will never come, adoption is for the rich, we will never come up with the funds in time, our house isn't nice enough, big enough,if it is this hard on the front end, how will we ever come up with our dossier, referral and travel funds, how will I be able to look at sweet Evangeline and tell her we can't......" on and on "I of little faith" went.

This morning, the Lord encouraged us, and showed us HE can make a way home for Eliana..... do you see my little "chip in" button? It had a little boost today!!!God is using his faithful servants, some of whom do not even know us, to bring our peanut home! My heart is thankful and glad, and I am reminded, should I only sing praise and bless the Lord when I feel the circumstances He has blessed me with are good? By no means! Oh, how I long for a heart that does not ebb and flow with the tide of my own comfort and happiness, but is steadfast and thankful in all circumstances, knowing that He who calls the stars out one by one, who knows the grains of and on the shore, who knit together every life, both that of the noble and the silent orphan in Ethiopia, is good and just and fair. He who holds all of creation.... oh, for a heart that will allow Him to hold me, all days, at all times and throughout all that He has called me to do and IS doing!

Today, I am thankful and encouraged!