Monday, December 30, 2013

NEW YEARS GIVEAWAY: Love is Waiting

Thank you all SO MUCH for sharing your joys and struggles with us through this giveaway.  What a blessing that you are allowing our ministry to uplift you through this crazy roller coaster ride of adoption/fostering and, ultimately, parenting.  We are thankful for you!  Happy New Year!

This giveaway is closed.  Winner: Kim Nantz

2013 is drawing to a close which provides an excellent opportunity for reflection as well as contemplation.  As we each take the time to count our blessings individually, we would like to do the same as a team.

First, reflection: 2013 will always be an important year for the Joy in the Journey ministry as this was the year of it's birth.  When the team began earlier this year, we never dreamed that the Lord would grow it so quickly.  We started with the mission to encourage and connect adoptive and foster families and we believe that God has richly blessed His mission through this blog, our Facebook group, and (more recently) through other social media.  We are so thankful to be a part of this journey.  

Secondly, contemplation:  The truth is, the future of this ministry is completely in His hands.  We know that we will continue working around the clock to bring you information, encouragement, and connection through the blog, the retreat in February, and our social media sites.  But, past that, what God has planned is beyond the scope of our imagination and is His to reveal in His time.  We do know that our team of four is committed to this ministry and that it is no accident that each of us shares a passion for adoptive families.  We also know that whatever the future of this journey, we will approach it with JOY as followers of the One who provides that joy!

To show how much we appreciate all of you who are here to help us reflect on an amazing year for this new ministry, we are bringing you {another} giveaway!  This time, it's from an awesome ministry called Love is Waiting.  Here's their story:


Our adoption journey started in 2010, when we decided to adopt a baby boy from Ethiopia. We were buried in paperwork and had a few different fundraisers going, one of which was a t-shirt shop! 




 I designed a couple of t-shirts to sell to help with our expenses, but I didn't just want them to be "throw away" shirts. I didn't want people feeling obligated to buy them and then stuff them in the back of a drawer. I wanted people to buy the shirts because they LOVED them. I made sure the printing was perfect. I splurged on expensive t-shirt blanks. I thought long and hard about the designs… and it worked! people LOVED the shirts! They loved them so much that we even after our adoption was fully paid for, and our son had been home for TWO YEARS… people were still asking about the shirts! How amazing is that?! 



I decided that I had to reopen the store, but this time give funds to OTHER families who need help with adoption expenses. Now we feature a new family each week! We share their story on the blog and 20% of the sales from that week will go towards their adoption! 


I have loved partnering with families in this way and I hope that this little shop grows and grows!  And, we are currently taking new families!  If you'd like to be one of our sponsored families, contact me {Heather} at mrs.heatherhale@gmail.com.

Wouldn't you LOVE to score a Love is Waiting shirt for free??  Here's how you can be entered to win one:


{One entry for each separate comment for a total of up to four entries}
1. Comment on this blog post with one thing that has brought you Joy in 2013.
2. Comment on this blog post with one thing that you are looking forward to in 2014.
3. Comment on the corresponding FB post with one thing that has brought you Joy in 2013.
4. Comment on the corresponding FB post with one thing that you are looking forward to in 2014.

Entries will be accepted for 48 hours only, midnight 12/30/13 to midnight 1/1/14.
Winner will be announced the morning of 1/1/14.




39 comments:

  1. Meeting and falling in love with my 15 year old (soon to be) adopted son Alex has brought me so much joy. Along with watching my bio son (5) interact with his "brother". SO blessed!

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  2. One thing I'm looking forward to in 2014 is finishing our adoption and the "hard stuff" that adoption brings. Sounds crazy but I'm tired of the in between stage and ready to be living our lives together as one family!

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  3. Gaining our referral for our son and having the prayers and support of so many people has brought me Joy.

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  4. In 2014, I look forward to a court date and finally meeting our son.

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  5. Witnessing my profoundly deaf son (3) from the Philippines now turn his head when I call his name thanks to cochlear implants brought me joy in 2013.

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  6. Bringing me joy in 2014- praying my little man (profoundly deaf, now has cochlear implants) will begin using words to talk- and of course I cannot wait for him to call me "mama".

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  7. After nearly 4 years of waiting, we finally received a referral and saw the sweet face of the little girl that God ordained to be part of our family! = pure joy of 2013!

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  8. we live in expectant hope of bring her home in 2014. While this is not a sure thing, we love and serve a God!

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  9. The thing that has brought me the most joy in 2013 has been starting our adoption journey!

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  10. And what I'm looking forward to most in 2014 is finally becoming a parent! I can't believe how fast our adoption is going!

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  11. Joy came in 2013 when we brought our son and daughter home forever.

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  12. In 2014, we are looking forward to witnessing even more healing in their little hearts and minds.

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  13. In 2014, I am looking forward to finalizing our adoption!!

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  14. One thing that has brought me JOY in 2013 was meeting my goals for different projects in the DRCongo.

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  15. One thing I am looking forward to in 2014 is the Retreat of course!!

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  16. In 2013, I have loved watching new families become involved with our local foster care system!

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  17. my 3 children have brought amazing JOY in 2013!! what a blessing they are!

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  18. in 2014 I look forward to finishing our Bulgarian adoption journey!! (here's to positive thinking!!)

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  20. Looking forward in 2014: I am looking forward to meeting my 2nd adopted bundle of joy. It's been a long road with lots of obstacles and the thing that would bring me most joy is becoming a family of 4 in 2014!

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  21. Joy in 2013: taking the leap of faith and becoming a stay-at-home mommy to my 2 1/2 yr old adopted son! It's brought me JOY daily!!

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  22. Joy in 2013: my son. he brings me such joy each and every day! he was adopted 2 1/2 years ago domestically and changed our lives FOREVER. Joy in 2014: bringing him home a sister from China! <3

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  23. It didn't accept my name---Melinda Palmer :)

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  24. My joy for 2013 has been the health of my family...I am so blessed to have such an incredible partner in my husband, and such an active and loving toddler!

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  25. In 2013, our family has had great joy! My husband began a job that he has been waiting on for 4 years AND we brought our daughter home from Ethiopia after waiting for 3 years! So much joy!

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  26. I look forward to expanding our family in 2014!!

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  27. In 2014, I look forward with joy to our new life as a family of 4 in our new city!

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  28. My joy in 2013 comes from beginning the adoption process and watching God work in our life. <3

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  29. In 2014, I am looking forward to an official referral and the possibility of bringing a little (or two) home! <3

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  30. Joyful for our daughter's first birthday in 2013 and all the love we have for and from her!

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  31. Looking forward to 2014 to see how God will continue to grow our family!

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  32. Joy in just reading these comments of so many families that are touched by adoption. Beautiful.

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  34. Joyful for my beautiful healthy girl Lillianne Joy! Home from Taiwan for 5 years.

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  35. Looking forward to some direction as to our family's next adoption. And also, to be honest, really looking forward to my hysterectomy!

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  36. Im looking forward a a year of getting closer to God.

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  37. This year I really enjoyed going to the Bahamas with my cousins!

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