The BIG (or possibly not so big) announcement!
I've been talking about this for a while now. Hinting to it on Facebook. Leading up to it. Basically messing with your minds in an almost sinister manner. *muahaha*. But it's time. Time to finally announce my BIG PLAN.
Or not so big plan depending on who you are and whether or not you care about this. But, I care. A lot. And this is my post on MY blog, so deal with it =)
I have spent most of my adult life taking care of other people's children (and a lot of my childhood as well, actually). I've been babysitting and running an in-home daycare for YEARS. It's been a blessing, really. Being able to earn an income from home while staying with my own children and homeschooling at the same time is a HUGE blessing! And it has definitely been a God thing that the families I have worked for have all been so amazing. More often than not I feel like the children I care for are my own.
And that has led me back to something I've been thinking about and praying about since before I was even married or had my own children.
Adoption.
Every morning when I wake up I open my front door and welcome in other children. Then I stand back and watch their parents give them hugs and kisses goodbye before heading off to work. And every time this happens I hear a little voice saying, "You could be caring for a child who doesn't have loving parents right now."
Every time a child is picked up by his parents at the end of the day I'm reminded that somewhere there is a child still alone.
Every time I make lunch for my children or the ones in my care I see an empty seat at the table waiting to be filled by a child in need.
When I watch my kids playing together I think of how amazing it is to have siblings to lean on. And somewhere there a child who needs my kids just as much as they need parents.
The urge to take in a child with no family grows stronger and stronger every single day.
But every time these thoughts come up, I find myself thinking about the logistics. We have the space for a child. We have the desire to help. We have the call from God. But we don't have the funds.
Adoption can be pretty expensive. I don't know yet when we will adopt, or where, but I'm ready to get a jump start on those expenses.
So I started thinking of other ways I could earn income. Ways to raise money specifically for this purpose. And of course I turned it into a home school lesson. #duh
The kids and I sat down together and brainstormed ideas. Yard sales, bake sales, more babysitting, etc. Those would all help. But we wanted a business. Something we could do together. Something the kids could really be a part of. And I think we found it.
We are readers. We are book lovers. We are home-schoolers. What better way to save funds for the future Mini Marshalls than by using what we already know and love? Books!
More specifically, Usborne Books.
We are already using these books in our home-schooling. The kids received many as Christmas and birthday gifts over the years. We already know and love them. Now, we want to share them.
Rachel, Jeremiah and I have started an Usborne Books & More business together! And the other kids will help as well once they get a little older. The income we earn from this will go toward preparing for adoption.
Rachel specifically wanted to be involved. Her idea is to read the books and do video reviews for me to share online. So you will hear from a child about which books are loved, and which books just don't make the list. She's brutally honest, guys (just like her daddy) , so be warned! =)
I know it can take quite a while to get a new business off the ground, which is why we are starting NOW. I don't want to wait to start preparing.
So, that was part 1 of my announcement.
Here's part 2!
My heart is for orphans. And not just the few that we hope to bring into our home and family. All orphans. So I couldn't think of a better way to KICK-START this new adventure than to help raise funds for my Missionary Sister to minister to orphans!
My sister, Angel, has a heart for orphans as well. She has already been to China, Ukraine, Mexico, India and Honduras in ministry. This summer she will be going to Ethiopia to minister to orphans again. My "Launch Party" will help fund that trip =)
Every party after that will fund our adoption(s).
We are really excited about this new adventure and can't wait to see what God will do with this! Please keep us in your prayers! Pray for this business with my kids. Pray for the orphans around the world. And pray for my sister in her ministry.
Thanks for being a part of our journey!!
-TJ =)