Tax-deductible Giving Now Available!

We truly trust that God desires us to provide a home for a child, and we know He will provide for the cost of our adoption.  

To date, we have applied for 4 grants to assist with our adoption.  We found out today that we were approved for a fundraising grant with Lifesong for Orphans.   Currently, they do not have funds available for a matching grant (which is what we applied for); however, this is still great news for our adoption fund. 

Now, friends and family can give directly to Lifesong for Orphans and indicate that you'd like your donation to benefit our adoption (#2908).  This will allow your donation to be tax-deductible.  

Here's what to do:

Send a check made payable to Lifesong for Orphans with our name and Account Number:

Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40 / 202 N. Ford St
Gridley, IL 61744

Please write "Preference: Flagler #2908 adoption" on Memo line.

This gift is tax-deductible, and we get 100% of your donation.  *Note: In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.

**Also, if you have already contributed over $250 to our adoption and would like your gift to be considered tax-deductible, please contact us. 

You Might be a Cares Team If...

You bake in bulk.

You have about 30 signs like this in your car and/or hall closet.

You stock-pile (donated) drinks from one event to the next.

Again, baking in bulk.

And baking Green things in Bulk!

Your kitchen gets full of friends helping prepare food for 200 people.

You make fruit pretty.

Have I mentioned that we bake in bulk?

You give out Breakfast to your neighbors on their way out of the apartments.

You have a dedicated Cares Thirty-One utility tote (and often use a few more!).

your Halloween pumpkin looks like this.

You have LOTS of candy and LOTS of cookies for passing out treat bags at Halloween.

You cook in bulk.
And you actually use the Microplane Grater from Pampered Chef.

You stock-pile dog treats to pass out at pet events.

You have 300+ of these in your freezer to give out to neighbors at the pool.

You have LOTS of these signs in your hall closet.

You buy in bulk!

Just a few pictures to show what this "Cares" part of our lives is like.  We do 3 events every month for our neighbors at our apartments.  We also visit all the new move-ins and neighbors whose leases will expire in about 3 months.  We also have a Book Club, Walking Club, and Ladies Bible Study.  We definitely stay busy and enjoy getting to know our neighbors and building friendships with them. 

Is it just me...

... or does Nala seem smaller?

Playing with Daddy.

Two Percent

Here's hoping we will become part of this 2%!

Source

30 by 30

I'll be 30 in a few months.  I have seen some great "30 by 30" posts, but mine will be different.  This one has one simple goal... to lose 30 pounds by the time I turn 30.  

So far, I've lost 3. That's 10%. 

My brother-in-law is also doing this with me, but he has almost a year before his 30th.  I do like having a buddy though.  

Here's the token 'before' picture.  (I couldn't really find one I liked, but I guess that's the point.) 

And now that this is officially posted (not just on Facebook), I can have more accountability.  The 30 pounds should really be the beginning, but that's my first goal.  Here goes...