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Friday, January 29, 2010

Jeremiah's 2nd Birthday
He is such a ham and a little peanut.  He has a deep love for his brothers and sister and wants to be included on everything.  We had a wonderful day, not to sure about it all but just went along with it.
We are so blessed!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

ADULT SHIRTS NOW ON SALE

SPREAD THE WORD! Adult t-shirts are now on sale too! The adult shirts come in three colors. Red and gray with a black design and a black t-shirt with the design in white. Like the youth t-shirt the design was created by artist Emily Wierenga. She has her own website at http://www.emilywierenga.com/ and her artwork website at http://www.canvaschild.com/ The design is of a birthing mother showered in sunlight and contains a hidden image of Africa too. Both our adult and youth shirts are pre-shrunk Gildan brand shirts and are in typical t-shirt sizes. We will place orders through our supplier each month on the 23rd and there is about a 2-week turnaround time before the shirt comes to us. If you have any questions about the shirts, please contact us before you place an order. SPREAD THE WORD!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Youth T-shirts Now On Sale!

SPREAD THE WORD! We're selling youth t-shirts to raise funds for our adoption. The design on the t-shirt is from artist Emily Wierenga (http://www.canvaschild.com/) Emily worked with us to design the artwork for our t-shirts. A wonderfully talented young woman Emily has a heart of gold too! Please look at her website to see not only her amazing artwork but also her written work too!
The price of each shirt includes shipping. We'll order shirts once per month (next order on Feb 23rd) with our t-shirt company located right here in Kiel, Wisconsin "First Street Studio" (Thanks Jamie!) Adult shirts will be posted for sale soon! SPREAD THE WORD!

Fundraiser Cancelled Jan 31st

We had reserved our city’s community center for the event back in early December. All seemed fine so we put up fliers, ordered and received food & drink, etc. but then on Thursday of this last week we were notified that our request was denied. When our application to use the center was reviewed we found out that the city does not allow use of the facility for the selling of any goods for profit. Despite the fact that our “profit” would in fact be used for the adoption expenses, it is still considered a “sale for profit” so the request to use the city’s facility was denied. UGH! Not sure what we’re going to do yet as it seems every time we get a small blessing, we get kicked have a set back of some sort. We expected some hardships along the way it just seems we’re getting hit right and left as we push forward on this adoption so it is disheartening and discouraging but we’re trying to stay calm and focused in prayer.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Friday Morning
This morning I turned on the coffee pot and headed for the shower. The warm water was instantly there. Clean hair, fresh towels, clean clothes … and coffee. Then I flipped on the  TV.

The mass commotion on a main street in Port-au-Prince drew my attention. The camera zoomed in on a young man threateningly holding up a broken piece of concrete as a weapon.
As the images flash by it’s hard to imagine that this chaos is happening right this moment as I sip my coffee. It troubles my heart to see fellow human beings in such a depth of despair with little hope.
That devastating earthquake in Haiti is overwhelming. The pain is unbelievable, and the anguished faces etch their outline on our memories. They are hungry. They are thirsty. They are frantically looking for loved ones. They have not so much as a blanket or a change of clothes much less a meal to eat. The help is coming, yet the need is so very great.
It’s easy to turn the TV off and continue on into my day. Can I shake off the uneasiness? Can I push the images of the wailing faces to the back of my mind and hurry on? I am so far removed from the chaos. I am so helpless to aid the breaking hearts …
The sun is shining. It’s a good day to wash the car perhaps … and on we go with our own lives. On we MUST go with our own lives. Thankful for today. Praying a prayer for Haiti that is hard to even find words for. What can I do?
I stop at my computer. A quick search brings me to a donation page and before I leave I hit the button and send what seems like such an insignificant gift is the face of such need.
Yet my donation will join with many others and together they WILL make a difference. Together we, who have the privilege of going about our daily routine, will stop to share what we can with those who so desperately need it.
 Sip your coffee with a grateful heart, yes. But take a moment to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Haiti today. It’s what Jesus calls us to do.
Lord God, Thank you that we can represent You in Haiti today by giving what we can to be Your hands and feet to the hurting. Flood our hearts with generosity and care. Be very present in the midst of that chaos and make a way for help to flourish. In Your name we pray, amen.





Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Tough Break!

Well, the kids and I had a great weekend together while Dave was gone skiing. We went ice skating 5 days in a row. They are surprised at how much better they have gotten in just a few days. It’s so fun and magical at night with the lights and the sparkling ice. Nanee (Grandma) and Papa joined us a few times and they had a blast too. Nanee even wore her skates and was skating so nice and graceful. The kids were in awe of her. Olivia just stared and wondered when she was going to be able to do that. Nanee was pulling the kids on the sled on the ice (with her skates on) and they were laughing and having a great time but then Nanee fell and hurt her wrist. After a trip to the emergency room she came out with a broken wrist. What a trooper she was, having a blast with the gang. Of course the kids thought she lost an arm, or was dead or something silly. Their little minds are so funny. She is doing ok for now.
On another note we are finalizing the t-shirt fundraiser and it should be up and running by next week via our blog.

Something that’s been on my mind these days: If we're called to be imitators of Christ, to look like the One whose image we bear, what does that mean? What are the first qualities that come to your mind? To love lavishly and without condition? To forgive freely even when you've been wronged? To serve sacrificially and to consider others' preferences above your own?


Friday, January 15, 2010

Ice Skating Fun

The kids and I have been having so much fun even though their dad is gone for awhile yet.  I love love love the little things in life.  Children are so great and they are so much fun.  I was crying last night and laughing so hard with my children it was the best.  I decided to take them (walk them) to the ice skating rink in town, two blocks down from our house.  It was so nice outside at least 27 degrees.  So, I pulled my little one Jeremiah(2) in the sled.  We don't have skates but I thought we could slide around and hang out.  There were a few others down there too.  It was so beautiful with the Christmas lights still twinkling and the bridge and dam in the background.  We stayed and played for 2 hours.  Little did I know.  Well when we tried to leave I couldn't get Jeremiah into the sled.  He looked like a fluffly frosty shuffling his feet around as fast as he could trying to get away from me.  Everytime I tried to catch him and run faster he ran faster and I would fall or he would.  We did this for 15 minutes until I got him.  My kids thougt this was great and I was seriously getting concerned if I was going to get him.  Odin (the 6 year old) was crying on the ground and wasn't much of a help and Olivia(3) and Jonah(4) decided to strike up conversations with the guys in the ice shanty who were playing hockey.  So much for helping Mom.  Here, I was worried the whole time about falling on the ice.  We finally got him and made him lay in the sled the way home.  Had some hot chocolate and called it a night.  I am feeling so brokenhearted  for all these people in Haiti and these children left behind.  Please keep praying for them and open your hearts to give.  We just want to say thanks to you for all the prayers for us and for your wonderful genours donations. 

Wednesday, January 13, 2010


Ok, learned how fast plastic melts in the oven today.  So Dave is leaving for a few days and decides to have all the kids together for a yummy pizza lunch and then take them back to school.  SO I preheated the oven.  It felt like it was taking so long? Then I smelled something burning and saw bright orange flames.  Well, I totally forgot I had put a batch of my funky buns in the oven to rise in the tupperware container and left it in there.  I have never seen such a site before.  My 9x 13 tupperware was now melted liquid on the bottom of my oven and all the funky buns were on the stove rack cooked.  I am cleaning it up and taking breaks in between.  My goodness!   The kids thought it was great.  They decided it was like lava because the container was orange.  My oven needed to be cleaned I guess!

Friday, January 8, 2010

To help us pay for our adoption we need you to drink coffee!
We have an affiliate account set up with 963 Coffee, a company that’s mission is two-fold: to provide a fair wage for coffee farmers in poverty-stricken communities and to allow groups and individuals to use the coffee to raise funds for mission projects and relief initiatives.
Americans consume more coffee than any other nation. On average, 108 million people in the U.S. drink coffee every day, consuming 2.3 billion pounds a year. Behind oil, coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world. However, the trade system does not work in favor of developing countries; unlike the oil industry, coffee producers live in extreme poverty, bringing in an average of only $500 per year. For every American coffee drinker, there is one worker elsewhere in the world who depends on coffee for their day-to-day survival.
Because the rules that govern trade favor rich countries, the potential to reduce poverty and support economic growth for poorer countries is being lost. As a result, most of these developing countries are dependent on outside aid for their survival. If Africa alone could increase its share of world exports by just 1%, it would generate $70 billion – about 5 times what it already receives in aid.
By ordering coffee from the following special link, you will not only be helping these famers, but 40% of your purchase will come back to us from 963 Coffee to be put toward our travel expenses to Africa. You are free to purchase any type of coffee or other products from the web site. Just be sure to use this link:
www.963coffee.com/default.aspx?affiliateID=10391
Our name will not appear anywhere on the site, but on your receipt our affliate ID (10391) will be there to let the office know to credit our account.
Let’s be honest, Starbucks, Caribou, Coffee Bean and Dunn Brothers have seen more than enough of our money! Please consider buying even one bag of 963 Coffee ($10, $4 goes to us) to help these farmers and help us bring home our daughter. If your church or place of business regulary orders coffee for a cafe, break room or special event, please consider 963 for the company’s next bulk purchase. And if you are a tea drinker, that’s cute, but it’s no excuse! Purchase some cocoa or a tumbler instead (see the site’s side navigation links)...or buy a bag of coffee for a caffeine-addicted friend. Your friend will thank you and so will we.
We’ve known since the day we sent our application to that it would be impossible to see this adoption through without the financial support of our friends, family and co-workers. So, please, please join us in helping to bring what remedy we can to one of Africa’s orphans.
With heaps of thanks and loads of love and many blessings.
Love the Funk's






Thursday, January 7, 2010

Quick update, Funky Buns  is doing great.  We cranked out another 77 yesterday for samples and are doing more today.  Wish we could get everybody but I don't think I could manage that.  It supports a wonderful cause and I am so  so thankful for all your orders coming in, support and prayers.  Prayers, what a wonderful thing God has blessed us with.  Be sure to suscribe to the post or become a follower so it's easier to follow our blog.  Have a wonderful day! 

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Funky Buns


Funky Buns has launched! Thanks to a friend who had the idea: as a fundraiser for our adoption we've now started to sell our homemade Cinnamon and Carmel Rolls.  A dozen is $15 and a half dozen is $8.  100% of the proceeds go to our our adoption fund. Call and order them today. Me and the kids cranked out 72 rolls.  We have started the process and paperwork but now comes the time to start raising the money we will need over the next few months. Sounds insane but totally possible when we are fully faithful and rely on God. We will be doing a few t-shirt fundraisers in a few weeks online too and also a yard sale in both June and August. So start saving your stuff to donate now. Don't forget the big items as well. Every penny made will go towards our adoption costs.



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