Etsy Update

Hi friends,
Well, we were finally able to allot some much needed attention to our Etsy shop.
Props to Andrew for the amazingly better pics!

Props to the chive plant in the background of the shots that just keeps kicking with very little TLC.

And props to my precious son for his rock collecting fetish- who knew that pile of rocks on the deck would turn out to be a snazzy prop!

So, here it is....check it oooouuuttt (and share???):
http://www.etsy.com/shop/OutOnALimbAdoption

And just to celebrate the overdue update we are having a little sale. Use coupons code LOVECHINA to receive 10% off your order (plus our standard free shipping)

P.S. The leather cuffs are totally personalize-able (like that word?). Just send us your wrist measurement and word you'd like engraved on it

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Whereby we found ourselves in the newspaper...

Last week I eluded to a message left by a reporter from the newspaper. And today it appeared. So, here's how that happened and then why this happened:

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/08/faith-motivates-couples-quest-to-adopt-creativity/


Week of Chatty Crafty: I get an email from Holly, a reporter from the Times Free Press.  She wants a quote about our involvement in the handmade crafting movement that is very much active in Chattanooga. "How did you get into your craft?" she asks. Hmmm, that's kind of an involved question for us. But nonetheless, I started into my lengthy answer. A moment later she stops me and says "to be quite honest..." and I'm a little concerned what she's going to be honest about, honestly. She says she doesn't want to just use a one-line quote in this article on us but she'd actually like to do a profile story on our family. Uhh, what? Ummm, ok. Sure, we could do that. She'll call back next week.  We went on about Chatty Crafty thinking this was pretty cool but not sure if it was really going to happen, y'know. 


Last Monday, sure enough, Ms. Holly calls back ready to schedule us to come in for an interview. A little shocked, a bit uncertain we made arrangements and showed up Thursday at 8am.  We shared and trusted the Lord, and trusted Holly to represent our God and our purpose.  


We still don't know exactly why the Lord wants that article in the newspaper. We know that many, many families in Chattanooga are in the adoption process, why us? Its not really anything fantastic, its just what He's called and is equipping us to do.  Our prayer has been that many would be encouraged and provoked to considering the Father's plan for all these 147 million orphans in the world. YOU ARE THE PLAN....WE ARE THE PLAN!

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."  Ephesians 3:20

Adoption Tax Credit

You may or may not be aware that the U.S. Government offers a very substantial Adoption Tax Credit to adopting families.  Without this credit, adoption would be nearly impossible for many families.

HOWEVER

as reported by America World Adoption:

On April 17, 2012, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) introduced the Making Adoption Affordable Act. The act will permanently expand the federal adoption tax credit to $13,360, an increase of $1,000 over the current credit, and make it refundable.

The current adoption tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2012. Over the last several months, many of you expressed concerns about the impact the expiration of the credit will have on your family. Congressman Braley’s bill is the first step toward ensuring that the adoption tax credit continues to be an option to help families offset the high cost of adoption. More importantly, this legislation will promote the adoption of God’s children by loving families.

As people who are passionate about the ministry of adoption, it is up to us to make sure our Representatives support this life-saving legislation. Will you take action on behalf of orphaned and vulnerable children by contacting your member of Congress to urge them to vote “YES” on the Making Adoption Affordable Act?

You can find the contact information for your Representative by clicking HERE.

The full text of the Making Adoption Affordable Act can be foundHERE.

We will provide updates on the progress of the bill as it makes its way through Congress.

Blessings,

Andrew C. Brown

Director of Corporate Governance 

So, if you would take just a moment and click on the highlighted link above you will very quickly be led to a form on which you can write to your Representative.  In fact, to make it even easier, you can copy the text below for the message portion and sign your name. See, no brain work required! 

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Subject: Support the Making Adoption Affordable Act

On April 17, 2012, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) introduced the Making Adoption Affordable Act. The act will permanently expand the federal adoption tax credit to $13,360, an increase of $1,000 over the current credit, and make it refundable.

On behalf of many families in America, please support this bill. The adoption tax credit helps to make adoption a reality for these families.  However, I urge to make this decision not because of them but because of the 147 million orphans in the world who need a loving, forever family.

Sincerely,