Adoption Items Online.

Recently, I was  looking on Etsy to see if I could find any items that people sell to raise money for their adoptions.  I was surprised to find a lot of cute accessories (and other things.)  Here are some for you to enjoy -- please think of purchasing one of these items because every single one of them will go toward an adoption!

James 1:27 bracelet by Brimming Grace.

Is it just me, or is anyone else in love with this bracelet?  It's so pretty and simple, and a great conversation starter!

Asphalt Dress: "Adoption is the new pregnant"

This one makes me laugh. I think it would be a perfect gift for any adoptive mom!

Polka dot paisley yellow FUN Half Apron

 I really love the colors in this. I mean, it's just so... CUTE.  I love the shop, and just like everything else in this post, it will help to bring orphans home (for this family, their two children from Uganda!)

Ethiopia Adoption Baby Onesie 

I die.

City Lights Braided Fabric Bracelets with Hand-Stamped Tag

I think this is just so cool and fun :)

UpCycled Leather Cuff Bracelet -- "Adoption Rocks"

Um. THIS rocks.

Ladies' Kainos Fabric Cuff Bracelet

I know I've already done a few bracelets, but I couldn't resist. It's adoption and it's a cute bracelet.

Navy and White Dot Fabric Covered Earrings

I think these are just lovely!

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Hope you guys enjoyed these! 

~Natalia

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It Made a Difference to That One.

There are an estimated 147 million orphans worldwide. 147 million.

We've talked about this subject before, about helping just one.  Caitlin had a post on ways to start. Just one way. Talia posted about the difference that one shoebox made. 

Just one.

But why? Why help just one? After all, isn't it just ONE out of 147 MILLION?

There's a story that has really helped me to understand this, and it goes like this:

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!" The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said- "It made a difference for that one." No matter what you do -- sponsor a child, adopt, give money towards an adoption -- it will make a difference to that one child. What if you were that child?  We may casually think we can't make a difference by just helping one, but what if you were that child?  You would never be adopted. You would live in an orphanage that could possibly never replace the comfort of a home. You might not have enough food to eat.  You might grow up without ever feeling love.  And if one person had reached out, your life could have completely changed.  So even if you can't adopt, if you decide to give to an organization or an adoptive family, etc.; just remember.   It made a difference to that one.

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Young Writers for Adoption Contest

Hi, everyone!

I think many of the people who read this blog have adopted family members, and I think that most of you have blogs and like to write.  So, I'm sure you would all love to participate in the Young Writers for Adoption Contest I recently heard about!

About the Young Writers for Adoption Contest

Writing Contest for Young writers of Adoptive Families
Open to all youth (ages 1 to age 21) from adoptive families.

Cash Awards for winners in each age division:
1st place =$500
2nd place=$300
3rd place= $150
4th place=$50

Four Divisions:
10 and under
ages 11-13
ages 14-18
ages 19-21

Choose one of these three questions and answer in your own original work. All entries must be less than 500 words.

• The term “family “ is often defined differently. What does family mean to you?
• Families enjoy each other’s company in many unique ways. What is your favorite way to spend time with your family?
• Your family wouldn’t be the same without you. Explain your role in your own family.

Young writers may submit prose or poetry. One entry per person. Writers must be adopted or have adopted siblings in their immediate family.

The essays will be placed in the appropriate division based on the age of the writer at submission

All entires must be received via email by midnight June1st, 2012.

If you'd like more information, you can view the website here. Good luck :)


-Natalia

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A Treasury of Adoption Miracles -- a Must Read!

"Adoption is a miracle all by itself.
  As I followed up on adoption stories that had come my way over the years, I was struck by one truth: Every adoption is a miracle.  After all, it is God working things out so that a hurting orphan finds his or her way into a family with open arms.  It is the building of families in a way that allows God's plans to play out in a very real way.  
  A special verse in the book of James tells us: 'Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress' (1:27 NIV).  That doesn't always mean adoption is right for you.  Perhaps that verse means you might pray for a hurting child.  Maybe you could support a child internationally -- many groups offer the opportunity to send a dollar or more a day to help an orphan eat or receive an education. 
  But sometimes that Scripture leads people to adoption...
  During the research phase of this book, I checked to see what other collections were available.  I expected there to be many and was surprised at what I found instead.  There are no other collections, at the time of this printing, that details stories of adoptions in a way that might encourage others to be excited about adoption.  For that reason, it's my prayer that this book will be an encouragement."


Karen Kingsbury


The first time I read this book was probably around 3 1/2 years ago, when our family decided to pursue the journey of adoption.  As excited as I was for our own story to unfold, I was eager to read the 12 chapters about others who had experienced the miracle of adoption, excited to turn the pages full of stories of God's miracles.

I started reading the book and couldn't stop.  It was one of those books that I became addicted to for the next hour or two, and within one sitting I had finished.  A Treasury of Adoption Miracles: True Stories of God's Presence Today, written by author and adoptive mother Karen Kingsbury was so inspiring.  It was encouraging and exciting, making me ready to experience my own miracles like the ones in the book; and throughout the adoption process we definitely saw God working.

A few days ago, as I was looking through our collection of books, I came across the 150-page treasury.  I decided to read it for a second time, and once again, it was a one-sitting read.  And even though many things have changed since the first time I read it, it was still incredibly inspiring, encouraging and exciting.  It made me fall in love with adoption all over again.  It made me fall in love even more with Christ and His special plan for everyone.  And so today, when I decided to post on here, I instantly knew what it would be about.  This special book.

Whether you are on the fence with your view on adoption, are going through the adoption process, have already welcomed an adopted family member into your home, or maybe just need a great read, I would certainly recommend this.

The stories were all complete tearjerkers... so don't say I didn't warn you.  Every page was convicting but so amazing.
I would love to hear about this book more often when talking with people about adoption.  It is a book that breaks your heart for orphans and challenges you to think of the 147 million children in need of a home.  I would certainly encourage you to borrow it from a friend who has it, order it online orcheck it out from a library.

If you read it, let us know! Remember you can tweet us anytime at @project_147. 


xoxo,
-Natalia

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Project 147.

W e l c o m e ,    e v e r y o n e ,   t o   P r o j e c t   1 4 7 !

The website you are on is no ordinary website.  This blog is not just a blog.  No, it's much more than that.   This is something big, a project that was started because of small seeds of compassion that had been planted by God in the hearts of five young ladies.  Through blogging and emailing, we have collaborated and are ready for anything.

Our mission? James 1:27.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

We want to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world.  To look after the widows.  And we hope to use this website as a tool to look after orphans.  To love them.  That is how this website started.  Not because of us, but because of them.

There are an estimated 147 million orphans worldwide.  Yes, there are differing statistics, but you can not ignore the fact that there are millions of children who have never known the love of a parent. 

Together, we want to help them experience that love.  We want to raise awareness in hopes that these children (and adults) will know not just the love of those around the world as we take a stand, but that they will always know the love of our heavenly Father.

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When I read a number like 147 million, I honestly cannot comprehend its size.  Not many people can, I suppose.  We're not claiming that we can either.  But we do know this: one hundred forty seven million is a huge number, and it's because we know this that we've started Project 147.  We know we don't have all the answers, but if we could somehow, in someway lower that incomprehensible number, than this project is worth it.  All the work and prayers and money will have a purpose.  We know there's only so much five girls can do, but if we can do something, why not do this?  

~Olivia

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Many people think they cannot make a difference in the world. Many people know that there are many orphans, many homeless people, many hungry, starving, and dying people in the world...but they don't think there's anything they can do about it. Many teens think they are too young to be able to change anything, so they don't even try.

But not us.

1 Timothy 4:12 says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." I believe that kids, teens, and adults today can make a difference - a huge difference in the lives of orphans. Will you join us?

~Talia

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When I think “Project 147”, I think of several key words. Advocating. Love. Hope. That is our purpose. We are standing up for the forgotten through both the website and our blog. We want to raise awareness. We want to direct people to various ways in which they too can stand up for and advocate for over 147,000,000 precious kiddos across the globe who lack what most of us take for granted. And I cannot see what God does through us and the website. Welcome to Project 147.

~Caitlin 

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Project 147 is an incredible website.   All the authors of this blog have been adopted by our heavenly Father, and have been blessed with the gift of parents here on earth.  But the mind boggling truth is there are an estimated 147 million worldwide who have no one to work hard for them, to tuck them in at night, to love them.

We want to change that.  Yes, we may only be a handful of young girls, but we can reach others: children, adults, boys, girls, men, women, teens.  Together, we can bring down this number.  We are here to offer resources to help you get started, write eye-opening blog posts, interview those impacted by adoption, and to love the unloved. I do hope you'll join us.

~Natalia

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Project 147 is like a dream come true.  Literally.  I dreamt of one day having a website all about orphans, and one day, I got a lovely email from a lovely lady who helped make this thing happen.  This idea had been stuck in my head for the past four months, and I couldn't get it to go away.  I knew it was meant to be.  To me, Project 147 is like an adventure, and I can't wait to continue on this journey.  Orphans and adoption have been close to my heart for many years now, and it just feels so natural and so meant to be to be here in the midst of four other like-minded girls trying to speak up for the forgotten.  I hope you are encouraged from this website.  I hope you are moved.  I hope the Lord stirs something in your heart to give you a love for orphans, too.

~Emma

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Everyone of these girls has worked hard the past few weeks to get everything together for this moment.  When this would no longer be something to keep to ourselves, a small dream... but a reality that others could help us make happen.  There is so much to be said.

There are orphans, and it's wrong.  

Even if you think you can't make a difference, you can.  By clicking the follow button, spreading the word and praying for your eyes to be opened as you visit our website and read our blog.  You can donate to keep this website running and guest post to reach others.


Thank you so much for your support. Our prayer is that our readers will be encouraged and inspired to make a difference, and above all, that Christ would be glorified through everything. xoxo.

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