GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY WINNER ANNOUNCED!!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=805668812823990&l=4248282140401717099

Okay, here's our winner of the Best Buy and Target gift cards!! Be sure and message me your mailing address!! CONGRATULATIONS!! (And please forgive this UGLY t-shirt Erik has on - he had a little too much fun in the water fountain and the school found this spare for him - ugh.)

I Am Not an Island

The giveaway drawing will still take place this Friday, but before I let another hour pass, I have to give thanks.


I've mentioned before that there are a few of those around who aren't enthusiastic about me adopting more kids. Mostly they are "worried" about me. Either that, or they simply stay silent. I say God is calling me to adopt all of these kids (after all, the only "calling" isn't to be a pastor or missionary!). Door after door of these girls' adoptions has been opened, some against unbelievable odds (like a single being able to adopt TWO kids - it's practically unheard of in China, amongst other things).


Over the past 4 months or so, I have had a front row seat in God's production, watching Him work in ways I haven't seen since He audibly told me in my left ear (yes, I heard it as clear as day) to adopt Reese. Every closed door I approached stayed closed until my nose got an inch in front of it when God swung it open. I didn't even need to turn the knob! This has happened time and time again with these last adoptions.


I have had some stress about money issues, and yes, the money did come as needed, and on time, just as my nose got close to every door, but a BIG chunk of the money was still due (plane fare, hotel, orphanage donations, legal fees, etc!!) and it was looking like it was going to be a penny-counter!! Until...

Go look and see how God has blessed these girls just today, reducing me to a blubbering mass of thankfulness. I dare you. Praise be to God!!! http://reecesrainbow.org/81148/sponsorvoigts








PLEASE, find a family that God leads you to who needs help and do everything you can to help them!! SO MANY PEOPLE have helped me to finance this adoption that I am truly humbled. I've never fundraised for any of my prior four adoptions, but this time I had to admit I needed help. Like most single working moms, I am independent. Too independent. I rely on myself. I go to work and earn the money and pay the bills, never taking a dime that I haven't earned myself. I do all the chores and the shopping and the cooking (okay, Reese helps with the dishes and with Erik...) and take all of the burden on myself. Well, I've learned a thing or two in the past few months; I've learned that I am not an island. Though asking for help and admitting that I NEED help is NOT in my nature whatsoever, I sometimes do need to humble myself and allow God to use others to help me. Because I am NOT an island. I am NOT the only one in my life. I CAN ask for help and it's GOOD to ask for help and it's GOOD to receive help and it's GOOD to give thanks for that help!! This has not been an easy lesson for me, but it's one that I've made strides in learning.


It has also reopened my eyes. Sometimes I get so focused on what my patients need and my boss needs and my kids need and my dogs need and what my creditors need and even what my car needs, that I forget that there are others out there who need help, too!! I have forgotten the need. The generosity of so many people has reignited the fire within me to help! Everyone's situation is unique and God calls each of us to help in different ways (Can you cook? Bring someone a meal! Can you work on cars? Help someone with their car maintenance! Got a lawn mower? Mow someone's lawn! Got extra money? Donate some of it in a specific way to help someone with a need, or else buy a bag of groceries or give a grocery gift card or donate to Reece's Rainbow - there are so MANY ways to help!), but would you take the time to let God speak to you and see if he is calling you to help a specific family or two to help bring their child(ren) home? After all, what cause beats helping widows or orphans? (okay, dogs too, but that's not in the Bible) Please, won't you help someone help someone, as so many others have helped me help my girls? I promise, you will be blessed for it!!!

New giveaway!!

Okay, let's try this again: I am launching a much simpler giveaway, and there is much less time in which to do it!!  

Someone very generously donated a $100 Best Buy gift card and I am adding my own $25 Target gift card to the mix and making it one big prize!!

So, here's the deal: I am trying to get my FSP to $1500 by next Friday, Oct. 24!  If my FSP account says $1500 I will let Erik draw a name from those who have tickets and that person will be the winner!  Here's how to get tickets:

1 ticket = $5
3 tickets = $10
10 tickets = $20
GOOD LUCK!!!

To make a tax-deductable donation, deposit the money in the girls' FSP account here: http://reecesrainbow.org/81148/sponsorvoigts and be sure and send me a receipt so you can get your name in the pot!

Disclaimer: If I don't get to $1500, all ticket purchases will be NON-REFUNDABLE, and the sad situation will be that no one gets the prize and I want to see someone get a great prize, so please buy tickets!!  ;o)  My FSP at the time of this posting is at $886, so only $614 needs to be raised from this giveaway!!

P.S.  To sweeten the deal, I will show a video of Erik picking the name out of the "hat"!

End of giveaway...

Well, the giveaway was a flop.  I only received 6 entries, which doesn't come anywhere NEAR enough to pay for anything so I'm calling it a bust.  That said, if anyone donated/bought tickets and would like a refund, PLEASE message me asap and I will refund your money!!!  I'm really sorry, but I guess I just didn't have anything listed that anyone would want (I thought sure the Chanel bags or the Beats headphones would be a draw, but I guess not...).  I tried!

MUCH THANKS to those of you who did participate, and as I said, please message me and I will refund your money!!

Major bummer...  Some people make thousands on these giveaways, but I obviously was not one of them.  Oh, well...