President's Day Blitz: Grand Total & Full Body Massage Winners!!!

As you recall, last Monday, we announced an impromptu fundraising blitz where a friend of ours decided that their family was going to match all donations for a week!  Wow!  Amazing what God does even in the spur of the moment.  By our deadline of last night, we raised $2,720 once our donor matched all incoming donations! Are you serious God! I know you don't need me to be a part of this story but I am blessed that you chose to allow me, my family, and friends to be a part of this miracle!  David Crowder's song "Come and Listen" just makes me stop and really reflect on this amazing thing God has done.  $2,720 Dollars in a week for Selah's adoption! Crowder says, "Come and listen to what He's done. Let me tell you what He's done for me....He has done for you....He has done for us."

Well, if that wasn't enough, another friend of mine from church, Nichole Jefferson, decided that she wanted to motivate our donors during the week so she donated TWO fully body massages. Say what! Next to my love for southern comfort food, massages are tops for me! Could you imagine what would happen to me if I got southern comfort food and a massage all in one day.....oh my goodness! I'd probably fall apart!  Sorry I digressed!

So for every $5 that individuals donated, they received an entry towards one of the full body massages. Without further chatting, I present to you the two cutest little boys on this side of Maryland who have chosen the winners for the full body massages:

Congratulations Elwood/Cheryl Matthews & Bob/Angela Washington! You have won one full body massage!  (I'm guessing these hubbies will probably give the certificate to their wives....well, I'm just wishing that's what my hubby would do in this situation....smile)

Many thanks to everyone for your support and loving on a little girl who for now we just know by the name of Selah.  Love y'all!

President's Day News: THIS IS BIG, BIG, BIG!!!!

Can you believe the generosity of my friends?????  Of course you can because you're probably one of them.  Today I received an AMAZING call from one of them! Check out what he had to share!!!



Can you believe it! He's matching donations beginning TODAY thru Sunday at 11:59pm.  Family and friends....catch the fever! We have an opportunity to finish our adoption funding.  If Obama's campaign could reach new giving heights because of people who gave $1, $5, $20.....so can we!

Let's see if we can at least raise $4,414.50 this week!  I think we can!  Let's go.  There's a little girl in Ethiopia counting on us.

To donate via credit/debit card, please hop over to our fundraising site at www.firstgiving.com/michellemckinney

If you'd prefer to donate via check, please contact me at michelle365@me.com so that I can give you instructions on how to get your check to us before the cut-off date.  Checks must be made payable to Lifesong for Orphans and you must write "McKinney #1469) in the memo section of your check.

Let's go Team Selah! Love ya!

I'm Bringing Sexy Back.....

Say what! Isn't this a blog about adoption???? You bet your baby booties it is!

This past year, as we prepared all of our documentation for the adoption of our daughter, things were crazy busy.  With that said, I was doing good to make sure I had on clean clothes with all of the early mornings, late nights, and running around to get paperwork completed.  Given the craziness of everything, this mama and wife put 'primping' on the backburner.  Okay...can I be fully honest?  Even before the adoption, 'bringing sexy to our marriage' has not always been my number one priority.  Yet, I really believe that it is important to continue romance, excitement, and even 'sexiness' in marriage. 

So, for those of us who are on this adoption journey together, let's not forget about our hubbies.  Although we take care of the needs of our families (meals, laundry, errands, etc.), try not to give a backseat to taking care of YOU and your hubby's desires.  But how in the world is a mama...an adoptin' mama....supposed to fit this all in with all of the other craziness????  Little by little.

So....here and there in a series of blog posts called 'Time Out for Mommy", I'll be sharing with you how I'm bringing my 'sexy' back in my marriage....***giggle*** I really believe the key to being 'sexy' for your mate is really about exuding self-confidence.  Sure a cute piece of lingerie and lips poppin' with gloss don't hurt either but self-confidence is at the top of the list. 

Along with exuding self-confidence, I like the idea of being just a bit more 'girly' but I'm really a no-fuss type of chick. In the past few years, I've grown to prefer flats over pumps and wash & wear over dryclean only.  Whether it's throwing on a little lip gloss, learning to do make-up, or stepping up my wardrobe game, I'd love for you to come along this journey with me in my "Time-Out for Mommy" blog posts.  There's even a 'class' that I've been intrigued about taking but if I do....I'll have to decide whether I blog about it.  (smile)  Watch out Justin Timberlake-------cuz----------I'm bringing sexy back!  LOL

What about you?  Is there anything you'd like to do differently or more of to spice up your marriage or make yourself feel a little more confident? 

One Month Anniversary DTE....How did I celebrate????

Yesterday, we celebrated our month anniversary of officially waiting for the referral of our daughter, Selah.  Woo hoo!  So.....I decided to figure out a way for me/our family to celebrate this momentous occasion.  Well....I guess I'll be gettin' fit.....oh brother!  smile




Forgive me southern girls.  I know that you all aren't poor eaters like me.  As for me, if possible, every morning my breakfast would really consist of bacon, fried fish, grits, fried apples, fried corn, fried potatoes, and Jiffy Corn Bread.  I'm the kind of girl that will often pull out dinner for breakfast....the other morning it was turkey wings, cabbage, mac & cheese, rice & gravy. 

Needless to say.....these months ahead will be interesting!  I mean really....my palette is not broad so unless it's Paula Deen and a stick of butter, this ain't gonna be pretty!  smile.  Any thoughts of great healthier foods that this girl can lean into? 

The Pain of Choosing to Relinquish Your Child

The other night, I awoke from one of the most heart wrenching dreams that I've ever experienced.  I had to make a decision to relinquish my youngest son.  It was the worst pain that I've ever felt as a mother.  I remember him being dressed in blue plants and a white shirt.  I gave him a little food to take with him on his way.  I remember saying something to the effect of mommy loving him.  I led him to the front door and then watched him walk away from the other side of the door.

Because this was a 'dream', there are still some things that are unclear for me in that I can't answer all the whys. However, what I do recall is that as his mom, nothing in me wanted him to go.  Yet, I knew I could no longer provide for him.  I was terrified of what his future would be without me as his life guide.  On the other hand, I was even more terrified of what his future would be if I kept him with me in our hopeless situation.

As I awoke and realized it was 'just a dream' for me, I knew in that moment, for another woman, part(s) of this is her reality.  I pray that I never forget this pain I felt so that I can remind my future daughter of the anguish her mother/father/family must have encountered as they had to make one of the toughest decisions, possibly in their lifetime.

God, please continue to make me sensitive to the need of mothers  and fathers on the other side of adoptions.  Even as I have wrestled with my own feelings of what felt like abandonment by my own parents, this dream finally put in perspective how much my parents must have agonized over some things in which they really had no control over.  Thank you Lord for insight.