New Adoption Numbers!

So...this week I was gonna post this photo sharing new numbers (#23 & #7) we got last Saturday...(we were hanging at the Wizards game for MJ's birthday)

BUT now, I get to post this photo sharing new numbers we got yesterday! We're now number 21 for an infant girl and number 6 for a toddler girl! Can ya feel the excitement?!

An Ethiopian Doll for Selah!!!

Seriously, my daughter has the sweetest aunties...far and wide. Remember Auntie Jenn who worked with her mom to create that gorgeous doll just for Selah? It totally surprised me and blew me away when I got it in the mail. It's a real treasure.

Well, back at Christmas, another auntie of Selah's, Trenace, decided to surprise me. Trenace and I are not just co-workers, we're really good friends. In fact, I'm pretty sure she'll be accompanying me and Aunt Shelly on the second trip to Ethiopia to bring Selah back home.

So little miss sneaky went all out like Auntie Jenn and got another gorgeous doll for Selah! This particular doll is a gorgeous Ethiopian girl named Rahel. She is simply beautiful. The doll comes with a friendship bracelet for Selah, comb, and storybook to help girls learn about and understand needs all over the world. If you haven't seen these dolls by Hearts for Hearts, you've got to check them out. Here is Heart to Hearts mission:

"We invite all girls to become agents of change - to improve the lives of girls in their communities, across their country, and around the world. We promise to deliver meaningful products and experiences and to tell all girls, "You can help!" 

Okay, how cool is that?!

Love Auntie Trenace and the many ways that she and her family have supported Selah's adoption.

Weekly Meal Plan Free Download

Hey y'all!

So since baby girl is on the way...down the line, of course, there are some areas that I've shared that we've tightened up. Don't get me wrong....sometimes I slip-up and need a little reminder. Today at church was a great reminder.  Our Pastor, Keith, shared Part 6 of the series, Journey to Your Dreams. He focused on how to cut debt since debt is one of the big things that prevents us from obtaining our dreams. For many of us reading this blog, an adoption may be or is one of your 'dreams'. So I thought I'd share again our family's weekly meal plan and offer a free template download.

Here's what one of our completed weekly meal plans might look like...(the activities aren't necessarily real since I didn't want everybody online knowing our family's schedule):

Completed Weekly Meal Plan to Share Online

I often decide what goes on the meal plan based on what's in the freezer, on sale at the store, or activities that we have that day. Late night activities either call for dinner that is easy to put in a crockpot or prep in advance. I try to plan out everything including snacks. Once this list is done, I use the app Grocery IQ to simply create a grocery shopping list. This keeps me focused during shopping so I'm not hitting extra aisles. Extra aisles and no list = more $$$.

Hope this helps. Here's a blank template for you to use and download. Feel free to share.
Blank Meal Plan

What are your grocery tips to cut costs?

New Adoption Number!!!!

Yep, that's 'number' singular. We moved to #8 in the toddler girl 'unofficial' list. We're still #24 in the infant girl line but you never know what God will do. In the meantime, we're celebrating the Number 8!!!!

Take it away Count!

..and the Winner is....ImagineSabrina@SabrinaHamilton

Congrats to Sabrina who won the book Power of a Praying Wife! Woohoo! I'll send a copy of the book off to Sabrina this weekend.