I've Been Meaning to Tell You

Something pretty amazing happened recently, and I've wanted to share it.

I just didn't know how to put it into words.

But then something else pretty amazing happened, and I realized I needed to figure out how to tell you.
So...this week a donor gave to our Nikon fundraiser and expressed how disappointed she was that she'd missed the $500 gift card fundraiser.

She was disappointed not because she wanted the card, but because if she'd won it, she wanted us to keep the funds and invest in Khloie's ransom.
Imagine her surprise when I told her that's exactly what had happened!

My friend Jodie won the gift card.  I was surprised she didn't respond to my early morning "you're-the-winner" email quickly.  Later that evening I heard from Jodie.  She said the Lord has blessed her family so much that she and her husband didn't want to claim the gift card, but wanted us to keep the funds to apply toward our adoption process!

Why was this difficult to share?

Because in all our fundraising efforts I never want y'all to think we approach them with the hope or attitude that we won't have to award the item.

We realize that every good thing comes from the Lord.  We also realize that you don't have to give to our fundraisers.  But you do!  Many of you give to every single one of them!

We have also seen that when we are faithful to give, the Lord returns the blessing!  It's so much easier to let it go when we realize it's not ours to begin with.

We've given some pretty spectacular items that were not kept by the winners, but donated to other adoptive families or families in need.  It makes my heart sing when someone is rightfully entitled to a reward and they choose to give it away, to forfeit it to another.

It reminds me of what Jesus did for me on Calvary 2000 years ago!  He was entitled to royalty, honor and glory.  And He gave it away, forfeited it to me and to you, as He took all my wretched wickedness to the cross and died an agonizing death.  Thank goodness that isn't the end of the story!  He rose again and He reigns victorious over death!  And He loves our Khloie.  And we know she will come home.

So, to my friend Jodie, I'm sorry it took me so long to share this.  To my friend, Kathy, thank you for spurring me on to share.  To everyone who loves us so much, THANK YOU!

The Gift of Giving

This is Sami.

She is beautiful, inside and out!
Her parents follow the same (3) gifting tradition as us ~ something you want; something you need; something you'd like to give. 
Sami chose to give to our family to help bring Khloie home.
She even made this beautiful card that says:
Merry Christmas
For Khloie
From Sami
Doesn't that just make your heart sing?!?

Sami, we thank you for your gift to help bring Khloie home.  You are precious beyond words.  
Love~
The Johnsons

He called a little child and had him stand among them.  And he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  

Matthew 18:2-4

Standing in Awe!

I just don't have the words to describe this place we are in! We've never doubted that God would provide everything we need, but we are in awe that He continues to open the floodgates of His blessing.

We decided if He provided $50 in our camera fundraiser, then we would praise Him for $50. But God! He provided over $1600!!!

What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all!...

Romans 3:3-4

Thank you again to everyone who gave so generously. This money is not for us; it is for the Lord's use in bringing our Treasure home. You have invested in a Treasure that will bring an eternal return!

We are so grateful for what the Lord has done and so excited about what He has yet to do!

I've mentioned our Lifesong/Both Hands project. In the weeks ahead I will share more about it with you, but generally it is Scripture coming to life. The concept is based on James 1:27, and it is a way to extend a hand to the widow and the orphan!

Our family has the privilege of serving two beautiful widows in our community (2 projects!), and as we spend a day fixing up their homes, each of our team members asks for sponsorship, wherein all the funds raised for sponsorship go into a Lifesong account to help bring Kasidi home. How cool is that?!?

We had a meeting last Sunday afternoon to recruit our team members, and to our astonishment, we have 14 families on our team!!! I know these folks love our Krazy family...but they also love the ladies we are ministering to...and most of all, they love the LORD!

We have tentative dates for each project, and we'll be super busy with preparations, so we are asking for your prayers. We want to honor these godly women; we want to please the Lord; and we want to cause awareness to the needs of the orphan and the widow. And no doubt, we will have the time of our lives working hand in hand with some amazing people! Just wait till you see the fun we have!

Lifesong/Both Hands

Amazing news! Lifesong has allowed us to post a Donate button right here at our homeplace, One More Ladybug!

If you wish to make a tax deductible contribution to our adoption, you can use the Paypal Donate button on the sidebar, and the funds will go directly into our account at Lifesong. And did I mention it's tax deductible?!?

Lifesong will keep track of all donors so we can thank each of you personally. They will keep our account open till March 30 or 3 weeks after our project date.

Thank you for praying for us!

So God!

I have to share this with you!

Throughout the last few days of our fundraiser I've received lots of texts and emails from folks telling me what they would do if they won the gift card.

And I gotta tell ya, we praise the Lord for bringing the funds because we didn't have the $500 for the card when we decided to hold the giveaway six days ago (and the card wasn't donated!), but we just KNEW He would take care of it!

Anyway...this morning I received a text from a gal telling me she was praying to win the card...so their family could give it to another family who has faced a medical crisis and is unemployed, leaving them little hope of giving their children a nice Christmas. As with each drawing, I prayed throughout the day that God would guide us to His chosen recipient.

And He did...and there will be an unsuspecting family receiving a $500 WM gift card from a generous winner!

Tender Heart

Sometimes I'm just blown away. Thursday night was one of those times. A friend called 'just to see if we were home.' After all, they live 14 miles from us. Soon after, her two teenage daughters drove up. Turns out, her 13-year-old needed her big sister to drive her to our place to deliver a very special gift. She had sold some personal items in a garage sale and designated the proceeds to our adoption fund! We are so blessed by her giving. Sweet K, you are a reminder that no matter how large or small the gift, the Heart is the key. May the Lord bless you for your tender heart.