Fundraising RIGHT!

Our recent events have not only given us a sweet and precious little boy through adoption but have challenged us on how to be better parents and helped us focus on family in a way that we never have before.  Liam was born on 11/11/11 and proved to be the answer to prayer from the moment we met him.  At 3 weeks old we discovered many things that were diagnosed not "normal" and so we have been fighting against his diagnosis and prognosis ever since.  We have changed many things to create an environment for him that is the safest, cleanest, and healthiest for him and our "Ilana Myah Shortcake" :)

I stumbled across Norwex in January of this year and it has changed our lives dramatically.  I know it sounds like a sales pitch but it truly has and I only tell you about it for your benefit.  The products that they offer make it possible for you to stop cleaning with chemicals in your home.  Actually their mission statement is to "To improve the quality of life by drastically reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning!"
I have found what they offer to be very true!  Chemicals found in the average home are linked to many serious diseases such as allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities.  Many today believe that the extensive use of chemicals indoors contributes to the "modern" diseases such as asthma and autism.  Do you know our homes are 70% more toxic on the inside then out?  I just couldn't wrap my brain around this as I have a newborn infant laying in the middle of our home.

I decided that I was going to change my mindset.  I no longer use Bleach, Lysol, Windex, Pine Sol, Toilet cleaner, Bathroom cleaner, Pledge, soap, and body wash.  This means I no longer have to buy these things either.  I have tested Norwex for the last 4 weeks in my home to see if I truly am cleaning well.  My home is more free from bacteria, fungi, virus, molds, etc just by using water and no harsh chemicals...we are still in shocked mode!  I really want to share this with everyone, it makes total sense...its so life changing.  It saves us money, creates a healthy living space, its just a no brainer.  I cant see why anyone would say no especially after seeing it and watching the tests.

Ive decided to sell Norwex for our primary income. When Liam came home from the hospital with all his tubes and negative health reports we decided that I was going to stop all other activities I was involved in to focus on our family. Little did we know that my husbands job was ceasing slowly as well. When we met up with Norwex it just made sense to be involved in something that was changing lives and benefiting everyone who used it. I figured if we were going to start a business then it should be something that helps people instead of hindering them.

So many times our family has had to raise money for things that we wanted to do. We raised money to travel to Mexico with a bus load of clothes & toys for the kids at Casa De Elizabeth. We raised money to send Tanner on the 16 Days Ministry Journey with Kingdom Building Ministries. We all raised money and served in Guatemala for a life changing experience. We also been a part of raising funding for other organizations and other missionaries that were vibrant and daring to serve outside of their familiar zone. We have also done fundraisers, sent out letters of support, sold our personal items, and auctioned off belongings or donated items.  There are so many avenues to raising the funding that you need.

Ive decided to offer fundraising opportunities through Norwex for events, schools, businesses, ministries, and the average family trying to fund the goals they have.  My fundraising plan is generous and beneficial, it will be life changing to everyone who is involved, and quite interesting. I hope to help you raise the money you need to do the things that have been laid on your heart. Making a difference in life will make the difference in other peoples lives as well!

RAISE MONEY WITH A NORWEX FUNDRAISER

Want to arrange a Fundraiser for your school, family, or organization? 

Please contact me today!

I like to make fundraising simple and very profitable for everyone involved. Below are examples of two Norwex Fundraising Packages that sell well and are very profitable. You can choose from any items in the catalog to customize your very own packages as well or use the entire catalog.

SAMPLE PACKAGE 1: Cleaning Pack – includes:

 1 Antibac Dusting Mitt

 1 Antibac Enviro Cloth

 1 Antibac Window Cloth

This package sells for $46.99/package (plus tax).

You make 25% - that's $11.75 per package sold!

With  50  Cleaning Packs sold, you earn - $ 587.50

With 100 Cleaning Packs sold, you earn -$1,775.00

With 500 Cleaning Packs sold you earn - $5,875.00

SAMPLE PACKAGE 2: Rainbow Pack – includes:

                   1 Blue Antibac Enviro Cloth
                   1 Green Antibac Enviro Cloth
                   1 Red Antibac Enviro Cloth
                   1 Yellow Antibac Enviro Cloth
This package sells for $63.96/package (plus tax).

You make 25% - that's $15.99 per package sold!

With 50 Rainbow Packs sold, you earn -  $799.50
With 100 Rainbow Packs sold, you earn -$1,599.00
With 500 Rainbow Packs sold you earn - $7,995.00

How it works....

Once you have decided on the packages you want to offer, I will create a Norwex fundraising flier for you to distribute. Most fundraisers run for one to two weeks, but we can set whatever deadline you wish. At the end of your fundraiser I will collect all orders from you and process them. I will provide you with a written statement accounting for all orders, and a check for 25% of all sales. When the orders arrive (about a week after submission) I will either mail them to the head of the fundraiser or hand deliver them.  An additional 5% donation will be credited to your fundraising account from any home or catalog parties that are over $325 in sales and held within 90 days after the fundraiser.

HIGHEST SALES CONTEST....To encourage everyone to sell as much as possible, prizes will be awarded at the end of the fundraiser.

Highest Seller - receives the Enviro Cloth & Window Cloth Set 

2nd Highest Seller - receives the Dusting Mitt
3rd highest seller - receives the Kitchen cloth

Please pass this on to anyone that may be interested in raising money for their special cause!

"Why is my baby brother so sick?"

"Why is my baby brother so sick?"  This was the question Ilana asked me first thing this morning.  The response I gave was not my own, I only assume that because I have been chewing on it all day long.  

I pulled an "all nighter" with Liam last night.  Now a days "all nighters" look a lot different then they did when I was younger.  I cant count the many times I tended to him..every time my head would lay down I was right back up again.  I'm not saying this to complain but to only give an expression of how restless little Liam sleeps as well.  Amongst the breathing treatment and med administration all through the hours, he has fits of choking, gagging, and vomiting.  His stomach tube makes it hard to get comfortable or to just have the freedom of picking him up and walking around the house with him without the accompanying of a backpack.  He cries with his wide eyes demanding help, asking with every expression he has for some relief.

Ive never seen such a sweet baby boy, with his coal black hair and big brown eyes.  He reminds me so much of our oldest, Tanner.  He fits into our family so perfect, he contains characteristics of everyone here.  He is the promise we have heard from God for so long.  We love him, we love him so crazy much that his "problems" are just that...problems.  They are not who he is or a definition of what he will be.  They are just mearly obstacles that desire a response from us.  They are a situational test of faith.

Everyday we tell Liam that he is healthy and smart, loved and wanted.  Everyday we watch him grow and continue to do new things.  Our hope is that his "problems" will be treated in a way that will give testimony to Gods love and the love He wants us to have in our families.

"Why is my baby brother so sick," She said...

Because that way Jesus can heal him.

The Call to STOP!

It was a huge surprise to realize how sick Liam really was.  Since he was born he had sounded congested but we were told many times that it was related to him being a C-Section baby and because he never experience the big squeeze during vaginal labor, he was full of mucus.  On average it would be gone in a week, but as time went on it only got worse. At 3 1/5 weeks we would be staying over a week in the ICU at Lutheran Hospital.

His diagnosis seem so bizarre and rare enough, even though the ICU may see cases like this often doesn't leave us much reassurance the outside world does.  Sick babies come to this unit, certainly they are used to seeing such things but to us it was just unbelievable.  Our baby boy was finally here and home with us and now he was covered in tubes and wires.  I knew then that what God had been telling me for years would now come into effect weather I listened or not.

My whole life I have wanted to be a mom, and a good one.  I wanted to teach my kids over the top about things that really matter, tell them the truth, and prepare them to be great at heart and in love with God.  I had lots of ideas and daydreams about how I would raise them and be involved in their lives.  I wanted to be a great mom and take my responsibility of raising my kids very seriously.  It was to be the calling on my life.

You tend to loose sight of the simple things, the foundational things God calls us to do sometimes.  We get wrapped up into every opportunity to serve somewhere else, probably more for self fulfillment then serventhood.  In the background sits my husband and children waiting to be cared for, kids in front of the TV...eating junk food and being taught by someone else.  My commitments to everyone else, the world, has stolen so much from me.  Unfortunately enough, it has stolen from those that I love the most as well.

My call to stop was not suttle, I have been told that for years.  Its been loud and firm...I just chose to not listen.  I figured if I was doing good work then why not be involved.  With Liam and what is revolving him at this time, God has commanded me to stop.  I have no choice.  With monitors and machines laying on every flat surface in our home and a continuous feeding pump that keeps me tight reigned close to Liam's side, I am forced to sit.  I sit and think and watch and react....I stare at him and respond to every cry and alarm.  I am his keeper.  As I have been put back in my position here I have watched the results that I have created from choosing other things over my family previously.

My family has missed me, my family has needed me.  Was it being a servant or being selfish that really kept me from my true responsibility?  I think it was a bit of both, I wanted to help but also wanted to be somebody...when truly the somebody I was created to be was right here at home all along.

Meeting you...

I first heard of you back in late February early April...the news that you existed didn't really seem to pertain to me.  I just knew that you were to be.  I never suspected us to be connected, to be family.


A few weeks after I knew you were created I was texting "Elle" back and forth on the phone and she told me of your new life..that you were here and growing inside her.  She was contemplating the idea that you may not have been created for her.  At the same time as we were texting back and forth we both replied to each other the remark that maybe, just maybe you were meant to be for me...  our texts came back to each other simultaneously. I received hers as she received mine...time stood still.  The possibility of us being brought together lingered in my mind.  Our responses seemed an act of divine timing..our thoughts were in line with each other, now we just needed to see what God had planned.


It was a joyous time in my life, but with reserve.  I was pregnant again, and the thought of you being my baby also seemed like an outstanding plan...a bountiful blessing!  Most women would be overwhelmed at the thought of two babies but I was enriched by the mere imagination of it. After losing 8 children to early pregnancy loss, I was ready to have my cup filling over.


Ilana would pray for her baby sibling in my belly...asking God to bless him/her.  She called the baby her "brown" baby...to match her :)  We never told her that the baby was not going to be brown, we just didn't know quite how yet.  Our due date was 11-12-11, as we were so close to November 11th we claimed that day as our due date instead.  We were expecting our baby girl on 11-11-11 and Elle was planned to deliver soon around that time also. How neat it would be to have such a miraculous story after so much heartache and have two sweet babies to love.


When our baby girl passed a few weeks later it was hard to think of you.  I was afraid that if I spent time dwelling on the idea of you; my heart would be broken in the end.  There was no guarantee that you could be mine.  I put up a wall and tried to protect myself from falling in love with you.  Months went by and you grew rapidly, Elle and I talked almost daily..every time we spoke she was more sure that you were created for a fulfillment of my prayers.


One day I received word from Elle that she was 100% sure..she knew God was saying "Yes" to me being your mommy!  My guard started to fade, I found myself day dreaming about you..loving you in my thoughts and prayers.  Elle told us early that you were going to be a "brown" baby.. The answer to Ilana's prayer as well...unbelievable.


Our 1st ultrasound showed us that you were a sweet baby boy and thriving well.  We started to prepare for you and try to not focus on our past loss.  Our future now contained you and how our lives would soon be intertwined.  We awaiting you every day and asked God many times to tell us something special about you.  Trying to name you was such hard work, as I looked everywhere for a name nothing seemed right.  I continued to ask God "what is this baby boys name, what will he be like?" More then anything I wanted the Lord to define you. 


One day I heard very specifically while praying that you will be a "strong willed defender of a group of Gods people."  Wow!  Did I hear right?  Time passed by and I kept asking the Lord, "Are you sure? Did I hear correctly?"  As I came across the name Liam, something sounded familiar to me.  I kept the name close to me and thought of it time to time.  On 2 separate occasions I had people ask me what I was going to name you.  I told them I didn't know, and they replied by saying, "what about the name Liam?"  Could this be the name God had planned for you?  I looked it up to see what it meant.  I was in shock when I saw the meaning, "strong willed defender!"  Later I came across the name Crewe..it also sounded original and unique.  The meaning was "a group of people."  I continued to pray about this identity for you.


Elle grew closer to her due date, as time moved along so did I.  Although you were to be born soon, I still ached over your sister who didn't make it into this life.  I knew that 11-11 was going to be a bittersweet time.  Each day inched along but faithfully kept going and so time moved forward in its usual quick-slow pattern.


On the 10th Elle called, I was embarrassingly sitting in my car..engine running for nearly 1/2 hr. I felt anxious about your arrival. I thought you would have been here by now. I was stilling there with no place to go in quiet silence.  She wanted company so I left my spot in the driveway and quickly headed to her house.  We passed the time with good conversation and hanging out.  Unlikely enough my husband ended up in the area also and stopped in to see us before heading home.  Little did we know the gathering together of us all was divine. Within the next hour we were heading to the hospital.


Labor was 4 min apart with hardly no dilation.  Elle was terrified of something going wrong, her intense fear of needles was at the forefront.  An ultrasound showed you to be a very big baby and by estimation they thought you were weighing 12 lbs 15 oz!  A C-section was the solution. With Elle's comfort level fading, she humbly asked for us to pray.  She asked the Lord to protect her while confessing her deep love for Him.  As she reconnected her life to her protector, the staff was preparing for your delivery.


The scrubs allowed me to enter the surgery area and as i sat close to Elle's face, we talked words of truth and bravery.  In the midst on conversation I heard a drowned out cry..a voice that has echoed in my prayers for years.  I heard your voice for the first time.  My heart shifted as I wanted to run to you.  My position as a comforter was standing though, I stayed close to Elle as she fought off fear.  I had a quick moment to peek at you, to cut your cord, and see your sweet face.


As I walked over to you my heart traveled faster then my feet.  My spirit leaped to you, my child.  My sweet boy..you were a sight beyond no other.  God took my imagination of you and created a reality that I could of never made up on my own.  You were far beyond any expectation, you were hand made and delivered for me.


Daddy waited back in the nursery for you and as they wheeled you by I heard the Dr say, "time of birth is 12:49 on 11-11-11"..God gave His gift to me while kissing me on both cheeks!  He reclaimed, revived, and restored me all in one session..I have no words as I still sit in awe of Him as the mighty gift giver!


I came to see you and Daddy after Elle was situated in her room recovering.  She had endured and found a strength in her she never had to use before, The Lord granted her what she requested and protected her thoroughly.  After seeing Daddy was at loss for words.  He spoke very little and seemed to be in shock..its the realization that we are so undeserving of such an act of love.  We were just so thankful to be awarded such mercy and grace from God.


"Liam Crewe" was decided on as your name the next day, Daddy couldn't deny how it had been laid on his heart and the meaning was perfect for you!  You were born at 10 lbs 10 oz,  23 inches long, on a reclaimed day. The event of your birth turned a memory of death into life for us.  You are a success story for millions of women who long to have a child, a testament to how one simple day can change your life forever.  You have created hope where there was none, by giving joy to a women who has lost 8 children, and by being a son to a weeping begging family.  You are a voice that speaks how God hears every prayer and how He can always design a better ending then we could ever think up on our own.  You, Liam, are a miracle!


We hope to celebrate with the world your birth and we pray that struggling families can see you as a reason to move forward in their own journeys....fighting hard for the things God has promised them.


Praise God for you!  Praise God for you!


Love,
Mommy

Ilana's prayer

One major part of our newest blessing has yet to be shared on here.  As I cant contain my favorite part of this story in any longer...today I will fill ya in :)

Back in Feb. of this year I was pregnant via IVF and very excited at the possibility that this pregnancy was going to be different, this baby was going to live.  We prayed every day throughout the day for life and health, and  for everything to be just right.  Every night sweet Ilana would put her hand on mommy's tummy and pray, "Dear Lord, Please bless my brown brother or sister."  Chad and I would just look at each other with blank stares wondering how we were going to explain to her that this baby was not going to be brown like her.

In early April our baby died and telling Ilana was enough to make me madder then ever.  To feel hurt myself is one thing, but to imply it upon your child is so much harder.  Telling her was the saddest little moment, how she looked at us like we were lying and asking us over and over if it was true.  For days she would continue to pray over my belly the same prayer she had said before..."Dear Lord, Please bless my brown brother or sister!"  We would just look at each other again with sadness and heartbreak for her.  How would we get her to understand that it was just not possible?

Soon after when we were approached with the adoption of our soon to be baby, we began praying again.  Asking for health and safety.  "Elle", our birth mother, explained to me one day on the phone, after telling her Ilanas prayer, that she felt this whole thing was from God for a number of reasons. One very obvious one was that her baby was going to be BROWN.  We were ecstatic to say the least!  God answered the prayer of a little girl who wanted so badly for her sibling to be brown like her.  We were so pleased to be reminded that God loves us and cares about every detail. He loves for his daughters to ask Him of things and He really likes to show His mercy to us when we believe there is no possible way. 

We have 6 days till Ilana's brown brother arrives...
What a long road it has been and for him it was all worth it!

Love and prayers to you...Asking God on your behalf every single day!