What makes a family–a family??? Is it blood? Is it marriage? Is it friendships so strong…what is it exactly? Well, it can be a lot of different things that MAKE a family…and at the core of each of them–it’s always LOVE.
LOVE has no boundaries.
LOVE will make a parent perservere dispite circumstances…it will make you never give up.
And while faith, hope and love abide together—the greatest of these three…indeed, is LOVE.
We knew it before…but now our family feels it in new ways this Christmas. LOVE makes our family a family. Beyond borders, race, blood…LOVE is stronger…
So…what really makes a family?

To purchase Ladies Shirt (S, M, L, XL, 2XL) – Please note this run VERY SMALL (you can see explanation at bottom of today’s entry). Unisex shirts are regular fit—they are also available. TO BUY THE SHIRTS…go to our RETREAT SITE: www.createdforcare.org
Maybe you have a sponsored child across the world through Wiphan, Compassion or another orphan ministry…and in your heart you truly feel the child you sponsor every month IS family to your family. Amazing what LOVE can do, isn’t it? Maybe you are waiting desperately for a child you don’t even know yet…but in your heart you know he is waiting and needs you…amazing what LOVE can do! Maybe you are having sleepless nights…days in counseling sessions with during a troubling time…yet you know it’s all worth it…amazing what love can do!!!
THESE t-shirts will benefit the Created for Care Adoption Retreat to minister to mommies who have opened their hearts and home to children all over the world who need families so they, too, can experience and know this LOVE. The cost for them to attend covers food ONLY–so we are trusting God to provide the finances to cover the conference and breakout room fees, set up fees, audio rentals, etc–yes a couple of thousands of dollars. BUT to make this trip more affordable and to keep the retreat fee at just $100 for the weekend…especially for the moms FLYING in as they desperately need to connect with other moms and for many this is their ONLY weekend away as they hold babies day and night helping their hearts heal and grow in security and build trust with new families.
Truly you won’t believe what God is doing…how He has provided so far for this retreat. We need to sell 225 shirts (the same number of women attending!)…so we either need every woman attending to purchase a shirt AND it would be great if we had families throughout the U.S. to purchase shirts in honor of a mom attending too! EVERY penny raised will go toward blessing these moms and encouraging them to press on in their journeys. There will be women coming to share about HIV adoptions, orphan care throughout the U.S. and world and how we can put our heads together to create MORE change together, how they can get rest in their tiresome tasks. There will be 225 women in a room who are willing to do ANYTHING to make a difference in the world and who are also trusting God to lead them…who have even changed their family to make change…and I can ONLY imagine what God will do as a result of these ladies being under ONE roof for an entire weekend. Even if you aren’t coming…will you consider joining us by donating toward the retreat weekend together? You can make a donation by simply buying a tshirt. If you don’t want a t-shirt you can gift it to someone you know who has a sponsored child some where in the world, who has adopted themselves OR someone with a heart for orphan care. OR you can simply make a donation too.
Will you also consider helping us spread the word about these cool shirts? IF you are on Facebook OR if you have a blog OR if you are a blog follower—will you help spread the word? SOOOO…here’s a fun GIVE AWAY!!! We will draw a name on Monday to give away one a t-shirt and have it shipped out on Monday IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! There are 3 ways to be entered…and you can be entered up to 3X. You can 1. BLOG ABOUT THE T-SHIRTS 2. LINK THIS ENTRY TO FACEBOOK ENCOURAGING YOUR FRIENDS TO BUY A TSHIRT 3. SIGN UP TO BE A FOLLOWER AT THE BOTTOM OF MY BLOG (you’ll get all the info about upcoming orphan care things with Wiphan, with the retreat and upcoming orphan/widow care projects we are doing across the country!) SOOOO…lemme know in the comments section which you do and you’ll be entered up to 3X. Aren’t give-aways FUN?! And in advance–thanks for helping us spread the word!
***T-SHIRTS ARE BY AMERICAN APPAREL AND COME IN LADIES FIT OR REGULAR (UNISEX). WE ARE SELLING ALL SIZES IN LADIES FIT AND IN UNISEX L, XL, XXL. THE LADIES FIT RUNS SMALL–IF YOU NORMALLY WHERE A SMALL THEN YOU WILL NEED TO ORDER A MEDIUM IF YOU LIKE YOUR T-SHIRTS FITTED AND YOU WILL NEED TO ORDER A LARGE IF YOU LIKE A LOOSER FIT. IF YOU NORMALLY WHERE A LARGE, I WOULD RECOMMEND ORDERING A XL IN LADIES FIT IF YOU LIKE FITTED OR A LARGE IN UNISEX IF YOU DON’T LIKE YOUR SHIRTS FITTED.
IF YOU PRE-ORDERED A SHIRT…THEY ARE GOING OUT IN *TODAY’S* MONDAY’S MAIL. PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE YOUR SIZE.
Special thanks to Brad Center Design for rocking these t-shirts. We not only love your work, but also your heart and love for orphans throughout the world. You are a blessing to us brother! Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who helps us with this fundraiser!!! If you would like to make a donation, here is the link also:
by admin
I’m glad you posted this because I was going to buy one of these and forgot! 🙂 Done. Well, since I’m already a “follower” I could only do two…I Facebooked about it and am going to blog right now… 🙂 Thank you for all you’re doing for the retreat! I’m beyond excited and ready for it!
Love the new shirts! Already a follower.
posted on facebook.
I preordered one of these and probably ordered a small. Andrea, what size do you wear in it? I don’t mind a snug fit but if you think a med would be a great fit for you would you change mine to a medium, also? I’m sure either size will fit so whichever fits you best send me:)
thanks!!
Jenny Wallace
facebooked the giveaway 🙂
put it on my blog
i also became a follower 🙂 thanks andrea…LOVE the shirt 🙂 we are selling shirts for my hubbys upcoming mission trip if you want to check it out. it is on our blog. we havent gotten them in yet, but he did a great job designing them and I am excited to wear one. 🙂 and if I dont win this I will be buying a shirt from you 🙂
I am a follower and sharing on FB now! Awesome shirts…maybe my hubs will let me buy one after Christmas 😉 Praying you guys sell all the shirts you need to cover the costs…because I want this to turn into an annual thing so I can go next year! =)
I am a faithful blog follower already! 🙂 And I just blogged about the t-shirt fundraiser! I’m the only person in America not on facebook, so I guess I’ll just have 2 entries! 🙂 And I just copied your idea from your post with all your Christmas cards over the years!! SO fun to reminisce!
I’m already a follower, but I’m about to blog about it, and FB it!! Have a happy weekend!! Love the shirts:)And, beautiful Christmas card!!!Thanks:)
just bought one! they are awesome!!
Can’t wait to see all of you moms at the retreat!! Andrea, I posted to facebook and linked up to follow the blog.
just ordered mine!~!
I just blogged about it.
I am a follower!
And I facebooked about it. 🙂
you know i’m a follower! trying to decide what size to order… LOVE the shirts!
I just shared on Facebook 🙂
[…] give-away!!! We’ve already sold 50 t-shirts but we need to sell 200 more!!! SO…see this post and comment on how many times I should enter you…there just MIGHT a few surprises in store […]
Posted on Facebook
I’m a follower! I’m gonna blog about it too. Thank you SO much for doing all of this. I’m super excited about the retreat in Feb.
Not sure what you mean by comment on how many times you should enter us. 🙂 I think you should enter me 50 times. Like that?!? Oh, no? I think I only get to be entered twice since I could only do two things. I have a feeling I’m not pickin up what you’re laying down. 🙂
Okay, so I posted this on Facebook and I’m already a follower of your blog. I’m coming to the retreat, although I haven’t sent in the registration fee yet. If I don’t win the T-shirt giveaway, I will definitely order one. LOVE THEM!! We learned last week that we have $16,500 due on the 28th (yes, a mere 9 days) to continue the adoption of our daughter in Russia. Needless to say, ALL spending (including Christmas spending) has been put on hold until then. Anyway…
Happy Birthday Andrea! I posted on FB, I follow your blog and I bought a t-shirt. Sooooo excited for the retreat! Hugs, Kristin
I’m signed up to follow. The shirts are beautiful – good luck!
Facebooked it;)
🙂 Of course I follow:) Oh and I blogged about it! http://www.campbellfamilypartyof3.com
I’m a follower! Love this shirt…I’m definitely going to order one if I don’t win! 🙂
I blogged about the give away!
I’m a faithful blog follower 🙂 In fact, you’ll probably never truly know how much your words mean to me, and how often I’ve used them to get through my day.
and i’m already a follower…don’t know if that counts 🙂
I’m a follower!
And I just facebooked about it!!!
Hi Andrea! I’m doing all 3, please enter me three times!
Maybe I should make separate comments? So, consider this my facebook one. (my previous was my “follower” one)
I’ve followed your blog for awhile…..but am “officially” now! 🙂 Love the shirts!!!!
Blogging about it!
I also blogged about it and I’m a follower (forgot to add that to my first post!)
Posted link on Facebook!
Also added as a follower!
LOVE THESE SHIRTS! :o)
i will be a follower and will put it on my fb status:)
i just became a follower:)
I just bought one through paypal and realized paypal still has my old home address. I need to send you my new mailing address.
I just found these wonderful t-shirts! Are they still available for purchase? I tried to purchase one and it would not let me : (
Thanks!
Stori
PLEASE tell me I can still buy one of these shirts!?!? I LOVE IT!
Are these shirts still available?
Hi!
Also curious about these shirts? Still available?