Shutterfly Holiday Card Campaign

I LOVE Shutterfly!!!  I use them every year to do my Christmas Cards!!!  

This year will be no different!!

Check out their new card design styles for 2013 - 5x7 folded tri fold; back of card designs   

Classic: Traditional colors, iconic illustrations, aspirational sentiments, snowflakes, monogram
o   Contemporary: trend forward colors, texture and layering, water color techniques, shine, glitter, Instagram pictures are perfect for this style
o   Whimsy: humor and nostalgia meet, fun sentiments
o   Merry and Bright: all about color and having fun
o   Religious: metallic type treatments, incorporated story ideas
o   Photo Basics: multiple colors, vertical type, family name highlights

***They are even allowing me to do a giveaway!!!***

All you have to do is visit www.shutterfly.com and comment your favorite Holiday Card!  The winner will be randomly selected and receive $50 off a Shutterfly Order and FREE SHIPPING!!!!  You can also be entered by pinning your favorite card with the #PhotosYouLove hashtag!!!

The giveaway will take place October 21, 2013 and be announced October 22, 2013!

Now, check out some of my favorites!  

You might be receiving one in your mailbox real soon!!!

30th Birthday

I am not sure I could have had a better birthday!  I felt loved all day long.  First thing in the morning, before the kids were up, I got a text from my friend neighbor to check my windshield wiper.  I found this envelop with $5.  Amazing!

All of my babies woke up singing and telling me Happy Birthday.  They were so excited!!  My sweet husband made me breakfast and took me to Starbucks!

I get to school and my co-teacher gives me a card with a Starbucks card inside!!!  Holla!!!

Then, TOTAL SURPRISE!!!  So impressed they pulled it off...These two students with the help of two teachers decorated my office and like I said, total surprise.  I had no idea!  They also gave me the birthday crown I'm wearing and a nutty butty.  Sweet girls!

My sweet friend teacher gave me this crazy cute plate and a card!

Introducing, for the first time (I think), Fannie Wells!!  She is my guardian angel.  Seriously.  God put her in my life exactly when I needed her.  She retired and I took her position.  She has been with me through two pregnancies and an adoption supporting me any way she could, including subbing for all of my maternity leaves.  Today she was subbing for another pe teacher and she brought me lunch!!!  She knows my favorite food is green beans...so any time she cooks them, she brings me a plate.  Spoiled.

Rhinehart's room also decorated the door for me.  Now, it helps that my birthday is so close to Dr. Seuss' birthday...but...

We had Chickfila for dinner and funfetti cake!  Snuggled with my babies and watched some Bubble Guppies.  

And then I got to go for a run and as I

 was running by, it clocked my speed.  Jokes.  I am sorry, but I think that is so funny!  I really do.  

Another year in the books and it was a good one!  Praise Him!

The Wonder Twins

These two are hilarious.

Moses and Mama

I'm in love.

30 with the Girls

I have been so blessed with a fabulous group of girls from college.  Not only were they tons of fun then, they still put forth the effort to get together and are ridiculous amounts of fun now.  I had no idea friendships could be this wonderful!  Love.  Them.

This picture represents 6 college degrees, 4 masters degrees, 6 owned homes, 6 marriages, 8 children, 3 full time jobs, 4 part time, and a rockin' stay at home mom!!!

Valentine's Day

My precious Valentines.  Oh so blessed!

4 Months Home

My Mosesbear.  Home 4 months!

attacked.

I believe some things happen by chance or bad luck.  Slipping on something.  Forgetting your wallet.  Dog making a mess.  But I also believe Satan attacks.  Brother and I have talked a lot lately about feeling attacked.  A friend from church and fellow adoptive mommy of 12,  wrote this post and I totally related.  I asked for permission to post with my own twist.  She said absolutely!

attacked.

(shared with permission.)

I have been asked quite a few times lately about adoption in general, about getting started, and about what to think about ahead of time.

My biggest warning isn't about birth order, agencies, country programs, fear of social workers, or even attachment.

My biggest warning has been the spiritual attacks that inevitably come.

Honestly, friends... I think the other issues are workable. You can ask friends what agency they used. You can read review websites, discern which country program is best for your family, read tons of books on attachment, and scrub your baseboards before your social worker visits (or, not...).

But there is no amount of preparation or planning that can effectively ready your heart for a spiritual attack.

Know why?
Because the Enemy strikes at your heart.

He knows your fears... he put them there.
("For GOD has not given us a spirit of FEAR, but of power and love and a sound mind." 2 Tim 1:7)

He knows your weaknesses and exploits with half-truths.
("Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Ge 3:1)

He wants you down, depressed, sad and deflated.
(The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. Ps 143:3)

He wants you dead.
(Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1Pet.5:8)

In adoption, there is loss and redemption.
There is pain and there is joy.

I am not discounting the difficulties along the way, or negating the grief that our children deal with. Those things are very real.
What I AM saying is that orphans are close to God's heart.
He cares for them.
He cares for the lost, the lonely, the desolate, the depressed, the unworthy and the unloved.
God has a plan for their lives just like He does for my life and for yours.
You may be part of that plan- or a part of the plan of those who are making them their children.

I have said it before, but when you step out in obedience to God, you engage the Enemy.

He comes to steal, kill and destroy.
He is the father of lies.
He is sly and he is charming.
His lies look like truths that came from your own thoughts.
He steals trust, faith and belief.

Step out in obedience to God in an adoption...
you might as well set off a flare letting him know where you live.

He does NOT want children in Jesus-loving families.
He wants them to feel unloved and to believe that they are unworthy.
He wants them to be angry at God for making promises such as "I will not leave you as orphans... I will come to you".
He wants them to stay waiting in an orphanage somewhere with no hope.

So what does this look like?
How can you begin to prepare?

Be ready and expecting the attack.

Appliances will go out,
cars will suddenly need expensive repairs,
you will get a bill you weren't expecting.
He attacks your finances because it affects your trust that God will provide the needed money to bring your children home.

Be in prayer.

You and your spouse will suddenly be irritated by every little thing the other one does.
The kids will forget all their manners and maybe even get in trouble at school.
Your friends will leave or betray you and your family will seem distant.
He attacks those around you to make you doubt that you can handle the changes coming your way. He wants you down and depressed so you can make big decisions in that frame of mind. 

Ask friends and family to pray for you too.
You won't catch every flaming arrow shot your direction. 

Some will be direct hits when you weren't expecting it.
A phone call that brings you to your knees...
Sudden changes or bad news from your agency...
A job crisis or financial hit.

Pray for strength, wisdom and fierce resolve.
In the middle of the storm threatening your family, your marriage, your children...
do not be afraid to get ANGRY.
YOU. CAN. NOT. HAVE. MY. FAMILY!!
The Bible is clear that we have the power within us to resist Satan.
("So place yourselves under God's authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you." James 4:7)

Be strong and courageous, identify it for what it is, and be encouraged that if you weren't on the right track, you wouldn't be drawing any attention from those who would thwart those plans.
("Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Josh 1:9)

And make sure you journal your experiences.
Someday you will look back on this and see a very clear picture of God's divine protection and providence in your life!

Here's what the Yancey Clan has been facing in the last 3 months:

-Refridgerater was dead for the first 3 weeks Moses was home.

-One car needed an O2 sensor replaced.  Failed emissions test.  Still waiting to pass and get tags.

-The other car failed to crank while out of town and required a new battery.

-5 cases of strep throat.

- ear infections.

-2 cases of pink eye.

-Brother was literally sick every day of his paternity break.

-Challenges at work we never saw coming.

-Job changes.

-Behavior issues at school.

-Dryer is on the brink.

-Gran Gran had two surgeries and we still haven't been able to celebrate Christmas with her or Pop.

-Insecurities.

-A tough Christmas that we never saw coming.

-Emotional battles that hurt.

YOU.  CAN.  NOT.  HAVE.  MY.  FAMILY.

3 Months Home

My baby boy has been been home 3 months!!!  I can't remember life without him...We all love you Moses!!

Happy New Years from The Yancey Clan