Calgon Take Me Away!

August has proven to be a busy month, so if I haven't acted like myself then you will know it's only because I am feeling a bit weary and that was even before we found out we are traveling soon. Here is a recap of what our August has been like. 2 nephews and a niece visiting from England. 2 soccer tournaments and another at the end of the  month. Luau planning and hosting. Auction For A Princess, contacting, delivering, collecting, packing and shipping. 2 birthdays and 1 combined party. Reece's Rainbow Utah family gathering in our backyard. Back to school preparation, shopping and appointments. Medical appointments and such. List making, photo book selecting, prescriptions refilling, shopping and packing for our upcoming journey. Although I wouldn't change anything on this list because either we are having fun or it is getting us one step closer to our baby girl, I will say this "Calgon take me away!"

It has been 3 days since we learned of our travel date and every time I think about this journey we are on and our adventure we are about to embrace, I get a queasy feeling in my gut. Butterflies are having a par-tay in my tum-may. I am pretty sure that if I didn't feel this way then something would be wrong with me. And I am sure I will feel this way right up until our first meeting with Susan or maybe not. Whatever the case may be it's a good, queasy, butterfly feeling!

Before I go any further I have to let you all know that we have picked a winner of the Hawaii giveaway. We were planning on announcing a winner at the Luau on Saturday but at that time we decided that we would extend the giveaway until the end of the month to allow more people to donate. Our expectations of the 500 ticket sales was far from being met and we were just hoping to collect a little more. Well after we got the news on Monday regarding our travel plans, we decided that it was not worth it to keep it going so last night we created a spreadsheet and with the help of random.org a winner was picked. Lucky number 62!

Congratulations to Lorie and J.D. Davis!
You have won a 7 night stay to Kona or Kauai!

Many thanks to those who purchased tickets, attended the Luau and entered the giveaway! We really do appreciate your support. We have no more giveaways to offer and our fundraising efforts are done, but if you have not had a chance to donate but would like to then we will kindly accept your donation. We still need your help, especially since we will be leaving in 9 days! If you have waited to make your donation then please wait no more. We need your help more than ever! If you or anybody you know are looking for a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to donate to then send them our way (reference Lutkin/Susan). It's getting closer to the end of the year when businesses are looking for tax deductions and Reece's Rainbow and Susan would appreciate the support. Please share, donate, pray! Make a difference! Make a change! (Use this Reece's Rainbow link to make your tax deductible donation, it's easy!)

I am still in shock and cannot believe that in less than 2 weeks I will meet the daughter I always knew (because I am sure we knew each other in Heaven) but never knew she would be 6000 miles away. The daughter who was born from another womb but born of my heart! The daughter who we were led to, to help us most to grow! My heart aches for her parents, her mother, her father, maybe even siblings who will never get to see her reach her fullest potential. I can't help but think that maybe they left her out of love, knowing that they couldn't give her everything she needs. Maybe they did want her but they knew she would never be accepted in their society. Maybe they knew that in the end she would be saved. Because maybe they were aware of the plan all along. God works in mysterious ways. He has many wonderful things in store for Susan and maybe they knew that this was the only way for these things to be revealed. Who knows? All I know is that she is loved and never again will she be left alone wondering? She will know soon enough that she is a princess born of a Heavenly King. We have been chosen to be her earthly parents and what a blessing and privilege it will be!

Throughout this journey our kids have said the sweetest things. I will share something that Beck said just the other night then I will say good night! I was telling Beck that we were going to miss his birthday since we were going to be away. I told him that we would have a little party though to celebrate before we left. He said to me, "Mom, all I want for my birthday is a new baby sister." Oh my word, doesn't get any sweeter than that. Pure sugar! Good night!