It's Been A Wild Ride..We Are Going to China!

After receiving TA yesterday, I was feeling so hopeless as we had a large financial gap standing between us and our Ellie Grace.  Last night, we asked our church family for prayer and wisdom concerning when to go, how to go, and what to do since we had such a large gap between what we had and what we needed to complete Ellie Grace's adoption.  Over the course of the evening, calls, donations, and support flooded in!  We were pledged and given nearly $8,000 dollars in just a few hours.  Friends, this is the miracle we were hoping for, and God delivered through our amazing congregation and friends.  When all the pledges come in we will have about a $5,000 gap, but we have that in our savings and were prepared to use it for our daughter's adoption so we got this! Today, we purchased our flights, began booking travel, contacted my favorite foster care home in Beijing to beg to volunteer, and jumped up and down because our Ellie Grace is coming home!  Anna Mei and I leave in just two weeks!  April 10th our Ellie Grace will be born into our arms.  TWO WEEKS!!!  I am so thrilled to be getting this baby girl home!  Thank you, thank you to each and every one of you!  China here we come!!!!

Double Your Impact for Ellie Grace

Thus far, we have raised and paid for nearly $21,000 toward the adoption of our Ellie Grace!  We praise God for this as He continues to provide opportunity for extra income!  We have also been gifted with many, many offerings of love on this journey in addition to the side jobs God has provided.  We are absolutely in awe of all that God has done!  With nearly 2/3 of the adoption costs raised, we only have $13,000 remaining.  

  This week we received some amazing news.....

Lifesong and We Care for Orphans 

have awarded our family a matching grant!

This means that every dollar that is given to our account at Lifesong will be matched up to $3,500.  If that happens half of  our $13,000 need will be met just like that.  No amount is too small to donate as each donation will be matched!  We hope to be traveling in the next three months and are anxious to mark our sweet baby girl's ransom paid in full!  We know that God has a plan, and a vision in which to do that for her.  

Will you consider partnering with us so that one more precious babe might know the love of a family?  You can visit our my story page here or in the margin to give a tax deductible donation to our account.  We would be humbled if you would share our story with your circles as together we can accomplish even more.

The one who has called us is faithful and He will surely do it!  Thank you for considering partnering with us, and being Jesus hands and feet for our baby girl!  We are beyond humbled for each and every contribution!

Order T Shirts Now..Closing Orders Soon

We need to sell about 175 more shirts to meet our goal.
Please consider ordering a shirt with your child(ren)'s name(s).  They make awesome Christmas gifts.

This logo pictured will be on the front of the shirt, but we would like to list names of your adopted kiddos on the back as a testimony to the many one mores that are thriving in a loving family.  
(It will look something like this with your children's names listed.)

We featured more than one hundred names on our last t-shirt and it was such a testimony! 

The shirts are ready to preorder in gray, red, royal, or pink right now and make great gifts for Christmas.  We will take orders below for about two more weeks.  It will take two weeks to print and ship them, and they will arrive in time to give for Christmas gifts in the beginning of December.

Order them through Paypal below.
Shirts are $20 shipped.
They are a unisex fit in a 50/50 blend of polyester and cotton.  They can be ordered in youth and adult sizes with the drop down menu.  When you push add to cart, you will be directed to paypal to pay through our account.
(You don't need a paypal account to order.) 

 

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!  

We closed our shirt orders.

Calling All Adoptive Families..Add Names..Order Shirts

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES .. 

As with our past adoptions, we are in need of names of adopted children that can be listed on the back of our current fundraising shirt.  We have designed a front logo that says adopt one more loved with 1 john 4:19 referenced on the back.  

This logo pictured will be on the front of the shirt, but we would like to list names of your adopted kiddos on the back as a testimony to the many one mores that are thriving in a loving family.  
(It will look something like this with your children's names listed.)

We featured more than one hundred names on our last t-shirt and it was such a testimony!  PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY AT,slmaster16@gmail.com, WITH YOUR CHILD(REN)'S FIRST AND MIDDLE NAME so that it can be included on our t-shirt list!  

The shirts are ready to preorder in gray, red, royal, or pink right now and make great gifts for Christmas.  We will take orders below for about three weeks.  It will take two weeks to print and ship them, and they will arrive in time to give for Christmas gifts in the beginning of December.

Order them through Paypal below.
Shirts are $20 shipped.
They are a unisex fit in a 50/50 blend of polyester and cotton.  They can be ordered in youth and adult sizes with the drop down menu.  When you push add to cart, you will be directed to paypal to pay through our account.
(You don't need a paypal account to order.) 

 

 

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!  

Orders are closed.

Eats For Ellie Grace

Y'all, we had our first fundraiser for our adoption of Ellie Grace last night.  It was incredible!  We sponsored the tailgate at our christian school's first Friday Night Lights program.  We sold over 100 walking tacos.  We had a huge part of our village show up.  They bought tacos, made tacos, served, took money, washed our crock pot, and encouraged the socks off me.  We got to share our prayer requests for Ellie with so many, and share our adoption story with some new friends too.  Every time I do this, I don't take for granted the Lord's miraculous provision, and truly that is what every single dollar is to us.  We don't have the money laying around to bring home our newest treasure, but so, so many share so much so that we can get her home.  I stand in awe of the many that God is already gathering to provide for our Ellie's needs over the coming months.  That God would bless us so abundantly is far more than anything my mind could every fathom.  We made enough last night to pay for our homestudy update which happens to be due in two days.  God's timing is perfect, and He is beyond good.  I know He's got this..every single detail.  I wait in anticipation as His perfect plan unfolds before me.

Yesterday

(I began writing this days ago, and left the title yesterday because frankly you all God is so very close to me in this season, but recording it in a timely manner not so much as each day is filled to over flowing.  The house is out of order.  I never sit down unless I am on the floor playing with a child.  Despite this, I feel as if I am on top of the world.  This summer has been so, so good.  The beach, the swimming pool, and filling my moments with all the little memories that make life worth living has been my main goal.  God is good, and life is FULL.)

Yesterday, I was driving across town with my littles in toe.  They were buckled in their seats with their swimsuits on as we were on our way to a dear friend's home to swim.  This wasn't just any old night swim though.  We were on our way to a fundraiser to help raise funds to bring home their son whom they hope to be matched with soon as they just finished up their dossier.  My emotions were all over the place as I drove across town looking in my rear view mirror to catch a glimpse at my three beautiful, Chinese daughters.  Fundraising memories flooded into my heart, and I just took a quiet moment  to praise God with my thoughts as I drove.  So many events, so many contributors, such little faith on my part, but what an incredible blessing each of my three adoption journeys was as I have these three amazing little ones in the back of my minivan because of the incredible people who shared what they had with us so that these girls could be called mine.  The faces of those who gave flooded my mind's eye.  I saw each card given, each donation, every moment that we worked, every need met was revisited during this short trip across town, and I just rejoiced for all that God has done.  He has been more than faithful!  What an incredible, faith building journey this has been.  What an incredible support system we have, and what an immeasurable blessing has been bestowed on us!  It is my prayer that I walk as one worthy of such a blessing as these beautiful girls, and that as we seek God's will for our family in the coming months I will be bold as one who has seen miracles and believes the Lord can do the impossible because I have seen time and time again!  Thank you dear friends for sharing this journey with us!  Mere words will never express how grateful we are to you for helping us along this road to our girls.  They are priceless.

Baby 4 Herr T-shirt Fundraiser

The graphic on the front reads..

Children are a gift from the Lord

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

Blessed are they whose quiver is full

The back will feature..

one less orphan

one more in the quiver

(and the list of names as they come in)

SHIRTS ARE $20.00 

(plus $2.00 shipping per shirt)

ORDER THROUGH PAYPAL BELOW...

(you don't need a paypal account to order)

The Sale Has Finished.

Find Me

An incredible opportunity to support an adoptive family and experience the adoption process yourself through the eyes of three families is coming to our area!!  The documentary, Find Me, will be showing at the Carmike Wynnsong 12 Theatre on Tuesday, September 29 for one night only if we can get enough advance tickets sold.  The trailer for this film about Chinese adoption is real, heartwarming, and well done!  All of the proceeds from this showing will benefit the Mullens family, who is bringing home a little boy with special needs from China.  PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THIS EVENT AND HELP BRING MIKEY HOME.   Tickets can be purchased for $10, and the trailer watched, at this link https://www.tugg.com/events/43980 

Her Ransom is Paid In Full

Seven months ago, we said yes to bringing this precious treasure into our family.  We said yes, but knew it would be impossible to pay the $35,000 it would take to get her home on our own.  We moved forward knowing that God could.  It is so fitting that on this day, Easter Sunday, we have reached our fully funded mark.  Her ransom is marked paid in full!  We are so very grateful to the many of you that have made this possible.  We can't wait to see this peanut home and experiencing the love of a family.  We are so anxious for her to hear the stories of her beginning and how God provided a way for her to be a Masterson.  THANK YOU for your faithful support.  Now, to get her home.  CHINA HERE WE COME!!!  Our I-800 approval arrived on Friday.  We are on target for a early June Gotcha Day!  Praise Him!  Praise Him!  Praise Him!

Chick Filet Fundraiser

 

Join us for dinner and support our adoption! 

Tuesday, April 7 from 5-8 

at Chick Filet in Cedar Rapids

Mention our fundraiser when you order and we will receive a portion for our sweet Molly Kate's adoption.