Get Real

Ok, so obviously my daughter's names are not Sweetpea Beauty, (Sweetpea), and Briar Rose, (Rosie). I'm actually considering doing away with the nicknames once Rosie comes home.

I have been planning Bristol's room since last  summerish when I find some super cute ladybug items at Hobby Lobby.

Then I joined Pinterest and I got into full planning mode!

Well, there is something I haven't told y'all about our new house.

It does not have adequate space for a playroom. I wrestled with it for awhile and decided that of the 2 bedrooms, (not including ours of course), one will be the playroom and one will be Sweetpea and  Rosie's room.

Yep, our girls will be sharing a room. Something I have been avoiding like the plague! My thinking is, "if there are enough rooms for each child to have their own room, then they should have their own room!"

Once I made the decision, I started to like the idea. I will be buying matching cribs, and selling Sweetpea's current crib, (it's pink- not even close to matching this room!).

I will be setting up their room first so Sweetpea can get accustomed to her new room, (after sleeping with us for what will be 4 months once we move- the transition will be horrendous I'm sure, so I want to make it as easy as possible)!

SO, I've begun some of the crafts for the room -that way, all I'll have to do next month is hang them on the walls.

Here are their names. I have been planning this for the last year, so it was a blast finally putting it all together. Obviously, I've recently had to change my plans to incorporate Sweetpea, but it's just added to the fun!

A few notes: the empty A and O will have wheat on them once I make it to Hobby Lobby this weekend, and I  ran out of pearls on the N...will be fixed soon! I will have better pics next month once o hang these on their wall, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek!

Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway and who got the word out on Precious Jewels!

I really enjoy making them, and I hope they bring a smile to faces of the recipients!

Mother's day is just around the corner, and so is graduation! I've got plenty of supplies- let the orders come in!

I also got new  stampable embellishments! See picture below, (pardon the quality- I just got a new phone and I'm working out the kinks!). These can be on a necklace alone or stacked with the discs!

Ok, the giveaway winner is....

Brandy DeLaCruz!

Email me at triciakeierleber@ymail.com and we can get your necklace designed!

Scripture Sunday

LAST DAY TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY! Check out Precious Jewels!

Here are some verses that God has given me for orphans/foster kids. God loves the orphan. What are YOU doing to echo that love? Christian, you were Fatherless, now you are a child of God- through Jesus' blood your were adopted. What will you do to share that love for the fatherless?

Acts 20:35 NASB

In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Proverbs 31:8 NASB

Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.

Philippians 2:3 NASB

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

Romans 15:1 NASB

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not  just  please ourselves.

Saturday Mourning

The last 2 days we have had adoption training. Next weekend completes that training- wahoo!

One step closer to getting Rosie home! ;)

In all the trainings though, I am reminded of Woody and Buzz.

It was 2 years ago that we were training to get them. 2 years ago that we were bonding with them and being called, "mommy and daddy." 2 years ago we fell in love.

I'll go into my first ever full detail recap in July.

For now, I'll say this.

We have to be trained in foster children trauma, abuse, and grief. It just brings them to the forefront of my mind. I don't know how they are. I don't know if they're safe. I don't know if they're loved.

I shed some tears over my sons today.

Many don't understand my grief.

Many in my training today did, and that's good enough for me.

Surrounded by fellow Believers.

Surrounded by fellow foster parents.

Surrounded by fellow fighters of orphans.

Surrounded by true Family.

I spent my Saturday Mourning in good company. :)

Zeus

First of all please enter my giveaway, see the post titled, "Precious Jewels."

Secondly, today is day one of adoption training for Miss Briar Rose! We're one day closer to bringing her home! Eek!

Ok, now to the post for today:

With all the abused children in foster care and starving children in Africa, as much as I love dogs, my sympathies are lowered.

I'm against animal abuse and neglect of course, but I think we should be doing more for the kids.

However I am fuming over a little dog that clearly has been neglected, and possibly abused.

The previous owners of our house had a chihuahua that clearly had a a skin condition, ( I assume mange). We saw this when we were looking at the house as a potential buy.

The dog has shown up at our house for weeks at a time, without collar and tags, and without being looked for.

Last Saturday he came back and was sitting right by my door. I was holding Sweetpea and therefore could not touch him.

I.TOUCHED him with my shoe. TOUCHED, not kicked or pushed, just touched, and he cowered like I had beaten him. So sad.

So, I called him over gently, and showed him love with my closeness and words, (still not touching him). When he was so close I noticed he had at least 20 ticks in each ear and of course his body was covered as well.

I got mad. I went inside, got him food, and vowed to not let his owners take him back. All the authorities were closed over the weekend, (we live in a tiny town).

I also went inside and got gloves and patted his head. He bonded with me immediately. I could walk and pat my leg and he'd follow, (better than Bolt would even lol).

He came and went during the week, and finally stuck around long enough yesterday for me to get a good look at him.

He was looking worse than ever. I gave him some food and called animal control. They were closed, but said I could call the police for animal emergencies. I left my number for animal control to call in the morning.

I went back outside, looked at him again, and called the cops! I felt bad calling the cops over this, but I did what I had to do!

The officer was very nice and it seemed he cared about the situation. Zeus went to the shelter. I asked if he could make sure his owners didn't get him and he said he's sure they won't. I just wish they would have to pay!

Its so sad cause Zeus really trusted me- he felt safe with me. From what I understand of chihuahuas, that is not that common.  I wish we could have helped him more and kept him, but its not the right time.

God used this time with Zeus as a much bigger lesson.

We feel called to love on/care for the orphans in Africa, (not to mention orphans everywhere). Along with International Voice of the Orphan, (see link on right), we will soon begin taking trips to Africa, and providing for them financially once our house if paid off. Lord willing in 5 years our house will paid off, and Lord willing we will start going to Africa late 2013/early 2014.

Honestly, as much as I want to, I cannot go to Africa a day sooner.

The situation with Zeus showed me that.

It will take a lot of preliminary prayer to get me to Africa.

You see, I was heartbroken over Zeus. Not just because I love animals, but because we bonded immediately. He felt safe with me, and I could not keep him.

Starting to make sense?

We plan on adopting Briar Rose and then being done. God could change that, but we feel content with two babies.

If I went to Africa today, I honesty think it would scar me for life- being around all those orphans and not taking them home with me.

Now, as I said, after much prayer, I will go to Africa on a regular basis.

I will love them with everything I have, and return to my mosquito net at night and cry my eyes out.

When we learned Woody and Buzz would go home, people told us to guard our hearts.

Terrible advice.

Our love, (and the love of their previous foster parents), may be the only love they every experience. They deserve our everything. So we poured ourselves out for them.

It hurt. It hurt really bad. But it was worth it.

God gave me this verse at the time that proved what we were doing was God pleasing and biblical: Romans 15:1 NASB

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not  just  please ourselves.

This is now my verse for Africa. Over the next year or two I will be preparing my heart for Africa. Knowing I cannot take the orphans home with me, but that I can pour myself out completely while there. As I said, if I did that today I would be scarred and probably could not return. But if I use these years to pray and prepare, by His grace I'll be able to love fully.

I will be strong. I will bare their weaknesses. I will not please my self by holding back love or by lessening my pain by adopting them when I know its not the time.

Just like Zeus. I would have loved to give him a home. Definitely not the right time.

I can't save every stray, and I can't adopt every orphan.

But by the grace of God I can love them with all my might. I can show them love. I can show them Jesus. I can be their temporary Mama who returns every few months to love on them.

I can bare their weaknesses, but first God has to give me that strength.

Look out Africa- in 2013/2014 the Keierlebers will come and neither of us will ever be the same!

Katherine Heigl Adopts- Again!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway, and please help me get the word out on my new business- Precious Jewels! I'm so ecstatic! I'm def a fan of hers! :) http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/goddess/katherine-heigl-josh-kelley-adopt-again-191749515.html

Disney On Ice 2012

Please view yesterday's post, help me get the word out and enter my giveaway!  My post had almost 60 views yesterday, (and that is seperate from the almost 300 blog views from that day), and not one.single.comment. ENTER THE GIVEAWAY, y'all!  Free gift just in time for mother's day!  Who doesn't like free?!
UGH! I tried to give the new Blogger another shot, but no, it failed me again! NOT HAPPY!  Next month when we get internet again, I will try again. Oh, and my Blogger Ap still won't let me post anything. GRRR.  Sersiouly, faithful since Dec 07. ugh.

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Ok, Now to my real post for the day. It will not be as nice, (or really in order), as I would have liked since Blogger has decided to boil my blood, but oh well....

We traveled back to Houston two weeks ago to visit my mom and sister...

I give you the cutest froyo mustache known to man! ;)

DISNEY ON ICE

When she sees these pics, she exclaims, "Princess!" Yes, my darling, you sure are a princess!

Not the best of yours truly, but keep in mind that I had just spent 2 whole months in a hotel room- and bed!  We literally only left at night to get food, (and most nights Mr. Incredible brought us food).  Between ZERO exercise and eating fast food three times a day... well you get the picture! Oh well, I was still ecstatic to be here, for Sweetpea and myself.  I cannot tell a lie. I am obsessed with Disney Princesses, and well Disney as a whole.  Always have been, always will be.

This is the opening number- you know, the one where I burst into tears. Sweetpea danced and sang the whole time!  She had a blast!!

Man, that flash did me no favors! lol  My sis, Auntay.  Her eyes totally look like mine in this pic! We were all a little weirded out by this at the time! lol

Standing during intermission.  Yes, my face is silly, oh well! :)

She insisted on standing in the second act. :)

ALL of the princesses/princes came out in the end. Yeah, my Disney Geek totally showed at this moment, and I totally got teary eyed here... and not because of Sweetpea.  Beacuse I am a huge, unashamed, Disney Nerd!

Despite Blogger, let me say that DISNEY ON ICE was amazing and worth every penny!  Mr. Incredible was sad he couldn't go, but we vowed to take our princesses every year, as long as they want to go! :) 

Thanks Nana Nell for treating us to this memorable event and of course all the goodies you got us  there, (and Sweetpea's "shopping spree" at the Disney store).  You made your Disney loving daughter and grandaughter very happy! :)

Precious Jewels

Ok y'all, I am at the local library blogging away. LAME! ;)
And Blogger has changed since last I was online. I'm not happy! DO YOU HEAR THAT BLOGGER? I'm not happy! Faithful blogger since Dec 2007. Not happy!


Ok seriously, I just uploaded all these pics, and they are so messed up! What is up Blogger!! GRRR!  I have 5 more folders of pics that collected to do automated posts, but forget that.  The new Blogger is too frustrating!  I only have a limited amount of time at the library, thank you very much!
Ok, I'll step off my annoyed horse for a minute to introduce you to my new buisness venture:
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On Pinterest, there is a pic that says, "The most precious jewels you'll ever have around your neck are the arms of your children." *sniff* So true!

What a perfect name for my new jewlery buisness! I handmake/handstamp necklaces mommy necklaces.  A perfect reminder of our Precious Jewels!

These can be made for mommies, grandmas, aunts, anyone! 

While my buisness name and design is geared towards mommies, I don't have to do only children's names. You will see below a neckalce I made for a newly engaged bride to be, and a big sis necklace I made for a little girl.  The options are endless!

A necklace for my sister- it says Auntay, under the circle are her nieces names, and below that is her favorite Bible verse. Endless possibilites I tell ya!

These silver discs cannot be layered with other discs, but they CAN be stamped and emellishments like these can be added... see all the embellishments that can be added to these discs and all of the designs as well:

As I said, these will go with all designs, but if you want an embellishement of the above disc, these are your only choices.

Here are other embellishment options (for the other designs):

These are the only two letters I have, and I have a plan for them, but if you want them, they are yours! :)

As I said, Blogger is annoying me right now!  There were a few designs as you may have noticed that are incomplete.  I am waiting for word on a new baby name before I compete them. I included them just to show you more options.

My cost is $35 a necklace and price includes shipping! :)  If I know you personally, we can do a check in the mail.  If not, we will use Paypal.

As of now, I have a pretty quick turn around. If the buinsess grows, then it may take longer. With that being said, I can take Mother's day orders until the Friday before Mother's Day, (I am  hoping if I get it out in Friday's mail it will get to you by the next day!).

I will do a giveaway of a free necklace to ge the word out on Precious Jewels! 

Blog about the giveaway and the buisness of course. :)

Like my page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/preciousjewels7

Share about my buisness on Facebook.

Share this on any other social media site :)

 

Leave me a comment saying you did any of these.  If you do multiple, tell me and it will count as an extra entry!

Giveaway ends MONDAY April 30th!