Tiny Heart Warrior

If you know someone who has had to endure heart problems,

you know how tumultuous and scary heart conditions can be.  My dad had a quadruple by-pass done just a couple of years ago, and it's a massive surgery that takes it's toll on an adult.  

Now just imagine a child undergoing open-heart surgery.  Kendall Hope is the newly adopted 2-year-old of our friends Danette & Jay.  She was born with several serious health issues and required open-heart surgery shortly after coming to America.  Unfortunately, the surgery was not successful, and Kendall has endured numerous post-operative complications. She and her sweet mommy have been in Florida for weeks, hours and hours away from their Kentucky home.  The rest of the family, which includes five other amazing children, have been separated from them during this time.  Currently, they are trying to transfer Kendall to a hospital that is not only closer to home, but better able to care for her needs.  Because of her condition, she needs to be med-flighted, which costs $25,000 and the insurance has not approved it.  While they are appealing, it's unlikely the flight will be covered. 

As I contemplate all the difficulties of the entire situation, I cannot even fathom how stressful and heart-wrenching it is.  Watching your daughter, who has already been through so much in her short little life, go through such intense surgery and horrific recovery, has got to be agony.  In addition, the separation from her husband and other kiddos, the financial strain of mounting medical bills, and it's got to be strenuous on Danette's health as well, as she is limited to what foods are available and sleeping in a chair at the hospital.  This family needs our help!!  Here are three ways you can get involved:

1)  Pray, pray, pray, pray unceasingly for Kendall and the entire family!  

2)  Purchase an awesome t-shirt designed by Danette!  She and I worked on this before their adoption was finalized, with the intention of selling them to help with adoption funds.  It seems more appropriate now than ever, as we cling to the HOPE of our Savior to heal this sweet baby girl.  Hope is also Kendall's middle name, and the heart on the tee represents this little heart warrior!  (Multiple colors and types available, see ordering details below.)

3) Donate directly.  I have verified with Danette that this is a legitimate account that will help their family.  Go to https://www.youcaring.com/kendall-hope-mattingly-danette-mattingly-jay-mattingly-651034

I do not want the tees to be any work for Danette, so please contact me directly to order at hudsononline@bellsouth.net, with type, size, quantity, and color.  Please pay via paypal at www.paypal.me/LoveMakesaFamily (do not choose "pay for goods" or it will charge me a fee), or let me know if you need to mail a check.  Shipping is included on all of these tees and will probably be my local method of delivery, too, considering we are coming back from China with our own new sweetheart!  Please note my reply time may be delayed since we are in China, but I will confirm every order and payment.  :)  I will do my best to send tracking info once these mail out, approximately October 17th.

  

Super Soft Unisex Tee, Red (for the little heart warrior!), Royal Blue, and Pink, sizes Small - 3XL  $20
Youth Tee, Red, Royal Blue, and Pink, sizes YXS - YXL, $20 (must have a minimum quantity of 12 to order)
Toddler Tee, Red, Royal Blue, and Pink, sizes 2T - 5T, $20 

Super Soft Long-Sleeve Tee, Red only, sizes Small - 3XL  $26

Hoody, Red, Royal Blue, and Pink, sizes Small - 3XL  $32

100% of the profits, after paying cost on the tees and postage, will be given directly to the Mattingly family.  The more we order, the cheaper the cost per item, which means more funds going to the family!  Please share with everyone you know!!

Soft Unisex Tees

Long-Sleeve

Youth Tees

Toddler Sizes

Dragon Tee

$15 Dragon Tee!

A great personal reminder that you were part of a community who helped a child from China leave an institution and join her forever family!

- Adoptive families:  these would make great "thank-you" gifts for family and friends who went above and beyond to help you in your own adoption! - 

**Free Shipping**

Cherry Red

*Soft Unisex Tee, S to 4XL

*Youth Tee S to L

*Ladies TANK (runs very small) S to 2XL

*Unisex Long-Sleeve Tee, S to 3XL

Please send the following to hudsonhome@bellsouth.net with Dragon Tee as the subject:

1) Quantity, Type (adult tee, childs tee, tank, or LS), Size

2) Mailing address

3) Let me know if you will be mailing a check, or using paypal 

www.paypal.me/LovemakesaFamily. 

 The order will be shipped to you approximately August 25th.  :)  Thank you SO MUCH for helping our family bring Hannah home!

Kids Size Chart

Long-Sleeve

Unisex Size Chart

Ladies Tank Top

Coordinating Fundraiser Tees for Adults and Kids!

- CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING -

Short Sleeve, Long Sleeve, and a coordinating Kids version 

all supporting our adoption!  Order by Thurs, August 4th.  

All the info you need to order is right on this page!  

These verses from Psalm 127 resonate in my heart. Regardless of whether you have one child or a dozen, they are a blessing.  Our hearts are full, and the comparison in the verse is that our quivers are full as well.

Just to clarify, "My quiver is full" does not mean we are done adding children to our family!  

***FREE SHIPPING***

Adults Front/Back - available in Neon Coral or Silver,
or a long-sleeve ladies flowy top in neon pink

Child's Companion Tee in Scuba Blue,
Front Only

Silver Front

Silver Back

Retro Heather Coral Front

Retro Heather Coral Back

Back

Actual color swatches

Flowy Tee Front, does not have to be worn
off-the-shoulder but does have a wide neck

- Scroll to the bottom for size charts -

Adults Unisex Front/Back Print Tee - Silver or Retro Heather Coral (a neon pinkish-orange), S - 4XL, $20

Long-sleeve Ladies Front/Back Flowy Tee - Neon Pink, S - 2XL, $32

Children's Front Print Tee - Scuba Blue, Youth XS - Youth XL, Adult Small - XL, $18

Please send the following to hudsonhome@bellsouth.net with Quiver Full as the subject:

1) Quantity, Type (adult tee, childs tee, ladies LS), Size, and Color

2) Mailing address

3) Let me know if you will be mailing a check, or using paypal 

www.paypal.me/LovemakesaFamily. 

Adult Unisex Tee Size Chart

Child's Tee Size Chart

Ladies LS Flowy Tee Size Chart

 The order will be shipped to you approximately August 25th.  :)  Thank you SO MUCH for helping our family bring Hannah home!

Action! (Adoption Fundraiser Tees)

Taking orders for the size and color you'd like of this original design now through May 23rd!

All profits go toward our adoption expenses to bring Hannah home!  Just comment below or email me with your order!!

ABOUT THE DESIGN -
We have done a tee fundraiser with every adoption, and each design is very significant for that particular journey. The designs usually come to us quickly. This time, I've been struggling with what I wanted to say. FINALLY, we realized we didn't need any catchy phrase or slogan - God's word is BEAUTIFUL in itself! This is the first design I've ever done by hand - usually I use the computer - so it's really personal.

1 John 3:18 is on the front, "Let us not love with words, but with action and in truth." The back lists ways every person can help the fatherless. What I LOVE about it is that by simply purchasing a tee, you are LOVE IN ACTION! You are living 1 John 3:18 by your support!!!

PRICING - COLORS - SIZES -
Tees are $17 each (plus shipping for out-of-town friends).
Buy 5 and get one FREE!!
Refer a friend not already on the guest list and when they mention your referral, you will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE shirt!

Heliconia, Red, Orange, Green, Jade (YOUTH ONLY), Sapphire, Royal, Navy, Purple, Black, Charcoal (ADULT ONLY), Chocolate (ADULT ONLY). See event picture to get an idea of the colors.

Youth Size Small to Large, Adult Size Small to 4XL.

SIZE & FIT

You can use this chart to compare to a tee you have in your closet, or try to use the measurements below!

This Product Is Slim Fit

• Sits close to the body and sleeves
• Modern silhouette
• Fitted

Size Chart

Size	Chest Size
S	34" - 36"
M	38" - 40"
L	42" - 44"
XL	46" - 48"
2XL	50" - 52"

Garment Dimensions

Size	Body Length	Body Width
S	26.625"	18"
M	27.625"	20"
L	28.625"	22"
XL	29.625"	24"
2XL	30.625"	26"

The Raging War

I'm in a war, every minute.

I know for sure, I'll never win it.

I am David up against Goliath.

Those are lyrics from a beautiful song called "King of My Heart", by Love & the Outcome.  Life can be full of battles, can't it?  I can easily recall the big wounds of my 36 years whose scars still sting just a bit as they flash before my mind.  They make me cringe and I feel my stomach drop when I really mull over those memories.

Can you relate with me about those times when we cannot physically see the war raging, but can certainly feel them?  This is where we have been the past couple of months - in the middle of a battle that causes a sinking feeling in my chest almost every day.  

Let me just call it like it is:  it's the enemy.

I'm not exactly sure just what has rubbed him the wrong way.  It may be that he knows God has huge plans for our new little gal.  When we first started reviewing her medical file, I was hesitant.  While I absolutely adored her gentle nature and smile, she is almost 3 and unable to walk.  I was not sure if we were prepared to handle the life-long implications of a child, and eventually an adult, in a wheelchair.  I told my husband that if this child was able to walk someday, the family who adopted her was going to get to partake in a huge God-miracle.  My amazing hubby said, "You have to take big leaps of faith to see big miracles."  We do not know what God has in store for Hannah, but we are sure it's going to be beautiful.  

Maybe he is frustrated with our persistance to DO something for God's glory in this world.  Since God took us to El Salvador to aid orphanages and the homeless, we have not been content to just sit and feel "bad" about the atrocities in this world.  We found our passion and we're running with it - sometimes it leaves us breathless, but most often it leaves us so fulfilled.

Or it might be the recent revelation we have had about the ministry God has been preparing us for our entire lives.

Every parent has a ministry.  Every parent is discipling the children they are entrusted to raise, teaching them to grow into responsible and caring adults who make the world a better place.  In the past several months, we have begun to realize that He intended for us to be parents of a large, adoptive family.  You're thinking, "Ha!  You just realized this?  You have 7 kids - you ARE a large adoptive family!!"  But as our adoption community friendships grow, we have discovered we are relatively small!!  God has prepared our steps, our whole lives, for the passion He planted in our hearts for children and adoption, and given us abilities and circumstances to make all this happen.  While I do expect it will be quite some time before we adopt again after Hannah, I know for sure it will happen.  Our retirement years will probably not look like the typical American scenario of rest, relaxation, and travel.  I envision us as parents with children the same age as our grandchildren!

Regardless of what fueled the fire of attacks, the enemy has been busy.  He has wrecked paperwork, distorted first impressions, planted roadblocks, flipped-out electronic equipment, closed hearts, misled minds, kinked our finances, caused confusion, and threatened every single stage of our process so far.  He has waited in the shadows, whispered, connived, and master-minded problems.  Even our sweet kiddos have seemingly had targets on their backs.

The enemy preys on every doubt, worry, fear, and anxiety we have.  He leaves us feeling beaten, exhausted, relentlessly drug down into a hole. If you're in the midst of an unseen battle, remember this wisdom from God's word:

Revelation 12:11: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

Ephesians 6:11: "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."

Ephesians 6:12: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

1 John 4:1: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

2 Corinthians 2:11: "In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware 
of his schemes."

And my favorite, Exodus 14:14 = "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Be strong, pray purposefully, read His Word relentlessly, and keep your faith.  The great I AM is going to overcome the enemy.  Spoiler alert:  the devil loses big time in the end!  I'll leave you with a line about our God from the chorus of the song I referenced above:

You. Are. Bigger than any battle I'm facing.

Home for Hannah!

This is an EASY way to be a part of Hannah coming home!  All you do is ask us for a sippy cup (or use a cup you have at home), then fill it with spare change. If we could have 85 people commit to filling small cups for us, we could raise approximately $1000! That could help us pay for the entire immigration approval process on the US Government side (USCIS fees)!! THEN, we'll be cleaning all the sippy cups and donating them to Hannah's orphanage! Would you please be a part of this simple fundraiser? Please share this event with everyone!

Contact us at hudsononline@bellsouth.net with any questions!

AGAIN?!

You might have known it was coming . . . again.  :)

It really should not surprise you, if you know us, to hear we are adopting Hudson Little #8!!  Woo-hoooooo!  Thrilled doesn't begin to describe our excitement!!

Or maybe you are surprised.  After all, if you followed the little tidbits of our most recent process, you know our family struggled for quite a while.  It was the most difficult transition we've had.  As we tell our kids, sometimes the hardest things in life are those most worth the effort.

Or maybe you are surprised because you know how much time we have to dedicate to fundraising to pay for the process, and how impossible it would seem to do so when we are currently raising seven blessings.

But we actually knew all along we would adopt again, we just did not know the timing.  And I begged God . . . no, to be honest, I told God we would not adopt internationally again.  There was no way we had the literal time to fundraise.  Our last process stretched us way too thin and I felt like there were too many moments we deprived our kiddos already at home of our attention.

We looked into adopting from foster care, but were told Kentucky considers a home with five children "filled."  I guess they'd call us "overstocked," ha/ha!  And as God leads different families to adopt in ways that reach children all over the world, we know He gave us a heart for children living in orphanages.  Every child is a gift, regardless of where they come from, and this is just where He holds our hearts.  We cannot fight that.  We cannot stomp our foot emphatically and tell God it's not going to happen.

Then it dawned on us.

He knows the time we do or do not have available to raise adoption funds.  He knows how much our children at home need us.  He can still work miracles and provide.

In a super cool twist, God is also allowing us to go through this process with my brother and sister-in-law!!  While the chances of our timelines remaining the same throughout the journey would be as rare as a rainbow unicorn, we both received Pre-Approval from the Chinese government on the same day!  Our sweet daughter, Hannah, will turn three in a few months, and they will be bringing home an amazing 9-year-old boy named Henry.  How awesome is that?!

Our adoption agency caseworkers have had in-depth conversations with us about our family growing so quickly with special needs children in such a short time.  They think we're crazy.

Maybe you think so, too.  Just know these decisions we make are always preceded by intense prayer, conversation, and Bible study.

Also, you should know we are definitely crazy.

Crazy for Jesus.

Crazy for kids.

Crazy for family.

And we are totally okay with that.  Again.  :)