On The Road Again.......

We've been reunited as a family, family wedding went well, met my new "bonus" sister and brother on top of all the time spent with our PNW friends and family. A few pictures, the details will come later.

Silas shows off his muscles!

Trinity caught a shrimp!
I love being an aunt! Breaks my heart that we live so far away. Faithy and I's feet and then us just chillin' on the beach.

Only God. My new sis Sierra and I. She had never seen the ocean until that day! AMAZING!
Skyler and his cousin Georgie.
Now we set out for our biggest road trip ever. Oregon to Florida. We made it through Oregon and most of Idaho. Yes I made David stop for the picture! We're stopped for the night and head through Yellowstone tomorrow and staying near Mt. Rushmore. I hope to update with at least a few pictures nightly.

A huge update post will follow after we've landed at our new home in Florida. We covet your prayers as we cover some major roadage! (is that a word? Oh well) Peace out!

Bring Home Baby Adey Fundraiser!!!!!

Meet the Gurskes. (if you haven't already) ;)

Jeff and Bethany adopted little Leul about the same time we adopted Silas. We were in process together, received our referrals within two weeks of each other, traveled within three weeks of each other, and have walked the ups and downs of adoption together. David and I adore this sweet couple and are blessed to call them friends. Bethany and I have hung out a few times since I've been in Oregon and she even taught me how to properly cut Silas' hair!! (more on the at in another post)Jeff and Bethany started the adoption process for baby #2 shortly after returning home with Leul. The financial burden of adoption is huge. Absolutely 110% worth it but huge. God has provided in AMAZING ways for this sweet family, they have sacrificed in gigantic ways in order to bring baby Adey into their family. They are excited. So are we.

All of the paperwork is done. Baby Adey is legally a Gurske. They are almost there. The last thing they need is to pay for travel expenses. In other words.....they are in need of $3,500.00 to cover travel and in country costs.

I'm not going to spoil anything for Jeff and Bethany, they aren't sharing her picture just yet but I do have permission to post her AMAZING little eyes! Isn't she precious?
Jeff and Bethany are traveling a week before they meet baby Adey in order to do some humanitarian work in a country they love, the birth country of their children. They will be visiting orphanages and just being the hands and feet of Christ. How awesome is that?!! Its been amazing to watch the Lord open doors for them as they seek to do more!

In an effort to support Jeff and Bethany I am hosting a raffle. Sweet Tracy over at Junk Posse has donated a BEAUTIFUL "Be the change" necklace to kick off the raffle.

The Perpetual Change has donated two T-shirts! The winner of each will get to choose which shirt they would like. AWESOME huh?!?

I am accepting other donations and will update here as they come in. If you'd like to help in this way please see the instructions below for more information.

Here's how it works:

If you have something you'd like to donate for the raffle please send me an email. erica.shubin@gmail.com - it can be anything. Something you make, something you have on hand that you think someone else might like, T-shirts, jewelry, gift cards, you name it we'll take it. To save on shipping I'll have the donor mail directly to the winner. I'll keep your contact information and let you know after the drawing.

Once the donations start coming in I'll list them all here with pictures and links to the donors.

Raffle tickets will be $10 each, you can post a comment here along with how many tickets you want, donate through the chip in link on the side bar. I'll be writing each name on a piece of paper for the final drawing. We'll draw for as many gifts as we have.

The Gurskes could be traveling as early as the first week of July so we'll run the raffle until June 30th.

All donations will be made via paypal/chip in and will go directly to the Gurske's.

In order to pass the word and get as much exposure as possible feel free to copy and paste any portion of this blog post and post it on your blog!

Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Most of all THANK YOU!!!

Mini Update....

Its been a long while since I've posted about "us". Life's been crazy. Nearly two weeks ago David and his younger brother Jon loaded a Penske with all of our worldly possessions and drove to Tampa, FL. The kids and I loaded up my truck and left for a fun filled vacation in Oregon. David joins us tonight. We'll be here with family and friends for another 10 days and then head out across the country eventually landing at our new home in Florida. The details are amazing. The fact that my heart has struggled with this move and God knew it. He orchestrated EVERY detail in a way that there was NO QUESTION about who was in charge.

Two weeks before the big move we had no renters for our Arizona house and no where to live in Florida. A week before the move both of those issues were resolved and God blessed above and beyond anything we could have ever planned. I'll write it out eventually but now I must ready for a weekend of craziness. My dad is getting married and there is much to be done. Yes, there is WAY TOO MUCH going on in our lives right now. Soon it will settle. I'm excited to see it all written out and excited to share. If your on the route between Oregon and Florida we just might stop and see you! ;)

Whats a post without pictures? I leave you with some pictures of our trip to the Oregon Coast. We have spent the last week at Family Camp with Davids family. It was so fun!

Poor little Henry. His auntie took the photo op during his little fit.

Anika, Silas, and Olivia - we went boating and poor Liv was FREEZING!

Baby Josiah

I have wanted to post about little Josiah for a few days now. You can read more about his story here. My heart is heavy for this sweet family and the trials they are facing. My good friend
Stacy is running a raffle to raise money for Josiah's family so they can bank their new baby's blood in order to help little Josiah. I can't imagine the mixed emotions this mama is going through. Any donation helps. If you have items you'd like to donate for the raffle I'm sure Stacy would greatly appreciate it! Above all I would ask that you lift little Josiah and his entire family up in prayer. Our God is the great healer and we are believing in that for little Josiah.

Feed The Forgotten - URGENT!

There are so many great ways to get involved for the cause of the orphan. David and I are passionate not only about adoption and Ethiopia but we are passionate for life. Passionate about making a difference in the lives of others in the name of Jesus. He has commanded us to care for orphans and widows, it is our HONOR to love on the least of these. We've seen it first hand, starvation and hunger is real. Its SO real. I don't often post these types of messages but today I am URGING each one of you that reads this to take action.

Operation Feed the Forgotten! Uganda is in desperate need of food. People are resorting to trapping bugs, eating dung, and doing whatever they can just to live. This is unacceptable. We have so much. We MUST take action. Need to read more? Check out this article.

James 2:18 says - But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

James 2:26 - As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Its about

ACTION!

All to often I think we read these stories of starving children, starving families, mothers who can't even nurse their babies because they have no nourishment themselves, mothers who would do anything to get food into their babies tummies. The need is NOW! We CAN help. We are partnering with Children's Hope Chest to make a difference in the lives of these precious children and families. You CAN help! Click here to donate and make a difference in the lives of others.

Lets think about something. (this was taken with permission from Brandi's blog)

For $0.14 we can (and we WILL) feed someone a meal of posho and beans. (Posho is cornmeal, its filling, and beans are protein) Take that in for a moment.....

$0.14 a meal.

$2.86 for 20 days.

$1 per FAMILY.

$20 FEEDS a family for 20 days!

How much do you spend on a Starbucks? One meal out? How much was Fridays lunch out? Are you willing to give up one meal so that others can eat?

You can read more on my friend Brandi's blog she was in Uganda recently, she saw first hand the HUGE need, she loved on these sweet babies, hugged their mamas, and experienced their deep need for something we in American consider a basic. FOOD.

These sweet faces are starving. Yes STARVING. Hopechest is targeting 3-4 villages where the people are truly in DESPERATE need. Mothers like us, starving. Children like our own, STARVING.

Won't you help fill their tummies?

Won't you consider giving just $20 to feed a family for 20 days? YOU CAN make a difference?GIVE today to FEED THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN. Click here to donate!

We Love Kris Allen!!!

We're big AI fans....probably due in part to having two middle schoolers in the house one of which loves to sing! This video is amazing!

Tampa Bay

This weekend I was able to get away with my honey and just hang out in the new area we'll soon call home. I'm a straight shooter and pretty much say it like it is even if its not always incredibly flattering to me. This sucks! Yep, I said it. It does. A cross country move, last minute, so many loose ends, in a cruddy market with four kids who have built a life in AZ for the past five years uprooted STINKS! There are so many other reasons this is difficult but those shall remain off the blog to protect the innocent. ;)

I'm struggling. Yes I am. David is as well and he probably wouldn't want that on my blog but I always love going back and reading about "life" on my blog in the most raw of moments. It shows so beautifully the power of God and despite the valley we feel right now I know Gods in charge and no matter what His ways are perfect. Some of my blog buddies turned real life friends have been so supportive, calling, demanding I talk, one of them is even flying down to help me pack. I can't say enough about these friendships. Truly a gift. Girls, you know who you are. You make me smile, you encourage me and demand I call ya back. Thanks for the support, it means more then you know. Girls weekend.....SOON!

We would covet your prayers.

Pray specifically that our house here in AZ would be rented. That we find responsible caring people to care for our house like we would. Yes I believe in praying specifically. Pray that we would find a home in Tampa that is in a good neighborhood, decent in size, price, etc. We are looking to have a pool to try and keep some sense of "normal" for the kids. God knows the desires of our heart. Pray for wisdom as we have some pretty huge decisions coming up. Pray for the kids, this is rough. Pray for my strength, my joy, and that I would daily find the grace only God can give to extend that upon my children. Pray for David, he has a lot on his plate. Pray for peace in each of our hearts. God is good ALL the time and we 100% believe that.

All that heavy stuff out of the way.....how about some pictures? Tampa is beautiful. Well the beach is beautiful. Amazingly beautiful. There is lots to do and the kids will love it. We were on a house hunting mission and found nada! Nothing. Zero. Zippo. Zilch. Well I can't say nothing but nothing that would fall under suitable living conditions for our family. Sounds bratty? Maybe. However I can't stomach paying more money for a rental then I do on my mortgage and a rental with mismatched appliances and bright green counter tops doesn't make it any easier to swallow. God knows and while we found nothing this trip He knows just where we're supposed to live.

The sunsets are incredible!
Warm water at 75*

Near where David will be working. Amazing views.

And the storm rolling in.

That's a quick update on us, we're still not sure on the move timeline. Nichols softball team made playoffs, if they go all the way, championships will be the first weekend in June. GO TIDE!

I have a bunch of pictures and video I need to get up here. Nichol and her friend performed in the school talent show, they did an AMAZING job! School is wrapping up and things are pretty crazy around here. Olivia got her report card, she's 100% in all her classes but 1 (that was a 96%) we're so proud of her. Skyler completed his marble maze project which was a huge relief for all involved. He's so ready for school to be over with. Silas is well, Silas. I have some awesome video of our little self made gymnast, I'll post it soon.

I have been a terrible blog friend and want to catch up with all of you soon!