We're on the move.....

Time for a name change! Since Christmas is over it is time to change a few things...mostly the name of this project. So you need to go here....

http://www.theadoptionmiracleproject.blogspot.com/

We raised nearly $1000 which is wonderful and we thank each and every one

of you who took the time to help us bring the dream to life.

 Instead of waiting around for a miracle, YOU are part of the miracle and

we thank you so very, very, very much.

Please continue to help spread the word and follow us to....

http://www.theadoptionmiracleproject.blogspot.com/

Blessings to you!

Merry Christmas!

The miracle is happening and we thank all of you who donated and helped to spread the word.

IT'S NOT OVER!!!!

This project will NOT end so please keep spreading the word. We had hoped for an avalanche response and it is more like a steady trickle. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL NO MATTER WHAT! We are undaunted and our efforts will continue. We have faith and we know that it is never safe to judge by appearances. Big miracles are often happening just beyond what we can see. Children will be with their families and money will not stand in the way. I keep going back to what my Grandmother always taught "GOD MOVES MOUNTAINS, you better bring a shovel!" We are committed to keep our shovel at the ready and make sure our actions support the Mountain Mover.

We wish you a glorious Christmas!
May all that you give return to you blessed and multiplied.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20

So here's the deal.........

I have had one too many cups of tea tonight and I entered my bedroom with the laptop determined to have these stories up and ready to go by morning. It is now 12:58 am and I did it!!! After much prayer and consideration it seems the very best way to approach this for the time being is to use Chip In.

Do you see the little box to the right of this post?

That link will take you to PayPal. Donate ANY amount and then send an e-mail to oneheartworld@gmail.com telling us that the donation has been made. We will then send you an e-mail with the electronic book as an attachment. You can either read it from your computer or print it out. Your choice! We will also send you an invitation to a private blog where we will share details of each family as they proceed with their adoptions. You will be able to see how each penny is spent and witness the miracles for yourself. There are many ways to get e-books up and running and we may change the way we do this in the future. For the sake of time and the fact that this is called The Christmas Miracle Project and Christmas is in SEVEN days this seems the fastest way to get these stories to you. Our goal is to fund at least three adoptions. We know that God's vision is so much bigger than ours so we open ourselves up for endless miracles. Lets envision lots and lots of children snuggled safely in their bed with the love a family surrounding them........

No more hunger.

No more loneliness.

No more waiting.

Please help spread the word far and wide!

Be a part of the Miracle!

With Facebook, Twitter, E-Mail and blogs this will be easy. EASY! I love to break a big number down so it doesn't seem scary so here is how that looks....$90,000(scary)....that is the approximate cost of three adoptions. When we ask for a $10.00 donation that comes out to be 9000 people OR 900 people giving $100.00 each OR 90 people giving $1000.00 each. All of a sudden it's not so scary is it? I told you it's easy! When we see $90,000, we think we can't do it, we can't help, we can't make a difference. But when we see $10.00 we think..."I can do that." With less than some people spend at Starbucks in a week you can be part of changing the direction of a child's life.

 And not just one life but many lives.

Let's not wait around for a miracle, let's BE the miracle.

The stories are profoundly moving and I have cried through each one, including my own. I am honored that each family that shared in this was willing to invite us into their world so we could be inspired by them.

I think this is going to be the best Christmas EVER!

Thank you in advance for you kindness, your open heart and your generosity.

With Love

A little update since I wrote the above post in the middle of the night....

Update #1: Some of you may know one of us personally and want to be assured that your donation is going directly to us. We appreciate that but want you to know that Tonya, Sharlyn and myself are sisters of the heart. We are in this together and if the funds were raised over a period of several months then money would go where the need was most urgent at that moment. However....we fully expect to have all needed funds by Christmas Day so it won't really be of any concern. We will each have what we need and that will be the best Christmas EVER. We love your thoughtfulness around this but we consider all of these children as OURS.

Update #2: This may seem obvious but PLEASE do not donate and then share the book with others. Encourage them to make a donation of their own and be a part of the miracle. The idea is to have a group of people who make this happen TOGETHER by giving what they can. It is touching for others to be inspired by this project but that is not our goal. Our goal is that each person hears the call to take care of the orphans and gives whatever they can.  And of course do not share the private blog address with anyone. We probably don't need to mention this but it was brought up in conversation this morning and sometimes stating the obvious is important. I have three teenagers so I have to state the obvious on a regular basis :)

Update #3: You may be wondering if we have non-profit status and the answer is not yet. We welcome help with this and that is the ultimate goal. We have the name One Heart World filed with our County Courthouse and now it is time to dig out that "Non-Profit for Dummies" book! As stated earlier, if you donate you will be invited to the private blog and watch how funds are dispersed and see the adoption process as it unfolds.

Please know that EVERY SINGLE PENNY will go towards adoption expenses.

Update #4: Your payment confirmation may say Scott Stairs right now ...don't worry ... that IS us (Scott is my cutie husband). I have just gotten off the phone with PayPal and by the end of the weekend the confirmations should say that payment went to One Heart World.

Update #5: My internet did not work this morning and it was BEYOND frustrating. The one day that it matters most and it wasn't working for a solid four hours. However....the blessing was a very sweet and inspiring young mother. Her name is Audrey and she just 'happened' to be on the other end of the 800 number for my phone company. Over an hour later we had a good chunk of each others life story and I was reminded that there really are no accidents. Audrey offered to use Facebook to help spread the word.

She even know people that just adopted from China!

THANK YOU AUDREY. YOU ROCK.

Update #6: Until I can get my older daughter to help me you will see a few random extra pages in the book. I will take care of that ASAP. In the meantime draw a picture on the blank pages!

A Christmas Miracle

Hi Everyone! Happy Monday from Lilly and her Mommy!

We are dreaming of a Christmas Miracle....will you help us?

Lilly Grace KeXiu 

Born in China January 16, 2007

United with her forever family December 2, 2007

First a little about me, Lilly's mom: I live in upstate New York. I have been married to Scott for just shy of 20 years! We have three biological children. Joshua soon to be 19, Heidi 16 and Gregory 15. In December of 2007, Lilly Grace KeXiu joined our family. Lilly was born in China and we were blessed to adopt her. We are now dreaming of adopting more children. This time we are planning to adopt two biological sisters from Ethiopia.

I have long been dreaming about a way to help people overcome the financial burden of adoption. The other night I prayed that I would be shown a quick and easy way to make this happen. I prayed on my knees at the side of my bed as my grandmother taught me when I was a child. I prayed to be able to provide for our next adoption as well as our dear friend who is waiting for her referral of a little girl in Nepal. I also prayed that the idea would be big enough to help another family I had yet to meet. I sensed this family would have an urgent need for funds in the next few weeks. I have long believed that if you want something you first must find someone else who wants it too and help them get it. In this process, miracles happen and everybody's dream comes true.

Here is one of my dreams come true!

Soooooooo.............I awoke the next morning to this idea before I even opened my eyes...compile an electronic book with the stories of families who have adopted. They would each write their own story. I would tell 'The Story of Lilly' as well. The stories would be sold in e-book format for $10.00. With social media this idea could spread far and wide and fast. the goal would be to inspire others with the stories. Inspire them to adopt, sponsor a child, pray or donate money. The funds would then go to help people adopt. It seems that money is so often the thing that stands in the way for people. MONEY SHOULD NEVER BE THE REASON CHILDREN DON'T HAVE A LOVING AND FOREVER FAMILY.
That is just crazy to me! Yet, I know $20,000 - $30,000 is daunting to many. We received some loans from some kind hearted individuals while preparing to go to China. We were incredibly grateful for this but it was a big burden when we got home and had to find a way to pay it all back. I kept dreaming of a way to help others with the GIFT of money. No strings attached.

Should a face like this have ANY strings attached?

We are ALL called to care for the orphan. You may not be called to adopt but you are still called to do something. How about purchasing a $10 book and changing the course of many lives. If we can get this to spread like wildfire than we can place more children in families than we can even imagine.

And this is the Christmas Miracle.

Lilly Grace on Christmas day 2007. She had been living in an orphanage just two weeks before.

Now part of a circle of family and friends who adore her.

FOREVER

I am putting the call out for stories. Your story. Stories of adoption, how you were inspired, the dreams, the fears, the finances (notice how I put money right after fear...hmmm), the miracles, the LOVE, the joy...............just your story and how it has changed you. We aren't talking about award winning literature here............whatever pours forth when you sit down to share your story will be perfectly perfect. If you are adopted and have a touching story about that and how blessed your life has been as a result than share that too!!!!

So this family with the urgent need showed up via my new friend Kristi's blog .
This family  needs to raise funds by 12/15. I would call this urgent! I have e-mailed with this lovely Mom for the past 24 hours and she is totally on board to tell the story of their previous adoption from China in an effort to get their son home from Nepal and help others as well.
The stories are pouring forth and the ones I have tomorrow night - December 8 at 6pm - will be in the book.
The idea is growing into doing this each Christmas season....bringing as many Christmas Miracles as God allows. After all.....Christmas is all about the birth of a baby!!!!!

Joy to the World!!!!

So what do you think?
Would you be willing to share your story with others?
Would you be willing to help spread the word?
Would you be willing to buy the book and ask your friends and family to do the same?
Would you be willing to use Facebook, Twitter, E-mail and Blogging to help spread the word?
What are YOU willing to do?

By the end of the week there will be a paypal link here and you will be able to purchase and download the book. In the meantime send your stories to kimberlyannholmes at gmail....I hear this is the way to type email addresses to prevent spam. Sorry for the inconvenience on that one.

How far can this idea spread? How many miracles can happen?
Will you be part of it?
I can't wait to find out!
Look at that sweet face above....how many of those faces can we match with a forever family?

With Abundant Love, Great Expectation and Infinite Trust,
Kimberly and Lilly