Donations, Donations, Donations!

Wow! Have we ever been blessed by our friends, family, and community. We asked several people to help us gather donations to take to Layla House (the orphanage where our boys are) and boy, did they pull through! Imagine their surprise when we arrive with:

1 dental floss
1 bottle of baby lotion
1 bottle of baby Tylenol
1 trash bag full of clothes
1 bucket of side walk chalk
2 boxes of feminine products
2 huge bags of beaded necklaces
2 bottles of chewable vitamins
4 sets of jacks
4 Frisbee
6 bottles of hand sanitizer
6 Nerf balls
6 jump ropes
18 heart maze puzzles
20 plastic baby spoons
22 claw clips for girls hair
24 headbands
24 pairs of sunglasses
28 barrettes
29 sticks of deodorant
40 tubes of toothpaste
60 face care soap pads
63 backpacks
75 bottles of body wash and shampoo
80 bars of soap
144 decks of cards
144 etch a sketch pads
144 toy airplanes
167 toothbrushes
174 combs and picks
192 packs of Fun Dip
400 tootsie roll pops
870 hair rubber bands

Now, how do we get it all there?! We are going to buy rubber made totes to ship it all in. If we raise enough money from the cookbook sales we will be able to ship over the weight limit (of 50 lbs./ bag), but if not, we will ship it to our adoption agency in Washington State and they will send it with other traveling families who have space. Of course, we'd love to send it with any local families who want to go to Ethiopia to adopt or volunteer!!! hint, hint...

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who helped us gather so many awesome things to take for those children who we must leave behind in Ethiopia. It breaks our hearts that there are so many orphans at the orphanage, but with caring people like you, we are able to make their lives a little bit easier and better. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.