Pages

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Ducking Tattoos Fundraiser

Yesterday I shared a new fundraiser that I'm launching for the Rhodes family. If you haven't seen it, start here.

Let's start at the end since if you come back to this post later this will be the part you're looking for.



The Basics

I am pledging to have a permanent tattoo done of a piece of art drawn by Sam and/or Klemi Rhodes once the Rhodes family adoption grant reaches $7,000!

I am leaving the final decision on my body art up to all of You!

Mandy and Marty have Sam and Klemi working hard on drawing some pictures for us. Once they have a few options I will post them for yall to vote on.


Here's How You Can Earn Votes:

1. Share this post on any form of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Etc.)
     Get 1 vote for each method every time you share.

2. Make a tax deductible donation to the Rhodes family FSP by clicking HERE
     Get 1 vote for every $1 you donate
     (You can also mail a check directly to Reece's Rainbow, just put 'Rhodes family' in the          memo line, this lets every $ go to their fund as nothing comes out for Paypal fees! You          can mail your check directly to Reece's Rainbow here: Reece's Rainbow, PO 
     Box 277, Monrovia MD 21770)

3. Participate in any current fundraisers. These will be added and deleted as needed.
     Get 1 vote for every $1 spent

   Right now there is a tshirt fundraiser going on! 


Click here to order yours now!



Cast Your Votes
 You can leave a comment on this blog (comments are moderated and I am happy to leave your comment unpublished if you prefer) to let me know what you did and which design you want to vote for. You can leave a comment each day to let me know what you did that day. You can also message me on facebook, or tag me in a post when you share. Finally, you can email me at kirk_brooke81@yahoo.com if you prefer!



The 'Fine' Print and A Few Q&As

Let's start with a few questions I've received, and the answers. If you have a question feel free to contact me using one of the methods

Q: Are you really letting them do the whole design or are you giving them a design to color or something? (And a related question: Are you accepting designs/idea/artwork)
     A: I am leaving it totally up to the brilliant little minds of Sam and Klemi! I had thought 
          about laying some 'ground rules' so to speak, but, ultimately decided to leave it all
          in their capable little hands!

Q: Do you already have a tattoo artists? (Related: I know a great artist if you want me to introduce you).
     A: I do already have an artist, he did my last two tattoos (the two that were actually 
        designed and not something I picked off the wall in a shop). I messaged with him 
        before hand to make sure this was a feasible idea and I completely trust his work.
        Plus he is actually a great artist, and I trust that he will be able to turn whichever 
        piece of Sam and Klemi's art that is selected into a tattoo and maintain the integrity of
        their original work!

Q: Is this your first tattoo?!
     A: Nope, this will be my fourth. Although it will be my first in about 11 years. I've wanted 
         another for a long time, but never found a design that I loved. I got my last piece right 
         before I found out I was pregnant with Nicholas. I'm excited to be able to do this as a
         way to help Ducky come home and also to wear forever something designed by some
         of my favorite little people!

Q: So will this run until they're fully funded/home/etc.?
     A: No! There is a time limit. The $7,000 goal is based on what the Rhodes family needs
         to pay, in fees, when their Dossier is submitted in country. So this whole thing hinges
         on the money being there when they need to write the check. Most likely this will be 
         around the middle of January! I know that may seem like a big mountain to move in
         less than two month. But, we serve a big God. A God who is faithful, who provides,
         and who we can rely on completely when we walk in obedience! The Rhodes family
         is faithfully saying, "Yes!" to the child and the path that God has called them to. So,
         I know he will provide! (I will update with progress and a definitive date as soon as
         Mandy knows!)

Q: What if I don't like tattoos, can I vote for you not to get one.
     A: I went back and forth with this one for a while. I know that tattoos aren't for everyone            and I totally respect your opinion and your personal choices! Before I published part 1 
         of this, which ended up being short and sweet and humorous, I had written and 
         rewritten several different drafts that were much longer; sharing my heart, sharing
         more of the story of why I wanted to do this particular fundraiser, etc. But, they all ran
         so long I kept nixing them.

         Ultimately, I wanted to make a personal sacrifice, it may sound strange to you if 
         you're not a tattoo person, but, most of us who have them, they're very personal to us.          Each one tells a story. Everyone has personal preferences, like the type of art
         they're drawn to, what they will and won't put on their body, even things like color                  choices, they're all personal. And, it should be that way, I mean we'll have them                    forever!

         Like I mentioned previously, when I first had this idea, I had a lot
         of ideas in mind for 'rules' I'd put in place, like: No cartoon characters, Nothing from 
         Disney, had to be all black, or only one color etc. etc. But the more I thought about it
         the more I realized these were all issues of vanity, that it's not really doing something
         sacrificially if I put rules and regulations on it. So, I'm letting go of all control. 

         The only exceptions are the location (I wanted it to go somewhere I didn't already                  have any thing for it to compete with. And the limit on the size is just due to the                      amount of time it takes to get the tattoo. I wanted something that could be done in one          session, even if's a long one! (For reference, my largest tattoo took about 6 hours                  including short breaks).

         The size also affects the cost and good work doesn't come cheap! I'm not putting any            limits on the number of colors that can go into the piece, so I don't want to end up with
         a really large and colorful piece that would cost a huge amount of $ that could have              gone into the adoption grant instead!

Well, that's all I can think of for the moment. I wrote this while trying to wrangle four kids and a dog that all woke up with an extra burst of energy this morning! So, if I forgot something, let me know, if you have any questions feel free to ask!

Thank you for loving and supporting the Rhodes family! Please cover them in your prayers, and pray for 'Ducky', for his continued safety and protection while his family races to him, and for his heart to be prepared for all the coming changes.

~Brooke~

   


Friday, December 4, 2015

Clever Title Needed

There are lots of awesome aspects about being part of a large adoption community. But, one downside would be this: Seemingly every fundraiser has been done. Seriously, every time I think I have a good idea, I see that five people are already doing it and I'm like..










So much for that....




Necessity is the mother of invention, and with your typical international adoption costing $30,000+ we're a community of creative geniuses. Some have actual artistic talent and have sold every thing from hand drawn cards and coloring books to painted shoes. I'm pretty sure there have been 5,511 different tshirt fundraisers (in 2015). Just when I think I couldn't possibly need another tshirt, someone comes up with an awesome one, like THESE that are on sale now and benefit the Rhodes family adoption!


Speaking of the Rhodes family, that's why I'm finally here on my seriously neglected little blog!

Yes, the Rhodes family is growing again! They're in the process to bring home this seriously adorable little dude.



 Like their three previously adopted children, 'Ducky' is rocking an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. He will be the 6th child in the Rhodes clan, the 4th boy, 4th internationally adopted child, 4th child with Down Syndrome, and most importantly, a cherished member of a loving family!

We've already done lots of fundraisers to help bring Ducky home. We've brainstormed lots of others, some are in the works, some are just half formed ideas waiting on the backburner....










I'd pay to watch grown men race Power Wheels wouldn't you?!


The reality is that the Rhodes family is just weeks away from submitting their dossier to China! Progress is always a good thing, and in the world of international adoption it also means that a large chunk of money is going to come due. 

During our own process there were actually some darker moments where I dreaded hearing that we had made progress because the funds weren't there yet to cover the next step. (Learning to trust in God's provisions and timing was, and still sometimes is, hard for me).

Mandy says that she knows God has a plan. 

I know it too, I've watched as He has provided over and over again, made a way, often when the way seemed impossible. 

We serve a big God who can do all things. 

But, often He does those things through His people. And, I'm honored to be able to come alongside Mandy, Marty, and family to help move the financial mountain that has to move for Ducky to come home.

I had this idea a few weeks months ago, but kept getting bogged down in the details (Update for 12/4 I still don't have a clever title but pressing forward anyway) like what to call it, how to word it, etc.

The truth is I'm still working out the details, but, Ducky is waiting!

So, in a nutshell this is what I'm offering:



A pound of flesh.




(The two natural reactions to someone offering you flesh)

Ok, so I really have no idea how much a 4x6 piece of my calf would weigh, and I'm not exactly going to part ways with it.

I'm offering it up as a canvas!



The artists?


Sam and Klemi Rhodes 


No, I'm not handing them a tattoo gun,



Sorry Sam

But, I am going to turn a piece of artwork that they create into a tattoo and have it inked onto my lower left calf.

You will all get a chance to determine the final outcome!

Details on that coming up later today!

(And, no, none of you get to hold the tattoo gun either, but if anyone is looking for fundraiser ideas you can have that one! ;)  )

PART TWO IS UP! Click HERE  to go to the blog post with all the details of how you can get in on the fun