The Winners Are...

Oh the drawing was big fun around here. My kids loved it!

Without further adieu a copy of One Thousand And One Tears will be sent to:

AmyMurphy@jonamymurphy.blogspot.com

TheWaiteFamily@journeytolilymarie.blogspot.com

Heather@fullness-of-grace.blogspot.com

Congrats and thanks for entering the drawing and for all the encouraging words. I really appreciate them!

I've talked to so many people in the last week who have kids that struggle with not knowing anything about their birthmom.

They have no pictures.

No memories.

Nothing.

The artist of One Thousand and One Tears, Cassandra Swierenga, painted a beautiful interpretation of a Chinese mother. If you would like a signed giclee of her artwork, it's available here. Each is 9" x 10" and $20.

Choose print:

mother hugging baby mother kissing baby two mothers and child child's eyes

Win a Copy of One Thousand and One Tears!

Yes, that's right. I'm giving away THREE copies of One Thousand and One Tears.

It's pretty easy to enter to win.

Leave a comment on my blog. That will get you one entry.

Grab the One Thousand and One Tear's button up above or over at nihaoyall.com and put it on your blog or facebook page. That will get you another entry. Make sure you let me know if you did this, so I can give you an extra entry.

I'll draw the winners on Friday!

Good Luck!

Security In Red

The wait to bring our home was possibly one of the most painful four months of my life. There were days I just cried for a child, my child, that was waiting for me. And the thing that stood in the way of me holding my baby girl was the paperwork. We received our referral in January and I did not get to hold my girl until August.

I remember taking the boys to see Up in May and there was an empty seat next to us. I cried through the whole movie. I cried for a little girl I'd never met but loved so much I couldn't explain it. I cried that she was not with us, not sitting next to her brothers eating popcorn and sipping lemonade. Then there were the days I'd cry when I was making lunches for two instead of three. We had an empty seat at the dinner table and an empty room full of little girl clothes and toys.

My heart actually hurt as I counted the days she waited in the orphanage for me. I prayed alot and honestly that's the only way I made it through. I did find peace knowing that my girl's Heavenly Father had her in his arms.

Then I saw a piece of artwork my friend Cassie Swierenga painted. It's called "Security in Red." My husband bought it for me on the spot. And my girl hung in my living room for months. During that time, I also wrote the book 1001 Tears, which is coming out in late 2012. Cassie is busy illustrating it. But after months of persuading, OK nagging, Cassie has finally agreed to sell prints of "Security in Red."

While the painting is beautiful, so is Cassie. She is the mom to four grown children, a grandma to one sweet baby girl, and a professional artist with some serious talent. I first met Cassie at a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and was just struck by her creativity and devotion to her family. I am so excited to be working with her on our book.

If you are interested in purchasing a print of "Security in Red" please email me at muse25@juno.com. The options to order are:
print size: 12X24 16X32 24X48
On paper $51.84 $92.16 $206.16
shipping up to $20 up to $30 up to $50

On canvas $80.64 $143.36 $322.56
around $15 around $15 around $15

It is beautiful and made the wait just a little easier.