coming soon...the real picture of the real boy!

We have a tentative travel date!  Please pray for the details to fall into place.  We have been given the "week of Aug. 11" tentatively.  I think this might mean Aug. 9 or 10.  That's pretty soon!  Will let you know when we know.  All tax deductible donations need to be made by then. Thanks!

Fundraising Wrap Up

Dear friends,

Well, after a year of hoping that we could be celebrating the same holiday next year with our new son and nearly a year of signing greeting cards for special events from our family and wanting to include the 6^th  member, we are about to travel to go get Eddie and bring him home! Hopefully we will return before his ninth birthday at the end of September.  I wonder if he has ever had a birthday party.  I know he hasn’t had a Jackson style birthday party!

We are not asking for money because this is a calling we followed and a choice we made, but if you have a heart for orphans and want to be blessed by helping bringing Eddie home, we wanted to let you know about a couple of options. 

If you want to make a tax deductible donation you can either visit

Village to Village International (http://www.villagetovillageintl.com/the-jackson-family-family-95.php)

or contribute to a matching type grant through Brittany’s Hope Foundation. (See info on previous post).  This is a great group that operates on a “pay it forward” type of thing where they will give us $3000 if we raise $1500. 

There are stipulations and time limits to how these funds can be applied, so if you don’t care about the tax deduction, it’s best if you just send the money to us directly or pay through the button on our blog.  If you have a larger donation, you might want to check with us and see which way would be the most beneficial.  Either way, the tax deductible donations must be made before we travel, hopefully in the next 3 weeks.

If you want to have a fun night out, join us for our upcoming Salsa Dance Lesson Fiesta Fundraiser. See attached invite.  http://www.salsa29.com/programs/salsa-with-julio.html We are really excited about it. If I were you, I would come just to see Jeff  salsa dance. 

We are thankful for the support we have already received, the prayers, the donations and bidders for our online auction, the toy sales, the crop, the offers to help watch the dog and house while we are gone, translating.  We are thankful for the encouragement from our friends and family. 

Please pray for us as we work to get the details in place for travel and for adjustments for everyone.  You can stay updated with our blog at www.boysbecomekings.blogspot.com and as Lynn wrote in our Feliz Navidad post, if things are busier than we thought, consider this your Christmas card!  Thanks and blessings to you!

Jeff and Lynn 

Come Salsa Dance with Us!

Auction Item: Chocolate and Artisan Necklace

I love these chances to help enterprising hard working women to get out of their cycles of poverty and move forward. This necklace is handcrafted by a worker in Haiti.  See picture for more of a description.

Auction Item: 4 Cardinal Tickets (Redbird Club)

4 tickets to the July 22^nd Cardinal game – in the Redbird Club, Section 256, Row 7, Seats 1, 2, 3, and 4. Thanks Tom Bayer!

Auction Item: 7 Young Cam Jensen Mysteries

Thanks to our friends Angie, Ayla and Leslie for these fun, gently enjoyed books! 

Auction Item: 10 Amelia Bedelia Books

Thanks to our friends Angie, Ayla and Leslie for these fun gently enjoyed books!

Auction Item: 18 Penguins of Madagascar Books

Looks like good summer reading to me!  Thanks to our friends Angie, Leslie and Ayla! Gently enjoyed.

Auction Item: Long Distance Love Earrings 2 of 2

We were so touched to receive these earrings from our East Coast relatives, along with a note of encouragement and blessing.  Thanks for your prayers and contributions, Rebecca and Danika!

Auction Item: Long Distance Love Earrings 1 of 2

We were so touched to receive these earrings from our East Coast relatives, along with a note of encouragement and blessing.  Thanks for your prayers and contributions, Rebecca and Danika!

Auction Item: Authentic Italian dinner Basket

Talk about investing in the least of these...This basket is being donated by Ann Libri, founder of the Matthew Project in Springfield.  I was blown away when I visited there to make a small donation and saw what a top notch, meaningful outreach she has begun there.  Visit her site and prepare to be amazed at the difference she and her team are making in the lives of our youth.  http://matthew-project.com/ Thanks, Ann!

Artwork by Matthew 1 of 2

Matthew has created these pencil sketches and can color the pictures in whatever medium you request.  Note the ship from 'Frozen'.   Thank you! 

Artwork by Matthew 2 of 2

Canvas painting is 16x20 with Southwestern themes.  What an original!

Auction Item: Bedtime Basket with Barney

Matthew put together this basket with his gently loved doll and books that still make sound.  The pillow is homemade and the blanket is new. 

Auction Item: 2 Water Park Day Passes to Knight's Action Park

Summer's not over yet!  Bid on these two tickets and share a fun day with a friend before September 1, 2014.  Thanks to Knight's Action Park! 

Auction Item: Hand crafted vinyl record bowls with gourmet popcorn

2 bowls filled with bags of Lynn's fresh home made coconut oil, honey, cinnamon popcorn (or kettle corn).  Bowls are made from melted records.  Unique gift or snack bowl.  Keep one and take one as a hostess gift to your next visit! Popcorn will be made fresh to order. 

Auction Item: Made from Scratch Pumpkin Praline Pecan Pie!

Scrumptious pumpkin pie with a pecan praline topping and a flaky tender all-butter,
made-from-scratch crust. Perfect with a dollop of fresh whipped cream!

Can be available around Thanksgiving or at a mutually agreed upon time.

Auction Item: Personalized Growth Chart Stick

Personalized Growth Stick- Keep track of those precious years of growth and memories with a personalized growth stick. Each stick is 6 feet tall and can be customized with your child's name, favorite colors, and interests. The best part is that unlike a wall or a door frame, these sticks are portable and can go anywhere life may take you. 

Auction Item: Can you say P-a-m-p-e-r?

Who wouldn't like flowers delivered once a month FOR A YEAR?? This would be an average of $40/month retail value. Local floral designer will make and deliver a lovely fresh floral arrangement once a month. Springfield address for delivery only.

Auction Item: Hair by Hannah

Thanks, Hannah for the $40 certificate, good towards any service in her salon!  Wow! 

Auction Item: Gold's Gym 3 month membership

Thanks to Gold's Gym there's still time to get in shape before the end of summer! Retail value :$240!

Auction Item: Sister Love Jewelry 3/3

River pebbles wrapped in wire in 2 earrings and a necklace with jute twine.  C clasp.  Thanks, Alyssa!

Auction Item: Sister Love Jewelry 2/3

Blue sea glass with memory wire necklace and matching earrings.

Auction Item: Sister Love Jewelry by Alyssa 1/3

Matching bracelet and earrings of purple iridescent beads. 

Featured Auction Item: Scentsy Buddy

Thanks to Jennifer Crowder for donating a Scentsy buddy, Magnus the Moose, with a blueberry cheesecake scent pak.   www.jenncrowder.scentsy.us

It's a stuffed animal that you put this little sachet pak inside of!   Other animals available.  Each is limited edition and when they sell out, they are gone.

  I love it and will need to get one for Matthew.

Kiku Gift Card (2 of 2)

If you want a whole foods meal prepared right in front of you, in an entertaining way, come to Kiku Restaurant.  Their new location is fabulous and the customer service is outstanding!  $25 retail value

Kiku Gift card (1 of 2)

If you want a whole foods meal prepared right in front of you, in an entertaining way, come to Kiku Restaurant.  Their new location is fabulous and the customer service is outstanding!  $25 retail value

Auction Item: Brenna Jeffers Interiors consultation: Before and After Sample Pic

Before and After!

This project came from the unique and creative vision of our friend, Brenna Jeffers.  You can win a free consultation from her for your design project.  Value:  $75.  She specializes in making your space beautiful, incorporating your style, not hers. 

Featured Auction Item: Headband and Scarf set handmade by Marlana (3 of 3)

Get your Christmas shopping done in July! This cozy infinity scarf and matching headband are the perfect addition to any winter outfit, and they would make a great gift! Both items are handmade by Marlana with soft and comfy, 100% acrylic yarn.  For other colors and styles, check out the other listings.  


Scarf circumference: 54" width: 7 1/2"

Headband: 22" x 2"


Retail Value: $34

Featured Auction Item: Headband and Scarf set handmade by Marlana (2 of 3)

Get your Christmas shopping done in July! This cozy infinity scarf and matching headband are the perfect addition to any winter outfit, and they would make a great gift! Both items are handmade by Marlana with soft and comfy, 100% acrylic yarn.  For other colors and styles, check out the other listings.  

Scarf circumference: 55"  Width: 5"
Headband: 22" x 2"

Retail Value: $29

Featured Auction Item: Headband and Scarf set handmade by Marlana (1 of 3)

Get your Christmas shopping done in July! This cozy infinity scarf and matching headband are the perfect addition to any winter outfit, and they would make a great gift! Both items are handmade by Marlana with soft and comfy, 100% acrylic yarn.  For other colors and styles, check out the other listings.  

Scarf circumference: 80"  Width: 6"
Headband: 24" x 2"

Retail Value: $39

Featured Auction Item: Photo Shoot-Digital Memories by Sandy

Digital Memories by Sandy is donating a free photo session for a family or a child photo session. The package will include sitting fee and a copy of the photo disc. Each CD will include editing techniques and props are used in pictures for fun effects. You can visit her page on Facebook to see some of her work. Retail Value: $100

I have known Sandy for about 15 years and she is awesome!  She has a Daycare in her home, so she is great with kids and has won different awards and held leadership positions in Daycare Associations.  She is an overachiever type who expects a lot of herself, but is gentle on the rest of us!  I highly recommend entrusting her with your memories.

Featured Auction Contributor-- Grandma Pearl (Aubelita) with a Shirley Temple Doll

Eddie's new Grandma, who happens to share his birthday, donated this Shirley Temple Doll.

It is a 1950s 12" Ideal Toy Shirley Temple with original purse, 3 outfits, shoes, socks, and underwear.  Retail value up to $200.

She has a slight ring mark around her tummy from the elastic on the underwear (but, hey, the underwear is a big bonus!).  The pajama outfit must have been the outfit of choice because it is the most loved.