UPDATE on Adoption Fundraiser

Praise God! We got GOOD NEWS yesterday when we went to sign papers for the petition of adoption for Baby Bear! We have NO adoption fee to pay! Apparently, when you pay for your first adoption through the county (Little Bear was adopted through the county in March of 2009.), then you don't have to pay again...ever! At least, until the state runs out of money.

Our second bit of good news is that there is an adoption tax credit, which we knew. But what we didn't know, is that it seems that if we don't file WITH our taxes, we may be able to get the lump sum of the credit, which is a GOOD amount! This may help us get the van which we pretty desperately need.

God is SO good to us! His provision and kindness for our family is overwhelming!

Mama Bear

Raising Money For Adoption

Baby Bear's adoption is right around the corner! We have a foster daughter, who has been with us since she was two months old. She is now 16 months old. Her adoption finalization ceremony is just about a month away. We are needing to raise $500 for the legal fees for her adoption.

I am having an "Adoption Sale" in my Etsy shop, Bear River Photo Greetings, where you can find invitations and announcements for pretty much any occasion in your life. It's so easy. Just purchase, send me your photo and/or text, and I'll send you a digital file that you can upload to your favorite photo lab, to get printed. I'm offering 10% off of any item in my shop, until we have raised the money. Please use the code, ADOPTION10 when you place your order. I would love it if you would share this on Facebook and Twitter, and with all of your friends. Please feel free to share it on your own blog as well.

Just to let you know, 80% of the sales will go towards our legal fees, and the other 20% will still go to Hands at Work in Africa. That will not fall by the wayside, as we try to raise money for the adoption.

I am also having this same sale in my other Etsy shop: Blackberry Cottage Home Decor, where I sell wall art, or digital prints that you can have printed at your local photo lab, and also pillow covers.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

The Ochoa Family

Santa Came to Our House!

Have a very blessed and wonderful Christmas!

God is good!

Mama Bear

Baby Bears

I sure do LOVE these baby bears, whom God has given to us through adoption.
Too bad Bubba Bear doesn't like to pose for me. :-)

Mama Bear

Blackberry Cottage Home Decor

I have a "new" shop on Etsy. Actually, I started it earlier this year, and then things got busy, and I didn't get very far with it. But now, I have begun to add digital prints, that you can print out at your favorite photo lab. Most of the prints are done as 8x10s, but I am glad to do a different size if you prefer. Right now, all of my prints have Scripture verses on them. I can personalize them, or put a different Scripture verse. Be sure to check out the super cute designs for kids' rooms!

Here's the shop:

Blackberry Cottage Home Decor



I'd love to hear what you think of the new shop!

Have a blessed day in Christ!

Mama Bear

Got Leftover Rice?

Do you have leftover rice in your fridge, from last night's dinner?
Then, make rice pudding!

Well, this is what I know of rice pudding. This is what my mom would make for us when she had leftover white rice. It's delicious hot OR cold.

Here's what you do. When you go to put your rice away from dinner, add some milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and raisins. (Use your good judgment on quantities...it all depends on how much rice you have.) Give it a good stir to mix everything in, and then stick it in the refrigerator. The next morning, you will have a lovely breakfast waiting for you.

Mama Bear

Delicious Hot Tea -- Just in Time for Cozy Weather

On my Bear River Photo Greetings blog (and on this one, I just realized), I posted about getting to go to my very first "tea party". Along with that post, I showcased some of the delicious looking teas that can be found on Etsy.com. One of the shop owners, of Ann-Margaret's Tea Shoppe, sent me a whole slew of flavored, loose-leaf teas to try, and I am beginning to work my way through them, now that we FINALLY have some cold weather here in California.

I started with the Green Apple MarTeani, which is a green tea, and is SUPER YUMMY! Since I try to stay away from sugar in my drinks, I used Splenda (would the queen shudder if she knew?). This tea really tastes Green Apple-y! This would be awesome as an iced tea, as would my next choice: Angel Falls Mist Herbal Tea. I'm thinking this tea has a bit of a peach and berry flavor to it, and is absolutely delightful as a hot tea! I'm not much on bitter, dark tasting drinks (like coffee), so I really enjoyed both of these light, but very flavorful teas. By the way, I have never used a tea ball before, but I think it's pretty neat! I feel a little more sophisticated and grown up now.

Be sure to check out Ann-Margaret's Etsy shop, and if she doesn't have the flavors I mentioned, send her a convo to see if she might have any available. You will NOT be sorry!

Have a blessed day in Christ!

Mama Bear