Easter challenge

last year, some "adoption circle" friends had this post on their blog. i hope you will go and read it, but if you don't have time, here is the short version.

it is an Easter challenge. a challenge to forget the froo-froo "traditional" Easter attire (can someone tell me why it is the tradition anyway, sincerely!) and use the money that you would have used to feed(or bring home) an orphan. then you sport that tshirt on Easter Sunday (and any other day you wish!). there are lots of organizations that advocate for orphans (here, here, and here just to name a few). there are also lots of families who use tshirts as a fundraiser to bring their baby home (here, here, and here to name a few).

and if you don't like any of those, we are starting our "sweat shop" back up! we will be continuing our fundraising efforts by making Africa applique tshirts. You will receive a tshirt in your size of choice with an Africa appliqued onto the front from fabric that is authentically African! Shirts are $20 and will be delivered (or shipped for a few extra bucks) before Easter if you want to participate in the Easter challenge.

above is a photo example. you can basically get any color shirt you want (as long as I can find it!) but I may not have a fabric that coordinates well with it. I hope I can make a shirt for you!!!


**email me at thejochims (at) gmail (dot) com if you are interested or find me on facebook!

it's been quiet

things have been quiet around here lately. i haven't had much to say. things on the adoption front have been slow. winter hasn't been very wintery. we have been playing lots of little people, lots of potato heads, reading lots of books and watching signing time. it has been a sweet season of stillness.

but i hope to have more to say soon. :)

Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming, and I am especially excited this year! I always look forward to this season of remembering the birth of our Savior, but this year I am extra excited to share it with our little sponge, Bella Joy. I'm hopeful that she will soak up lots from the stories and scriptures we read over the next month.

You all know that one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is to send cards to our friends and family! It is our desire as a family to be intention even in choosing our Christmas card! So as I search this website high and low, all of the beautiful colors and sweet messages of the season make me smile :) Here are some of my favorites....

You can find this simple card here. I love the simplicity of this card. It is traditional with red and green and it says "Merry Christmas" which is a must for any card that we send.

This sweet card can be found here. I love the color and the chevron of this card. And (although it doesn't say "Merry Christmas"--I would likely add that in our love-the-jochims part) it says LOVE and JOY which are two words that greatly describe two wonderful gifts that our Savior has given us--unconditional LOVE and JOY that is our strength.

Here is another super sweet and simple one that can be found here. Again, I love the simplicity and the words. (and that is one cute kid!)

And lastly, another red and green square card (found here). I like this one a lot because there is more space for our family to personalize it (which will give us a chance to be even more intentional).

Oh, its so hard to choose! Stay tuned to a mailbox (or blog) near you to find out what the Jochim's decide!

Playful Picasso Fundraiser

Our last big fundraiser of the year is coming up! Please make plans to join us for a painting party! The awesome ladies of Playful Picasso (www.playfulpicasso.com) have graciously offered to do a fundraiser to help bring our baby home! The cost is $35 and the profits will go directly into our adoption fund.

If you aren't familiar with Playful Picasso (check out the website!) you will go home with a 16x20 canvas that you paint yourself! Trust me, Amy and Rachel walk you through making it look awesome, so if you don't think of yourself as an artist, its OK!!!!!

Due to the nature of this fundraiser, space is limited to 35 people. After 35 people have signed up, we will create a waiting list and notify you if anyone cancels. We would appreciate it if you could send payment before the night of the 7th to secure your spot. Please let me know if you have questions and also, let me know if you want to come and I will put your name on the list!!!

winner winner-chicken dinner!

our movie night was a HUGE success! thanks for everyone who came out to hang with us and to all of the ones who got tickets! here are the winners!

-cakes pops from the cake pop shoppe: Paula

-art piece by ashmill: Sarah Tarrence

-pamper yourself basket: Rebecca Redd

-cake pops from the cake pop place: Tammy Turpin

-Goalrilla gift set: Jennifer Hart

-BGB Photo Session: Jennifer Hart

-External Hard drive: Marianna Lucas

-31 skirt purse/wallet: Melinda Myatt

-XM Radio: Tammy Turpin

-Baking Basket: Ashmill

-Pillowcase Dress: Elsie Hughes

-Very Hungry Caterpillar: My momma

-Digital Photo Frame: Don Brown

-Lawn Chairs: Jennifer Hart

-doll bed/quilt: Joe Batista

-key chain: Ashley Barnes

-Crayon Roll: Melinda Myatt

-Africa Shirt: Mary Beth Carlisle

-Soda Cozy: Jenny Borders

-Soda Cozy: Amanda Turner

-Dry Erase Frame: Bethany Lewis

-Headband: Mary Beth Carlisle

-Kindle: Joyce

Thanks for playing our giveaway game....I wish we would have had prizes for everyone!!!

18 months

today bella joy is 18 months old. 1 1/2 years. oh. my. i really don't feel like it could be possible that my sweet big girl has been outside of my belly for a year and a half. but i also feel like she has been a part of our family forever. isn't it strange how time works.

anyway...at 18 months this little lady is a sponge! its like she learns new things by the minute. she loves to sing, sign, talk, and play. she loves people. she is totally living up to her name in that she is an absolute JOY! i mean, don't get me wrong, we have our moments. disobedience. whining. tantrums. but MOST of the time she is an absolute JOY ;)

bella joy, thank you for being so fun. and for being such a hoot! you make momma and daddy laugh all the time and we are so glad. please love us like you do forever. and we will do the same. happy half birthday sweet girl.

the next big thing: take 2

i told you lots of fun things were coming up! also in October, our dear friend (and my get-in-shape accountability partner!) Brie Golliher is doing mini-photo-sessions for us! we are so excited and thankful for the generosity of our friends! anyway...back to the task at hand!

Brie will be doing mini-sessions on October 15 & 16 at Romanza Johnson Park. the session will be 30 minutes long. you will get 10 images (rights to print as you wish). the cost is $75 and 60% of that will go DIRECTLY into our adoption fund!

if you are interested you can email or facebook Brie or myself. you can also check out her work here.