Created for Care

I am finally getting around to blogging about my January trip to the Created for Care conference in Buford, GA.  I got to go with 4 great friends who all have beautiful hearts for fostering and adoption.  2 have sweet foster babies in their care right now, 1 is awaiting her first placement, 1 is matched with an adorable little girl from China, and then me, adopting from Uganda.

This conference really surpassed my expectations.  I had heard only good things about it, but I wasn't really sure what to expect.  Just imagine several hundred women passionate about fostering and adoption gathering together at a picturesque lake lodge to learn about adoption and worship the Lord.  It was fabulous.  It would take so long to go into all that I learned (I still haven't processed it all), but I have pages of notes.  I came away with tons of practical advice, and although I had done a lot of adoption-related research, there was so much I didn't know.

I also got to meet several "blog friends" in real life which was so much fun.  Candi Pearson Shelton led worship, and all of the speakers were fabulous.  This will definitely be a yearly trip for me.  They also had tons of booths from some amazing organizations.  Here's a little shot of some goodies I came home with.

I plan on framing the "I love you from here to Uganda" print from The Sparrow Fund for our little guy's room.  You can't tell, but the small lettering are all places in Uganda.  I can't wait for him to wear his little grey Ordinary Hero shirt too.  I left with some handmade earrings and paper beads (both from Uganda) and a really awesome paper bead coin purse that isn't pictured.  The books, well I can't read them without tearing up, they are so so sweet.