Eph's Reynosa Fundraiser Page

Thank you for considering a donation to Ephraim's trip this winter. We also need prayer partners! Please comment on this page or Facebook if you can pray for safety, peace, protection and for the people of Reynosa.

Please use the links below to donate online.
If you want to donate in-person, please contact Stephanie.

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*message to donate a different amount


A little bit about the trip. Our family has participated in the Homes for the Homeless trip through Strategic Alliance for 10 years. Jerret has attended nearly every year and Stephanie has participated three times. From the first trip, they both knew the people of Reynosa would be in their hearts forever. E has grown up watching his parents raise money, travel and love on the people of Reynosa, Mexico. Now, he has an opportunity to experience how the sweet people of the colonia shape his heart and teach him lessons only learned through service.

E will make a photo video after returning from the trip and will share a quick update in mid-January. Thank you for considering partnering with us on this journey!

~The Batson Family

A journey in 2017

THIS was the year...THE year that I KNEW we would bring home our baby girl. The year is over, and she is not with us yet...but GOD led us along the way.

Let me start at the beginning...

Our paperwork entered Colombia in January 2017. (YES, the MOUNTAINS of paperwork!) My strategy to bring this sweetie home was to BUST-IT. I mean, if I got a set of papers to complete, I attempted to complete it within 48 hours. With VERY few exceptions, ALL the papers, tests, studies, research, books, questions, applications, photos, and various what-nots were completed on our end in JUST. TWO. DAYS. 

SOOOOOO....2017 was a CRAZY year of me prioritizing adoption stuff and interrupting my regular routines. In hindsight, this didn't HAVE to happen, but I FELT like it would speed up our process. Through this year of waiting.....hurrying around.....and waiting more, God has give me SO. MUCH. GRACE (along with my kids and husband!)

Many days in 2017, I was annoyed, angry and impatient with my kids, husband, students and co-workers. Besides the regular stress of life, I put on myself this 2 day limit thing. Many days, I snapped or yelled because I was frustrated with an obstacle in our adoption's way.

If you saw me in 2017 in person, you PROBABLY heard about a hiccup, delay or snag in the process. Please forgive me if I was calloused. Our journey this year was heartbreaking at times.

Well, some people have reflected on the year TODAY or this weekend, but I've been reflecting SINCE SEPTEMBER 26. Yes, that was the day we got a call about our Colombian daughter (name to be shared when we can!).  In the early days of our match and in October, I reflected on our life as a family of four and dreamed of her joining us. I reflected on the possible medical and emotional obstacles we might have to overcome as she joins our family. I dreamed of the homecoming and enjoyed the task of travel details, packing lists, and planning for Christmas super early.

Our days crawled as additional details and paperwork stalled in the process. We waited, and waited and waited. Shoot, we are STILL waiting! The great news is that THROUGH the waiting God gave us glimpses of hope, joy and peace.

In November, I was DONE Christmas shopping for teachers, family and friends. I relaxed into Thanksgiving, knowing that we hoped to travel "soon." We stayed at home and had a small Thanksgiving with the boys. It was amazing. We slept in (until 8am! woop) and watched the parade, bought a turkey from our fav meat place, and made a couple sides. 

In December, I was SO ready that we said "NO" to nearly everything. Can we travel ____? No. Are we available to do ___? No.  Can we attend ____? No, we really don't know our schedule, and we hope to be out of the country.

Our adoption journey has been isolating and lonely at times, and so I tensed up at saying "No" to everything. It wasn't that I didn't want to plan things three weeks in advance, but I REALLY didn't know where in the world we would be located. God really blessed us, though.

Our December was OH. SO. PEACEFUL. Of course, you might have read how I cried when I wrapped all these excellent (and a few extra) gifts for the boys. BEING here for Christmas was great. The boys loved shopping for each other, wrapping gifts, making cookies for neighbors and, of course, UNWRAPPING presents on Christmas Day. I LEANED in to knowing that God HAS this. My two day hustle rule was thrown out the window, and I saw the adoption through my kids' eyes. It was beautiful. 

God constantly showed us that we were on the right path, that HE is leading as we discern His will in our lives and he BLESSED us...immensely. We leaned MORE on God, we grew closer as a family who is led by God, and we build others up in their waiting.  I love this part of the "Oceans" song by Hillsong.
     Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
     Let me walk upon the waters
     Wherever You would call me
     Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
     And my faith will be made stronger
    In the presence of my Savior

We are walking upon the waters and wandering with God by our side. We are waiting and patiently listening for whispers of His will in our life journey. Many times throughout 2017, I had a false idea of when the adoption would be "over." I really thought my worries, fretting and hiccups would be done when: our paperwork was reviewed and approved, when we received HER sweet name, or when we received our immigration approval. 

In reality, our journey is EVER ongoing! When she arrives, we have love and bonding, medical appointments, and--you know it--MORE paperwork. We have language obstacles, learning opportunities and medical issues to explore. Our adoption of our sweet Colombian girl has and will ALWAYS impact our life and journey as parents and I am SO. VERY. THANKFUL!

Oh goodness, thank you for reading, praying, journeying, caring, loving and listening to our family as we walk in God's will to adopt this babe. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wrapping and Weeping

I wrapped presents for over two hours today...and while wrapping, I wept. 

I cried for the unknown, for the possibility of not being able to see the JOY when the boys open the gifts they have been waiting for quite a while, and for the possibility of NOT having our daughter home for Christmas. I also cried for the great blessings God has poured on us, shared with us and given us even though we don't even deserve it! We are truly blessed!

God has been whispering messages of love and encouragement in our hardest struggle with our adoption yet. We KNOW who our girl is....but we can't see, talk or enjoy her love.... yet.  I heard in a few different ways this week....that GOD's WAY is the BEST way, even when we think otherwise.

Putting on the Star, A coveted role.

My 8 year old, E, wanted a special surprise this week. What he DIDN'T know is that I had an even BIGGER one planned. So when I told him "No." it took a lot of restraint for me to NOT share the secret, fun and BIGGER surprise.

These kids sure know how to teach a mama. Here is E ice skating for the first time! He fell SO many times, and just got back up and went again!

I heard God in my head...He said, SEE....I KNOW the best timing for your baby girl. No matter how hard you try to organize, overnight files, plan ahead and push the timing for her arrival.....I'VE GOT SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER.

I also had a hard week with immigration and a piece of our file was missing. I really pride myself on double, triple and quadruple checking, but something had to have happened to our missing document. Either way, I cried again.  I really cried because I have been reminded SO many times that this is GOD'S TIMING....and yet I try to do it within my ability. I keep turning to HIM and he keeps forgiving me for thinking I can actually control it.

See the PORTION of our adoption paperwork....KINDA organized at the moment!

Lots of time to reflect and indulge in just the sweet sweet time I have as a mom of only boys....until sweet baby girl comes home. This part of the journey is NOT easy, but I am joyful that our daughter will be with us soon.

Next steps, awaiting immigration approval....then TRAVEL!~

Please keep us in your prayers. For ALL. THE.THINGS!

In the waiting....

Hello happy followers! A brief update and then some fun for this Lent season!

• Our paperwork is being translated in Colombia! Woot! 
• We await ONE final piece, our immigration approval to add to the translated stack before we await the committee to review our Dossier. THIS IS GREAT NEWS! 

This also means, we wait.....and wait.....and wait. We wait for God's timing in many, many aspects of this adoption process. While praying this week, I was reminded that God calls us to serve in the waiting. We shouldn't JUST be waiting....because the waiting is apart of this process.

photo from @myhearthiswords

Isiah 30:18 says...Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him! (NIV).

I've decided to take the challenge of 40 bags in 40 days! An amazing decluttering idea during Lent season. It just so happens that while Jesus waited to return to the Father, we wait for our daughter. I KNOW my sweet husband will be really thrilled to hear that I am taking on a declutter challenge. Personally, I LOVE me some amazing, stacked, colorful and organized clutter! However, its pretty hard to function as a family with tons of piles (its important stuff though!) and things our family doesn't use. SO....I am starting a declutter challenge.  I would love to have you join in!

PLUS, if you clear out some sections in your home and sell on a swap or at a local event, you can DONATE towards our adoption expenses online here!

I hope to post a weekly update on the number of bags and the $$ we have made towards adoption through selling our nice items on a local swap site on THIS blog. Plus, I will share photos on Facebook of the bags and the whole family helping out!  I would love to have you join in too!

We are APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!

We are APPROVED! Our home study was just approved by our agency, All God's Children and our local certified provider, Lutheran Children and Family Services. We certainly have been TALKING about this for a while, but wasn't sure if it would happen in 2016! I've been busting it to try to get this approval (and sending TONS of follow up emails and phone calls!)

What does this mean you might ask???

This means that we can.....

• Send our notarized home study and additional dossier documents for Missouri to APOSTILLE (read about that process here!) In short, it is the NOTARY's BOSS, certifying/checking on the legitimacy of the notary. (Just apart of the process :) 
• After the apostille, we can send off our Dossier to All God's Children for translation! (They send it to Colombia experts!) We have been WORKING working working on the Home Study AND Dossier at the same time. Translation takes a bit.....4-6 weeks, I believe.
• With an approved home study, we can also apply for our Immigration. This takes an average of 2 months.
• After translation is complete, immigration is approved/signed and all these are sent to our agency--we are OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL in the eyes of the Colombian Government! I'm anxiously awaiting THAT part too! (Don't worry, you will hear about it!)
• AND, all at the same time, an official home study approval ALSO means we can apply for grants, loans and fundraising opportunities through adoption non-profits.

How can you help!? PRAY for favor and speed in the paperwork, for our female child for health and protection. For endurance, as this is ONE small step in an international adoption! We have a LOT more to go! For our hearts to wait. God has a plan, but we are SO excited. To be patient in HIS time. For provisions, planning and coordinating in this process.

You can also DONATE to our online GoFundMe page. We have big goals and have been saving, but you can help us out too! AND, support us on our next ONLINE opportunity (more details around Jan 1, 2017!) LOVE on us! Babysit for free, send us notes of encouragement, or take us out to coffee. This adoption is like another full time job, we need rest and filling up too!

We pray you had a blessed Christmas and for a safe and Happy New Year!

~Stephanie 

Winner Winner......

Thanks for all the love and support! We drew TWO awesome prizes (need to see the Facebook live event!? Check it out here!)

The winner drawn for the Netflix for a year is Holly B. from St. Louis City (ticket #067)!  Congrats Holly and family!

OR

The GRAND prize drawn was a sweet gal who bought just ONE ticket!!! She found me at church and said, I've got enough for one...here ya go! 

Congrats Jess and Brett D. (ticket #275) in St. Louis! 

We really, really, really thank you all for supporting us, praying for us and asking about our adoption. We are JUST beginning, but know that GOD has a big plan for our family and an orphan girl in Colombia. 

Raffle Drawing & Adoption UPDATE

Friends, Family, Co-workers, and Community!

Thanks for supporting our adoption raffle. We will draw LIVE around 7pm central on Facebook. Make sure to friend Steph or Jerret to see it (we will post the recording too!).  Winners will also be posted on our blog here!

We have JUST a handful to tickets left, and we are SO thankful for your support! We hope the winners can have their prize in time for Christmas!

QUICK Adoption update: Our home study is in draft form and being edited! Yahoo! We are so excited. Our Dossier (the official paperwork for Colombia) is in many pieces, but is coming together well. After the home-study is approved, we get some immigration pieces done and then the Dossier will be sent for translation and to a committee for approval. The translation and approval is estimated at a 2-3 month waiting period.

Our timeline and expectations are always changing. We know God has BIG plans for our family, this little girl and this process. Some days it feels like we are almost there, other days we hear of the Colombian government updating their procedures that could lengthen our process. We know that God provides and are continuing to pray for the little girl who will come to her forever home with us!

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we continue along this amazing journey!

Shrimp Boil Fundraiser RECAP

Just an update, we had a BLAST at the Shrimp Boil fundraiser. We are SO thankful for ALL who came to eat, chat and support us in our adoption.
We appreciate you!

We made $970 at the event! What a blessing!
We are another step closer to our fundraising goal!

I was so busy, I forgot to take (a lot) of photos...Here are a couple I managed to grab!

It's NOT too late to support our adoption! Check out our GoFundMe page!

We had some photos and details about our adoption! Thanks to ASHLEY for
setting it up and making it look cute :) 

A LOT of details went into this event, and we had to keep humor on our side!
We had a blast pulling it all together with my dad, Lummy. 

IN ACTION! These two (and Billy!) cooked their hearts out!

Double Trouble IN and OUT of the kitchen!

A sweet lady helped us keep the customers happy! 

SIBLING love :) We worked together and didn't fight. Haha. LOVE YOU bro!

Virtual Lemonade Stand Fundraiser

Our cuties are on the corner selling lemonade.

 If you cant make it by, consider donating online here.

2016 Updates and NEWS

Yup! It's 2016 and this blog has sat vacant for a while. We DO have an awesome family and we are SUPER crazy busy.

Here is a photo of us doing an impromptu family day within the margin of our busy lives.

Batson Family Photo

E is 7 years old, Grey is nearly 4 years old....and as their parents, we are.....tired :) 

We have 2 awesome and active boys, and we have a FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENT!

We are ADOPTING a little girl!

We have been prayerful and trying to find a program that would work for our family, we decided an international adoption with All God's Children agency and the country of Colombia is our path. 

We will TOTALLY need YOUR help, love, support, kindness and donations to walk

this amazing journey. We have NO immediate time lines, but we COULD have a sweet 

girl (under the age of Grey. 0-4 years old) between 12 and 36 months from TODAY!

Stay tuned on our blog for MORE info and this space will become details of our journey.

If you have tons of extra cash and want to support us monetarily, here is a link! We started a

Go Fund Me account to assist in the over $35,000 it will take to bring a sweet girl HOME forever.

School Supply Donation Link

Thanks for supporting the kids of Reynosa, Mexico!  As a mom, I know how important it is for kids to get an education.  Your support will pay for school supplies and discounted shipping of the supplies to our friends and partners at Strategic Alliance. 

The supplies will support kids in their Escuela Viva program. 
To learn more check them out online!

Donations for Trip

Thank you for considering a donation to Jerret's trip.  We appreciate your monetary support and thoughts while he spreads God's love.  Any size donation will help us with this endeavor.

Please note, you do NOT need paypal to checkout through this site.  Paypal is the third party that processes the credit cards.

 To checkout with out a paypal account look in the bottom left of the screen for "Don't have a Paypal account? Use your credit card or bank account"and click CONTINUE.

Parenting Insight

I had this super awesome blog composed in my head to share....and I lost it.  Between the cold, coughing, hacking, fighting with a sick 3 year old and catering to a sick hubby....it flew out of my head.
SO, I am going to offer some parenting insight on....God's Grace.

In parenting a 2 year old last year, I was SURE it could not get any worse.  BOY, was I wrong.  This three year old's attitude, questions, and sweet innocent face are TOTALLY messing with me.  He does EXACTLY the opposite of what I ask him to do....JUST after I ask.

God gave me some morning quiet time last week, and I realized that I do the SAME thing.  God says, learn my Word--I complain I don't have time.  God's Word says--Love your neighbor, and I gossip or judge them.  God's Word says honor your parents (and I believe that applies to in-laws, too!) and I snap at them.  God says to honor your husband--and I ignore or complain.  My list goes ON and ON!

But there is freedom from all of my issues and my kiddo's.  Its Grace and Love.  I love him SO much that I forgive all his silly attitude issues and constant fighting with me.  God does it for US, too--and I am SO incredibly grateful for His grace and love.

When I am ready to loose it with my little guy, I remember that God gave me grace so I should attempt to correct and love my guy.

And we're BACK!

I'm back from a long vacation of blogging. I had a sister blog going and lost track for a while. Starting a new job, getting pregnant and raising a just turned 3 year old is AWESOME.  I want to continue to offer news, updates and advice for all those mommas out there!

What's Up with us!?  Here we go

1. We are pregnant with our SECOND boy.  And NO, we don't have any names yet.  We won't have them until delivery :)  We are due late October
2. Eph is 3 and SO sweet, adorable and fun!  Of course he is challenging, obstinate and moody.  Welcome to living with a preschooler! 
3. We are EXPLORING minimalism while still finding deals with coupons.  Doesn't sound like a contradiction, but to a stock piling momma--IT IS!  Join us on the journey.
4. Both mom and dad have new jobs. New jobs=new demands.  Be patient with us.
5. We have grown SO much closer to the Lord.  Seriously.  It will show through our posts!
6. I still want to share great deals with you--so lets get to it!

TARGET (which I only go to once per month Unless there is a sale) has their large bags of diapers on 15% off or more clearance. Pair that up with a Target Coupon $1/1 (from 4/29 PG, expires 6/9) and the $1.50/1 Baby Dry or $1.50/1 Swaddlers from coupons.com and you get a STOCK UP opportunity!  I got size 2 &3 diapers for about $0.16/diaper!

If you don't believe me, checkout one of my favorite sites, Baby Cheap Skate.  They have a cool match up weekly and a few awesome diaper growth and stock up sheet at the bottom. LOVE that site!

If you are wondering, YES I considered the cloth diaper deal. And YES I even bought some cloth diapers. I "calculated" out how much time and energy (from my home) it would cost for these cute cloth diapers and realized I wasn't going to do it. It was a hard decision, but I think I will spend my time invested in other baby stuff.

Photos of E's 3rd bday are posted on facebook and other social sites. Check em out : )

Christmas Card Sample

Fun Holiday Wishes Christmas

Shop Shutterfly for unique,Christmas card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

Awesome awesome $10,000 giveaway here!
SO many lovely items. Enter asap! Ends tonight!

Thank you for visiting our blog.  We hope you have a blessed day!  To donate to our Mexico Mission trip fund, please see the link below.

More information is in a section of our request letter...

We are excited and encouraged to once again be writing you. It has been laid on my heart to return to Reynosa, Mexico again this year.  Through our church in St. Louis, Rooftop, I will be participating in the Homes for the Homeless projectwith Strategic Alliance again.

This year, the costs are right above $1,000 to send a servant to Reynosa.  This will cover travel, lodging, the building materials, and basic necessities such as blankets, towels, clothes, and other items the people in this area are unable to afford.

Last year, when we both attended we were incredibly blessed and filled with joy. We were amazed that the people of the colonia were happy and content with so little.  We immediately knew that our lives would never be the same.  With Stephanie's recent career change she is unable to go this year.

While in Reynosa, our group of 20+ people and around 6 other churches from around the nation, we will build houses for Mexican families who are in desperate need of adequate shelter. Strategic Alliance has been involved in building homes in this area since 1993.  This week is one of the largest programs through Strategic Alliance, as they also offer medical services, haircuts, worship times, children's ministries and a resource center with clothing, shoes and necessities.  We will also continue to build relationships with the people of the colonia and visit the families we built homes for last year.

We are asking for your assistance in anyway that you can provide it, not just financially.  We want to be in your prayers, thoughts, and conversations. We are hoping to continue to get more out of our encounters by sharing Christ with the people in the Reynosa colonia.

We need your encouragement and prayers. Please email or mail us a phrase or Bible verse that has inspired you as these will be reflected on while on the trip.

Hanging in Tremont!

The Birthday boy had a trip to see grandma, grandpa, uncle bill and cousin Noah in Tremont : )

 Uncle Bill and Noah decorated the driveway!

 E calls bikes "motorcycles"....here they are!

 Had to test drive Papa Lum's tractor!

 Cousin Noah is SERIOUS and determined to mow the lawn!

 Didnt quite figure this thing out, but still loved to play "motorcycles"

 The boys on the beach--getting ready to FISH for the first time with Papa Lum and Uncle Bill

 They ARE a pair!

 CAUGHT ONE! And it scared the poop outta him! He tried to "pet" it!

 Papa was celebrating Memorial Day with his Veteran Buddies.  Eph wanted in the action!

 Seriously cracks me up! The kid wanted a tooth pick like papa!!!

 Even more fun!

E tried on Papas hat after the event! 

Kiddo makes friends with people while we are driving around.  He waves, people honk wave and smile. He is SUCH a sweetheart and such a stinker at the same time. Growing quickly and he talks NON STOP, really.  He talks about "Noah did it." (Usually when something is broke, its Noah's fault!) He talks about stories from daycare, he tells stories about fishin, Papa, Grandma Rena, Noah, Aslice (Grandma Alice!), Ash Ash, HeyHey (Auntie Hailey!) and Ryan and Kari. We just had a big trip to Tennessee for Aunt Kari's wedding.  We were able to spend lots of time with the Batson/Swetland and Collart families. Photos to come below!

Birthday Boy Turns TWO years old!

MY BOY IS TWO!  I can't believe it, but we have been busy celebrating it, that is for sure!  Trying to stay updated on his blog is hard! Someone wants to "help" EVERY time I'm on the computer. Using nap time today to get caught up!  Birthday post, wedding post and then some fun times post!

 Grandmas Alice and Grandma Rena with the birthday boy!

Blowing out the Candles

 Cousins sharing!

 Cousins sliding together!

 Momma and the cousins.

 Grandma Rena and Eph

 Playing outside!