With our home study nearing an end, our fee schedule for this adoption is speeding up...
Exciting? Yes.
Closer to this little guy being a part of our family? Yes.
Having to completely trust that God has this and will provide? Big gulp. YES!
Training for a triathlon? Running your first 5k, 10k, or half marathon? Simply want the accountability that comes from a coach helping you stay in shape?
At $100/month I can help you reach your fitness goals. With a 6 month commitment of working together, it is $75/month.
What you get:
- customized daily workouts sent each week via email that help you reach your goals
- unlimited text, email, and phone support
Email me, erinmhansel@hotmail.com and lets get you started on achieving those goals!
The Hansel Family
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Sunday, May 12, 2013
An Arbonne Opportunity
A few years back, while I was a full time mom, I started selling Arbonne's amazing skincare products as a way to help supplement our growing families needs. While coaching soon became a full time job, I never stopped using their nutritional products.
Fast forward a few years, a few more kids, and now an international adoption on the horizon, we are again hoping that it will help us finance an international adoption to bring our little guy home.
As I stood in the kitchen this morning, a tired M in my arms, F wrapped around my leg, and J walking up the stairs, sleepy eyed but with the words "Happy Mother's Day" coming out of his mouth, I felt blessed. Their presence in my life overwhelms my heart each day. And with those thoughts, come the dreams of our little guy, who's story I don't know yet, but who I love already. This journey to get him weighs heavily on the financial side of things, so our brains our constantly getting creative in ways to raise the necessary funds.
Here's how you can help:
1. Host an Arbonne party with 5 friends that I haven't met. Let me come, tell our story, and present the health and wellness products that I love and use!
2. Browse Arbonne.com, let me know what you'd like to purchase. I can order it for you and have it at your door, with 35% of it going directly toward our adoption!
3. Become a consultant yourself and share these products with your friends and family, while having extra income yourself!
Lots of love to you Momma's out there today, I cherish the feelings we share, of doing anything for our children, the ones in our homes and the ones on the other side of the world!
Fast forward a few years, a few more kids, and now an international adoption on the horizon, we are again hoping that it will help us finance an international adoption to bring our little guy home.
As I stood in the kitchen this morning, a tired M in my arms, F wrapped around my leg, and J walking up the stairs, sleepy eyed but with the words "Happy Mother's Day" coming out of his mouth, I felt blessed. Their presence in my life overwhelms my heart each day. And with those thoughts, come the dreams of our little guy, who's story I don't know yet, but who I love already. This journey to get him weighs heavily on the financial side of things, so our brains our constantly getting creative in ways to raise the necessary funds.
Here's how you can help:
1. Host an Arbonne party with 5 friends that I haven't met. Let me come, tell our story, and present the health and wellness products that I love and use!
2. Browse Arbonne.com, let me know what you'd like to purchase. I can order it for you and have it at your door, with 35% of it going directly toward our adoption!
3. Become a consultant yourself and share these products with your friends and family, while having extra income yourself!
Lots of love to you Momma's out there today, I cherish the feelings we share, of doing anything for our children, the ones in our homes and the ones on the other side of the world!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
give thanks
Bob and I had our second adoption training class yesterday, on the drive there I was telling him how I had read in Mark that morning about Jesus feeding the 4000. In each of the gospels, we hear this story, and each time he does this, he take the loaves and fish, they start with giving thanks. Giving thanks for what Jesus is about to do, what they know he can do, and what he will do, if they just bring him the loaves and fish.
In the midst of this adoption, I get caught up in what we need, very easily. We need to read this book, take that class, gather that paperwork, have this much money ready, and can easily lose sight of this journey, and how thankful I am for it. Nor do I want anyone to think this has been a picture perfect box of an adoption, or our family is the smiling, calm picture above. We yell, we fight, we get impatient, and wonder what we're getting into, often. But know that if we continue, the blessings now and then far outweigh the rough road now.
It's been a tough road, and I'm thankful for it. We are and will be a stronger family, have a stronger marriage, and get to experience one of the greatest joys in life, another child in our family. This journey has produced amazing conversations along the way with people that are becoming close friends. Whether they've been in touched by adoption or are learning about it through us, we've felt supported in the exciting times, as well as the tough times. Along the road of exploring what is best for our family during this process, we've made and are making some decisions that will further our walk, our life, and our children's lives indefinitely, and that excites me. I am thankful for the women we've come in contact with through our adoption home study agency, they have been encouraging, supportive, and extremely informative. We could easily look at an all day Saturday class as boring, the 6 hours each time have passed quickly and left us more aware and informed of how we are going to parent this kiddo. We know we'll fail at that too, and we're thankful, because we'll grow and be challenged and know that we are moving forward.
Right now I'd love to seek your prayers in this journey for where our next step would be. While our initial plan is a little boy from Uganda, we are making sure to seek out and understand how domestic adoption would fit our family as well. We know whatever choice we come to, he'll pave the way, and we'll give thanks.
In the midst of this adoption, I get caught up in what we need, very easily. We need to read this book, take that class, gather that paperwork, have this much money ready, and can easily lose sight of this journey, and how thankful I am for it. Nor do I want anyone to think this has been a picture perfect box of an adoption, or our family is the smiling, calm picture above. We yell, we fight, we get impatient, and wonder what we're getting into, often. But know that if we continue, the blessings now and then far outweigh the rough road now.
It's been a tough road, and I'm thankful for it. We are and will be a stronger family, have a stronger marriage, and get to experience one of the greatest joys in life, another child in our family. This journey has produced amazing conversations along the way with people that are becoming close friends. Whether they've been in touched by adoption or are learning about it through us, we've felt supported in the exciting times, as well as the tough times. Along the road of exploring what is best for our family during this process, we've made and are making some decisions that will further our walk, our life, and our children's lives indefinitely, and that excites me. I am thankful for the women we've come in contact with through our adoption home study agency, they have been encouraging, supportive, and extremely informative. We could easily look at an all day Saturday class as boring, the 6 hours each time have passed quickly and left us more aware and informed of how we are going to parent this kiddo. We know we'll fail at that too, and we're thankful, because we'll grow and be challenged and know that we are moving forward.
Right now I'd love to seek your prayers in this journey for where our next step would be. While our initial plan is a little boy from Uganda, we are making sure to seek out and understand how domestic adoption would fit our family as well. We know whatever choice we come to, he'll pave the way, and we'll give thanks.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Rawr!
My dear friend Emelie, made these, as a donation for our adoption. And you benefit! These two are for sale for a minimum donation of $50 for one. No need to live near us, I'll mail them to you!
Each bracelet also has a little sterling silver charm that reads "Rawr!", if you've ever talked to Emelie, shes probably rawr-ed at you a few times! I met Emelie one morning a little over a year ago, teaching her the sport I love. Luckily she has fallen for the sport too and we've become fast friends in the process. She has blessed me in more ways than I can count!
All stones are natural semi-precious stones, the wire and findings are sterling silver. Please let me know if you'd like the Tigers Eye or Green Agate. There are just two so grab them quickly. You're support means the world to us!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Race Letter!
A few people have asked what would be the best approach in fundraising for a race, here's a letter to copy and paste, and fill in, to send to your family, friends, co-workers, church, etc.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Dear ______________,
As you know, I'll be racing (insert your race and date of the race here) this summer. I've decided to do it to race support for the Hansel Family's Adoption. You can read more about their journey here: www.hanseladoption.blogspot.com. Their story has touched me because _____________________. (Tell them about your race, why you race, your goals for the race.)
If you feel led to donate, I'm asking for a $____ per mile I race, which will bring them one step closer to bringing their little guy home.
Thank you for your support!
_________________________________________________________________________________
It means the world to us that you would take time to do this in honor of our adoption. We don't take it lightly. And would love to know what race you plan on doing to raise money for our adoption so we can be your biggest fans. Believe me, we'll be cheering the loudest.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Dear ______________,
As you know, I'll be racing (insert your race and date of the race here) this summer. I've decided to do it to race support for the Hansel Family's Adoption. You can read more about their journey here: www.hanseladoption.blogspot.com. Their story has touched me because _____________________. (Tell them about your race, why you race, your goals for the race.)
If you feel led to donate, I'm asking for a $____ per mile I race, which will bring them one step closer to bringing their little guy home.
Thank you for your support!
_________________________________________________________________________________
It means the world to us that you would take time to do this in honor of our adoption. We don't take it lightly. And would love to know what race you plan on doing to raise money for our adoption so we can be your biggest fans. Believe me, we'll be cheering the loudest.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
we can do hard things
There is nothing we love more than our children. Jett, Maggie, and Faye have taught us to love challenges.
I thrive on feeling uncomfortable. I strive for workouts daily that exhaust me and leave me feeling every muscle for hours after. I'm also beginning to understand and appreciate recovery as a tool for getting stronger, where there is rest there is growth.
When you translate that to family life, Bob and I know that hard work, loving our kids well, staying up with a sick kiddo or to work, stretching ourselves for the needs of each other, constantly, does too, need it's rest time. We know what God calls us to do, and is calling us to do, is stripping us of our selfishness and our pride. And it's hurt, still will for awhile, or in another season with other challenges. But this kind of hurt is good. After all, he promises to bend, and not break us. He hasn't given us more than we can handle, though some times it's felt like it! I'd like to say our "on hold" time could be wrapped up in a nice little box and left there, but the truth is, it's been messy, and scarey, and exhausting, and well worth the place we are now. The lesson? We won't deny the mess of it, but be grateful He makes that mess beautiful.
We would love your continued prayerful support of our family, as we get back on this journey of adoption. And in the following ways if you feel led:
Our next class is May 4th, any takers for three fun kiddos for the day while we are in Fort Collins?
We'll be doing an online "31" bag party with details on my Facebook page.
Let's get the garage sale back and rolling!!!
When: Sunday, June 2, 2013
Donations appreciated up until Thursday, May 30
Are you doing a race this summer? Please contact me if you'd be interested in raising funds from your friends and family for ours!
I thrive on feeling uncomfortable. I strive for workouts daily that exhaust me and leave me feeling every muscle for hours after. I'm also beginning to understand and appreciate recovery as a tool for getting stronger, where there is rest there is growth.
When you translate that to family life, Bob and I know that hard work, loving our kids well, staying up with a sick kiddo or to work, stretching ourselves for the needs of each other, constantly, does too, need it's rest time. We know what God calls us to do, and is calling us to do, is stripping us of our selfishness and our pride. And it's hurt, still will for awhile, or in another season with other challenges. But this kind of hurt is good. After all, he promises to bend, and not break us. He hasn't given us more than we can handle, though some times it's felt like it! I'd like to say our "on hold" time could be wrapped up in a nice little box and left there, but the truth is, it's been messy, and scarey, and exhausting, and well worth the place we are now. The lesson? We won't deny the mess of it, but be grateful He makes that mess beautiful.
We would love your continued prayerful support of our family, as we get back on this journey of adoption. And in the following ways if you feel led:
Our next class is May 4th, any takers for three fun kiddos for the day while we are in Fort Collins?
We'll be doing an online "31" bag party with details on my Facebook page.
Let's get the garage sale back and rolling!!!
When: Sunday, June 2, 2013
Donations appreciated up until Thursday, May 30
Are you doing a race this summer? Please contact me if you'd be interested in raising funds from your friends and family for ours!
Friday, March 29, 2013
on hold
The rawness of this post has haunted me. I haven't known what to write, but I desperately want to. To live an authentic life we must be real, loved, worn, and genuine.
Bob and I have decided to put our adoption on hold and spend some time and energy directed toward our family now. We ask that you take your curiosity and direct it toward prayer for the path we are currently on.
The money you've so graciously given has gone to the adoption, and if you choose to give more in the upcoming months through races or the like, it will remain in our adoption fund. If, in the heartbreaking event, that we decide to not continue with this adoption, we will give it to another family pursuing their adoption and trust that Gods plan is greater than our own, we only walk in obedience where he leads.
Bob and I have decided to put our adoption on hold and spend some time and energy directed toward our family now. We ask that you take your curiosity and direct it toward prayer for the path we are currently on.
The money you've so graciously given has gone to the adoption, and if you choose to give more in the upcoming months through races or the like, it will remain in our adoption fund. If, in the heartbreaking event, that we decide to not continue with this adoption, we will give it to another family pursuing their adoption and trust that Gods plan is greater than our own, we only walk in obedience where he leads.
"We've learned so much, Siddhartha. There still remains much to learn. We are not going in circles, we are going upwards. The path is a spiral; we have already climbed many steps."
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