A Big Congratulations to Dawn and Family For the Referral of Their New Daughter!

Just look at this darling girl!! Congratulations Dawn, to you and your family for the referral of your little girl Lucy Joy JingXuan. I am so happy for you! Please visit the family blog 'Our Little China Girl' and leave your good wishes : )

Happy Birthday Michelle!

Happy Birthday to Michelle at 'Searching for Sophie'. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Good Morning Everyone! Welcome to the Saturday Morning Chat Group!

Good Morning Everyone! We're looking for to a weekend of hockey! Zachary has a game today in Cadillac, MI and then one tomorrow at our home rink. I am also going to be working on taking down the Christmas decorations. What are your plans?

What are You Getting For Your Secret Buddy??

Looking for a wonderful gift for your secret buddy? I know that each month I am on the lookout for something special and meaningful to send to my secret buddy. This is what I will be ordering.

About a month ago, Verna sent me an e-mail letting me know about Robin who is using her sewing talents to raise money to bring her daughter Hope home from China. I went to Robin and asked her if she could put together a dress that would fall into the price guidelines of the Secret Buddy group and still allow her to make a profit so that we could help her bring Hope home. This is what she came up with....and yes she named it after ME! Isn't it cute?

Kimberley Dress

$20

(made with Touch of Asia fabric)

Flower Power Halter Dress

$25

(matching headband $5)

Panda Tote (11.5"x 13")

$17.50

The blogsite is http://www.ourblessing.chinastork.com/ There is a link to it right on my sidebar that will take you directly to her blog. There are many other items there to choose from also. Shipping is not included in the price but is very reasonable. :)

Thank you so much Robin for working to put together something in the SB price range. I just love the dress, I think it's darling!

Pssttt...if my secret buddy is reading this post...I love these dresses : )

Eli, Daddy and Frosty Snowmen...

Eli has been waiting so patiently this winter to make a snowman. It seemed like whenever it would snow it just wasn't the right kind for a snowman. He watched Frosty the Snowman several times over the holidays and was convinced that we could build a snowman who would come to life and walk around with him. Finally, we had a wet snow, but we didn't get out in time. It got so cold that the snow wouldn't pack very well. We still took Eli out, but these little wee snowpeople were the best we could muster...the snow just wouldn't stay together. But here they are, the first Frosty Snowmen of the year as Eli would call them. Ours don't have any hats, so they didn't walk around.

What's In a Year?...

I am sitting here with my coffee looking back over this past year and what this blog has brought into my life. It's been so easy to feel like we're not moving, like the line we are standing in is going nowhere. But it has moved in beautiful winding paths through the lives of people we know and care for. This is what I've seen this year while I was standing in line. And let me say that I love the people who are standing with me. You are one of them. Thank you.

I have seen these children united with their families. I have seen the movies and the photos. I have seen the tears and the love:

Ava, Bennett, Ran, Sofia, Maggie, Katya, Sarah, DX, Lilyann, Zoe, Oliver, Eliana, Ella, Emily, Kate Emerson and Ethan

I have seen referrals come for these children and I am waiting to see them united with their families in 2008:

Grace Ryan, Elizabeth, Rosie, Noah, Cael and Paisley

We did move forward this year. Not as fast as many of us want to be moving, but we have had wonderful celebrations.

Thank you for your friendship, advice, love, support, showering my mailbox, prayers and understanding. When I started this blog officially last January, I had no idea what blessings it would bring me. I can truly say that there is no finer group of women. Happy New Year to you! I look forward to watching many of your children come home this year.

*The children listed are from the families on my blogroll, if there are children you would like to add to the list, please let me know. I think it does us all good to see the progress and the names of the children who have come home.

Have a Great Time Tonight Everyone!

Have a great time tonight everyone! I'm not sure exactly what we're doing. We're invited to a couple of parties but haven't decided exactly how we want to bring in the New Year. What are your plans?
Be safe. Don't drink and drive.

Sunday...