Good Morning Everyone and Welcome to the Sat Chat! I would like to say CONGRATULATIONS! to Donna and Joe for the referral for beautiful Lauren Elizabeth. I'm sure that most of you know and have seen her photos, but if not, you can visit her blog 'Waiting for Lauren Elizabeth'.
Want a Wii for Christmas?? Kris from 'Tell Her This' is raising funds to bring home her daughter. Head on over to her site and register to win! She also has a sidebar graphic, so let me know if you want the code so you can help her out and display it on your blog.
Lastly, I have only had one person sign up for Project Christmas Angel to send a bag of rice and a toy to a child in the Three Angels Orphanage in Haiti. I was so excited about this project and was hoping we could send 30 boxes. If anyone else is interested in helping, please leave a comment or e-mail me at timnkim@gmail.com
THE CHAT ROOM IS NOW CLOSED, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Good Morning Everyone and Welcome to the Saturday Morning Chat Group!
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132 comments:
Good Morning!
good morning Kimberly:)
I have to hurry out this morning but wanted to say hi:)
Hope all is well with you. Oh my Lauren Elisabeth is darling! How excited they must be!
You are getting cloer to your happy ending as well. I just know it.
Happy Saturday,
Love
Connie
Have a wonderful day Connie! I loved your new bookstore post.
good morning. i was so happy to read about lauren elizabeth
Isn't she darling?
Any word for you all on being matched?
nope...just waiting. there are some peole who have been waiting over a year for a sn match so we may stil have much of a wait but we checked off so much we wiil see
No way, over a year? Oh, that makes me so sad. We are still waiting too. No real news. Our SW says she thinks we will be matched by Christmas, but I don't really think so at this point.
i thought that we would be as well but i am thinking by next june
I saw the shared list about a week ago and it's pretty much all boys and we are waiting for a girl since we have 3 boys, so I think it will be a long wait.
our agency only matched one child from their designated list this week last month they did a lot more
How many families are waiting? I think there are about 70 families who have signed up for the SN program at my agency.
Hey...my sister is in town from Florida so I can stay on to chat but wanted to say H!!!! Hope you all have a great weekend : )
good morning lala
Hey there Laura, have a great time with your sister!
RmJ, whats your family up to today?
We checked a lot of things too on our SN questionnaire. I am hopeful, it just seems like when I think we're getting close, something happens and I feel like we are nowhere again, but I just keep hanging in there.
It is miserable today. It's rainy and cold. My husband has to finish getting our dock stuff put away. My FIL was here last night for dinner so it was great to see him. Tyler has a birthday party tomorrow and a friend who wants to see him today. Zach has a hockey game tonight and tomorrow and will probably meet up with his friends somewhere.
How is your new dog?
Autumn is good. in fact we are taking her to a Basset bash at a part. 100 bassets together in a park..too fun.
later tonight we are going to a blog party hosted by www.ragamuffinsoul.com and his wife www.whittakerwife.typepad.com
now, that will be fun they adopted from korea last year
You guys do the coolest stuff. Now, how are you going to find Autumn in the middle of 100 bassets? It sounds like the dogs are going to have a great time.
Any good baby names?
I asked Amanda about your group and she said they are building a bathroom, but it's not at Starfish. It's part of some project she's been working on for a while. I think it's so cool that they are there.
Good morning Kimberley & Amy (and anyone else who is still around).
It was SNOWING earlier this morning. Yuck.
Kimberley, of course we want to help with the Project Christmas Angel project. I'm just so bad about RSVPing.
I really should go back and re-read your post, but is it just the rice and a toy? Forgive me for being an idiot.
our friends are back and actually got to visit one of our friends children at hope orphanage. i think thats pretty cool. im sending those 2 boxes i collected to utah finally..a boy scout had a pallate donated to fly them to china for free
Kelly,
You are never an idiot. You are the best. And the best cheerleader too. Project Christmas Angel is looking for a 2 pound bag of rice in the bottom of a shoe box, with a small gift slipped in as well and a check for ten dollars to help them cover the shipping to Haiti. They said you can send drawings and family photos if you like too.
Okay, I just went back and looked. Now I know.
I read somewhere that the official Christmas Shoebox group (is that Samaritan's purse?) is now asking people to send their stuff in plastic shoeboxes, because the boxes can then be used for storage, carrying liquids, etc. I think that's a great idea.
Count me in.
I think it's so great when families are able to see other children's people in the orphanages and take photos of them for the waiting family.
I'm working through the First Christian Church of Titusville in Florida and that's where we are supposed to send the boxes. I think plastic boxes is a great idea.
our church has been collecting for Samaritans purse. atlanta has an office and we meet in december to double check all the boxes. i hear its a lot of fun
I met a woman named Lena through No Place Like Home who volunteered at the Three Angels Orphanage in Haiti and is adopting two boys from there and that's where these are going.
Oh Kimberley, being able to give a family photos of their child who is still in a SWI is the greatest gift -- I can surely attest to that!
When we went to Beijing, we took along pictures of April & Patrick and tried to get to Eliana's SWI to see if we could possibly get a photo for them (even a photo of the building). Sadly, there just wasn't an extra free minute. If we'd gone a day earlier we could have done it (at least gone and seen outside of the SWI), but the one day in Beijing is so structured there is no time for anything else. I wish I could have given her that gift.
I am SO thankful for Sarah, Lisa and Molly, all of whom provided me with photos of Katie and Ella before we were able to travel to them. Wonderful ladies all!
Good morning ladies...
Hubby is out golfing with a group of guys and I got one in Indy for another band competition, and have to take the youngest for basketball skills assessment this morning.
I am determined to go see a movie by myself this weekend too!!!
iiiiuuju yj8uju uuuuuuggh
u o uukatiel ll, ;l lop
(translation: hi Eli and Eli's Mama!)
love, Katie
nancy, hope the movie is great..what are you thinking about watching?
Hi Nancy,
Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate today.
What movie are you hoping to see?
Hello everyone! Amy reminded me to get over here!
I remember how you posted some photos of Katie that other people had given to you.
yeah for karen
Hey there Nancy!
How are you?
I remember when Saturdays used to be quiet around the house. Now Micah is playing "balloon ball" and screaming happily.
Hi there Karen! How are you ? And how is little Micah?
So...
Do you have matched or mismatched coffee mugs in your kitchen cupboards? I mean the mugs you use everyday.
I'm a little embarrassed at the state of my coffee mug cupboard, and if I had more than five friends over, I don't think I could serve them in the same type of mug. Hmmm...
I am hoping to go see Changling. Of course I would also like to see Nights in Rodanthe and The Secret Lives of Bees.
Micah is doing great. We've seen some speech progress. He is starting to say "k's" more regularly and is learning "f's."
My SIL does not have a glass that matches. It is actually very neat.
My mugs are totally mismatched. I have a set of snowman ones somewhere that match for the winter but they don't ever get used because there is gold around the rim that can't go into the microwave.
Good for Micah! Eli still can's say L's. He tells people his name is Ewi.
Oooh, I want to see Changling too. You'll have to let us know if it's good.
Our everyday mugs are a collection of things that we've acquired over time. My favorite is a glass mug with a pink ribbon on it and my hubby uses his Army Artillery one. We use the same mugs over and over it seems.
How am I...
Well, I am in a nasty funk...
One week from today makes 2 years since LID and 2 1/2 years since we started the process.
I called my SW this week and asked her to please give me some good news.
The only news she could give was that she thought she read where the government was going to give a 2nd extension and fingerprinting free if you keep your paperwork up to date.
Ours expires in July...I don't want to hear I will have to renew it again.
im not a jolie fan but changling looks good.
sorry for the non capital letters. my shift button is stuck
Aw, tell Ewi that Nicah says hi! For some reason when combined with the hard C, the M in Micah becomes an N. Speech is really something, isn't it.
m nj. mg dfq2n3 b g13duws ` b,`ju,`,bu,y7 u, n fjnvjkdkhjbdjiswodjdjnl nm jn bv mm k
e ebmm l
That's Micah's message to Eli!
I just love it when kiddos mispronounce words. It's darling when Eli says "Ewi" (I think that's how Katie pronounces it, too).
It's not as "cute", though when the child knows he's mispronouncing it and it makes him embarrassed because he can't pronounce it correctly -- that's what happened to my middle son and he ended up having to take speech therapy before kindergarten, just so he could say his gutteral sounds (K an G sounds, specifically) because he has both the K and G sounds in his name!
Katie still says "cleam up" for clean up and I don't ever want her to learn she's saying it wrong. It's just darling!
I'm not sure if I have ever seen her in anything. I just think I will like the story line.
Did everyone read that Michael Critton (sp) died Thursday?
/', x ndr zzb c. mk
ON no, I've created a monster.nm /n/
yeah thats sad. i cant believe he helpd start ER so many years ago
fgghhhjl;''
For Micah from Eli.
Micah says "Mama carry you" when he wants me to carry him. Probably cuz when I say "do you want Mama to carry you?"
I did hear that he passed away. He was pretty young too I think.
Ooh, I just reread my last post and it doesn't read very nice. I am so sorry.
Please don't anyone think I'm pointing any fingers at kids who speak incorrectly or the adults who think it's cute.
I think if we were sitting around talking, you'd understand that I wasn't being mean, I was just re-living my own son's embarrassment and how important it was that we work on speech so that he would be comfortable introducing himself to the other kids at school.
Some kids maybe don't care that they're mispronouncing words, my son did. Once, we were at Nickolodean Studios in Florida when this child got chosen to participate in one of the televised kids shows (only they weren't really taping at that point). Anyway, the announcer sticks a microphone in his face and says, "what's your name?" and my son leaned into the microphone and said, "ask my dad". He knew if he said his name, the announcer would repeat the wrong name back to him and he hated that. He knew he said his name wrong and it embarrassed him.
I thought we were getting close, but my SW told me yesterday that most of the babies she has to match or boys and not to get our hopes up right now. So, another time when I thought we were going to be matched and now we're not. I am getting tired in my soul. I am really struggling with all of this waiting right now and not knowing. My SW says to just live our lives like we are not waiting, but that is easier said than done, especially when you get great news one day and then have your hopes dashed the next.
I know what you mean. That's why Micah's in speech. Even though it's cute, he needs to learn to speak correctly so he is understandable and so he won't be embarrassed.
Ok, can I get some more of you ladies committed to sending a shoe box for the Three Angels Orphanage??? I was hoping we could send 30 boxes. I have Kristy and Kelly and me, so I'm a little short.
Oh, Kimberley & Nancy and everyone else still waiting, my heart just aches for you. I hate that this wait is so long and so unpredictable. More than anything, I wish that the CC*A would hurry things up, but if they can't/won't do that, I sure wish they'd communicate with the agencies and tell them what they're doing and how long it is going to realistically take to get through the backlog and have the agencies STOP TAKING MORE DOSSIERS!
I'm hesitant to commit to another box, since we're doing Samaritan's Purse and Miltary Care packages, too.
Kimberley, we'll probably do more than one...at least two, and probably three. Is it okay if I put the stuff in the plastic shoeboxes?
i want to commit but then i will forget.let me think about it.....
I think the plastic shoeboxes is a great idea Kelly, I think I'll do that too.
No pressure ladies, especially if you are doing something else on another project. I think that is great.
I heard that only 2 days were matched this month and it just breaks my heart. I am so glad to see that Donna and Joe have their Lauren. When I can see that someone I care about it moving forward, it really helps me to keep my spirits up.
Yesterday for the first time, it crossed my mind that maybe we'd all be better off as a family if we just let go and moved on. This roller coaster is so hard for my kids too.
But I know we have to stay the course. Somewhere out there is a little girl who belongs with us.
I just wish I had some idea of how much longer.
Today is our 2nd anniversary of Katie's adoption day. We're going out to YC for a special dinner (maybe we'll get to sit at one of "Hot Waiter's" tables...you think?
I know my agency is still signing people up and telling them the current wait is 3 years. Well, that is the current wait, but I don't think it will be their wait. The current wait when I signed up was 18 months and I'm well past that now with no baby in sight.
I saw hot waiter on Thursday and he's doing great, you know he'd love to see you guys! Congrats on 2 years. Katie is just wonderful. I just love your girls. And they are warming up to me and getting used to us I think. And Eli is getting more attached to them too. He calls them 'his friends'.
Kimberley, what's your LID again? I KNOW you're getting close, I can just feel it.
What is YC? You couldn't mean Yen Ching?
Oh yes, Yen Ching is our hangout!
Two day batches, however, have to stop. That's just ridiculous.
So many people have suggested that the slowdown is because the CC*A wants to eliminate the NSN program. But if that is truly the case, why don't they stop accepting applications? I just don't understand it.
You're close, Kimberley, keep the faith. This wait SUCKS. But it WILL all be worth it when you see Sophia's face for the first time, and when you hold her in your arms, you won't doubt staying in the program, no matter how hard it was. Keep the faith, dear friend.
Any good baby names Amy?
Oh, I love Yen Ching!!!!! Now I need to come back to GR and go to Yen Ching with you.
I'll have to get back to you on the shoebox. AIG is still in limbo, and I can't extend things until we know for sure.
Oh, that's right, Karen, you used to live around here.
How long has it been? I'm amazed that you still remember Yen Ching!
My SW says she is not signing anyone up right now.
The only country moving right now is Etheopia (man, I can't spell today)
I moved away in 1991, but I come back at least once a year. I try to get to Arnie's and Yen Ching.
Karen,
Kimberley, Nancy, Steffie and I met for dinner at YC last October (Nancy made a long drive for dinner!) and we had so much fun.
I think you and Nancy should head back up here for another dinner -- I guarantee you it would be worth the trip. We would laugh so hard at the silliest things...
We have a Yen Ching near us, but no 'Hot Waiter'(
This is my take on the situation.
The SN list now has children with more severe SN's. The girls are hard to find, the hep B babies are hard to find and the heart babies are hard to find now.
I think China realizes that people are shifting to SN and they are working to get their more serious SN children matched and their boys who they are having a hard time matching.
I think they are holding back the other babies to get the more serious ones and the boys matched.
I think SN babies are the ones they would most like to find homes for. And I think we will see a shift to a program that refers more SN than non SN.
Kelly - any news of Joe picking a college?
I think you're right on Kimberley.
Arnies -- you know they closed the one at Breton/Burton. I think the only ones still open are at the old Eastbrook Mall (but Klingmans is gone now -- it moved to the old Roger's Dept. Store) and one on Leonard. There may be other Arnies, but none that I know of.
Good Morning Everyone!
And, in the mean time...children sit in orphanages...
When Karen and I had dinner, we met at the Arnie's by the old Eastbrook Mall.
But we definitely need to go to Yen Ching.
I need a good long road trip with only my thoughts and music as company!!!!
Nancy,
Joe has applied to Univ. of Mich. and has plans to apply to at least two other Michigan colleges. I wish he'd consider more, but three is his limit. I also wish he'd get busy writing his essays for the other two, but am thankful he as at least finished and mailed off ONE!
Yeah, the Arnie's at Breton/Burton is completely gone. My favorite is the one on Leonard. There's one on 54th or 68th and there used to be one in Rockford, but I've never been there.
Oh man, Zach has started looking at colleges. We are thinking Michigan Tech, but it is 9 hours away!
Is that Wolverines or Spartans...yes, I'm a wealth of knowledge!
Oh yes, there is one in Rockford. I didn't know about the one on the south side. Nancy stayed at a hotel near 68th street when she was here, maybe it was near that hotel?
So, ladies...when are you coming? I've got my calendar right here, ready to put a big red X on a date! ; )
U of M is Wolverines, MSU is Spartans.
For some reason, he's not interested at all in MSU. Not sure why. His dad graduated from both schools.
Michigan Tech, eh?
I understand it's a great school...but the weather! Burrrrrrrrrrrr.....
It's good to be a Wolverine!!!
I thought all you who lived in Michigan did it for the cold!
Good morning ladies:) Ugly mornng here, dark and rainy. The kids are staring at me with the "tell me we are not sitting here at home all day stare". SO , I suppose I had better get a plan and quick;)
Hope you are all well this morning - I am trying to cath up on the chat and I feel so sad when I read how long some of you have and will continue to wait, oh it hurts my heart.
Kimberley, what does Zach want to do? Has he ever heard of Lawrence Tech? Joe gets mail from them (which I think is hysterical, as he's no more technically minded than he would be cosmetology minded). Still, the schools will find you...
We probably aren't coming up to GR for Christmas this year. We want Micah to have his first Christmas in his own home.
I guess I need to get the boy to basketball...yet, the beginning of another sport season...fun...can you feel the excitement...
Some people might choose Michigan because of the weather. For us, it's A) where we were both born and raised, and B) where my hubby's job is.
I do like the four distinct seasons, but winter is TOO long here. I would like a more temperate winter -- where you get snow but it doesn't stick around so long.
I told hubby we could move anywhere of his choosing once our youngest son gets out of HS (he's in 8th grade now). Surprisingly, he's mentioned Traverse City and the U.P.! I might have to re-nig on my promise that we could move "anywhere"!
Yeah, we've talked about trying to move back to Michigan, but the I really don't want the long winter.
Good Morning Ladies! Checking in from snowy Minnesota :) Yep! We got a "bit of snow" last night acording to my son Jared :) Its a very cold and windy day here...good day to stay indoors. I will be cleaning and prepping for decorating for an open house I will be having next Saturday.
I am looking for Christmas tunes...what is everyone's favorite song and what artist sings it the best? Is it too early to get into the Christmas spirit?
My current Christmas fave is "Mary did you know" by Kathy Mattea
Kim,
You're in the Christmas spirit already? Not me. Not yet.
But I love Third Day's Christmas CD and Steven Curtis Chapman's "This Baby" is one of my all time favorite Christmas songs ever.
LOVE "Mary did you know?" -- a guy (Mark Lowrey) I went to college with wrote that song. It's an amazing song.
I'm working on the Christmas program for preschool, so I've been listening to Christmas music all week.
Kelly, I can't give you a date right now. I don't do well driving in snow and ice. It would choose to do both if I chose to do anything right now. Look to the spring. It'll give me something to look forward to.
I did try this summer, but you had to go to China.
Well, I shoud scoot. The girls want to paint (yikes). Maybe I can convince them to do PlayDoh instead!
Everyone have a wonderful weekend. Stay warm, and Kimberley, I hope to see you and your family at church tomorrow!
{{{{{laughing}}}}}} yes, Nancy, I chose to go to China instead of have dinner with you. I'm so sorry! Still, I'd probably make the same decision if I had to do it over again, please don't take it personally!
Spring is good. That way, you'll be able to meet Little Miss Sophia Jane when you come!
Sorry girls, I was in the ladies room. Zach wants to go into Engineering. Most of the men in both families are engineers.
Good Morning Stacey, how are you? Drinking some tea?
Hi there Heather, our weather is cold and rainy too. I know Tim has some work to do outside, but I hope to be staying in. We'll get our for Zach's 6pm hockey game, but besides that, I'm staying warm and dry :)
Welcome Kim, your little Jaiden is just darling!
Hi there Kim, I'm on my way out this morning but wanted to pop in and say thank you for featuring Lauren in your post this morning!! I feel SO blessed to finally have our referral for such a sweet little angel. I just can't stop staring at her pictures and I'm soooo happy. We received her translated information yesterday and we have lots of comments from her caregivers. It's so obvious by reading the comments that she is loved and well taken care of. It makes me feel so good.
Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Donna :)
I am so happy for you Donna. She is absolutely beautiful and I love how they dressed her. She has one of the best referral photos I have ever seen. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I'd better go. We're putting Halloween stuff in the attic and getting out some winter clothes.
Ok lady. Man, I went to the bathroom and came back and everyone was gone :)
I guess it's just time to get started on the day. I'd rather sit here and chat than climb into the attic.
But we'll reward ourselves with a golf cart ride later.
Alright, have fun you guys! Wish it was warm enough here for a golf cart ride. Take Care.
Ok well, it's been quiet for half an hour so I guess I'll close the chat for today.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Thanks ya'll! I appreciate the help with the songs :) I had to go shower and get ready for the day. I need to go get started cleaning, then gotta run around looking for stuff to make gift baskets. Its easy to get into the holiday spirit early here since it gets so cold so soon (to me its cold year round) :P I am starting the new Avon business to try to get through the winter. I got very depressed last winter and I really don't know that many people here still so I'm hoping the open house will help to get to know my neighbors a little better.
I ache for all of you "Families in Waiting" it has been so long and you have the patience of saints. We have started and stopped the pursuit of adoption for the third or fourth time now since Jaiden came home. I still want to adopt again but this time I'd like to try domestic and get older siblings. (Ages 3-7 One boys, one girl) But maybe other options would be better. I'm not sure right now and things are so crazy that I think just waiting it out until the direction is a little more clear would be the best thing to do. You know what they say "We make plans...God laughs" Its all in His hands. Have a lovely day!
Hi there Kim!
fyi, i got booted out and couldnt get back on. but here i am and the chat is closed. see you all in bloggy world this week
you are SO wonderful kimberley!! thank you SO much!! xoxo
Hi, new to this blog. Nice. :) I like your project, we have a ministry called Kids Against Hunger and we did a pack-a-thon for Haiti in Sept. and sent down a huge number of meals to NW Haiti Christian Mission. Pehaps I can check out this orphanage and see if they can get some help. You can access the web site at www.achildshopeintl.org and look for Kids Atainst Hunger.
Be blessed this weekend!
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