Welcome to The Saturday Morning Chat Group!!

Good Morning Everyone! Welcome to the Saturday Morning Chat Group and Happy Mother's Day Weekend to you all!

I am a Non-Mom....A Furious Non-Mom

*It has come to my attention that NBC is being bombarded with e-mail and calls about this and has changed the category title to adopting moms.

*The public apology below:

Teleflora is immediately changing the name of our "Non-Mom" category to "Adopting Moms". After closer examination, we can see how this may have been offensive to moms who have adopted children -- moms who are indeed real moms to their children in every sense of the word. In fact, many of us at Teleflora are “adopting” parents ourselves, including our president and owner. The essence of this category still focuses on a grandparent, neighbor, step mom, or mom to adopted or foster children, each one raising and loving a child. This show of insensitivity on our part was in no way intended and we deeply apologize for any concern or distress we may have caused. It was always our intent to salute and celebrate all moms.

First of all, thank you Rhonda for bringing this to my attention.

I cannot believe that in this day and age, something like this would be put into print and actually viewed as something appropriate that celebrated motherhood. To me, this is my greatest fear as an adopting Mom. The fear that people will make my daughter feel like she isn't mine. I am too strong to let them make me feel like I am not her Mom. But that's what this says here in black and white. That an adoptive mother is the same as a grandparent or step-parent....a non-mom. That I am the glorious mom of my bio sons, but will only be a non-mom to my daughter. How crushing.

This is going to be featured on the Today show. Click on the link here and scroll down.

http://www.americasfavoritemom.com/mothers-day-2008/static/semiFinalists

The non-mom mom: Grandparent, stepmom, or mom to adopted children, each one raising and loving a child. A priceless gift for everybody.

Vote May 8th

Bernice BurchSanford, FL Thrust into role of mother when she was 12, she raised her siblings, 4 children and other needy kids and earned her high school diploma at 50.

Jennifer KellerHome, KS She was an adopted child who is now mom to her own daughter, plus six adopted children who started life as "meth babies".

Nora LeonCasper, WY She's a "mom to many", as she runs an orphanage for many poor children in Haiti, kids who literally owe her their lives.

Every time I read this, I get more angry. Please join me in sending an e-mail to NBC. support@americasfavoritemom.com

Below is the e-mail I have sent:

Dear NBC,

Let me express to you how completely offended I am to find that according to your standards, I will be considered a non mom to my daughter who I am adopting from China. I guess I should be very grateful that I have three biological children, so that I can win the title of a real Mom from all of you at NBC.

The adoption community is quite large and your little contest here has offended thousands of people. News is spreading like wildfire through the internet. I cannot believe how careless you have been with this.

Adoptive parents are real parents. Adoptive moms are real moms.

I am a biological mother of 3, a step mother of 1, a Godmother of 2 and I will be the adoptive mother of 1 very soon.

Even if I was only an adoptive mother of 1, I would still be a real mom. I will be her real mom.

Kimberley (I am omiting my last name on-line)
Real Mom
Michigan, USA

The non mom mom: Grandparent, stepmom, or mom to adopted children, each one raising and loving a child. A priceless gift for everybody.

Happy Mother's Day Weekend Ladies!

Spring on the Lake...

Tim and Zach have put the dock in already, so I am hoping that we can get the boat lift and boat in this weekend. One of my main forms of relaxion in the warmer months is an evening stroll around the lake with DH, usually with a bloody mary in hand. DH loves bloody marys and they have grown on me over the years and have become a part of our evening ritual. Well, I trade off for a nice glass of chilled wine if it's really warm. I have missed these evenings so much and REALLY want to take a sundown ride on Mother's Day.

The Last 4 Starfish Boxes Arrived!

I received an e-mail from Amanda today and all 4 of our boxes arrived safely at the Starfish Foster Home along with the box that the Hidalgo's sent! I am so relieved to hear this. All of the beautiful clothes and supplies that you sent for the children are now there and ready to be used. I cannot wait to visit the blog throughout the year and see the children in outfits that I recognize. I hope that you will visit the site often too and be blessed.
I want to thank everyone who donated. I was overwhelmed by your generosity. I do plan to do it again next year. I have learned a lot about how to track and package everything and also how to save on postage. So, hopefully next year will be a success too.

Tyler's Concert...

These are some photos from Tyler's concert. This was bitter sweet for me since Tyler has chosen not to play again next year. His school makes it very unattractive to stay in band. If you continue playing, you can take no electives. So, this was the last concert I will be at for quite some time.
They sounded wonderful. I was very proud of all of them all. It was neat to look down at all of the children and recognize so many of them from my years as a room mom. They are really growing up.

My Eyes Actually Teared Up When I Saw This Auction Donation...

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Auction Item #28 Professional Photography Session

Fine Art Photography with the Pixel Fairy PrincessThe winning bidder will receive a photography session for their children on location. While the Pixel Fairy Princess lives in Atlanta, she travels a lot throughout the South and Mid Atlantic States, and does have some trips planed to certain western states to visit family each year along with MI sometime this summer. Once the session is over - you will receive CD's of your images and may reproduce them as she will give you the copyright to the images. To see samples of her work, visit http://pixelfairyprincess.blogspot.com/

http://ianandlili.blogspot.com/ She is also available for beach pictures in NC, SC, GA, and Florida. You may also contact her at http://us.f639.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=dlayden@gmail.com to find out if the Pixel Fairy Princess will be able to come to your neighborhood before bidding!

I just want to share with you that Debbie is a professional, award winning photographer. Her normal travel fees are $500.00. For a photographer to give you the copyright and full access to your photos is almost unheard of. This donation is such a beautiful gift and I am just speechless...

The high bidder will surely be not only helping the children to have the surgeries so desperately needed but will be receiving a priceless treasure that I am certain will be cherished for generations to come.

On behalf of the children, thank you Debbie for such a selfless gift and on behalf of the winner I say thank you Debbie I know they will be in awe of their photographs.

Your work has taken my breath away countless times....

God Bless You My Friend

Please go to 'Just One Child At A Time' to bid on this photo session.

Happy Birthday Kudo!

Happy Birthday Kudo! I hope that you had a wonderful day. Her blog is 'Love You Forever' if you want to leave a birthday note.

15 months...

I love that we all celebrate the LID dates. I think it turns something that could be really depressing into something that is celebrated. It also keeps me up to date with how far everyone is on their journey.
So, here we are at month 15. I have never really bought much for Sophia at all. I guess I have always thought I have plenty of time. So, the last time I was at my girlfriend Julie's she pulled out 4 large tubs of baby girl clothes. (she has two little girls). The 4 tubs were only her size 12 month to 2 T's. She has other tubs filled with her other sizes. She sent me home with 4 tubs worth of baby clothes and over 30 pairs of shoes. (Thank goodness for girlfriends who like to shop!). Well, I came home and I cried as I pulled all of those beautiful clothes out of the giant ziploc bags and folded or hung them up. I don't know why I was so emotional about it, but I was. Her little closet is full and she is taking up the majority of the dresser she will share with Eli. She has so many beautiful little dresses. I want to say thank you to my friend Julie. I don't think she really reads my blog. But my heart says thank you for thinking of my girl and seeing that my heart just can't go to the store and shop for her yet. I smile everytime I see her dresses hanging there.

Thank you Cheryl!

Thank you to my not so secret anymore buddy Cheryl. I want you to know that I have every intention of maintaining our friendship and getting to know you better. I was thrilled to get your letter. And thank you so much for these darling gifts. I love the Good Luck Ladybug in the little satchel, it is wonderful.

Thank you Kayce!

Thank you so much Kayce. This little bib is just darling. I am very touched that you would make this for my Sophia. I wish that the card showed up better here, because I treasure it as much as the bib. It is a beautiful lake scene, I am going to try to find a frame for it. It fits in with our lake house perfectly. Kayce's blog is 'Stories of Life In The Middle of Adoption'.

Happy Birthday Julie!

Yesterday was Julie's Birthday! Her blog is 'Wishing for Lia', go over and wish her a good one!!!

Another Monday!!

Oh yes, another Monday. I think this is going to be a great week though. The weather forecast looks good. No running around. The sun is shining. Our office is having a cook-out today. I painted my toes pink!

Starfish Update!

There is a new post on Chinese Starfish with information on how Emily is doing after her surgery. You may want to go over there and read it.

Thank you to everyone who is raising funds for the rest of the children. I have done some blog hopping and I am amazed to see the graphics on the blogs of people who I don't know. It is fantastic. At this point, I have no idea how many families are helping.

OUR LAST 4 STARFISH BOXES ARE BEING HELD IN CLEARANCE DELAY STATUS BY CHINESE CUSTOMS. AMANDA WAS CONTACTED BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO DECLARE THAT THESE ARE BUSINESS RELATED. SHE EXPLAINED THAT THEY ARE DONATIONS FOR HER FOSTER HOME, BUT THAT WAS DAYS AGO AND THEY ARE STILL NOT RELEASED. I SUSPECT THEY WANT TAX MONEY. I WILL UPDATE EVERYONE WHEN WE KNOW MORE.

Thank you Jane at 'Much Ado About Books' for letting me borrow this one, I love it!

Sunday...