Happy Birthday Rhonda!

Happy Birthday Rhonda!!! Rhonda's blog is 'Our Journey to Little Maple and Back'. I hope you are having a great day!!

Saw Someone At Church Today...

As most of you know, we have started to attend a new church. It's been really amazing, each time we go, we encounter friends who have adopted daughters, one couple has twins from China and another has a daughter from Korea.

Well, today I was signing Eli up for his Sunday school class and low and behold, I look up and see Kelly from 'Katie's Antics'! She was there with her husband and sons and their beautiful little Katie who was adopted from China. We ended up sitting together through the church service and it was really great to run into her. I lost her though when leaving the sanctuary, this is a LARGE church.

Kelly, thank you so much for taking us under your wing. We had a wonderful time. I tried to find you again, but there was just so many people.

Baby Shower for Maggie Next Saturday...

Please join us next Saturday, September 15th for a baby shower for a very special little girl. Maggie is the newest member of the Oatsvall family. Their blog is 'The Oatsvall Team'. Please take some time to visit their blog and read Maggie's story.

I been asked several times to release Gwen's wish list for Maggie and so today I am unveiling it.

Maggie's head was badly burned while in foster care in China. Two mother's have volunteered to have their daughter's hair cut for Locks of Love to make a wig for Maggie. That is just one of the most beautiful gifts I have ever heard of. I don't know how many hair donations would be needed to make a wig, but if any of you Mom's would be willing, I think that would be incredible.

Please e-mail me if you would like to have Gwen's wish list. My e-mail address is timnkim@gmail.com, I'm doing it this way so that she doesn't receive duplicates of the same gifts. If you plan to purchase something from the list, let me know and I will remove your list item.

Gwen is also putting together a box of needed items to leave behind at Maggie's orphanage. Please keep the orphans in mind and feel free to include one of the items below or one of your choice to be sent to the orphanage and include it clearly labeled with your gift for Maggie.

blankets
socks
wash clothes

If anyone would like to support the shower on their blog, it would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to add the sidebar graphic or do a post. Thank you so much~

Happy Birthday Kelly!!

Happy Birthday to our girlfriend Kelly at 'Katie's Antics'. I hope you have a wonderful day!!

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

Good Morning! Welcome to the morning chat. I'm about to make some coffee and get ready to settle in for some good conversation. Today is my Godson's birthday, so we'll be heading to his party this afternoon. He's into Space Heroes, so I bought him the Jupiter and Neptune action figures. His Dad told me he still didn't have Uranus, but there was no way I was showing up with that! I also put the finishing touches on Gwen's Baby Shower which is next Saturday, please put it on your calendars. I'll be doing a post on it this afternoon. Also, if you have a newer blog or would like some headers done, Verna does a fabulous job. She did the Morning Chat Group header and she is raising money to bring a little boy named Ethan home from China.

If I'm away for a minute or two, please bear with me. I may catch a blog or two when the chat slows down, or Eli may need a potty break. The chat group runs until 12 noon and I am always looking for new comments!

Help Bring Ethan Home...Fundraiser for the Shockley Family...

Verna the Blogfairy is doing a fundraiser to raise money for the Shockley family to help them bring their son Ethan home from China.
If you need any blog make-overs, headers or LID signs, please contact Verna. Your money will be going to a very good cause.
Please visit her web design blog at http://www.blogfairytemplates.blogspot.com/ She's the talent behind many of your favorite blogs. She has done a large number of headers for me and designed the 7 month LID graphic that you see below.
If you would like to help by displaying the Help us bring Ethan Home graphic on your sidebar or would like to do a post to help Verna's cause, that would be very appreciated!

Thank you so much...

Thank you everyone. I am completely overwhelmed. Yesterday was a self-induced meltdown of a day, one of those days where you wish you could go back in time and do everything differently. I am getting myself together here and perking up. I greatly appreciate all of your comments. I feel a little blown away by it all. Wow. I can say that it is very real and powerful to have so many of you offering prayers and support for me.

Walk Away...

Today is the first time that I have believed that I should walk away from this blog. That I wondered what I am doing with this. I've seen it as a reflection of what is best in me. What do you see? It appears my best isn't quite enough right now. I've had a bad day. A crazy awful day.

7 Months...

7 months...

I would like to introduce you to Sherri & John...

I have recently come across a blog that I find completely inspiring. This couple is putting together their dossier and working to adopt from China knowing full well how long it may take and what obstacles they face. Despite it all, they are certain that their child is in China and they are moving forward. I really enjoy reading their blog and admire them tremendously. Their blog is 'Journey to Nikki'. Drop by and say hello.

4 Posts Today! Happy Birthday to Our Dear Friend Panda-Mom!

Happy Birthday Panda-Mom! Her blog is Pandapalooza!

Congratulations to my Friend Terri on the Referral of her Daughter...

Congratulations to my dear friend Terri at 'Our Whole World in His Hands' on the referral of her daughter! I am so happy to introduce Ella Claire!

First Day of School and Some Fun...

Today was the first day of school. We were all up early! Here's a picture of the boys, it came out kind of dark.


Not only was today the first day of school, but today was also picture day and poor Tyler has a black eye. He naturally inherited the dark circles that run in my family, but his is a real shiner. The boys get a little rough out on the tubes on the lake. Tyler got elbowed in the eye. The black eye just sticks right out there in the picture on his school id which will also be in the year book.

I joined in Dannye's bib swap and got these adorable bibs from Doris. She also sent a beautiful magnet that I put on our refrigerator, some cards that touched my heart and a set of hair barrets. My favorite are the hair barrets because she made them herself for my girl. Thank you so much Doris! I was a little low today and your carepackage really meant a lot to me.

Oh, I almost forgot that Doris sent a large amount of Fun Dip. It slipped my mind because it went straight out of my hands when I pulled it out of the envelope. Here is Tyler enjoying that treasure!

Quote for the Week...

I'm going to keep these words close to my heart this week.

4 Days and A Theory...

If you haven't already been devastated, then let me be the one to inform you that the CCAA only processed 4 days this past month. In fact, according to my friend Sara's blog, they have only processed 4 months in the past year.

This is what I think is going on. You can believe it or pass it by. If you have a theory, I'd love to hear it. Please leave it in comments.

This is my take...

1. There is a monthly quota of children being allowed out of the country.
2. SN children are being given priority.
3. When all of the SN children have their slots, whatever is left is filled with NSN children until that months quota is filled.
4. That is why we are seeing our friends with SN children coming home with their babes, while we are going nowhere.

This doesn't leave me hopeful that we will be seeing our daughter anytime soon unless we move to SN. 3 years doesn't even seem likely.

Happy Labor Day!

Each year, our entire neighborhood meets in an open area and has breakfast together on Labor Day. Each family brings a dish to pass and their own paper plates and silverware. There are usually around 80-100 people who attend. Tables are set up, someone prays, and we all eat and talk together. Our neighborhood is kind of funny. We all are very close throughout the summer, but once fall hits, we seem to draw back into our own individual lives until the next Spring.
I am making tons of blueberry muffins this morning!
What do you guys do on Labor Day?

I put these graphics up so that if anyone is looking for something to put on their blogs, they can use one.

Have a great day!!

Happy Labor Day Weekend Everyone!

We're having a wonderful weekend with my FIL. He and my hubs are doing some pretty big projects around the house that will really help our large family be more comfortable. He brought us a new dining room table that can seat up to 14. We were crammed around our old table and we are moving our dining room to a different area, so he is re-wiring and moving my chandelier to a different area to fit over my new table. It really is a blessing for me to see him and my husband working together.
We went to our new church again this Sunday and were able to meet the high school and junior high Youth Leader. The children are excited for youth group activities to begin this week.
I hope that you all are having a great weekend!

Welcome to the Saturday Morning Chat Group!

Good Morning! I look forward to talking with everyone this morning. It's our family's last Saturday before the school year starts. Goodbye Summer Vacation! My father-in-law is coming to spend the weekend with us. It's our first time seeing him since the funeral, so we are looking forward to spending some happier time together. There should be a lot of boating, fishing and good food this weekend. I have been baking banana bread and cookies.

Ok, it seems really quiet now, so I'm closing the chat group at 11:30am today. I hope you all have a fabulous Labor Day Weekend!

You Are A Mother Right Now...

I have been thinking about this for quite some time and I'm going to write it out. I hope not to offend anyone, but I'm saying it like it is for me. I am saying it for my friends out here who have been unable to conceive and who have suffered that pain. It is a pain that I cannot share with them, but I do share my friendship and my heart.
I am a biological mother of 3 sons. I remember exactly how I felt each time I saw that stick turn pink with the 2 lines. I was in awe, afraid, in love and thankful beyond words. I cried and thanked the Lord. I was a mother right then and there in my heart and in my soul.
Now, I will tell you exactly how I felt when I drove my completed dossier to my adoption agency. I was in awe, afraid, in love and thankful beyond words. I sobbed the entire way there and back and I thanked God. I was an expecting mother right then and there in my heart and in my soul, just as I am today. The feelings are the same, the love is the same. I just feel so much more helpless this time.
If you haven't already done this, declare yourself a mother right now. Do not let anyone take any of the joy and anticipation away from you as you wait for your child. Get out there and shop with those big bellied women. We deserve every gift and every baby shower. Our children deserve them too.

The 7 P's Meme...

I was tagged by Secret Agent to do the 7 P's Meme. Below are some P's that mean a lot to me.

My 3 Princes

Papa

Eli's Pucker...yes ladies, this is how this little man delivers a kiss.

The Pool of water that I live on.

My coffee Pot...love it~

The Plants in my garden.

My Plates...yes ladies, I love dishes, this is my prized Vera Wang china.

I'm tagging the following people to show us their P's:

Kim at '3 Peanuts'
Verna at 'Families Grow Watch Ours'
Nancy at 'ASENND'
Rachael at 'Always Wanted Four'
Kelley at 'Chloesmama'
Dawn at 'Eggrolls & Chopsticks
Rony at 'The Ghelerter Twins'
Dannye at 'Laydfrog'

Happy Belated Birthday to K1!

Happy Belated Birthday K1! Look at what happens to me when I don't visit all of my blogs in one day. I miss out on the good stuff! K1's blog is 'K1', please drop by and leave your Birthday Wishes!

Happy Belated Birthday to Connie!

Yesterday was Connie at 'Mommy to 4 Treasures' birthday. Happy Birthday Girl! I hope you had a great day. She tried to keep it under the radar, so let's blast her with Birthday wishes!

Congratulations Jonni and John!

Congratulations to Jonni and John! Sofia is finally with her forever family. The family blog is 'Journey to Sofia'. I'm sure that they would appreciate your good wishes!

My Precious...

Z.

Ty

Eli

Spice, Spicegirl, Puss, Princess Puss

These pictures didn't turn out the best, I snapped them around the house. But these are my darling boys and I love my cat. It looks like Tyler has been staying up too late. I have to start getting everyone back into the swing of school. I let them stay up and hang out with their friends during the summer. But school starts after Labor Day and we'll be getting up a lot earlier then. Tyler's Open House is tonight, so we'll be meeting his new teacher.

A Fun Post from '2 Kayaks'...

I read this post on K1 and K2's blog '2 Kayaks' and I loved it. I decided to share it with those of you who didn't get the chance to read it on their blog, with their permission of course...

If The Adoption Community Ran The World

• There would be no war because everyone would be too busy shopping for, wrapping up and sending out secret pal gifts, cyber shower goodies and post card thoughts.

• Had a bad day? No worries! When you arrive home, you will find 20+ messages on your answering machine cheering you up with inspiring thoughts.

• Had a good day? Great! When you arrive home, you will find 20+ messages congratulating you and making you feel like a million bucks.

  It takes such little effort
  to reach
  in
  to another human being.
  ~Hugh Prather~

• Laws would dictate that Waiting Mommies' Dinners were mandatory and restaurants would be forced to incorporate large, circular tables to accomodate everyone.

• Airlines would be made to offer rock bottom prices for travel to China and for travel within China.

• Airlines would also be made to offer free tickets to Waiting Families for Blog Parties throughout North America

• Free shipping for all referral gifts sent to friends!

• Employers would allow all Waiting Family Members unlimited Internet access throughout the working day and would encourage blog surfing and commenting during business hours.

• Banks would offer interest free loans for all Waiting Families

• The term, "Adopted daughter/son" would be axed from common phrases.
  

• Fun Dip would be free and would not rot one's teeth (okay, so that's not really an "Adoption Community" thing...but it would be nice).

I was thinking today about how amazing the support is in the Adoption Community and how the world would be different if all communities were as supportive and as loving. Add your thoughts and tell me your vision.

Quote for the Week...

Although I was quite young when Gilda Radner died, the thought of her makes me smile. She was a funny woman, but evidently a deep one too.

It's Monday Again...

Another Monday...hopefully a mellow one. Hope you have a great day!

Went to a New Church Today...

As many of you know, there was a large upheaval at our current church. Our pastor was literally lynched by some elder members of our church. There was no meeting, no one in the church body was consulted, it was all done behind closed doors. My husband and I have had a really difficult time dealing with what has happened. Also, there really isn't a strong youth ministry. There is no youth group for our high school children at all and Eli is usually the only child in nursery.

Today we decided to visit a new church. We were literally amazed. The main focus of the church is on the youth. There are groups and activities for every age. When we sat down to listen to the youth pastor who was speaking today, I literally cried during the sermon because I could relate it to God's goodness as a Father in my own life. It was wonderful.

But now I feel bad, like I'm cheating on my old church.