Mia's Dance Recital

 

Here's Mia in all her glory! She had a great time tonight at her Christmas recital (well, the almost Christmas recital..) It seems like yesterday she was 20 months old and we were watching her dance to the elevator music at LAX on the way home from China. This girl loves to dance...to ANYTHING!! She has come a long way since her first recital 2.5 years ago when she got on stage and broke into tears! Tonight she was all smiles and waves as she got to show the world "her moves" as she puts it. We couldn't love that little spunky girl any more if we tried! She has my heart...all of it!

Chinese songs sung by our sweet little friend Grace

I got an email a few days ago from a friend in Utah who adopted the beautiful Monroe Grace from CHI (the same agency we used with Mia and Jonah) . Grace was 10 I think when she came home to her family . She has such a beautiful , bright personality and shines from the inside out let me tell you! Her parents recorded her in a recording studio and have a CD. There are 14 genuine, beautiful Chinese songs that many of my fellow adoptive families would love. I know my kids would anyway. Grace's mom Stephenie, has approached me and asked if they can sell these cd's and donate the proceeds to our orphanage donation! What an angel. We are so very blessed these days ! If you are interested , go to her blog and order it. There is even a sample of her singing there. It brings tears to my eyes. Her blog address is www.elizamei.blogspot.com actually if you email to the following email songs@the-earls.com they will send you a paypal request and it's done.. SO easy. I want to play her sweet little voice for the world. It truly is beautiful. A piece China , that's what it feels like when I hear her voice. OKay, that email again is songs@the-earls.com ( it's a web site actually)
She is selling them for 10.00 !They will send you an electronic copy or a hard copy if you request it. What a great idea...I am so glad she was able to record those songs while Grace had them so firmly planted still in her mind and heart. SHE inspires me!

Miss L

 

This one is my favorite! She looks like such a big girl . I love her hair!!! Yep, she's a Mallory for sure! She has her daddy's smile! Maybe I need to produce a side by side of her and daddy!!

She seems to be a great big sister

 

Lola Smiles

 

Lola Bon

 

So sick of this....

I am officially whining! I am going to vent right now so bear with me or click away from this blog right this minute!!! I am so tired of going to bed at night without Lola! Who is tucking her in at night? Is she having a good day? Is she behaving? (yes, that is already going thru my mind haha) Is she wondering if we are ever going to get there? Is she wondering if we still want her? She has said that "other friends of hers are already home with their families"...:( WE ARE READY!!! Mia HATES going to bed alone in her room. Lola will be her roommate....
I have washed, folded or hung her little clothes more than once. I picked up a couple more hair bows for her...ones with headbands because her head is most likely shaved:( It's flu season....has she been well? Has she been not feeling well and is having to just take it like a brave little girl without a momma to hold her and help her feel better with books, warm, herb tea and some tylenol ??? Is it getting cold there yet? NONE of the orphanages have any heat...so is she cold. Do they have a warm coat for her? Does she get to have warm socks on at night? There is nothing worse than sleeping with no sox when it's cold...
She is living in an institution.....I HATE to think about that..a big giant day care essentially....never having your family come to get you at the end of any given day. I HATE thinking about that but I do....all day long!!
I guess I am at the end of my adoption pregnancy....I have done this both ways 3 times. I have to say that emotionally, THIS is so much harder. My baby is on the other side of the planet!!!!!!!!
ok...I guess I am done for now. We will hopefully get Travel Approval in 6 weeks...then we are off to China. We will keep you all posted!By the way...this picture is of an orphanage in China ...I don't think it's Lola's and Lola isn't in this picture..I just think everyone needs to see, study, take in a picture like this every now and again. It's very real, the need, the orphans who need homes, please, if you have any room in your heart for one more ...don't hesitate..it's amazing and frankly nothing short of a miracle for all involved!

5 little pumkins

We went to the pumkin patch tonight. It's our yearly ritual we absolutely LOVE! There seemed to be a little sadness tonight though.we, as in all of us were acutely aware that our little Lola Bon wasn't with us. We are probably only 6 weeks away from getting travel approval but tonight it feels like 6 months! Oh I miss that little pistol! Here are 5 of our 6 little goblins as we wait for Xiao Qi..3.5 yrs old...waiting for her family to arrive in Nantong China. I love you baby... momma and baba are coming soon!

Getting Healthy for a great cause......

I have been racking my brain for ways to further reach our goal to raise the orphanage donation for our daughter's orphanage in China. We have been so blessed to know she will be home soon . I feel honored to be her Mama. I know it will all work out in the end, and that the donation we are required to take will help feed and house the many many friends of our daughter's who will remain in China. I want to offer my services as a nutritionist in a way that is easy and effective no matter where you live to help raise the last chunk of money we need before we travel. SO............drumroll please:) ...... haha I've always wanted to say that:)...
I am going to offer a 4 week plan for ANYONE who wants to loose weight, make their metabolism fire up, and feel so good you can't imagine!!. I usually give this infornmation out ovver a span of 4-6 weeks for a client to help with their weight loss goals.I work with heart patients, diabetics, fibromyalgia and overweight clients on a regular basis. THIS WORKS FOR ALL OF THEM!!!!! I use a very flexible, very "real life" plan for my clients. You eat real food, you will just be paying more mind to WHEN, HOW OFTEN, AND HOW TO "FOOD COMBINE" to get your body to burn fat around the clock!!!......THIS METHOD GIVES YOUR BODY NO OTHER CHOICE but to burn FAT! Your body composition will change . Let me repeat.......your body composition will change!! I have a friend who did this, and I saw her go from 28 % body fat to 16% in a matter of a couple months! I tried this and within 4 weeks I had dropped the weight I gained this summer worrying about my baby:) It is fool proof and EASY! Exercise 3 days a week is suggested . Anyway, I can't say enouph about this method I use. I have watched it work over and over and over again! You have the power to train your body to burn fat all night long!!! EVERY NIGHT!!!!
So, the details. I have put together a "packet" if you will with ALLL the instructions, the food amounts and recipes from my own kitchen that I have developed to fit this plan. I have spent almost 2 years putting all this together. I have done the thinking for you! NOW all you have to do is plug it in and EAT!!!! ( you will eat alot trust me! 5 times a day:)!! It is very flexible and YOU decide what you want to eat......just order it and you will see for yourself!
So the plan is.....when you order, just go to the paypal widget here on my blog. The price is only 25.00!!! The average client doing this is about 225.00!! So DO IT NOW FOR 25 bucks!!! SEND ME A NOTE THRU PAYPAL( you go to the "Orphanage Donation " widget below -just keep scrolling down) WHEN YOU DONATE WITH YOUR ADDRESS, HEIGHT AND WEIGHT,. This will give me the information I need to get you started. I also will be available ANY TIME for questions and tips........via my cell phone or email.
Picture yourself lighter, happier and healthier for a GREAT cause!!

BTW.......I have recieved donations in the mail from people who wanted to do thatinstead of on the paypal. I want to thank them so much and reflect that on my donation widget! So whatever it says,,,,,, add about 550.00 to that! My heart is full and I cry alot!We are so blessed. Thank you a thousand times.I love you!

please watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzFJaF2QKO8&feature=player_embedded

Car wash for mei mei was a success.....

Our car wash and bake sale went really well and we had a ball! Thank you so much for the amazing support. We have a great support system here and we love all of you who came and ate goodies and let us wash your ride:)
The kids had fun getting wet and seeing our friends and family come out to join the fun. We raised some money for her orphanage and are closer to our goal of raising 5,000 for the orphanage donation.
We are missing our little girl and can't wait for her to meet all of you..our family and friends who we know love her too!
Stay tuned.......soon I will post lots of items and services to win or bid on....I haven't decided. Some ideas I had are handmade jewelry, babysitting, food coach meals, sod, and more. So I will keep you all posted.

Orphanage Donation

For all her family and friends who can't be here for our events, here is a very simple way to donate and help her get home! Our heartfelt thanks to all who already love her as we do. THANK YOU!!

Silent Auction for my China Doll

We are getting down to the last few months before the big trip to get our little girl. I have been doing side jobs( food coaching) and a garage sale to help with the orphanage donation .......that being said, we are still trying to find ways to bring our daughter home ie. the required orphanage donation of 5,000.00 . I have decided to do a car wash this Saturday at Stokes Fresh food Market! If you don't need your car washed then come down for some yummy chocolate cake( yes my famous Aunt Kerry's recipe) and other goodies. The Orphanage donation has gone UP by a couple thousand dollars since our last adoption and is on top of the other adoption expenses. These orphanages don't have heat, rationed food many times, few luxuries to say the least and my daughter has been there for 3 nd a half years! I cannot wait to hold her in my arms and bring her home, and will willingly and gladly leave that donation behind for the children I am leaving behind , and there are many.
Also on that note, I am having a Holiday Open House in October where there will be lots of goodies and items to help get you started on your holiday shopping. If you would like to donate items to sell, I would SO appreciate it! There will be lots of fun baskets and candles and Pampered Chef and Jewelry, and other tables, so plan on coming out! I will post more on that later:)
Thanks for being so supportive.......I have the best family and friends ever. I know, through many sleepless nights and prayer, that she is meant to be in our family. It's a long story, but we both feel , and have felt for some time that someone is missing when we kneel around the couch for family prayer or gather around the table for dinner. So crazy as one more will be, it's right for us and we are very happy to get her home where she belongs.

OH Canada!!!

I thought since it had been 2 months since I posted anything I better get my act together!!! We recently went to Canada for my grandmother's funeral. She was the most wonderful woman. Seriously the sweetesst, most kind person I have ever encountered. In all my life I have never seen her mad. I never ever heard her raise her voice. She was unassuming and humble and she will be missed dearly. She was 90 and ready to go home to Heavenly Father and to be with Grandpa who was her soul mate. I love you grandma!!
After the funeral we went camping on the way home. It was a blast. We spent time on a beautiful lake with family and saw Glacier National Park. It was AMAZING. Here are some pictures. BTW my Dad got to make the trek with us in the motorhome which was the icing on the cake:)

I debated whether to post this experience I had last night with Jonah, but something inside of me said I needed to. Last night Jonah, Jack, and I went to the store. On the way there Jonah told me about how in "his China" ( usually when he says this he is talking about his orphanage) he had 7 friends die!!! Now knowing that in China, orphans die all the time of things that are very minor to us, like flu, pneumonia, and other very treatable things. Then there are the orphans who have heart defects or some other correctable condition , well, ........correctable to us here in the US anyway.He then proceeded to tell me that in China , when his friends died they got put "in the fire". This made sense since all people get creamated there after death. He told me that he "saw his friend go to sleep and die, then he had to go to the fire". My little boy saw death up close and personal at such a young age. ....... These kids , or "his friends" as he put it,are kids just like any other, like any of yours or mine. They died........alone. Yes there were rotating nannies and the other orphans around them but who held them as they were sick or suffering? How scared were they, dying alone?? I have been there , to orphanages in China. Some are nicer than others but they all have one thing in common. They are filled to the brim with beautiful little children who need a Momma!!!!!!!! They are beautiful individuals, have their own personalities,their own little hearts, fears and dreams. When I look at my Jonah I see a sensitive, smart(scary smart), funny little man who has the world at his feet!!( interesting choice of words since he was abandoned because he had clubbed feet).......
PLEASE.........if you have ever even had a SINGLE THOUGHT about international adoption, think about it again!!!!!!!!!!!! Please understand that these kids deserve a chance not only for a family, but to LIVE!!!!!! ... I am so sad today for all those perfect little people who are left behind...
It's like the parable of the starfish........you know where the old man spends hours throwing starfish from the shore into the sea so that they might live. A man approaches him and asks "why are you doing that?.... You cannot save them all, you see there are miles and miles and thousands and thousands of them." The old man picked up yet another starfish and threw him back into the sea where he could live another day.......and said " It made a difference to THAT ONE"...
I will try to post some before and after pictures of my adopted kiddos who are forever part of me....I couldn't breathe a breath without them in my life..... THEY are the greatest gift let me tell you!! They bring me more joy than I could EVER bring them... They make me laugh, cry( I mean cry in a good way:) most of the time:) and smile every day!! What amazing little creatures they are!!!!!

Mia's "how well do you know Mom"

At school Mia had to complete a paper entitled How well do you know Mom...
It's always a little nerve wracking when you wonder what's coming out of the mouth of your 4 yr old! They are so honest!!!LOL!
These answers were soo funy I had to post them.
1. If you had 100.00 what would you buy your Mom?
Mia's answer ..... I would buy her a pretty white feather....
2. What's Mom's favorite food?
Mia's answer: Hamburger and Potatoes...
This is false but it is probably Jarrod's so chalk one up for her!
3. How old is your mom?
Mia's answer...13!!!!
Perfect! That means I had Kai when I was one!!
4. What time does Mom get up?
Mia's answer......5 or 5:30 YEA RIGHT!!! maybe to go to the bathroom.......then straight back to bed!!!
5. What is the best thing Mom can cook?
Mia's answer..... Popcorn!! Funny, I guess she doesn't like my "food Coach" cooking! Perfect......tonight I will make popcorn for dinner:)
6. What does mom like to do at home?
Mia's answer.........She digs holes for plants!! very funny, can you tell we had just planted our garden:)
7. What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?
Mia's answer........................"We like to fly like a birdie"
This is sweet and I know exactly what she is talking about.... when we are on the tramp together, we run circles and flap our wings and sing "we can fly we can fly we can fly" from Peter Pan:)

Words can't express how precious this child is!

Jonah's funny of the day

I HAD to sharethis one! If for anything , just so I don't forget all these cute little things he says. Soon he'll be all americanized and these funny things he says will be gone!
Jonah: "Mom, where you going?"
Me: " I am taking dinner to Danelle because she broke her big toe"
Jonah: "She got owie?"
Me: "Yes, she hasa BIG owie"
Jonah: " She broke her toe?"
Me: " Yes, she broke her toe
Jonah: " She gotta get a new one..."

I guess in China, you just get a new one! I'll take western medicine in this case!

You have GOT to read this

There have been recent news reports concerning Rubiana Ali, the child-actress in the Oscar-winning movie, "Slumdog Millionaire", and her father's attempt to sell her to the highest bidder. It is important for adoptive families everywhere to speak-out against the use of the term "Adoption" in reference to this obvious case of child-trafficking. Too many major media outlets are reporting that Rubiana's father was trying to "offer her for adoption for a price". We must never allow the very wide line between child-trafficking and adoption to narrow. Offering a child FOR SALE, to make a profit and without regard for the child's well-being, is child trafficking. Thoughtfully and legally placing a child into a loving home for the purpose of bettering that child's life, is adoption. There is a growing wave of anti-adoption sentiment sweeping the world today. As parents and advocates, let us stand ready to correct this misconception whenever it may occur.

Our baby girl's orphanage donation

Just so grateful

I decided after a tearful converstion on the phone with my sister Paige last Thursday afternoon that I would hop on the nearest airplane and fly to cali to help her move. She is prego with her 3rd baby and should not be lifting and really needed some help. I felt so helpless talking to her, living clear in Idaho, until I remembered that I CAN do something about it. I got an on line plane ticket and was off to Salt Lake within 8 hours! How grateful I am to live in a time of "Jet Blue"!
Erica picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Paige's house and went right to work. Thanks E for helping on the spur of the moment like that. You are the best! This just made me so grateful for our family. I love my sis and would walk the Earth for her and I know she'd do the same for me. FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!! I know I sometimes am wondering at the end of the day why I wanted a big family. Then I remember that I gave them EACHOTHER, that The Lord gave them eachother and that is priceless. THAT is worth every sleepless night, every mess, every crazy sunday morning trying to get everyone's teeth brushed for church ( not to mention trying to find 2 matching shoes for all 5 kids) . Life begins and ends with family. I am so excited for our little daughter who is waiting in China for her mommy and daddy. I love her so much already and can't wait to hold her in our arms.
Sorry, I think I am babbling now. Just for the record, this is how this mom feels today. Just so grateful.
Mare- mom to SIX fantastic kids!
ps........ Our little girl is the cutie in the middle with the blue shirt with red writing! She is SO a Mallory!