Pics of our first whole day home

Thanks Kim for snapping these...they are precious!

Almost Home

(this is Kim, Marianne's sister-in-law, posting again. The pictures and information I post are coming from Marianne's e-mails because Mare can't access her blog from China. So...when some of you posted encouraging and caring comments I sent her a copy. Although there have been more added that I missed. When you read what she wrote in her e-mail you'll understand why I'm explaining that tid bit of information to you. Anyway, Jarrod, Marianne AND Lola are almost home and doesn't Lola look you could just sit and laugh with her for a long time? Her smile radiates!)
Here's Marianne's e-mail:
(Her response to the comments from friends and family) It’s a slice of home that we really appreciated today! We travelled most of yesterday and right now have to get to the medical clinic for her physical and TB test.
Lola is doing so much better. She loves to “entertain us” and seems to be liking mama now. She bragged to the guide yesterday about her pants that her momma got for her. She was so proud !! Superficial I know, but it was a good sign. She is THE spunkiest girl and so joyful..all the time! She is fascinated by all she sees and smiles A LOT! She and Mia will be quite the pair. I can see her and Bryn and Mia having a great time playing dress up. THREE bosses!! Hmmmmm we’ll see?!!


Jarrod is wrapped around her little finger which is so dear to watch. Let’s just say “What Lola wants….Lola gets” ..lol! We are in Guangzhou now and we feel so at home here. We love this island we are on and feel very at home. We even had real live American fare last night for dinner at our favorite little restaurant here called Lucy”s. Lola loved it. She loves Ketchup!! She is now liking “feeding mama”. She also spent two hours rubbing lotion on my hands on the plane ride yesterday…so cute...
(Kim again: They must have gone to the zoo! I know they didn't return to the orphanage as originally planned because it would have been very hard for Lola and caused some emotional hardship. We meet her soon...they come home Thursday. That's just two days away)

Lola with Mom and Dad

(from two different e-mails, the first part of this post sent earlier in the week)

Hello all. We have had a bit of a problem with internet so it has taken a
bit to send pictures. I hope they get through.

Lola talks non stop and is healthy and beautiful as could be. She is not sure about me but adores her baba and they are two peas in a pod. It is typical as she was very close with her nanny. Daddy says I'll grow on her!!hha very funny.

She is very extroverted and even shook the hand of the man in the elevator this morning. She is stubborn as all get out!! She likes HER clothes that she came in and REFUSES to take them off! She comes unglued! SO, we are just patiently trying to keep her clean while she keeps her "security" in tact:) We have to go on a city tour now. We love you so much...all of our supportive and wonderful family and friends.


(2nd e-mail with more pictures sent Wednesday, January 6, 2009)We are getting very homesick for the kids. We are one week through and the last week always goes by so fast. I hope and pray it’s the same this time. We fly to Guangzhou tomorrow. It’s a short flight...only 2 hours. It’s warmer there and is very familiar.



Nanjing has been amazing. So much history. It was the capital of China before it was moved to Beijing about 600 yrs ago. In many ways it is more rich in culture than Beijing.




The people are so dear and we have has many well wishers and curious locals.
Xiao Qi is doing well. She is getting homesick for her orphanage and her nanny she calls big mama.


I was able to meet big mama who was also grieving hard at the parting of her long time baby… Xiao Qi was a favorite in her orphanage and is known to be very spoiled and very bossy…So far they are right on. She is a good girl though and is happy as long as baba is around.

She is not too keen on momma yet as she has told us that “my big mama likes me” .
I am grateful she has had such a strong bond early in life and I hear this actually is good news for attatching to me. All my friends who have been through this say give her a few weeks and she’ll be on me like glue. She did warm up to me this afternoon when I took her shoe shopping. She got to pick out her very own shoes and I gave her some money to give to the shop keeper. She was all smiles and quickly took my hand to go find the next shop!! THAT’s progress!!



Kiss my kids for me. I miss them terribly and cannot wait to be all together as a family. Family is everything!! I am so happy our final piece to our picture is finally with us.
Loves from Nanjing!!!

5 more days

I only have to endure 5 more days until our Lola Bon is "our" Lola Bon!!! I am so excited. I came across this quote tonight. I love it and I hope to live by it in some form ...read it, love it live it:)



It's not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely.
Leo Buscaglia

I'm looking mom....

I had to record this one for posterity. It amazes me how kids are born comedians.. Mia was getting ready to go outside and she couldn't find her shoes. I said "Mia , did you look really hard?" She replied." yes mom, I looked hard AND soft"...

Christmas 2009

 


This feels so wierd taking this picture without Lola since we will have her the week after Christmas but I have to get a snapshot every year..so here we are. It was like pulling teeth getting them to sit for a second and smile big but they did it! We are so so grateful for our life and all who share our friendship and love. Have a wonderful Holiday!

FINALLY

We are doing the Happy dance here today! We got our Travel approval a couple days ago and today got our Confirmation on our Consulate date!!! The waiting os OVAH!!!!!! We leave New years, get her on the 3rd of January(yay) and get all our in province stuff done by the 8th, fly to Guangzhou for her consulate appointment on the 12th , pick up her visa on the 14th then home on the 15th!!! We should leave 3 weeks from today!! I am not scurrying around getting ready.. because I thought we'd be there NOW..so Christmas is ready, her room is ready, I could leave today and be ready!! Happy day! We are so grateful we do not have to pray for our "sister in China" at family prayer much longer...we can just pray with thankgiving that she is HOME!!! PHEW !!!! We hope to see this pagoda when we go to her province. China is so full of beautiful things! (including Lola:)

A touching poem from a friend

Here is a poem a fellow adoptive Mom wrote. I really liked it. Merry Christmas!


Twas the Night Before Christmas--for the Parentless.....

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land
there are parentless children, with no toys in hand

No stockings to be hung by the chimny with care
no hopes for a family soon to be there

Their beds are not snug--but cold and quite bare
there are no goodnight kisses--no one to care

While we in our homes, laughing in delight
all settle down for a Merry Chistmas Eve night

When in someone's heart--there arises a clatter
there are children in need--who's lives really DO matter!

Away to the computer please go in a flash
to see the sweet face with whom YOU could be matched!

While a child you see--their beautiful face all aglow
could this be MY child--could I already know??

When in the dreams of the orphan--what always appears
is a family to love them, to care and hold dear

As you stare at that child--your heart beats real quick--
for you know in your heart that sweet face will stick

More dreams sweet children have--to call parents by name-
come mama! come daddy! come family to claim!

To the ends of the earth--your heart seems to call
now child--I'm coming--I wish for you ALL!

So on a plane to your child--over rooftops you flew
to hold this dear soul--a wish did come true

And then in a twinkling-I saw through the door
this child of my heart-that was waiting no more

As I got my camera and was turning around-
into my arms did he come with a bound!

He was dressed in many layers from his head to his foot
and into my heart his life was just put

there was no round face--no plump little belly
just sad little eyes, and legs shaking like jelly

In a swirl of a pen, and a stamp and a seal
my world became brighter--like I could suddenly feel!


We spoke not a word--they weren't needed at all
and I knew in this moment where I got this call

God layed his hands on my heart--and to the occasion I rose
and He could do it for you--this question He'll pose.....

It won't be a shout--no not even a whistle
it won't be real clear--but faint like a whisper

Can you make room in your heart--if you try with your might?
And make a difference for one--help them see the light?

I can see you exclaim as you hold your child tight--
Thank you Lord for this gift--you got it EXACTLY right!

Thanksgiving 2009/Happy Birthday Lola Bonnie

Thanksgiving this year held a whole new meaning for us, as it was also Lola Bonnie's birthday! We had a wonderful dinner and good times playing cards and games and watching football of course! It will be Bon Bon's last birthday in an orphanage so we had much to be grateful for! Here's a few snapshots of the Thanksgiving weekend..








This darling little kitty that Ashton and Mia are holding is Zoey,Lola's new kitty! Happy Brithday hunny...momma's coming soon!

Mia's funny of the day

I dropped by my good friend's baby shower last night and took Mia with me..you know for some girl time! Well, the evening was fun and Mia had a great time playing with Steph's daughter Valerie. They pranced around with their balloons all night with smiles as big as Texas. As we got in the car to leave she asked if we could take her new balloon home with us. I replied, sure honey... at which point she turned to her balloon and said" come on Greenish, mom said you can come"! Yep, she named her green balloon "greenish" and took it home to bed! She's such a crack up! At least it wasn't another stray cat...lol!
These two pictures are a testament to how our baby girl has grown ...from Gotcha in 2006 to now! I know I have said this a thousand times but we are so lucky to have this child for our very own...

Why wouldn't I?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfJIgpPtbBc

You NEED to watch this! It's the BEST 7 minutes you'll have all day! If you have wondered WHY we are adding to our family one more time through adoption, this is your answer!

A Family night to remember..

Jarrod is out of town again so it felt weird having family night without "the Dad" but life must go on right? I assigned Kai the lesson. I knew it would be short and sweet and really just had a lazy attitude about it tonight... Boy was I wrong...it was THE BEST EVER!!! Kai's thought for the night was short but so perfect...especially coming from him my moody 12 yr old ..haha. He just told how Heavenly Father has had a plan all along for our family, and that plan was for us to come together through adoption and he was so grateful it did.He was grateful for his forever family and knew we were lucky to have eachother..for eternity. I was moved to tears(imagine that). I will not soon forget Kai's lesson tonight:)

Jack Jack strikes again

I just picked up Jack from his friend's house..after discussing his fun day he asked me a question with that smirk on his face...you know the one that says, "I know something you don't " kind of look. With Jack, our walking encyclopedia, that is in no way a stretch...
Jack:"Mom, have you ever seen a Solar Eclipse?"
Me: No Jack, I haven't.
Jack: "That's because the last one was in 1913.." he says with that Jack voice and that Jack grin...AHHH gotta love this kid!!

The Starfish series...

These necklace and earring sets are symbolic of the parabel of the starfish... you know the one where the old man throws one starfish at a time back to safety into the ocean. There are hundreds, even thousands of them...certainly he can't "save them all". He replies.."It made a difference to that one".
This is a special story at our house as you might guess:) only I get to keep my precious little starfish!!!

These are 15.00 plus 2.00 shipping (as they are lighter than the others) for the set. Just chip in at the "chip in" and email me which color you want as well as in the comment box when you chip in. Don't forget to give me your address and ph # too!. My email again is marem@safelink.net

Again...ALL proceeds go to Lola's Orphanage Donation!!

Jewelry Chip in

Just tell me which one you want in the comment part of the chip in when you pay and I will delete the picture of it on the post and it's YOURS!

Jewelry for my little Gem

I have been making jewelry to help raise money for Lola's Orphanage. We are getting so close to travel! I hope to have TA next week sometime! This would mean leaving in early December! This jewelry is beautiful (if I say so myself) and it's made with LOVE for my baby girl! If you need a Christmas Gift for someone special I am selling these at a very reduced price. The beads on most of them are semi precious stones and I need to at least break even. Okay,so it seemed like a great idea at first to make these for a fundraiser at the time:0) haha ....They took upwards of 100 hours, over the last month ,to make ,and a chunk of change to purchase the stones. They all come as a set of a necklace and earrings! If you are interested, just email me at marem@safelink.net and tell me your address and ph #. I will mail it right away. To pay go to the new "Chip in" . The prices listed are for the SET..
I am crossing my fingers these sell and bring joy to the person receiving them. We are so blessed to be adopting our daughter, and this truly was a labor of love.
THANKS AND HAPPY SHOPPING!!!
I will post 4 more in a bit so there are more to come! BTW the necklace with the square beads and beautiful sparkley stone that looks white in the picture is actually an ICEY PINK and is gorgeous!!!
All of these are 20 dollars even plus 3.75 shipping for a total of 23.75