survivor

Check out this link - All the survivor castaways revealed. On the countdown - Woooooo Hooooo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWCn7_K5YKE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esurvivorchina%2Enet%2F

Our Earrings Came

http://www.lanasjewelry.etsy.com

This link was sent to me by a friend so I contacted her. Thanks so Much Rach.

This little girl custom made earrings for both of my girls. Genevieve's are hypo allergenic because of her sensitivity to everything. And Abigail's, Oh Abigail's are the most special. She made single earrings for our darling. I have an entire jewelery box full of single earrings. She even boxed them in the prettiest boxes. I can't wait for the girls to wake up from their nap.

I remember when she wanted her one ear pierced how uncomfortable I felt doing it. Shame on me. She wants to feel pretty and where sparkles just like her sister. She doesn't even know that she's different with only having one ear. I guess we don't know it either.

Check out Lana's Jewelry. She's our hero right now.

Aug 27th, 2007

We are not done moving all the rooms so I figured I would share some pics from the past week. I've taken a break this morning because the rains have finally stopped long enough to come out and play and get some yard work done. I was a bit concerned that we were going to need to get goats for the back yard. The girls decided that they need more chicken after Anthony came over to eat. Thank Goodness for older Brothers who think you walk on water.

Abigail will only eat chicken if it's torn off of the bone. Even then she picks each little piece up with two fingers.

Genevieve on the other hand will grab a bone and maw the mess out of it.

Hi Mommy - I didn't do it, I really didn't

My Mermaid. She taught herself to swim this summer. I really believe she may be part fish. Her face is looking so good.

OK - This is as far as I go in the water. Jie Jie is the fish I float.

Look how good Genevieve's face is healing. Vitamin E is our friend

house room moving

Wow I have been on a stair master for a week. We have decided that since our house will not sell we are going to make the best of it. Our house is large. We actually have a full apartment upstairs. Years ago when all the kiddos were home we used it a as a full house. Well the time has come to open it up again. We are moving our rooms upstairs. Our bedroom will be the room with the outside door that has the upper level deck. It measures 20 X 15. The girls will have the smaller of the two rooms, theirs will be 15 X 14. I am not going to know waht to do with all that bedroom space. The bathroom is much larger than our downstairs so that will be nice. Our current room will be converted into a classroom, since the girls will be home schooled, and their room will be the new play room. The rooms that were the play rooms down stairs will be a what ever room and a guest room. I will post pics later. This has kept me quite busy. Especially considering I need to have it all done by Labor day so the girls can start school the next day.

The book is ready - woooo Hoooo

A while back i submitted a picture of Abigail for the new Love Without Boundaries coffee table book. They used it and her story of how she became a part of our family. I was shocked but proud. Well the book is finally ready to sell. ALL proceeds from the book go right back to China and the LWB program . This program as well as Half the Sky are a big reason why so many kids are able to be in foster care. These programs are part of the reason the mortality rate has dropped for children in Chinese orphanages, as well as the children receiving nurturing and education while at the Orphanages. I bet you could never tell by this post how I feel about them. I would love to buy a book and send to her foster mother in China so she can see just how important the work she does is. Looking at the kids in this book shows progress beyond belief for so many. Here is the link to pre order yours today: http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/LovesJourney2.php Julia

Adoptees go back to China

This was in China Daily Yesterday - Way Cool. I hope they have something like this for the girls as they grow up. Amused as they were, the summer campers found it really hard to create the same butterfly patterns that their teacher so easily cut out. How does she do it? The young boys and girls asked, joking at each other's snowflake-shaped folded paper. "They're like my friends," said 15-year-old Sara of her teammates. "It's like any other summer camp I've been to." But it definitely isn't just any ordinary summer camp. The atmosphere of bonding was a result of their shared background as adopted children from China. The 30 children were orphaned in different Chinese provinces and adopted by North American families between 1991 and 2001. Today, 29 of them live in 17 US states, including Alaska and Hawaii, while the other resides in Canada's Saskatchewan Province. The 10-day summer camp, themed "Embracing China, Experiencing Beijing," opened on Wednesday and is the first-ever such activity organized and hosted by the China Center of Adoption Affairs, Ji Gang, director of the domestic adoptions department with the non-profit organization, told China Daily. It's the first China visit for about half of these children since their adoption, including Jiangsu-native Alyssa, who was adopted at 10 months old and just celebrated her 14th birthday at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant in Beijing on Friday night, and Sara, adopted at 11 months in 1991 from the same province. The youngsters have so far visited the Forbidden City, the Capital Museum and the Temple of Heaven, as well as Baigongfang, a traditional Chinese art and handicraft museum where they learned about paper-cutting and kite-painting on Friday morning. On Friday afternoon, they also experienced a taste of haggling at the famous Xiushui silk market.

The Coffee or the Cup

This really is profound, kinda makesyou go Hmmmmmmm. A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us." God brews the coffee, not the cups . . . Enjoy your coffee! "The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything." Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

This morning we are watching the news and the post came across about the bridge in Hu Nan collapsing. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-08/14/content_6026283.htm It's amazing how in tune our kiddos are. Genevieve turned to me and said "Mommy, that's in Hu Nan, that's where I'm from." Boy they really do listen at times.

Do you think we have a snow balls chance

We have been trying to sell our house for 4 months now without even a nibble. Besides all these that are listed by the end of Sept there will be 4 more within 1 block of me on the market as well. I guess I better get ready for the long haul here, because I just don't see it selling anytime soon. This is one block down and across from me

This is one and 1/2 blocks from me

2 blocks from me

5 doors down on the right

directly across the street

across the street and one to the left

4 doors down from me on the right

My House that will probably never sell.........

Yellow Brick Road Museum

Wow what a cool place. There is a museum/gift shop about 45 min from us called "The Yellow Brick Road" www.yellowbrickroadonline.com . Any one who knows my kiddos knows the sun rises and sets on the Wizard of oz. I must admit I'm quite a fan as well, but was shocked the first time the girls saw the movie and fell in love with it. So we took the girls yesterday to get Genevieve's mind off of her face and not being able to eat, smile, or talk well.

They Loved It. We then found out there is going to be a BIG festival at the fairgrounds on Sept 14- 16 of nothing but Wizard of Oz collectibles and craft items. (www.wiardofozfestival.org Woooooo Hooooooo I might not have to make the costumes for Halloween this year after all. There is also going to be characters there. We are so there.

Here are a few pics from Sunday.

What an adventure

I haven't had time to post for a few days because of a very prosperous yard sale. We made a grand total of $391.10. Wooooo Hooooo this goes straight into the Disney account. We are taking the girls in October of 2008. I know it may seem like forever away, but I know the time will be here before we know it. I really think it will be a good age for the girls. Genevieve will be 6 1/2 and Abigail will be almost 6. So the fun begins in researching the info and pulling it together. The most exciting part for the girls is the fact that we are meeting Sarah and Samantha's family there. Now on to the adventure of having kids. Some days it's more than I can handle. You would think with Owen as my son I would be broke in. We honestly were on a payment plan with our hospital for 7 1/2 yrs. Just as we thought the co-pay bill would be paid off from the last run he would get hurt again. They knew us by name after the 2nd year. We had the yardsale with a friend at her house. The girls really enjoyed being able to play with their Olillia for the weekend. But.............. The picture below shows what happens when a dog is eating by a magic wand that a kid wants to play with. Genevieve reached for the toy while the dog was eating a hot dog. The results 2 stitches inside and 3 outside. It missed the nerve by 1/16 on an inch and the tendon was just nicked. She will have some drooping in her face for about 6M and then the tendon will heal up.

The Day After

This picture reminds of Moe from the Simpsons. Look at that top lip. She is enjoying being able to eat egg drop soup as much as she wants for the next few days. The piece of skin that connects the top lip to the gum line is ripped off, so the inside of her mouth is pretty sore. She is on a liquid diet for a few days and then to mechanical soft. Of course no salt or spices for a few weeks.. Abigail is also reaping the benefits. She has a pot of congee that she loves being able to eat when ever her sister gets her egg drop soup.

This is getting ready to leave the hospital. It was kinda scary at first because we showed up at med point and they sent us to the ER. They were concerned about the nerves, tendons and the scarring. A plastic surgeon did the stitch work on her face so hopefully the scarring will be minimal.

The Ignorance of People

I was reading my Panda Sister, Margie's blog the other day and thinking how glad I was that I haven't encountered any ignorant people in a while. Grrrrrrr why did I even think it. Last night we went to dinner at Old Country Buffet. We usually sit near the buffet area so I can see the girls and still fill drinks and plates as needed while still being able to see them. Wow, we got a great seat last night. At least until this old lady came over to our table. She begins by asking if the girls are sisters. Well I have learned from past experience to just say yes and let it go. Because after all they are. If you explain not biological then you get the "Oh, they're not real sisters" comment. Not worth it to me in my book. The next question is are they adopted. Almost all conversations begin this way. The next part is where the defences comes up because you never know what will be said next. Well last nights was no exception as to why the guards go up IMMEDIATELY. She begins to tell us, DH, the girls, and myself, how her daughter wants to adopt from China but can't. She can't because of the new regs on BMI. The other reason is China "charges" so much to get rid of children they don't want. She then explains how unfair that is because China doesn't want the girls anyway. RED FLAG _ RED FLAG _ RED FLAG. Without being rude, but full of anger I explain that the cost is the same as that of birthing a child and that China only wants the best for their children. That's why they have opened the doors to international adoption and ask for the fees they do so they can better improve the living conditions of the children residing in the orphanages. She then begins to tell me how the children are left in garbage cans and are drowned in the river. DH looks up from entertaining the girls at me with a puzzled look. Genevieve looks up at this lady and then at me, with a questioning look in her face. I ask DH to take the girls to go Tee Tee and wash their face. They of course protest but go anyway. I ask her to leave the table area before the girls return because this in not a conversation I want them to hear. I think too much of my daughters to have them listen to a woman degrade who they are. After all they ARE CHINESE and her bashing the country of China she is bashing them and as a mother I will not have it. She gives me this puzzled look as if to to imply that she has no idea what she has done was wrong. The next thing I knew I was telling her that it was a blessing that her daughter was unable to adopt from China. Even though I did not know her and she may be a wonderful person the grandmother of the child is full of ignorance and hatred and bigotry. The look on her face was total astonishment that I had the nerve to say it. During this entire conversation unbeknown to me the little girl that had been clearing our dishes had heard most of it and had went to get the manager. He came over around the tail end of it and asked how our dinner was and if there was anything else we needed. DH was back by then. The lady walked away. He then apologized for her. I told him it wasn't his fault the world was full of ignorance. He gave us 4 free dinner passes. It just amazes me the nerve of people somedays.

Arthur

ARTHUR and friends welcome a new character - a baby sister for BinkyBarnes - this fall when the Emmy-Award winning series tacklesadoption from a child's perspective. On Friday, September 7th (checklocal listings) the series starring Marc Brown's beloved animatedaardvark captures a family's experience with adoption in a special 2-part episode.In 'Big Brother Binky', Arthur's friend Binky's family adopts a babygirl from China and Binky learns not only the importance of being abig brother but that families come in all different shapes in sizes.Binky manages the joys, and sometimes difficulties, of understandinghis new sister with humor and imagination and becomes the proudestbig brother in Elwood City.Expanding upon the series' well-established commitment to addressingtopics that children of all backgrounds can relate to, this episodeundertakes a topic that affects millions of people every day in allparts of the world. By exploring the adoption process from Binky'santicipation of the baby's arrival, to the ups and downs of gettingto know one another, and finally to the joy of welcoming the babyinto Binky's heart and home, ARTHUR opens the doors for discussionaround adoption among parents, children, and educators.According to ARTHUR creator Marc Brown, "What the series does best isreflect the lives of kids in an authentic and fun way that resonateswith both viewers and their parents. Because adoption is so importantto so many families, we thought it was a great opportunity for ARTHURto explore this subject."Executive Producer Pierre Valette adds, "We put a lot of work intothis episode -- including extensive research and interviews with manyadoptive families. To tell this story thoroughly and well, we decidedto devote both 11 minute animated stories in the episode to it --something that we rarely do. We hope that the millions of familiestouched by adoption in this country, and around the world, will findfamiliarity and accuracy in our portrayal of the experience of thesecharacters."

Happy Birthday

All Dressed up and no where to go. Oh yea that's right a dinner party. Off to New China to celebrate...............

Happy Birthday Dear Elizabeth Grace Ying - Now You're 2

earrings for abigail

This link was sent to my from a friend. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5236125 So I contacted the girl that makes the jewelry and asked her about single earrings she may have or could make. After all it is a waist to have to buy the pairs for Abigail. She is more than happy to do it and will put two singles on a card so i can buy a mitch match pair. Woooooooo Hoooooo How cool is that. She also is going to start carrying hypo allergenic for my little darling Genevieve who is allergic to everything. She is going to custom make the girls some in the items they love most, lady bugs, butterflies, pandas and stones in yellow, pink and purple. How Awesome. The best part is she is reasonable. Lana was adopted at age 11 from China, she is now 12 or 13.

Survivor China - JiangXi

Wow I am so excited -I could just bust. They will finish the last taping of Surivivor tomorrow (it began on June 25th) so it can begin airing on Sept 20th, 8 pm on CBS. Woooooooo Hooooo. But the best part is the location. It will be in Jiang Xi China just 24 miles north of Nanchang, the capital. Abigail is from Nanchang SWI. That is so cool. It will be held on Lake Poyang, the largest fresh water lake in China. . The two tribe names will be: Zhau Hu = Fighting Tigers (Yellow) and Fei Loung = Flying Dragons (Red)

It is also said that they are filming the all star show for the following season there as well. That begins to be filmed a couple weeks after this season is done. The cast includes a couple of folks already announced, Dreamx, and Cao Boi - I liked him. They said Yau Man declined. Darn it I really liked him allot. I did not hear anything about the girls they may have coming back. I do hope more than anything they don't bring that darned Rocky back. I like about as much as Johnny Fair Play. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.