The Peak Family

Happy Birthday Lucy

2012-01-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

To the child who keeps me young and gives me greys all at the same time. We love you Lucy.

knots and curls

2012-01-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

I saw a picture of this online and I thought I'd try it out.
After Karianne got out of the shower I twisted and knotted her hair.

The other kids all wanted their hair done too so they all lined up. It doesn't take as long as all over braids or the smocking thing I do with the rubber bands so I got them all done in a little over a half hour. Except for Amy, she had the all over hair bands in a smocking pattern so we left her hair alone. they all loved how silly their hair looked but I suspect it wasn't that comfortable to sleep on.

this morning I took out the knots and their hair was SUPER curly.

I could barely get a pick through the curls. Karianne cried and was afraid kids would laugh at her so she went to school in a pigtail. Angie loved hers and it looks very pretty.

Lucy likes hers as long as she doesn't look in the mirror to remind her that I stuck a bow in her hair. :-)

More Hiking

2012-01-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

... It's what we do best in Arizona. We hiked with some friends in Cave Creek not far from our house today. Got to see some colors in the trees still. It was a bit cooler than we are used to in Phoenix, kind of a treat for us. We went to a new spot we hadn't hiked before. It was just beautiful. I am continually amazed on how the geography can change around here. It's not just all desert.

FYI, most of my pictures are of Lucy because she was my hiking buddy most of the time.

Crabs in my Closet- Thank you Jesus!

2011-12-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

There are hermit crabs in my closet and a bike in my bedroom hiding under a blanket. I'm sewing a nose on a green pig, it must be Christmas Eve. I am so thankful for children at Christmas. My children. Just look at them. Each one of them was a miracle at birth, who beat the odds and made it into this world when they shouldn't have. So many past Christmases in which we struggled with our barrenness and losses. It doesn't seem to matter how much you love Jesus it hurts to celebrate the birth of a child when grieving your own loss. Christmas songs, church services, they all hurt. I have a friend who is grieving the loss of a child this Christmas and it brings back all my own grief and loss. 10 years with no children of our own here on earth. For those of you who are in the midst of loss, I know and I am so sorry.
While I still grieve my 5 children in Heaven, and my heart yearns for our child in China who is spending his last Christmas in an orphanage, I am so grateful that I can share the joy of Christmas with these my precious children that God has given me.

Merry Christmas

The Making of a Christmas Card

2011-12-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here's our Christmas Card.

We had a lot of fun making it. Any concept that doesn't involve 6 people looking at the camera and smiling at the same time is a good thing. We've had a lot of questions about it so I thought I'd show you how we did it. I like to come up with the ideas and Brent is a genius at making it happen. The fun part was staging it. I put a table in a corner and put a red drape behind it. Then we all did our best pantomime impressions by ourselves with a table and a wall and Brent made computer magic with the shots. Here's some of the shots that went in to making the picture.

Merry Christmas from us!

Nightly Ritual

2011-12-20T18:05:00.002-07:00

before and after

2011-12-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

$9 thrift store desk.

dry brushed with one of my favorite colors.

ready for action.

Christmas fun at the park.

2011-12-03T21:40:00.001-07:00

Caricatures

Santa

Hold Still!

Carriage Ride

Ho Ho Ho!

Face painting

Pretty

Daddy kissing Santa Claus!

Lunch with Lucy

2011-12-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Fun with Hair

2011-12-02T09:30:00.002-07:00

And the winner is...

2011-12-01T20:03:00.001-07:00

Kindle Fire Giveaway tonight!

2011-12-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

Our CHIPIN somehow ended early. So we had to start another one for today as the drawing will be 7pm tonight. So if you've been checking the blog for a winner, it will be tonight and we've actually raised 30% of the $5000 goal, it just isn't showing up since we had to restart the CHIPIN. If you donated, don't worry, we got your donation and your name is in the hat. thank you so much for helping us bring home this precious boy.

Happy Birthday Karianne

2011-11-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

A little late posting this, Thanksgiving and all...
Karianne had her 7th Birthday last week. She made her own cake at it was adorable. Fun was had by all, All the girls got to eat a marshmallow snowman.

Kindle Fire Giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-11-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

Our next round of big adoption fees are due at the beginning of December. We've decided to do a giveaway to help raise the fees and in thanks for everyone that is supporting us and helping us bring home Jack out of an orphanage and into his forever family. Soon there will be one less orphan in the world. We are giving away a new Kindle Fire. The Kindle Fire will be released on November 15th. Not only does it hold books like the Kindle, you can watch movies, read magazines and newspapers, play games and more.
We have a CHIPIN on our blog. For every $10 donation to our adoption fund you will get one chance for the Kindle Fire. Every $10 donation and sharing the giveaway on any social media will get 2 chances (just let me know where you shared it). If you donate $25, then you will get 5 chances in the giveaway. The CHIPIN will end on December 1st and we will announce who gets the Kindle Fire in plenty of time for Christmas.

You can read more about the Kindle fire here

Thank you so much for your caring hearts.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress

Fun times with Lovely Ladies and Super Ladies

2011-11-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

The Beautiful

The Silly

The "I-think-I-look-better-when-I-don't-smile"

aka Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

The "I-wanna-be-an-elephant-no wait-supergirl"

The Haul

Pumpkins

2011-10-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

We went to 2 group homes tonight. The first was an elementary age group home. We loaded up the van with pumkins and brought them all their very own pumpkin to carve. Ok, really, they cleaned out the pumpkins and drew a face, we carved. They had very definate ideas on what they wanted their pumpkins to look like and they were very pleased with the results.

We also went to an teen girl group home and suprised one of the girls with a birthday cake. She is turning 18 next week. A cool thing for other kids, for her, it meant she would no longer be a minor so she would be forced out of a group home and into a homeless shelter. She has no family here. Two days ago, her house manager told us she had family in another state that wanted her but they couldn't raise the money to get her to them. We were able to put the word out and get donations for her to get a plane ticket to go back to her family and NOT the homeless shelter. Many happy tears and an awesome birthday celebration. Thank you so much to those who helped her out!

Fall has fallen finally!

2011-10-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

We took a day trip to Sedona yesterday after church. We were pleasantly suprised to see the fall colors all over the gorgeous Oak Creek Canyon trail that we like to hike. Nice and cool and oh so pretty. Then we came back home to our high 90's weather in Phoenix. Gotta love Arizona.

Couch makeover update

2011-10-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

And here's the finished product. I actually fininished the day after I bought it, just took me a while to get the picture. And then I reupholstered our ugly but really comfortable $6 chair to match the couch.

couch

chair before

chair after

Garage Sale Score!

2011-10-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

I have a small loveseat for my main couch in my living room. It's really just big enough for one person. Then it started sagging in the middle and went from bad to worse. I've been dreaming for and looking for a couch for a while now. The ultimate was a leather couch. Out of my price range, but a girl can dream. Friday, Brent and I went to a yard sale and there was a big comfy leather couch with beautiful lines for $40! Brent immediately said, "no." The cushions were very faded and worn and one cushion had a tear. I begged and convinced him, handy seamstress that I am, that I could reupholster the cushions and it would look fabulous. He sighed and let me have it. Yeah!! I got right to work, I was so eager to get it fixed up I forgot to get a before picture. So here's some pictures of the couch with the worst cushion already reupholstered with brown corduroy. I love it! I'll post another picture when I get it finished.

Red Thread

2011-10-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." - Chinese Proverb

Brent and I wore red thread bracelets until Angie came home. We wore red threads until Amy came home. Now the whole family is wearing red thread bracelets until little brother- Jack, comes home. It's just a way to keep him close.

His name is Jack did you catch that? Brent and I have mothers and their mothers that have the same first and middle names. Both of our Grandfathers had a brother named Jack. It's like we're related or something! :-) With Amy and Angie, we gave them a special name to us, as well as a tie to their Chinese heritage. They kept part of their Chinese name as their middle names. We are doing the same for little Jack. Jack Gaoshan Peak.

We're waiting for you Jack and can't wait til' you are home.

Something Fun

2011-10-01T18:18:00.001-07:00

I thought this would be fun. For the next 2 weeks, every $5 donated to our adoption fund gets you entered for a chance to win this custom outfit in any size you want. You can donate on the CHIPIN on the right. Drawing will be Oct. 14th.

You can see more pictures here

Made just for fall, your little darlin can wear this through the whole season. Pumpkin print Apron top with matching ruffle pants. Wear it with short sleeves under the aprop top and when it gets a little cooler, wear a long sleeved shirt underneath. Great for those pumpkin patch pictures!

Thanks for helping us!

Ps. 68:6 "God sets the lonely into families"

Introducing...

2011-09-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

Little man, you don't know it yet, but God loves you and he doesn't intend for you to grow up in an orphanage. He knows you would just love to have a house full of sisters to spoil you and as of today, China has granted preapproval for you to become a Peak!!! Chin up we're coming!

Autumn Moon Festival

2011-09-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

I took more pictures, but being dark, they didn't really show up. We had fun all the same.

Adoption fundraiser AND Pizza Party

2011-09-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

A friend pointed out the the CHIPIN title was confusing. So we renamed it "adoption fundraiser" as that is what it is there for. Our fundraiser right now is a virtual bake sale. If you give $10 towards our adoption we deliver cupcakes to a local group home for orphaned children. If you give $50 we deliver pizza. If you just want to give towards our adoption, that's much appreciated too, just put in the memo on paypal that you want it all to go towards the adoption. Thank you so much in helping us invest in the life of an orphan and stepping up to be his family. I'm also so excited to be able to bring some cheer to some local orphans in the process.

Thank you my friends.

Pizza Parties!

2011-09-03T19:27:00.001-07:00

I delivered my first two pizza parties to two group homes tonight.

   In Arizona alone, 9,900 children are in the foster care system. Of these, 4,583 are placed in group homes, each home housing up to 10 children and youth ages 6-18. The majority of these homes are in Maricopa County or the Phoenix Area. These homes do not have house parents or foster parents, they have staff that rotate through in shifts to care for the needs of the children. They simply don't have time to make connections or play with the kids.

    I thought it would be fun to have a vitual bake sale to provide some treats for these kids and raise funds for our adoption at the same time.

   The first home I went to was mostly elementary age kids. They were SO excited to see me. I brought in Pizza and they all screamed PIZZA! I also had some donations of some toys and coloring books. When I had gone to the home the week before, they just had a plastic 3 door bin with some old toys, that was it. When they saw the toys they gasped, "Is that toys?? TOYS!!" They all thanked me and I was a teary mess by the time I left.

Thank you for your donations to the bake sale/adoption fundraiser, know that you have made some kids very happy. It's a rare treat for them and not something that is in the budget to care for these kids.
If you would like to help, I'd love to deliver more happiness. $10 and I deliver some cupcakes to a group home. A $50 donation on my CHIPIN on the right of my blog and I deliver a pizza party to a group home and a part of the proceeds go towards bringing our son home.
Thank you!!

A heart for Orphans

2011-08-30T22:17:00.003-07:00

So a little announcement here... We are adopting again! We've been working on our papers all summer. We've been looking at some files on a few children. This week our agency called us and told us that one of the little boys had just a few days left before his file was returned to China. I had seen his file go out to families several times and be returned again as the families were not pursuing his adoption and now his time was up. We said, "he's ours". Actually I said that before I had a chance to ask Brent so (eyeroll) they made me check with Brent first. :-) I can't post his picture yet. But he's 2 years old, cute as a bug and I suspect he will be Lucy's mischevious partner in crime

Why adopt, and why again? We're not collecting kids, we're happy with the family God has blessed with us. We advocate for orphans and help however we can, it's just that we feel we can still do more. We still have an extra bed, room at the table, another seat belt in the car; and out there there are so many children needing just one family to say "you're mine."

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

Because his time is short, the adoption is going much faster than I expected and we have expenses due now that we don't have and we need some help. I love to give back and help the orphans whenever I can. I thought it would be fun to do a virtual bake sale for the group foster homes in Phoenix. There's a CHIPIN on our blog. $10 and we will deliver cupcakes to an entire group home. $50 in our CHIPIN and we will deliver pizza to a group home. This would be a rare treat for these kids. It would be so fun to bless them with a Pizza Party. There are many many group homes in Phoenix, so I think we can stay busy.
Just put in the memo on the CHIPIN cupcakes or Pizza.
Thank you!!!

and I quote...

2011-08-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

I just find this humorous:

"So many of the landmarks across Europe are holy religious sites. I've passed through quite a few shrines and temples on this trip so far, and I've noticed they all tend to say the same thing: 'Look how much we love God!' I can't say I'm all that impressed at this point. I'm not sure God is either.
Hey, wow, Sistine Chapel. That's fantastic guys. No, really. I'm speechless-totally flattered. Tell me something though... Have you seen the Grand Canyon? 'Cause I made that. How about Wadi Rum? Ngorongoro Crater? Uh-huh. That was me too... Boy, love the tile work. And those frescos. Man, that must've taken forever. This is definately going on the fridge."

- Matt Harding

Thrift Shop Finds

2011-08-20T21:26:00.000-07:00

I got a book from the library recently called Bazaar Style. I think I finally found a name for my decorating style. I collect stull I like and decorate with it. Sounds simple, but I have a lot of stuff I like. My house is definately not the vogue minimalist look but I like it.

I found this cute little chair at a thrift shop for $29.99. I talked them down to $7. Yeah! It's very small, it looks great in the kids play room.

I bought this bag of toys just for the little boy with the pot on his head. We used to call him Frowny when my sisters and I were kids. A+ for creativity.

I love old things, especially old toys, I found this great old Fisher Price Shoe at the same store.

Found this one too, same store. My toy collection thanks me. :-)

This howerver I did NOT buy, a pair of jeans for some reason they thought were very valueable.

I also didn't buy this. Looks like I missed the good deal when it was still at Walmart. Drat.

First Day of First Grade

2011-08-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

... was Monday but I'm just getting around to posting their picture. The girls have had a fun week with lots of getting lost and me trying to figure out when is the best time to get their in the car line. Can't wait until the heat turns a bit so we can start walking to school again. They love these new programs added this year called P.E. and Lunch! Whoo Hoo!

Orphan Alert

2011-08-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

I just need to share another link. I'm been seeing more stories come out of this country lately of children with Downs Syndrome being left in cribs and starved. I really don't have the right words to describe what is being done. It's horrific. I saw another story this morning that I just have to share. This precious child is 11 years old and weighs 10lbs. I don't even understand how she is still alive, she's a fighter and God is keeping her alive, to stir our hearts to action perhaps? She needs a family, she needs to know love. There is a grassroots effort to raise the money for her adoption in hopes that a family will step forward. Please help her, because as the blogger says at the link, It IS our problem. God put us on this world to be a shining light, to be known by our DEEDS and LOVE.
Please go to the link here, it's so hard to read and see the pictures but we must read and do something!

I Pad giveaway

2011-08-17T20:28:00.002-07:00

My friend is doing an I PAD giveaway to raise the rest of the funds they need for their adoption.

take a look and enter here

I have a newfound fear of my children...

2011-08-10T21:03:00.001-07:00

The kids were playing quietly. I saw Karianne walk over to their little toy kitchen and open the toy fridge and stuff something in it, close it again and walk away. They continued to play quietly. But what was that? I heard muffled cries coming from somewhere. I followed the sound and went to the little play kitchen and opened the fridge. I saw a tiny family with wide terrorized eyes staring at me, and shivering. I looked back at my kids nervously, they continued to play quietly over near the dollhouse...

Lucy

2011-07-31T17:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I like this new ap. :-)

Camping in Prescott

2011-07-31T17:28:00.000-07:00

Karianne has been begging to go camping for months now. So we finally got out the old pop up camper which hasn't been "popped up" in 2 years and got it ready to go. We went to Prescott, AZ which is only about an hour and a half from us and we chose it because it was the least likely to rain there as well as having cooler temps than Phoenix right now. It doesn't generally rain in AZ but this is the rainy season, or Monsoon Season as it's called, and if it's going to rain, there's a better chance of raining now. We packed up and took off and as soon as we got on the highway we saw a dark sky in the distance. Within 15 minutes it was raining on us and it continued to rain on us for the next 2 days. Since rain in AZ means you may get one one hundreth of an inch in a good shower, it wasn't so bad. We had to get the rain off that was puddling on top of our camper just twice. We had a great camping spot that was right next to some great rock climbing that the kids had a blast playing on. There were lots of hiking trails from our camp site. Hiking is what we love best so we were happy. We hiked a lot, when it wasn't raining. There was a really neat lake near our campground that we hiked to on our last day. It was a lake right in the midst of lots of big BIG rocks that were fun to climb all over. It reminded me of the old TV show, "The Land of the Lost." It looked so prehistoric. Lots of fun.

Lucy and I had fun poking crayfish. When we realized the other girls were terrified, we had more fun!

Our fearless leader.

Prescott is the old capitol when Arizona was still a territory. We walked around the historic downtown while it was raining and saw some neat old shops. It reminded me of the town I was born in in Michigan, a very old downtown surrounded by old victorians and other old houses over 100yrs old. There's a street called "Whiskey Row" that was nothing but bars and saloons back in the mining days at the turn of the century. The whole strip burned down in a fire in 1907 and within days the saloons were being rebuilt and many of those still stand today. Really neat buildings, they aren't all bars now though, the girls had some home made taffy in a candy shop there, and they got some western souvenirs in another shop.

Here's a man offering my girls some candy. Hmmm

Evening consert gearing up in front of the courthouse. I love how people just hang out downtown.

The guy riding this bike has a t shirt that says, "Postal for Jesus".

Anyway, that was our first trip to Prescott. I read that it is one of the top 5 places to retire in America, I can see why, I'd love to retire there, nice weather, nice views; I love the old houses and the trails. Our old camper needed a few more patches, it looks like some sort of gypsy wagon on the inside. But overall, less catastophies than the last time that we pulled out the old camper; or even the time before that.

Phoenix Zoo

2011-07-31T16:51:00.000-07:00

We took the girls to the zoo last week. It was not very crowded. Probably because it was around 110 degrees outside and anyone who loves their kids would not take them to the zoo in that kind of heat. Something I didn't realize about the Phoenix Zoo, because it is so hot here in the summer, their summer hours are from 7am to 2pm. So to get out money's worth we had to get up way earlier than we are accustomed to on a vacation day. Anway, we had fun, did the zoo. My favorite part was a savannah setting of several acres in which animals of the savannah wandered. There were benches set up so you could just sit in the shade and watch the animals. So peaceful. An exotic bird, (sorry Uncle Karl, I do not know it's name) was sitting on some eggs right next to the fence line. That was fun.

Hmm, I had some cute pictures of the kids but I can't find them on my computer, Enjoy the pic of the giraffe.

Thoughts for Amy's Birthday

2011-07-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

I got a special treat in the mail this weekend. A friend sent me a long lost video of my first meeting with Angie at the airport. My friend had recorded it on a now out of date camcorder and we never got the tape for it. So if you are reading this Becky, thank you!

As I watched it, and of course cried over those precious memories of seeing my daughter for the first time, all the girls started asking questions about when I first saw them. They were all babies and it was very precious. Except for Amy. I've been thinking a lot lately of when we first saw Amy. Amy was older. Amy was almost 3 when she became a part of our family. Those of you who have adopted older children, particularly internationally, know what a ride that can be. I have friends in China now adopting a little girl close to Amy's age and it just takes me back.

As a parent, I already loved Amy before I even met her. I had decided to love her and to adopt her before I knew her. I could not wait to get my arms around her and squeeze her and kiss her. I had been waiting for that day for a year.

Now from Amy's perspective, she didn't know me, she had a routine, she was unaware that life could be different. She was an orphan relying on caretakers to care for her needs, I don't know, but I certainly hope they did. But she had no parents. She didn't know what parents were.

Then the day came when we entered her life. Brent and I were so excited. Amy was not. We met her in our hotel lobby. She eyed us as the translator told her briefly, "Look! your new parents!" It only took her a moment to decide, "no thanks." The guides are very professional and know how to do 'the hand off'. Amy started crying and clinging to the driver of the car that drove her there from the orphanage. I have no idea if she knew him or he was just preferable to us. Our guide and translator told us to get in the elevator and then she pushed Amy into our arms as the door closed with us inside.

Heartwrenching. We knew she was grieving. We knew we were strangers and couldn't even communicate with her because we didnt' know her language. We could imagine what she was feeling.

We also knew we were the best thing that had happened in her life thus far. We knew we were giving her a name and a family and love. We knew it was worth the grief.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11.

Don't you just love that God is our parent and sees what is best for us as well? He understands our grief and resistance when we don't understand, but he also knows the plans He has for us and it is worth the grief.

Fast forward 3 years. Today is Amy's 6th Birthday! She knows that day was the best day of her life. Well, if you ask her, she thinks every day is the best day of her life. But she laughs when we tell her how scared she was at first. Because now she knows that it was worth it.

Glitter

2011-07-18T16:25:00.000-07:00

Amy was creating with stamps and markers.
She asked, "hey mom, do you trust me with glitter?"
No.

Good game.

2011-07-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

Karianne was playing with a toy golf club.

She'd swing and yell, "HORE!"

Brent quickly said, "Karianne it's fore, not hore."

Karianne said, "But I want to say hore."

"Don't say hore."

Invisibility

2011-06-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

The girls playing:
"Hey I'm invisible you can't see me!"
"No but if someone else is invisible they can see you, so I'm invisible too, that's why I can see you."

Mistakes

2011-06-30T13:23:00.001-07:00

Karianne picked a book for bedtime story called "Everybody Makes Mistakes" I read the title as I started and a disappointed Karianne said, "Oh, I thought it was 'Every Boy Makes Mistakes...'

Scientists at work

2011-06-30T13:19:00.003-07:00

Karianne: Mom can Amy and I experiement and put bendaroos in water to see what happens?
Yes.
Karianne: Ok, but we'll wear swimming googles in case it explodes...

me want Gum Gum

2011-06-30T13:16:00.001-07:00

Lucy said, "Can I have bubble gum?"

I gave her a piece of bubble gum.

She chewed it up and swallowed it and said,

"Can I have another one?"

Oh How He Loves Us

2011-06-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

By David Crowder Band

When Our Eyes Are Open

2011-06-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

Sunday we had lunch with Gary and Tammy Webb of OCJ Kids(Opportunity, Comunity and Justice for Kids). They connect churches and businesses to group foster homes here in Arizona. I just sat and listened shocked at what I heard. These group homes have children ranging from babies to teenagers that are largely ineligible for foster care or adoption because the parents won't sign off to get them into family units.
Their living conditions sound very similar to institutionalized orphans in other countries. They have people that rotate through the homes in 8-9 hour shifts to do housework, paperwork, doctor appointments, whatever needs to be done to run the home. These people stay very busy, and God bless them for a very difficult job, but they have little time to interact with the kids. The children go to school and come home. That is the extent of their experience outside of the homes. Once they are back in the homes they stay. They cannot go out without an adult supervisor, which they don't have.
The group homes have white walls, 4 kids to a bedroom and no doors on the bedrooms for safety reasons. The kids don't really have anything that belongs to them, they share clothes, even underwear because the budget for clothing is so low. There is a budget of $27 for each child to celebrate birthdays, holidays and special occasions.
There is a 60 percent school drop out rate for these kids. When they turn 18 they are given a gift card with $300 to $400 on it, a trash bag for their few belongings and they are sent out of the house. As the Webbs put it, they know who they are, they know they are not set up to succeed. They drift into the streets. They drop out and sometimes run away right before their 18th birthday rather than face the depressing deadline of the end of shelter and safety for them.
This should not be.
I don't blame the government, they are doing the best they can with an overwhelmed system and a low budget. But the Church... Church this is our responsiblilty! These kids are desitute and have no one. Some of them literally grow up in this environment never knowing a family, never experiencing normal childhood activities. When Gary and Tammy started getting churches into these group homes, rooms started being painted, houses started looking homey. Kids were taken out of the 4 walls of the homes to go to the zoo, to camps, churches, restaurants, shopping... stuff that our kids get to do all the time. Church people are going in to these homes and developing relationships with these kids, giving them life skills, love and encouragement to succeed. This is a beautiful thing, but there needs to be more. There are over 200 group homes in Arizona, and about 20 churches involved in a few of these homes.
Look in your own state, see what is being done for the kids in your group homes. These kids desperately need light and love in their lives.

Psalm 10:14 “But you have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, to repay it by your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.”

Here is a poem a boy wrote who lives in one of the homes, It's a little hard to read, so here's what it says:

I Need You

You don't understand

Understand who we are

Understand why we do what we do

Hardly anyone does

You won't ask

You won't say a word

You're scared

Scared to say the wrong thing

We are who we are

We all have problems

Everyone handle them differently

Everyone wants the same thing

We all want to be loves

When things get hard

You shut us out

And we dont' know how to say

How to say, "I really need you"

We're human

We're the same person inside

We just need your love

We just need your help

We just need you.

Antelope Canyon

2011-06-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

I've seen pictures of this magical place and it has been on my to-do list for a while. A sweet friend watched all of our girls overnight and Brent and I took a little trip. Antelop Canyon is in Page, AZ on the border of Utah. It is in Navajo land and Navajo only let you go through the canyon with a guide since they consider it sacred ground. Just beautiful. You need to put this on your Bucket list. SO worth it.

This is the hole in the ground you jump down in to reach the slot canyon.

And this is what you see underneath.

After the canyon hike, Brent and I took another hike out to Horshoe Bend. It's a place where the Little Colorado River curves around a land mass and makes a perfect horseshoe. The scenery was gorgeous and so worth it, but it was a rough hike. Just a mile, but you are slogging through deep sand uphill in blinding sunlight.

Lucy Sings

2011-06-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our Jason

2011-06-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.

So now I give him to the LORD.

For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.”

I Samuel 1:27,28

A Dragon called Scooby

2011-05-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a friend brought over a bearded dragon named Scooby for the girls to take care of for a week. Angie had done a book report at school about a month ago on bearded dragons. She thought Bearded Dragons were Komono Dragons, from China, which she loves, but she has since found out they are not when she realized how big they are. She still loves Bearded Dragons and will spout out the facts she has learned about them.
When I found out my friend has a couple for pets we arranged to pet sit one of them for a week as a suprise for the girls. The girls are besides themselves and are so excited to have our little guest.
So far they they have only left the side of the cage long enough to eat meals and sleep. Lucy is the biggest momma and woke me up this am to let me know the dragon needed to eat. She has kept running accounts all day letting me know what Scooby is doing and what Scooby needs. The girls have set up little toy lizards around the cage to keep Scooby company. They play kids music for her, and they included her in their pretend play, which now focuses around the cage.

Right now, they are all gathered around Scooby's table and drawing pictures of Bearded Dragons for her.

Orphan Alert

2011-05-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Passing this on from Rainbowkids.com. Please pray over these children who's time is so short to find a family of their own.

May 25, 2011

Greetings!

A generous donor has given each of these 6 children who are in danger of aging out a $5000 grant for families of ANY income and there is also an orphanage donation waiver too. The financial aid is over $10,000 total per child.They are from Asia.

Please contact FamilyFinders@wacap.org for more information or ckids@wacap.org

ID: XRF.SDD0897.31967.01, 13 year old girl, SDD, 8/97 with epilepsy

She is an outgoing, extroverted and active child who is very verbal and polite. She takes the initiative to great guests and is curious about new things. She loves singing and dancing as well as sports. Her epilepsy is under control with medication. She has good hygiene and independent care and is helpful with chores. Total financial aid is $10150 (this includes $5000 available for this child's adoption from a generous donor and there is an additional $5150 orphanage donation waiver for this child). Families of all incomes may apply for the grant. Please contact FamilyFinders@wacap.org for more information or ckids@wacap.org There is no fee to view this child's whole file of information XRF.SDD0897.31967.01 DEADLINE With a dossier logged in with China, the revised homestudy must be completed and WACAP-approved by June 1, 2011

ID: XRF.XMQ0897.31968.0113 year old girl, XMQ, 8-97 with cleft lip/palate

This girl has an outgoing personality and likes to dance, sing and watch cartoons. She is considered polite, kind and sensitive. She does well in school but is sometimes careless with her work. Her cleft lip and palate have been repaired. She does well in taking care of herself.Total financial aid is $10150 (this includes $5000 available for this child's adoption from a generous donor and there is an additional $5150 orphanage donation waiver for this child). Please contact a FamilyFinders@wacap.org mailto:FamilyFinders@wacap.org for more information or ckids@wacap.org There is no fee or obligation to receive waiting child information, XRF.XMQ0897.31968.01 DEADLINE With a dossier logged in with China, the revised homestudy must be completed and WACAP-approved by June 7, 2011.

ID: XRM.YZX1097.31975.01, 13 year old boy, YZX, 10-97, with Blood disorder and sensitive

He is an expressive child with a gift for music. He sings well and likes to organize other children to sing a chorus in addition to his solo. He is an average student. He has good self care and helps with chores as well as with younger children.

He is confident, optimistic and adaptive. He has a sensitive issue and a blood disorder.Total financial aid is $10150 (this includes $5000 available for this child's adoption from a generous donor and there is an additional $5150 orphanage donation waiver for this child).

Families of all incomes may apply for this grant.

Please contact

FamilyFinders@wacap.org

for more information or

ckids@wacap.org

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETED WACAP-APPROVED HOMESTUDY

is June 30, 2011

ID: XRM.ZYD1197.31976.01, 13 year old boy, DZY 11-97, epilepsy

He must be adopted soon as he is aging out. This handsome young teen is extroverted and considered a very polite child who is a little shy around strangers. If encouraged by his caregivers, though, he warms up to guests. He is on medication for epilepsy. He especially enjoys model airplanes and also likes to build great figures with building blocks. He is very capable of looking after his own needs and helps his caregivers with chores. The total financial aid for all incomes is $10,300 (including $5000 available for this child's adoption from a generous donor and additional waiver of $5300 in fees). Families of all incomes may apply for this grant. Please contact FamilyFinders@wacap.org or contact ckids@wacap.org There is no fee to view this child'sinformation. XRM.ZYD1197.31976.01DEADLINE FOR COMPLETED WACAP-APPROVED HOMESTUDY July 10, 2011 DEADLINE With recently completed China adoption/using updated paperwork/need to renew immigration approval Aug. 10, 2011DEADLINE With dossier logged in with China, the revised homestudy must be completed and WACAP-approved by Sept. 10, 2011.

ID: 13 year old girl, DP 11-97, spina bifida

The foster care this young lady received laid a good foundation for her physical and mental development. She has good study and living habits and good self care. It appears she had surgery for spina bifida but may need more correction. She is kind hearted, smart, active, friendly, warm and talkative with a ready smile. She also has an amazing singing voice. She is of normal intellect and has normal to high physical development. Total financial aid is $10150 ( this includes $5000 available for this child's adoption from a generous donor and there is an additional $5150 orphanage donation waiver for this child). . Families of all incomes may apply for this grant. Please contact FamilyFinders@wacap.org for more information or ckids@wacap.org There is no fee or obligation to receive waiting child information.DEADLINE FOR COMPLETED WACAP-APPROVED HOMESTUDY July 18, 2011 DEADLINE With recently completed China adoption/using updated paperwork/need to renew immigration approval Aug. 18, 2011DEADLINE With dossier logged in with China, the revised homestudy must be completed and WACAP-approved by Sept. 18, 2011.

ID: 13 year old boy, FWH, 11-25-97, deaf

His caregivers use many words to describe him including brave, open, active, lively, and sensible.

Though deaf, he is a bright child with a strong ability to grasp new things. He is helpful to his teachers who say he is well behaved and studies hard. He is observant, loves to read and to draw, and communicates through gestures.

He gets along well with other children.

Total financial aid is $10150 ( this includes $5000 available for this child's adoption from a generous donor and there is an additional $5150 orphanage donation waiver for this child). . Families of all incomes may apply for this grant. Please contact FamilyFinders@wacap.org or Ckids@wacap.org XRM.FWH.1197.14825.01DEADLINE FOR COMPLETED WACAP-APPROVED HOMESTUDY July 25, 2011 DEADLINE With recently completed China adoption/using updated paperwork/need to renew immigration approval Aug. 25, 2011

Tough girl

2011-05-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

Oh Lucy

2011-05-05T16:46:00.000-07:00

I had a small tube of sead beads for making jewelry that Lucy got in to. She dumped out all the of the beads onto the table and floor. I told her to pick them all up. A while later she brought me the still empty tube that used to have the beads in it.

"Lucy, where are the beads?!"

She opened her mouth and pointed inside and then she rubbed her tummy.

I forgot

2011-05-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

Angie wrote a note to a little friend and made a big deal about finding an envelope and sealing it. We walked to school today and she had it clutched in her little hand.
Karianne asked her, "Who is the note for?"
"Aaron"
"What's it say?"
"Uh I forgot, I'll remember when he sees it."

Little Girl

2011-05-03T16:30:00.002-07:00

There was a little girl
Who had no little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was good
She was very, very good

But when she was bad
She was horrid!

I not tired.

2011-04-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

We go together like...

2011-04-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Brent got a new used car. A Cadillac. Doesn't quite match the conversion van in our driveway but oh well. Kinda looks like a congressman married a hippie.

Update on orphan Alert

2011-04-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

Little Xavier has a family! It is not us, but I am so excited he will soon be tucked in at night by his own momma and daddy.

Resemblance?

2011-04-11T17:54:00.001-07:00

There's a bit of resemblance there.

Karianne's cuter though.

Tea Party

2011-04-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

Come one and come all.

Come great and come small.

Come winged and come wingless.

Bejeweled or ringless.

Come

walking or riding.

Come

gakking or gliding.

Come

soaring or sliding

Come all, come all

to the Fairies Ball.

The Artist

2011-03-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

I love how Amy draws. Notice the hands in relation to the sleeves.

Trains!

2011-03-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

There's a train enthusiast's place not far from our house that we finally got around to visiting today. Acres and acres of model trains, a museum, mock old west town and even free train rides on some of the larger scale trains. It was pretty amazing that these hobbiest had put all this together for the enjoyment of the public. The trains we rode on had a very elaborate track. I think there were at least 4 tracks and the ride lasted for over a half hour. Great fun. prairie dogs scampered around our little train, and Karianne even spotted one in a tree! I had no idea they climbed trees.

Saturday fun

2011-03-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, The local library was having a book fair/ festival. This is the 100th year since Arizona became a state, and so begins the celebrations. there was several booths recognizing Arizona's past. The kids got to pan for gold, meet some cowboys, and see and hear how life in the dessert used to be. There was also fun stuff like a bounce house, free ice cream and several shows and crafts. A very well done event by the Peoria Library. Bravo. Peaks give it 4 little sticky ice cream thumbs up.

That's the leader of the gang in the middle, watch out she's tough!

Date Night

2011-03-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

Brent and I got a rare evening out thanks to a sweet neighbor who offered to watch our girls for the evening. Dinner and a Concert.

We went to the historic McAlpine's Ice Cream Parlor in downtown Phoenix for dinner. The restuarant has been around since the 1920's. The wait staff dress in 1930's attire, and the fixtures are original. You can get a float from the same machine they've used since the '40's. They had a 3 column small print page of all the different soda flavors you could get from the soda fountain. Anything, ANYTHING from pickle juice, to bubble gum, chocolate, coffee, tiger blood, cotton candy...

Brent ordered a chocolate peanut butter soda, (yuck!) I ordered a red velvet cake soda. Mine was delicious, his was terrible. Now he knows that there is a form of chocolate and peanutbutter that he doesn't like.

After dinner, we went to a christian concert. We were supposed to buy our tickets at the door, but we didn't realize they meant literally, at the door. We didn't have cash so we had to walk over to the closest place to see if we could find an ATM. Closest place, Coopertown; Alice Cooper's restaurant. Check that off my to do list. :-P

By the time we had cash in hand, and got our tickets, there were only seats left at the very top of the stadium. For the first hour I was so dizzy from the height we were at, I didn't have the nerve to stand up. The concert was great though and it was so nice to be out together and not have to take any little ones to the restroom.

We Sled

2011-03-05T16:56:00.000-07:00

We took the girls to Flagstaff yesterday to play in the snow. It's pretty cool to live in Paradise, and make a day trip to the snow and then return to our nice 80 degree weather at the end of the day. It works well in the summer too.

Happy 6th Birthday Angie!

2011-03-05T16:46:00.000-07:00

Sigh. What a cute kid. Happy Birthday baby.

We hike

2011-03-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

After school we decided to go hiking for a little while. The kids had a whole lot more energy than we thought and we hiked and hiked. Straight up the mountain, on over to the next mountain and down again 2 hours later. The trails were very rocky and steep. I was very impressed with my little girls. At the top of the first mountain is a stack of stones that you are supposed to add to to show your accomplishment. They all put a rock on and Lucy found a piece of gum and popped it in her mouth. Oh yuck!

Public Enemy No. 1

2011-03-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

The garbage truck came today. Lucy heard it and started yelling that it was too loud. I explained to her that it took our trash away. I expounded and said they're taking your poopy diapers away. She cried out "they taking my poopy diapers?" Yup.
"Whaaaaaa!" She started crying and said over and over, "They taking my poopy diapers!" Bring back my diapers!"

I have no idea so don't ask...

I got her sidetracked and she got over it after a while. When Lucy and I were walking home from dropping sisters off at school she saw the trash truck again and started wailing.
"Garbage truck! Bring back my diapers! They take my diapers! Waaaaaaa"

Being a good momma, I just laughed.

President's Day

2011-02-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

I told the kids this is President's Day and what it means. They all know about Abraham Lincoln. They've read a book on him, and of course he shares their daddy's birthday. I told them George Washington also has his birthday in February. I said, "George Washington was the FIRST president ever for our country!"

As I paused for effect, Amy didn't miss a beat and quickly inserted, "And who was the second president?"

How dry is it - post script.

2011-02-21T11:31:00.002-07:00

Oh and my jeans stick to me. Have you ever had so much static charge that denim sticks to you from sliding across the car seat??

How dry is it?

2011-02-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

Arizona is great but they ain't kidding when they say it's dry here:

It is SO dry that my dogs walk around with half of the dead grass in the back yard stuck on their backs and their hair sticks straight up, always.

It is SO dry, I tried to cut my little dog's long curly hair and none of it came off when I cut it. It stuck to her, it stuck to the scissors and it stuck to my hand. What a mess. I had to wet her down to see what fell off and what I still had to cut.

It is SO dry I can't brush the kids hair more than one stroke without causing friction and their hair sticks straigh up.

It is SO dry that I can't iron without the fabric jumping up to meet the iron.

It is SO dry wood floors + broom= forget about it, too much friction nothing gets swept up.

It is SO dry that when I touch the light switch in the girls bathroom I get a shock so strong all their little blinking toothbrushes go off. Really!

I have seen how I will die some day, there is only so much electric current a human body can take.

Bike ride

2011-02-08T16:05:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, the training wheels came off of Karianne's bike. Gotta get video of that for you. Sunday, the neighbors loaned us a little 12" bike for Lucy to ride. Amy and Angie love riding their scooters. Yesterday and today Lucy has rode her bike to school to pick up sisters. Momma is having a hard time keeping up!

Lucy steals the show - again

2011-02-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

Ah, this picture makes me laugh every time I look at it.

No tooth!

2011-01-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

Twin Day

2011-01-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Today was twin day at school. At first the girls were sad because they hadn't coordinated with any friends to dress alike. Then they rummaged in their closets today and remembered that they were triplets and had many matching outfits. :-) They found the outfits themselves and got matching leggings out of their pajama drawer. After I took a picture of them, Lucy wanted to get in on the action so they got her dressed to match them too. Then all the fluff and frills piled in the wagon and went to school. Have a good day girls!

Orphan Alert: Oh my heart.

2011-01-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

This is Xavier. He's special to me. We want to adopt him ourselves, but there seems to be just to many road blocks in our way and waivers necessary to bring him into our family. In the mean time his time is running out so I hope a family can make him their own. Xavier 8 years old, shy and very small for his age. He is a sweetie. He was transferred to the orphanage with a small group of children and he is the only one that has not been adopted yet out of that group and he is keenly aware of that.

He walks with a slight limp and is missing some teeth. Please contact Madison Adoption Advocates for more information on him. The staff from Madison has met him personally when they went to China last year and he particiapated in one of their camps. They have lost of pictures and even a few videos of him. They have his file until February and have a grant for him as well.

earrings

2011-01-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

Angie has been working up her courage for years to get her ears pierced. A few years ago Amy and Karianne got theirs pierced. Angie was third in line and after watching them, she decided this was not something she wanted to do. Well today she finally did it! She was so brave and didn't cry. A pretty big deal for her to overcome her fears. Lucy has been asking for a while to get her ears pierced as well. Lucy realized she did NOT want her ears pierced a second after the deed was done. She cried and cried. She told me for the rest of the day that she did not want earrings and asked me to take them out. Poor baby. Here's Lucy looking in the mirrow, pretty unhappy with the results.

What a cutie!

2011-01-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

This little boy is on the shared list from China. He is soo cute. He just had eye surgery and seems to be adjusting well. I'm a little partial, love a guy in glasses. He's had a cleft lip surgery and still needs surgery on his palate. you can read more about him here on Love Without Boundaries' blog.

aftermath

2011-01-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

3 trees down, 2 more to go.

flying kites

2011-01-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

My best friend from jr high came and visited me in AZ and brought all the girls some kites. The next day it was a rare cold windy day here in Phoenix. We took the girls out to fly their kites. Quickly there was just one still flying and not tangled in someone else's kite. We were all very cold and as we headed back to the car it snowed?? The picture was taken about 5 min. before the video. Brent since found out tht the stuff is called graupel. Somethiung between snow and hail. New word!

Legoland

2010-12-31T16:18:00.000-07:00

We went to Legoland last weekend. What fun!

Beach fun

2010-12-31T16:05:00.000-07:00

The Pacific

2010-12-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

We took a little trip to California right after Christmas. Here's a few pictures of the family on the Pacific Ocean. It was a little cold, but it didn't stop the girls from getting wet.

Twas the morning of Christmas...

2010-12-31T15:49:00.000-07:00

and all through the house

wrapping and ribbon

and toys did abound.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T23:45:00.000-07:00

We did not send out Christmas Cards this year. It's causes me anxiety attacks just thinking about getting all the kids to smile at once in matching outfits. I thought of this idea today, so here's your internet Christmas Card from the Peaks. :-)

silly

2010-12-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Lucy told me she loves Frusty th'noseman.

Sorry, haven't been able to post in a while. My computer crashed and I can't access my pictures.

An Evening in December

2010-12-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

Painting

2010-12-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Karianne spent her Birthday money at a pottery painting place. She did a great job painting a little kitty.

Giveaway

2010-12-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

This fun blog is doing a huge gamestop giveaway. Just go to the site, answer all the questions on your blog or facebook and let them know you did it!

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama (link to: http://bit.ly/tmwishlist) and GameStop (link to: http://bit.ly/gamestop10) are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family?
   Laughter

2. What is your Christmas morning / Hanukkah Nightly tradition?
   Kids wake up and dig in their stockings, parents wake up, big breakfast, Christmas Story, then PRESENTS!
3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?
   Is a maid too much to ask for?
4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?
    We love looking at Christmas lights, going to church Christmas Celebrations.
5. What games did you play with your family growing up?
Lots of board games, card games.
6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?
Kids get in their stockings before the parents have to get up. Oh and there are always some unwrapped presents under the tree.
7. Where would you go for a Christmas/Hanukkah-away-from-home trip?
A lake cabin.
8. Check out GameStop (link to: http://bit.ly/gamestop10) and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year?My husband wants a WII. I like PS2 games, and a DS.

Creepy Santa

2010-12-01T14:35:00.001-07:00

I love anything old. If you know anything about me, you know that. I couln't resist buying this giant old Santa at a church junk sale for $1. He is just about life size. He is coming out of a cardboard chimney with hands reaching out, he just kind of looks creepy. I also bought a child's recliner at the sale (for $5 thankyouverymuch) so the van was already full with 4 kids and a recliner. I held him in my lap in the passenger seat with the window down and had him wave at the cars we passed. Brent got tired of that pretty quick so next we stuffed the Santa behind the back seat and he was looming over Amy and Angie like something out of a horror movie about to snatch them.

When I got him home, everyone begged me to hide him. For the next few days I had great fun hiding him for the single purpose of scaring Brent when he opened the closet, turned down the bed covers or went to the bathroom. I put him on the toilet seat in our little bitty closet bathroom in our bedroom and waited for Brent to scream. Somehow he managed not to use that bathroom for over 2 days and I got tired of scaring MYSELF every time I opened the door to use the bathroom, so I finally gave up and hid him somewhere else.

He's a great gag, but the family wants him gone. He's on ebay now if you want him: here

Hope you don't have nightmares.

Sights of the Season

2010-11-28T23:13:00.000-07:00

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries. ~W.J. Cameron

waiting

2010-11-09T11:34:00.002-07:00

Angie told me she was going to wait for the green lemons on our tree to turn yellow. And then she sat...

Everything Changes

2010-11-07T16:24:00.008-07:00

This is Zhuang Lu Hu. Zhuang is the last name of the Orphanage director, all the kids have that name and Lu Hu means butterfly. She was found on the side of a road, less than a day old wrapped in a red and white rag next to another little baby. Butterfly is a compound Chinese name and both girls have half of the word butterfly since they were found together. Almost all the referral photos I've seen of children overseas waiting to be adopted have this vacant stare.

This is Wu Hong Cai. Wu means the town she is from, Hong Cai means, "a pretty name for a girl". She was found abandoned in a hospital a few days old, and was taken to an orphanage. She waited for almost 3 years for her family to come scoop her up and say, "There she is! There's our little girl." And they scooped her up and brought her home.

This is Amy Wu Cai Peak and Angela Lu Hu Peak , sisters. Same little girls but what a change. Not that they are older, but they are different. They belong, they have family and they have a name. Not the orphanage director's name but their own parents name that were chosen for them.

Today in church we heard a message on adoption as the church announced the launch of our new Orphan Care ministry, Hands of Hope. The message was about how Christ adopted us, our names were changed and we were given the title, "Child of God". But so much more than that, our before and after adoption tale is more than a fairy tale. Before we were forlorn, undesirable, unlovely and rejected by the world. When Christ adopted us, we went from no hope, no love to a bright future with God and Everlasting Love.

I just love looking at before and after pictures of adopted children. The before pictures are so sad, so forlorn. The after pictures are without a doubt, beautiful children with breathtaking changes from their before adoption pictures. What is the difference?

Love.

Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.
(Isa 1:17)

Orphan Sunday

2010-11-05T10:35:00.002-07:00

This Sunday is Orphan Sunday. I am thrilled to be a part of a church that is participating this year. We will also be introducing our new Orphan Care ministry Hands of Hope at the church this Sunday. May God use it to united Orphans and Families.

Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

Walk n Roll

2010-10-31T21:38:00.009-07:00

Saturday we went to the Spina Bifida Association's "Walk n Roll". I thought it would be a good way to show the girls what Amy has has a name, and there are other kids like her. A lot of kids in wheel chairs and many kids with the Kiddie Gate that Amy got a few weeks ago to help her walk. It was fun. One thing that I have found to be so important for our family is a sense of solidarity with other families that have similarities with us. Whether it's special needs, adoption, international adoption, infant loss and on, it's just a great sense of support to join with others on the same road we are traveling.

Being the day before Halloween, the kids could come to the walk dressed up, so the girls put on their favorite outfits and strutted around. After the walk, there was a picnic and carnival games for the kids. They all got snow cones AND cotton candy AND candy. So much stickiness!

They did a great event. We look forward to the next event with the Spina Bifida Association.

So many choices.

2010-10-29T21:03:00.002-07:00

Ya know how you have to pick a prefix when you are filling out forms? I filled out a form tonight that had more choices than I had EVER seen. So many choices. I'm debating on whether I'd rather be called "Her Excellency" or "The"

This was the list to pick from:

2nd Lt
Capt
Capt and Mrs
CDR and Mrs
CDR
Col
Col and Mrs
CPT
Deacon
Dr
Dr. and Mrs.
Dr and Mr
Drs.
Gen and Mrs
Honorable
Hon and Mrs.
His Excellency
Her Excellency
Ltc
Lt Col.
Lt Col and Mrs.
Madam
Maj. Gen
Miss
Mr.
Maj.
Mr. and Dr.
Mr. and Mr.
Mr. and Mrs.
Ms.
Ms. and Mr.
Ms. and Mrs.
Ms. and Ms.
Rabbi
Rabbi and Mrs.
Rev.
Rev and Mrs.
Revs.
Senator
Sen and Mrs.
Sgt.
Sgt and Mrs.
Sr.
The Honorable
The Hon. and Mrs.

Orphan Alert computer whiz ageing out. Huge grant available

2010-10-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Homestudy-Ready Families: Urgent Adoption!

A 13-and-3/4-year- old boy urgently needs to be adopted before he ages out in January. He is a computer whiz, has a good sense of humor, a repaired cleft lip and a blood disorder. He has been tested for HIV and is negative. Exceptions can be granted for families interested him, and families can adopt him with another child. There is up to $10550 in aid.

This boy is in Asia and this adoption requires travel. We had a devoted family for him, but due to circumstances beyond their control they could not complete this adoption. We need a homestudy-ready family that has started their immigration work in order to complete this adoption on time.

ID: LZ-0197-16675- 01,

When we met with this 13-year-old boy he spoke in a soft voice but clearly stated that his main interest is computers! His favorite subject in school is computers and his favorite out-of-school activity is working on computers. He has a repaired cleft lip and palate but his speech is understandable, though as he counted in English a slight lisp was noticeable. Although he is a bit shy, he did ask if everyone in the room was supposed to be speaking in English! Watching him later in our meetings, it was clear that he has an engaging personality and a good sense of humor, likes to entertain others and is a leader among the other children. He showed a competitive, but very appropriate, spirit in the group games. By breakfast of the second day, he had lost any shyness, not hesitating to approach our staff and asking with a smile the English word for an item he held up—a hardboiled egg. This nice boy is need of a family! He has a blood disorder. He has been tested for HIV and is negative.

Requirement waivers: Waivers can be requested if you do not meet the requirements for adopting from China. If you are married, we can ask for exceptions to the adoption requirements (i.e., if you are over the age limit of 54, somewhat over the BMI limit of 40, somewhat under the income/net worth, or have medical conditions, etc.).

Financial Aid: A family of any income is eligible for grants/waivers ranging up to $9,550 in aid for this particular child. There is a $4,200 Promise Child grant and the $250 WACAP application fee is waived. Please also ask about up to $4,000 in reductions possible on a case-by-case basis and a new private donation for this adoption of $1,000. There is no fee to ask for this child's information file. Please also ask your tax consultant about $13,000-plus Adoption Tax Credit.

Contact FamilyFinders@ wacap.org 1-800-732-1887 WACAP (www.wacap.org) is a non-profit adoption agency.

Deserving a Break

2010-10-13T10:40:00.003-07:00

You know you always wondered what Superheroes did on their day off.

Hiking in the Fall

2010-10-11T21:05:00.014-07:00

Besides the Autumn poets sing
A few prosaic days

A little this side of the snow
And that side of the Haze --

A few incisive Mornings --
A few Ascetic Eves --

Gone -- Mr. Bryant's "Golden Rod" --
And Mr. Thomson's "sheaves."

Still, is the bustle in the Brook --
Sealed are the spicy valves --

Mesmeric fingers softly touch
The Eyes of many Elves --

Perhaps a squirrel may remain --
My sentiments to share --

Grant me, Oh Lord, a sunny mind --
Thy windy will to bear!

Besides the Autumn poets sing by Emily Dickinson

Regrets

2010-10-08T22:35:00.000-07:00

getting crafty

2010-10-08T22:10:00.007-07:00

I had a little fun this week sprucing up some old pieces of furniture that had seen better days. I found this neat bench on the curb. It looked like someone used it as a surface to pot some plants. There was dirt all over the bench, but it looked like it would just brush off and I could recover it. I put it in the backyard and didn't get to it for several days. Forgot about my puppy and he ripped up the arm of the bench. Drat. Then I had to pad and patch the arm THEN recover it. I used an old chenille blanket. love how it turned out.

Next I had been meaning to get to the dresser in on of the girls' rooms. It's an old wood laminate dresser and they've been picking the old laminate off at night. I filled in the parts that have peeled away and then I painted it with a thin coat of blue. Karianne loves it but nicely pointed out that I really didn't do a good job of painting because the brown shows through in some places. I don't think she really believed me that I did it on purpose. She said it's ok, it looks nice anyway. :-P

Orphan Alert: 6 yo sweetie

2010-10-07T21:50:00.003-07:00

Look at this sweet little girl! She needs a family. Love Without Boundaries is advocating for her and she is on the Shared List in China. Her name is Sophie and her SN is listed as Rectovaginal Fistula - she had a colostomy and should receive surgery to repair her fistula and reverse the colostomy, soon. This is what is written about sweet Sophie:

Six-year-old Sophie has been waiting for a family to call her own since early 2010. When LWB became aware of her availability through the Waiting Children Program, we immediately started collecting bits of information on her from people who have met her and from her LWB reports. Every piece of information portrayed Sophie in one light: ”Bright.”

Everyone’s comments about Sophie…her big eyes, her enthusiasm for life, her kindness and happiness…brought me back to this one word. I think even these few photos of her reflect her bright personality.

She is a ray of sunshine that brightens the day of those around her.

Sophie is helpful in taking care of children younger than herself. She has fun riding an adult size tricycle and even enjoys cleaning the floor! Her caretakers see her blossoming into a beautiful young girl.

She tries not to let her special need hold her back in life, although it can be difficult with her level of activity. Another surgery is pending for Sophie, and hopefully after that there will be nothing to stop her from taking life by the reigns!

Love Without Boundaries proudly advocates for adoption but is not an adoption agency. We invite you to contact adoptionassistance@lwbmail.com with questions about a child we have featured and encourage you to contact your local adoption agency for more information about China’s Waiting Child Program.