Pumpkins

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!

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

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!

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

"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

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...

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

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

Adoption fundraiser AND Pizza Party

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!

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!!