Karianne and Amy have been working on variations of this masterpiece all day. In between builds Lucy does a little remodeling.
Our beautiful family, our wonderful life.
Friday, February 27, 2009
can we build it? Yes we can!
Karianne and Amy have been working on variations of this masterpiece all day. In between builds Lucy does a little remodeling.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Make them happy
Today I took Karianne in to the Dr in the morning for her booster shots. I spent the rest of the day making a big deal about her and trying to make her happy so she'd forget about the shots. We had a fun day.
She told me she was going to pray to Jesus to make her brave when she got her shots. I told her once she got these shots she wouldn't need any others until she was grown up. She told me she wanted to wait until she was 60 to get the shots. She did pretty good, cried a lot, but then she did get 4 shots, that's a lot!
Took her out for ice cream after the Dr visit and she said that helped her feel better a lot. Then we went to the feed store and looked at kitties, rabbits, and baby chicks. We are going to tell daddy we would like one of each!
Then we went to pick up sisters at school and Karianne couldn't wait to tell Angie that she'd be getting shots too when she turned 4. We didn't even make it back in the van yet before Karianne put her arm around Angie and said, "come'ere I wanna tell you something. When you turn 4 you are going to get shots and you are going to have to be brave like I was today. But momma will take you out for ice cream and that will help you feel better a lot. Momma, will you take Angie out for ice cream when she gets her shots?" Angie still rememebers getting poked a few months ago so I really didn't want to talk about shots too much with her.
It was so nice today I took them all straight to the zoo after I picked Angie and Amy up from school. It was just beautiful and we had the zoo to ourselves. Poor Karianne was not doing very well by the end of the day both legs were sore and she was limping and crying. I put her in the stroller and we went home and pampered her for the rest of the evening. Hopefully she will sleep off the soreness by tomorrow. Can't wait for the next one to turn 4.
She told me she was going to pray to Jesus to make her brave when she got her shots. I told her once she got these shots she wouldn't need any others until she was grown up. She told me she wanted to wait until she was 60 to get the shots. She did pretty good, cried a lot, but then she did get 4 shots, that's a lot!
Took her out for ice cream after the Dr visit and she said that helped her feel better a lot. Then we went to the feed store and looked at kitties, rabbits, and baby chicks. We are going to tell daddy we would like one of each!
Then we went to pick up sisters at school and Karianne couldn't wait to tell Angie that she'd be getting shots too when she turned 4. We didn't even make it back in the van yet before Karianne put her arm around Angie and said, "come'ere I wanna tell you something. When you turn 4 you are going to get shots and you are going to have to be brave like I was today. But momma will take you out for ice cream and that will help you feel better a lot. Momma, will you take Angie out for ice cream when she gets her shots?" Angie still rememebers getting poked a few months ago so I really didn't want to talk about shots too much with her.
It was so nice today I took them all straight to the zoo after I picked Angie and Amy up from school. It was just beautiful and we had the zoo to ourselves. Poor Karianne was not doing very well by the end of the day both legs were sore and she was limping and crying. I put her in the stroller and we went home and pampered her for the rest of the evening. Hopefully she will sleep off the soreness by tomorrow. Can't wait for the next one to turn 4.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Spring at the Peaks
Spring has officially arrived at the Peak house. We spotted our first flower blooming in our backyard and a few more about to burst open. It's very exciting to Angie because that means her Birthday is just around the corner, we have a child born in each season. To Karianne it means she can go swimming soon. To me, it means they can finally go outside to play! Oh Gosh! Lucy just picked up Dog poo--
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Dress up too!
Lucy and I are home from church today because Lucy has a nose that shouldn't be seen by her friends at church. I just finished an outfit for her so just because we're sick doesn't mean we can't play dress up.
Dress Up
The girls have been in dress up clothes all week, and somehow it still hasn't saved my laundry load. They have been pretty funny to watch. They mix all the fairy tales into one in one great drama. Karianne was the lion in Wizard of Oz and the lion King roled into one. They mostly stayed in "princess" clothes all week. Karianne usually gets to be the heroine, Amy is the prince and Angie plays all the other roles from what I can tell. I'm cleaning the kitchen and all of a sudden Karianne waltzes into the livingroom with an apple in her hand and falls down in a heap. Then Amy has to kiss her. But it doesn't work to revive her because Angie has waved a wand over her and pronounced Bibbity Boppity Boo and now Karianne is a lion again. All very confusing.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
God bless them!
I was just introduced to this awesome ministry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2240588/39955363
They help indigenous churches care for ophans in their area. Awesome.
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2240588/39955363
They help indigenous churches care for ophans in their area. Awesome.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Big Date
Last night our whole family went to Playhouse Disney Live. The girls were SO excited! I think Lucy loved it as much as the rest of the girls did. She squealed and clapped through the first half of the show. The girls just screamed like teens at a rock concert every time a familiar character walked onto the stage. Brent and I had to be told who were were seeing in case we didn't know. Pooh Bear! Momma that's Pooh Bear!" OHHH Momma look it's the Little Einsteins! That's them!" They were very engaged in the show. At one point Goofy tripped on a plug or something and all the lights on the stage went off. Amy yelled "OH GOOFY!" and threw up her hands in disbelief. Fun was had by all. THank you A.M.!!
orphan insights
This is from my friend Judy of Loving China's CHildren:
Right now seeing a lot of agencies advocating for the older children(which I
feel is so wonderful) I praise God for families opening up their hearts to
these older children. These children can still experiene the love of having a
family. I know having a "family" is so important in the Chinese culture.
A friend was telling me tonight about a social worker she knows who is in
China now adopting their 13 year son who will "age out" in a couple of months.
His best friend is also 13 and he was "not chosen" by a family. When the
boy being adopted was leaving the orphanage with his new parents his friend
was touching the windshield of their vehicle and he was crying.
I cannot imagine the pain for this child. I know he was happy for his friend
but knowing he doesn't have a family to love him must be so unbearable.
Friends, let us pray and advocate for all children needing families,
especially those who are about to "age out". Being adopted is a like a miracle to
them.
Right now seeing a lot of agencies advocating for the older children(which I
feel is so wonderful) I praise God for families opening up their hearts to
these older children. These children can still experiene the love of having a
family. I know having a "family" is so important in the Chinese culture.
A friend was telling me tonight about a social worker she knows who is in
China now adopting their 13 year son who will "age out" in a couple of months.
His best friend is also 13 and he was "not chosen" by a family. When the
boy being adopted was leaving the orphanage with his new parents his friend
was touching the windshield of their vehicle and he was crying.
I cannot imagine the pain for this child. I know he was happy for his friend
but knowing he doesn't have a family to love him must be so unbearable.
Friends, let us pray and advocate for all children needing families,
especially those who are about to "age out". Being adopted is a like a miracle to
them.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Orphan alert: 13 year old boy needs his family
There is a 13 year old boy in China who needs a home. His mother died
when he was 5 and he was soon after abanoned by his father and he has
been in the orphanage ever since. He will be 14 in December and
according to China, he is unadoptable at 14 and he will be on his own
after that. He is a healthy and very smart boy and would make someone
a good son. I am part of an adoption group online that have been very
burdened for him and we hope to find a family for him before it is too
late. Our group will also help raise funds for the adoption. This
precious child of God just needs a home and a chance at a future. If
you know of anyone who would be interested in hearing more about him
please let me know. YOu can also find out more information about him through the agency handling his case: Christian World Adoption http://www.cwa.org/
Thursday, February 12, 2009
10 things my husband and Abe Lincoln have in common
1. They're both republican
2. April 15th isn't a good day for either of them
3. They both have a mom named Nancy
4. Lincoln was 6'4". 6 + 4= 10 Brent wears a size 10 shoe.
5. Lincoln had a few words to say from the back of a train in Gettysburg. Brent has ridden on a train before.
6. They both sported a beard for a while.
7. Lincoln's image is on the Penny, Brent uses pennies with Lincoln's image on them.
8. Lincoln said, "Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today". Brent says it too, just different.
9. they have the same birthday
10. February 12, 2009 is Lincoln's 200th Birthday. It is Brent's 36th birthday, BOTH can be divided by 2.
Happy Birthday Sweetie!
"I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. I am living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father's child has." - Abraham Lincoln
2. April 15th isn't a good day for either of them
3. They both have a mom named Nancy
4. Lincoln was 6'4". 6 + 4= 10 Brent wears a size 10 shoe.
5. Lincoln had a few words to say from the back of a train in Gettysburg. Brent has ridden on a train before.
6. They both sported a beard for a while.
7. Lincoln's image is on the Penny, Brent uses pennies with Lincoln's image on them.
8. Lincoln said, "Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today". Brent says it too, just different.
9. they have the same birthday
10. February 12, 2009 is Lincoln's 200th Birthday. It is Brent's 36th birthday, BOTH can be divided by 2.
Happy Birthday Sweetie!
"I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. I am living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father's child has." - Abraham Lincoln
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Orphan alert
There is a 2 year old little girl in Ethiopia than needs to find her family immediately. She needs heart surgery that is unavailable in Ethiopia. This precious child of God has Tricuspid Atresia with ASD and VSD. Can you help heal her "broken heart"? Her file is with Children's House International. You can ask for Jessica who is handling her case.
contact info:
the CHI WA office number is
36-380-5370 or email at: jessica.deveau@chiadopt.org
Every child deserves a family.
contact info:
the CHI WA office number is
36-380-5370 or email at: jessica.deveau@chiadopt.org
Every child deserves a family.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Ballet
So sunday I took Karianne to the Cinderella Ballet for our date. I made a dress for her just for the occasion. I told her she'd look just like Cinderella. She didn't think so since the dress wasn't blue and white. Nevertheless, I have to say as a proud momma, she turned a lot of heads.
When we got there I found out I didn't have an original thought on that one. Every little girl there was either wearing a tutu or dressed like Cinderella. I didn't see a single boy attending the ballet, I suppose there may have been men there but I didn't see any men either. Just a lot of mommys and daughters. Our seats were front row of the balcony. I don't really do good with heights. The balcony was 5 or six stories up from the stage and a sheer drop from our seats. I was more than a little anxious the whole time and by the time I got home I had a real headache because I was so tense. I kept visualizing Karianne going over the edge...
Besides all that, it was just lovely and we had a really special time. Karianne followed the ballet fairly well and didn't really get bored or figety.
I really didn't know where the event was downtown, just knew approximately where it was on a certain street so I just parked and we walked until we found it. We really enjoyed that part too. We had the downtown to ourselves and I snapped lots of pictures of Karianne walking downtown. Which is why I am just now posting, I was waiting for Brent to put together a photo montage for me so I didn't post a million pictures of her. Enjoy.
Monday, February 9, 2009
shabby chick with a little punk
This is Karianne right before I took her to the ballet yesterday. Will post about that later, but this picture just cracks me up.
Friday, February 6, 2009
just a little disturbing
The girls were playing in the living room and watching TV. I looked over at Amy and she was watching TV with a little plastic play knife stuck through her ponytail. I asked her about it and she said Karianne did it. Karianne said she did. A few moments later I looked at them again and Karianne was watching TV and Amy had Karianne's feet in her lap using play plastic scissors on Karianne's feet. I'm gonna watch those two.
You can help throw a Starfish!
There's an old story with many variations but basically it goes-
a boy that was throwing starfish in the sea. A man told him, "you are wasting your time, You can't throw all the starfish back in the sea, what difference does it make?" The boy picked up another starfish and tossed it in the water and said, "It made a difference to that one."
The is a woman who went to live in China that started a foster home that she calls The Starfish home. She says in her own words she is in the business of saving lives. She takes high risk orphans from the orphanages that just don't have the time to help them and nutures them as sees to it that they are healthy well fed and loved.
I asked her how she pays for it all, she told me she used her savings and then she relies on private donation. This woman has my utmost respect.
She just started another foster home just for cleft lip and cleft palate children. She is hoping to find 80 people to sponsor a child for $25 a month.
Would you like to throw a starfish back in?
You can read about her fanastic journey and the lives she is changing on her blog:
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com/
a boy that was throwing starfish in the sea. A man told him, "you are wasting your time, You can't throw all the starfish back in the sea, what difference does it make?" The boy picked up another starfish and tossed it in the water and said, "It made a difference to that one."
The is a woman who went to live in China that started a foster home that she calls The Starfish home. She says in her own words she is in the business of saving lives. She takes high risk orphans from the orphanages that just don't have the time to help them and nutures them as sees to it that they are healthy well fed and loved.
I asked her how she pays for it all, she told me she used her savings and then she relies on private donation. This woman has my utmost respect.
She just started another foster home just for cleft lip and cleft palate children. She is hoping to find 80 people to sponsor a child for $25 a month.
Would you like to throw a starfish back in?
You can read about her fanastic journey and the lives she is changing on her blog:
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com/
Emergency, boy needs his family, "aging out"
I am passing this on in hopes this boy's parents might find him here:
Emergency Adoption-Aging out, a healthy boy, China, Exceptions
granted -No adoption fees - WACAP
We are grateful to everyone for successfully helping us find families
for 16 older children from China in the last few months. Your
response was overwhelming and your help was deeply appreciated.
We have one more child to find afamily for from this first group of
older children! Three different families wanted him but realized they
couldn't get the paperwork done in time. We need parents that can
finish the adoption quickly by this August- maybe a family that has a
homestudy or dossier or immigration already started or completed. Our
staff has met with this boy in China and would be happy to talk with
you about him.
He is 13 ½ and from China and must have a completed adoption in 6
months. He is in danger of turning 14 and "aging out." This means he
may have no support or resources and have to live on his own in
China - if he is not adopted before he turns 14.
ZH is a popular, quiet boy with a great smile. He is healthy and
developmentally on target. He loves baseball and ping pong and wants
to be a professional athlete. He plays in the band and is very
helpful. Adoption fees for this child are waived. He will no longer
be eligible for international adoption after August 2009.Please ask
for his video, information and photos of him.
GOOD NEWS EXCEPTIONS GRANTED! Married couples may ask for exceptions
to the adoption requirements for him. So if you don't fit all the
guidelines perfectly you may still be able to adopt him. We have
successfully gotten many exceptions for families for this group of
children. Parents will fill out a pre-application form and pay a $50
fee. We will send you his file. Then we can submit your information
to ask for an exception to adopt him. You do NOT have to pay the $500
pre-approval fee to find out from the CCAA if your exceptions will be
granted.
FINANCES: All his adoption fees have been donated. There are no
application fees, no adoption fees and no post placement fees. This
is a savings of over $14000. You may be eligible for over $10,000 in
Adoption tax credit. Parents will be responsible for paying for their
homestudy, immigration, visas and travel fees.
Wait time:greatly reduced. WACAP (www.wacap.org) will do everything
possible to expedite his adoption. WACAP is a non-profit adoption
agency with over 18 years of experience in
adoptions from China. Contact FamilyFinders@ wacap.org or 1-800-732-
1887.
Requirements for China adoptions:
Married couples are strongly encouraged to inquire about the
possibility of an exception
if you don't fit these guidelines.
Married couples only. Couples must be married a minimum of two years,
and couples with prior divorces must be married at least five years.
Both spouses must be 30–54 years of age (before 55th birthday must
complete the adoption for families adopting children who are older or
have special needs). Applicants must be "physically and mentally
healthy" as defined by the CCAA. Any of the following conditions may
disqualify an applicant: A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more (see
this online BMI calculator), for either applicant. Infectious disease
still at an infective stage; Mental handicap; Blindness or severe
vision impairment; Inability to hear or speak unless planning to
adopt a child with the same condition, Afunction or dysfunction of
limbs or trunk caused by impairment, incompleteness, numbness or
deformation; severe facial deformation; severe diseases that require
long-term treatment and affect life expectancy, such as cancer,
lupus, kidney disease, epilepsy, etc.; A major organ transplantation
less than 10 years earlier; A history of cancer; Schizophrenia; Taking
medication for mental disorders (mild or severe), including
depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder, within the
previous two years .
• In addition to the requirement for the family's income to
exceed $10,000 per family member (including the child to be adopted),
the family's net worth must exceed $80,000.
• Each applicant must hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
• The youngest child currently in the home must be over 1 year
of age.
• Applicants must have no criminal record.
WACAP (www.wacap.org) is a non-profit adoption agency with a long
history of adoptions from China. Contact Lynne Mason at
FamilyFinders@ wacap.org. .. or 1-800-732-1887.
Emergency Adoption-Aging out, a healthy boy, China, Exceptions
granted -No adoption fees:
Emergency Adoption-Aging out, a healthy boy, China, Exceptions
granted -No adoption fees - WACAP
We are grateful to everyone for successfully helping us find families
for 16 older children from China in the last few months. Your
response was overwhelming and your help was deeply appreciated.
We have one more child to find afamily for from this first group of
older children! Three different families wanted him but realized they
couldn't get the paperwork done in time. We need parents that can
finish the adoption quickly by this August- maybe a family that has a
homestudy or dossier or immigration already started or completed. Our
staff has met with this boy in China and would be happy to talk with
you about him.
He is 13 ½ and from China and must have a completed adoption in 6
months. He is in danger of turning 14 and "aging out." This means he
may have no support or resources and have to live on his own in
China - if he is not adopted before he turns 14.
ZH is a popular, quiet boy with a great smile. He is healthy and
developmentally on target. He loves baseball and ping pong and wants
to be a professional athlete. He plays in the band and is very
helpful. Adoption fees for this child are waived. He will no longer
be eligible for international adoption after August 2009.Please ask
for his video, information and photos of him.
GOOD NEWS EXCEPTIONS GRANTED! Married couples may ask for exceptions
to the adoption requirements for him. So if you don't fit all the
guidelines perfectly you may still be able to adopt him. We have
successfully gotten many exceptions for families for this group of
children. Parents will fill out a pre-application form and pay a $50
fee. We will send you his file. Then we can submit your information
to ask for an exception to adopt him. You do NOT have to pay the $500
pre-approval fee to find out from the CCAA if your exceptions will be
granted.
FINANCES: All his adoption fees have been donated. There are no
application fees, no adoption fees and no post placement fees. This
is a savings of over $14000. You may be eligible for over $10,000 in
Adoption tax credit. Parents will be responsible for paying for their
homestudy, immigration, visas and travel fees.
Wait time:greatly reduced. WACAP (www.wacap.org) will do everything
possible to expedite his adoption. WACAP is a non-profit adoption
agency with over 18 years of experience in
adoptions from China. Contact FamilyFinders@ wacap.org or 1-800-732-
1887.
Requirements for China adoptions:
Married couples are strongly encouraged to inquire about the
possibility of an exception
if you don't fit these guidelines.
Married couples only. Couples must be married a minimum of two years,
and couples with prior divorces must be married at least five years.
Both spouses must be 30–54 years of age (before 55th birthday must
complete the adoption for families adopting children who are older or
have special needs). Applicants must be "physically and mentally
healthy" as defined by the CCAA. Any of the following conditions may
disqualify an applicant: A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more (see
this online BMI calculator), for either applicant. Infectious disease
still at an infective stage; Mental handicap; Blindness or severe
vision impairment; Inability to hear or speak unless planning to
adopt a child with the same condition, Afunction or dysfunction of
limbs or trunk caused by impairment, incompleteness, numbness or
deformation; severe facial deformation; severe diseases that require
long-term treatment and affect life expectancy, such as cancer,
lupus, kidney disease, epilepsy, etc.; A major organ transplantation
less than 10 years earlier; A history of cancer; Schizophrenia; Taking
medication for mental disorders (mild or severe), including
depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder, within the
previous two years .
• In addition to the requirement for the family's income to
exceed $10,000 per family member (including the child to be adopted),
the family's net worth must exceed $80,000.
• Each applicant must hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
• The youngest child currently in the home must be over 1 year
of age.
• Applicants must have no criminal record.
WACAP (www.wacap.org) is a non-profit adoption agency with a long
history of adoptions from China. Contact Lynne Mason at
FamilyFinders@ wacap.org. .. or 1-800-732-1887.
Emergency Adoption-Aging out, a healthy boy, China, Exceptions
granted -No adoption fees:
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Fairy's Song
The Wind in the willows,
The wind in the grass.
The sun in the clover
As Fairy Folk pass.
And it's flying,
And Spying
And dancing around.
First up in the tree-tops,
Then down on the ground.
So, come to us, Children,
O come while you may.
For fairies are always
Just ready to play.
(from John Martin's Big Book for Little Folk copywright 1919)
Yup, getting a lot of mileage out of my little picture. I forgot I had this poem and just had to repost the picture with the poem.
The wind in the grass.
The sun in the clover
As Fairy Folk pass.
And it's flying,
And Spying
And dancing around.
First up in the tree-tops,
Then down on the ground.
So, come to us, Children,
O come while you may.
For fairies are always
Just ready to play.
(from John Martin's Big Book for Little Folk copywright 1919)
Yup, getting a lot of mileage out of my little picture. I forgot I had this poem and just had to repost the picture with the poem.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Gorgeous
such a big girl. Poor baby has been coughing and blowing her nose all day, you wouldn't know it huh?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Valentines Super Tulle Skirt
Ok here's the picture of Angie in the skirt that I made. I did list it to ebay this week in case anyone want to bid on the skirt. (Grin)
click here
Monday, February 2, 2009
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