Walk n Roll

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.

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

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

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

Hiking in the Fall

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

getting crafty

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

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.

Karianne flips

Bargain Brag

Yesterday I went to a church rummage sale. They had a nice but dirty dining room set for 8. I really liked it, but it was $275! I sent a picture of it to Brent (who was not with me) and asked him if I might have it when the sale went half price as church rummage sales usually do. He said no, that was still to much for us. I came back to the sale around noon, everything was half price. The table was still there but they were very confident it was going to sell. I didn't think so. I asked the woman in charge if I might leave an offer and if it didn't sell by the end of the day, then maybe they could give me a call and consider my offer. The lady asked, "how much?" I said, "forty dollars." (Brent was glad he wasn't there. HAHA!) The lady looked at me in disbelief and said with a sneer, "Uh I can tell you right now, we won't be accepting THAT offer. We have PEOPLE that will take it (meaning the thrift store). She refused to take my number and would rather give it to the thrift store who really needed it as opposed to me and my $40 who actually needed it too. Geez!

Spunky girl that I am. I went back to the sale around 4pm. Table was still there as I suspected it would be. I walked up to the woman and asked, "how much is the table now?" She growled, "five dollars."
"Um, do you mean the big table with the 8 chairs?"
"Yes, five dollars!"
"OK, I'll take it."

I quickly gave her my Five dollars and loaded it up in the car. I was a little concerned that she'd remember that it was beneath her to accept $40 a few hours before!

Love my table! It's the first time I've been able to fit everyone around the table and fit the food on the table as well. For years I've served the food buffet style. Who hoo!