Buy a Necklace and Help Orphans in Africa AND Haiti!

The last week in July, we will be heading to Port-au-Prince with the Global Orphan Project again.   A sweet adoption friend, Erin, is leading the trip.  I can't wait to meet her in person! 

In the meantime, we're going to do some fundraising to help with our trip costs and with the purchasing of donations to take.  Our family alone will be taking three 50-pound  suitcases worth.  I don't generally like to sell things, but this is something that I feel good about and something that I've actually had people ask me about since our trips to Ethiopia.

Acacia Bead Necklaces!

I recently had the chance to purchase some from another agency working in Africa.  Widows and orphans in Uganda make the beads and necklaces.  The agency sells them for them.  I buy them from the other agency and sell them to you.

Win-win-win!

You get a beautiful necklace, hand-made by a woman or child in Africa.  They get a source of income providing them with a means to live!  And, I can buy loads of peanut butter to take to Haiti!  

I only have 20 necklaces - 2 each of 10 different colors - so if you want a particular one, buy it quickly!  I don't know if I'll be able to get anymore.  They are all $20 each, plus $2 shipping if I need to ship it to you.  If you're local, I'll get it to you and you won't have to pay for shipping.

Here are the colors currently available.  I will set up a pay-pal link on the blog, but leave a comment or talk to me first to ensure that I have the color you want before you pay.  Thanks!!

Blue & White
SOLD OUT!!!

Brick Red
SOLD OUT!!

Confetti
SOLD OUT!!

Cream & Pink
SOLD OUT!!

Hunter Green
SOLD OUT!!

Maroon

Mint Chocolate Chip
SOLD OUT!!!

Teal

Tiger

Large Bead - Red

BTW, here's a shortened video of our first trip.  If anyone is thinking that they might want to join us, get in touch with me and we'll talk!

A Preschool Wedding

This morning, Markos' preschool celebrated the wedding of Q and U.  I admit that when the invitation came home and I discovered that parents were invited to attend, I was not very enthused.  I have my women's Bible study group on Wednesday mornings from 10 - 11:30 and the wedding was starting at 11:00 so I was going to have to leave significantly early in order to attend the wedding. 

Truth be told, I planned to skip the wedding and just arrive a little early to pick Markos up until this morning when he was getting ready and I saw how excited he was for the whole event.  The kids were to dress up, so he wore dress pants, a dress shirt, and a tie along with dress shoes.  And he was very thrilled about it, although he kept getting confused and referring to them as "my wedding" instead of his wedding clothes or his dress clothes. 

Although I tried to leave Bible study in time to make it to the wedding, I was still a little late arriving for the event.  I was pretty disappointed that I missed most of the ceremony once I saw how cute it all was.  Regardless, I got a few pictures of the "recessional", the "reception", and the "farewell to the bride and groom".  Too stinkin' cute!

Presenting the new couple

Markos was in the wedding party

At the reception

Cutting the cake

Drinking punch

Eating cake

Doing the Chicken Dance

Their decorated "car"

Bride and Groom ready to depart - check out those awesome rings!

Markos doing a puppet show for me before we left

We're Going Back to Haiti!

A year without loving on some orphans is just too long.  

Plus, the first trip was so amazing for Mackenzie and I,
that we have to go back.

And we're taking Eric with us this time.  

Because little boys love for grown men to hoist them up on their shoulders and parade them around.

Because little boys love to be tossed in the air by a daddy
(even if it's not their daddy).  

Because older boys like to play soccer with men who are too old
to keep up
(but think that they might still have a chance).  

And because this Momma's heart hurts when I think about the longing in those little sweeties' hugs.  

And how they quickly fell asleep, feeling safe in my arms.  

And how much JOY their smiles brought to the deepest parts
of my soul.  

We're going back to Haiti.  To love on some kids. 

BTW, here's a shortened video of our first trip.  If anyone is thinking that they might want to join us sometime, get in touch with me and we'll talk!

One Year Home

I can't believe that next week, on January 28th, we will be celebrating the one year anniversary of the day we arrived home - exhausted, emotional, relieved, excited, and afraid - after our second trip to Ethiopia.

This past year has been amazing. Very, very hard, trying, and exhausting, but amazing. As I put together a video of our first year together, I was in awe of how far Markos has come and how much he's changed and grown. Seeing his tiny, frail body which first wore size 2T (at 4.5 years old), now wearing size 4 & 5. Hearing him talk in the videos with more Amharic than English, now hearing him speak incredible English with an adorable accent. Seeing my tired expression as I held him close having woken with him 5 to 6 times the night before, now rarely ever getting up with him at night. We've come so far.

Yet, when he and I were talking earlier today and I said, "Wow Markos, next week will be the one year anniversary of when you came to America! You've been here a whole year already!", I was surprised (and saddened) when he got a panicked look on his face and asked, "I'm going back to Ethiopia?!". Oh baby, no. You're part of our family FOREVER now.

Day by day, week by week, month by month, things get easier. We've come so far, but still have such a long way to go. Looking back and seeing the smiles, and hearing the laughter, and remembering the joy and excitement helps. Helps me more confidently say, the best is yet to come!!

And this past year has been A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!

One Year Home!

Markos' First Christmas Morning

Markos was so excited when we put him to bed, that we thought sure he would be the child who awoke at 4:30 AM, ready to open gifts (after all, that wouldn't be too different from any normal morning for him!).  Surprisingly, Grammy was awake first and was watching Markos when he started to stir at 5:50.  She said he opened his eyes, leaned up to look down where the other 2 littles were sleeping, saw that they were still asleep, and laid his head back down for a while.  A few minutes later, he did the same thing.  Again and again, until he actually fell back to sleep.  (A Christmas miracle?!  Maybe!)  ;-)

The kids didn't really wake up and get out of bed until close to 8:30 - yay!  Then, they waited obediently upstairs until everyone was awake, gathered together upstairs, and ready to go open gifts.  The adults, armed with cameras and video cameras went down first, with kids crowding at the doorway ready to come down.

When they were finally given the go-ahead, Markos led the pack down the stairs.  (I know the pile looks ridiculous - and it is - but remember, it's for all three of our families plus Grammy & Pappy's gifts for all of us, so that makes it a little less appalling - right?!) 

The kids ooh'd and aah'd while the cameras clicked away.  I think Markos might have been a tad overwhelmed, but he was smiling and excited, too.

I love how happy and excited the kids are at Christmas.  I love giving gifts.  Truth be told, I'm not a big gift person, myself, as far as receiving them goes, but I do love how excited the kids get at Christmas to give the gifts that they have made for us, or that they purchased in their Santa shop at school, or whatever.  It's just neat to see them also filled with joy at being able to give!

Markos' preschool had a Santa shop and we gave him money to buy Mackenzie, Daniel, Eric and I something.  He was beyond excited about it when he came home that day.  He completely blew all the surprises and told me everything he bought before we left the parking lot of his school.  But, it was fun to get to see him give the gifts that he thoughtfully chose for everyone.  He also made some cute things at preschool, which his teachers helped him wrap, and they actually remained a surprise.  He was very excited to give me this plate that they made because I have plates in my dining room with Mackenzie's hand print from when she was a baby, and Daniel's foot print from when he was a baby, but I hadn't yet made one for Markos.  Now, I don't need to make one.

He bought Eric a measuring tape and an ice scraper for the car that has an attached mitt to keep your hand warm.  One day before Christmas, he picked up the one that we had in the car and said to me, "You won't need this one anymore after Christmas."  So funny.   

From the Santa shop, he bought me a snow globe and a coffee mug that says "The Time is Right to Make New Friends".  He also keeps telling me how I can drink coffee from it.  Funny thing is, I don't drink coffee.  I'm wondering if he thinks I don't because I don't have a mug.

For Mackenzie, he chose fuzzy socks that have little stuffed animal faces attached to the side of them.  And, for Daniel (who is apparently his favorite!), he got 2 bags of toys, pencils, erasers, little notebooks, and other stuff boys like.

Daniel didn't get to go and shop for us but he decided that he really wanted to make gifts for people.  Being the creative little thing that he is, the gifts were...shall we say entertaining?!  Oh my.  That boy.  We laughed (and are still laughing) about his gifts.  For Eric, he made a little card with a nickel and two pennies taped inside.  It read:

"I love you....and money."

He made Darren a toilet paper tube with a face on it and a card that said something about "not being a veggie weirdo".  We still have no idea what that is, but Uncle D has now taken to signing his emails to Daniel, "Love, Veggie Weirdo".

Meanwhile, for the second year in a row, Gracie gave the special gifts she made in school to me and to Grammy.  I love the picture/poster she drew and gave me.  It reads, "Add color to your life.  Stand out in a crowd."  I was chuckling a little thinking that it could have also read, "Add color to your family.  Stand out in a crowd", as all trans-racial adoption families already know.  

Of course, in addition to the homemade and kid-purchased gifts, there were the Santa gifts and the parent gifts and the grandparent gifts.  All too numerous to detail, but cameras were a big hit this year.  The boys both got scooters.  I think all the kids got a Wii game or a DS game of some sort.  Abby got an i-Pod.  Grammy got a sewing machine.  Pappy got lots of his favorite sports team apparel.  I got a Kindle (and have already finished the first book of The Hunger Games series and am half-way through the second).  Eric got a computer game that he's been wanting (Dear Mom and Dad, Thanks a LOT! Love, your neglected, ignored daughter and wife of the computer game addict!).  Daniel got a new hockey bag and two remote controlled helicopters.  Mackenzie got new Uggs and a new North Face jacket.  (Yep, that's about all she got, too.  Not sure I like these teenage requests of 2 items that cost a lot - although it did make the shopping easier to accomplish quickly!)  Markos got some electric drums, a talking Tow Mater, and a few games.

Markos with his new camera

Gracie got a camera, too!

Kenzie also got a new camera!

Abby got an i-Pod

Scooters for the boys

Grammy's apparently going to start sewing again

Daniel with his new hockey bag (with wheels - yay!)

Markos taking a little break to play with his Tow Mater

Pappy's funny new t-shirt

More Cars toys!

It was a fun morning.  The kids were awesome.  They were all very happy and content with all that they received.  They were patient and watched one another open gifts, getting excited and happy for the others while they waited their turn.  Markos even did amazingly well - especially when everyone was getting different things and he wasn't getting exactly what Daniel was getting. (We were worried about that!)  

After the gifts were all opened and the wrapping paper and boxes were cleaned up a little, the kids finally got to play with their new toys while the adults rested a little before getting ready for the next round of company, family, presents and food!

Playing with Kenzie

 

Christmas Eve 2011 - Let the Festivities Begin!

On December 23rd, we arrived at my parents' house in time to visit for a few minutes, get air beds inflated, unload the van and get the kids to bed.   In addition to presents and clothes, the boys in my family also decided to take a respiratory virus along to share with the rest of the family.  (You're welcome.)  ;-)  It didn't appear to slow Daniel and Markos down much (notice I did not mention Eric). 

Due to Daniel's hockey tournament schedule, our visit was shorter this year than usual, so our days were pretty packed.  On Christmas Eve morning, my friends, Suzanne and Catherine, and Catherine's daughter came out to visit.  Lily loved the attention.  Markos received his first Christmas presents.

Markos and Daniel opening their gift from Suzanne

Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like toys with which to shoot each other

When they left, the kids played while the adults women started making food and preparing for the annual family Christmas Eve party. 

Eric 'dying' on the couch

Lily would pretty much snuggle up with anyone who would let her

Once the kids were dressed in their nice clothes, we forced them to endure countless photos in front of the tree.  I think we *might* have gotten a handful of cute ones.

Markos thought these antlers were THE funniest, coolest things EVER

After the Grandmas both arrived, Mackenzie and Abby played some carols on the piano for MaMaw. 

Mackenzie & Abby providing musical entertainment for the evening

We ate (too much), laughed, visited.  The kids opened gifts from the Grandmas and their aunts & uncles.  The adults did their traditional "Wrap the Crap" exchange.  The kids played "Minute to Win It" games with M&Ms.

Just to prove that I was, indeed, present

Waiting for presents from Aunt Barb & Uncle Rick

Yay!  A truck that plays music!

Yay!  Stuff to build crafty things with!

Big kids "Minute to Win It"

Pappy with his mom, MaMaw (my grandma, my kids' Great-Grandma)

The kids with NaNa (my other Grandma, the kids' other Great-Grandma)

 And then, when the party was over and everyone left, the kids changed into their Christmas pajamas and set to work preparing for Santa's arrival.  Markos dumped sprinkled his "reindeer food" that he made in preschool out on the back patio.  The kids each put a cookie out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and the adults anxiously awaited the sound of sleeping children so they could make their preparations and get to bed, too!

Markos putting out the "reindeer food"

Markos "fixing" the pile of reindeer food

Cookies out for Santa

The sweetest, cutest bunch of kids in the world, ready for bed so Santa will come!