Got Snow?

Well you know how fishing stories grow?...the fish that got away story is always the biggest and no one can ever top it. That's how it is here with SNOW! No matter what town you live in someone ALWAYS has a bigger and better story or hardship on snow. Let it be known that I am officially stating we have the most snow and the biggest snow hardship. I am not making this up....this time there is PROOF! Oh and by the way, we have about a half loaf of bread and yes the TP supply is running out! Much thanks to our lovable farmer that clears our driveway, this has saved my back on many snowy days. We will never take him for granted.

Learned through adoption....(leave your lessons I will add to my list)

1. There are so many people in need.

2. People in other countries will do jobs that Americans would never think of doing.
They are just happy to have a job, and they do it with pride

3. At the end of your trip, you will realize that there was so much more you could of done.
Example, instead of packing extra comfort items for yourself, fit in more donations for the
for the orphange.

4. We are truly people of excess.

5. I totally look at money differently and the value it has.

6. I am more concerned with world events and the suffering of the helpless.

7. Sometimes feelings of "if I only have known then what I know now", wishing that we started
adoption to create a family many years ago.

8. Its not about you anymore.

9. Trying to stay fit, not only for me, but to give our children healthy parents.

10. Learn to not worry so much about things we have no control over. Very hard when you are a control freak.

11. "Laurie Said" I truly wish that more people would understand that the children do more waiting than the parents ever do.

US Dept of Homeland Security YES!

The envelope came!! Our fingerprints have been renewed, we are now good until 4/2009. It has been determined that we are able to furnish proper care to an orphan. Our advance processing application has been forwarded to the American Consulate or Embassy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam! OK now Vietnam, its up to you, bring on the referral, we have all our ducks in a row, nothing left for us but to wait.

I was blind and now I see...

I wish that I was more aware of the suffering in the world as a child. We did grow up pretty carefree, but our recent trips to China and our current pending adoption to Vietnam has made me much more aware and in tune to how lucky we are. Yes I have been selfish recently wishing that Vietnam would hurry up and give us a referral. Then I get immersed in Chat room, Blogs and anything else that can offer up information. Then I get mad. I understand several reasons why the wait, but then I read of babies dying because of the flu! No blankets, watered down formula ect. and this can spread like wildfire, specially in an orphanage. There has to be a way to connect babies with families that want them. It is taking way too long. Ethica is a group that helps adoptive families and are very involved in the world of adoption. Below is a report of current conditions. We are not sure if these orphanages are open to adoption, they might just be in a very poor area without the support of adoption agency's that offer humanartian aid. If you would like to make a difference please follow the link at the end of this post.

The officials were the ones who called provincial orphanages asking what was most needed, and were the ones who picked the orphanages/care centers in:

Ha Tay Province (120 children under 16 in need of aid, including 45 babies between 1-4 months old)

Bac Giang Province Center for Orphans and Handicapped Children (60 children including 20 newborn babies)

Bac Ninh Province (185 children of which are 60 orphans and125 handicapped,52 babies from 1-18 months old, 5 children who are HIV+ from 2-3 years old)

Dong Anh District in Hanoi (56 children of which 35 are newborn-7 months old)

The Fund has mobilized resources and is going on a mission to Cao BangProvince on Monday and Tuesday. They welcomed extra support for these orphanages and also mentioned an additional 200 impoverished children that could use assistance (but who are not orphans) in Bac Giang. At this time we're limiting the Blankets for Babies Fund to the children in orphanages,and if there's even a remote possibility of meeting that enormous sum of$9,350 then we can consider the additional 200 children.Most concerning are the requests for formula, which is quite expensive. I can see why it is usually watered down. There was also a request for cloth to make diapers, a washing machine to disinfect the children's clothing, and medicines. I understand a French company is making some donations to support the handicapped children. I'm hoping that there are American companies that can make similar contributions.

http://ethicanet.org/item.php?recordid=blankets&pagestyle=default

You Know adoption was meant for you if...

1.The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2.You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3.You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4.The fact that if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child,there would be no orphans in the world,is convicting to you.

5.You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.

7.You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8.You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway knowing where God calls you He will provide.

9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacy's you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word Dossier means and you can actually pronounce it!

13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have them in your life.

15. When people tell you adopiton is the cure for infertility.. "they still don't get it."

16. There is always room for "just one more" at your dinner table.

17. As a small child you were worried about the Sally Struthers ophan commercials pleading for help for the children.

*list started by unknown author, If you want to add to this list post a comment and we will get this list growing!

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Just like the Beach...except no sand in my eyes..