Love's Journey

This is by far my favorite book about Chinese adoption. It's a gorgeous large, coffee table style book filled with incredible pictures and stories on every page. It looks like a gigantic scrapbook inside and really has the most beautiful layouts I have ever seen in a book. I bought it in celebration of being DTC many months ago and have wept many tears reading all the lovely stories. All the proceeds (100%) go to helping children in Chinese orphanages through Love Without Boundaries. Get this book while you still can, only a limited number were made. 

Another amazing family!

Thinking of little Ellie's story reminded me of another incredible family who adopted a little girl with a "limb difference". If you haven't been to The Best Nest site go there now. They give me so much inspiration! 

Beautiful

I read the most beautiful story tonight of a family who has really given birth to dreams.
Enjoy Ellie's story and then read about her sister Kate. They are in China now!

Day Brightener!!

Oh, if ever I needed a lift it was this week! I hit an all time "adoption wait" low.
I was so discouraged with the small number of referrals that came from China this month. Thank goodness for secret pals. I was so happy to open up these darling gifts for Abbey. It will be so wonderful when she is here in these cute clothes! 

Froggie's Escape

My adorable 11 yr. old niece has a nice assortment of tadpoles, frogs, and lizards stashed in various containers around her garage. This week she gave me tadpoles at various stages and a tiny frog for my classroom. She tried to give me a big frog, but I was overwhelmed with the idea of picking him up so I stuck with the little one only. The cute little frog was Thumbelina. She only lasted one day. I have no idea how she got out or where she went. I am afraid that she could have jumped in with the silkworms I have on the same table. If you could see the silkworm situation you would know why I don't want to dig through all the chewed up mulberry leaves to try to find her. Let me tell you, the children were not one bit happy that she was gone. Come back froggie!

Open House

In order to provide a much needed distraction from the horrible rumors about further delays in the adoption process, I am going to try to clean up my classroom tomorrow for Open House. I just can't bear to think about all the terrible things I am hearing about paperwork expiring before going to China. It's just too much. I have to keep repeating: We walk by faith and not by sight. Tomorrow I'll go tackle the foot of dust that is blanketing my classroom. The good news is that my first graders came in with wonderful reports and insect projects this week. I am very proud of them! 

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's who are waiting with me for your children from China! Though the wait seems so long we have to look at the joy that is set before us. Thank you to all the mom's who have already recieved their children and bring encouragement to those of us who wait. It will be so worth it when we have our babies in our arms. I love the verse in Isaiah 49:15 where the Lord says that just as a nursing mom cannot forget her child, so He cannot forget us - we are engraved on the palms of His hands. I really believe that He knows how we feel right now.

Ladies Advance

I just returned from a weekend with the ladies from our church. Although many would call it a retreat, we like to call it an advance because of all the ways spiritually that we are helped in moving forward. It was wonderful! Our guest speaker was from Australia and she has an orphanage in India and ministers to people everywhere. She is also helping reach out to African people who are fighting for their lives and in need of food. It was amazing to hear all that has been happening at the orphanage where they just took in many more children whose families were affected by the Tsunami. We had a great weekend together and so much was deposited into our hearts.

The Surprise Family

I hadn't remembered this story from last year, but almost started crying as my first graders read it today. It's about an egg discovered by a boy who then raises the chicken that hatches. Later she builds a nest and the boy puts a clutch of abandoned eggs in it for her to care for. As the babies get older they venture out into a pond and the mother chicken realizes they are not like her, they are ducklings. She never stops loving them, or they her. It really choked me up seeing her adopted by the boy, and the ducklings adopted by her. There are lots of loving mothers in the world, now if we can just get them matched with all the babies that need a mommy. 

Blooms and Butterflies

Today our Painted Lady butterflies emerged from their cocoons and my first graders were totally enthralled! We started off with caterpillars, and the children knew what was coming, but were none-the-less amazed when it really happened. I was going to keep them for a few more days of observation but after two escaped the net and got out into the classroom I decided it was time for us to go out to the garden and release them all. The children were shouting and waving goodbye to them. I love spring and all the miracles of new life!

Retail Therapy

When the wait get longer, the tough go shopping! I was going to return a 12 mo. summer outfit that I don't think she'll ever get to wear, but I ended up leaving with a 24 mo. outfit that I hope she can wear next summer.
As for the shoes, I had to walk through Penny's to get to a store where my friend was registered for her shower, and as I did I found these. They were 2 for 1, so I went for it. Somehow it really does help to feel like "she is coming".
 

Field Trip

Off with my first graders tomorrow to the Santa Barbara Zoo. They are pretty excited. I have lots of parent helpers so I am hoping it will all go smoothly. Can't wait 'till my own daughter will be off on little adventures like this. We are so fortunate to be close to this darling little zoo. It's beautiful, small, and perfect for little ones. They love the minature train you can ride through the park on.