Baby Girl Wallpaper: September 2011

Friday, September 30, 2011

A Guest Post: Adami Tulu Kick-Off

I hope all of you Sweet Carolina Grace friends will read this post, visit the links, fall in love with the family and help them raise these funds - all with just the click of a mouse! I went to high school with Mary Beth's husband, Casey, and when I found their adoption blog last summer, well, let's just say - that was all she wrote. God knew it was already on my heart to adopt and led me to their blog, which opened up my eyes to where we were headed on this journey. So, without further ado...

Thank you so much Briana for allowing me to post on your blog about a subject that is so important to me.

Over three years ago, my husband and I began our journey to adopt our son from Ethiopia. And since that time, God has been filling our hearts with an overwhelming love and passion for the people of Ethiopia. We returned a year after our first adoption to bring our daughter home. After arriving home with her, we knew we had to do more.

We have been so blessed to team up with other adoptive families around the U.S. and with Lifesong for Orphans. Lifesong is doing some amazing work through a small nursery school that they support in Adami Tulu, Ethiopia. You can read more about Adami Tulu here.

Last year, we, with five other families, raised over $40,000 to build a new building, restroom facility, and gate at the Adami Tulu school. In August, we got to return to Ethiopia to see the new building. We had an amazing trip, and have absolutely fallen in love with Adami Tulu. You can read more about our trip here and here. The school is changing the lives of so many vulnerable children in the area by offering them a wonderful education and two nutritious meals a day.

We've returned home with the knowledge that we have so much more to do in Adami Tulu. So we've agreed to continue our work with Lifesong by raising funds for another school building on the Adami Tulu campus. This will enable the school to expand to include 1st and 2nd grade. More details will be coming soon, but we're anxious to get a jump start on fundraising. We know that this project will cost at least $50,000. But, for these sweet faces, we'll do anything!

We are very excited to announce our first fundraiser for our next phase of the Adami Tulu project: another Aspen Giveaway!

Our Aunt and Uncle have, once again, generously donated toward our fundraising efforts. Only this time they've offered us not one but FIVE stays at the Hyatt Grand Aspen.

Any one of these November stays might make a great early-Thanksgiving get together for you and some friends or family!

We will begin the giveaways today and draw winners on October 15. To enter, donate $20 by clicking the link for the stay that you're interested in. For every $20 you donate to Lifesong for Orphans, you will get one entry in the drawings. By the way, 100% of your donation will go to our work in Adami Tulu.

Here are some details and pictures about the Hyatt stays:

Hyatt Grand Aspen has complimentary continental breakfast, a pool and hot tub, fitness center, fire pit, daily room cleaning and nightly turn down service complete with chocolates. There is even a little hut by the hot tubs where you can hang your robes to keep them warm for you! The hotel is within walking distance of lots of shops and restaurants in Aspen.

The retail value of each stay is approximately $2,500.

To get to Aspen, you could fly into the Aspen airport. The hotel will pick you up and, since everything is within walking distance, you can go without a car during your stay. Or you could fly into Denver and rent a car to drive to Aspen. Or, of course, you could also just drive to Aspen.

Hyatt Stay Giveaway #1:

Sat.- Sat. November 5-12 (full week stay)

Studio Unit (Like a nice hotel room with small kitchenette.)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #1, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

Hyatt Stay Giveaway #2:

Sun.- Thurs. November 13-17 (five days/ four nights)

Two Bedroom Unit (Two Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, Washer and Dryer, etc.)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #2, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

Hyatt Stay Giveaway #3:

Sun.- Thurs. November 13-17 (five days/ four nights)

Three Bedroom Unit (Three Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, Washer and Dryer, etc.) Maybe a family could do an "early Thanksgiving get together" in this one.

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #3, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

Hyatt Stay Giveaway #4:

Tues.-Sat. November 15-19 (five days/ four nights)

One Bedroom Unit (All the things a two bedroom has but only one bedroom and bathroom)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #4, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

Hyatt Stay Giveaway #5:

Tues.-Sat. November 15-19 (five days/ four nights)

Two Bedroom Unit (Two Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, Washer and Dryer, etc.)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #5, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

Just imagine, you could win a stay in Aspen, just for donating $20. What a deal! Plus, you get to be part of this amazing project to help these precious kids in Adami Tulu.

If you are unable to use one of the stays, you could donate your entry to a friend, or minister, or someone who could really use the time away.

Help us raise money to expand the Adami Tulu school and spread the word about our giveaway. Please repost on twitter and facebook! Thank you!

My Friday Fives

1. Do you apologize to your kids, if you're wrong? Since my son is still a toddler, we don't really have a chance for "arguing." But, if I overreact about something small, and it makes him cry, which in turn makes me feel guilty, I immediately apologize, get down on my knees at his level and give him hugs and kisses and make sure he knows I love him. (If he cries, as he is going to time out, because he did something wrong, that's a different story.) But, if I overreact, I definitely let him know, that Mommy is sorry.

2. Do you have a class ring, Letterman's jacket or similar obscenely priced high school "must have?" Uh... for sure! I was the first-born - so therefore was entitled to all of that, haha. Just kidding! Not about having the stuff - just about the entitlement part. (She says with that little first-born smirk. Somewhere, in Houston, my sister is saying right now, "Ugh, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!") I also had a t-shirt for EVERY.SINGLE.CLUB I was involved in my junior and senior year - thank you very much!

3. If you could be one age for the rest of your life, what age would you choose? Oh, Lord, I don't even think I've reached one I would choose. My family isn't complete, yet. So, if my family was complete...we could have the financial security of...say...20 years from now (haha), but without the age...and I could have the looks I had from when I was...say...25 (woot woot!). I would pick 25, but with the money, family, wisdom and everything else from all the other parts of my life, haha. We can pick and choose, right?

4. What is your favorite (unused) baby name? Carolina Grace (Notice anything else named Carolina Grace around here?) - The name our sweet baby girl from Ethiopia will be given.

5. If you could make your child like something, what would it be? Vegetables, hands down!

1. I always feel like I'm 82 years old, but in reality, I'm 30. Haha, just kidding. I guess, I feel like my age? What does 30 feel like to you?

2. I wish my family could understand better when I tell them I miss them.

3. If you saw me when I got all gussied up, you'd think I was a total girly-girl, but if you saw me when I used to be in my Army ACU's, you'd think I was a tomboy through-and-through. *Lie* You would never think I was a tomboy. I carried a pink phone. I was a member of The Pink Army - we resided in Hawaii. :)

4. I feel like I'm in a totally different universe when I can't think of an answer to a question, so I just sit staring at my computer for a long time, and then begin to zone out...........

5. In honor of this being MFF #60... 60 months ago (exactly 5 years ago, so September 30, 2006), I lived in Hawaii (or rather was stationed there), and my life was totally different because I lived in the barracks (which was decorated bright pink with disco balls - take that barracks NCO's!); I was in a long-distance relationship with my then-boyfriend, now-husband, Eric, I wasn't a mommy, yet; life was a bit more carefree, but still strict under the Army's thumb; I can honestly say now, that I wasn't as happy then, as I am now sitting here in my cozy home, with my little family. Amen.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Thankful Thursday

What I'm Thankful For:

- Lavender-scented laundry detergent
- The roof over my head & the shoes on my feet
- A toddler that knows his ABC's
- Dr. Karyn Purvis & the Empowered To Connect Conference
- Reading a really, really good book
- Upcoming family events
- Spending time with other pre-adoptive parents
- The hint of fall in the air
- A husband who cares about connecting with his family
- Woody's Pizza Nights
- New business opportunities
- Hazelnut creamer in my coffee
- Compliments on how good our son is - we are blessed
- Hobby Lobby sales
- Meeting bloggy friends
- A platform to share my heart for Africa
- Friends & family who care about our journey

What are you thankful for today?

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Home to Harmony

Source

"Home to Harmony" by Philip Gulley is a refreshing book about small-town America, in what I thought was "the old days." It was actually set in modern times, which goes to show the reader just how small a town Harmony really is. It begins with a Quaker minister going back to his hometown to take over as pastor of the church he grew up in. Although the church members and elders would like for things to go on exactly as they were before, the new pastor has a different approach to his ministry and is ready for a change.

The book is full of all sorts of things you would expect to see in a small town: the local gossips, people being in everyone else's business, people liking things to stay the way they have been their entire lives. But, you also see a side of people in the small town that is sweet and Christian and humbling: the parents who lost their son at a young age and stayed in the home, but now want the pastor and his young family to move into their home. The only stipulation - that they can come have coffee and read the morning paper on the porch on the weekends, and that every so often, they can come inside and touch the spot where they last marked their son's height on the dining room wall. That spot on the dining room wall is why they were never able to sell their home.

"Home to Harmony" was a sweet read. There were some silly characters, some of which you might know someone just like them in real life. And there were some really sweet characters. All in all, the people of Harmony were good people, and Harmony seems like a nice place. A good, Americana, type place. I recommend reading it, if you get a chance.

Phillip Gulley has other books about Harmony available: Just Shy of Harmony, Signs and Wonders, Christmas in Harmony, Life Goes On, A Change of Heart, The Christmas Scrapbook, Almost Friends.

He has also written other Christian books, which can be found on his website GraceTalks with Phillip Gulley. *Note* - I read this book and wrote the review on my own. I am in no way affiliated with the author. I just found the website, when I Googled an image, so there you go. Put some Windex on it. Any takers? You know what movie that is? :) I love how I can be talking about one thing and completely go off topic. Anyway. Go read the book, haha.

Monday, September 26, 2011

ONE Act a Week

ONE Act a Week: Tell the stars to keep it up!

Action: 13. Time: 2 minutes. Level of difficulty: Easy

This week, a group of prominent African artists and global celebrities united against the famine in the Horn of Africa by signing an open letter urging African leaders to take real, effective action to end hunger and its causes. Nearly 60 artists signed onto the letter, including Youssou N’dour, Nameless, Angelique Kidjo, 2face Idibia, Hugh Masekela, Freshly Ground, K’naan and Bono.

Your assignment for this week is to reach out to one of these artists and encourage them to keep talking about the famine on Twitter, Facebook, in the media and at concerts.

These celebrities have the power to turn their fans and social networks into activists if given the right support and inspiration. Your job is to make sure they know that. Here are a few artists and their Twitter and Facebook handles to get you started, but you can also reach out to another artist from our full list of signers, too.

K’naan, Somali-Canadian rapper:
@Knaan, Facebook

Angelique Kidjo, Beninoise singer-songwriter:
@angeliquekidjo, Facebook

Eric Wainaina, singer-songwriter from Nairobi:
@EricWainaina, Facebook

Daddy Owen, gospel artist from Nairobi:
@Daddy_Owen, Facebook

2Face, Nigerian musician:
@2faceidibia, Facebook

Chimamanda Adichie, Nigerian writer:
@chimamandaadie, Facebook

Don’t know what to say? Tell them to keep up the good work, tell them to keep sharing stories from the Horn of Africa, tell them to urge their fans to become activists. And please be sure to use the hashtag #AfricaLetter so we can track your comments and post them up on our blog next week.

*Note* I wrote to Russell Simmons on Twitter. Maybe he will respond to Lil' Ol' Me, and maybe he won't, but thanking someone who has an international influence for making a difference in the lives of those who are suffering, well, that may be the driving force behind why people do what they do. They can see that they make a difference. Go let someone on the list know that what they are doing is important. Let Bono know his work has touched your heart.

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Muffin Tin Monday: Fort Food

My husband and I were gone all day Friday and Saturday to an Adoptive/Foster Parenting Conference in Nashville (more on that in a later post). Even though we came home both nights, and Waylon got to spend both days with people he loves and had fun with, we could see that he was having a rough time with us having been gone all weekend long. So, we wanted to apply some of the parenting principles we had learned at the conference with our biological son. Parenting skills for any type of child will work, whether it's a bio or adopted/foster child. You can never learn too much how to care for your children. Back to the topic at hand. :)

Mainly, we wanted to reconnect with him. So, we spent Sunday doing things he would like to do, and one of the most fun things was my husband building him a fort in the living room, so he could watch a movie and eat snacks with him. And this was no rinky-dink fort, either, folks. It was pretty state-of-the-art, as far as forts go. It had A/C, electronics (to watch Cars, no doubt), a chemlight, sleeping bags, pillows, my snacks (haha) and with the way my husband rigged it up, it was not going to crash down around them. So, I found it appropriate to create a Muffin Tin for their snacks. Two birds, ladies. I figured I would throw in a photo of the fort, for good measure.

Fort Reconnect

From Top Left Clockwise: Ingredients to Make Mini Smores - Marshmallows, Chocolate Chips, Honey Graham Cereal, Fruit Snacks, Trail Mix (Because who doesn't need just a little more chocolate thrown into the mix with a 2 1/2 year old? This chica!), Cheese Crackers

*Note* - Yes, I totally see that there is no nutritional value WHATsoever to this snack. And...this was after we had donuts at the park for breakfast that morning. No, they did not teach us at the conference that sugar is the way to reconnect with our child. That was our bad. He did have a semi-healthy lunch and I will say...a very healthy dinner. And...a very good nap, after the sugar high ended, and he crashed. We all did. Don't judge. Making forts and taking photographs is tiring. :) Oh, and learning. Learning can make you tired.