Luci Loves Cake!

Which works our well for the Newton household.  And so cute - they are praying before they eat it - so precious!

OK - so she is precious and way more disciplined that anyone in our house.  There isn't a whole lot of praying "before cake" that I can remember... more like "Thank You God!" during and after the cake. 

And lets talk about this rocking sense of fashion this one has!  I have been picking up a few outfits here and there for her but I haven't stocked her wardrobe with things quite as wild as the fuschia pink fur sleeveless sweater. 

Now I am reconsidering the little "decorate your own shoes" kit I got her...just for fun.  It has a pair of little silver heels and it comes with all these jewels and glitter and feathers and stuff to decorate them with.  I am guessing that this child will want to wear them everywhere - what was I thinking!  I can see it now - our first big blow-out..."Cry all ya want Luci - ya still can't wear hooker shoes to church!

I love this last picture - apparently it is tradition over there to put icing all over the kids faces when they get a cake...hmm, Mac isn't Chinese and he does this every time he eats any food - no assistance needed.  And check out the little boy's hair cuts!  Think Mac would go for one of those?  Since his natural hair situation currently looks like he is wearing a toupe, it would probably be a big improvement.

So I hear there may be a few additional picures coming my way and some up dates from the orphanage so I am waiting - but not patiently.

We also sent her a little photo album with famly pics and a letter telling her what we have been up to. 

We are eagerly waiting our I800a approval so we are playing the mailbox game...after that comes then a week or so later we get the real letter we are waiting on I797C..or something like that.  Basically once we have that then everything can go over to China and start getting processed.  According to my calculations it still looks like it will be August when we go get our Luci and not July like we were hoping.

And lastly - Congrats to the Straight family (see their blog that I follow "Straight Talk"") because they are getting on a plane at midnight and heading to China to get their sweet Elise.  I can't wait to follow every step of their journey.  Donna and her family live here in Atlanta and have 2 handsome sons and 2 beautiful little girls from China.  She is a working mom like me - literally just like me, both of us are accountants- and she has been so helpful showing me the ropes of this adoption process.

Isn't she the most precious cupcake in the world!

And the paperchase continues...

So to give you a quick and dirty synopsis of this paperchase process...we gather a butt load of paperwork from various government and law enforcement agencies, employers, doctors and social workers...and they all have to be notarized.  Then we send that stack of blood sweat and tears (and several checks) to our agency and they turn around and sort them our based on what county they were notarized in and send them to the courthouse of said county - they check out the notary and give it the thumbs up that teh document is properly notarized.  Which means basically they send them right back to a place 10 miles up the road from where I am sitting.  The courthouse turns around and sends them to the Secretary f state and they check out the docs and give their final thumbs up - called Authentication...after that the docs are sent to the Chinese Consulate so they can Authenticate everything...yes - everyone is double checking everyone elses work over and over and over...

Now those that are more advanced than myself and usually have been down this road before...they do this authentication process themselves...but I suck and my agency rocks so they are doing it for us.  I have realized that we could have probably sped up the process and saved a little $$ by doing it ourselves but I only realized that about half way through the process...I told you - I kind of suck at this.

So...we get a call last week that there was a problem with 5 of our docs that were notarized in Cobb county...wonderful!  Get this...the notary stamp said her commission expired on 12/20/2012...their records said that her commission expired on 12/28/2012....yep - her stamp was made incorrectly...I don't thing the Chinese people would like us very much...we are unlucky!

So 4 of the docs were easy - just print out again, sign and have notarized again.  However...#4 was a biggie...it was Brian's employment letter...this was not easy to obtain and since his last day with VWR will be 3/15...it is not obtainable again!

However...God does the darndest little things and only later do we realize how important they are...and thank God I remembered!  The second time we requested Brian's corporate HR office to send us an employment letter on company letter head with an original signature for some reason - she sent 2!  We didn't ask for two - we didn't need two.....but someone up above knew we would be needing that second letter!

So...disaster averted...all 5 docs are back in the hands of my agency ready to be sent right back here to Georgia for Authentication....I know...it is just how it is done! 


On a good note - Brian and I recently received a letter from Homeland Security - Immigration saying that our appoint,emnt for biometric fingerprinting was on 3/14...being the crazy renegades that we are - we went in today - a week ahead of time...SUCCESS!

No questions, no problems, it took us less than 30 minutes and the people that worked there were so nice and upbeat and helpful...shocking - I know!

So...now we wait for the biggie...our I797C...that is the last piece of documentation that needs to go in our dossier so the whole thing can be translated and sent to Chine...God that will be a great day!

I am guessing that will happen around mid April...but sooner wouldn't bother me at all!

Look who made the AJC.com!

So, we were at the All4Kids consignment sale in Woodstock this Sat and I was looking through little girl clothes to get a few basics for Luci while Brian played with Mac in the toy area.  When we were leaving Brian said some dude took pics of Mac and he might even be in the AJC.  Some dude took pictures of Mac huh - sounds totally normal and safe to me, a grown man hanging out on a Sat taking pics of random little boys ???!!!

Brian: Yeah - he was nice, we talked about kids - he said he cound tell that Mac was my first kid...(newsflash... I don't think he was giving you a compliment but at least he found you two entertaining.)

I kind of forgot the whole thing - and sincerely hoping that the  guy really did work for the AJC...consignment sales make for really hard hitting stories.

Well Saturday night Brian went down the street to meet a buddy and listen to some music and I got sucked into watching Alien...I forgot what a great movie that is - and it is exempt from my "No Alien" rule because it is a classic!

Well right after they found little Newt all dirty and traumatized that her parents had been snatched by the Aliens  - probably should have considered that danger when you decided to go live in a stupid space settlement  - my phone rang and my friend Jamie informed me that MAC was on AJC.com...sporting his very fashionable hairline...not sure what is up with that but let's hope that it gets better over time!

Great Friday - want to feel good - keep reading...

Sweet little Lexie...the little burn survivor that I have posted about for the last few days...SHE HAS A FAMILY!!!! An Agency called Lifeline had her listed on their website and I believe one of their families found her and like the rest of us...it was their daughter.  I don't have any details on the family - if I find out that they have a blog to chronicle their journey I will post it fou you.

What a wonderful Friday!!!

New - current picture of 8 yr old Lexie!

I posted details earlier today about Lexie adn Charlie.  A friend directed me to a new picture of her on the Lifeline Adoption Agency photolisting.  I wouldn't be surprised if they would consider a grant for her - contact me for more info!

So sweet and beautiful!

Read my post from earlier today to learn more about her story!

Help Me Help Them - this is SO VERY DOABLE!!!

OK - I have a favor to ask...and I don;t ask for favors very often..right???

So it is my turn and I need your help.
I don't want your $$$...I don't even want much of your time...I AM NOT ASKING YOU TO HELP ME MOVE!

This favor is very easy!!  A few mouse clicks and typing a couple of words...seriously - am I asking too much.

I need you to help me spread the word and tell the story of 2 very special angels.
I heard Mac wake up in his room this am, as usual I got up and brought him into our bedroom, Brian brought him his sippy cup with milk and we all three sat there snuggled together watching the morning news - me kissing on Mac, probably annoying the crap out of him. 

It is the best feeling in the world to just sit there together smelling his skin, kissing on his cheek, playing with his fingers, having him look up at me every once in a while and grin or tease me with his milk - pretending to give it to me and then pull it back.

Then I told Brian - you know what...this right here is it - what we are doing right this minute is what it is all about. 

We all probably think of a laundry list of wonderful things that an orphaned child gets when they are adopted into a family - they get great medical care, 3 meals a day, toys, good schools, they get to celebrate holidays with their family, play on a little league team...and the list goes on.

But honestly the greatest thing they get is what we were doing there with Mac...that is the big thing they are missing...and it is sooo easy to do...it is the best part of our day!

Our Luci is fortunate that while we are paperchasing to bring her home, she is in a very good orphanage and we have a lot of information about the specific care she receives.  We know she is warm and safe and well fed and well clothed and is a part of an amazing educational program.  She probably lives materially better than many children right here in Atlanta.

What she and all of the orphans like her are missing is what Mac and Brian and I do every morning - this simple little 15 minutes snugglng together.

They have never had someone go to them in the morning when they cry, pick them up, kiss and hug them, and then snuggle in bed with them and just sit there looking at them, rubbing their little hands, kissing their ear, rub their heads while they watch Curious George.

That is all they need to make them whole...that very simple, very quiet, peacful everyday love.
That is the part that all the orphanage donations in the world can't fix.

 SO - WHAT CAN WE DO????

One big part of this adoption world is called ADVOCATING...sharing the stories of specific waiting children...so that is what I am going to do and I need your help. 

I need you to read the rest of this post and then start running your mouths and sending the link out voa email and Facebook...and if you are personal friends of mine - I know you know how to run your mouth so get on that!  Just talk - talk to everyone - send the link. 

What are they going to do - talk crap about you for sending them a link about orphans...seriously - what kind of piece of crap person would dislike you for that???  And if they do - don't worry about it - they will probably get run over by a bus soon anyway.

So, I don't need you to send anyone a check - I need you to tell a story.  Direct people to this blog post and share their story.

If you have followed my blog or know Brian and I, you know that our Luci is a little burn survivor.  And - if you know me you also know that these little super troopers have a very special place in my heart.  They are very special kids that are tougher than most all of us because they have to be...but they are also the happiest most loving kids you will ever meet.

So this is the deal - I have 2 very special kiddos that are burn survivors and they need a family - Charlie and Lexie - they need someone to sit with them in the morning and kiss their head and look them in the eye and tell them they love them and mean it.

Again - I just want you to tell their story  - you can pray for them too, light a candle, do a rain dance - what ever tickles your fancy! If we all get their story out there and then one of those people that happens to listen to you clicks on over to the blog and reads their story and has a sister or cousin or a co-worker or a neighbor or a friend at church that wants to adopt or learn more about adoption or happens to volunteer with injured children and BAM!  Your wonderful little part of this miracle is complete!

Lexie or Charlie or both have a Mom and Dad! I have this dream of both Lexie and Charlie finding their mamma and daddy and then all three kids, Lexie, Charlie, and our Luci can go to Burn Camp every year together and have the time of their lives - they can be pretend cousins!

(By the way - if you even remotely think that you want more information about these two or just adoption in general - PLEASE contact me - I will help you every step of the way if you want - this is a very doable thing!)

Both of these children are burn survivors - they are not siblings - just both happen to be on the China Waiting Child list.

A little about Charlie: This little boy has my heart...if his future mamma and daddy end up living within a 300 mile radius of us we will have to be allowed to visit often.  He was burned on his neck and torso and this childs current condition is frustrating for me.  I happen to know first hand of the incredible care available for these children and Charlies burn is contracting - tightening up around his neck.  How the hell is he supposed to throw a baseball??!!? If you know anything about burn injury, you know that all this little one needs is a quick and easy surgery and then a good regimen of daily stretching and he is good to go! This is such an easy fix BUT...in China not so much.  Look - if someone brings this little man home I will personally bring you to my burn doctor (who we all know is a miracle worker!) and we will take care of business and put a smile on that face. 

I have read over his full file so I can tell you he is absolutely wonderful - right on track intellectually and socially and in great physical health - all of the details and specifics are in his file. He is 7 yrs old and there is plenty of information on him and I also am in contact with another adoptive mom and dad that met him when they went to get their child who was living in the same orphanage as Charlie.  It is a very good orphanage and he is being cared for very well and right on track in school.  This shy little guy seriously touched their hearts and they want the world to know what a special little angel he is. 

You see - his burn contractures are pulling on his little face and make it look like he is frowning - this needs to be fixed!  I want to see a smile on that face!!

And my second little angel - LEXIE - 8 yrs old!  She is just so precious!

FROM HER FILE:

Lexie has normal motor and intellectual developments as her peers. On admission, she could walk, run, jump quite well and was able to participate in all kinds of sports games and activities. She loves playing with other children. She has strong oral skills and is able to express her thoughts clearly, communicates with others fluently. She often asks questions. She also has strong ability of acceptance. She remembers Pinyin and Chinese characters fast once you teach her. She is diligent and often helps adults do something as her age appropriate such as cleaning tables or floor, washing clothes. Now she is in elementary school. And she is able to write down her name and some Chinese characters. She could do simple math. She is able to wash her hair, take a shower, put away her bed and daily used items by herself.

Personality and hobbies:

She is outgoing, active, well behaved, and easygoing. She seldom loses her temper. She is very polite and does not fuss over when she is excluded by others. She enjoys playing games with others and watching TV.So there you have it - two very special angels that need their mom and dad.  There is a wonderful network that exists for burn survivor children and amazing medical care.  Please forward the link to this blogpost to everyone you know - and if anyone would like more specific information on either of these children please contact me at taralee815@hotmail.com and I can share with you.  I also have a ton of "Been There DoneThat" parents that can talk to you about their adoption experience.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SHARING THEIR STORY!!!!!

Tara & Brian & Mac

Things that make my husband nervous...

Me reading blogs about fellow adoptive moms that have 5+ children....me reading blogs about sweet Southern girls that followed Gods call on their lives and headed to Uganda to take care of the children in a very real, scary non-glamorous way...and are happy as can be.

And I quote:  "You aren't going to go nuts on me or anything ???  He knows how I am ...especially the "me" before we met...I would jump on a plane to most anywhere...no reservations necessary...drawn to 3rd world countries.  I am not scared of much...even when I really should be. 

I think he is scared to death that I am going to walk in and announce that God has called "US" to cash in all his retirement and investments, sell the houses, quit our jobs and move to Timbuktu and adopt as many kids as we can get our hands on.

And I am not going to lie...I am totally entertained by the fear in his eyes!  I really shouldn't toy with him...he is amazing, he is very supportive of our adoption of Luci, he has a huge heart...but we are definitely two very different people and but the differences bring balance.

So since none of us are hopping on a plane to a far away place and putting our spouses in cardiac arrest...click on my button the the lower right...Compass In My Heart...and help out a bunch of kids that need some fresh water and de-worming medicine. Really...just send them 20-30 bucks and plant some damn good seeds!  Those of you with Home Shopping Network addictions...and you know who you are...just lay off for a week and send the bucks to Christie.  She is a beautiful girl from Alabama that followed God where he led her and found her way HOME...in a village in Uganda caring for the needy. Thanks that's all.  Gods hands...Gods feet...in a very real way.

So there...I gave you a perfectly wonderful way to plant some very good seeds and change a human being's life in a very real way...and if you aren't out there planting seeds in ways you feel led to...if you brush it off and reason away that you don;t have the time or money...that is all fine, God isn't going around looking for lightening bolt targets...that isn't how he does business...but don't you dare go bitching about crap in your life and sit around waiting on God to just fall out of the sky into your lap and make it all rosy. 

You plant good seeds in others lives...God plants amazing seeds in yours.  Can you follow that math???

There are lots of things in this life that are very difficult...planting good seeds IS NOT ONE OF THEM!  It is the easiest thing you can possibly do.

Ok I am done.

On the Newton homefront...we have sent in the very last piece of notarized paper that we need to for Luci's adoption. Thank you Jesus! Not the real wait begins...as tired as I am of paperwork...at least it keeps you occupied.  Now we wait...and nothing to "work on" that will bring her to us any faster.

Mind you - we have a 16 month old that keeps us plenty busy,so between him and work we aren't bored or anything.  But it is just hard to look at that beautiful smile on Luci's face and not be able to see her and hug her and have her here with us.

God's timing...I know, I know.

Good night all! Click on Christi's button....give those kids some water dammit!