I am only one

I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
- Edward Everett Hale

So simple, yet so profound. We often think that we can not do great things because we are just one voice. But when your voice is guided by the Lord, HE can do mighty, great things through your one voice!!! What is the Lord calling you to do?

I can do ALL things through Christ who stengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Junk Posse Adoption Jewelry

I am so very excited to share with you, Tracy, with Junk Posse Jewelry. She has an amazing gift for making special jewelry. I first found out about her through a friend, Erica, who was adopting from Ethiopia. She had posted a picture of the sweetest necklace that I've ever seen...it was in the shape of Ethiopia and had a precious heart cut-out of it. I loved it so much that I contacted Tracy about making me a necklace that represented our miracles.

I was excited to find out that she, too, was an adoptive mother and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of a grandchild from Ethiopia. Her daughter and son-in-law are adopting from Ethiopia and the sale of the necklace's are going towards their adoption expenses. Anyways, I discovered that she was working on pieces for China, Guatemala, USA, and general adoption pieces. Her and I worked together on a custom piece that would perfectly represent our miracles from the US and China.

I received my necklace on Friday and have worn it since (btw: it is made of silver). I LOVE IT!!!! It's absolutely beautiful and soooo unique!!! I am so blown away with how beautiful it is. Take a peek..........

She has a very precious, generous heart towards families adopting. Please go and check out her site and see all the wonderful items she has listed. She has selected a family for each country she makes items for and is giving a portion of the sales to help with that family's adoption expenses. Feel free to contact her about making a custom piece for you...she has amazing ideas!!! Make sure you check out her other items by using this link: http://www.etsy.com//shop.php?user_id=5208670

Our Miracles!!

Thought it would be fun to post some pictures of the miracles in my life!! It's absolutely amazing how fast they grow up!!

*Welcome*

Welcome to my blog. This is a first for me so hopefully I don't bore you to death :)

I have had several people inquire about our packing list from our trip to bring our sweet baby C home. See the post below :) I spent over a year saving and compiling other's lists and ultimately came up with what suited us best. We were completely happy with everything we took and weren't desperate for anything left behind.

And YES...everything fit in these two bags :) Not sure how but it did....it's a really big bag!!!

Our Packing List (China trip 2007)

Our Packing List
Checked 1 large duffle bag & carried on 1 backpack on the way to China
Checked 2 duffle bags & carried on 2 backpacks the way home
(Traveled Beijing, Kunming, Guangzhou ~ July 3-17, 2007)

Baby Medicines (strips if possible)
I took ALL medicines out of their original box, cut out the back of the box w/ the directions & used a rubberband to hold the directions & medicine together. This saved a TON of space!!!!!
*Even though we didn’t use most medications, I’d take again
Zithromax (prescription f/ dr…do not constitute)
Motrin
Tylenol (used for teething)
Triaminic
Benedryl ~baby (for plane) (used)
Electrolyte powder
A&D (diaper cream)
Gas drops
Hydrocortisone cream
Saline drops/aspirator
Cortaid
Teething tablets (used)

Adult medicines (pill form)
*Eventhough we didn’t use most medications, I’d take again
2-Bonine (motion sickness) (used)
Melatonin (natural sleep med) (used first night)
antibiotics (prescription f/ dr.)
Tylenol
Advil (used 2x)
Tylenol head congestion (day & night)
Dayquil and Nyquil
Robitussin cough
Imodium
Laxative
Tums
Pepto bismo (Stacy used almost daily, just in case)
Actifed
1pkg. throat drops
Neosporin

Baby (our daughter turned 14months while we were in China)
wash clothes (disposable w/soap) (used-a must)
thermometer (didn’t need would take again)
2 spoons (used)
2 wipe-off bibs (used)
Good Start formula (1sm. can) (used – definitely bring to take on gotcha day)
2 bottles w/ 4 tri-cut nipples (used)
bottle liners(bags not drop-in..to save on space) (used)
1 sippy cup (used)
2 bowl (disposable ones..can re-use) (used 1)
1 gerber snacks (used - only need 1)
2 small toys (stacking balls, teether/rattle) (used, bought 3 more cheap toys there and left behind)
6 outfits (used – wished I packed 2 more – Kunming didn’t have many baby clothes)
2 pj’s (didn’t use – too hot, slept in onsies)
Bathing suit (didn’t use – no time to swim)
4 socks (used, would pack 2 more)
2 onsies (used as pj’s, would pack 2 more)
1 sweater-white (used, would pack 2 more for Kunming, Kunming was cool…didn’t need in Guangzhou)
1 brim-hat (used once)
1 USA outfits (flight home) (used)
small USA flag (LAX) (used)
Hair bows/sm. rubberbands (used)
15 Diapers (used 10, bought rest in china)
Wipes (took one travel pack of 40) (used bought more in china)
2 burp clothes (used)
1 blanket (used, pack 2 more small ones)
small diaper bag/purse (used – purse)
Mei Tai carrier & hotsling (used both)
jar baby prunes (didn’t use but would take again)

Misc.
Small scissors (used)
Nail clippers/file (used)
comb (stacy) (used)
mouse, serum (stacy) (used)
hair rubberbands, bobby pins, hair wraps, claws (used)
tweezers (used)
toothpaste (didn’t need hotels supplied)
2 travel toothbrush (didn’t need hotels supplied)
Deodorant (P&S) (used...must use :)
contacts/solution (used)
glasses (s & p..extra pair)
cotton balls/cotton swabs (didn’t need hotels supplied)
Mary kay cleansers (used)
make-up (used)
fem. supplies
body wash – cloth’s (didn’t need hotels supplied)
2 disp. Shavers (didn’t need hotels supplied)
Paul shaver/charger (used)
5 travel size Kleenex (used only 2)
2 travel t/t (didn’t need)
3sm. hand sanitizer (used 1)
2oz. hand soap (didn’t need)
Travel sunscreen (used once)
small First aid kit (didn’t need, would take)

laundry detergent (travel size) (used)
bounce sheets…to freshen our stinky clothes J (used)
1 kitchen size plastic bag (soiled laundry) (used)

2 money belts (didn’t use)
2 neck passport holders (used)
travel alarm (didn’t need, hotel has)
small calculator (used ALOT)
1 tsa lock (didn’t use, used velco strips instead)
bible (travel size) (used)
1 roll duct tape (re-rolled to save space) (didn’t need)
Lg. and sm. Baggies (for diapers, soiled clothes) (used)
2 neck pillows (blow-up) (used 1, didn’t really need)
Converter (used but hotel provided)
Kwikpoint card (translator) (used a couple of times)
Digital camera (small and large) (used both)
Camcorder (used...make sure you remember the battery on gotcha day!!! ugghhh)
Chargers (used)
Laptop (used)
video of kids (used)
1collapsable duffle-bags (used for souvenirs)
Extra backpack (used for flight home)
1collapsable shopping bag (didn’t use)
Money conversion chart (used the first day)
1 scotch tape (didn’t need)
4 pens (used 2)
sm. notepad (didn’t need, hotel has paper)
luggage strap (used 2)
cribbage (didn’t use)

oatmeal packs (didn’t use)
dried fruit (used)
gum (used)

8-Officials gifts (red bags/tissue paper) (used)

Adult clothing (Used everything, PERFECT amounts)
4 socks
4 undies
extra bra
earrings/necklaces
hat (paul)
2-3shorts (lightweight)
3shirts (lightweight)
1 sweater (lightweight) (didn’t need)
1pj’s
Shoes (wear on plane) (packed 1 sandal, 1 tennis shoes)
Bathing suits (didn’t use)

Carry-On (list of items to pack-already listed above)
(very glad to have in carry-on)
Benedryl ~baby (for plane)
1-Bonine (for motion sickness)
Melatonin
Advil
Pepto bismo
1 wipes (travel)
2 kleenex
1 hand sanitizer
Cribbage
Dried fruit, gum
2 neck pillows (blow-up)
Kwikpoint card (translator)
Digital camera (small and large)
Laptop
Folder w/ paperwork
1adult outfit each (shirt and undergarment)
small calculator
travel sunscreen

Important Documents (glad to have all below)
1) Adoption papers- Travel Approval with 5 copies, 5 passport copies, 2 passport size photos (for
adoption registration), Affidavit of Adoptive Parents (notarized), & Brown Envelope
2) Passports
3) Drivers license – make copies to take with you
4) Credit cards – Amex & Visa
5) Airplane tickets
6) Health insurance cards
7) Emergency phone number. – one cell phone
8) Cash-$600 (10-$50’s; 6-$20’s; 12-$5’s; 40-$1’s)
9) Amex traveler’s checks--$1500
10) $1000 orphanage gift-for purchases ($100’s)

“Important numbers” A single sheet of paper that had phone numbers for:
Embassy and Consulates in Beijing, Kunming and Guangzhou
Travel Agency
Adoption Agency
Senator’s office
All traveler’s credit card numbers and phone numbers to call if lost
Addresses and phone numbers of all hotels
Social worker

~I used 2 large, packmate like bags...you know the one's you can squish the air out of (I got ours at Target...cheap and worked beautifully). I packed all of the baby's clothes in lg. ziplocks. Really, honestly ask yourself...'Can I live without this for 2 weeks'...you'd be surprised how much you can leave behind. You can pretty much get anything you desperately need in China (except medicines and probably adult clothing). Choose re-usable over convenient disposable things.

VIDEOS

This is just a place for me to save my favorite videos...enjoy!

This is our Cana girl's Gotcha video...July 9, 2007



Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.