Reece's Rainbow Advocating

Ever read the book, "A Mother for Choco"? If not, you should really check it out. It's great for even just teaching compassion to little children. Not to mention adoption and seeing everyone as more alike than different. I love that book and read it to my boys over and over when they were small. I challenge you to look at the pictures of these kids and imagine them asking, "Are you my mother?" Come on, what have you got to lose really?

   This is Vera. Her sad face jumped out at me today on Reece's Rainbow and I couldn't stand it, I just had to get her face out so someone will see it and maybe her family will find her. Her description on Reece's Rainbow includes a caption that says, "Please come for me soon, Daddy." It really looks like that's what she's hoping for. However, she is in a country that single women can adopt from so if she catches your heart and you're a single mommy I'm sure she would love to have you! Vera's Mommy or Daddy? Are you out there? For more info please contact Andrea Roberts or visit Reece's Rainbow.

This is Claire! My friend from Christmas, remember her? She just turned two years old back in January and she has a $500 grant now. She's at a really great age to benefit from a loving family and all the early intervention that she needs. I just know she could thrive if she was adopted. She's in the same country and region as Vera. So, single moms are accepted. Are you her family? For more info please contact Andrea Roberts or visit Reece's Rainbow.




                                                                             
This cute little baldy is Anna B and if you look very close it looks like she's wearing earrings. She is absolutely beautiful, isn't she? I can just imagine how stunning she would be when her hair was allowed to grow out. She needs a mommy and daddy to help her reach her full potential. Do you know them? Same country and region as the girls above. For more info please contact Andrea Roberts or visit Reece's Rainbow.





This is Elena. I just love her DARK hair and eyes with her light complexion. And those cheeks!Isn't she gorgeous? She also is in need of someone to love her and provide her with the early intervention services that would help her to thrive and reach her fullest potential. She's in the same region and country as the other girls and all information and requirements can be found here. For more info please contact Andrea Roberts or visit Reece's Rainbow.





There are so many other kids listed with Reece's Rainbow, please give them a look. I could have posted one hundred pictures here and still had others that I would love see find a family. All of them just waiting for someone to fall in love with them. It really could be you and your family. So, what are you waiting for? What's holding you back?

Music and Life: The Drunk Version

We were in the local Irish store yesterday and I heard this song and now I can't get it out of my head. At first I just laughed at it cause the dude calls the whiskey the devil and then turns around and says "...you're me darlin' drunk or sober!" I found that funny for some reason...

Then when it was running around in my head most of the day and I caught myself singing it I thought I'd look it up and found that one of the verses they say, "o'er hills and mountains into Americay". So, the whiskey landed him in America? Hmmm, that could explain what's up with one of the nearer towns to me. Oh, wait, are ya'll reading this over there? Love you guys....

Enjoy me new favorite song! Rick just told me (jokingly) I shouldn't listen to stuff like this, "it'll warp your mind." He must not know me very well. Pahahaha!

WHISKEY YOU'RE THE DEVIL

Chorus:
Whiskey you're the devil you're leading me astray
Over hills and mountains into Americay
You're sweeter, stronger, decenter
You're spunkier than tea
Oh whiskey you're me darlin' drunk or sober!

Oh, now brave boys we're on for marching
Up to Portugal and Spain drums are beating, banners flying
The devil all home will come tonight
Love, fare thee well

With me tiddle-ee-iddle-doodle-a-ma-da me tiddle-ee-iddle-doodle-a-ma-da
Me rightful too-ra-laddie-oh
There's whiskey in the jar

Said the mother do not wrong me do not take me daughter from me
For if you do I will torment you
And after death me ghost will haunt you
Love fare thee well

Oh the French are fighting boldly
Men are dying hot and coldly
Give every man his flask of powder
His firelock upon his shoulder
Love fare thee well

Weird Fact Wednesday: The Cowardly Version......Or Not

Ok, yes, I know - this blog is B.O.R.I.N.G. I have been in a funk the last couple months and just haven't had much to say. So, I'm gonna try a new weekly blog post called Weird Fact Wednesday, in which I will be sharing weird facts about "yours truly" on Wednesdays. Cause you always wanted to know all those weird facts about me, right? Well, even if you don't someday my kids or grandkids will. Won't they? And it'll all be right here for them to find. Until then, enjoy week one of Weird Fact Wednesday.

Ever since I was a little girl I have had this thing for Kenny Rogers. That's not exactly the weird fact. My utmost favorite song by him was "Coward of the County", I really don't know why cause I just listened to it again for the first time in a while and went.... "OOO KAY!" And that's not ok in a good way. 

So, yeah, weird fact about me: I used to really LOVE a song about a dude who let's people walk all over him and then one day snaps. Umm, maybe there's a lesson in there somewhere? That's probably a whole 'nother post for a whole 'nother day!

(And Kenny, if you're reading this, I still love you! But that song needs a little help. Just sayin....)

 

Are We Getting Anywhere?

That's what I've been asking myself the past few days. Cause it seems like things are finally moving. We've finally gotten past all the hoops and hurdles, but even though we're moving it seems to be at a snail's pace. I am ready to sprint the last little bit of this race and just get to the finish line already. Anybody with me?

So, officially where are we? That's what a lot of people have been asking. Well maybe not in those exact words but everyone wants to know: "What else?" So here's what else we have left to accomplish before we get that travel date and FINALLY get to squeeze our little Princess.

• The Home study needs to officially be finished and approved. It is right on the edge of being there but a few documents were lost "never received". Once they have those and I clear up a couple questions for the actual SW we will be done. Praise God!! I will probably have a party when that day comes.
• When the HS is done it will go to USCIS and we will wait for them to approve our application and issue the I171H which will need to be included as part of our dossier and gives permission for Liza to get a Visa to come to the US (or something like that). Only the USCIS officer thinks that we have not been fingerprinted because, "We would not have issued a fingerprint appointment without having your Home study on file. You are mistaken." Too bad for her I still have the forms stamped and dated that say we were fingerprinted right there in the NOVA USCIS office. I swear I DO NOT make this stuff up.
• After we get the I171 we will get all the dossier documents apostilled and we can send the entire thing to our facilitator in Liza's country.
• Then we wait maybe two weeks for a travel date! 
• Then we travel there, do all the official in-country stuff, and BRING HER HOME! Can't wait for that part. And sometimes can't believe we are actually finally this close. 

Think I can sprint it without having a heart attack? :)

Update on Pampered Chef

**Breaking News!! On Wednesday the 20th from 4-9PM EST all online orders will receive a free gift with their order. So, if you're on the fence about ordering or dragging your feet I suggest you get that order in then so you can get a little something extra for free. Come on, who doesn't like free? :)**
*If anyone still wants to order, the show will be open until Wednesday evening. Simply go to Rachel's Website and click SHOP NOW, then type LIZA in the host name box, and go shopping! Thanks*


Saturday was the Pampered Chef fundraiser and I think it did really well. Plus, it was fun and we ate yummy food. Caramel brownies and Garlic pull-apart bread, I'm drooling just thinking about it. I should've taken pictures so you could drool too. Ahh, hindsight.....

The most amazing thing that came out of it was three of my friends decided to host their own parties, which gets the Liza fund $10 each one, BUT on top of that they want their parties to be a continuation of this fundraiser! That means they will be hosting fundraiser parties with all the proceeds going to Liza's fund. I was so blessed by them that I couldn't even thank them without wanting to cry. I have really awesome friends who believe in what we are doing. How can you not praise God for that?! Thanks friends.

The other good thing that came out of this was the people who just wanted to donate but couldn't make it to the party. I guess I hadn't been as diligent in sharing what we were doing as I thought. So many said that they didn't even realize we were adopting and were willing to support us in some way. Those donations were an unexpected blessing, but so appreciated.

I don't know the totals from all the orders yet, we're keeping the party open for a few more days for anyone else who wants to order. I do know that just having that time to be surrounded by friends and know that we are supported in this was really good for me. It encouraged me to keep pushing through until Liza is here with us. Although, I'm now thinking I may have to fight off a bunch of women on Sunday mornings if I want to see my daughter. Ehh, could be worse I guess.....

Music and Life: Worth it All

This song was brought back to my mind yesterday, thanks to Tracie. I had written typed a post back in May using this song and was glad to be reminded of it again. Especially in light of everything we've gone through since May. Hmm, maybe let's take a little stroll down memory lane:

• First it was finding out the HS agency wasn't gonna be so easy to work with. (See post linked above)
• Then some not true things were said by our former foster child or someone close to her. Still never got the full story on that. All I know is that we were maybe the "bad guys" for a bit. Minor bad guys, but it still hurt to have our name dragged down like that.
• Car trouble - as in, having to buy a new one kind of trouble. Which took a little bite out of the 401K money that we had borrowed to pay adoption expenses.
• Commissioner of Revenue trouble.
• Then came the Psychologist Saga 
• After we finally found Dr. Psychologist and met with him he went AWOL on us. Yep, he thought the reports were faxed by his assistant, disappeared for a while, only to come back to frantic messages from me. Poor guy probably hopes he never has to see me again :) Honestly, I hope the same. No offense Dr. Psychologist.
• Now, I find myself feeling lonely and depressed at times. We are almost at the end of this and everything has finally smoothed out with the actual process and my emotions go hay-wire. Maybe it's a spiritual attack? Maybe it's hormones and stress? I tend to think it's a little bit of both, but I'm hanging in there.
  

So, I list all the hurdles we've had to jump and all the stresses and people probably wonder, "Why?! Why put yourself through this?" All I can answer to that is this:

I look at this sweet little face and I know that it's all gonna be worth it. One day I am gonna hold her in my arms and hear her sweet laugh or feel her arms hug my neck and I will know all of this was worth it.

One More Fundraiser - Pampered Chef

We are having one more fundraiser as we push towards the last little bit we need before it's time to go. We are looking at submitting our dossier in early February and still need about $5000 to go.  If you love Pampered Chef please order though Rachel's website and help us reach our goal. Thanks!

Help The Pampered Chef

Raise Money

for the Lorenz Family’s adoption of

Liza!

Come sample some delicious recipes and try high-quality kitchen tools while we raise money for the Lorenz family!

20% of all purchases will be donated to the Lorenz Family!
AND $10 will be donated for every show booked with Rachel Lazor!
(if you live near us and want to book a show let me know and I'll hook you up with Rachel)


When: Until Saturday, January 16th


If you aren’t able to make it, you can still support the fundraiser by placing your order on
Rachel's Pampered Chef Website

• Click on "Shop Online" in the LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE HOME PAGE
• Enter LIZA in Box #1
• Shop, choose "Direct Delivery" (to have the order delivered to you via FedEx)
• Pay with a Debit/Credit Card


Please be sure to check out Reece’s Rainbow and the Lorenz sponsor page

Melancholy Musings on Christmas Eve Night

*Now that I do have a connection I figured I'd add a bit to this. Cause I reread it and it kinda depressed me :) I sent this as a text from my phone cause I haven't been able to figure ut how to email a post yet and it only let me use a certain amount of characters. What I add will be in italics. Probably no one cares but I'm big on honesty so if I don't I will feel like I'm not being real. Yeah, I know I'm a weirdo!*


I can't seem to get a good connection to post lately but wanted to speak a little bit of my heart. This is my outlet after all. I have been realizing that I desperately need community.

I don't know if it's the holidays, the weather, hormones, or what but I really feel lonely a lot of the time. I feel like I was made to live like the Algonqins did (right?) in those longhouses with many generations in one home. I love the idea of that! I find myself wishing for the days when I was a young single mom. I lived with my children in my Godparents' home with my Godparents and my Godsisters. Not that I don't want Rick but I miss what those days represent. Just wondering if that makes me weird? It was a sense of community, I think. It's similar to when I lived in my apartment. Even though it was my own place I knew there were always people close and there was always someone in and out. Maybe some folks would hate that, but I loved it. And where we live now it just doesn't happen. 

So, now that I've depressed everyone. Merry Christmas!

Liza's Birthday

Today is Liza's 4th Birthday and our official meeting day with our Social Worker! On one hand I am excited that we are actually making some progress and hoping to have her here soon (February or March... maybe?), and on the other I am sad that she is "celebrating" her birthday once again in an orphanage. What that means is that  she's probably not celebrating at all. Today will  be just another day for her, just like yesterday and the day before and..... you get my point. I was really hoping that she would be here now and that we could show her how it feels to be celebrated on the day of your birth. What it's like to be loved and cherished like all children should be.

To honor her birthday I'd like to ask if you feel led to please make a donation to our Family Sponsorship Page on Reece's Rainbow. This will make it tax-deductible and really help us when it is time to actually make the trip over there. We have paid pretty much everything that is required for fees here, but are still in need of some of what we will need to pay when it is time to travel. We took a loan out on Rick's 401K and then our van and our stove had to be replaced, so that cut into some of what we planned to use. Every little bit helps, even $5 or $10. Just click the button included in this post or the one on the sidebar to help. Thank you!


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Things I Ponder: The BBC version

Here lately I have been in LOVE with a few BBC series. It started with Keeping Up Appearances, or as Rick calls it, The Mrs. Bucket Show. Then it was Monarch of the Glen, Robin Hood, Ballykissangel, and now The Darling Buds of May (betcha didn't know that's how Catherine Zeta-Jones was dicovered?) Love me some BBC!

So, anyway, my pondering is this: Why, oh why can't the stars of these shows stay put?! In MOG two or three of the main characters leave after a couple seasons and the show hangs on a while then fizzles out. In Robin Hood and Ballykissangel the same thing happens. Haven't gotten far enough into The DBM yet but am hoping everyone was able to stick it out. The Mrs. Bucket Show is about the only one that it doesn't seem to happen in, which is good cause I don't think anyone else could have played Hyacinth! In BallyK they have about four or five different priests! Sheesh, gimme a break.

What is UP with the changing of characters? The stars of these shows leaving when it all seems to be going great? Any other BBC lovers know? Cause this is driving me bonkers. Still love my BBC though. Think I could make it in England? Kent is looking pretty good to me these days (that's a place, by the way, not a dude!).