A knitting fundraiser, $2.99 per pattern. Get in on the fun!

Hi All,

Over on our newest blog for our newest adventure we have a knitting fundraiser that is pretty exciting!

We surely hope you will come FOLLOW along :-D

This post, on the new blog, is for a knitting pattern fundraiser with much thanks going to Larissa Brown for her pattern. http://4fitz.blogspot.com/2015/08/calling-all-knitters.html

please click over, and PLEASE SHARE!

Any knitters out there with blogs? Hook a girl up! :-D The fundraiser is LIVE Monday August 17th through Wednesday August 19th  Here is a direct link to the pattern sale: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ultra-eyelet

Blessings, Lynette

A sibling for Phoebe?

After a bit of a hiatus, I am here to fill you in on family plans and hopes. This news has been floating around our facebook page, and I hope to update on this blog, or start a new blog for this process. For now, I welcome you to read this detailed family update on our plans:

A few times recently the question of us adopting a sibling for Phoebe, from China, has come up. The timely length of the process has come up, and I was thinking it would be good to give an update, a prayer reminder, and show a timeline for friends who may have questions about this process; firstly, we are personally still raising a certain goal of funds that Kevin and I have decided in prayer before we take any more official steps. We are q-u-i-t-e a ways off from this planned goal. It is important to note that we consider that this adoption would be an absolute miracle, so we covet your prayers and support. It will take even LONGER than an average process (average which is a little over a year, to a year and a half or longer if you hit some bumps in the road like we did with paper work for Phoebe's adoption-- and take into consideration, short of a surprise-financial-windfall, that this would take longer than a year and a half to two years) I was looking for a clear description of the adoption process, that boils it down even more clearly "in a nutshell" than it really is (you know what I mean, so many nuances and bumps in reality) So, with this in mind, I plan to cite some blogs and other internet sites on upcoming blog posts for anyone who is looking for some internet reading, or who is simply interested. Keep a look out for those the coming days, weeks, months! I plan to target things like timelines, and descriptions of the process.

You can think of us currently as if we are planning a pregnancy, so I think of it as "figuratively dreaming of another baby/child", which I think protects my heart a bit. Basically, we are chatting, planning, and considering our options for fundraisers. Honestly, not much nesting, or other excitement yet. ;) But, YES, much in the way of HOPE.

Pausing for a note on fundraising:  we had a successful craft sale in our home, and with a follow up auction on fb. There are plans for more fundraisers, which hope to be fun and a blessings to our friends, family, and internet community as well. Thank you SO much to our contributors and shoppers!!!!! We love you!!!!

Once we are more in process you can consider us "paper pregnant". And if this time is anything like Phoebe's paper pregnancy, it was scary, daunting, fun, and exciting like most pregnancies and adoptions are; I was certainly nesting, doing **loads** of paper work for our agency, for China, for Homeland Security, lots of medical appointments which included a few blood tests and physicals, feeling excited and nervous, literally dreaming of little one at night with vivid dreams, thinking about names, setting up her bedroom and crib, enjoying baby showers, etc.

Thanks all for your support, for those of you who have prayed, enjoyed fundraisers, sent checks with loving notes, and more. Please, understanding that this is a very long process for people in our situation, even so, we need your caring support now, so keep up the supportive comments, the prayers each day for us, and follow along even if the updates are more far apart at this time. Hopefully in time, according to the Lord's will, we will keep inching forward.

I'm prayerful about a certain part time job soon, and there is something possibly in the works that could be a real blessing. This will help us make our tight household ends meet if it comes to fruition, plus it would be something "for me" which is a love of mine, and I am hopeful for news soon.

Kevin and I have prayed that kev would receive over-time to help with the adoption (which sometimes means that money will help us catching up on house bills and medical bills, which does in turn help the adoption fund, too) After a dry spell, he did  receive some over time, with hopes of more, so we consider this answer to prayer.

No matter what, we want you to be more aware of the plight of the orphans, praying for them, supporting other families who are adopting, or agencies. Reach out to ask me questions at any time; I will try to answer, or get you in touch with the right person. Our adoption fund is growing slowly but **surely**, (He, Jesus, is showing us a gradual growth, and answer to prayers along the way, with MANY spiritual markers!! I am a fan of those markers ;) ) We hope these moneys can bring our child home to us, but if that ultimately is not God's plan then the fruits of that fund will go to help another orphan. 
Blessings, Lynette

PS:
In the meantime, since we have last blogged, we have moved about 45 minutes away from our old home, have been doing lots of projects in our fixer upper '64 spit level home, and simply living life with its ups, downs, and daily walk.

Here are a few recent pics of Phoebe, so my blog pals can see how she has grown! :) She is amazing, smart, and always our JOY! She is in preschool a couple days a week, adores her teachers & friends, and will be 4 years old soon. I cannot even wrap my mind around that news. 4! Time flies.  

Keeping busy and enjoying spring

Thank you Beth for reminding me that I need to make a new post. well, reminding me in a around about way. ;)

It has been way too long.

What is going on? Phoebe is getting bigger, and she is a doll! She is so bright, sweet, and amazing.

At 2 years and 2 months old, she loves to "write" which includes coloring,  and also writing with a pencil or pen. I have not tried to make her do that, she asks for these things. She also loves to point out letters and say "O and A" for all of the letters. Again, that came from inside her, and incidental learning.

I love taking her for walks and pointing out all the spring things. Recent walks included seeing flowers, squirrels, buds and blossoms on trees, a friendly neighborhood cat, and friendly neighbors, dogs, and more. we love to "talk" about things we see; and with that cute kitty, Phoebe even got to feel her tail.

She LOVES birds. Imitating their sounds is a fave past-time.

There has been A LOT of road work lately, with trucks parking in front of our home almost daily, Phoebe has gotten to see the trucks, the holes they are digging, and even wave at the workers.

Lots of learning and life experiences!! 

Happy spring everyone. 

 Blessings, Lynette

Crafting for adoption "it is a ministry"

Hi all.

Well, where to begin...

Kev and I are still paying off the loan for the adoption process last year. It is all worth it!  That being said, I plan to consign Phoebe's clothes and sell some other items. I may even bring my Etsy shop back to life, though there will be different items there than before.

Kev wants to sell his trains to raise some cash.

I  am working part time now, and most of my paychecks last year went right into our fund, so I worked my bottom off to bring home our babe. 

Call it whatever you want, for those of you who don't like the term fundraising, call it simple, good old fashioned hard work. 

But I for one don't mind the term fundraising, a dear friend in the adoption community put it very nicely when she said "this is a ministry". 
(Thank you, Linda!!)

I will tell you this, when I visited the orphanage I was forever changed. This is more than growing one's family, this is saving a life, this is celebrating life, and this is doing God's work.  

Who knows if Kev and I will be able to do this again (yup, I said the word "again")...if we were to do so we would need your support in prayer, in loving hands-on support, and for those of you able to give, yes, in fundraising.  

We are not yet adopting again. Right now this is about catching up with the adoption of Phoebe.  

Thankfully the adoption tax credit should help immensely, as long as that works out as it should.

Right now, I am simply trying to repay the old debt, which could maybe open the doors for _____ ???

I only want what the Lord wants! I will say this though, He has told me to go forth and start crafting my little heart out...and He is pulling hard on my heart strings.  Lead my path, Jesus.

Ummmm, if I craft it they will come?

If anyone else who does fundraising for adoptions wants to reach out, I welcome you. As I say up front, we need to repay the current adoption debt, so that is what it is all about right now. And since we made 3,000 last time around, you know the debt is weighty. 

Kevin and I both have a big huge heart for adoption, but specifically special needs orphans. 

I hope that He really does have another child in the big picture for us. If it were up to me I would fill a huge home of children. Kev I am sure is happy with one (or two).

  Right now, we wait on Him.  

(this is kev, as we waited to board a plane to go get our Phoebe).

Love to all, Blessings abound!
Lynette, His.

"Gung Hay Fat Choy!!"

Happy Chinese New year and to my other Asian friends, Happy Lunar New Year.

for more CNY / LNY stuff visit my other blog for Early Childhood fun and learning, here: http://www.playanddiscover.org/2013/02/happy-chinese-new-year-happy-lunar-new.html

Blessings, Lynette

wordless wednesday- our winter princess (now if only we would get more snow)

Blessings, Lynette

Teething!!

I do believe our princess is teething her second set of molars, the 2 year old variety.

She will be 2 later in February.

1.5 days now of agony for her. :( Poor dear one.

Blessings, Lynette

Wordless Wednesday *For Unto Us a Child is Born*

Blessings, Lynette

{wordless wednesday- the "face" of special needs adoption}

 

Blessings, Lynette

{wordless wednesday- happy thanksgiving}

Blessings, Lynette

Hello Blog, old friend...

It has been a while and I am ASHAMED that I have not updated.

We were having technical difficulties uploading to the blog in China, but I had no (or little) issues facebooking, so we stuck with that.

Then we got home and things got VERY busy with Phoebe.

I am hoping to dedicate at least once a week to come back to blogging: both reading yours and posting on mine. I love it all so.

So...catching up:

China was great.

I still hope that post on packing and travel suggestions that I promised. Here are a few I can type quickly:

• Bring snacks (wish I had peanut butter), 
• Bring a stroller (at least for us I was wishing I had one, I know other people beg to differ), 
• Bring a coffee cone for individual use in your hotel rooms (we used Starbucks at the end, but until then it seemed very difficult to get coffee, and at the Dolton it was hard to communicate that we wanted it, as well as get more than a tiny tea cup sized coffee, or smaller, once a day. Then they over charged us greatly once for tiny cups of it.)

 ON PHOEBE:
(the fun stuff, as well as the information that may prove of help or interest to other adopting families)

Phoebe is the LOVE OF OUR LIVES.
We are yet to get to CHOP, but they are helping us and have been great at the International Adoption clinic.

Phoebe is a diva, a sweetheart, very bright, growing like a weed, has a beaming smile, is strong willed, charming, and she is very strong. She communicates very well.

She has about 14 English words she currently has as well as her own made up signs. Beginning language is great. She still says Thank You in Chinese, which makes us smile.

She was 16 months when we got her in China, she is now 20 months. She went from not sitting up on her own when we met her, to now practically running and she is climbing the couch.

She hid her ABS hand often in China, she now uses it with 110% confidence, and SO much ability!! 

She had many, many sleep issues when she first came home, but is doing incredibly well now. 

While she was slow to warm up to my husband in China, she now adores him. He always had adored her! :) She is inseparable with me. I am completely in love with her.

She does throw tantrums, most often when shopping and while with me. Not so much for my husband. Funny thing is that I am pretty strict about proper behavior publicly, yet she chooses to do the old throw down with me, I guess because I am her main person who spends days with her, feeds her, naps, her dresses and changes her, etc. 

The hardest thing is that she has had several illnesses, she appears to be lactose intolerant which I have since learned is something that many people in the Asian community suffer from (and so does her Irish-German-American mom who can commiserate). She was at the hospital for 5 days with lethargy and spiking fevers, so the Infectious Disease specialist kept her there and thought she had a "China Thing" going on, turned out it was a run of the mill virus. She has had other repeated lower GI issues and also other bouts of fevers.

We opted to do all of her presumed-given vaccines over again, but started with the ones we knew she had not gotten yet so that she would have coverage against those things immediately, such as meningitis and MMR. 

Here are 2 pics of her in China, one at the Dolton play room in Changsha, and one the day of her US CA  in Guangzhou first week of June 2012, and then a few of her from just the other day at home, November 2012 when our town in coastal New Jersey had Halloween (it was late here due to Hurricane Sandy).

My, how she has grown!!

In China, she rolled everywhere. No crawling, no walking. I have some pics of her in the playroom propped up by toys, but she was only "up" for seconds. Holt families can see her on page 19 of the Fall 2012 magazine, I caught that image of her with the toy horse in a split second before she fell. ;)

she did not sit independently, she always was propped with something or hanging on, like holding this chair. 

Now she climbs, balances, practically runs.

Little Red Riding Hood is running to get candy...

This was the very first trick or treat house, at our neighbor's who she adores. She thought mama had dressed her oddly, in this image you can see by her expression that she did not "get it" yet. In a flash, she caught on though!!

Hoping to do {almost} Wordless Wednesday posts, with perhaps only a subject line. Let's see how well that goes. ;)





Blessings, Lynette

We are in GUangzhou!

Firstly, sorry in advance for odd autospellchecks. ;) It is so wonderful to finally be in GZ. Phoebe had her medical check today, it went very well. She was very well behaved, and only cried a little when her heart was checked with the steth. All of the families here are so nice. It was exciting to meet some friends from my Internet adoption groups. That has been a highlight. It is great to have Starbucks right here IN the China Hotel. It is a nice place. Later when home I will do a positive vs negative list of things, but overall it has been a very warm, friendly, good experience. little princess girl is a charmer for sure. She likes to smile a cheeky grin to get a reaction. She eats a lot, but we knew to expect that...if we try to tell her it is time to stop eating she throws a mini-fit. But usually gets over it fast. She seemed to originally be regressing a bit almost as if she was testing our trust, and seeking attention, though she has come leaps and bounds. She is and has been very bright. She figures things out, and is able to communicate her needs, as well as being very curious. in only about A week she has learned to say the word UP. Hmmm,m...guess she is motivated for that one. LOL. She goes to nap and sleep for us like a pro. What a nice gift for this mama! The only issue is her schedule has been turned upside down with required appointments and our very late, delayed flight when she ended up going to bed at 2am!!!! The poor thing. Then had to be awakened at 7am e next morning. Phew! Tomorrow we ink we are going one tour to the pearl district (?). There is a dinner to attend. And the next day and island to explore, then her consulate appointment the day after, and a night mini cruise on the river with pizza. Busy busy busy. Heading to bed now. Cheers, Lynette Praising the Lordfor our safe travels all over China, and our amazing little girl. My heart is so full.

An update while in changsha

Hello. We are having a grand time. Changsha is so nice, the people are sweet, and the hotel is nice. Kevin is walking her in a stroller in the lobby as I type. She is slow to warm up to him, but does smile at him if he plays with her from a far or sings to her. She does enjoy his singing, how nice"! She lays on me and looks for me ALOT. She has allowed my mom into her little world today, and mom won her over with some corn on the cob. I will try to make another post with photos, not sure if it will be a success or not. Will share when I can, wifi is sketchy, and time is short, we are kept busy, and have been warn out but very content. Our guide, Vicky, is the best. The other family we are with, the kitchen family, are wonderful. Xo blessings, lynette

we are in CHINA

Not much time to blog right now but we are here. Got in late last night. Toured the Great wall today, rode a rickshaw, etc. The temperatures were mild and it was over cast. But tomorrow should be very hot. Hope to check back in soon. From Beijing, goodnight.

2 weeks, 4 days, and counting!!

what do I do first? Can you say whirlwind?

I'm happy my mom will be here soon to help me clothes shop for the trip, pick up the local-flavor gifts for the orphanage, take care of odds and ends, assist with packing which includes not only clothes but a small pharmacy and important paper work.

I cant believe I have to fit in fix-it jobs around the house, and medical appts all before travel.

No time left!!!!

Oh, add the hair cut in there.

Mundane things are now all like big boulders in the stream. I know I will get past them, but it will take some flexibility and maneuvering!

My social and work calendars are FULL. There will be nothing more added between now and travel. (actually, I believe our social worker is coming by too, note to self, check-in and add to the calendar)

We are coming Phoebe! Praying for you and your caregivers, honey!

In one month plus a few days Phoebe will see this darling doggie face, I wonder what she will think?

Blessings, Lynette

YAY YAY YAY-- WE HAVE CA!!!!

CA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our visa appt for Phoebe is in GZ on July 10th!

wow!

I have chills.

I'm still holding out hope that a dear internet friend can be there with us, Rose, I am praying.

Here are some fun pics of gifts from from my secret pal, and from Rose; I also included a pic of the flowers my preschool class presented to me upon the graduation ceremony with my co-Teacher.

I have some things to get out in the mail myself, I better get a move on and send them SOON!!!!

Blessings, Lynette

It's a great day! We have TA!

TA (Travel Approval) was today:
20 days from the day that we rec'd our consulate email, the next day Holt Int'l picked up our A5.

We hope to travel in Holt's end of June, or early July travel groups. 

 Blessings, Lynette

Buy a T shirt and help bring Phoebe home

Hey, we all need clothes, right, and these are pretty cool.

Can you help bring our Phoebe home? She is a "Special Focus" child in China.
We adore her and can't wait to bring her home!!

Important: You must use our code in checkout in order for us to get the credit.

 FITZPATRICK524  

Here is the link:  http://store.wildolivetees.com/adoption-fundraiser-tees-c6.aspx

  There are a few places to purchase Tees on their site, these must be ordered from the "Adoption Fundraiser" T shirts area. . ;)

The instructions say the following (not a discount- just a place to give them our code):  During the checkout process, there will be a coupon code option under the shopping cart. They will click on that box and it will open the coupon code field up in the left hand corner. That is where the code is applied.



Here are some images to give you an idea of just how AWESOME they are~! I just love the designs, and that they glorify God.

This is the one I mentioned wanting for Christmas. *Short run (and have T-style, too)

this is a personal fave

so cute!

cute for an active little guy. It says "whatever"!

such a pretty color for a little girl...and lovely sentiment.

Here is the diddlio:

There are a few size options, so they have body huggable Tees, and looser comfy fitting. There is a short run sale of a long sleeves items that I am eying up for Christmas (yup, I will buy it and save it to stat wearing in November!) .

Be sure to click on each one to read what is on the back. That's right they are COLORFUL and have front and back designs!!

They sell for around 30 dollars each.

For the following quantities of tees sold, Phoebe's fundraiser will receive:

·       1 - 49tees - $7.50/tee 

·       50 or more - $10.00/tee

So, I am really hoping that we break 50! 

Can you help us? spread the word, share this link, get a Tee for everyone in your family, or get yourself a few so you look COOL during this HOT summer! :)

Thanks for your support. You are Tee--riffic!

(ps- let me know you bought one so I can thank you. Share a picture of you wearing your Tshirt, I would love to see you.) 

(ps- These Tees really are beautiful, but if this is not your thing and you would rather make a direct gift through paypal, then contact me, please at photosplease@gmail.com)

Blessings, Lynette

Health and Exercise Update :-/

As quoted from the last post: "Please pray for weight loss as I am trying hard. I really want to be thinner for China for several reasons, the greatest being the fact that we will be on a plane for 14 hours, and in serious China summer HEAT."

Well,  I have been at this for several weeks now. I'm trying!!!!

I don't see a big difference, but Kevin says he sees a little difference.

This is the story of my weight-loss-life, little differences with lots of output.

Always seems wrong. :(

Getting in the way are some serious aches and pains, but even in the midst of the worst moments, I am quite a positive person and I keep moving forward the best I can.

I am doing workout videos.

 (Dear Jillian Michaels, I cannot do your Ripped in 30 every day, but I have been doing it, just spacing it out. "Running man" and the squats are NOT going to work with my Knees in this condition, and I think the thing with the barbell behind my head may be contributing to the back cricks I have had in my neck! yuck)

I am drinking lots of water drinking.

I am adding more (non-meat) protein to a change the way I had been eating with my vegetarian based diet (on advice from a trainer).

Also on advice from the trainer, I walking each morning before breakfast to get my body to burn the stored FAT.

I can't run or do deep squats due to my knee issues, but I am doing my personal best with what I've got, and I am proud of myself for the effort.

Hoping and praying so much for some REAL results!

Blessings, Lynette

Pre-Travel Prayer Requests

Phoebe's previous foster-grandma became ill, so we are praying for grandma. We are forever grateful to this woman and her husband.


Praying for Phoebe and her new foster family, as she recently had to be moved to a new foster home.

Thankful that she seems to be acclimating, but now she is fearful of strangers, and she was not before, so it clearly had an effect on her...and she will go through another change when we come get her soon. This makes me sad.

She has had some trouble digesting recently, on meds.

Praise the Lord however that we received pictures of a very healthy, happy looking toddler! :) who is sitting up on her own now, and just tarting to try to take assisted steps, (photos @ 14 months old, she is now almost 15 months old, and will be about 16 mo. when she comes home).

There was a sweet looking man in the pictures, but for his privacy I have cropped him out of the pictures. 

Not sure if I am seeing fear of standing alone, or attitude about the person holding her? Hmmmmm. Fearful, or head strong? IN all other images with people near her or holding her she has been very happy, so I am thinking, fear.:( poor baby.

I am told the dot on her head is a blessing, of someone pouring all of their love into her, someone special loves her very much. I am SO thankful that someone cares that much.

I'm convinced she is pointing to her mama on this side of the screen. ;)

Her USA Adoption Specialist doctor based in Pittsburgh receives her updates from me, via email, and she says that she is right on track with her milestones and her size, head circumference, facial features, etc. All great news.

We will travel at the end of June or the beginning of July. Just waiting on our TA (Travel Approval) to finalize plans now. We should have TA if all goes well by about Wed, June 6. After that we can set up travel, which will hinge on when CA (Consulate Appointments) are available.


The later into summer we travel, the more the airfare and possibly rooms will cost. 

Praying for our dog sitter situation to work out well. We have a an awesome neighbor who can help out (our own personal dog-whisperer), and a wonderful newly married couple as well. We are working on setting up visits with the dog now to see how it all goes, and we need to map out the calendar for the dog and house care.

Whether we travel in June or July, the coming weeks will be a flurry of packing, excitement, last-minute orders of supplies, and a wonderful GLOW has come over me.

Please pray for weight loss as I am trying hard. I really want to be thinner for China for several reasons, the greatest being the fact that we will be on a plane for 14 hours, and in serious China summer HEAT.


Pleas pray in general for the house to be all set, and packing to go smoothly, and for Kevin and I to be on track with each other, and supportive of one another, as we plan, prepare, and meet each step. We both wish to be in God's perfect timing and plan. (he and I are not always in track with each other, but we both want to be in track with God)

My mom is traveling here prior to our leaving for China (she is coming with us), so please pray for her to organize as she needs to on her end, and to have safe travels, and for my nephew to be ok with her leaving for this extended period, the two of them are very close and he just tuned 7 years old. 

Blessings, Lynette