Happy Birthday to the sweetest girl I know!

Today is my sweetie's 8th Birthday... where did the time go?

4

5

6

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8

(FYI: she's holding "Sports Beans" in this picture. They are for runners, an energy blast, but she says they make her hyper and begs for them ALL the time...Ummm, NO! But for her birthday, I give her the kid-cat-nip beans.)

Feeling SOOOOO blessed that God picked me to raise this sweet, sweet girl and am so sad to see the years fly by...

Happy Birthday to my favorite girl EVER!!

10 Random Things Friday...

1. Ok, this CRACKS ME UP! How cute is this??  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!!

Go get yourself one at this shop on etsy: icehousecrafts  She has all kinds of other signs too-you know, just in case you haven't found Jesus, don't love your vacuum, didn't give at the office, or don't have kids selling crap!

2. I have a problem... I'm in love with a Porkie.  

I usually don't order food with embarrassing names, for example:

The Cinnamini at Burger King

The BIG Wally at Penguin Point

The Porkie from Logan's

What self respecting woman can say "I'd like the BIG Wally"?... I  mean, not a nice girl like me anyway!

(I was going to take a picture of one, but I couldn't get the camera fast enough)

This Porkie from Logan's has got me all turned upside down.   My love of the Porkie is something new to me... 1st up: the name, 2nd up: it's Pork, thirdly: the fact that I do NOT use love and food in the same sentence...ever!  You get 3 of these little sandwiches, 3 little rolls filled with porky goodness.  Pulled BBQ pork, a pickle slice and a plop of coleslaw on a sweet little roll... And to tell the whole story, I must add the fact that EVERY time I eat these I am an IBS-Mess... They tear me UP!  I won't let myself believe that a bit of pork, a pickle and some slaw can do this to me, I won't ALLOW it, so I will continue to oink, oink out on them every single time I go to Logan's!!

3. My hand looks giant in that picture, like the hands on the cover of the new Tina Fey book...

4. Ever wonder where mean blog comments go?  I mean, they certainly do NOT go to Heaven!  Well, I have the answer, I found out where they end up and you need to go there and get your LOLing on!
my favorite hate mail
Have you ever had mean comments on your blog?  I feel lucky that I never have (now, please don't leave me one just so I don't feel left out!), and am constantly amazed at how MEAN some people can be.
Why can't we all just get along??  The t-shirt is true: mean people suck!


5. When I mentioned to Darling this morning that some people were up at 4 AM to watch the Royal Wedding, she said:

"Why?  It's just 1 little thing that's happening in the World!"
I wrote it down so I can add it to her book that I keep.  That girl is NOT easy to impress.


6. Yesterday was the first time I've run in 2 weeks thanks to my rotten IT band that is giving me fits. 

I felt fine while I ran, but later was limping around like a 90 year old! You know the Bejamin Franklin quote "Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy"?  My friend Chris would like to add this quote "Pain is constant proof that God loves us and does not want us to exercise".  I'm a little worried about the 10K I am suppose to run in on May 14th...we'll see!


7. Mick has nothin' on me!

8.  Since getting this book at Christmas, the Mister has lost over 17 lbs and sleeps like a baby!!
Start keeping track of how much sugar you eat a day, and you'll be SHOCKED!!

Speaking of, I need to eat all the Easter candy quickly so it will just be GONE!!


9. I want my dining room table to look like this, JUST like this:

found here: all things thrifty

10.  I have such a heart for adoption.  I always knew I wanted to adopt and have been beyond blessed by this choice.  Even though she's going to kill us with future dental bills and eyebrow waxing!! Oh, she would die if she knew I just said that, don't tell her- OK?!

I just heard about this group this morning on the radio and encourage everyone to check it out.  There are over 4,000 kids in my state alone waiting for adoption... 4,000!!!!!  Can you imagine the impact we could make on this number if more people would see adoption as an option?  International, domestic, babies, toddlers, and teens, they all need a family!!  I encourage you to check this site and then pray about it.  Please consider adding the link to your blog or facebook!

http://icareaboutorphans.org/

Have a GREAT weekend!!

The dang fine print...

Don't ya know it, here was my chance at talking the Mister into another little one... All I had to do was collect the $25,000 (all in 1's, of course) and then put them in a huge pile in our living room before he got home!  Trust me, if I could suddenly come up with this chunk of change, I'd be calling my agency....

stupid mustard... contest ended Sept. of 2010.

PS: don't worry "Funny" & Mel, that is NOT an orb, it's only my flash in the dark window!

Off to check my mega millions numbers....

Final Day of ArtPrize in GR...

I don't know how quickly these pictures are going to download, i think i took these pics on the highest setting so I could print them out.  I hear that you can somehow magically make them small using photoshop, but  like 100 other things right now, I have no idea how to do that.  Next blog post: 

All The Things chinamommy Does NOT Know How To Do With Her: Camera,  Computer, Blog and Photoshop!

Sunday was the last day of artprize here in Grand Rapids, MI

Here is my brother with his painting.  I know, I know... it's like we're twins- we're always getting mistaken for one another.

 My brother in line for his "swag bag"

 Me...sadly behind the line because it's for ARTISTS ONLY!!  But let's talk about my shirt... isn't it cute!!??

 a painted WALL!!!  it's HUGE

 photo by my brother... all the dripped paint below the painting.

  3rd place WINNER.  It was AMAZING!!!  Every red disk was hung by a red thread attached to a NEEDLE!!  there were 100's, the sheer number of them made it amazing! 

Of course I loved this piece, not only because it was gorgeous to look at, but it was based on this Chinese proverb which means so much to the adoption community

 The Invisible Red Thread

"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break."  -Ancient Chinese Proverb 

don't ask me how a RED thread can be invisible or how they can know it's red when it's invisible, I'm also baffled by this...

Don't forget, the deadline for my baby/kid hat drive is getting close!

Oct 31st...

Here are the details:

a little plug about my BABY/KID HAT DRIVE

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat 

(you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. Send to:

David Shellenbarger

c/o chinamommy

146 E Main

Caledonia, MI 49316

3. I need them in my hot little hands BY Oct 31, 2010.

4. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA this fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

chinamommy@yahoo.com

Thank you to those who have participated so far, I'll be giving an update with all the donors and pictures at the end!!  

Can't wait to see them ALL together!

Hat Donation Info...

a little plug about my BABY/KID HAT DRIVE

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat 

(you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. Send to:

David Shellenbarger

c/o chinamommy

146 E Main

Caledonia, MI 49316

3. I need them in my hot little hands BY Oct 31, 2010.

4. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA this fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

chinamommy@yahoo.com

Baby Hat Drive for children in China...

a little plug about my BABY/KID HAT DRIVE

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat 

(you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. Send to:

David Shellenbarger

c/o chinamommy

146 E Main

Caledonia, MI 49316

3. I need them in my hot little hands BY Oct 31, 2010.

4. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA this fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

chinamommy@yahoo.com

So you wanna be a parent?

Haha, doesn't that sounds like a sex ed book for young adults?

Wait... where was I going with this?..

Oh yeah: I got an email the other day from the agency I used when I adopted my daughter.

  

They have lots of kids (in China) getting ready to turn 14.  Do you know what that means in China?  It means you are NO longer available for adoption, it means you don't get a mama, it means you probably don't have anyone that REALLY loves you.

I am NOT a tender heart, I'm just not, but...

get me talking about the children of China and I am a weeping, sobbing mess!

  Darling and I pray every day and night for these kids and that we might be able to adopt again!

So, China may not be for you.... a teenager may not be either, but...

if not you, who?

This isn't a guilt trip, adoption is NOT for everyone, but... 

just think about it!

If someone told you they loved you at night, if they gave you presents at Christmas and loved you when you were super ugly (hello, we were ALL ugly in jr. high- let me grab that picture of me with Tom Selleck moustaches for eyebrows and I'll be right back...), then maybe it IS for you!

Do you know you can contact GWCA and get an informational packet for free...

no strings attached!

I can't imagine my precious girl being left behind and I know there are so many kids still waiting.

Just a thought...

also:

a little plug about my BABY HAT DRIVE 

  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat (you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. email me at: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com for my address.

3. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA next fall.

***I must have the hats IN my hands BY Oct 31, 2010***

(my 1st hat showed up yesterday!! Thanks "K"!)

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

busy doing what?

Makin' sure this baby makes it! 

 Yes, we are bottle feeding... like breast feeding was even an option! Ewww!

and don't forget:

I'm shooting for Sept. as the cut off date for hats...

a little plug about my BABY HAT DRIVE 

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat (you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. email me at: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com for my address.

3. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA next fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

Mother's Day Weekend...

I was out runnin' yesterday, not as in exercising but as in having coffee with friends.  

But here's my Mother's Day Weekend (I don't believe in limiting MD to just 1 day!) re-cap:

1. Friday- Went out to eat

2. Saturday- Got a dozen roses in orange and coral! 

They looked better Saturday (although I love them when they open up), but I didn't grab a picture till 10 min. ago!

The Mister knows better than to get red.  I was a florist for years and next to carnations, Red roses are the flowers I like the LEAST!  EVERYONE wanted a red rose that was tightly closed (they're called a bullet rose people- they're never going to open and they're ugly!) and baby's breath.  The super cheap guys, you know the ones that buy those pants out of the Sunday paper 2 for $35, get a dozen carnations (in mixed colors).  I admit a carnation smells good and they really are pretty, but if a guy buys you carnations- RUN, he's cheap!

3. Went to see How to Train your Dragon in 3D with Darling while the Mister worked on my new counter-tops!

4. bought Mother's Day gifts (and one for myself that I can't show because I haven't sent my Mom's to her yet and mine is kinda sorta almost the same) 

5. went out to eat again

6. Sunday-Opened presents

(I'd show you the candy, but I hid it cause i don't want to share)

7. went to Church

8. went out to brunch (ate a disgustingly UN-healthy meal...)

9.  went to my In-laws

10. took a nap

All in all a great weekend but did I take pictures of my ONLY child with myself ON Mother's Day, NOPE!

I spent yesterday being a social butterfly... I'll share tomorrow!

Hope you had a great weekend!!

OH...before I forget- IF you knit or crochet and want to help a Chinese baby stay warm this next winter, I'm going to do a baby hat drive... 

I'll have more information tomorrow, but in the meantime, feel free to email me for more information!

chinamommy_04@yahoo.com

So stinkin' tired from moving....around!

I didn't "move", I just moved...as in: around the house!  Vacation sure can take it out of a girl like me!  In the background they're talking about The Riverbank Run here in our city, it's making me want to take a nap!  I need a job people!  I worked my tootie off finishing laundry on Monday and then that was all she wrote... I have done NOTHING this week!  Well, I've chatted my face off on facebook, emailed, talked on the phone and caught up on my tv watching... Can you say slacker?  I have too much time and really am feeling the need to give back (I can hear my friend Chronicles of Chris saying "who are you kidding?"), but I'm needing a purpose besides screaming at darling to get ready for school, I mean what will I do all summer if that's my only reason to get out of bed... perhaps I'll put her in summer school so my vocal cords don't weaken!  

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

To those of you that are mothers and to those of you that have mothers or those of you that had mothers...

I wish for you a weekend of enjoying your children, or dreaming of those to come.

A time of finding the good in your own mother or the happy memories with moms that are no longer with us!

I feel SO blessed to have this little girl in my life!

She truly has given me something I never knew I was missing before I met her!

4th of July 07

with my mom in Chicago.

My mom has "weird eyes" because I always tease her about being afraid the devil will steal her soul if she looks into the lens of a camera, so she's proving to me she CAN do it!  Looks like darling is now afraid of that!

Darling and her "GG"-Great Grandma (who will be 101 in july!!)

Yes, Darling has a broken arm in this picture...the wagon MIGHT have been going too fast in a bumpy yard- don't ask, I STILL feel bad!

South Carolina Spring Break 2008

Hanging out with some friends in their dingy...

thinking of running off with the Carni's!

Just landed in Maui (& Darling MAD that she had to wear itchy flowers!)

2 peas in a POD!

Oh little girl, do you even know how lucky you are?  I hope this picture will prove it when you're a teen and begin to wonder...

I chose to adopt, it was the best decision I EVER made.  I'm always looking to spread the word on how many wonderful children are out there looking for their Forever Family- hey, maybe THAT is my purpose?!!  IF you've ever thought about it for a second, I encourage you to step out in faith and research this wonderful experience!

If you are interested at all (or think you might be) in China I encourage you to check out the agency I used:

http://www.gwca.org/

(they have added other countries besides China, so check them out!)

The number of children that go to bed without someone to say "good night and I love you forever" breaks my heart.

So, all I'm saying is: think about it, say a prayer and see where it leads you!

Oh geesh I'm feeling all sappy, must mean I'm going to get my period!

Have a great weekend friends!!

My Ovaries are a HOT TOPIC of conversation!

Last winter when i still owned the pizza shop (Oh thank God that is gone...) I was headed to my accountants with darling daughter in the car & we're running late (of course) & I've fed her nothing for breakfast (of course) & so i make a decision to head into the Burger King drive-thru so i can get a "healthy" breakfast for my darling daughter & a coffee for myself (what is it about BK coffee?? so stinkin' good- 2 creams, thank you!). I'm at the 1st booth to hand over my $ & the gal with the "oh-so-cool" headset on says "Oh is your daughter adopted?" actually she whispers the word "adopted" - this cracks me up, people whispering "adopted", it's 2008 (I told you this was an old post!) people, "adopted" isn't a secret anymore & besides, my kid is Chinese... I don't think I'm going to fool her into thinking she somehow came from my uterus, or vagina or wherever the heck babies come from... YUCK! So anyway, I say "yes, she was born in China" to which girl genius replys "China? CHINA?" (did she think perhaps i found her in Chicago in Chinatown?). I say "Yep, China, China, I went there myself to get her". Now we've known each other about 12 - 20 seconds, so we're tight & she's feeling cozy with me (i guess...) and now she says "I think that's so cool when people adopt... why did you? is something WRONG with you?"... OMG!! I am not even joking!! I wanted to say to her "you bet there's something wrong with me, when is your break & how much time do you get because this ain't gonna be a 30 second story" then i realize by "something wrong with me" she means my "woman parts". How can i blame her for being so bold, we're close, i've given her my personal order for breakfast, i've given her my $4 & we've spent to much time chatting.... Luckily for this girl I have more than a great sense of humor... & besides I never wanted to give birth so whether or not the parts south of the border work... what the hell do i care?! So... instead of making her feel like the idiot she seems to be (or is she just an extreme "people person"... you decide) I cheerfully chuckle & tell her the truth "nope, nothing wrong, I just always wanted to adopt". I drive to the 2nd window, get my coffee & my sweetie's breakfast & away we go to the accountant to find out how much in the hole we are now.... Ahhh, good times my friends, GOOD times!!

LOVE WINS

Valentines Day... it's coming! 

Do you do anything special?

Do you ❤ this day?

Do you dread it?

and then the ❤ GREATEST ❤ love...

This is the 1st day I met my daughter...

You can't see my face, but it is one of pure love, bliss and joy.

Hers...not so much! 

She was 11 months and had no idea what was going on.  Look at that little face... She had NO idea

how much I already loved her and how long I'd been waiting to meet her!

But not to worry, she loves me now!

*(photo's NOT including mine are all from weheartit.com)*