A SMALL WAY TO HELP!

I'm sure most of you have been reading or listening to the news about the Typhoon Ketsana that hit the Philippines over the weekend. Well, here's a way to help the people suffering from the aftermath. Click HERE to visit the blog of a Filipino woman named Cherie and read previous posts to get her story. I plan on donating something. You should, too!

(This is the exact post I posted on our congregation's blog, I am being lazy today, lol)

In May of 2007, Roger and Jackie Sherwood announced to the congregation that they were starting the process to adopt a little girl from China. Moving ahead 2 1/2 years later, on August 26th, 2009 Jackie and her mom travel to China and finally met Ciara Rae-MinWen Sherwood for the first time on August 31st. They arrived home on September 10th where Ciara then met her Papa, her big sister Leyna and her niece/sister Logan.

Ciara made her debut to the Warren congregation on Sunday morning, September 13th, and the following week was formally welcomed home with a potluck/shower that the congregation threw for her. Everyone has been waiting anxiously to meet her and the congregation has fallen just as easily in love with her as the rest of her family has. Now that she's here, Ciara has adjusted fabulously and is now running around with the rest of the pack! lol Here are some highlights from the party!

Ciara and her PapaCiara with her Pappap (Jackie's dad)Ciara with her Granny (Jackie's mom)Being silly!Jackie and Roger opening Ciara's gifts surrounded by all the excited children, lolOh, she likes this one!Some photos of Ciara's new church familyRoger and Jackie's granddaughter Logan getting in on some of the actionCiara and her Mama

"...children are a heritage from the Lord..."

Playing with her new friend Julianna while Randy looks on.One happy girl!Thank you, Father!

DING, DING, DING! WE HAVE A WINNER!

Okay, the moment we've all been waiting for! Watch the video below of Ciara picking the winner of my FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY! Excuse the jammies, but since Mama is on a temporary vacation from working, hehehe, we don't get dressed around here at least until after noon, lol!

(Psst. Turn off the music at the bottom of the blog before you play the video.)

CONGRATULATIONS to our WINNER!!!

SO.....JACLYN is the winner of my giveaway!

And what is the prize you ask?

Wwweeellllll....the prize is: Four beautiful Chineses silk scrolls depicting the four seasons. My mom found these in a little store while we were in Guangzhou and I knew they were the perfect prize for my giveaway. I hope you enjoy them, Jaclyn!

Jaclyn and I have become good bloggy friends because both of our daughters are from the same SWI in China, Hefei in the province of Anhui. In fact, Ciara and Jemma are close to the same age, were in the same classroom and knew each other quite well. I say that in the past tense because obviously Ciara is home, but Jemma is still waiting for her mommy and daddy to come and get her. Not through any fault of Jaclyn and her husband, but that's how the process works. Believe me, they would be on the next flight over there to get their sweet little Jemma if they could :) I got to meet Jemma and took lots of pictures of her when we visited the orphanage a couple weeks ago, she's a doll!

I'd ask that you all pray that all red tape be cut as quickly as possible and that Jemma be home sooner than expected!! Jaclyn and her husband and kids live in Charlotte, NC which happens to be where my husband's mother, two sisters and their families and his brother and his family all live. We get down there about once a year and hopefully we will be visiting with Jaclyn's family during those times as well. Ciara and Jemma have so much up to this point in common and both families want and need to keep in touch.

PAINTED PIGGIES AND ADJUSTING

Leyna was doing her nails today and of course the girls wanted theirs done, too, and since it was I'm sure Ciara's first foray into the world of polishing her tootsies, Logan had to show her how it was done and I had to document it with a photo.

After the salon session, Leyna took Logan to her swimming lessons at the YMCA, which Ciara would love to join in on but is still too young yet. While she waited for Logan to get back, Ciara watched a little TV, played with her new bear she got from the Mathenys, and then she decided to goof around with Mama by playing the 'ole hiding under the blanket routine, and of course I just happened to have my camera handy!

Check out those newly painted fingernails!!I'd say she's relaxed and adjusting quite well, lol!

WELCOME HOME, CIARA!

Our local congregation had a Welcome Home party for Ciara yesterday afternoon after morning worship. After a potluck lunch and a delicious cake, Roger and I sat and opened the generous gifts that the congregation presented us with. Besides a collection of money that will go into a savings account we have set up for Ciara, Ciara got lots of toys which of course she just loved. She also got a new outfit, but because she's so tiny (wearing 18 month clothes at 2 1/2, she will have to grow into it along with a few other things, lol.

Our congregation is small in numbers, but big in generosity and love for others, and my whole family is very thankful for each and every one of them. We love Christ's church and its people!

I'll post more pictures as they come in because, once again, I forgot my camera!

HOME SWEET HOME

Have I mentioned lately how GOOD it is to be home? My mom told me this afternoon that the first few days we were back she kept waking up in the mornings thinking she was still in China after dreaming she was still there and couldn't understand anything anyone was saying and couldn't get home. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized she was in her own home and in her own bed, lol.

SURFIN' WITH MAMA

While we were in China, I foolishly let Ciara "type" on my computer by opening up a blank Word document for her. Now every time I sit down at the computer she wants up on my lap to do more typing...dummy me. Well, I decided to put a stop to it, lol, and this was her solution to what she considered a major problem, lol.

Begging me to sit on my lap with her favorite morning cup of Fruit Loops, lol.Proud of her solution!Now, shall I check my email or Facebook?Mama and Ciara