ONE YEAR AGO...

On August 31st, 2009, all of our dreams came true when my mom and I met Ciara for the first time...and then I was punched in the face! LOLOn August 31st, 2010, Ciara is a happy, very well adjusted 3 1/2 year old and everyone she meets falls completely in love with her. She's only gained 3 pounds this last year, but grown 1 1/2 inches taller. It's a tradition to dress the kids in the clothes you met them in to see the growth...see how much taller she's gotten? We love you very much, Sweet Ciara!! Unfortunately, I can't find that other shoe!

YOGI & CECIL'S FUNDRAISERS

As I mentioned a couple months ago, I started a new business called Yogi & Cecil's Clippy Creations, and I make hair clippies. Like these two for example:

Or, these two...And this set...And then these last two from my China Collection.If you want to know the significance of the ladybug to Chinese adoptions, click HERE.Okay, enough of the shameless plugging of my business, now down to the good stuff. Yogi & Cecil's is sponsoring two fundraisers; one for the Rizzo family who are waiting for TA to bring this little beauty home (Amelia)...

And the other fundraiser for the Little family who are also waiting to bring their little jewel home (Ellie).

Okay, this is the part where you all come in so PAY ATTENTION, PLEASE! For every purchase you make at Yogi & Cecil's Facebook page, we're going to be giving these two families 50% of the sales. There is an option set up on my Facebook page for each clippy so you can choose which family's fundraiser you'd like your purchase to go towards. It's...that...simple! To order through Facebook all you do is click on the "Shop Now" button, it's a very simple set up. Oh, and don't forget to hit that little "Like" button to become a fan, that way you'll stay updated of all the new clippies that are added on a regular basis.

Now, for those of you who are not familiar with Facebook and don't wanna be, we have option No. 2 and that is YOGI & CECIL'S BLOG. I have set up a "Chip-In" account for each family. From the blog I will only be taking orders either by email at yogiandcecils@verizon.net or through posts on that blog. Once you have placed an order, I will give you your total and then that will be the amount that you will Chip In on either the Little or Rizzo Fundraiser. And, again, don't forget to become a follower or our blog 'cause...it's just cool! Now, the blog is still under construction and hopefully will be completely stocked and loaded by Sunday night with all of the inventory and pricing info, so keep checking back!

With your help, the Rizzos and Littles can have a very successful fundraiser to offset some of the costs associated with International Adoption, and as most of you are quite familiar, there are a lot of costs!!! God bless you all!

PLEASE REMOVE...

Man, it's been awhile since I've posted, I've got to get back into the swing of things...AGAIN!!! While I was stalking other blogs, I came across this poem, and knew I had to post it. It says a lot of what I've been feelin' lately and is a prayer that needs prayin' by all of us.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear God,

Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life.

Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots that I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.

And most of all, Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and my life all of the ‘am nots’ that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough.

Amen

Author Unknown

BEAUTIFUL LOGAN MAY

I don't know about you all, but kids grow up way too fast! I have been telling Logan, and I started telling Ciara, that you two need to stay just as little as you are right now. I'd like your brains to grow (translated to mean I'd like them to be more knowledgeable, more responsible, more obedient, lol), but your bodies need to stop this growing stuff right now!! Now, Logan May is only five years old, but somehow my dear granddaughter went from being little girl cute to just plain gorgeous and here's the proof!

EASY RIDER

The Wednesday before the 4th after evening Bible Classes, Roger and I along with Ciara drove down to Wal-Mart to get her a new bike. She was beside herself with excitement. Not because she hasn't been riding one all summer because she has. Logan's Granny Julie, who Ciara lovingly calls Ju Ju, had been letting Ciara borrow the bike that Logan had outgrown, but only until Logan's cousin Gavin who is fast approaching three years old was big enough to ride it. Well, that day arrived a couple weeks ago and so Ciara needed another bike. Ciara had a tough decision to make. Should she get the Disney Princesses bike with the horn (not my choice, lol), or go with the Hello Kitty bike with streamers, a cute little removable backpack on the front to store her "stuff," and the best accessory yet, a seat to give your baby a ride? After going back and forth for what seemed forever, and in actuality was only like five minutes, she finally chose......the Hello Kitty bike! Yay!!

Now, if any of you know where we live, you know there is zero, zip, nada, absolutely no place to ride bikes!!! LOL And we can kid ourselves and try to make it sound exciting, but back porches and gravelly driveways just stink for riding bikes.

But one of the best places to ride bikes is parking lots, especially almost brand new blacktopped ones! Say, a church parking lot! So after waiting four more agonizing days, finally on Sunday night, the 4th of July, Ciara got to celebrate by taking her bike with her and riding it to her heart's content. She wiped out no less than five times, but she never cried once (she's a tough little cookie), and I think that girl would've rode that bike back and forth and back and forth all night long had we let her.

And of course I took a few pictures...

Getting ready to leave for Sunday evening worship on the 4th of July!Are we going or what, Mommy?I can't concentrate with you taking pictures all the time, Mommy!My new bike is way cool!Ciara, dear, you have a little confetti ice cream around those sweet lips.So much pavement, so little time.Even though she's only gained 3 pounds since she came home last August and grew about an inch and a half, look how chubby her little legs look in this picture, lol

LAMININ --- AMAZING!

GOIN 'WIMMING

Usually Leyna takes the girls over to Logan's Papa Jim's to go swimming, they're pool is much bigger than this little one we have just to get cooled off, and they had all been over there swimming earlier in the day, but Ciara hadn't had enough and wanted to take one more dip before we called it a night.

Oh, that water is cold!Ciara just loves to swim!Oooooo, it's still cold! La la la la la...Splash!!