This blog covers our wait, travel, and adjustment to our 4 year old adopted Chinese daughter Sarah Shui Qing from Nanjing. There are over 1000 posts. I have moved my blog to Catching Butterflies 2. I hope you will enjoy reading this blog. It has alot of information on Special needs adoption. Follow us to our new address Catching Butterflies 2! Thank you for reading!

Thursday, August 31, 2006


Jessica slept really well tonight. She did not sleep long, but well! She wanted her new portable DVD player. I have to watch her when she uses it. I don't want her to break it. We need it for the trip. She was sitting there watching Thumbelina and all of a sudden she points to the prince and says "Daddy"! I was stunned! Jessica turns 15 years old in 1 1/2 weeks and she has never once said those beautiful words! I said,” Yes Jessica, Daddy is a prince"! Thank you for your good prayers! I’m so amazed!

lion king

I'm putting this on my blog to show the boys! Too cute!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006


Good News (I think)! We got our police clearance in the mail today. We should be able to FedEx everything to our agency in the morning. The bad news is that the police clearance is still only in German. It has German federal seals on it, a requirement, but no English translation. I'm sure it will be worked out by our agency! It will unfortunately take some more time! I am trying really hard to not stress out over things I can not control, which seems to be just about everything! Some times it seems like you jump one hurdle only to find another hurdle standing in your road! I have faith that we will finish this process and finally travel to China for Sarah! All I can say is I thought we would be finished with this paper chase two months ago. I was hoping to be getting travel approval by now! What was that saying about spilled milk? I know that Gods timing is perfect! Even if it does not feel like we are one step closer, we are! It is really hard to see her picture on my refrigerator, and not feel sad we can not just go get her! Thailand is only 3 hours from China. We waited a ridiculously long time for Thomas too. But we have him, and in the end that is all that matters! Sorry to sound so down! I am basically stressed Jessica is sick. I don't feel so great myself, so maybe I am getting "it". We travel (God willing) to Thailand without the certainty I would love to have about Sarah’s paperwork. Let me tell you some thing profound (you probably already know)…with any risk there is uncertainty. Life does not carry a guarantee! But if you want more in this life, you need to risk! So here we are having to deal with some small uncertainty. Ok, it feels bad, but so what!

ants

Ok, nothing is ever easy! Jessica started to throw up last night. It looks like the flu or at least a bad cold! We fly in 3 days (God willing). Please pray for her recover. Pray especially for her ears to be clear when we fly! Also pray that the rest of us stay healthy. Thank you!
One more thought before I go to bed. I seem to have jet lag already! I can not seem to fall asleep until 2am.I'm getting on US time but Thailand is 6 hours ahead of Germany, not 2 hour behind us!!!

Anyway, most people in Germany have only one child. I am not sure, but Germany may even have a negative birth rate. Our family is way above average! I was reading a post about large families on a yahoo group. One woman wrote this, "My grandma had seven children - when people would ask her why she had so many children, or some other crazy remark, she would answer them with, "And just which one could I do without?" I live by those words!! So, yes, there is more work with a large family, but to me, it seems like there is a lot more love too!!!

I just love those words, and just which one would I do without? I am so grateful to
God for my family and friends. I could not do without you!

Tuesday, August 29, 2006


I've been writing allot lately about our oldest son Thomas. We have two sons adopted from Thailand. Our first son is Philip. He was adopted when he was only 2 1/2 years old. He doesn't really remember not being our son! I have a friend who gave me a golden fork she swiped from the first class of Korean airlines. Philip always eats with this fork. He has the identity of a prince! I am very glad about this! Our trip to Thailand is mainly an attempt to build up the self worth of Thomas who was adopted at almost 7 years of age, and see's himself as an orphan!
The other day I was shopping with the boys. We were talking about the trip, and about birthmothers. I think Thomas really stopped listening. He only wanted to think about the swimming pool in Bangkok. Philip kept asking questions. He is beginning to really understand there is a birth mother, and father in Thailand. A family he may never know. Juergen and I plan to have a ceremony with the boys at the beach to honor those parents. We want to light some candles and set them adrift on the sea, and pray for these people who gave them the gift of life! Adoption has been in many ways like winning the lottery for the boys. But this is only one side of the coin. They won a new family, opportunities, health care, and a good education. They also lost a family, a culture, a language, growing up connected to a past. Philip is beginning to understand this loss. We hope we can help both boys understand, and feel comfortable with who they are (all of who they are).
This photo was taken of Philip the first time we met him almost 5 1/2 years ago)
Thailand Bangkok Rainy season

Thailand has really wonderful weather in December and January! The rainy season goes from May until November. September can be rainy or sunny! We are hoping for more sun then rain! Timing wise, this is when we could go! It's been raining for the last two weeks in Germany too. The rain in Thailand is at least warm!
Bangkok Insurance

We are going to Bangkok! This is a very funny video!

Monday, August 28, 2006

Well, only 4 more days until we go to Thailand (God willing)! Today I packed the kids cloths. Tomorrow I pack my cloths. I also did a Mountain of laundry, and did some extra cleaning in the kitchen. We have a student friend of ours house sitting while we are gone. She plans on having guests over, so I want the house to be at least a little cleaner! I thought I would write down our Itinerary. Here is at least what we have planned so far...
We fly on Sept. 2nd at 8 pm direct to Bangkok from Frankfurt
We get to Bangkok around noon Thai time
Our hotel is the Riverfront residence (3 nights)
We visit the orphanage that Philip and Thomas were in Sept 4th
Thomas has his 9th birthday on Sept 5th, and we may visit the floating market

We travel to HuaHin 3 hours south of Bangkok on Sept 6th
We will be staying at a vacation apartment right on the beach
Jessica's birthday is Sept 8th
I'm sure we will take a few tours from HuaHin, but spend most of our time in the pool and eating ,reading and sleeping
We return to Germany on Sept 14th late at 11pm direct overnight flight
Back home on the morning of Sept 15th
We can receive e-mail at www.ja_heymann@yahoo.com
I know we will have e-mail in Bangkok, but I don't know about HuaHin? If you are a friend or family our house sitter will have more detailed contact information in case of an
emergency.

Thank you very much for your prayers, especially for the flight! It is really a big deal to us taking Jessica on a flight again. We really need Gods grace and help!


Sunday, August 27, 2006



Hello,

I thought you might like to know that I have created a Baby Registry at Amazon.com. You can find it anytime Here!

The register mainly has books that I loved reading to the kids, but have gotten worn out or torn up by Jessica. Amazon lists used or discounted books. The registry only lists Amazons prices, but if you click on the book or video titles, they will show you the best price and it is often even under one dollar! Some are only 1 cent. I don't care if it is used! If fact, some of the books are not available new, you have to buy them used! I don't want people to spend allot of money. We are definitely "it is the thought that counts" kind of people! This is just what I am wishing for! All the Amazon stuff will be shipped to my parent’s house in Oregon. I have to go there to pick up Sarah’s passport, and finalize her US citizenship. If you want to get a gift for Sarah then here is what I want! Thank you for the gifts!!!


"We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands."


Saturday, August 26, 2006



Gearing up for our big trip! God willing, we will be leaving for Thailand in one week. Right now I am brain storming on what I need to do, and what I need to pack. I want to travel on the light side, but with 6 people in our family the term is used loosely! Today I made a trip to toys r us. Jessica and Thomas will be both celebrating birthdays in Thailand. Thomas will be 9 years old on Sept. 5th, and Jessica will turn 15 years old on Sept 8th. Thomas is very easy to shop for. He wants Lego and then more Lego! Jessica has never been easy to shop for. She is autistic, and really doesn’t play. I got her some books. She loves books, but always tears them up lately. In a way it was sad to buy these beautiful books, knowing what is likely to happen to them! But it is what she likes, and it is her birthday! I also got her a Winnie Pooh music box. It is for babies, but she loves Pooh! I also got her a new DVD. Traveling on the plane to Bangkok is my greatest worry. We could use allot of prayers! Jessica hates to fly! I booked an over night flight. I hope she will manage to sleep some of the trip! I already reserved the bulk head seats, and the row behind. We will seat 3 in one row (Juergen, Jessica, and I) with the 3 others behind us. It is a great blessing the other 3 don't need our consent care! So far they are all good travelers! Jessica has spent too many hours of her summer vacation watching DVD's. In Thailand we will take her to the swimming pool for hours each day. She will go on tours. She will see fish, birds, and elephants! She will eat fresh pineapples and mangos. I am looking forward to having Jessica in Thailand; I just hate the thought of taking her on the airplane! I have been practicing with her to wear headphones. These are special headphones that block outside noise. Jessica has written that it is the noise that bothers her on an airplane. Maybe the headphones will help her! PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!!!

This is the link to a really great blog about China and adoption
Here

Friday, August 25, 2006

Hi, I read this post on a yahoo group...
"We do not know if this rumor is true, but Holt adoption agency
reported the CCAA will no longer approve adoption applicants that:
Are older than 45
Single
Do not have some college education
Have a history of any major illness
Have a history of any arrests
Are extremely obese."


Juergen is 47 years old and we have 4 kids at home. I contacted my agency to ask if this affects us. They haven't gotten back to me. I'm guessing if it is true, it doesn't affect us because we have already been Pre Approved. It did make me really sad (understatement) to think we could have missed Sarah if these rules were being implemented now. I imagine they will begin to place restrictions on the Chinese adoption program soon. I hope this doesn't apply to the special needs kids.

We got the new copy of Juergens International Birth certificate today. Now all we are waiting for is the New International Police reports. We live in Germany. We had both the birth certificate and police reports, but they were in German. We even had official translations into English, but evidently China was not going to accept the translations. The new International documents have English on them. I guess these might pass!!! Well, I at least hope so. We go to Thailand in a week, God willing. I sure hope we can send everything to our agency before we leave!

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Nanjing survivor gets legal win

Click on the title for the CNN story about the survivor of the massacre in Naning, Sarah's home town.

Hi, I just read a post about a 13 year old girl who is near sighted living in the SWI in Nanjing. Her name is Liu Ning, Flowing Tranquility. She was found by an older couple 12 years ago, and raised by them. They are now 80 years old, with health problems. They had to bring her to the SWI. She wants to be adopted. If anyone wants an older girl (she will age out of the system in a year and can know longer be adopted) then look at her file.


Her File

Up date: I asked about this girl, and just got this e-mail from the agency. Wow! That was quick!

...She is on hold for a family at this time with a

few families in the wings so I believe she will get placed.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006


Hi, how do you like the new Andrea Bocelli music? I could listen to this man sing day and night! He is going to be performing in Munich on January 13, 2007. I was tempted to get tickets. I decided agents it, because we will have just gotten, or maybe even getting Sarah then. Another year (I'm still hoping to see him perform in Rome).
Speaking of music, my son Thomas wants to take drum lessons. I've been wondering if I should allow him to learn the drum, or encourage him to study another instrument. I learned to play the drums when I was a kid. After a few years it gets kind of boring. You need a band to play with. Maybe I should encourage him to play something like guitar. You can always play a guitar- alone or in a group. There is always a need for a guitar player. Should I start him on something I am pretty sure he will not stick with, or encourage him to begin something he could stick with? What do you think?

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

The Waiting Child
by Debbie Bodie

I saw you meet your child today
You kissed your baby joyfully
And as you walked away with her
I played pretend you'd chosen me.


I'm happy for the baby, yet
Inside I'm aching miserably
I want to plead as you go by,
"Does no-one want a child of three?"

I saw you meet your child today
In love with her before you met
And as I watched you take her out
I knew it wasn't my turn yet.


I recognize you from last year!
I knew I'd seen your face before!
But you came for a second baby.
Does no-one want a child of four?


I saw you meet your child today
But this time there was something new
A nurse came in and took MY hand
And then she gave my hand to you.

Can this be true? I'm almost six!
And there are infants here you see?
But then you kissed me and I knew
The child you chose this time was me.

10-year-old becomes father for a few hours
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-08-22 09:03

A 10-year-old boy took care of a baby girl for hours one day last week, after seeing the baby abandoned inside a corridor of a residential building in Chengdu of Sichuan Province.

The boy found the baby while visiting a friend who lived in the building. To help calm down the crying baby, he bought a feeding bottle, fed her and then took her to hospital for a health check until police were called to take care of her.






Hi, I just got these photos from my "baby" brother Rick Moreno. He is a part time artist in the Seattle area. This is a project he just finished painting. Not bad says I!!!! I love you Rickey! I need to start saving my money so I can afford to have him paint my house!

Monday, August 21, 2006

Here
Separated at birth and reunited!



我們領養這個女孩。我們住在德國。我們將設法愛她和給她非常好的生活! 我們將設法教她愛中國!

We are adopting this girl. We live in Germany. We will try to love her and give her a very good life! We will try to teach her to love China!

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Hi, I read this interesting post from the wonderful mother of 9 children. She is working on the papers needed to adopt number 10 from China. She was replying to another persons question about adopting an older child. Most people, who adopt, will adopt a healthy girl under the age of two years old. All children need the love and security of a family! I've visited enough orphanages in my life, and I know personally no orphanage will ever replace a good family! Older kids do have special issues, but generally they do well! Maybe God would open up your heart to consider an older child? Here is Debbie’s experience...

Abbey, we have adopted 2 older kids, and had (American) adolescent foster
girls with difficult life experiences. Our son Tom was adopted at the age of 6
from Thailand. He spent the days in state run "preschool" and went home to a
foster family. He came to us with a history of food deprivation, beatings and
very little discipline. He was very impulsive and indiscriminately
affectionate. He also had some sensory issues (and still at the age of 15 will
smell
unfamiliar things.........) because we were prepared for some issues (such
as hoarding,) he has made great progress! My Mother in Law is a social
worker and the best advice she ever gave us was "Some things you can change,
the
rest of the stuff you have to learn how to live with." He is a great kid!!
He has excelled in school. He is a very serious guy, and humor sometimes
confuses him, but he no problem fitting in with his friends.
Our daughter Bethany was 8 when we brought her home from Yunnan. She
had lived in a Social Welfare Home her entire life. She had no Idea what a
family was, or what love was. She was attending school and had a best friend
who was adopted a few weeks before she came home. She was eager to make
friends and with some help learning about American social behavior, is now a
very happy and popular 13 year old. Kids from institutions may have behavior
that they developed while institutionalized, where the fastest strongest or
loudest got their needs met first. They may have skipped some developmental
stages we would consider normal in our culture, and may need to go through
those stages. They may seem immature when compared to American born peers.
Bethany had NEVER seen an ice cube until we were on the plane home. The
flight attendant handed her a glass of juice with ice and she reached in and
grabbed the ice cube, giggling as it melted down her arm! Neither
or
our kids spoke any English when we met them. Tommy decided he was finished
during dinner (while we were in Thailand) and jumped up and ran outside to
play. The problem was we were in a hotel in the middle of Bangkok....... I ran
after him, through the hotel kitchen yelling in broken Thai “NO NO! Stop
THAT! “I am sure the kitchen staff who jumped out of the way were quite
shocked to see a large blond American woman chasing after a little Thai boy,
but
scolded him as we walked back through..... Learning some of their language
and picture dictionaries have been a great help. With both adoptions we
relied heavily upon our in country agency staff. We "baby "
proofed
our home (since many of the things we are accustomed to are new and exciting
to an institutionally raised child,) such as light switches, door
bells........... We backtracked and did a lot of fun preschool level play (
finger
painted, clay drawing, bubbles singing silly songs, watching preschool level
developmental programs) to help provide a foundation for bonding , language
social and developmental growth. Tommy at the age of 15 now is an A+ student
& football player (although he still struggles with culturally based
language issues, he has the tools to help himself understand.) Bethany at 13
does
well at school, but would rather be shopping with her friends....... They are
both happy (most of the time, they are adolescents......) well adjusted,
bright and loving kids. We have several Special needs kids too, and Tom and
Beth are very loving and compassionate with their sibs. Would we do it again??
Yep, still working on paperwork to bring our 11 year old daughter home from
Shenzen. I would be happy to answer your questions, if you have specific
areas of concern. Debbie Mom to 9 and waiting for # 10 Leann , age 11, waiting
child repaired club foot.


I'm reprinting this funny story just written by an online friend named Karen. She just returned from China with her second Chinese child.

____________________________________________________________________


Gary and I took the kids out to eat Chinese last night and afterwards we
stopped at the *Super* Only A Buck store. Cameron wanted a balloon so Gary
went
to that side of the store and bought him a balloon while I went shopping
with the two girls.

Gary went ahead and checked out and he and Cam headed for the car. Well..
after the girls and I finished shopping, I get to the counter and the cashier
says, *Is your name Karen*? I tell her yes and she says that my husband
wanted me to give her the 2 pennies that he was short to pay for the balloon.
Gary is parked right in front of the door and the girls wanted to go out with
him while I checked out so I said Ok.

After they went out the door the conversation started!
Cashier: Mam, can I ask you a question?

Me: Sure.

Cashier: The little girl with black hair... is she ummmmmmmm your daughter?

Me: Yes. She is.

Cashier: But she is ummmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Me: Chinese?

Cashier: YES! Chinese. Ummmmm can I ask you another question?

Me: Yes.. sure....

Cashier: I see you have TWO Chinese children and a red haired daughter.
This must be your second marriage?

Me: Yes... as a matter of fact, it is my second marriage.

Cashier: I thought so because your children are Chinese. I knew
your first husband had to be Chinese.

Me: No. My first husband was NOT Chinese (a dirt bag but no, not Chinese
is what I wanted to say... but didn't... hehehehehe).

Cashier: BUT your children are Chinese? How did that happen?!?!?!

Me: I went to China and adopted them!

Cashier: YOU went to CHINA??? YOU Adopted THEM?

Me: Yes, I went to China and I adopted them.

Cashier: So, they are like.. ummmmmmmm... brother and sister?

Me: Yes, they are brother and sister.

Cashier: How old are they?

Me: They are both 4 years old.

Cashier: Oh they are twins????

Me: No, they are not twins.

Cashier: BUT they are brother and sister and both from China and the same
age... and they are not twins???

Me: No they are not twins... yes, they are brother and sister.

Cashier: WOW! China is like so far from here. Was it really different
there? I mean.. .is it like the US??

Me: Yes, it is a LONG way and YES it is VERY different there.

Cashier: Really?? Like, tell me, how is it different there??

Me: Well... for one thing they don't speak ENGLISH there!!!!

Cashier: Wow... how weird.

Me: Yeah... weird. Have a nice night....

Got in the car and said to Gary.... *Here's Your Sign*!! He was about to
choke he was laughing so hard when I told him the story!!! It is the first
time I have ever been asked if I used to married to a man from China. I had to
try HARD to keep from falling over laughing in her face!!!

Saturday, August 19, 2006


I got this photo from our local newspaper. It is of a girl in China on her way to school!
China Adoption

This video is a little long, but great! The family adopts an older boy!

I am up late. Jessica, who has sleeping problems from time to time, is also up! I just read this beautiful quote. I thought I would write it down...
Life is like a piece of needle work, but we live on the bottom side
of it. All we see are the twisted and knotted mess of thread. It is
not until we are in heaven that we get to see the beautiful picture.


We just don't see our lives the way that God does!

Friday, August 18, 2006


I was having breakfast with Jessica (my autistic daughter who does not talk) and Thomas (my almost 9 year old son who was adopted from Thailand). Thomas makes a statement. He says, "Thailand is beautiful". I was surprised by the statement. He has lived with us for two years, and has not wanted anything to do with Thailand. I said "yes honey, Thailand is very beautiful"! I almost forgot, but we are going to Thailand (God willing) in two weeks. We are hoping our final two documents come before then, so there is no delay in our sending them to our agency! I am amazed at the changes in Thomas. I am so glad he is beginning to think of Thailand as beautiful!!!

Thursday, August 17, 2006




I've been bringing my kids to a vacation Bible school this week at a local Baptist church. We attend a German church. This Baptist church is in English. It’s mainly an outreach to American military. Tonight I went to pick Philip and Thomas up, and the teacher told me that Thomas had prayed with a teacher to receive Jesus as his savior! I'm not really sure he understood what he was doing? Still, it brought a tear to my eye. I know he has a spiritual hunger. I also know that he has feelings of loss only the Holy Spirit can heal! I'm going to try to bring my kids to this church for their AWANA program. They seem to have really wonderful teachers. The kids have really enjoyed this vacation Bible school! They have a performance tomorrow night. When we adopt, we want to give our children everything; love, good food, education ect. I am so blessed to also introduce them to Jesus! For me, this is the best thing I can give them!


I got this thoughtful e-mail from the family that took the picture of Sarah. They say she is doing well, and so I feel a little bit of comfort. Thank God for the kind feed back!


Re: 8/15/06 Orphanage Visit

Amy.
Your daughter seems fine. The red that you are seeing is medicine.
I took a picture of her because she was smiling,talking and
laughting at us. She is a very beautiful child.
Ennes and Kim


Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Social dance by Shanghai adult (II)

A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account looked like,

the sort of house I lived in, or what kind of car I drove. But the world might be a different place because I was important in the life of a child.




New photo of Sarah. It looks really bad! I don't know what the red on her feet is? Could it be medicine for bites? She isn't looking too good! I read it's very hot there right now! If you notice (and I did) she also had red on her feet in the pictures from Aug.10th. I'm sure it's medicine. She doesn't look to good in light blue. She needs some darker richer colors like red and black! It also looks like she is tied to her bed. I've read they do that in China. It's hard to control 300 kids at once. I wonder how it will be for her here. How will she handle living with out the limits she has now? I'm guessing she has no real understanding of danger. I won't be tying her down, but I'll have to set up some limits or boundaries to keep her safe. You know what? She looks like I feel, tired of waiting! In a few short months her whole world will change! Cinderella will be losing the rags, and going to the ball!

driving in nanjing

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

I just talked to Juergen. It will take WEEKS to authenticate the two documents we have missing. WEEKS!!! I can not express how very sad I feel! I want to kick a hole in a wall. I am so frustrated! I just read a post on a yahoo group that said people who send their documents to China in late August are probably not going to get travel approval until January! Please God, please help me! I am staring at the picture of the sweetest 3 year old in China, and I may not be able to hold her in my arms until next year! I just want to cry!


Some would gather money
Along the path of life
Some would gather roses
And rest from worldly strife
But I would gather children
From among the thorns of sin
I would seek a golden curl
And a freckled, toothless grin

For money cannot enter
In that land of endless day
And roses that are gathered
Soon will wilt along the way
But oh, the laughing children
As I cross the sunset sea
And the gates swing wide to heaven
I can take them in with me!

Friday, August 11, 2006

It's my daughter Nicole’s 13th birthday. We took a long wet ride to Frankfurt to try again to notarize our final 3 documents. We were successful with one. The other two (Juergens birth certificate and a translation of our German police record) they would not notarize. It seems Juergen needs a new copy of his birth certificate, and both documents need to be authenticated by the German embassy. OK! We wait some more! I am not feeling so happy! Nicole broke down today crying. A trip to the embassy in Frankfurt was not what she had in mind for her birthday. A birthday party is planned for later, when school starts in the fall. All her friends are on vacation. I guess it doesn't mater if you are 13 or 44 years old, some days are not going to turn out how you had hoped! But tomorrow is another day. We will eventually send our documents to China. Our day is coming!!!

Thursday, August 10, 2006





New Photos of Sarah from last week. What a great gift!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006


What Now? -Steven Curtis Chapman

saw the face of Jesus in a little orphan girl
She was standing in the corner on the other side of the world
And I heard the voice of Jesus gently whisper to my heart
Didn't you say you wanted to find me?
Well here I am, here you are

So, What now?
What will you do now that you found Me?
What now?
What will you do with this treasure you've found?
I know I may not look like what you expected
But if you remember this is right where I said I would be
You've found me
What now?

And I saw the face of Jesus down on Sixteenth Avenue
He was sleeping in an old car, while his mom went looking for food
And I heard the voice of Jesus gently whisper to my soul
Didn't you say you wanted to know me?
Well here I am, and it's getting cold

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

nanchang

Monday, August 07, 2006

Well, we still haven't sent our papers to China yet. Juergen needs to come with me to Frankfurt to get 3 papers notarized (only 3 papers). He can not take any time off of work until Friday. Hopefully Friday we will be finished! While I wait, I am sorting cloths. I have bought far too many cloths for one little girl to wear in a life time. Some good friends of mine just gave me bags and bags more cloths. They had the cutes cloths for their daughter. Now I don't know what to keep, and what to give away. I may need to wait until we get Sarah. I am not even sure how big she is. She is 3 years old, but Chinese. I figure she is the size of a two year old. I have cloths for 18 months to 4 years, winter and summer cloths. I know two little girls in our church I can give the cloths to if Sarah does not wear them or wear them out! I also need to get rid of allot of stuffed animals. She has not come home and she is already spoiled! I'm sure this does not come as a great shock to anyone I know!!!

Saturday, August 05, 2006

I can not shake this song! For some reason the words have been going through my brain for hours. It is from the musical Oliver. The message is that the best stuff in life can not be bought!

From OLIVER

Who will buy
this wonderful morning?
Such a sky
you never did see!

Who will tie
it up with a ribbon
and put it in a box for me?

So I could see it at my leisure
whenever things go wrong
and I would keep it as a treasure
to last my whole life long.

Who will buy
this wonderful feeling?
I'm so high
I swear I could fly.

Me, oh my!
I don't want to lose it
so what am I to do
to keep the sky so blue?
There must be someone who will buy...

Who will buy
this wonderful morning?
Such a sky
you never did see!

Who will tie
it up with a ribbon
and put it in a box for me?

There'll never be a day so sunny,
it could not happen twice.
Where is the man with all the money?
It's cheap at half the price!

Who will buy
who will buy
this wonderful feeling?
I'm so high
I swear I could fly.
Me, oh my!
I don't want to lose it
so what am I to do
to keep the sky so blue?

There must be someone who will buy...


We got a new photo of Sarah. It isn't very clear, but you can see her environment. I drove to Frankfurt on Friday to get our last 3 papers notarized. Juergen was not with me, and he made the mistake of signing one of the documents. They refused to notarize it, because they didn't see him sign it. Ok, I guess we will need to take one more trip to Frankfurt!

Friday, August 04, 2006

I stole these ideas from a yahoo group I belong to. I haven't tried them yet. I just wanted to put them somewhere I knew I won't lose them! Let me know if any of these ideas work for you! I am starting with the peanut butter getting scratches out of CD's. I have allot of DVD's I could just toss because Jessica (my 14 year old autistic daughter) put them on her floor. She always manages to find what I hide from her. DVD's are one of her new favorite things to get into. So sad! So sad!


42 Great Tips-

1. Budweiser beer conditions the hair.

2. Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish

3. Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes

4. Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair

5. Elmer's Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and
see the dead skin and blackheads if any

6. Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea

7. Sunburn - empty a large size Nestea into your bath water

8. Minor burn - Colgate or Crest toothpaste

9. Burn your tongue? Put sugar on it!

10. Arthritis WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too

11. Bee stings - meat tenderizer

12. Chigger bite - Preparation H

13. Puffy eyes - Preparation H

14. Paper cut - crazy glue or Chap Stick (glue is used instead of
sutures at most hospitals)

15. Stinky feet - Jello!

16. Athletes feet - cornstarch

17. Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub

18. Kool aid to clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent
section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet.

19. Kool Aid can be used as a dye in paint also Kool Aid in Dannon
plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it won't
hurt them if they eat it!

20. Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a
coffee filter paper

21. Sticking bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray

22. Pam will also remove paint, and grease from your hands!? Keep a
can in your garage for your hubby

23. Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls

24. When the doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn
starch and watch them slide on

25. Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar!

26. Body paint - Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in
the microwave, pour in to an empty film container and mix with the
food color of your choice!

27. Tie Dye T-shirt - mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie
a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak

28. Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and
cup of milk of magnesia, soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for
many years!

29. A Slinky will hold toast and CD's!

30. To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate
toothpaste

31. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt and watch it absorb into the
salt.

32. To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax
stain, it will absorb into the towel.

33. Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter!

34. Baked on food - fill container with water, get a Bounce paper
softener and the static from the Bounce towel will cause the baked on
food to adhere to it.? Soak overnight. Also; you can use 2 Efferdent
tablets, soak overnight!

35. Crayon on the wall - Colgate toothpaste and brush it!

36. Dirty grout - Listerine

37. Stains on clothes - Colgate

38. Grass stains - Karo Syrup

39. Grease Stains - Coca Cola, it will also remove grease stains from
the driveway overnight. We know it will take corrosion from car
batteries!

40. Fleas in your carpet 20 Mule Team Borax- sprinkle and let stand
for 24 hours. Maybe this will work if you get them back again.

41. To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a little Clorox, or 2 Bayer
aspirin, or just use 7-up instead of water.

42. When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever
wondered which is the freshest, so you "squeeze" for freshness or
softness Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores
five days a week Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each
day has a different color twist tie. They are: Monday = Blue, Tuesday
= Green, Thursday = Red Friday = White and Saturday = Yellow. So if
today was Thursday, you would want red twist tie; not white which is
Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color
Blue- Green - Red - White - Yellow, Monday through Saturday. Very
easy to remember. I thought this was interesting. I looked in the
grocery store and the bread wrappers DO have different twist ties,
and even the ones with the plastic clips have different colors. You
learn something new everyday! Enjoy fresh bread when you buy bread
with the right color on the day you are shopping.






Wednesday, August 02, 2006


Hi, Jessica is still sleeping in Sarah's bed (or at least the bed we had bought for her). The room isn’t that big, so we just ordered her a new (smaller) bed. I love it! I think I will be able to
FedEx the final paper work to our agency on Friday. God willing our papers will go to China next week. I have had the crazy idea I should try to adopt two kids at once. I actually found another girl at Adoption Advocates International, our old agency. She has the prettiest smile I've ever seen. She is 4 years old. Juergen says "no". I'm sure she will get another family. To be honest with you I shopped for Sarah’s bed to try to help myself feel better (retail therapy they call it). What is wrong with me? Why can't I just be happy with one more? I am pretty sure Juergen will not let us adopt one more time. Sarah (at least I think) will be our last. I realize I can not parent all the orphans in this world. It is just so hard for me (who has so much) not to just want to do more! I could make room for one more! As happy as I am about getting Sarah, I am already crying for all those that will never have a place they call home. They will never know a mom who would spoil them and fight for them!

Report: Mass bunker under Shanghai

Facility could shelter 200,000 people, newspaper says

SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Shanghai has constructed a massive underground bunker complex capable of sheltering 200,000 people from a nuclear attack, a local newspaper reported.

The million-square-foot complex connects to shopping centers, office buildings, apartment buildings and the subway system via miles of tunnels, the Shanghai Morning Post said in an exclusive report.

The newspaper said the complex has water, electricity, lighting, ventilation and protective doors, and can support life for as long as two weeks.

The Saturday report didn't say when the complex was finished or whether it was built with any specific threats in mind.

Shanghai was hit by air raids during World War II and, like most cities, dug vast underground complexes during the Cold War, when leader Mao Zedong believed a nuclear war with the Soviet Union was imminent.

In recent years, the city of 20 million has recovered its role as China's financial center and is a key business and manufacturing hub.

China targets sex-choice abortions

BEIJING, China (AP) -- A Chinese family planning official has said the government will still punish people who intentionally abort baby girls even though the legislature decided in June not to make it a crime, state media reports.

The official Xinhua News Agency quoted Zhang Weiqing, an official with the State Commission for Population and Family Planning, as saying that the government would continue to prosecute institutions and individuals involved in illegal sex-selective abortions.

Xinhua said late Tuesday that the government has prosecuted 3,000 cases of fetus gender identification and selective abortions for non-medical reasons over the past two years, without giving details.

China does not currently outlaw abortions to select a child's gender. However, a family planning regulation prohibits the practice except for medical reasons. The regulation does not spell out punishments.

A three-decade-old policy limiting most couples to one child has made abortion a widely used method for controlling family size.

As a result, and due to a traditional preferences for sons, China faces a growing population imbalance, with many more boys than girls.

In China 119 boys are born for every 100 girls, while globally the average ratio is about 105 boys to 100 girls.

In June, China's legislature scrapped an amendment to the criminal law that would have banned abortions based on the sex of the fetus.

Xinhua said that some lawmakers argued that it would be too difficult to collect evidence for prosecution and that pregnant women should have the right to know the gender of their unborn child.

Family planning experts and some legislators have argued that the lack of clear criminal penalties has encouraged the use of abortions by families who want a son.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006