Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Home again, home again....
We made it back from our trip and had a wonderful time!! We weren't at all ready to leave and are already talking about when we can go again. Some of the highlights were seeing the Mayan ruins, swimming in a cave (looked like a scene straight out of The Goonies), and taking a wave runner out on the ocean. Click here if you would like to check out a few of our pictures.
Hope you all are doing well and had a nice Memorial Day weekend. We're looking forward to this Sunday when our friends Joel & Misty will have Garrett & Isabel baptized!
Hope you all are doing well and had a nice Memorial Day weekend. We're looking forward to this Sunday when our friends Joel & Misty will have Garrett & Isabel baptized!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The China Earthquake
I'm sure that you have all heard about the horrible earthquake in China. We've been getting email updates through Half the Sky. Here are some highlights from their latest update:
Dear friends,I know you have been waiting eagerly for more news of how the children are faring during the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake in Sichuan. We have now set up a procedure whereby we can get an update from the Ministry of Civil affairs each day. They are supervising all relief efforts so have the most complete and accurate information available. We also now have contact information for all affected welfare institutions and have begun the process of reaching out to them directly to see if they need help.
As of now, Wednesday afternoon in China, there are 12,012 people dead and 7,841 missing in Sichuan alone, and the numbers continue to rise. 26,206 people are living in temporary shelters. Only 30 children of 900 have been rescued from the collapsed high school in Dujiangyan, Sichuan. At least 20 children were buried in the collapse of a primary school in Liangping, Chongqing.What follows are the welfare institutions closest to the epicenter:Mianyang, Zitong County, Dujiangyan, Deyang and Guanguan. The following is a preliminary, and not necessarily complete, list of institutions which are also potentially affected: Wenjiang County,Neijiang, Rongxian, Zigong, Ganzizhou, Panzhihua, Luzhou, Santai County,Leshan, Suining, Nanchong, Guang'an. We will have a full list later today or early tomorrow. While we've heard rumors about some of the above, we won't pass on that information until we've made direct contact and verified. I want to stress that we've heard no reports of children in the welfare institutions being injured, only that some have been relocated for their safety.
In cooperation with China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, Half the Sky has set up the Children's Earthquake Fund. The Fund will provide direct aid to the thousands of children who are suffering in the wake of the earthquake and aftershocks. Donations will be used to provide emergency and long-term relief to children affected by the disaster, including emergency shelter, food, and medical care for children orphaned or separated from their families, as well as temporary or long-term fostercare or, if necessary, temporary institutional care. The ministry has guaranteed that the funds will be used only to help the children.
If you'd like to donate to the Children's Earthquake Fund mentioned above, just click here.
Dear friends,I know you have been waiting eagerly for more news of how the children are faring during the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake in Sichuan. We have now set up a procedure whereby we can get an update from the Ministry of Civil affairs each day. They are supervising all relief efforts so have the most complete and accurate information available. We also now have contact information for all affected welfare institutions and have begun the process of reaching out to them directly to see if they need help.
As of now, Wednesday afternoon in China, there are 12,012 people dead and 7,841 missing in Sichuan alone, and the numbers continue to rise. 26,206 people are living in temporary shelters. Only 30 children of 900 have been rescued from the collapsed high school in Dujiangyan, Sichuan. At least 20 children were buried in the collapse of a primary school in Liangping, Chongqing.What follows are the welfare institutions closest to the epicenter:Mianyang, Zitong County, Dujiangyan, Deyang and Guanguan. The following is a preliminary, and not necessarily complete, list of institutions which are also potentially affected: Wenjiang County,Neijiang, Rongxian, Zigong, Ganzizhou, Panzhihua, Luzhou, Santai County,Leshan, Suining, Nanchong, Guang'an. We will have a full list later today or early tomorrow. While we've heard rumors about some of the above, we won't pass on that information until we've made direct contact and verified. I want to stress that we've heard no reports of children in the welfare institutions being injured, only that some have been relocated for their safety.
In cooperation with China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, Half the Sky has set up the Children's Earthquake Fund. The Fund will provide direct aid to the thousands of children who are suffering in the wake of the earthquake and aftershocks. Donations will be used to provide emergency and long-term relief to children affected by the disaster, including emergency shelter, food, and medical care for children orphaned or separated from their families, as well as temporary or long-term fostercare or, if necessary, temporary institutional care. The ministry has guaranteed that the funds will be used only to help the children.
If you'd like to donate to the Children's Earthquake Fund mentioned above, just click here.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Twenty Months
Today marks our 20 month LID anniversary. This month the CCAA sent referrals for families logged in from 1/10/06-1/12/06....yep, 3 days! Not great, not great at all. These families waited 28ish months. We are still expecting to wait another 2 years based on the current rate of referrals...and still praying for a miracle speed-up after the Olympics in August.In better news, we leave next Thursday for the Riviera Maya! We are super excited to relax on the beach for 5 days!!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Happy Earth Day
We have been trying to "go green" little by little over the last couple years. During that time I've made my way through a lot of green websites, so I thought today would be a good day to share some of our favorites.One of our very favorite products is Method - last year we changed all of our household cleaning, laundry products, and air fresheners to Method. All of their products are non-toxic, made with naturally derived, biodegradable ingredients. You can order off of the internet, but the really great thing is that Target carries almost all of the Method products! We've also tried some of the Seventh Generation products. Most are comparable to Method - but I do like Method's laundry products better.
We love using these bottles instead of buying bottled water . Our latest purchase just came in the mail this weekend - great for packing a sandwich.
I've been trying to sort my way through this website to learn about safe skin care products. Speaking of personal care products - I love Burt's Bees and Jason.
And, here is just a great site site for general green shopping.
These are some of our favorites and I'm always on the hunt for more, so please share.
**update: I was just at my favorite natural food store and they had their reusable grocery bags 20% off, so I thought it would be a good time to give it a try - I picked up 4 of the ChicoBags . After loading up my groceries and carrying them home - I'm pretty convinced already that they'll be great!!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Send a net, save a life.
We first learned about a campaign called Nothing But Nets about 2 years ago when Greg was reading a column by Rick Reilly in Sports Illustrated. Nothing But Nets is an organization that was formed to help stop the spread of malaria in Africa by distributing mosquito nets. Malaria is the leading killer of children in Africa, killing nearly 3,000 children every year. For just $10 you can buy a net and quite possibly save the life of a child.
Here is a video that talks a little more about Nothing But Nets.
Next Friday, April 25 is World Malaria Day - if you would like to help this great organization and buy a net, we have added a logo to the right side of the blog that will take you to the Nothing But Nets website to learn more.
Here is a video that talks a little more about Nothing But Nets.
Next Friday, April 25 is World Malaria Day - if you would like to help this great organization and buy a net, we have added a logo to the right side of the blog that will take you to the Nothing But Nets website to learn more.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
19 Month LID Anniversary
We've been logged in 19 months today. This month the CCAA referred only 5 days - from 1/4/06-1/9/06. Rumors are still out there that things might speed up a bit after the Olympics...we can only hope!! Have a great weekend!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Shoot for the Clouds!
I guess you could say we have a sort of love-hate relationship with China... a country that is both fascinating - with their rich culture and history - and utterly baffling sometimes in their rationale (thus, why we can't even begin to understand what their logic is with adoptions right now).
If you haven't heard, what we're about to tell you may sound like a punchline to a joke, or perhaps part of the dramatic conclusion to Armageddon II, but no... it's real. Here's the latest head-shaker out of China:
In order to ensure the opening ceremony for the upcoming Beijing Olympics doesn't get rained out, China is apparently readying an arsenal of weapons [clearing throat] to shoot the clouds.
You can't make this stuff up, folks. Go ahead... read the article for yourself.
I guess we should realize by now that with China, anything is within the realm of possibility, however off-the-(great)wall. Kinda makes you wonder what China ISN'T capable of when they put their minds to it.
So, next time you spy a threatening cloud about ready to soak your outdoor gathering... unlock the gun cabinet, grab your favorite rifle loaded with silver iodide bullets (available soon at your local sporting goods store) and open fire on those stinkin' rain clouds. "DIE!! YOU FLUFFY SUCKERS!!"
Oh, China... what will you think of next?
If you haven't heard, what we're about to tell you may sound like a punchline to a joke, or perhaps part of the dramatic conclusion to Armageddon II, but no... it's real. Here's the latest head-shaker out of China:
In order to ensure the opening ceremony for the upcoming Beijing Olympics doesn't get rained out, China is apparently readying an arsenal of weapons [clearing throat] to shoot the clouds.
You can't make this stuff up, folks. Go ahead... read the article for yourself.
I guess we should realize by now that with China, anything is within the realm of possibility, however off-the-(great)wall. Kinda makes you wonder what China ISN'T capable of when they put their minds to it.
So, next time you spy a threatening cloud about ready to soak your outdoor gathering... unlock the gun cabinet, grab your favorite rifle loaded with silver iodide bullets (available soon at your local sporting goods store) and open fire on those stinkin' rain clouds. "DIE!! YOU FLUFFY SUCKERS!!"
Oh, China... what will you think of next?
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
I've been tagged...twice...
My friends Wendy and Alisa have both tagged me! Here's how it works:
-You have to tag 5 people (you can't tag the person that tagged you)
-You leave them a comment on their blog (‘you’re tagged’ and ‘why’)
-Direct them to your blog for instructions…when you get tagged, you post ten fun facts about yourself!
So, here are my ten:
1. I love to cook! I love cookbooks, but more for reading and getting ideas than actually following the recipes. Luckily I have a wonderful husband who will eat pretty much any concoction that I put in front of him!
2. I gave up soda Jan. 1, 2007 - haven't had one since and don't miss it!
3. Summer is my favorite time. I'm a big fan of the outdoors and being in the sun. I even enjoy picking weeds....it's relaxing. I love having the windows open! Poor Greg, the last 5 years it has been almost 4th of July weekend before we've turned on the air. It's kind of a running joke w/ our neighbors.
4. I'm kind of "granola" (as my old supervisor would say). I try to buy as much organic as we can afford - especially fruits and veggies, I juice, I cook with tofu, and I love doing yoga.
5. I hate turtlenecks - too suffocating!
6. I have a love/hate relationship with naps. I enjoy a nap, but it must be cloudy, cool, and/or raining. I can hardly stand to take a nap if the sun is shining and I could be outside instead! Now, napping in a lounge chair...that's a whole different story!
7. I have the best husband in the world - he's my best friend and I have so much fun with him. If we had it our way, we'd have our own business so we could be together all the time...or just move to Kauai and live on the beach (either would work).
8. If I had to do the whole college/career thing over again, I'd probably be a dietitian or nutritionist. I'm very interested in the role our diet has in keeping the body healthy and even healing the body.
9. I love music - pretty much all kinds - we usually have music playing most of the time at our house.
10. I don't particularly like talking about myself, so this was slightly painful for me! :-)
I know I'm supposed to tag 5 more people, but I only know 3 others bloggers out there (besides the 2 that tagged me). So, Mandy, Missy, and Misty - you're it!!
-You have to tag 5 people (you can't tag the person that tagged you)
-You leave them a comment on their blog (‘you’re tagged’ and ‘why’)
-Direct them to your blog for instructions…when you get tagged, you post ten fun facts about yourself!
So, here are my ten:
1. I love to cook! I love cookbooks, but more for reading and getting ideas than actually following the recipes. Luckily I have a wonderful husband who will eat pretty much any concoction that I put in front of him!
2. I gave up soda Jan. 1, 2007 - haven't had one since and don't miss it!
3. Summer is my favorite time. I'm a big fan of the outdoors and being in the sun. I even enjoy picking weeds....it's relaxing. I love having the windows open! Poor Greg, the last 5 years it has been almost 4th of July weekend before we've turned on the air. It's kind of a running joke w/ our neighbors.
4. I'm kind of "granola" (as my old supervisor would say). I try to buy as much organic as we can afford - especially fruits and veggies, I juice, I cook with tofu, and I love doing yoga.
5. I hate turtlenecks - too suffocating!
6. I have a love/hate relationship with naps. I enjoy a nap, but it must be cloudy, cool, and/or raining. I can hardly stand to take a nap if the sun is shining and I could be outside instead! Now, napping in a lounge chair...that's a whole different story!
7. I have the best husband in the world - he's my best friend and I have so much fun with him. If we had it our way, we'd have our own business so we could be together all the time...or just move to Kauai and live on the beach (either would work).
8. If I had to do the whole college/career thing over again, I'd probably be a dietitian or nutritionist. I'm very interested in the role our diet has in keeping the body healthy and even healing the body.
9. I love music - pretty much all kinds - we usually have music playing most of the time at our house.
10. I don't particularly like talking about myself, so this was slightly painful for me! :-)
I know I'm supposed to tag 5 more people, but I only know 3 others bloggers out there (besides the 2 that tagged me). So, Mandy, Missy, and Misty - you're it!!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
One and 1/2 years
Today is our 18 month LID anniversary! This month the CCAA referred another 8 days - making the cutoff 1/4/06, and the current wait 27ish months. Hey, at least they are in our LID year finally!Bragging rights to the first person to figure out the trick to this site!
Have a great Wednesday - enjoy the beautiful weather!
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