When we first started the adoption process with Anthony we attended monthly meetings and additional training sessions in person and online as well. Many of these included how to respond to certain questions or comments concerning adoption. All of these training always included the of course it depends on the person and situation.......well, just yesterday we stopped into the dry cleaner to finally (yes finally) drop off Anthony's chinese outfit that he wore for Chinese New Year and the chinese shirt I wore as well. The Chinese woman commented how we must have bought these in China. I said yes, we did when we adopted our son in September. She said, "Ohhh, don't you have any children of your own." I said, "Yes, the boy I just told you about and we are going back for a second one." She did smile and then asked why not a girl. I said that this boy was just meant to be ours and perhaps a girl will be next! She smiled again and said that we were very special and kind, I told her no, we were blessed.
I then returned smiling to my husband and our own son in the car and shared with Eric my first encounter with the weird adoption questions. Do we have any children of our own? Ahhhh yeah, he is ours. I know she wasn't trying to mean and I didn't take it offensively at all, I just kinda smiled at the whole thing and yeah ok, I laughed inside. From what I understand, most of the time people ask if you have any real children. Ahhh yeah, -pinch the kid- he's real or no, I only bring the fake ones out of the house. We did this adoption training online and they shared some pretty funny lines (depending of course the situation or the person).
Anyway, I just thought it was funny. And after just stubbing my toes on the table my fake son (ha ha) saw me going owwww-cause I broke one of those toes about 2 weeks ago chasing my crazy dog in slippers (another story) - and Anthony looked at me and blew me a kiss!!! Yes, all better!!!!
So where are we in the process for son #2? We are stilllllll waiting. We get our biometrics done tomorrow which will get UCSIS approval. That then needs to be notarized and certified and all that stuff.....then we get our dossier logged into China!!!! Yeah!!! They are now estimating end of September or early October. We are getting closer to a name though. We finally decided to write down the names we like (a novel idea) and that has helped us narrow it down a little.....so soon, we think!
PS....by the way, those adoption trainings were VERY useful all around. That wasn't the only piece we used, just the one that I got a big laugh about! We truly felt we were very prepared with all of the trainings and not that you can be prepared with everything - just like real parenting (couldn't resist), but it helped.
Thanks for checking in! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE USE AND SHARE ABOUT THE AMAZON LINK AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE. Our sales are slowing down - not that we want you to spend extra money, just if you happen to be heading to Amazon, take a little tiny detour and use our link, PLEASE!!! Thank you!!!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Ordinary Hero Winners Again!!!
We did it again......more like YOU did it. You purchased merchandise under our name through Ordinary Hero during the contest and not only did you contribute 40% of the sales but you helped us win the contest and get an additional $500 towards our adoption!! YEAH YOU!!! Give yourself a high five or pat on the back (and take video 'cause I wanna see you doing that)!!
Thank you and Ordinary Hero for your generosity! You are all "Ordinary Hero's" and we are grateful!!! Here is the link for the contest winners:
Thank you and Ordinary Hero for your generosity! You are all "Ordinary Hero's" and we are grateful!!! Here is the link for the contest winners:
Thank you!!!!!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Guardian Angels
As I was filing out applications for grants this week, I took a break to get the mail and found yet another way that God has spoken! We received a kind note of love and prayers from one of our guardian angels that included this scripture:
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. Isaiah 40:31
This incredible woman has been declared our guardian angel because she was a stranger who listened to our story with an open heart (in the consignment store as I searched for the right size to fit a orphan who was going to be our son), who sent us our very first contribution, who shared our story, who left a gift card for the sale day at that same consignment store, who shared our story again (and again), who sent contributions from those who she shared our story with, who contributed again, who continues to pray for us and who believes in us.....and she didn't even know us before this! Ohhh, I don't know, an all around special woman who -without physically being there- seems to be there at the right time every time!!! Thank you "AS" for your prayers and the prayers of your daughter and your friends. Thank you for the scripture that renews our strength when ever we might need it - at that moment!
And there are others who we declare guardian angels....there is one special "dude" friend who continues and continues to share our story whether it be an Amazon conversation or a hey, by the way I've got these friends who could use some help.....a shout out to you "PL" for not only always sharing our story with others but listening to it with us!
Then, hello??....the crazy t-shirt orderer who I told to put the credit card down because she just donated and then went an ordered a bunch of t-shirts (I say bunch, but that's not the right word because she has this great big beautiful family with 4 kids)! Another guardian angel delivered right from God himself! Can't wait to see you "JE" in MN!!!
Of course, "M" lands on the guardian angel list again because she jumped first thing on that Ordinary Hero merchandise contest morning and before I spoke to her that first day of the contest she had already ordered sweatshirts and was waiting to see what we wanted! And "D" also joins her are he and his ordered t-shirts for the grandkids too! Thanks to my "M&D" guardian angels for always supporting me in whatever I did!
Another special guardian angel who I know has continued to pray for our "cause" and just called after listening to our broken hearts and offered not only volunteering help but our biggest donation yet! This guardian angel "JS" was delivered by God just when we were falling and needed a boost up!
Then "NR" putting together our first fundraiser when I was in panic time....again delivered when needed. Did I mention that with every guardian angel delivery, we get to breathe?! Even while preparing for a move from one home to another she is still on top of it! I think the most special part was her words on how her and her husband decided to help.....they realized how lucky they were in having their two beautiful children and they wanted to help us who have not been blessed in that way but in another way. Breathe....
WOW, you don't realize how many guardian angels are really out there until you take a moment to call them that and say THANK YOU. We have tons more too! We have golfers and basket sponsors already signed up! Then we have anonymous donations or donators we don't even know. We have people who ordered merchandise during the contest and we don't even know who you are yet. Others ordered t-shirts even way before! Those who make the extra effort to go to our blog before going onto Amazon! Then the Ordinary Hero grant that had a bunch of guardian angels hands in there whether they chose us or donated to the cause! Wow, tears fill my eyes as I think about how many people -family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, friends of friends, etc - who have touched our hearts in so many ways! Thank you....THANK YOU!!! You are the inspiration!! You are our strength that we know has been delivered by God personally!
Our donation amount is currently $2595 with our grant from OH. We were discounted a little more from our Agency ($500 off the already reduced $3000 to $1500 US processing fee now $1000) -another guardian angel without a doubt! We are waiting to here on a few other grants -one even through the home study agency- and we will let you know as we hear (then we will update a cost breakdown again).
There are guardian angels out there and although we aren't "out of the woods" just yet, we know that God's hand is in this and he will continue to open doors and turn hearts our way. Thank you for reading our story here and for sharing it there!!
We can't wait for you (and us) to meet our son:
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. Isaiah 40:31
This incredible woman has been declared our guardian angel because she was a stranger who listened to our story with an open heart (in the consignment store as I searched for the right size to fit a orphan who was going to be our son), who sent us our very first contribution, who shared our story, who left a gift card for the sale day at that same consignment store, who shared our story again (and again), who sent contributions from those who she shared our story with, who contributed again, who continues to pray for us and who believes in us.....and she didn't even know us before this! Ohhh, I don't know, an all around special woman who -without physically being there- seems to be there at the right time every time!!! Thank you "AS" for your prayers and the prayers of your daughter and your friends. Thank you for the scripture that renews our strength when ever we might need it - at that moment!
And there are others who we declare guardian angels....there is one special "dude" friend who continues and continues to share our story whether it be an Amazon conversation or a hey, by the way I've got these friends who could use some help.....a shout out to you "PL" for not only always sharing our story with others but listening to it with us!
Then, hello??....the crazy t-shirt orderer who I told to put the credit card down because she just donated and then went an ordered a bunch of t-shirts (I say bunch, but that's not the right word because she has this great big beautiful family with 4 kids)! Another guardian angel delivered right from God himself! Can't wait to see you "JE" in MN!!!
Of course, "M" lands on the guardian angel list again because she jumped first thing on that Ordinary Hero merchandise contest morning and before I spoke to her that first day of the contest she had already ordered sweatshirts and was waiting to see what we wanted! And "D" also joins her are he and his ordered t-shirts for the grandkids too! Thanks to my "M&D" guardian angels for always supporting me in whatever I did!
Another special guardian angel who I know has continued to pray for our "cause" and just called after listening to our broken hearts and offered not only volunteering help but our biggest donation yet! This guardian angel "JS" was delivered by God just when we were falling and needed a boost up!
Then "NR" putting together our first fundraiser when I was in panic time....again delivered when needed. Did I mention that with every guardian angel delivery, we get to breathe?! Even while preparing for a move from one home to another she is still on top of it! I think the most special part was her words on how her and her husband decided to help.....they realized how lucky they were in having their two beautiful children and they wanted to help us who have not been blessed in that way but in another way. Breathe....
WOW, you don't realize how many guardian angels are really out there until you take a moment to call them that and say THANK YOU. We have tons more too! We have golfers and basket sponsors already signed up! Then we have anonymous donations or donators we don't even know. We have people who ordered merchandise during the contest and we don't even know who you are yet. Others ordered t-shirts even way before! Those who make the extra effort to go to our blog before going onto Amazon! Then the Ordinary Hero grant that had a bunch of guardian angels hands in there whether they chose us or donated to the cause! Wow, tears fill my eyes as I think about how many people -family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, friends of friends, etc - who have touched our hearts in so many ways! Thank you....THANK YOU!!! You are the inspiration!! You are our strength that we know has been delivered by God personally!
Our donation amount is currently $2595 with our grant from OH. We were discounted a little more from our Agency ($500 off the already reduced $3000 to $1500 US processing fee now $1000) -another guardian angel without a doubt! We are waiting to here on a few other grants -one even through the home study agency- and we will let you know as we hear (then we will update a cost breakdown again).
There are guardian angels out there and although we aren't "out of the woods" just yet, we know that God's hand is in this and he will continue to open doors and turn hearts our way. Thank you for reading our story here and for sharing it there!!
We can't wait for you (and us) to meet our son:
Friday, March 22, 2013
Ordinary Hero - Reminder
Hey out there,
Today is the last day for the Ordinary Hero affiliate contest (not the last day to ever order, just the contest where the top 3 affiliates get $500). So please at least peek at the sight and maybe you'll see a nice gift for someone special. I just love the saying "I'm gonna change the world" especially for kids! The sports bag is only $10 - GREAT inexpensive gift to put aside for someone later!
http://www.ordinaryherostore.org
Don't forget to pick "Kim Pellegrino" as the affiliate after the billing address!
Thanks everyone!!! (We don't see who made purchases so PLEASE let us know if you did so we can send a huge thanks!
PS...Thanks Mom!!!!
Today is the last day for the Ordinary Hero affiliate contest (not the last day to ever order, just the contest where the top 3 affiliates get $500). So please at least peek at the sight and maybe you'll see a nice gift for someone special. I just love the saying "I'm gonna change the world" especially for kids! The sports bag is only $10 - GREAT inexpensive gift to put aside for someone later!
http://www.ordinaryherostore.org
Don't forget to pick "Kim Pellegrino" as the affiliate after the billing address!
Thanks everyone!!! (We don't see who made purchases so PLEASE let us know if you did so we can send a huge thanks!
PS...Thanks Mom!!!!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Just Love Coffee Roasters
Monday, March 18, 2013
Sweatshirt raffle winner!!!
We have ten donators and one winner!! There was a total of 69 entries between the ten people. Thank you for all of your donations!!!
And the winner is:
And the winner is:
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Ordinary Hero Contest
Thank you for those who have ordered through Ordinary Hero on our behalf for the below contest....please let us know if you did order so we can send a big THANK YOU as they do not share any information with us (same thing for Reece's Rainbow). Thank you again!!!
Next Grant Giveaway March 15-22, ending at 11:59pm Central!
Top 3 Selling Affiliates With Highest Earnings Will Be Granted $500 Each On Top of Their 40% Affiliate Earnings!
Don't Miss This Great Opportunity To Fundraise!
If you are here to support an adoption, mission trip, or Ordinary Hero, we thank you! For your donation through the OH Store, you will not only be receiving products that you select, but you are directly impacting, and helping to CHANGE THE WORLD FOR ONE, one child at a time.
Please Note** If you are donating on behalf of an affiliate, you must click on the Affiliate's name in a drop down menu during check out to ensure the affiliate receives credit for your donation. Thank you for helping our affiliates reach their fundraising goals through your donation to Ordinary Hero through this Ordinary Hero Shopping Cart.
Click the Ordinary Hero icon on this blog or
http://ordinaryherostore.org
This is the BEST time for you to get great merchandise and HELP BRING OUR LITTLE BOY HOME!!!!
Thank you!!!!
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