Every year over 14 million children grow up as orphans and age out of the orphanage without ever finding their own families.

Currently there are an estimated 143 million orphans in the World today.

Just some staggering facts I came across while researching some more adoption grants. I also found this chart that illustrates the steep decline in finalized Russian adoptions from 2004 (5,862) to 2008 (only 1,857).

On the bright side of things, each child that comes home will be one less that "ages out" of the system. AND someday soon Baby Deetz will be added to those positive statistics, not the negative ones. When we see situations that are out of our hands, or think they are too great for one person to bear on their own, we forget that the World is changed one person at a time.

I've been thinking a lot about my recent visit to the ol' girl doctor. When I told her and the nurse attending that since I had been to her last year, we had stopped taking fertility junk and started the adoption process (I thought she may have known this..but obviously, she didn't open my chart until I was up "in the rack") She said without a moments hesitation "oh you know NOW you are definitely going to get pregnant" and the nurse quickly agreed and they began telling stories about ALL the patients that had happened to. I would have been shocked if this was the first time I would have heard that, but for a doctor to say that??? It made me furious. So I was naked and furious. Not a good combo, I assure you. At this point, if I ever were to get pregnant I would of course, be thrilled. But NO more thrilled than the day I get to bring home baby Deetz from Russia. They would be absolutely, positively, 100% MY CHILDREN. Via uterus or via Lufstanza Air. SAME. SAME. SAME. If I were mega-prego flying to get Baby Deetz, I would waddle my way through the airport and through Moscow, and would be delighted that BOTH my children were on their way home, where they belong. A pregnancy is not going to deter our plight to bring home our child. Your children are your children, by birth or by adoption. I need to really be careful and practice my southern manners when the next person tells me I won't need to adopt when I undoubtedly get bionic fertility overnight. Ok. I feel better now. Pardon the rant.

Mission Accomplished.

My first MAJOR cake project is complete. Everyone breath a sigh of relief with me.....Ahhhh......

It was one of my co-worker's daughter's 16th birthday and I was hired to make the cake. A GIANT cake. I worked last night from the minute I got home until 12:30 in the morning. Then I had to finish up some final touches this morning, but it was actually fun today. I decided that making cakes is fun if you are only doing the baking or the decorating. NOT both at the same time. That's why on cake shows they just pull these giant cakes out of the fridge and they just unwrap them and go to town with the decorations. They have sense. I do not. Well- I just wanted to share my latest accomplishment with you! It may be a LONG time before I post another cake picture!

It’s all yours….

I heard this on this story on the news this morning. Whenever I hear the word “Russia” my ears perk up and I immediately begin praying. I’ll be the first to admit I am not “up on” global goings on. I never have really paid too much attention to foreign affairs, I usually find it confusing, boring, frightening, or a combination of all three. But I understand that we live in a changing world. At any moment any given country could close their doors to Americans wanting to adopt. The way I think about it is, imagine if the United States opened their doors to foreign countries adopting American born children. Would that be viewed as a sign of weakness? A sign that we have lost hope in finding our own citizens to raise our forgotten children? A sign that we have come to the conclusion that our Foster Care system has failed? What if the tables were turned?

You may remember our president visiting Russia and vowing to make some changes concerning nuclear warfare. I read the articles following this visit, and couldn’t really get a good pulse on the situation. I know that news is often slanted and that it is rarely “just the facts”. But I am taking this article published in the New York Times today as a positive. “Putin Applauds ‘Brave’ U.S. Decision on Missile Defense” By: Clifford J. Levy and Peter Baker

"MOSCOW — Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin praised President Obama Friday for canceling a plan for an anti ballistic missile system in Eastern Europe that Russia had deemed a threat, suggesting that the move would lead to improved relations between their countries.“I very much hope that this correct and brave decision will be followed by others,” Mr. Putin said.The Obama decision on Thursday replaced the Bush administration antimissile plan with a reconfigured system focused on short- and medium-range missiles. Mr. Putin and other Russian officials who spoke to reporters on Friday did not say whether Russia would respond with concessions to the United States, particularly on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program and its overall military capabilities. The Russian officials did indicate that the Kremlin would withdraw its threat to base short-range missiles on Russia’s western border, in Kaliningrad.
In his first major foreign policy speech which was coordinated with the White House, NATO’s new secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, called for a “genuine new beginning of our relationship with Russia” and said the West and Russia have a shared interest in opposing the proliferation of ballistic missile technology in other countries.”
Also on Friday, in another sign of warming in relations, NATO called for new cooperation between the alliance and Moscow, including possible coordination between antimissile systems."

So let’s keep those relations warm, OK? On my way to work I was reminded once again by a beautiful song my Steven Curtis Chapman. A true global perspective on our great big world…and who is in control. Here is the link (watch the video I dare you to watch it and not cry!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-ERm0_tuKM

How I saved $277.05 today….

It’s consignment sale time again. I volunteer for two reasons, #1- because our proceeds go 100% to local missions, but mostly because I get a volunteer ticket to come to the pre-sale before it’s opened to the public. (That’s honesty folks…..I’m not ashamed.) Last time, you’ll remember I got some really great stuff at the sale. We’ll this time I found some more goodies and I thought you might want to share my joy ;0). It’s like the day after Thanksgiving shopping, except it’s all for Baby Deetz AND I don’t have to get up at o’dark thirty.

Item 1- Diaper Genie Refill pack, NEW (Retail $6.00) $1
Item 2- Munchkin Fresh Food Feeders, NEW (Retail $7.49) $3
Item 3- Fisher Price ABC Peek-A-Blocks (Retail, used $34.99) $4
Item 4- Fisher Price Tiger Piano Toy (Retail $19.99) $2
Item 5- Playskool Giraffe Ring Toy (Retail $14.99) $2
Item 6- Baby Essential Diaper changing mat (Retail $24.99) $3
Item 7- Diaper changing mat, fuzzy/unk. Brand (Retail, uhhhh….$12?) $2

And my favorite finds….
Item 8- Dwell Studio Boppy, NEW (Retail $49.99) $10
Item 9- First Act Percussion Pack, NEW (Retail $38.57) $10

And the Pièce de résistance…..

Item 10- Melissa and Doug (you know how I’m obsessed with all things wooden) Wooden Puzzle rack with 7 Melissa and Doug Puzzles (Retails- $123.95, GASP) $20

I really went to buy a jogging stroller I saw when I was working on Monday night, but I think one of the volunteers must have snagged it. :0(
It was only $25 and it was pristine. Sniff….. Oh well. I would say hopefully next time, but I REALLY hope I already have a BABY and a stroller by the time the next consignment sale rolls around in the Spring!

In case you were wondering....this is the way I justify spending $57.00 at the Children’s Fall Consignment Sale at my church. (at least to Chad anyway! Ha! Ha! No- he's great and doesn't care what I buy.....he's a happy guy that doesn't mind my habit. I am so lucky)

Three Cheers for Adoption!

Here is a nice, positive celeb adoption story (finally). Hurrah for Katherine!
Here is the video interview in case you want to watch. I love the way everyone cheers as soon as she breaks the "big news". I feel like that too....that you all are cheering us on and we are so grateful everyday for your support. You make this incredible process bearable.

http://www.eonline.com/videos/v38604653001_Heigl_Talks_Adoption_with_Ellen.html

Here is the "E" Online Story....
Katherine Heigl's family tree is sprouting a new limb.
The Grey's Anatomy star, whose impending hiatus makes so much more sense now, is planning to adopt a baby girl with her singer-songwriter hubby Josh Kelley.
Congratulations to the parents-to-be!
In a sit-down with Ellen DeGeneres, airing tomorrow on Ellen, Heigl says that their child, whom they've only seen pictures of so far, is from Korea and will be 10 months old at the end of the month. They have named her Naleigh.
"I just dropped that one," Heigl said of the name, which she says is a hybrid of her mom's and sister's names, Nancy and Leigh. "Anyway, I'm sure that's fine. We have to meet her first."
"She was actually born the day before me in November, which I thought was really serendipitous and just kind of like a sign," Heigl said. "I realized just recently that I basically forfeited my birthday for the rest of my life."
Heigl goes on to talk about filling out the "superdetailed" 40-page adoption pamphlet and why she has always known that adoption was the right choice for her.
She and Kelley first found out about Naleigh six months ago. "She is a special-needs baby, and because of that it all moved so much faster," Heigl said. "They wanted to get her to us as quickly as possible."
"It's been a big part of my life and my family," the 30-year-old actress continued. "My sister is Korean and my parents adopted her back in the '70s, and so I just always knew that this is something I wanted to do."
"I just wanted to make sure that I was marrying a guy who understands that this was going to have to happen," she continued. "So about a year ago is when we said, 'OK, let's start the process,' and the process is intense. It's different, but it isn't, do you know what I mean? It's just as intense I'm sure to have a baby biologically, because you're going through the whole physical sort of thing of it."
Heigl has said that her role in Knocked Up made her extra enthusiastic about the idea of adoption.
"I've always planned to adopt anyway, but that definitely reinforced my want to," she told USA Today in 2007. "I'm done with the whole idea of having my own children. Doesn't seem like any fun. I don't think it's necessary to go through all of that."
But the idea of kids was always a definite yes.
"I'm superexcited to have a family," she told Extra right before she got married. "I've always wanted a family, a large family. [We'll wait] like, a year."
Heigl and Kelley swapped vows on Dec. 23, 2007, in Park City, Utah.
And here they are, planning for a lifetime.

Weird!

O.K. I don't know what's up with blogger. You may have noticed two things. One- the post I made last night ended up looking like binary code. I'm not sure about what happened there. The now deleted post basically said my second weird point you observant/obsessed (like me) types may have noticed:

Our blog counter jumped from 9,000 hits to close to 12,000 hits almost overnight. Two possible but unlikely explanations for this conundrum:

One: You like me, you really, really like me.

Two: I used some hot catch word (Julie and Julia? Fall? Autumn? Comfort Sport Car seat? that started popping up on Google searches

Three: The little mouse that runs around the wheel to make the ticker tick worked overtime and kept running....and running....and running.

Four: Chad said he put an update in our church bulletin with our blog address on it. But 3,000 hits in less than 24 hours? Hmmm....

I think we'll file this one under "mystery" But hello! If I've made 3,000 new friends!

This weekend was insano. I made a ton of cake squares for Frances' Wedding Shower today- thought you might want to see them, so I'll attach a picture. It was almost a cake disaster- the cake I made (buttermilk spice cake with cinnamon butter cream frosting) sure did taste good, but started a revolt when being cut into squares. It was super moist (almost gooey) it was crumbly too. At some point I was standing in my kitchen in my pajamas (because I didn't want to get cake/icing on the clothes I wore to church and had to put back on to go to the shower) It was 12:15. I had to leave the house in 20 minutes. I had icing everywhere. Alex was standing under my feet having an all you can eat buffet at the crumbs falling on the floor. I was literally talking myself up- "O.K. Sarah you can do this. But these look BAD. We need to think of a better way to do this. You need to just relax a little and take your time" If someone walked in my house they would have had me committed. I made it to the shower- 10 minutes late but with cake squares as promised. Next time I am making cupcakes. Something that is BAKED in the container it comes in. It was just unnatural to get pieces of cake in a paper and iced and then placed in a box. Too much to ask.

Well, you live and learn I suppose. And I KNOW next weekend I will be making everything on Friday night for the sweet 16 cake for Saturday. Novice cake decorating and pressure DO NOT MIX.

Friday Funny ;0)

My favorite is number 7. My mom sent this to me, I thought it was too cute. Can't wait to make you all Grandparents- Mom, Dad, Rick, Donna, Bev and J.R. Hang in there- it's just taking us a little longer than 9 months!

1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye! "

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

3. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard.. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods. "The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

4. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike? "I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?" "You're both old," he replied.

5. I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these, yourself!"

6. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

7. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised, "mine says I'm 4 to 6."

8. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today.." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting," she said, "How do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."

9. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Do you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. "It means carrying a child."

10. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close. "They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

11. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived.. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."