Amber-Rachel-Jude

New Blog at kelliherchronicles.blogspot.com

2006-01-18T08:31:00.000-05:00

Due to technical reasons, this blog will not be updated, but you can go to the above link to our new blog , thank you, Anita
P.S. This blog will not be removed and you can come back to it at any time.

2006-01-16T08:54:00.000-05:00

Here is a really good adoption journal about a family going to Xinjiang to adopt their daughter Faith. http://meyeronline.homeip.net/china/ . ~ Anita

2006-01-10T12:47:00.000-05:00

Here is a recent post on the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) website. VOM is an organization that provides up to date information about what is happening to fellow Christians around the world and to facilitate the release and support of those imprisoned and persecuted for the faith.

Below is about what is currently happening or has happened to Christians living in Xinjiang Province ( JUDE'S BIRTHPLACE)

CHINA (ASSIST News Service) Twelve house-church leaders were arrested at a Christmas celebration in Ma Na Si County in Xinjiang, North West China, on Christmas Day 2005. According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), officers of the Religious Affairs Bureau confiscated Christmas food, 80 Bibles, a rented minivan, a car and a piano. One of the female pastors reported the police stated the meeting was an "illegal religious gathering." Seven of the pastors were released at midnight the next day, leaving Pastor Guo Xianyao (54), Ms Lu Jianzhen (47), Ms Wu Haifang (28), Ms Wang Ximei (54) and Ms. Zhou Bin (50) in custody at Ma Na Si County Detention Center. An eyewitness reported Pastor Guo Zianyao was beaten. All those arrested were fined and fingerprinted.
In a separate incident on Christmas Eve, CSW says police forcibly ended a house-church meeting and directed about 100 Christians who were meeting at Korla City in Xinjiang to go to the government-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement church. CSW reported Gao Zhisheng, a prominent human rights lawyer, has been threatened by state security agents in connection with his defense work, which has included the recent case of prominent house-church leader Pastor Cai. He has also recently issued a report regarding Christians in Xinjiang. Gao took statements from 13 believers to demonstrate the torture and abuse faced by house-church Christians in Xinjiang. His law firm's work has been officially closed down for a year and his license to practice suspended.
Give thanks to God for Gao's courage and ask the Lord to protect him. Pray the Lord will draw close to His people still in prison, giving them His strength to do His will. Pray the commitment of these faithful Christians will work to God's glory bringing many to salvation.
~ Anita

Photo above right is of downtown Wulumuqi City, Xinjiang, China

2006-01-08T18:39:00.000-05:00

Adoption
Not flesh of my flesh nor bone of my bone, but nonetheless my very own.

Never forget for a single minute that you weren't born under my heart but in it

~ Author Unknown

Hi all,

I remember seeing the above poem in a Childrens' book about adoption ; it sums up so simply and eloquently how I feel about Jude.

Yesterday was Rachel's 4th birthday and Bill and me took Rachel and Jude to the Epiphany Glendi festival in Tarpon Springs. We walked around alittle before we decided to go to Mama's Greek restaurant to have some Gyro's. Then we walked back towards the sponge docks and on the way back saw the Budweiser Clydesdales before heading back home. It wasn't all that impressive down there. We read the events update for the day online that stated they would have 300 dancers from around the US and Canada, but when we went down there we didn't see any. All we saw was a band playing Greek music under a very large tent with about 500 empty chairs under it. I was kinda disappointed , but glad at the same time to be able to enjoy the day with the kids minus Amber though , she didn't want to come. She stayed home for nearly 4 hours reading.

~Anita

2006-01-05T11:52:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year 2006
For those of you who didn't get a chance to see our Christmas card ; well we had two , but this one was my favorite!
Yesterday Amber and I went to go see the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia" , which was terrific!
Today I am staying home with the kids most of the day; I might go to the store later , but I have alot of housework to catch up on.
Just finished an excellent book called "The Heavenly Man", which is about a man who was a leader in the underground church. He endured 7 years total in prison in China for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. He also was tortured a great deal while in prison ; it is an incredible story about his miraculous

escape from a maximum security prison and from China. It is now going down as one of my favorite all time books. Here is a broadcast of one of his testimony/ sermons that he gave almost two years ago in Cambridge , England.

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=3910

Love, Anita

New Day Foster Home - Thomas Christopher

2005-12-29T09:24:00.000-05:00

Thomas has had a very eventful month. On November 23, he was able to undergo surgery. Before having surgery, the nurse told him that he wasn’t able to eat for approximately eight hours. He listened very well to the instructions that he had been given. While he was waiting to undergo surgery, he starting reciting and singing all of the rhymes and songs that he knew. While he was in the hospital recovering from surgery, his caregiver talked to him a lot. While they were talking, she asked him where Matthew and Abby, two of his former roommates went. With tears in his eyes, he told his caregiver that they both joined their new adoptive families and went to live in America. Finally, on December 8, Thomas was able to back to the New Day Foster Home. When he was told that he was finally able to go back home, he became very excited and started jumping up and down for joy! Even though the surgery was unsuccessful and he will need another one, Thomas continues to be an active young man. When he is in the playroom, he especially enjoys playing on the slide. Sometimes when he is playing in the playroom, he will pick up a small bag and walk back and forth. When his caregivers ask him where he is going, he tells them that he is going to America! We are hoping that he will soon receive word that he has a family waiting to adopt him. Thomas is a charming young man. It is wonderful to watch him develop and change with each passing month.
Blessings,

Karen Brenneman
New Day Foster Home
www.newdaycreations.com/foster

Qingyundian Township
Daxing District
Beijing, P.R.China 102605
86-10-8028-1586 ext 8023

The above post is an update of the little boy we sponsor that lives in a foster home outside of Beijing. He touches my heart. Please pray for his health -he has hypospadia. He also needs a home and he wants to go to America. Please pray, Anita

Love Without Boundaries December newsletter

2005-12-28T10:14:00.000-05:00

http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/newsletter/december05.pdf

Above is a link to the December 2005: Kids for Kids newsletter from "LoveWithout Boundaries" organization.

2005-12-23T11:28:00.000-05:00

http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com

"Love without boundaries is a group of volunteers around the world who have realized that people who have a pure love for helping children can truly make a difference. We all donate our time and gifts in an attempt to brighten the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable children. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization."

" One of LWB's projects for 2006 is to compile and translate a teaching manual for orphanage staff on medical special needs. This book will explain each special need in a very simple and basic way, with lots of photos and helpful information, as well as an encouragement that the majority of children with special needs are highly adoptable. Each section of the book will be reviewed by a medical specialist for that particular need both here and in China. One of LWB's main goals for this project is for more orphanages to submit children with special needs, and we believe this book can help orphanage staff know how wanted and adoptable these children are. LWB's believes it can also provide some helpful information on day to day care of the kids, such as the need for sunscreen for children with albinism. "

I will be assisting the medical director of Love without Boundaries as well as other adoptive parents to compile a handbook that will be distributed throughout China's orphanages

This is a wonderful opportunity and I will be helping with the orthopedic section of this book.

LWB's will be sending a team to China in Jan. 2006 to present this to CCAA.

If you have adopted from China and/or have expertise in the medical conditions descibed below please contact me and I will forward your information to the medical director of LWB's.

Blood Diseases (Hepatitis B and Thalassemia, Diabetes)
Skin Conditions (Clefts, Burns, other Scars, Port Wine birthmarks, Albinism)
Tumors (Teratomas, Hemangiomas)
Heart
Orthopedic (Club Feet, Syndactlyly, Missing limbs or fingers)
Heart Defects
Spinal Defects (Spina bifida, scoliosis, funnel chest)
Ear Defects (Microtia, Deafness)
Eye Defects (Blindness, Glaucoma, Cataracts, Small Eye lids, Missing Eyes)
Colon (Anal Atresia, Mega Colon, Hernia)
Brain Defects (Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Down syndrome, Hydrocephalus)
Genital Defects (Ambiguous genitalia, Hypospasdius, Undescended testes)

-Anita

2005-12-14T20:21:00.000-05:00

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a figure in the distance. As he got closer he realized the figure was that of a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy he asked, "What are you doing?" The youth replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean. The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die.""Son," the man said, "Don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't possibly make a difference." After listening politely the boy bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the surf.Then smiling at the man he said, "I made a difference for that one."

I saw this story on a blog about adoption. This story answers the question "Why adopt?"
I have been asked this question so many times it astounds me.

Beautiful story and with the statistics that I recently read about the estimated 143 million orphans in the world ; I think we all should say ," Why not adopt ?"
http://www.waitingchild.org/malea.html This is a link to a story about a family who adopted a special needs child with clubfoot (like Jude ) from China

-Anita

2005-12-14T20:06:00.000-05:00

Took these photos before going to a Chinese restaurant to celebrate my birthday and Jude's gotcha day. Aren't they cute?

2005-12-13T12:41:00.000-05:00

HI all,
On this past Sunday afternoon , we all went to Orlando for the America World Adoption Association annual Christmas Party. It was so nice to see all of the families with their beautiful children. Lots and lots of Chinese children and some children from Ukraine too. I love get togethers like that; even though we are all virtually strangers , we all feel such an incredible bond that we feel like family. Jude is pictured here with Santa and the first thing he said when he saw him was ," I want a carebear." (Rachel on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with Santa and wouldn't go up to him. ) He and Rachel both want carebears; little do they know that "Santa" already delivered and they can look forward to seeing them under the tree come Christmas morning. This Christmas is so special as we feel more relaxed ; last year was rough at Christmas because we were working off jet lag.
I am still sending out our Christmas cards and will soon begin wrapping the gifts.
We hope and pray all of you can put aside some time to reflect on what the Lord has done this past year and what he continues to do in our lives and the blessings he has given to us. Take time to reflect on the awesome wonder of that time long ago when Jesus was born. Read the book of Luke which talks of the birth of our Lord- lest we forget what this season is truly about.
Blessings to all of you, the Kellihers

Music video about orphan care

2005-12-08T08:44:00.000-05:00

http://www.helporphans.org/home_pg_news/2005/08-18-videos/dancing-with-orphans.html

Here is a link to a music video that is about orphans and our need to come to their aid- Anita

Where has the time gone?

2005-12-01T15:12:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it has been nearly a year since we were in China to get Jude? December 6th to be exact. Where has the time gone?

We took this photo on Thanksgiving day ; it is so difficult to take photos with small children - as you can see Jude is putting his fingers in his mouth.
I haven't posted in a while and its not that we didn't have anything to write about; we have just been so busy. Bill put up the Christmas lights on the house - he used blue icicle lights and they are so pretty. Jude and Rachel are fascinated by all the neighbors decorations , like the snow man across the street- which is one of those air-blown types- they unplug it during the day and Rachel thinks it's melted. I love this time of year.
I have officially finished all of our Christmas shopping which is very unlike me to do so this early in the season. I did most of it online -which is great; I highly recommend it. Amber and I went shopping on black Friday ( the day after Thanksgiving) at 5:45 am - I never do that ,but I couldn't sleep , so I said ," I might as well go shopping."
Well , I turn 35 in 10 days and to be honest with you , I feel sad about it. There is so much that I want to do with my life that I feel like I won't have enough time to finish it all. I seriously want to be a missionary. I know now that that was my calling in life. I can't stop thinking about it . I have read so many books on missions- so many bio's on missionaries. I went to hear a woman at church speak about her 30+ years working in Peru about 2 weeks ago and I got the documentary "Beyond Gates of Splendor" which is awesome-highly recommend it. This coming year I am going to work hard to receive my certificate in biblical studies through Moody Bible Institute - I will do that by correspondance, which will make it easier.
I can't believe it is almost 2006.
I hope to write before the end of the year- Anita

Our journey for Xiao Ting

2005-11-21T13:08:00.000-05:00

Our journey for Xiao Ting

This is a blog link to an adoption journal about a little girl who is in the process of being adopted. -Anita

Planting Churches Among the Most Unreached

2005-11-17T09:38:00.000-05:00

I was on the Gospel For Asia website this morning. If you don't know what GFA is it's a minisry that raises up native missionaries in the 10/40 window and if you do not know what the 10/40 window is - it comprises of 97% of the world's unreached people and it is often called the "resistant belt" due to the persecution and opposition of its' native people of this region have toward the gospel of Christ. The largest religion practiced is Islam , but Buddhism, Hindu, and many others religions also. The 10/40 window stretches from West Africa to East Asia-from 10 degrees north to 40 degrees north of the equator.

The main reason for us to choose China as the country to adopt from was because it is a communist country but also it's in the 10/40 window.

We give to a native missionary in Northern India and she lives on the border of India and China. We love giving to GFA because they are ECFA certified ( financial accountability organization founded by Billy Graham that many Christian organizations are members of to ensure that the money goes to the right place) . GFA gives 100% of the money to the mssionary you choose to sponsor. Many missionaries live off of about 150 US dollars per month. We give $30 a month; it is wonderful feeling to know that you are helping someone spread the gospel where it is most needed. ( I am sharing the fact that we give NOT to boast , but to motivate others to do the same- to help this region of the world who most desperately need it.)

For instance , when I read the founder of GFA's book, "Revolution in World Missions" , it opened my eyes to the Hindu religion and what it teaches and how it influences the day to day lives of its' believers. How it directly impacts the way a higher financial class treats the lower class.

Check the GFA website through the link I posted below and educate yourself about the Dalit people for instance.

Download this video link and watch this incredible story of a native missionary in Northern India. I cried when I watched it this morning.
http://www.gfa.org/gfa/latestnewsarticle?wid=1398
In Him, Anita

Watch out America -Here comes China, the next super-power

2005-11-10T09:37:00.000-05:00

I just saw the Today show and Matt Lauer was in Shanghai, China. Here is a link to an interesting segment - download video.
http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=851fc09c-ef68-4517-9829-be926fbc4d55&f=email
-Anita

Back Dormitory Boys

2005-11-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

Jude thinks these guys are hilarious. They have become an international sensation and Good Morning America did an expose on them at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/technology/story?id=1247865 . They are college students from Canton, China. -Anita

You can also click the above heading titled "Back Dormitory Boys" to go to a blog with many others downloads.

Christian Outreach Takes A New Turn In China

2005-11-03T09:27:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to a mission network news article discussing the influence the Christian faith is having on the government leaders.

http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7938

Research-China.Org

2005-11-02T10:05:00.000-05:00

Research-China.Org

Here is a blog about Chinese culture and China adoptions, etc.

Dress up

2005-11-01T09:14:00.000-05:00

Hi , We passed out candy to the kids' with gospel tracts in the goody bags ( well I did) ; I let Jude and Rachel dress up. We face Halloween as Christians with the same dilemma: " What do we do?" I always feel convicted not to participate in this pagan holiday; when I was a kid I never felt that way, but as a Christian I do. I was brought up in a Christian home and my parents allowed us to trick or treat. Amber fought me on it this year and I came to the conclusion that, we have taught the truth about its' history and she is now 13 and she should be able to start making some decisions. I told her you know how we feel about it , we are going to leave it in your hands to make the best decision. And she chose to go trick or treating. Now I feel disappointed in myself for allowing her to make her own decision. Anyway... I leave feeling confused.
I am glad that the "holiday" is over and now we can move on to Thanksgiving , which I love.

http://www.bibletruths.org/holidays/halloween.html Read the truth about halloween. click under Religious holidays- "Halloween."

Love, Anita

Our journey for Xiao Ting

2005-10-31T12:13:00.000-05:00

Our journey for Xiao Ting

Universal Studios

2005-10-30T16:45:00.001-05:00

Hi all ,
Bill and I had a nice time in Orlando. We went to Universal Studios on Friday ; went on everything worth seeing and headed over to Islands of Adventure after lunch to about 5:00. It was so crowded and the wait time for most rides was between 30 to 55 minutes long and with the all the express machines down , we couldn't get a fast pass to cut down the wait time. We went on the Spiderman ride and Bill went on the Hulk roller coster.
We headed to the hotel around 6:00 or so ; they only had two rooms left and both facing the interstate; we had no choice but to stay there because it was pre-paid. We went out to eat at Tony Roma's ( they have great baby back rib's BTW) .
After we settled down in the hotel room and finally went to sleep after watching a Sherlock Holmes movie on PBS ( which was good BTW), we tossed and turned the whole night. When I finally went to sleep around 6 am a car alarm went off and woke both Bill and I up- I was so mad!
Don't ever stay at a hotel when the room faces the interstate. Our room was around 200 feet from it.
Anyway...we had breakfast at the hotel for FREE and ate waffles , yogurt , and fruit, then we headed over to the Orlando Outlet Mall and bought Jude and Rachel some clothes from the Osh Gosh store and me some shoes from Skechers.
Here is a photo of me with Thing One and Thing Two from the Dr. Seuss book "The Cat In The Hat."--Love, Anita

2005-10-23T18:41:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Bill is finally on vacation and it is nice to know that he will be off for a week.
Yesterday Bill and I took Jude and Rachel to a Native American powwow at Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City ( Amber didn't want to go, so she stayed home.) We watched them play music and the grand entrance where the people in native dress danced around the circular enclosure.
It was fun and we had a picnic lunch on a blanket then bought the kids some beaded necklaces.
We went home after being there for nearly 3 hours - It was really humid and hot.
Today I went to work and came home and made dinner - baked ziti.
Bill got the house ready for the impending hurricane by removing debris in the backyard and took down our flag and brought in the trashcans.
Yesterday, we went to the store to pick up some extra ice, bottled water, and gassed up the van.
--Anita <><

2005-10-19T13:54:00.000-05:00

Hi all, for those of you who don't already know , I have a new email address: alkelliher@verizon.net .
Well, tonight is church and I am taking Jude and Rachel over to my mom's. They don't have enough workers on Wed. nights and Jude and Rachel end up crying and fussing when I leave them with the young girl that's in there to watch them . I really don't want to be interrupted when I am in my class on "Spiritual Warfare", it is really good and I enjoy the break from the little ones'. They are cute ,but they are a handful.
Tomorrow is my first meeting with the "Heart to Heart" group from church ; it's a mentoring group that pairs older women with younger women and they get to know eachother and you pray for one another , etc. I have been praying for something like that . I have been experiencing alot of stress and feelings of isolation/depressive emotions, not things I like to admit, but it's the truth and you can't deny the truth .
I also have been reading my bible more and I am working toward reading the whole bible in a year. It really helps to read the word and what has brought tears to my eyes is the compassion that Jesus has for us. Please read in Matthew in the following link :http://BibleGateway.com . It is such a great encouragement to know that the God of the universe personally cares for us.
--Blessings, Anita

2005-10-13T11:51:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
I blogged a link to an adoption journal to someone who is a member of a group I am in called Families with Children from China ; the family will be leaving to the Hubei Province to pick up their daughter , Grace. Just reading their itinerary makes my heart skip a beat , because I think back to when we left for China. I envy this family. Anyway ... these jounals like this are so fun to read.

Today I ran some errons (sp?) and took the kids' to the park at the Land O Lakes Rec Center. The kids' loved it and they fussed when we had to leave.

This week I have been somewhat busy. Monday and Tuesday I stayed close to home. Yesterday my parents and my sister came over with her two kids', Adam and Kiah , and we all went to Cracker Barrell for lunch. Went to church last night.

Tomorrow I am meeting my good friend , Leah ( who lives in Bradenton), at her mom's house so we can do something.

I work on Saturday (ugh!!) and then Sunday we will go to church.

Not much going on ... I am looking forward to a Mom's group that is forming at church starting Nov. 4th.

It really gets hard staying home with the kids' when there is nothing planned but housework. I have been getting a little depressed about it and as much as I would like to put them into Pre-K , we wouldn't be able to afford it. I might look into calling some churches to see if they have a Pre-K for a few days a week for Rachel going about 3-4 hours at a time. I don't know.

Bill applied to Zephyrhills Water but they turned him down , they told him they had applicants better suited for the position , but it turns out that the friend he has that works for the company stated that they have a contractual agreement not to hire NFI employees ( Bill's current employer who is contracted with Zephyrhills to move their freight ). So Bill will continue to look for something else that will allow him to work less and therefore have more time to spend with the family. I get really down because Bill doesn't have a set schedule and too many hours. He works 15 hour shifts and only has 10 - 12 hours until he is due back to work ; it's crazy! And it is wearing on him and he looks haggard alot of times... not to mention the effect it has on his health and safety. We are able to have only 4 days a month together, since I work 4 weekend days a month myself. Please pray for Bill to find a new job. God Bless, Anita

Grace Rui Li Journey Home

2005-10-13T11:49:00.000-05:00

Grace Rui Li Journey Home

2005-10-07T08:49:00.000-05:00

I listed a link to a segment from Good Morning America called ,"Made In China." It discusses China's influence on the global economy and its' growth in strength and power . The reporter said something interesting about the difference of the old China to the new China. Years ago China experienced a famine that killed millions of people and it was common for parents to tell their children at dinner time ,"... now children eat all your food because there are children starving in China" and today parents should tell their children , " ..now children do your homework because there are children starving for your job in China and India." Children in the east are motivated to learn English and Science and to be on top and to also bring themselves out of poverty. Children in the west have a different mind set and they are not as interested for the most part to strive to be on globaly. The east has more students in the areas of science and engineering vs. America. Anyway .. there are 3 articles total to read that are interesting.

Today I am staying home with the kids and doing housework. Tomorrow Bill and I are taking the kids to McDonald's and then to the movies to go see the new "Wallace and Gromit" movie. I have to work in rehab on Sunday.

Yesterday morning Bill and I closed on the house due to the refinancing of our first and second mortgages , I am so glad that is over.

Check out this story about the latest regarding the persecuted church in china:
http://www.persecution.com/news/index.cfm?action=fullstory&newsID=334

Good Morning America article:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1142148&page=1

--Anita

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose-- Jim Elliot

2005-10-03T16:22:00.000-05:00

Hi all, I took the kids' to the zoo, again... they love it though. I met a friend from work there who is also a stay at home mom. We had a nice time, but Jude started to have a temper tantrum and I was worn out too , mostly from the screaming and bargaining with the kids'.
This past weekend was o.k., I worked on Saturday and came home and watched half of "Fiddler on the Roof." On Sunday went to church and came home to do yard-work and watch the second half of Fiddler... with Bill.
Made reservations over the internet today for a hotel for Bill and I on Oct. 28th. Bill and I are going to Universal and staying over night in Orlando. We haven't gone away by ourselves since before Rachel was born. Isn't that sad? Needless to say , we are both looking forward to it.
I am posting a photo of Amber that she took of herself. --Anita

China Letter-News and Human Rights

2005-09-27T13:22:00.000-05:00

China Letter-News and Human Rights

Fear not: for I am with you: I will bring your children from the east, and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:5

2005-09-26T14:56:00.000-05:00

Went to the Florida Aquarium with my mom, Jude, and Rachel. We had a really nice time. Afterwards, we had lunch at Bennigan's at Channelside and ate along side the window overlooking the port where the Carnival cruise ship docked. We had a great view.
I am posting a picture of a satellite image of the world with the Xinjiang Province of China encircled ( Jude's birthplace).

Some say that blood is thicker than water. I say that love is thicker than blood. --Author unknown

2005-09-23T08:42:00.000-05:00

Hi all, It has been a week since I last posted. This past week I was able to arrange to get the house appraised on Wednesday and finish the story we are to submit to Shaohannah's Hope to have it published in their yearbook. My mom came over on Wed. morning and took the little one's to the zoo while I got those things done including the yard work. I also was able to go to church that evening. Yesterday I went to my sister's house ( it seems like I have been doing that every Thursday). Today I am going to the grocery store, picking Amber up early from school and taking her to the store to take some jeans back before she heads off with the church youth group to " Girls of Faith"( http://www.revolvetour.com) conference in Orlando. Please pray for her that she and the other girls will respond to the message.
They will have Natalie Grant and Tammy Trent sing and some speakers talk about Friendships, guys, self-esteem, etc. in light of God's word. So it is very good for girls' between the ages of 13- 18.
Bill has to go into work for a couple of hours on Sat. and I have to work on Sun. , so we'll get some time together in there somewhere. Bill has applied with Zephyhills Water ; we hope to hear back from them so Bill can leave his current position at NFI and there horrible schedule.
-Anita

2005-09-16T07:14:00.000-05:00

I read Our Daily Bread this morning and it was out of Corinthians; it is a good one in light of what is happening in the aftermath of Katrina. Here it is http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml .
Today my mom is coming over so I can do my weekly grocery shopping. Nothing much going on today--Anita.

Praise Report!!!

2005-09-15T17:15:00.000-05:00

Praise God!, after discussing our situation with a financial advisor, we decided to combine our first and second mortgages into one at a fixed rate of 5.5% with no origination fees and low closing costs for 15 year term loan. By doing this we are consolidating all of our debt and taking alittle cash out. It will be so much better.
It's funny, because I have been literally losing sleep over this for the past week or so. With Bill gone , I have to really do this on my own , while going over it with him when I get a chance.
I was cleaning under the bed - Bill's side- and found a bunch of old checking deposit statements from Bill's job, and found a flyer that was from a mortgage lending group that works with NFI that has special loan programs for their employees. They provide low interest rates and a significant reduction in fees. I called them yesterday and was approved -no problem - for exactly what we were looking for. I was so thankful and my mood was lifted ; I thanked God for it. I had been specifically praying for us to find that.
Today I took the little one's to my sister Selina's house to visit. She told me that they are finalizing the plans for the house. They are expanding and updating their house in Odessa. It has been a long road and the contractor is looking over the blueprints. They hope to begin construction real soon.
-Anita

2005-09-13T17:43:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Today I took the kids' to the zoo and we had a really nice time. I met a lady at the stingray exhibit who had a 4 year old son with her , I think his name was Andrew, who was adopted from Vietnam; very nice lady. Jude kept looking at him and he was really concerned about his boo-boo on his head because he had a band-aid on it. It is nice to meet other people who have also adopted and from Asia and a boy. I kind of wish we exchanged phone numbers, but then there is the age difference and he goes to pre-K.
Jude and Rachel played in the water and we saw the new Meerkat exhibit over in the fairly new Africa section that Lowry Park Zoo continues to expand. We were at the zoo a total of about 3 hours. I think that may be one of the longest times I have spent there at a given time.
On the way home , Jude and Rachel were fighting over a piece of felt clothe from an old church craft project and Jude got so mad he reached over and pulled out some of Rachel's hair while I was driving 70 mph on I-75. I was so angry I almost pulled off the road to give Jude a piece of my mind ( and maybe a bit of my hand) , but I just wanted to get home. They both fell asleep in the car and I let them sleep alittle in their carseats in the garage while I made a quick call to our associate pastor to ask him some financial advice. He referred me to a friend of his who is a financial advisor. I later called the financial advisor and he advised me to consolidate our first and second mortgage into a 15 year term at no more than 6.5% interest ( based on the current rates we are currently paying ). It is all so frustrating and confusing and humiliating to have to go through all of this again. I absolutely hate it!!
Well, nothing more going... Oh yeah! Amber got her report card and she had A's and B's. Good for you Amber!! We have been going round and round about her grades and the need for her to bring them up and keep them up because I know she is capable of doing well in school. Her grades dropped significantly last year and all the prior years had received virtually straight A's all the way through. Maybe all the hormonal changes and getting a new brother and the big trip to China through her off a bit. But I believe in her and love her very much and I want her to reach her potential in life.
--Anita

2005-09-09T08:47:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Just updating my journal:
I have a good offer from PNC re: a Home Equity Installment loan to pay off our debt. We are trying to get debt-free by the time Bill and I reach 45 years old. Bill and I are making plans to get our education in Theology and missions to one day become missionaries. We'll see. I , myself, have wanted to be a missionary since I was a little girl. I used to look at documentaries as a child about orphanages in Romania and China, listen to missionaries talk about their experiences ( my best friend , Leah, comes from a family with many missionaries and she may not know this , but it made a big impact on me), and I remember the Peace Corps commericals and think," I want to do that." Well, we will move forward and let the Lord decide. Bill agrees he interested in doing that . And we just want to go whereever the Lord leads us and we realize it won't be easy. Anyway, since this is my journl and sort of like a diary...it gives me the opprtunity to express things that I normally don't in casual conversation.
Well still working hard around the house to get things done. Bill will be going to work around noon and won't be back til early tomorrow morning.
My mom is coming over today and is going to watch the kids while I go grocery shopping and deal with a few banks re: the loan.
Amber is going to her youth group tomorrow to set up for Sunday 's fundraiser and she is going to the movies tomorrow with a friend.
Some good articles to read below links:
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7741
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7743
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7746
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7749
Love, Anita

2005-09-07T08:34:00.000-05:00

Today, I am very busy trying to gather the paperwork necessary to refinance our home equity line of credit ; I have a couple of offers that seem promising. It is such a challenge to do it with the little one's in tow. I am often on the phone with individuals while they scream and fight in the background; it is one of the most frustrating experiences.
Bill got home at 7:00pm or so last night and we all went to bed at 9:30 pm with the Jude and Rachel sleeping on our floor. Rachel wouldn't go to bed last night because she said she was scared of Elmo , so we removed Elmo, then she said she was scared of the porcelin (sp?) dolls on the shelf , so we removed those. Then she said she was scared of the shadows on the walls and she began screaming and then Jude started crying and we let them sleep on the floor in our room because Bill had to be ready to call in at 2 am . When 2 am came around , Bill called in to work and they said the line went down and then they ended up calling him in around 7 am. Anyway... it has been a rough night ...I didn't sleep very well and now I am really sleepy.
I got a letter from Shaohannah's Hope, they are one of the foundations that helped fund our adoption with a grant. They gave us $2,500.00 and now I will write our adoption testimony and send them photos of Jude and the family so they can put it in their adoption yearbook. I also need to send story and photos to the other foundation that gave us a 2,500 dollar grant. Then I need to get together photos, video, and letter (translated) to send to a family with America World Adoption Association that are going to Xinjiang, China to adopt a little boy in November. They will be going to Urumqi Child Welfare Institute and they agreed to take our package to the Orphanage Director so we can update them on Jude's progress. After that I need to send photos of Jude to our adoption agency to enter Jude in their annual calendar contest. Shew!!! I am busy and a bit overwhelmed.
I have a few articles I read on Mission Network News that discuss the work that is being done in the name Christ and their need to get thousands of bibles to the people in that region that want them. http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7737 and http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7739.
Blessings to all, Love, Anita

2005-09-06T07:11:00.000-05:00

Hi all!
I haven't made a journal entry for about 5 days.
On Friday, went to Marshall's with Amber ( she was off school) and bought a pair of sandals and some van Gogh stationary and then we went to Super Walmart to go grocery shopping. Bill got home about 9:00 pm from work. Went to bed early because I had to work on Sat.

On Saturday went to work on the Orthopedic unit and saw knee and hip replacement patients ; it was a good day at work. I came home and made ravioli's for dinner; the Celentano brand ( in the freezer section ) is very good. The kids' loved them ; I used Newman's Own Marinara sauce with them too. Amber, Bill, and I watched "The Hostage" when the little ones' went to bed. I didn't like it that much and I regret watching it, especially with Amber. It had graphic violence and bad language. As a Christian, I felt convicted watching it. And I also feel such images are not very good to watch.

Sunday we all went to church and we ended up going to the 11:00 service, my mom went too and she sat with us. A lady at church was there with some relatives that evacuated from New Orleans. At the end of the service, I could see members of the congregation go to her and her family ( she had chilidren, I think) and hug her, I wanted to talk to her and meet her and I had this feeling that I wanted to know what her family's needs are so I could help.

Now more than ever I think it is the responsbility of God's people to help the people devastated by this disaster. I feel an obligation to help, so many Christians sit in pews every Sunday listening to sermons on helping others and it is high time we do what we are called by Christ to do. I do think that many churches are rising up and doing their part and I know the media is biased when it comes to religious organizations and this type of help is under- reported. I hope when some of these people relocate to our area, it is the church body that comes along side them to help them in every need they have , from finding housing , finding jobs , finding furniture and clothes, transportation, etc. I hear so many people blaming the government , but the government will NEVER meet all our needs, only GOD can. It breaks my heart to see people suffer at this level and we are considered by the whole world to be a Christian nation. This disaster is going to cost more than $100 billion to fix and my God isn't short of cash. We are His hands and feet. I am sorry if I sound angry, I am not; I am just a frustrated individual that reads and sees these images on the news and I want to help and I am praying to God He puts me in a position to make an impact on a personal level. I am sure there are alot of people out there who want to help and don't know how and so they give money; I want to do more. Please continue to pray for the victims of this tragedy and for workers to continue to rise up and help.

Our church sent about 5 -6 people to work along side "Samaritan's Purse", they took chain saws, money, water, a generator, etc. to Biloxi, MS and worked to help set up a camp to shelter the people who have no homes to go back too.

2005-09-01T11:18:00.000-05:00

Hi all.
Our church is sending about 6 men to help with the search/recovery and relief efforts in Mississippi/ Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina. They will be doing this along side the Samaritan's Purse, the Christian relief organization in which Franklin Graham founded. You can make donations to http://www.samaritanspurse.org . I gave a donation to them at church yesterday. Please pray for their safety and outreach to the people in that area. It is so sad and I wish I could go to help. It is such a desperate situation there now.
Bill will not leave his position at National Frieght Ind. right now. We agreed that he should stay until the situation with the gas - shortage blows over. He also has a week left to take for his vacation and if he leaves , he'll end up using his vacation time to look for a job and he really needs a vacation. He will also take a day to shadow one of the drivers with Zephyrhills Water to see if that is what he wants. Anyway...
I had a friend over today; she is a COTA like me and she used to work at TGH. She has 2 boys - 5 months and 3 years old. It was nice seeing her , it had been a long time since I last saw her.
Tomorrow my mom comes over to watch the kids while I go grocery shopping.
I work this Saturday and Monday and Bill will , most likely , have to work this Sunday. So we won't be seeing much of eachother this weekend , which is depressing.

the Katrina disaster

2005-08-31T07:09:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was so shocked at the devastation that was reported on the news from Katrina, especially in the New Orleans area where the storm surge has engulfed everything. They had to evacuate the dome where 10,000 people were staying , but where would they take them? The Coast Guard lifted more than 700 people off roof tops and people had to spend the night on an over pass. There just isn't any place for these people to go and I heard one reporter state, " this is our tsunami...".

I urge my family and friends to help the people devastated by this disaster that is in our backyard at http://www.redcross.org . Please pray for the people in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Thou, which has shewed me great and sore troubles ,shalt quicken me again , and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Psalm 71:20

Yesterday I took the kids to Lowry park zoo with my dad and Abuela.

I made my Abuela a "memory book"; a book with all our families photos in it and labels of who we are and a big calendar. The Alzheimer's Disease is taking away her memory of who we are and she is becoming increasingly agitated and confused.

Bill came home yesterday and told me he had a blow-out with his boss about his schedule ; they were angry with him because he wasn't available to work this weekend. He has to stay home with the kids' this Saturday because I have to work. Bill works 75 hours a week and they have the nerve to ask for more. It angers both of us and Bill is putting in his 2 week notice next week and I can't lie-it scares the both of us , but we feel it is necessary for him to leave so that we can have more time together as a family. Please pray for Bill.--Love, Anita

2005-08-29T18:14:00.000-05:00

Hi all!
Not much going on here.
This past Saturday Bill and I started a membership at the new "Sam's Club " on B.B. Downs and SR56. It is real nice , but I wasn't impressed with their gas prices at $2.59 for regular unleaded. We ended up getting Bill some new Reebok's and some veggie chips. After Sam's we went Target because Amber wanted to buy a few things. We went home and ate leftover Sheppard's pie for dinner and my mom came over to pick up Amber so she could spend the night at their house. We went to bed early because I had to get up at 5:45am to go to work the next day.
I got to Tampa General at 7:15am and got my patient schedule and started seeing my patients. I only had 8 treatments yesterday. I saw mostly stroke patients and about 3 orthopedic patients. The day was short and I left there about noon. They were short on patients for me in rehab and they were over staffed in Acute ( in the main hospital ); so I left early. I came home and rested a bit and then started cleaning the kitchen. Bill mowed the front and back yard before the rain. We ate steak, baked potatoes, and spinach for dinner.
Today I stayed home all day with the kids and cleaned the house.
I will probably take the kids to the park tomorrow. I go stir crazy when we don't leave the house and do something for at least a couple of hours. --Anita

The Chinese Characters above mean "Jude"

2005-08-23T20:50:00.000-05:00

Tuesday 8/23/05
Woke at 6:45am to take a shower before the little ones woke up. I had to get Amber off to the bus in a hurry and then I got ready to go to my Tia Glenda's house to visit her and my grandmother. Alisha was also expected to come by to visit with Mia. When I got there my Tia had some workmen fixing the eaves around her roof and somehow one of the men turned on the outside line to her water and the line broke and water started to enter the house under all the carpeting. I called my dad to ask him how to turn off the water from the outside , but one of the workmen figured it out, but my dad ended up coming anyway and helped my Tia wetvac the more than 2 gallons of water that was on the floor. She ended up having to rip up the carpet halfway from the living room floor and tore up the padding and has a fan blowing on the carpet to dry it out. I felt so sorry for my Tia. She is trying to take care of my Abuela , who has some mystery blood loss. She was scheduled to take my Abuela to the dr. at 3:30 and now all this? Anyway, we agreed that it could have been worse; it could have happened while she was at the Doctor with Abuela.
My Abuela's Alzheimer's is progressing quickly and it has been difficult on my Abuela , of coarse , but also my dad and Tia Glenda.
I got home at 3:00pm and Amber came home from school at around 3:30. I spent the rest of the day making dinner and brownies, cleaning up the kitchen , playing with the kids , and bathing the kids. Oh! and I ordered the book by Elizabeth Elliott called " Through Gates of Splendor." It is about the five missionaries that were martyred in Equador? by the Auca Indians. It is really a powerful testimony. I can't wait to read it. I already read
about the aftermath , when I read ," Savage my Kinsman."

Wednesday 8/24/05
Went over to Dixie's house with the Rachel and Jude around 11:30 am and the kids played with Victoria outside in the sprinkler and pool. The kids only played for about 30 minutes then wanted to come in because as Jude put it " too hot." We ate sandwiches, fruit, and chips for lunch. I went home after Jude bit Victoria on the leg because she wouldn't give him her fuzzy phone? Anyway, it is ALWAYS SOMETHING.
I went to church at 6:00 and they had there Wednesday night kick-off dinner. The kids and I ate pizza and salad. My parents came to church to attend the class on "Spiritual Warfare" that our Pastor, Dr. Kirk Johnston is teaching. Jude would not go into his classwith Rachel and I ended up having to bring him into our class for about 45 minutes. My mom took him to the class and stayed with him for the rest of the time....went home and watched "Lost" and went to sleep.
Thursday 8/25/05
Today I woke up with the worst neck pain; I hardly got any sleep. Bill had to call in . I began making a bunch a calls to Aetna and others to find a good Chiropractor in the area and found one -Welsh Chiropractic ; I saw Dr. Neal Sayers. He really couldn't do anything for me except give me recommendations to ice my neck and take anti-inflammatory medications , ie, aspirin or ibuprofen. He gave me a referral to get my neck x-rayed and then make another appt. to come and see him again so they he can adjust my neck. I picked up KFC for dinner after the appt. and headed home ; got home around 6:00p.

Friday 8/26/05
I took Jude to Shriner's hospital for children to have the dr. check Jude's feet for any re-lapse; thankfully there isn't any sign of re-lapse; Jude's feet remain corrected. We are scheduled to go back on 10-28-05. My mom came with me to the appt. with Rachel and as always we headed to McDonald's for lunch and got Happy Meals for the kids'.
My neck hurt all day and if the pain continues at this rate, I will get the x-ray on Monday and schedule an appt for Wed. to have the chiro. adjust it. It is difficult to function like this and watch the kids' as active as they are. Thankfully , my mom stayed over the whole day and left at 6:30pm ; she also watched the kids so I could go to the store and she made dinner. She is the best!!!!
She also to took Amber to a youth group meeting at Grace Family Church; they are also picking her up at 10:00pm and she will be spending the night at their house.
Bill went to work at 7:30 this morning and I don't except him back until around midnight. I hope he doesn't work tomorrow; I have to work on Sunday and I want to spend some time with him this weekend. He is applying a job with Zephryhills Water which will put him on a better schedule.

At Home with the Kids

2005-08-22T18:15:00.000-05:00

Hi all, I spent the day waking up late. I was up 2 or 3 times last night and it threw me off a bit. I spent the day at home with the little ones and cleaned the floor. What fun?! Anyway , once Amber got home , we were off to the Kelly's ( youth pastors of our church ) to drop Amber off. Dixie Kelly took her to church with them to help set up for the Todd Agnew concert. I wish I could have gone but I wanted to be here for Bill when he comes home from work. Anyway here we are still waiting at 7:00 pm for Bill to come home. It has been crazy today; the little one's have been cranky all day and fighting alot with eachother. Which in turn makes me pretty cranky. Well gotta go eat. Luv ya! Anita

2005-08-22T14:33:00.000-05:00

I have established this blog to keep friends and family informed of my day to day activities.