A Funny Story

Tonight, my sisters, my brother and I went to see Body Worlds 3 at the museum!!!!! My parents bought us tickets for Christmas, and boy! Was it ever fantastic!

Anyway, tonight, while we were at Body Worlds, NaiNai and Bampa brought Taiger to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. Mom told me that when they came home, she thought Taiger would like some hot oatmeal to warm him up after being outside in the cold. She also thought he would be getting hungry! She made the oatmeal, but instead of putting milk in it, she mixed in whipped cream, something that makes it creamy and sweet (NOTE: This is something she NEVER did with me! It is a luxury only Grand kids enjoy). When she gave the bowl to Taiger he looked at her with concern in his eyes and said, "Gwandma, there is oatmeal in it!" HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!! He just wanted the whipped cream! He said to her, "NaiNai, take the oatmeal out! Take it out!" In the end, for dinner Taiger had two dishes of whipped cream!!!!!!!!

Taiger and Mommy in the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper!

When we were at the Kwanzaa celebration, reporters from the Salt Lake Tribune interviewed Taiger and me, and had me sign a statement saying they could use our names and pictures in the paper. I didn't know they had taken our picture at all, and didn't think they would actually use what I said in the paper. Tonight, I was playing around online and suddenly remembered the interview and checked the Tribune online. Sure enough, there was our picture! They also had included in the article some of what I had said when they had spoken to us! I ran out at 12:30 and bought two papers! Unfortunately, the picture online didn't make it into the
paper :( , but what I said still did! Also, the picture online was the FIRST one that came up...and more people read the internet nowadays anyway, right?! HA HA HA! Anyway, if you want to see it, here is the link: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11322821



This is the picture used by the Tribune.

Cookies and Kwanzaa!!

Today, I finished our cookies! I took some pictures with a cell phone, but they were not very good (go figure). :( SORRY! I took two with my 35mm so when I develope those pics maybe I can put them on here.

So, today was the big Kwanzaa celebration at the museum! It was REALLY interesting and FUN! However, Taiger was tired and wanted to leave, so we didn't get to stay long. I was looking forward to the drumming and story-telling, but we left before either of those things. Too bad, but that is what happens when you have kids ;)! Despite being tired, Taiger was REALLY good, and participated as much as he could before he was so tired we just had to leave.

There was a great exhibit of Kente cloth, and I LOVED seeing that! I took pictures of Taiger in front of the Asante Kente cloth, as that is Taiger's heretage. A sign showed the names of each pattern of cloth, and I was amazed to see one pattern was something about talking to the Asante leader, Agyeman...that was Taiger's father's family name, as his family was the royalty in the Asante tribe! Taiger's middle name was almost Opoku-Agyeman, after his ancesters. Anyway, it was so fun and interesting, and made me excited to go to Ghana.

So, Kwanzaa started yesterday and will end on January 1. So, HAPPY KWANZAA, everyone!

Baking Cookies!!

Tonight I decided to try a new cookie recipe! I got the recipe from sugarhousemama.blogspot.com, a great blog to follow, by the way. Anyway, I had Jeremy over to bake them with Taiger and I. The cookies aren't done yet, but if they turn out, I will take some pictures of the finished product and put them on here!

Why I have not been blogging as much...

Christmas is upon us, and although this should be a time I am blogging MORE, I have found I have been blogging LESS. Christmas is a time when people's hearts are a little softer, their thoughts are turned to those in need. Because serving others is a major part of this season, I should be blogging now more than ever!

Christmas should be a time of joy and laughter. Yet my Christmas has been shadowed slightly by feelings of guilt. Because of this, I have not been as quick to blog. I have sat at my computer many times this season, only to become frustrated with my own thoughts and unable to find the words to express my feelings.

So, in the quiet of my house in the early morning, when everyone else is still asleep, I find myself again at my computer, determined to express my feelings without frustration or shyness. To just say them like they are. I know as I write my thoughts are going to be a jumbled MESS, but I just want to get them out there.

The feelings of guilt are because I am spending so much on myself and my son when there are so many people who need it more! Then, I feel guilty for wanting to help others instead of giving my son many Christmas gifts. He is my SON, and I want him to have all he needs, but does it make me a "bad mom" because I want to help others rather than get him tons of dinkey toys he will never use? My son is going to have a good Christmas, better than most 3 year olds! But I know I could buy him MORE THINGS. Is it bad that I think "this is enough" and want to save the rest of the money I have (as a single Mom going to school, I really don't have a lot of money to throw around...to be honest, I have about $600.00 TO MY NAME, about $300.00 of which has gone into Christmas gifts for Taiger and my family and one close friend)? As I am out shopping for him, I refrain from buying more and more, thinking instead of our trip to Africa, and how we will need the money to buy airplane tickets and suitcases, and I would like to save my money for those things. Does that make me a bad Mom, or a Christmas Scrooge because I am not buying my son a mountain of gifts? Does it make me a bad Mom that I am spending more on my endeavors to help others than I am my own son?

These are the feelings of guilt I have been experiencing. Guilt for spending so much on silly gifts my son doesn't NEED, and then guilt for wanting to spend money on others rather than on my own son.

I belong in LONDON!

I took this silly quiz on-line (I admit, I do LOVE those quizzes!!) and found out in which city I belong.

What City Do You Belong In?
You Belong in London
A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock.A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything.No wonder you and London will get along so well

I have been to London, and I LOVED it! Truly!!!!!!!!! I spent three days there. The day I arrived I went around with a friend of mine who was from London, GaoFei. The next day he left me "on my own" and boy was that just the way I would have it! I went ALL over! The day ended with a rainstorm the likes of which I have never seen...exept in the movies based in London. I didn't know it really rained like that! I looked like I had jumped in the river! Still, I stayed out, enjoying my sight-seeing. As evening fell, I bought candied nuts off the street from a young man with crystal blue eyes that I will NEVER forget. I walked along in the down pour, still unable to believe where I was and what I was doing when out of the darkness, right in front of me, rose Big Ben!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the most exciting moment!! I then found Tintern Abby and the Houses of Parlaiment! I took the very last metro train back to my motel and fell sopping wet and happy into my bed. The next day I went to GaoFei's birthday party and to the ocean. From that beach you could look across the water to France! No kidding!

Anyway, I loved London!!

Quilts and Taiger being cute

I am making Taiger a quilt for Christmas. It has been QUITE an undertaking! I have only made one before, and that was also for him. I sewed it while I was pregnant with him. I was feeling all motherly and excited for my new baby, and the quilt was small and snuggly with soft fabric on the back and Christmas prints on the front (since he was due to be born December 4...he surprised me and came Nov 23, by the way!). Well, this quilt has been quite a different experience! I made it to be like a bed spread, so it is REALLY big...and was difficult to manage! Also, I LOVE piko's but I HATE sewing them. Well, I decided two days ago to add pikos to this quilt. I was up until after midnight last night trying to cut, fold and iron them. Well, I finished sewing the piko's on today, and was VERY impressed with myself! I finally figured out how to do the corners! WOO HOO! Anyway, I wanted to get the back done today as well, but as soon as I layed it out to pin the top to it, Taiger ran and layed down on it and started snuggling it. I was frustrated until I looked at how much he loved the snuggly blue fabric and how cute he looked all wrapped up in it, so instead I took a picture.

Taiger has been so...BUSY lately! I don't want to say "naughty", because he doesn't do anything really WRONG, just a lot of things that reqire cleaning up, or asking him to put that down, or don't do that, or you will hurt yourself, etc. Today he was being all crazy while I was trying to sew those DARN pikos so I was already at my wit's end. I told him to stop whatever it was he was doing. He stood up and walked over to the side of the room and with a pouty lip and puppy eyes said, "I'm just a little boy. I am just a little boy." It was so cute I could not be angry. I just started laughing. He is so precious and so sweet! I love him so much!!!!!!

Back from the land of the lost, and Taiger's Third Birthday party! Woohoo!!

I have not been very good about blogging on here! Sorry! The reason for that is that I have another BLOG on which I have been blogging a lot lately. If you want to check it out, the address is sixteensmallstones.blogspot.com. It is dedicated to Taiger's and my volunteer work and volunteer spirit, really.

Things are going well for my son and me. He turned three a couple of weeks ago!!!! What a big boy! I will try and put some pictures on here when I get a chance. He had a fun Speed Racer party with all of his little friends from our neighborhood. It was fun for everyone. Taiger HATES loud noises and excitement, so I wasn't sure how he would do with having a party. However, it was a strange party when kids came late and some left early, so it never got too loud and crazy (although crazy enough for me! LOL!). The one time it got a little wild, Taiger went off alone and played with his new cars while everyone else ate cake and played. I kept an eye on him as he played alone and he seemed happy so I let him be. After a while, one of his little friends joined him playing with the new cars and from there things went smoothly. I was grateful it was fun for Taiger and everyone and that it went so smoothly (albeit a little different with people coming and going so much, but we are layed back and go-with-the-flow so we just made it work and all went well!).

We are still planning our trip to Africa this summer. Our other blog is more updated with more information on that trip, so if you want to hear about all that, be sure to keep checking our other blog.

With God, NOTHING is impossible.

I love the feeling I get when someone challenges one of my great dreams or goals. My best friend, GaoFei, is the one who most often does this. He thinks I will never open my orphanage, and when he says such things, I smile one side of my mouth because I know something he doesn't know. I am sure my eyes twinkle. I think it must be how a magician feels when he says he will make something disappear and someone in the audience shakes as if to say, "No, you won't". The magician knows the trick, the secret, and that he CAN do what the observer believes he cannot. This is how I feel when GaoFei says I will not open my orphanage. This is because I know the trick. I have something up my sleeve, so to speak. He doesn't know what I know. God has instructed me to open an orphanage. I know that with God, NOTHING is impossible. NOTHING! If I did not have this knowledge, I, too, would be shaking my head. Since I do know this was a commandment of God, and that He "giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He hath commanded them", I have the privilege of being able to look past the odds, the trials, the road blocks, the red tape, and keep my eye single to God and His desire. I have faith that if I do this, I will fulfill His commandment and build an orphan home in China. No, I don't know how. Fortunately, that is not for me to worry about. God knows how to do this, so I will do as He says and the orphan home will be built.

My boyfriend does not want to move to China. This presents a new kind of problem than that which I have faced up 'til now.

My boyfriend also does not want me to go to Africa next summer. This, I too will do. I will go to Ghana. I will help build the safe home for the older girls at Luckyhill Orphan Home.

My nephew with a camera phone comes to visit!!

My nephew is here visiting. My little boy has been having such fun with him! Well, my nephew has a camera phone, and has been taking so many pictures!! Here are some of the pictures he has taken since his arrival.

That one is of me and my son at The Mayan Adventure restaurant.

My son has the cutest little bottom lip that he sticks out to show different emotions! Here, he is using it to be SILLY!!

My Amazing Dream

So, I had this amazing dream last night. I can't really share it with anyone. I wanted to post it in my Luckyhill support yahoo! group, but then i felt really awkward, because the thing that happened in my dream is what people in the group are living right now! They are living my dream. And for me to post this experience as a dream is kind of ridiculous...they would all be thinking, "Yeah, so? That isn't a cool dream! That is how my life IS!" So, I typed the entire post, but instead of hitting "publish" I highlighted the entire text and cut it. Now, I will post it here. Here in my secret world, where I can just be myself. This is the post:

Okay, I had this CRAZY dream last night, and it has been weighing on my mind, so I HAVE to share it. Sorry if this is dreadful for anyone reading! It IS kind of topic-appropriate though...kind of....
So, I dreamed I had a friend who wanted to adopt from Luckyhill. (By the way, this is not a real life friend, she just showed up in this dream...) Anyway, Lois called and said she had a referral for me. A newborn girl had arrived at Luckyhill. I remember thinking how amazing that was, since Luckyhill doesn't usually have newborns. I thought she meant maybe this baby should be adopted by my friend, so I told this friend about the baby. My friend looked at me funny and said they would consider it, but that they really were wanting a boy. (I remember thinking, "WHO CARES what gender it is?! This could be YOUR CHILD!" But I didn't say that...instead I felt dumb for not remembering they wanted a boy.) I called Lois to tell her my friend was not interested in the baby and she acted puzzled and said, "No, I meant the referral was for YOU! THIS is supposed to be YOUR baby!" I was in shock when she told me! Then, I started crying. I just felt so warm all over knowing I had a baby girl waiting for me! The bad part of the dream came when I realized I could not go right that second and get my baby, and I began worrying about how long it would take for me to be able to go get her and bring her home with my son and me. That is when I woke up...I guess because there was too much to worry about.
I kind of feel foolish for sharing this because so many of you are going through that in real life...you have had that amazing experience of finding YOUR child. Anyway, I think our dreams speak to us...either putting into images what is in the recesses of our minds, or speaking to us of things that may yet take place. Anyway, I just felt like I had to tell this dream, but had no one with whom to share it, so you all got to be bored by it! Sorry!

And that was the post and that was my dream. Maybe someday I will have that experience and I will live that glorious moment, where all my searching for my second child ends, and I will know she is mine to go enfold in my arms and bring home to our little family.

A fun date!!

I went on a FUN date last night! My boyfriend and I take turns coming up with what we should do for dates. Last night was it was my turn, so I did a theme date! I didn't tell him what we were doing, but I told him to dress like a 50's "greaser". I dressed in 50's garb and we went to a 50's diner and then out to swing dancing! It was really, really fun! Here are our pictures! Hope you enjoy!

Lyrics to "A Pirate's Life For Me"

Ok, so I think this is the most important document I own and I think all mom's of a little pirate can agree! It was difficult for me to find these lyrics so I am posting them for others searching for them can have them! My son is obsessed with pirates, by the way, and spends most of his life as a pirate!! Arg!!!!!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villians and knaves.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads,
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

Compound words and Disneyland at Halloween time

My little boy was riding in the car last night and said, "Car....seat. Car....seat. Car....seat....CARSEAT!" So, he isn't even three and he has taught himself the concept of compound words. He is so, so, so smart! So we rode the rest of the way talking about compound words and naming different ones. He totally "got" them. I could not believe it!!!!!

We are going to Disneyland in a few weeks time and I guess it will be all decorated for Halloween! I am so thrilled about that! Plus, it is my understanding that everyone visiting dresses up in costumes! So I am trying to think of what my little boy should dress as to go play at Disneyland! How fun is this?!?!?!?!

From Twilight to GaoFei

Things have been interesting around here, and that is why I have not posted in some time.

To begin with, I have read the entire Twilight series. I recomend it to anyone who is over age...maybe 18. It was fantastic! Not because the writing was particularly wonderful, or because it held any educational information...Really just because I felt like I became part of the book, and for a book to so draw in the reader is a rare and wonderful thing that everyone should experience.

Also, I am now dating someone. That is all I shall say on this topic.

I must post a reasuring note about Africa. I do still plan to go next Summer. I don't know what will be happening with work, school, etc. But I do know for certain that I must go next summer.


Tonight, I spoke with my very, very best friend, GaoFei (Simon). He and I met while we were both teaching at the same school in China, and it was like finding a soul mate. Although we could never exist as more than friends, we are, in deed, the fastest of friends. After all these years were are still, in many ways, joined at the hip. I don't know what I would do if I lost my connection with him. He is a wonderful friend and a wonderful person and I am so blessed to know him. I only hope I get to see him again someday. I will add that as I read the Twilight books, I was reminded again and again of my GaoFei. The relationship of the main characters is much as ours was.

It is after two o'clock in the morning and I have to be up in just a few hours. I am just puting off Monday morning.

Well done Michael Phelps and also the Ghana Male Runner

I just have to give a big WELL DONE to Michael Phelps. Exciting. Also, I have to point out that Ghana competed in men's running last night and I think came in fourth...maybe fifth. Anyway, yay for Ghana.

Okay, so I have very strong interests in The Sudan and Darfur. The Olympics have caused me to think closely again about Darfur. I could go on and on about that, but maybe another day. It is too late now.

Random thoughts On A Windy Night

August 15, 2008

I am sitting outside right now, watching my son play in the falling night. He and his friend, the neighbor boy, are playing in their Little Tykes cars. They are so cute and so sweet.

I am doing a little school with my son and we started tonight. He traced letters and shapes and we sang little songs and talked about colours. My son is SO smart! He can trace already, and I am amazed.

My son is getting excited about going to Africa. So am I!

A little about the planned trip to Ghana...
We are going to stay at Luckyhill orphanage/school in Ghana. I am really interested at this time in helping the older girls who have not yet been adopted, but have nowhere to "go". Luckyhill is really geared towards children ages 2-12. The babies that are brought to Luckyhill stay with host families. The older girls, however, have no place. I worry for them, and so do Kingsley and Lois, as well as others. Everyone has decided to focus on these older girls for this year's "Project". I feel strongly that I am supposed to help with this project. Although I felt I should go to Luckyhill before I thought about helping with this project, I now know this is what I am supposed to do. I am so excited to go work with these wonderful young women.

Right now, my biggest concerns are: 1.) How will Mom work without me there, and 2.) How will I afford an airplane ticket and food while I am there.

My son is getting fussy and ready for bed. I will end here for now.

An Introduction

I have always thought blogging to be rather silly, seeming little more than a journal or, for some, a diary for the world to read at leisure. However, I have recently found some long searched for information hidden in the the posts of other's blogs. Thus, I decided I should begin writing my own blog, if for no other reason than to bless someone in the way I have been blessed. Perhaps someone is searching online for the answers I have.

I do not wish to reveal too much in my blog, and I find myself being extra cautious as I write. Yet, I have chosen to write a blog and realize I cannot do so without revealing at least something of myself.

I am a single Mother, living in Utah. I have one son who is 2 and a half. His father was from Ghana. I have wanted for some time to adopt him a sibling and have recently looked into adopting from Ghana. However, as I began looking for an agency, I was turned down again and again because I am a single Mother. This broke my heart. I prayed and fasted, knowing I was supposed to reach out to the orphans of Ghana. Finally, my prayers were answered! I found out about an orphan home in Ghana run by a kind man who allows single Mothers to adopt from his home. As I continued my quest to adopt from Ghana, I felt strongly that right now isn't the best time to adopt. However, I felt compelled to contact the woman in America who works closely with this orphan home. As we talked, she casually mentioned something about a project to help the older girls who have not yet been adopted. I immediately was interested! Since then, I have felt strongly I need to help with this project. The other night, as I lay awake at about 2:00 in the morning it came to me that I am supposed to go to Ghana next year. I prayed about it and feel this is, in fact, the right thing to do.

So, my son and I will be traveling to Ghana next year! And this is where our story picks up. I will keep this blog as we prepare to travel, as we face the challenges which are sure to come, and as we feel the great joy and excitement of preparing for this great adventure! I, of course, have spoken with my son about going to Ghana, and he is so excited! I must add, at this point, that I am opening an orphanage in China once I have graduated from college. My son has been aware of this fact since he was an infant. He speaks Chinese and is very, very excited to go to China. We talk about it often and he knows that is where he will be living as soon as Mommy is done with school. You can imagine his surprise when I told him we are going to Ghana next year! He looked at me and said, in his two year old way, "I thought we were going to China!!" I explained that we will do that after I am done with school, but before we do that, we need to go to Ghana and help the little children there. I explained it more than once to make sure he understood, and since then, he has been so excited to go! In Ghana, each day of the week is assigned a person's name (one for male and one for female). The day on which you were born will correspond with a name, and that name will be part of your name. Since my son was born on Wednesday, at least part of his name should be Kweku. I told my son his Ghanaian name, and since then he has been insisting everyone call him Kweku. I don't know enough about Ghanaian culture and customs to know if that will be what he is called while in Ghana, but he certainly likes it, and maybe it will help him as we plan this grand adventure to Ghana, Africa!!