Happy 7th Birthday!

Today is Brigita's 7th birthday! I am so excited for her (well, us) because this will be her last birthday as an orphan! Next year we will be having cake, ice cream, balloons, and presents together with our family and friends. She will blow out her candles and open her very own gifts. Instead of wearing the community-shared orphan clothes, she will be wearing her very own clothes. She will begin and end her birthday with special kisses from her mommy.

But this adoption is not just about her. Next year on this day, I will have a daughter who is celebrating her birthday. I will get to plan, decorate, and host a birthday party for my little girl. I will get to buy presents and invite guests. I will get to have special kisses from my little girl. I will get to buy her clothes, fix her hair, help her heal and grow. Next year February 5th will likely mean more to me than it will to her. Since it will be her first birthday in a family and perhaps the first time it has ever been celebrated, she will likely not even understand what is going on. But I will. I'm so excited about what the rest of this year will bring for us. This adoption will be a new life for both of us. I cannot wait to have my daughter home with me and to start our life as a family. I can't wait to be her mommy!

New Committment Page

Yay! We've made it to the New Committment Page! We would have been here soon but me in my excellent forgetfulness failed to fax off one of the most important forms. I was flipping through my notebook and happened to see where I had written down the directions so I could check them off as I completed them. Guess it would have been helpful had I actually checked it off. Makes this journey seem more real and achieveable! I'm getting closer to making this adoption a reality and couldn't be happier!

More videos/less good news

I found a couple of more videos that were newscasts about the center Lady Bug B lives in. However, these were unfortunately not that good. The first video was from October 2011 and was following the story of one child that lived in the center who was very sick. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with this child other than that. But on a plus side, this child's mother was there!

The next video was from January 5, 2012. It showed footage that was shown in the October 2011 video, so I am assuming that child's sickness was somehow related and/or they were just connecting that medical needs are there. However, I did understand enough from this video that the center is having major problems with children with pneumonia and bronchitis. It said there have been 6 children with pneumonia and 4 with bronchitis. They kept showing the hospital, so I'm assuming they are sick enough to have required hospitalization.

Please be in prayer for all those that are sick and pray for healing and comfort, pray that the others will be strengthened to withstand the sickness, and add an extra special request that Lady Bug B is okay, strong, healthy, and well!! I know she was well in December 2011, thanks to that wonderful video. But I don't know how she is now, or how she will tomorrow or the next day. Only God knows this. But also, only God can protect her, keep her strong, and move mountains to bring her home.

Moderate comments

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that I changed the settings on my blog to moderate the comments before they show on the post. I saw on RR's Official FB page that apparently there have been some issues in the past and just wanted to be proactive. Nothing has happened here.

Saving One Child At A Time: Saving Her-Auction Details to Benefit Brigita's Adoption!

Saving One Child At A Time: Saving Her-Auction Details: In a previous post, I told you I found a little girl who had my heart.  I thought I was supposed to adopt her.  Turns out, I wasn't.  This c...

Check out the link to see the auction items, get details on how to enter, etc. Thanks in advance to those who take the time to browse, share, donate, etc. Auction Ends Saturday, February 11, 2012 at noon.

Nook Winner!

Congratulations to Tasha McCray, winner of the Nook Giveaway. Thanks to Tasha and everyone that donated for the chance to win! I greatly appreciate your support. Thanks, Christina, for hosting the giveaway and handling everything. You're great and very appreciated as well!!

Who Knew Five Seconds Could Mean So Much!

Yesterday I was doing a google search for the city and center where my Little Ladybug lives. I found a youtube video of her center where they were having a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of renovations they had made. They of course were speaking their language, so I can't be certain of what they were saying. But it did seem they have added a school. I saw on another website that they have been doing renovations of the center since 2009 and it is expected to continue until 2013. They are really trying to make a difference in these children's lives. After finding the ribbon cutting video, I found another link where a group went to the center in December 2011 to watch a children's program and they brought diapers, stuffed animals, fruit, Advent calendars with chocolate, and who knows what else for the children. It was so good to see how the staff interacted with the children. To see the children put on their program. To see the care and love. But most importantly to me, I saw my Ladybug! I had made a comment to my office mate that it would be so neat if I could see her but I don't think I really expected to. Unfortunately it was only for about 5 seconds really quick (though you can tell who she is in other parts of the video but can't really see her). However, those 5 seconds were so wonderful and beautiful, I'm still on cloud 9. She looked so good. She looked healthy. She's tiny, of course, but I expected that. I'm hoping to be able to somehow make contact with this group to see if they have any more video with her or if they had any direct contact with her. Of course, they were not speaking english, so I'm not sure that's possible. But I'm going to try. I'm so grateful she is in a country and center that does what they can for these children. They do care about them. Now I can hardly wait to see her again. To go to her country. To visit with her. But I'm thankful God has given me (and those following) those precious 5 seconds!