Our NEW blog

Please follow along with our NEW family blog here Raising Five Plus......

Happy Halloween

We had a great time Trick or Treating; even in the pouring down rain. The babies were so well behaved this year and I did not have to carry anyone. They let me chauffeur them to every house and did not move out of the stroller once. I guess they are old enough to figure out this stroller thing can work to their advantage.




Here are babies 2 years ago on their 1st Halloween in Hanoi, Vietnam. It was our first full day together as a family and we were just starting to get to know each other. My how they have grown in 2 short years.

2nd Forever Family Day

2 years ago yesterday we met our twins in an orphanage in a very rural province of Vietnam. Our lives changed in so many wonderful ways that day. I will never forget the first time I saw and held my babies. I will always remember their sweet smell and even sweeter smiles. I waited a long time to hold those babies and it was a dream come true. Below is a video montage I made for my babies so we could always remember that special day. Happy second "Forever Family Day" Meliah and Khai ; looking forward to a lifetime with you !!!

Food for Thought

I want to tell you about my friend Bonnie's new project to help the children of Vietnam. We met each other through our agency while adopting our children from Lang son,Vietnam. Bonnie and her organization have done amazing work for Vietnam over the past few years. Here's a little description from the website.
"'Love Education Fund' currently focuses on educational and basic needs of children in Lang Son Province. Begun in 2007, the first project was to provide drinkable water for two satellite elementary schools. Building a well and providing a filtration system completed this project successfully in early 2008. In the fall of 2008, the project provided clothing, school supplies, and blankets to the 40 poorest children in the main school."

She has started a new project that sounds amazing. I am excited for her and the children of Vietnam. She can describe it better then me so here is the email I got from her.

" Hi everyone,

Finally we are ready to begin our next project in Lang Son. We will help
improve the nutrition of the poorest children of the 2 satellite elementary
schools. These are the schools where we successfully built a well and filtration
systems last year and completed a few smaller projects.

The project, Food for Thought will provide chickens (hens, roosters, feed) to
the families of these children in exchange the children will bring cooked eggs
to school to share at lunch. About 40 poorest children live too far to travel
home for lunch; the school provides rice for them. These are the children we
want to help. When the family's number of hens have doubled they will give some
to another family on our list.

We have 2 college students volunteering for several weeks very soon. They will
go with staff to implement this chicken program.
I am so excited about beginning this project.

For those of you who donate 5.00 usd, your name will be included on a plaque
to set at the main school. I thought about having our children or you name one hen or
rooster that each family receives- I just don't think we can realistically keep
track of the named chickens- you can name them for the fun of it along with
your donation. I'll try to keep track!!
I'll have plenty of picture on my blog and the website as this gets rolling.

www.familiesinvietnam.org

for more info and to see the inspiring chicken behind 'food for thought'
go to www.charitabledreams.blogspot.com

thanks,
bonnie"


I will be donating in honor of my children from Lang son. Please consider donating at least $5.00. Think what an ongoing difference you can make in the life of a whole family in Vietnam for the price of one latte or happy meal. Don't these precious little children deserve to learn with a full belly?

You can donate through www.familiesinvietnam.org click on top on Love Education Fund- once on that page, click donate:)

Trip to Pumpkin Patch Part 2

Trip to Pumpkin Patch

Kids Vietnam picture book giveaway

I just want to tell all of you with children from Vietnam about a beautiful childrens book made by fellow adoptive parents. It is an ABC across vietnam picture book and you should really check it out. On October 16 th the Author is giving away a copy here http://pho2granola.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-giveaway.html. Preview and order here http://www.blurb.com/books/880051.

My Babies

Update and photos on house in Vietnam

Well I promised I would keep you guys up to date on the house you all helped me build in Vietnam. Robert chose a needy family that he visited at the end of July while he was in Vietnam. Here is an email I received about them-

"-The family is living in Quang Nam Province

- Husband's name: Do N. L. - works as a farmer.

- Wife's name: Tran T. H. - works as a farmer, too.

- The husband works as an bricklayer assistant is his free time after crops to earn extra money to support the whole family.

- Incomes from husband and wife is very little and unstable, plus all the kids are at the age of studying, they can help the parents earn any money, so the parents have to save all their money for the kids’ study.

- The first child (a daughter) : Do T. V .T 1993, in 10 grades.

- The youngest son : Do N. T. H 1997, in 6 grades.

- They have lived in this shack for more than 10 years. When the winter comes, the house is flooded up to 2 meters. They have dreamed of a strong house to live and to provide their children a place to study, but they haven't made their dream come true because of poverty.

- When Giving It Back to Kids came and decided to help them build a new house, how happy they were! They always dream of a new and stronger house, and thanks for donors, their dream now come true. They don’t know how to express their deep gratitude."

I was beyond thrilled to know they had identified a family and would start construction immediately. I got another email today with a photo update on the construction. I could not believe once the old house was torn down what a beautiful building site was there. I am so happy to know this family will not have to spend another winter in that shack I can't even call a House. Below is before and during pictures. Hopefully I will have after pictures to post soon. I again want to thank every one of you who helped make this dream for this family and me a reality.



Here is family with before photo of "House":

During construction :

Amazima

I have to tell you about the most amazing, inspiring blog. It is about Katie, a 20 year old with 13 adopted girls living in Uganda and changing the world. She is AMAZING. I have put her badge on my blog (and below) if you would like to visit and consider supporting her cause.