We have a name!

Our dossier officially went to "in the process of translation" on the 19th of April.  It is agonizing to sit and wait for news that the file has progressed.  Perhaps this is a good time to reveal "Susy's" name. Most of you likely realize that the English name on an adoption file is one that is assigned by an agency. Our Little Miss has been advocated for by the names Susy and Zuza, though she has never been called either of them. We have debated for literally months as to what her special, meaningful, chosen just for her name should be and have at last decided! Introducing Sonnet, which means "little song."

We've had no word for a couple of months concerning her health status, and this mama's heart feels as though it can't take it much longer.  By all indications she is quite malnourished. Please pray with us that she is doing ok, and that this longer than usual process will speed up now!  Thanks.

Spring Baseball Season

The spring baseball season has started, and a certain four children are SUPER excited to be back on the field!  This photo was taken following their first game.  Want to see why?  Check out the video below where they get to play.  It is such a special time for the kids and the parents too!

Or see the short video of the league HERE!

Works of Art that benefit two ways!

I'm excited to offer these beautiful necklaces, bracelets, pins and fabric hair flowers sent from China by my friend David Wang. David used to work for an organization that provides services for persons with disabilities. He worked with a group of designers who help people with intellectual and physical disabilities, and also people in poor villages to get more incomes via the jobs they can do with making handcrafts.

Five years later, some of his friends still work on their ideas. Some of them own their own shops that sell handcrafts designed by themselves, but manufactured (sewing, painting and braiding by hand) by lower income villagers or physically disabled people. These job opportunities are important for them, since it may be their only chance to have income.

David hopes to partner with adoptive families and other charities to provide these handcrafts as fundraising opportunities. His friends are excited too, and have helped him contact resources, so most of the handcrafts are from his friends or the friends of friends. It is not only a fundraiser for Susy's adoption expenses, but also the opportunity to help handicapped and underprivileged persons in her native land.

This package is composed of two categories of handcrafts which are porcelain pieces and cloth flowers. He selected the most representative handcrafts from China

The porcelain pieces are handmade in the Capital of Porcelain, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. The porcelain pieces are hand painted and then fired in kilns. Following local villagers braid the strings for the necklaces and bracelets. They depend on this income through the braiding jobs to lift their living standards.

Twenty-six minority nationalities originate from Yunnan Province. Yunnan bears the most beautiful handcrafts with their own features. The hair bands with cloth flowers are a special kind of handcraft from Yunnan Province. These flowers are all sewn by minority women from such as Yi, Miao, Dai and Bai nationalities who otherwise may not have income. Some contain embroidery, some bead work, others have little bells, but all are exquisite works of art!

The price of each individual piece is posted on Susy's Facebook fundraising page. (Links are below.  You don't need a Facebook account to view or purchase.)  Comment on the item(s) you want to purchase.  Please add $3 postage (to US only) for the first piece and $1 for each additional piece. Payments should be made via Paypal to Grant4Susy@gmail.com

Handmade Porcelain China Necklaces 

Porcelain Pins and Bracelets 

Handmade Cloth Flower album 

Especially for Children, Necklaces, Bracelets and Pins 

Thank you for taking a peek! 

LID - Log In Date

Our dossier was sent three weeks ago, and it has been a long wait!  But, our dossier has finally been logged in at the appropriate office in China!  In the adoption acronym lingo it is referred to as the LID.  This is where the wait for the official approval of LOA begins.  Lately folks have been waiting six to eight weeks.  Let the counting begin!

Yes! Isaac still plays basketball!

I know that Isaac has a fan club out there who has been wondering if he still plays basketball.  YES!  He still plays with the Cincinnati Dragons as player #5 and is loving it!

 

The Dragons have had more games this season than in the previous one, and have played in tournaments in Indiana and Ohio, and coming up soon in Kentucky.

Isaac LOVES playing ball.  He has made some friends and overcome his shyness a bit with these guys.  We're thankful that he has this opportunity.

Celebrating Easter

Last year we were all in China on Easter, so this year's celebration seemed pretty easy, even IF I was in charge of making dinner, having the candy hunt at my house, etc.  E-A-S-Y!

Hope your day was as enjoyable as ours.  Happy Easter!

Patrick has been home one year!

Can you believe it?  It has been an entire year since Pat joined our family!  In that time he has lost this baby face, shot up several inches and gained at least fifteen pounds!  Yes, he pretty much ATE through the first year.  He has grown in may other ways as well, and I believe is beginning to "get" this thing called family.

Happy Family Day, Pat!  So happy you are a Lanz!