Look What I Won....And, I Use That Term Loosly!

I came across a great website that raises money for the Starfish Kids. I love reading the Starfish Blog and I hope one day to be able to travel and volunteer with the amazing staff and with the even more amazing little kids. In fact, I think most waiting parents hope to adopt a Starfish Baby because of all of the wonderful love and support these little ones receive. Other orphanages are also loving, but this is the only one where I can follow the blog. In the past, I have donated to Breanna's surgery. Breanna is a little heart baby who has really stolen my heart. Her parents are going to be very lucky because she is a cutie patootie!

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So, back to the website....people donate items (usually clothing) and other people (like me) bid on them to raise money. This was my first attempt and I WON!!!! They are advertising this as a consulate outfit, but I am not sure I will use it for that. While I am incredibly patriotic (I think until I moved to Newnan I always had one "Americana" bedroom") and was a huge fan of the Limited clothing line with flags ( I know that I just dated myself), well anyway, while I consider myself patriotic, I am just not sure how I feel about dressing the little ones in US flags while in China or on the way home. I know that tons of people do this and I certainly don't want to offend anyone, but I just feel that for us when we are in China and bringing our little one home that I want to embrace her birth country and heritage. For the rest of her life she will be immersed in ours, so I am not 100% sure about dressing her in flag-wear while there or on the way home. I doubt that the Chinese would look kindly to me wearing a dress with a big Chinese flag on it, but I will figure something out. Of course, you never know and I may change my mind and you will see us wearing the US flag all around town!

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Finally, not that I am counting (whatever!!!)....but, today is the 3 week mark that I was told would have led to a referral. Instead it has led to being placed on hold and ineligible for a referral. To say that I am disappointed would be an understatement. The home study was completed last week on Tuesday, but still has not been submitted due to family issues with my social worker which I completely understand. I just wish now that I had not had that chat with my agency and been told the 3 week mark because its sticking in my head. Although I have been told we will not get a call, I secretly hoped that one would have come yesterday because the 4th marked 10 months since my mom died. I hate thinking of that day as an "anniversary" because my mom was 1000 times more amazing in life than what that day defines, so I am hoping that something more positive steals the 4th's thunder.