Saturday, November 8, 2008

Calling All Movies...

Ladies,

I need your help and I think this may be an easy one! Please check out www.piperspromise.blogspot.com for information on how your old movies can make the kids in China smile!

Thanks,

Ashley

Thursday, November 6, 2008

My Secret Pal

Today at work...completely and totally out of the blue....I received a package. The moment I saw the address, I had a feeling that I knew who it was from. Finally, after so so so long and so much time wondering, I got to find out who my Secret Pal is. I am going to post pictures tomorrow, but I wanted to take a moment to tell my Secret Pal just how much I appreciate her.
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Dear Friend,
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Not only did you ridiculously shower us with gifts this year, but you offered such support and friendship to me during this wait. I always had a feeling that you were reading the blog because you always slipped a little something special in there for my Minnie Man and it was always something he would adore. The goodies you sent were so perfect...too perfect!
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More than anything, your cards and notes have meant so much to me. I am so excited now to get to know you better and I am so excited to watch your family grow. Your kindness inspires me.
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Tomorrow, I am going to tell bloggie-land who you are and post some photos of the latest goodies you sent. For now, I am just keeping you to myself :)
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Thank you!

Handsome Jacob Jai


Isn't Jacob Jai so handsome? He is our sponsor child and I am totally smitten. I wanted to sponsor Jacob Jai because he is the "boyfriend" that appeared in the one photo with Sissy some time ago. When I saw that he needed sponsorship, I was eager to help. I have asked some volunteers that we know that are at PH to find out if he has a family. I so hope he does. If not, I am planning my best course of action to work on hubs the moment we return.

Mellow Mushie








You know that you eat too much pizza at Mellow Mushroom when your child asks for a photo shoot with "Mellow Mushie." I actually do not know what this little fungus' name is, but to us he is Mellow Mushie.
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About 2 weeks ago, I had the unfortunate experience of trying one of their calzones. I say unfortunate because now that is all I can think of. I swear that their dough tastes like beer, which is odd because I have never had a whole beer in my life --- just never liked the taste. I also have a strange love affair with bread. Mix that with the yummy insides and I am in heaven.
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My Minnie Man loves to be photographed. He is so cute!


My Girl Called!

Finally, after so much technical difficulty on my end, we were able to talk with Baby Sissy tonight. She was eating her Smarties and looked so cute. She does not really interact much with us, but she seems to be starting to recognize me a little more.
Here is the latest picture with her best buddies.


Notice how she is hanging on? This makes me think that my hopes of having someone to ride roller coasters with may not happen.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Not So Fun Fact # 5

From a scientific research perspective, pancreatic cancer is where breast cancer was in the 1930s. Advancing pancreatic cancer research into the 21st century is dependent upon the increase of basic scientific research.
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Excuse my language...or my typing, but this is #$%*! The medical community needs to get their act together. I thought doctors liked to be challenged. So what if no one has found anything yet that works longterm. Please don't just give up and sit on the sidelines. Face it as a personal challenge and do not give up! Demand funding, demand research, get it done!
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I know that I can be negative, but I also know this will change. It is within human power to figure this out...I just know it. I am not being greedy. I am willing to settle for baby steps. I will wait a few years before I demand a cure :) Just come up with some stellar treatment options first.

Welcome Home Kate Horner


Kate lived with Baby Sissy at Philip Hayden. She was known as Shia at PHF and is a cutie patootie. I have so enjoyed reading Kate's journey to her new family and I cannot wait to read more as time goes on.


Philip Hayden Foundation Day

A month or so ago I started a yahoo group for parents and volunteers of Philip Hayden Foundation. It has been a great gathering spot for information, friendship and inspiration. For me, the volunteers inspire me daily. One of our volunteers, Steve, is at PH now. Here is his post from the day. He is a hoot!
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Honestly I don't know what day it is here because I think it's Thursday but the news of the web is Wednesday and sleeping it feels like Tuesday. Anyway, the day is not important. Here's what I learned yesterday:
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1. When walking through the village in the morning, always put the woman on your left because when you pass of sewage, that's sewage and not garbage, her shoes will the soggy mud and yours will stay nice and dry.
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2. Don't sit in the front during VBS because that's where all the cute little girls sit and you'll have trouble focusing because of instant allergic reactions that cause watery eyes.
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3. When the older boys are at recess and want to do wheelbarrow races, choose Grady because he's the fastest, and if you choose Gregg, you can't hold him by the ankles because he'll yell midway through the race, "Hey, my leg fell off!"
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4. Blue paint is really hard to get off your body.
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5. When doing laundry and all the buttons are in Chinese, just pushing random buttons will sometimes work. Sometimes.
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6. Be prepared for the fellowship night because the workers here need a lot of minis.too.
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7. The Louie Giglio, "How Great" video is just as powerful in China as it is in the US
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8. Not everyone thinks Nacho Libre is a funny movie.
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9. Bringing pictures of your kids is a great vehicle to get conversation with the nannies started.
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10. When you speak alittle Chinese, native speakers will think you know a lot and will just keep talking to you. And talking.
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11. Saying "Bu zhi dao" -Ithought was translated "I don't know" but apparently means "Can you just keep talking faster to me and looking at your friends and laugh and point wildly"
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12. Shelby really loves my daughter Grace
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13. Don't try to carry furniture when you think a broken bone is nearly healed.
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14. 1 Thess 1:3 is a really good verse
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15. The Bakers andMoodys are amazing.
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16. PHF still needs $300,000 by Nov. 15th
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17. My love for my family grows faster when I'm away from them than when Isee them everyday.
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18. Huddling in a fetal position and weeping is....Just kidding.
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19. Having people lift you up daily from the states is essential. (would you do that before you close this letter? Specifically for Tim and Pam, for the financial needs, for our team that they would understand why their hearts are being ripped out of their chests.)
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May He be with you today, Steve
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The Philip Hayden Foundation needs our help. If you are so inclined, please consider a tax deductible contribution to help them by November 15th. You can visit the Foundation at www.chinaorphans.org

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Thank You Heather!

Remember my wonderful friend who told me she hated my purse, but in turn found my passport? Well, this is her and she is fabulous!





Heather and I met our first year in college at College of Charleston and have been great friends ever since. She is an unbelievable friend and she even agreed to come work for me. She is brave! Wanna know what makes her even more amazing?

She just donated $100 directly to Eagles Wings for the Christmas celebration!!! Whooo hoooo. I am so excited as this puts us almost to 48% with another direct donation from one of my friends. (The Chip-in total will not show this since they were direct contributions, but they are for the Christmas fund and I am so incredibly humbled.)

Oh, and the picture was taken at the Breast Cancer 3-day that Heather and I did together. Notice how it is not centered on the page? Yup, I cut myself out. I think it is a great photo of Heather, but I look like I should be committed. For those of you that have not done the 3-Day, it is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Showering in a semi-truck, walking 26 miles a day, pitching my own tent, waiting in an hour line to brush my teeth...rough!


Ok, she wanted me to be in the picture so here it is.....




Not sure what happened to my right hand, but obviously it fell off somewhere on the walk.


P.S. Read Lisa's comment. It is really funny and she is now the third person to comment on me not posting photos. I guess I need someone to take some pictures of me to add. Lisa is The Little Mrs.'s mommy and was also our first generous donator to the Eagles Wing fund. Perhaps I can have a photo shoot at work tomorrow....Heather, feel up to it?



Not So Fun Fact #4


Pancreatic cancer research constitutes less than 2% of the National Cancer Institute’s federal research funding—a figure far too low given the severity of the disease.
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I think this is the one that bothers me the most, which is why I posted this one today. Today marks 13 months since pancreatic cancer took my mom from our family.
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All cancers suck.
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My dad died of cancer of the parodied gland when I was 9.
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My grandmother died of breast cancer when I was in high school.
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My mom's two sisters are breast cancer survivors.
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I have seen what cancer can do. Pancreatic cancer is the worst I have seen so far. It is a silent killer that often moves rapidly without detection. The fact that this cancer, that is the 4th largest cancer killer only gets 2% funding is absurd and it is unacceptable to me. For now, maybe all I can do is complain about it and get the word out. One day, maybe I can do more. Until then, you are all stuck listening to me.
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Thanks for listening!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Piper's Promise

We have been doing some work on Piper's Promise. Please stop by and visit.

Not So Fun Fact # 3


Men are 20% more likely to get pancreatic cancer than women and the majority of cases occur in people over the age of 65. The incidence rate among African-Americans is 40 to 50% higher than other ethnic groups.
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Please do not let this statistic fool you. Our of all of my pancreatic cancer affected friends that I have met, all but 2 were women and many were under 65. I am not certain as to the age of one man, but one of my close PC Friends lost her dear son 2 months to the day after my mom died at the age of 38. They were all Caucasian.
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Visit www.pancan.org for more information on pancreatic cancer.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Not So Fun Fact #2

In 2008, an estimated 37,680 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 34,290 will die from the disease.
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As you can see, surviving more than 12 months after diagnosis is a rare gift. Fortunately, I have two friends that have moms who have beaten this statistic and are still here smiling and enjoying life.
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Every moment counts. Don't wait until tomorrow to live the life you want. Start working on it now!
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Visit www.pancan.org for more information on pancreatic cancer.

Pick Me Up

Late Saturday night posts can get kind of heavy. So, I must end on a cute photo.
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Below is Piper and her friend, Rivers. This photo was taken at Eagles Wings not too long ago.
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Piper is not looking at the camera, but it is still a cute shot. Know what else is cute....take a look at Rivers' cheeks. Gosh, I could reach into that pictures and squish them.
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Rivers' mommy and daddy live a few states away. I cannot wait to meet them in person.


A Special Shout Out - Thanks Gals!

My great friends, Amy and Joy, have both linked the fundraiser on their blogs. Thank you so much ladies! The ability to raise funds for a Christmas celebration for the kids at Eagles Wings is truly humbling.

Please go visit Amy and Joy's blogs to get to know them. They are both special friends.