Weekend Gems

Me and Mimi:  Sierra Faye its time to go to bed
Sierra: Wait, I need to get my allergies out
M and M:  What?
Sierra:  I need to get my N.G. out!
M and M:  Huh????
Sierra: On the jumpoline!!!  My N.G out!
Me:  Ohhhh, you need to get out your energy on the trampoline!


Sierra:  Mama, put my shoe back on me
Me:  I can't right now, I am driving the car
Sierra:  Oh sorry Mama, I forgot my mind!

I don't think any of these kids have their license yet...




Definitely going to be a punk rocker

Sierra-isms

I am going to try to start blogging again (well again is a bit of an exaggeration).  But I want one place to keep track of all the things Sierra's says and does.  Copying from another blog I am going to call them Sierraisms.  Conversation last night.

Sierra - I want Ariel (the disney mermaid) to come over and play
Me -  Well that is very nice but she is not a real person so she can't come over the house
Sierra - She can't come over cause she's mean?
Me - No, because she is not real.  She is a cartoon.
Sierra - Oh, she spits?  She hits?  So she can't come over?
Me - Um, no.  I am sure she is a very nice person/mermaid but she can't come over and play because she is NOT REAL.
Sierra - But I miss her (huge whine)
Me - I quit

Talking in her crib at bedtime
Sierra - Ok, everybody, EVERYBODY be quiet, I on a phone call.  Because I on a phone call so be quiet.  Ok, now I go to office.

The past few weeks -

Sierra - When I a grown-up I get to floss, use grown-up toothpaste and wear a tank-top, right Mama?!!?

Sierra - Ripley, I looooove your peeps. 

Me - Sierra what decoration do you want on your cake?  An animal, princess, elmo, anything you want.
Sierra - Cheese

I passed court!!!!!

Here is Sierra Faye Desta Sugarman!!!

Mother's Day!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will have a court date and pass before Mother's Day, but it's probably unlikely.  So I've been using my energy for something more useful than freaking out about it every day and have made Mother's Day bracelets.  Each one is different but all of the them have a charm in the middle which is in the shape of a heart with a set of baby's feet.  Here's an example of a pink one and a blue one.
If you are interested let me know if you would like pink or blue or neutral.  These are $22 each and the money goes to the Toukoul Orphanage. 
Also if anyone has any good tips on how to take GOOD pictures of jewelry please let me know!!

Quick Post

I wanted to see if anyone was going to the ACONE adoption conference this Saturday?  It is the first time I am going but the speakers look really good and I'm looking forward to it.
And as I expected, this wait for a court date is awful!!!  There is no communication on when it could be and I just have to sit here in the dark and wait.  My agency is not allowing people to travel in May (and maybe June, not sure) and then the courts close for the rainy season which I think is around August through October.  So I am really anxious to get a court date soon!  Good luck to everyone waiting for a date!

The jewelry pictures are finally up...

For my loyal followers (all two of you) :)  and for future fans (I hope), I am raising money to bring to the orphanage for a donation.  There are some wonderful YouTube videos of it, I'm not sure what the rules are so I am not going to link it, but it is called Toukoul Orphanage in Addis Ababa.  I have watched them over and over.  You then can see all the links to the videos of parents picking up their children, and then I start watching those and can't stop.  My mom is supposed to be practicing her video skills for our trip (so get started mom!).

I am selling several things.  If you are interested in anything either email me at jelysu@gmail.com or make a donation and put in the comments what you would like.  Of course, you can always just make a donation for the fun of it :)

The first is a beautiful but simple elastic bracelet made with wooden beads.  I do not know where the wooden beads were made but I like to think Africa :)  This bracelet is yours for a $10 donation.

I also have charm / button bracelets. Each one is different and decorated with antique buttons, different charms and words. They are done in either silver tones, gold or bronze. Just let me know what material you would like and if you have any special requests for a word you would like on there. This bracelet is yours for a $20 donation.

My new favorite thing to make is these wire birds nests pendants. I am making them with silver plated wire and will be getting in some sterling silver chains to hang them on. I can make them with any color beads. Blue or pink would make a nice mothers day gift, don't you think? These are yours for a $25 donation. Once I get the silver chains it will be an extra $10 for the chain.

I also make a lot of other jewelry which I will post when I am able to get good pictures of them.

Anyway, let me know if you are interested in any pieces or want to see if I can make something. All of the money that goes into this account will travel with my mom and I to Toukoul Orphanage. They will use it to buy medical supplies, clothing, shoes and anything else that they need.

I Got IT!!!!!!

I finally got my referral!!  I got a phone call while I was in a meeting that I should go check my email.  When I opened my email and saw that beautiful face I couldn't stop crying (and calling/emailing everyone I know).  I am not a good writer and there are really no words I can think of describe what it is like to finally get the photo and information.  It's real now.  There is a 9 month old baby girl just waiting for me to come get her.  It's now just a matter of time to start painting the room, decorating and packing to go to Ethiopia!  Of course, it's that matter of time that is going to be so excruciating.  I have to wait for my court date first.  That can be anywhere from 2 to 4 months or longer from now.  And I have no idea when I will get that date.  And as of now it is looking like I will have to travel out to Ethiopia for that date.  This is a change from the original guidelines, I think it is a good one, but its now something else to think about without being able to do a lot of planning ahead of time.  Once I pass court I am the official parent of this little girl and will be able to post her beautiful picture!  There is then at least 2 more months before I can go out there to bring her home.  I am a project manager.  I plan things.  With timelines and milestones and set dates.  This unknown timeline is driving me crazy!!  I just want to hold her little hands and touch her sweet cheeks and be her mom.  Now!

The Facts

There are 5 million orphans living in Ethiopia.  Ethiopia is less than twice the size of Texas.

Ethiopia is one of the poorest nations in the world.

Most families live on less than $2/day, which is less than $800/year. To put it into perspective, in the US, our poverty threshold for a family of 4 is approximately $22,000.

Children do not have access to safe and clean drinking water and are more likely to succumb to vaccine preventable diseases. One in 13 children dies before his or her 1st birthday, and does not have access to basic healthcare.

More than 30% of children under 5 years of age are malnourished.

First Post

Ok, this is not a real post, but just a post to say that someday soon there will be a real post.  I'm still trying to figure out the whole set up and pictures and how to get everything on here that I want.  I am hoping that blogging will help with the wait.  But while I get my act together, if anyone wants to donate please find the button down below on the right hand side :)  I will be bringing all money made through this blog to Toukoul orphanage when I finally get to go there.  I am also collecting clothing but I have heard that they do not have much storage room so money is better and they can use it to buy what they currently need.  I will soon be selling some of my jewelry to help raise money once I can figure out how to take good pictures of them!