New Year, New Life, New directions....

What a crazy week or two! I really should start all posts out with that sentence come to think of it....maybe I do. But with the week of Christmas and New Years, and Marina's birthday on the 29th, life is nothing short of a permanent party! Tully's mom Sue and his brother Alex came to celebrate the week between Christmas and New years and we had a great time! Uncle Alex is a VERY good uncle and was amazing with the kids. Marina fell for him right away! And of course Gramma Sue has the patience and love that only a gramma can have, building snow forts and then taking the brunt of the snow balls all in good fun:) And yes, it snowed in the south on Christmas day:) Marina loves presents, and by now I am sure she just thinks she gets them every week since she got them when she arrived, she got them from us at the orphanage, she got them for Christmas and she got them for her birthday. We have probably ruined her expectations by now. But then I think about how it turns out she loves snow more than presents. She was so funny when she looked out the window, covering her mouth in sheer disbelief and squealing like I have not heard from her until that point!
This next year is already upon us and lots of changes to our regular routines. You all can stop laughing now, I KNOW we are anything but regular routine kind of people:) Tully goes back to work as a retail merchandiser on wednesday, Marina starts school on Tuesday and by Sunday I go to Philadelphia to train for USAir here in Greenville Spartanburg. I will be gone for 5 days so if you are the praying sort, please put Tully at the top of the list. Marina and Evan both are complete mama's kids:) Of course I worry that Marina will think I left her but we will talk and try to set up the computer to see each other while I am gone. I am also applying for a job with Family Connections here in Spartanburg to work with families whose new or 3 and under kiddos are diagnosed with Down syndrome to make sure they realize resources and support are there for them. Both jobs are part time so it should be no conflict. I have worked for them before so I have a high hope for being hired.

Listed near the top of the photos is little Kathleen--I am committing to helping find a family for Kathleen who is in Ukraine. She is so cute! And her destiny is currently aimed at a very disheartening direction, where transfer will be extremely detrimental to her life. No child should have that facing them for any reason. I know what a difference a family can make, and I know what a difference a child like this can make in a family--it is nothing short of awesome. I will be hosting several fundraisers as the year and opportunity arises so please at least post them on facebook for me when I do. Donation fueled give aways:) Yahoo!
We are humbled by the note that Vivabeads is honoring our family and Caylyn by designing a line designed to raise funds and awareness of both the Leukemia Foundation and international adoption by donating a portion of proceeds to both of these causes when someone purchases a Remember Me item. I will be selling these bracelets once again to raise funds for Kathleen once I am able to order some from the spring catalog. What an amazing gift from the owners of Vivabeads to make this available. I have to tell you that the bracelets are so beautiful! It is a sweet way to remember Caylyn and the fight she encountered as well, and will serve to remind so many that Hope is real, even in the face of disaster. I love the name of the line and it strikes a tender place in my heart. If you have a personal relationship with a gift store, encourage them to sell Vivabeads. These are amazing bracelets and are very affordable. Full circle for a great cause!

Wishing everyone a truly amazing new year. I encourage you to find a cause and help in any way you can. Every small assistance parlays into moving mountains. And I will boldly say that the cause you choose is important. While I think trees and basset hounds are important, of course I am going to encourage you to consider something that changes the life of a person. A small person, who has no voice for themselves and no control over the conditions into which they were born. Life is amazing but we have to help each other a lot of the times in order to achieve this. Yeah, we have to help every single day. Radical living for a radical life. I know the word radical has been over-bantered lately because it is on the NYTimes best seller list. But if you have not read the book, it strips away the fog and gives energy to showing love in powerful ways. And I can't tell you enough how amazing the outcome can be. Happy new year!