谢谢 Xie xie, Thank you

How many ways are there to say thank you? I have know idea. I have just spent 20 minutes searching the Internet with that question and it keeps coming back with "Thank you"  I suppose until someone comes up with another way then I will just have to leave it at that.

So, I guess you are wondering what I am so thankful for. The question should be where do I begin? The beginning seems to work. 

This is the Nichols family. They bought some hats from our fundraiser for Blossom back in February 2012. This is a picture of their family wearing their Bring Blossom Home Hats.

On May 14, I received an E-mail from this family telling me that the Orphan Care Ministry at their church would like to have a car wash fundraiser and donate all of the proceeds to help Bring Blossom home. I was amazed at this offering to help Blossom. This family had never met me, and not only did they buy some hats, their church wanted to help. I was so amazed at this. I replied and said yes, thank you, I would feel so blessed by this. Time went on and the car wash was set for July 14, in Concord CA. I decided to ask if I could travel to Concord with my kids and meet the people who were doing this for us and Blossom. I was so happy to hear YES! 

Yesterday my children, nephew, niece and I, all piled into a van and headed to the Bay area. We arrived at Mountain Mikes Pizza excited, nervous and ready to go. We were greeted with about 30- 40 people who were so excited to have us come.  This was the most intense car wash I had ever seen. When we arrived there were already 4 cars being washed simultaneously and another being pulled in. People were every where. I began meeting people I have only E-mailed with and also meeting new friends. The energy that was buzzing around this event was so intense. People were talking with me and it seemed as though we were old friends who have not seen each other in years. I am usually one who is not real comfortable just striking up a conversation with people I don't know, but this was different. All of these wonderful people were here working to help bring my Blossom home. WOW!!!! 

I can not describe the feeling of comfort, love, compassion, friendship, and unity I was feeling at this time. Yes, I kept getting choked up each time I spoke to people and told them how happy I was for what they were doing. I couldn't help it. The Holy Spirit was alive and having His way with this car wash. It seemed that as soon as one car pulled out another took it's place. The children here were absolutely amazing. When a car pulled in they would run over to in and begin washing it down with soap, when that was done some one else would hose it off and then people began drying the car and then off the car would go.  I have seen so many car washes in my time and they will have at best two maybe three cars in at a time. Truthfully they a great deal of the time stand empty waiting for someone to come in. Not here, it stayed busy the entire time I was here. Here are random pictures of the car wash event.

Matthew and Lilly Rose (niece)

Nathan

Erica and Jessica

Me

Nathan Nicolas (nephew) Lilly Erica

The gang who brought them coming!

So cute!

We had a blast. After the car wash we headed over to the Nichols families home and rested for a little while. The kids were able to jump in their pool and cool off after all of their hard work.

Then we headed out to a local park with several other families that have adopted children from Harmony House. One family came from Fresno that also has a daughter they adopted from Harmony House.We had the most wonderful food. I still want the recipe for those BBQ baked beans! The children who had worked so hard at the car wash began running around the park climbing everywhere playing with each other. Where does that energy come from? And where can I get a supply? I again began chatting with everyone hearing their stories and telling mine. Time just seemed to fly by.

New friends

These 2 hit it off from the get go!

Everyone gathered to hear the final total that was raised at the car wash. So again the Lord amazes me with His goodness. This whole event would have been worth it to have just met these new friends who care about Blossom. I would have considered it a huge success and amazing blessing if we would have raised 300 or 400 hundred dollars. These two things alone would have made my day for the longest, but you all know the Lord by now, He likes to pour out his blessings upon those who delight in doing His will. So here we go, check this out!!!!  #1. An anonymous donor tells Christine "if you can raise $1,000.00 from the car wash I will match it." WHAT!!!!! $1,000.00? No one brings in $1,000.00 doing a 4 hour car wash.  Then another anonymous donor tells Christine "If you bring in $1,500 dollars I will give you $500.00 on top of that." WAIT, WAIT, WAIT A minute is this for real? Bring in $1,500.00 dollars doing a car wash? Impossible! Welllll.........maybe not. When the car wash was over we had raised $1,168.68! I still get choked up every time I think of it. So the first goal of $1,000.00 had been met. A 4 hour car wash and some really fantastic people came together and raised $2,168.68. Are you sad that we did not meet the $1,500.00 mark? Well, do not shed a tear. Christine had told me that all of the baked goods that they were not able to give away during the car wash would be sold after church today and the money would be added to the total. OK, so we have a car wash that was able to raise $1,168.00 before a matching gift was added but a bake sale that needed to raise $331.32. That's a lot of cookies my friend. Well take a look at the E-mail I received tonight. And know that our Lord is just sitting there giggling at how excited we all are. I can imagine him right now. Without further ado here is the grand total......... E-Mail please!

Dear Pam,

Totals just in...

Car Wash                            $1,168.68
Late Car Wash    Donation    :-)            $125
Bake Sale at Church                $1,205.55
Matching funds                    $1,500

Grand Total        $3,999.23

Praise God for such an out pouring of love for Blossom and your family!

Thank you for coming out to the Car Wash...what a blessed day!

With love to you and your family,
~Christine & family

Getting this E-Mail

 

So if anyone has a new way of saying Thank You please let me know because it just does not seem like enough! Seens how that is what I am limited to at the moment THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!! Our God Reigns! 

P.S. Just a reminder to the Folks that brought this whole thing together, I said it in Concord and I am saying it again we will be back and next time Blossom will be with us!

Ewe!!!!! is it the flu in the summer?

Without taking pictures of my children who have sworn me to privacy in this area today. This is our family timeline of events for the day.

12:10 a.m. I am baking bread for the yard sale that took place today and kids are watching a late night movie. First kiddo  is offered a sample of the last batch bread. " No thank you my stomach is weird"
I should have been like........

But noooooo,  I say "bummer. "

1:00 a.m. movie is over and first kiddo says " I don't feel good." I say "I'm sorry, it's been a long day and it's late go to bed your probably just tired." "goodnight."

1:20 a.m. I hear first kiddo rummaging through the large bowels in the kitchen. I say "honey are you OK? " The light clicks on in my head, Ut Oh we may be having a problem here. First kiddo says " I think I gonna get sick." I stop what I am doing and put the first kiddo back to bed.

2:10 a.m. I hear that familiar sound that all parents hate to hear.  Oh no... it is happening. So I get the first kiddo all cleaned up and tucked in bed. Pray over them and decide to hit the sack.

4:45 a.m. My door opens " mom, I have been getting sick every thirty minutes and other things, I can not stop." " I hurt." I get up and comfort them, cause no matter their age or that they might be taller then you, the minute they are sick they become your little toddler all over again.  They want their mama. They want to be in your bed, they want you to rub their back, they want you to hold them and take care of the things you really don't want to take care of. But as a mama you just do that for them cause they are yours and you love them.

5:30 a.m. I decide they need some medical help to get this turned around. So off to the ER we go.

6:00 a.m. We are in a room telling the Dr. "No, no one else in the house has been sick." Some labs are drawn and an IV is hooked up which they affectionately named Mr. Drippy.

7:00 a.m. I am texting my sister in law who was at this point setting up the yard sale. I fill her in on what is going on. This is what I receive back in the text from her. Her kiddo that spent the night with us last night is now vomiting and other things. And my kiddo number two is not feeling so great.  Uggggg! So I tell the nurse "uuuhhh guess what?" "I just heard that two other kids who have been spending a great deal of time all together the past week just woke up and are showing the same problem."

1045 a.m. We are released from the ER with the diagnose STOMACH FLU. Yeah, I kinda figured that one out by now. But it is all good kiddo number one has it really bad. They continued on throughout the day to be sick. So that IV Mr Drippy was needed.

As far as the other two kids effected by this. My sister in laws kiddo spent the day quiet and taking it easy no further sickness throughout the day. My kiddo number two never did get sick they just felt like they were going to. They did however spike a fever of 101.3 and have a bad headache. So, do you suppose that when someone places these particular items on the conveyor belt at the grocery store the clerk is thinking hummm?................ I know what's going on in her house.

       And then reaches for the hand sanitizer when you walk away from their line? Just saying.

So, I am here to say just because it is July and 100 plus degree outside these little guys still exist.

So please remind your little kiddos to do a lot of this................................

Then they will feel like this.........................................

And this..............................................................

So, there is the latest update on what we have been up to. And I did it without letting the cat out of the bag on who was sick. Both kiddos are tucked in bed and resting peacefully ( kiddo number one is in mine).  Love you guys, and I hope you feel better soon. Praying the rest of us do not get it.

It's Here !!

I received my ASC Appointment Notice in the mail today!!!!  Our appointment to have our biometrics (fingerprints) taken for immigration came today saying our appointment isn't set until July 17th. Boo Hoo, that is 24 days from now. I will be doing a walk-in on July 5th, to see if we can speed this up a little. I have been in constant prayer that the Lord will get me to China before Blossoms 7th birthday. If I shave off even one day to help speed this up I am going for it. I would go sooner but my son Matthew just boarded a cruise ship bound for Alaska today with his Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt and Uncle and will not return until July 3rd. I have heard through the yahoo groups that some people have been successful and others not so successful. I will pray that we will be one of the lucky ones.

So while I wait I will leave you with a few more pictures of Blossom.

I would also like to take this time to introduce my sister in law Diane and her husband Keith and children still living in the home Aaron, Nicolas, and Lilly. Diane will be traveling very very soon to China to bring home Bobby and Kylie. I am so excited for them and every time I think about it I wiggle and giggle inside. You can visit their Blog up top called Holsworth Haven. Click on the tab and you will go to her Blog. Here are a couple of pictures of their family and their little ones waiting for them in China.

Kylie 

Kylie 5th birthday 12/2011 last one without her forever family!

Robert (Bobby) 8 years old now. Named after my husband Bob. Diane's brother.

So it has been a great start to the weekend. Tomorrow I will sew all day. Every last one of my children will be out of the house for the entire day and I will have the place to myself! Ahh!

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers day Bob. I want to honor my late husband Bob on this very special day set aside to tell dads just how special they are. Who would have guessed that these two at the young age of 17 and both  still in high school would get one day get married and have four beautiful children? I mean really??? look at us.  We barley look old enough to check out a library book on our own.

Bob and I did get married at the age of 20 and enjoyed 14 years of marriage before the Lord called him home. Together we adopted our oldest son and had three more children together. Bob was an awesome husband and father to our children. Bob was a romantic kind of guy. An example of one of the many ways he showed me he cared was when he came home to visit during one of his internships. I knew he was coming home that day but was not sure when. The doorbell rang and when I answered it there was no one there. I looked down and on the step was a small pile of Heresy Kisses and a trail that lead away from it. I smiled and followed it around the corner and at the end was Bob with a bouquet of carnations for me. Bob did these acts of romance frequently throughout our marriage. Bob went to College later in life after we had all of our children.  Bob spent many nights studying in our room or at the library to become a Physical Therapist. On weekends instead of saying I need to have me time I have spent time all week studying he would take the time and spend it with the kids. He knew that me having the four children all day and into the evening can at times become exhausting. More times then I can count he would give me Saturday to go and shop or what ever I wanted to do. He in turn would take the children and take them on bike rides, play basketball with them or go down to the river in Sacramento. He would do a mad sweep through the house tackling any left over dishes, laundry, what ever needed tiding up and although (sorry) he was not what you would call a cook per say he would make us dinner to enjoy.

Bob had a heart for Jesus. He loved to spend time learning about what the Lord wanted for his life. I can remember him spending countless hours talking to my brother Gary or my friend Keri's husband Russell about what does this mean or what does that mean. I know Bob walks with Jesus in Heaven today this I am sure.

This is a glass picture I gave Bob one Fathers Day. I do not remember the year I gave it to him and I never knew how much the statement would be true so early in our life. It is a little fuzzy but this is what it says. If I could sit across the porch from God, I would thank Him for lending you to me. I do sit with Jesus and I have and still thank him for Bob. 

You know, one of the greatest complements my son Nathan has ever said about Bob and I relationships was this small conversation he had with a classmate one day at school. Nathan was talking with a fellow classmate whose parents were unfortunately in the middle of a separation. The classmate said to Nathan, "Nathan what did you do when your mom and dad would fight?" " I just can not stand it anymore." Nathan responded to the classmate with this. "I don't know my parent s never really fought." WOW !! 

Any way we are talking about Fathers Day. So here are some things that Bob did as a father that drove me insane at the time but I look back at them now and laugh and they are now great  memories. 1. He took the older two children out of school every now and again to just go watch a movie one on one. 2. He allowed the children to have ice cream right before dinner. Not often but it did occur once in a while. 3. He left Lego's laying around after building Lego monuments and I would step on them Ouch! 4. I am not sure how he did this maybe it's genetics or something but Bob never used a glass to drink water, he always just drank out of the faucet. Guess what? My youngest son Matthew does the exact same thing AUGGGGG!!

Yes, Bob was a fantastic husband and father. This day is one of those days that bring joy and sting to our hearts around the Bean home.  Below is the last Family portrait taken of us all together. It was taken  two years before his death. We miss you Bob and will always love you. You were a committed, loving and funny husband and father to our children.

Ladybug Blanket Drawing

I want to thank everyone who donated to the Ladybug blanket drawing. It brought in $150.00! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! The lucky winner is................................................................................

Here is the official ticket. Congratulations Kim. I will be sending the blanket in the mail tomorrow. Be on the lookout. Thanks again everyone.

Ladybug blanket

My sister in law Michelle crochet this beautiful ladybug blanket to help raise funds for Blossom.  I asked friends and family to donate for a chance to receive this beautiful blanket. I have decided to extend this offer out to my blog. Michelle spent over 50 hours making this blanket. Each ladybug was individually made and then crochet into the blanket. The blanket measures 39 inches x 39 inches. For a $5.00 donation you will have a chance to receive this beautiful blanket. This blanket can be given to a new mom as a shower gift or a new addition to the family through adoption.  What a wonderful story behind why it was made. I know this is short notice but the drawing will be held next Sunday the 17th at 6:00 p.m. PDT. Asking for prayer that there would be many participants.

Please use the chip in button on the right side for your donation. A donation of $5.00 will get one ticket and each additional ticket will be $3.00. There will be no charge for S&H. Please include name, address, and phone number  so I can get this out to you. Also if you can E-mail me and let me know you have purchased a ticket I will be able to get your name on the back of ticket. Sometimes Pay Pal is a few days behind and I want to make sure everyone who donates receives a chance. My E-mail is                

pamelabean@rocketmail.com

Thank you for your donation and your prayers for this short notice event. 

So excited to do this drawing!

I 800 dollars and more from your checking account paperwork has been sent FedEx!

I am soooooooo happy. After waiting for what seemed like eternity (hee hee I have know understanding of what eternity is like) I received 5 notarized copies of my home study in the mail yesterday. Last night I finished off the last signature on the I800A form and obsessively doubled check it for completeness. Today after work I headed out to the Postal Annex with everything in hand and sent it on it's way. I suppose at this moment it is at the Fresno Air Terminal waiting to board a FedEx plane to Alabama.
Wait a minute....................  I forgot I can track this little package, wait.....................................
O.K. I am  back. Here is what I found out, as of 6:20 p.m. my package is in Oakland CA. It is on the move and scheduled to be in Lifelines office at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.

James 1:12

New International Version (NIV)

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.