I moved!

My new blog is HERE.

http://catchingbutterflies-3.blogspot.com/



I hope you will move with me. Remember...if nothing changed there would be no butterflies!

I might need to move my blog

Blogger is going to start charging for photo storage (20 to 500 dollars per year). I guess you can store up to 10GB for free, but after that they charge you. I hear that some airlines want to charge for the toilets too!!! I like to put lots of photos on my blogs. I'm also cheep! I think for me the answer is to create a new blog with a new e-mail address. If it works I will be moving my blog soon. I am letting you know now. I hope you will keep following me!

A crisis of need

By 2010, the total orphan population in 34 African, Asian, and Latin American countries with severe HIV/AIDS epidemics is projected to reach 44 million—with two-thirds orphaned as a result of parental deaths caused by AIDS. This will create a child-care crisis never before seen in any war, famine, or other tragedy. Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, and South Africa are expected to have the highest proportion of children orphaned—about one-third or more—while Ethiopia and Nigeria have the largest number of orphans under age 15. There are now over 5 million children in Ethiopia that have been orphaned because of AIDS, poverty, or other sicknesses like TB and Malaria. They need your good thoughts and prayers...but more then that they need a family. We do not live in normal times. We live in an hour of great need. Our response needs to be great for the need is so great.


A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27

I heart photo week 12 Pouting

KIDS ENTRY: this photo was taken in Thailand. This is my autistic daughter Jessica riding in a tuk tuk taxi. This was taken on her 15th birthday. I have some great photos from that day! Jessica can pout with her whole body but she can also smile good too. She can not talk but her laugh is the sweetest sound I know!

She has stolen my heart!

I won!!! I won!!!

My photo of Nicole actually made it on the list of ten best photos of this week on the I heart photo blog! It was number 10. OK, I did not win, but I'm so excited to be picked to be on the top ten. I'm no professional...I just point and shoot. I'm totally excited to make the list! HERE is the list of winners. I'm number 10!!!

why God?

Sometimes I'd like to ask God why he allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid God might ask me the question. ~Anonymous

My favorite black & white photo

A beautiful adoption video

Watch CBS Videos Online

When Love Is Not Enough: A Guide to Parenting with Reactive Attachment Disorder-RAD

I just read on a yahoo group about a camp for adopted kids and families that need some help in the area of attachment. They still have openings for 7 families in Florida at the end of March. They hold camps all over the country and I've read they are good. They even have one in Oregon in Oct. I would love to go to that. Anyway, I bought a book called When Love Is Not Enough: A Guide to Parenting with Reactive Attachment Disorder-RAD. I probably can not make it to a camp, but I can always read. I still do not feel as bonded to Thomas (adopted at age 7) as I would like. It is getting better slowly. I'm taking him to Paris with me in May. I hope that trip helps us grow closer. Attachment is a process. Some kids need more time then others. It isn't always easy to trust someone, especially when you had to fight alone for years. I have read these camps are very helpful, and I hope some of you can go.

Love Without Boundaries Needs a Courier(s) to Beijing

We are looking for someone who might be able to pack along 6 cans of
powdered Goat's Milk, weighing approximately 1 pound each. They are for a
little boy in our Foster Care program, who is unable to drink regular milk
products due to thalessemia. The cans could be left at the front desk of your
hotel for our nutrition director in Beijing to
pick up.

We also need a courier to bring beneprotein cans.

It does take a few days to order the powder and beneprotein and I would have
the shipment sent directly to your home. Please email me off-list at jjbmag
@optonline.net (remove spaces). Thank you so much!

Margaret Guthrie Boudreau
Cleft Bottle and Formula Coordinator
Love Without Boundaries Foundation
http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/contact_us.cfm

Because Children still die from HIV

World AIDS Orphan Day is May 7th. The AHOPE Store has developed a t-shirt to commemorate this day and the community of supporters that are growing year after year. Please join us in raising awareness. It’s simple. Order our newest t-shirt from the AHOPE Store for a $10 donation.



just click on the A hope sign for more information or go to http://www.ahopestore.org/

I heart faces week 11 no flash

ADULTS ENTRY:

This first photo is of Nicole on the coast of Holland. We were going to take a walk on the beach just after the rain.







KIDS ENTRY: I took this Photo of Thomas in the swimming pool in Thailand. The light was perfect and so was his smile!

She needs a family

This little girl can be found on Rainbow Kids. She had a left face hemangioma (post-surgery). Hemagioma is a tumor that is there at birth. A good plastic surgeon and a good family would transform her world. She is living with a foster family and is said to be a very thoughtful and helpful child. She is healthy and would be gorgeous with a little cosmetic surgery. What a blessing you could be if you could adopt her!!! Her life might be very hard in China. The post below is about the miracle of surgery!

According to her growth report on March 6th, 2009, “She is in kindergarten now and become more active and outgoing. She, like all girls of her age, loves all kinds of doll and enjoy playing games with her younger brother of her foster family. She is a well-behaved girl and loves to help her foster mother to do household stuff. Also she knows to share her favorite dish to younger brother and her family members. She is a just a lovely girl.”

This is a great story

This is a story about the hundreds of children from across the southeast travel to Georgia for surgery. Noah Nails was one of the first cases of the day. Noah was adopted from China. He was a LWB baby. HERE is the link. It is amazing what our kids can receive in the way of medical services other children can not even dream of. Noah’s whole life has been saved by adoption.

waiting 11 year old girl

I read this on Rainbow Kids. There was no picture but she sounds like a very special girl. She is listed with Children's Home Society. She is healthy just older. Cutie Patootie is the words used to describe Sarah on her referral. I would take her...but you know I would take them all!

This cutie-patootie is a healthy 11-year-old looking for a family. She is doing well in school and is the "study representative" for her grade. She gets along well with her classmates. She likes to draw and dance and in her free time she likes to read. The staff describe her as having "her own thoughts and is good at thinking." She is curious, polite and best of all kind-hearted. She is tall for her age. She entered the orphanage at seven. There is more information available.

22 million Children in China spend their whole childhood alone.

a great loss to the children

Mrs. Haregewoin Teferra has died. She was the subject of the book "There is no me with out you". She took hundreds of AIDS orphans into her home. She died suddenly in her home. This women will receive many crowns for the love she has given to so many kids who had no hope. She said that what she was doing was not normal...but we do not live in a normal time. Ethiopia has been hit by a wave of need. She is responding the only way anyone should respond when hit by a disaster.

The sad reality is too few people recognize the over whelming need orphans have today. We need more and more people responding to the need.

You can read more about her HERE.

Waiting boy

This little boy is not even 1 years old. He waits in China with a heart issue that can be corrected by American doctors. I saw him on Rainbow kids. Rainbow kids has over 500 waiting children. If you ever wondered if you could adopt...like is there really a need, just look at rainbow kids. You will see that children do wait. They wait for families willing to do more then just think about adoption. I found Philip on Rainbow Kids. I saw his face and I could hardly believe a boy as good looking as Philip could be my son. Boys wait longer then girls. In fact 80% of all people who adopt will adopt a girl. Believe me, I love my sweet and sour Chinese girl, but boys need families too. AAI has two of the most beautiful boys waiting. They are healthy boys...just boys. Maybe your Chinese daughter does not need a sister...maybe she needs a baby brother? Think about it.



This is a video of Thomas' first two years home. He was adopted when he was 7 years old. There are many photos of Philip too. My boys were both adopted from Thailand. China also has beautiful boys. The cute little boy in the above photo is on the shared list. He is a prince...a 100% healthy and smart prince. If only I had a PA from my husband!!! What a blessing he will bring to any family! If you are paper ready you could be the parents of this adorable 5 year old.

GWC HOPE TRIP

Click on the picture to see it larger

You can help send an orphan to camp and change their life. GW is holding a camp for kids ages 8-13. Not only will the kids have great fun, it will be a chance for potential families to learn more about these kids. Could you help? You can donate $50 to sponsor a child HERE.

EXTREME EMERGENCY: Need family by April 20th 2009

EXTREME EMERGENCY: Need family by April 20th 2009. Healthy 13 ¾ year old girl.
China, NO ADOPTION FEESAre you a Family that could adopt quickly?
Do you already have a Dossier in China? or are you already adopting another
child soon from China in March or April? Or do you have an I-600 for two
children? or an I-800? Were you approved for more than one child?

We were just notified of HJ!
HJ, Girl, 13 ¾ years old. She will turn 14 in April 2009 and will no longer be
available for international adoption. We do not know her future if she is not
adopted. Some 14 year olds without families are left without resources,
homeless and unemployed.
All fees have been donated except travel, homestudy and immigration. No
application fees, no pre-approval fees, no adoption fees. Please contact us for
her information without obligation.FamilyFinders@...

HJ is extroverted and has a lovely smile and face. She has had elbow surgery on
one arm and has recovered well. She likes to sing, dance and play sports . She
is a good runner and came in third place in a long distance competition. She was
formerly a member of the dance team.

She is active and gets along well with kids at the orphanage and school. She is
kind hearted and helps the teachers with the younger or sick children. She is a
sensible girl and well-liked by both children and adults. She keeps her clothes
and room very clean and tidy. She is a good student. Her final examinations
results last year were all excellent or good with high marks in Math and
Chinese.
Please let your friends know about this girl. WACAP( www.wacap.org) is a
non-profit adoption agency. Contact FamilyFinders at 1-800-732-1887. We
will do everything possible to do this adoption quickly.

Money for adoption

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

http://www.helpusadopt.org/

Hep B in China and in the USA

As you know, Sarah has Hep B. If she had grown up in China she may not have the good future she now has. It is not a hard SN to deal with. Everyone around her has had the vaccinations (3 shots). We are all immune to Hep B. We are careful to test Sarah’s liver values once a year. If her body starts to fight the virus, she will receive medication. It's not hard.

super girl

too many still wait

I was just emailing with Ky at AAI about their waiting Chinese SN kids. The list needs to be returned soon. Only 2 out of the 20 kids have found families. There are a few healthy kids on the list with the SN of being male! Beautiful, beautiful boys! One little girl is just 4 years old. Her SN sounds awful, but it has been corrected. She is now healthy and as cute as a button! There are a few deaf kids, and kids with limb differences. These are really cute kids and they all need families. AAI keeps their prices very low. If you qualify for the US tax credit, you'll only need to pay a few thousand dollars for a SN adoption. Time is running out for these sweet kids. Contact Ky if you want to take a look at them.

ky@adoptionadvocates.org


Make a Ladybug Note at WishAFriend.com

I heart faces...green

Green is the color of this weeks I heart faces blog contest. I had this picture of Sarah taking swimming lessons. She has swimming tonight and it's her favorite thing! Green is my favorite color.





and here is Nicole in her green sweater in the green woods!


I wish you all the good luck of the Irish!!!