It takes a Village!

Thank you for all of the sweet comments and support from Paige's post about being adopted and dealing with racism, etc... She was happy that she could help and so am I!

Ya know, several of you asked what we did to raise a confident little girl and it really got me thinking. I don't think we have done anything in particular, but some things that I think have helped Paige's self confidence is we tell her ALL of the time that she is all that AND a bag of chips. We are her biggest fans and she knows that we have her back 110%. Granted, when she is not using nice manners or has a sour attitude, you better believe we settle that quickly. Unfortunately, with the tween years on us, we are having "heart to hearts" more often than not. (Sorry Paigee, but we are getting there, huh? :)

We try to keep things light and don't focus on a lot of negativity. She has some "mean girl" issues in her fifth grade class and I just don't harp on it. She'll tell me how so and so picked on this one or that one and I just listen, ask her how it makes her feel and what she can do to help. We have LOTS of dialogue...I am sure she would say almost to the point of nauseum :)

We also make sure that she is SURROUNDED by positive, loving, confident people. It really does take a village to raise healthy, happy, poised, confident young people. I believe so deeply that we should speak positively about all people in front of young ones. They are SPONGES and soak it all in. We are their role models right now and we can make em' or break em'. In our household, we choose to make em' :)

Racism, bullying, mean spiritedness is going to exist and unfortunately I think we will all be touched by it in one way or the other. It is how we react to it all that makes all the difference.

Thank you for allowing us to share a bit of our thoughts with you!

Have a GREAT weekend! Ours is going to be a wet and rainy one! I'm going to catch up on some good reading and movie time :)

She speaks!

I got to know my girl so well throughout this little experiment. Thank you to everyone who wrote questions. She answered as many as she could on video, but there were a few she wanted to write about on the blog, so without further ado, meet Paige!

"Hi, i'm Paige. I am 11 years old. I am glad that you asked questions on my sissys blog. She is the best isn't she????? I heart her!!! Someone said there little girl gets made fun of cause of her nose. No one has ever really bugged me about my nose mostly my eyes. I would tell you to tell your little girl to tell a teacher or an adult when she is being made fun of. She could also say to that person, Are YOU perfect? I happen to like my nose, so there! Tell her that it is her nose and she should love it. SOme people have big noses that they don't like, like my sissy :) No one is perfect, except for God."

"Someone asked me if I wished I could visit China. I would rather visit Italy first :) I am more fasinated with Italy. My family thinks I am crazy, but, I mean I only lived in China for two years and don't really remember it except for the stories my family tells me. I know it will be important to go back some day. Maybe when I am in college."

"Someone else asked if I wished my family took me to more Chinese functions. We used to go to a lot when I was little, but since I've gotten bigger and more active in school and dance and hangin with my friends, we don't go as much. I don't really feel like I have anything in common with those girls, so it is awkward. Id rather just hang out with my family and go eat chinese food...yummo!"

"I get asked this question all the time...am i glad i have older siblings and do i wish i had siblings closer in age. Yes i LOVE my big brother and sister. They rock!!! I know that my mom is my mom, my sister is my sister, my bro is my bro and that my dad was my dad. People usually think my mom is my grandma, but she's not. My sissy helps out with raising me a lot and I love her like a sissy/mom. I usually call her sisser/mom and she giggles. I am glad I have a lot of people that love me. I don't see anything wrong with that. Sometimes I would like to have a sibling close in age, but I love Annslee and Coby and consider them family. They live in our city and I know my sis blogs about them. I love them. My family says I am spoiled, so maybe I wouldn't be able to share with a sibling. I think I could........maybe? :)"

Questions for Paige...she wants to hear from YOU!

I told Paige that I shared on the blog that we had an amazingly, open conversation about adoption and her feelings. I made sure she knew that I didn't share any of what she said, as that was not my place. I then explained to her that there were other little girls, younger than her, who might experience some of the same feelings or encounter similar situations at school, etc... I asked her if I could share what we talked about, but she had a much better idea.

She would like to hear from YOU!

If you have any questions at all, please leave them in the comment section of the blog. We will wait until Sunday and then she said she would respond. She also said that she might share some other feelings. She is happy to know that she can maybe help others like her and that they can all learn from each other and know they are not alone.

So, there you have it...ask away!!!

Black and White Wednesday

I just adore this child with all of my heart and soul. On Easter Sunday, she and I spent the afternoon together and had so much fun. She poured out her feelings about so many adoption issues that she is facing at this stage in her life. It was a really deep and raw conversation and I am going to ask her if I can share some of her thoughts on the blog. In the meantime, take my word for it when I say, this child is as beautiful on the inside as she is the outside. She inspires me daily!



I love the color version, too.



Happy Black and White Wednesday! For more incredible images, visit my friend's blog at The Long Road to China.

One more for the road...

Meet Marley!

This is our new baby boy and we are all soooo in love!!! He is a teddy bear breed, which is a mix of shih tzu and bichon frise.







He has the sweetest little baby face and is sooo smoochable!







Paige adores him. As a matter of fact, if it weren't for Paige, Marley would still be at the breeders and we would have come home with his brother. I thought his brother was, are you ready for this?... cuter!!! GASP, I know. Marley ran straight into Paige's arms and P turned into mush. I kept trying to coax her into his brother, but no way! Marley it was... and I am so glad. He is truly a sweetie pie.



I mean, could you resist this face..........?





I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship !!!

The Blindside

I just finished watching The Blindside with my mom. We laughed and cried. I just love movies like that. It was so touching and it made me question myself.

Would I do what Leigh Ann Tuley did if I were in her position? I would like to think that I would. I loved the way she stood up to others with such gusto and was sure of herself and fought for the one who didn't have anyone to fight for him.

I highly suggest renting this movie if you haven't seen it. It is a great feel good story.

On a side note: spring is here and I am soooo happy!!! The longer afternoons make me so happy!

Have a fantastic week! Lil' bit is having a tween milestone this week...stay tuned!

Birthday fun!

Well, if one must turn a year older, it's always good if it is done in style :) I turned 36 on the first day of spring and it truly FELT like the first day of spring. The weather was beautiful. Birds were chirping, the sun was shining and I actually wore my flip flops...waaa hooo!

I was thoroughly SPOILED rotten the week leading up to my bday, because it was my spring break. Lots of friends and family took me out to nice lunches and dinners. I had a mani/pedi/spa day, went shopping, ate lunch with Paige at her school and rested!!!

My best girlfriends threw a birthday bash for me and we always have soooo much fun together. We all couldn't be anymore different if we tried. There is the homemaker extraordinaire who is married to an ex NFL football player. There is the mom who is a pastry chef and still manages to run a tight ship at home and is the one out in the work world, while hubby is the domestic God :). My other bestie is a substitute teacher who is as wholesome and loving as they come. Lastly, is my girlfriend who is a SAHM, but is busier than your average CEO. She dabbles in volunteering at every school that her children attend, she is the President of the Lady's Club, and manages to have dinner on her table for her family every night.on.time!

Then there is me :) I so don't fit into their lifestyles. I am a single, working 50 + hours a week, sister to a preteen, live with mother, fun lovin' kinda girl!

We compliment each other. I love them. They know EVERYTHING about me and "get" me. I couldn't ask for better friends. No matter how different we are, we have so many similar worries, concerns for the world, our loved ones, etc...

These girls are not only my best friends, they are like my sisters. I couldn't ask for a better bunch of girls to have on my side.

Here are some pics from my party!






And, my very best friend of all...