Packing light?

"Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege."
John D. Rockefeller Jr.

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from a woman I have never met. She explained that her daughter had adopted a child from Tokmok and that she felt an incredible bond to the place her beautiful granddaughter came from and a great affinity for the children who remained at the orphanage. Without even knowing me, but through this blog, she asked if she could send me a check and asked me to purchase items for the Children. I was quite surprised and a bit overwhelmed at such unconditional generousity, but quickly agreed that I would be more than happy to bring additional supplies to the orphanage. Within a few days I received a check for $200.00, such an incredible gift. Being the cunning bargain hunter that I am, I matched her donation and made that money stretch! I cleared clearance racks of sweat shirts, sweat pants, t-shirts, blouses, boys' button down (and handsome I might add) shirts, khaki pants, jeans, and sleepers. I got some strange looks the first time I checked out at Old Navy with more than a half dozen of the same pants in all different sizes. The next time I came in to scope out the deals, they brought me out a rack of clearance toddler clothes, a steal at $.97 each, I took the entire rack. Now whenever I go in they direct me to a stash of clearance kids wears and they ask for an update (I've had to promise them to bring Beck in as soon as he comes home). On another shopping venture I found a bin of toddler black velcro sneakers in assorted sizes, I quickly scooped them all up like a Mother with a chronic shoe fetish. I was quite pleased with these since they are fairly unisex, no need for the boys to be wearing little pink girl shoes. Along the way I picked up toys that were deemed educational and ones that the orphanage director had specifically asked for. Then there was the stock-up on school supplies sales! I picked up boxes and boxes of markers, colored pencils and crayons. In addition to the request for clothes and educational toys, the director really stressed the need for vitamins, namely the Enfamil Poly-Vi-Sol with Iron drops. I cleared the shelves of these vitamins at both Walmart and Target.
I have to admit, it's been a pleasure picking out items for the children of Tokmok. I imagine their smiling faces wearing the clothes, playing with the toys or coloring. I am so thankful to this stranger, who has become a friend, for her incredible generousity. She made it possible to double the amount of items I wanted to bring back for the Orphanage. Thank you so much Melissa Taylor for your caring and giving spirit.

Update

I apologize that my updates have been few and far between, but I have a good excuse... or two. First my computer has been under the weather. Let's face it, it really hasn't been the same since it's journey to Kyrgyzstan. Safe to say, my laptop doesn't handle travel well. And secondly, there's been no updates. No word on how he's doing, no travel dates, nadda! Until this week! Marnie and her husband Jeremy traveled to Tokmok last week to meet their daughter who also lives in Beck's house. As you can imagine I was thrilled to receive word that he is doing well, blown away to get new pictures of him and beyond ecstatic to get a video of him! He looks great! Oddly enough, he's still wearing the same red sail boat shirt he wore during our trip. Marnie report that he was out of sorts when he heard the caretakers talking about Mama and Papa and it wasn't us. That breaks my heart, but at least it confirms that he remembers us. I'm going to talk to the IA Dr. soon about what we should do when he gets home to reinforce that we are his family, and will be so forever.

Court, part deux

We received official word today that court went well and we should be traveling in Mid-August to pick up our little guy!

I'm beyond thrilled that court happened without incident. I'm also thrilled that none of the people who made these quotes were present! Enjoy, I know I did.

Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?A: No.Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive nevertheless?
A: It is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.

Q: All your responses must be oral, OK? What school did you go to?A: Oral.

Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male, or a female?

Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?

Q: You say the stairs went down to the basement?
A: Yes.
Q: And these stairs, did they go up also?

Q: You were there until the time you left, is that true?

Q: How far apart were the vehicles at the time of the collision?

Q: Was it you or your younger brother who was killed in the war?

Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?

Q: Trooper, when you stopped the defendant, were your red and blue lights flashing?
A: Yes.
Q: Did the defendant say anything when she got out of her car?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: What did she say?
A: What disco am I at?

Q: And where was the location of the accident?
A: Approximately milepost 499.
Q: And where is milepost 499?
A: Probably between milepost 498 and 500.

Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you’ve forgotten?

Court!

July 5th is our court date. But since their tomorrow morning is our tonight, I'm starting the celebration now.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My Montage 7/4/07