When I was in the fifth grade my mom and dad began to leave me home alone for short periods of time so that I would learn how to stay home by myself for longer periods of time when I got into middle school. For the past three years I have been able to stay home alone while my parents go out for several hours. There are times my parents ask me to take care of Gracie while they go out together and as you begin to stay home alone with your younger sibling(s) you will need to know basic safety tips to protect you and your sibling(s) from harm.

There... more

When we started the adoption process I knew that it was going to be expensive. I told my mom and dad that I wanted to help make money to apply toward special things to purchase for Gracie so I started my own purse company called “Bags of Grace.” I made purses out of old jeans. I decorated them with buttons, ribbons, beads and even fabric paint. I then sold them to my friends and my mom’s friends. I took the money I earned and helped by purchasing really cool stuff for Gracie’s room.

Maybe you may want to do the same... more

Do you remember the feelings and thoughts many of you had before the adoption process began to receive your sibling? I remember it as if it were yesterday. I had wanted a sibling so badly for many years. The adoption process was a journey in its self but the journey I went through the many years I waited to have a sibling was a very special one and one I will never forget.

A few weeks before my mom, my dad and I left to fly to China to adopt Gracie our Pastor asked us if we would share with the congregation about China adoptions... more

Two nights ago, Gracie and I had a pajama party in my room while our mom and our dad were cleaning out Gracie’s toy box that sits in the living room. Mom and dad asked me if I could take Gracie in my room and watch her because they did not want Gracie to get upset when they bagged up some of her toys she had out grown so that we could give them to friends with younger children.

During our pajama party I fixed Gracie’s hair and put her hair up in a ponytail. Her hair is finally long enough to pull back. She sure looked cute... more

Some may not know that ladybugs have a special meaning to those of us in the Chinese adoption community. The Chinese adoption myth is that ladybugs are a sign of good luck and it is said if you see a ladybug your referral will be coming very soon. As I said in my last blog, I am not one that believes in luck but I do appreciate the symbols ladybugs do represent.

After doing a little more research on ladybugs I found a lot of interesting facts and myths people from countries around the world hold on ladybugs. http://www.celticbug.com/Legends/Lore.html... more

Gracie has an adorable ceramic tea set that was given to her by our Aunt Kirey for her second birthday this past August. It has the saying “Ladybug, Ladybug fly away home…” on the little plates and teapot. Some may not know that ladybugs have a special meaning to those of us in the Chinese adoption community. The Chinese adoption myth is that ladybugs are a sign of good luck and it is said if you see a ladybug your referral will be coming very soon. I am not one that believes in luck but I do appreciate the symbols ladybugs do represent.... more

As a sibling there are times it is really hard to keep your cool when your brother or sister gets into your belongings. Gracie gets into my art supplies, the laundry I fold, my homework and what I am typing on the computer. These are just a few things Gracie gets into. Sometimes I really want to yell at her and that is usually what all siblings what to do to their siblings from time to time.

When I do homework sometimes Gracie will come into my room and jump on my bed. There are times where she will grab a... more

What is it about stickers toddlers love? I remember when I was a little girl I loved stickers. My mother would take me shopping and I would have to have a new set of stickers. My favorite stickers were the ones with glitter on them. When it was time for me to move up from the church nursery into the “big people’s church” my mom always packed me a good stack of colorful stickers to keep me occupied so that I would stay as quite and still as possible. (I do not think it worked some Sundays). She even bought me a sticker... more

My little sister Gracie does not like ice cream. What is up with that? I thought every child on this green planet loves ice cream. Well, not her. I think she would enjoy a jalapeno whole before she would take one bite of ice cream.

Last week Gracie had a sinus infection and her doctor prescribed her some medicine. Well as you can imagine she would not take her medicine because it smelled something awful. I am sure it probably tasted just as bad as it smelled. My mom decided that only way Gracie would take her medicine... more

Gracie is such a little helper. She helps me when I unload the dishwasher by attempting to put the silverware into the drawer and into the little silverware dividers. When I do the laundry she tries to help me separate the clothes from darks, lights, and reds. Sometimes she will put a red in with the dark clothes or a light with a red. She likes to help me put the clothes in the washer but she is to short to reach the door because it opens from the top. I will hand her the clothes and then lift her up to dump the clothes... more