Link for LifeSong donations

Here is a link to the LifeSong donation page...remember, if you use this link, not only do we get closer to matching our grant, but YOU get a tax deduction as well! God Bless and thank you for helping Lucky come home!

http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/donation.html

Choose your method of donation and reference "CAVENDER #2792" in the Purpose section (Paypal) or memo line (check).

Many Blessings Today!!

We have received great news today! LifeSong has granted us an $1100 matching grant! What that means is that amount of money must be received by LifeSong in donations for us in order to "activate" the grant! You can either go to www.lifesongfororphans.org, click on the "Give" tab and then donate in whichever way you like (check, Paypal, etc.) You will need to indicate our account: CAVENDER #2792 in the memo or comment section. Or click on the "Donate" button to the right! (But if it doesn't work, follow the previous instructions!). Please help us get one step closer to bringing Lucky home; it's only 100 people giving $11! Thank you for your support!

We also received a wonderful video of Lucky today; see it here! He's the tall, skinny one in the purple shirt.

FUNDRAISER ALERT!!

Lia Sophia Online and Home Party 6 pm tonight!!!

Lia Sophia Fundraiser!
April 16th 6pm - April 18, 12am
Adoption Jewelry Party; Help us bring our son home!
Directions for Placing an Online Order:
1. http://sites.liasophia.com/sites/lisariportella/catalog-intro
2. Type hostess' name: Jenni Padgett
3. Have fun shopping and place the order!

Wait! If you do not want to purchase jewelry, you can still make a donation! Just click on the "Chipin" on the right side of our blog.
Thank you so much for your support of our journey and thank you to Jennifer Padgett for hosting this for us!

Judi's 7th Birthday

Nothing makes you reminisce like a little one's birthday. Our Judi, our little Kunming firecracker, turned 7 yesterday. She has been home a little over 3 years and the changes in her have been nothing short of amazing! She came to us a tough, independent, take-no-prisoners attitude-wielding, extremely capable little girl just shy of her 4th birthday. In our 3 months home after Gotcha Day, I would deliberately not let her do things on her own, so that she would learn to depend on me and therefore bond. She had to ask for everything so that we could clearly establish who was in charge.

Today, she's learned to use her take-charge style more appropriately, plays cooperatively with her friends, and loves nothing more than having someone to play with. She is funny, smart, witty, incredibly perceptive, and can size up a situation in a snap. Our lives are definitely enriched for having her in our family!

She had an awesome sleep-over (her first) and then Sunday we had a family party; it was a really great, but tiring, weekend. No more birthdays until June and then we have 4 within 3 weeks!

Debbie

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I don't know what's happening with our Chipin today, but thank you to those who have contributed today and previously!! You are awesome and you have no idea how much your support helps right now!
Debbie

Lucky is so Sad

This is a picture taken April 11, 2012. Lucky is the boy wearing the white jacket with the red, puffy eyes. The family adopting Seth (seated in the middle next to the foster mom) is there and have met with Lucky and Ned while picking up Seth. It was a very emotional day as they were able to witness the friends' goodbyes and those of the foster parents. To say these boys appear well-cared for is an understatement. It was said that Lucky was very emotional during the whole day which in a way, makes me feel better. Not, of course, because I want any child to have to go through this kind of sadness, but because it shows Lucky and his friends have been raised in a way that they are not afraid to show emotion and care deeply for someone. It shows he has a deep attachment and bond with his friends, as does Seth with his foster family.
The family adopting Seth plans to visit the orphanage frequently over the next few days, so hopefully, they will get to see more of Lucky and tell us more about him. I also hope Lucky has time to really read our letter and decide on one of the names we offered! It would be nice to call him Jeramy, Jaxon, or Jonathan!

Also, an update on the homestudy! We sent off all the documents to the agency today, and we're hoping to have it all done by next week! From the time we started the first visit (3/28), that would be a 3-week turnaround; awesome!! Only glitch is the final draft comes with a $2600 bill! We've saved up some in addition to the amounts in our Chipin, but are still about $500 short; please pray for a miracle in the next few days!
Debbie

Lia Sophia Online and Home Party

Lia Sophia Fundraiser!

April 16th 6pm - April 18, 12am

Adoption Jewelry Party; Help us bring our son home!

Directions for Placing an Online Order:

1. http://sites.liasophia.com/sites/lisariportella/catalog-intro

2. Type hostess' name: Jenni Padgett

3. Have fun shopping and place the order!

Wait! If you do not want to purchase jewelry, you can still make a donation! Just click on the "Chipin" on the right side of our blog.

Thank you so much for your support of our journey and thank you to Jennifer Padgett for hosting this for us!