TU GENDE ... It's GO time!!!! :)

Well.. this has been a VERY busy and VERY quick 2 months since I have been home FULL of changes... but Praise God because it has also been a VERY AMAZING 2 months as well. I came home to a meeting at work where i learned that my job would be changing completely, and renting the townhouse that i wanted the whole time i was in Africa... pretty much all in the same day! Thus beginning the whirlwind of my life ALL 2 weeks before school started. Because if one thing changes, i mean hey why not just change it all. For the past 6 years i have been a resource teacher in both kindergarten and 1st grades, with the occasional 2nd grader thrown in... however this year we went down from 4 of us, to 3 and my grade levels all changed. I now i have some kindergarten, some 2nd, all of 3rd grade, and some 5th. A lot of which i have never done. This also meant that i had to completely change my classroom because Dr. Seuss just doesn't quite cut it anymore in 5th grade. The first week of August was spent setting up my new classroom because i knew the next week was my house, and the week after that school would be starting.

August 15 i moved into an awesome 2 bedroom townhouse, in the boundaries of the school i want Lola to go to someday. I picked this school for 2 very specific reasons but wasn't really sure due to Lola's disability if it would be a reality for us. As a result of her environment, she is significantly delayed in all areas of development. I knew that her environment was contributing to why she was SO delayed, but it is difficult to tell the severity of her disability at this point. I really felt in my heart that she was not as severe as she presents but couldn't be sure... until NOW!!! I am SO lucky and grateful for the AMAZING friends i have met in Africa. My friends Hilary and Amy have been incredible and Lola and I feel blessed to have them a part of our lives. They go visit her regularaly and Amy has been going with her to her Doctor appointments so that she is able to report back to me. She had an appointment with a neuropsychologist at a child's cilinic so Amy went with her. The doctor said that Lola's biggest concerns aside from the rigidity due to her cerebral palsy, is muscle and motor control in her mouth (a speech and language delay, which he said is a result of no one talking to her at the orphanage, and swollowing difficulties). He went on to say that she is a child who does not have a cognitive disability as far as he can tell and that she should definitely be in a classroom someday. He also added that with the proper therapy she should walk into that class as well. SO needless to say when i got that report i cried like crazy ... and am even MORE excited about the location of my house. It has taken a little while, but i am thrilled because it is now ready for my home study.

Here are my dining room and living room on the first floor as well as my bedroom.

AND ... most important and what everyone really wants to see... Miss Lola's room. Obviously has some work to do still but its on its way.

I received a stack of paperwork and will be meeting with my social worker next week for the first time. I am moving closer and closer to being able to bring her home. Many people have asked what they can do to help. There are many grants available as well but many of them require you to be working with an adoption agency in the United States. Since i will be using an attorney in Africa, I am uneligible for accessing that money to help with the cost. However, I am VERY excited because another friend Sarah, that i met in Africa sent me the link to an organization that helps families raise money to cover the cost of adoptions Just love coffee. It is an organization that pairs two things that are important to me fair trade products and helping orphans. SO it just made sense to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

SO i am proud to announce the Grand Opening of my coffee shop at www.justlovecoffee.com/bringlolahome

All you have to do is click on the link and start shopping. Make sure that you look at ALL the options along the left hand side, where there are a variety of countries listed where you can choose to get your coffee, apparel, or package deal. Many people have asked if i get all the proceeds and the answer is no. I do not get all of the money, but i do receive $5.00 from each bag which is exciting! If you like coffee and would be buying it anyway, i would really apprecaite you giving it a whirl. OBVIOUSLY Lola and i recommed the coffee from Uganda because coffee is one of Uganda's largest exports and buying it ensures jobs for the people we love but if you'd like to support Jamaicans or Guatemalans we are great with that too because it ALL helps bring Lola 1 step closer to home.

For those of you who are not coffee drinkers I also have African paper necklaces and braclets that i brought back this summer. I have a variety of styles, sizes, and colors. They are really amazing and hand made by women to raise money for their families. If you would like to make a donation toward bringing Lola home and you like Jewlery not coffee that is another option. Hopefully it will also remind when you wear it how grateful we are for your support.

As you can see there are many colors and styles to choose from. SO if you are interested let me know and we can work something out! :)