Check out this incredible donation for Starfish

Thank you Sunnie for sending me all these warm and cozy blankets for the Starfish home.  I am so excited that I contacted you!

To date my sweet cousin from NY made a substantial financial donation, my niece is working on a school fundraiser for Amanda, and I have a room full of needed items, including No No arm restraints for the surgery and post op and candy for Amanda!  How could I not send her something sweet!

A few more ladies are making some blankets too.  I can't wait to get everything so I can send them out.  If anyone still would like to donate items, email me and I'll give you the address.

The way I see it

I just had to have a Starbucks! My one vice is coffee and soy lattes a must. I was so addicted to them on a daily basis when I worked, one would think it was a food group I created, because I skipped lunch to walk across the street and get my venti sugar free vanilla soy latte. I can proudly admit to now being an ex=latteholic who can now enjoy this drink once a month or two. Yep, there's no Starbucks near my home and since I will also confess to being a coffee snob, well, I'll just make my own!

Anyway, while daydreaming in the car, I looked at the side of the cup and this is what it said:

There is a subtle difference between a mission and a promise.

A mission is something you strive to accomplish

A promise is something you are compelled to keep.

One is individual, the other is shared.  When a mission and a promise are one and the same, that's when mountains are moved and races won".

~Hala Moddelmog

President and Ceo

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

How beautiful and fitting I thought.  Sometimes when you want to do something you feel as if your a small fish in this big sea.  I guess reading this over and over I realized, hey I can help the babies at Starfish, I can help Amanda and I will help Jailynn.  The auction for Jailynn has been going very well and the second round is about to start this week.  Many amazing people have donated their time and talents to providing me with the most adorable clothes.  Some are also making blankets for the Starfish Home.  I sent out about 30 emails or more and only really expected a small return, yet instead got a dozen or so interested sellers from etsy.com that were more than happy to participate.  I am so grateful to them all, so talented and giving.

So please check out Jailynn's Prayer and see for yourself!  Even if you leave a comment of inspiration, it will be something that Melanie (Mommy to Jailynn) can read.  As a follow up the Kerr Family has received their TA, but are still struggling to get the monies needed.  We'll do what we can and I know that little girl will be home before she knows it.

Thanks everyone!  Enjoy the new designer items on the blog.

FOR THE CHILDREN at STARFISH

My dear friend Daleea is doing what she does best, selflessly helping others!  She emailed me to advice me of the second annual fundraiser for the Starfish Home in China, inquiring if I could pass on information regarding important needs.

If you click on the the Starfish blog you'll see why I couldn't pass up this opportunity to help. There are so many beautiful babies waiting to have surgeries, that's the problem, they are waiting!   Waiting for sponsors and money to have the necessary surgeries that will probably save their lives.  

Amanda de Lange, is a teacher from South Africa who somehow found it in her way to Asia to work with children.  She is working with provincial orphanage officials, taking in babies that are in the most desparate need of medical attention.  There they are placed on a strict nutritional program to prepare them for upcoming surgery.  Amanda does the scheduling for surgery and also pays for it.  Even more astonishing is that she accompanies each baby to the provincial hospital, often staying by his/her side till recovered and able to travel back to Xi'an. 

 

Currently she has 30 children of which there are nine babies from 10 days old to 11 months who are in her direct care in Xi'an, China.  This is a list of items that has been requested:

Vicks 5
Tylenol 10
Motrin 17
Sunscreen 2
Oatmeal 20
Craisins 12
Teething Tablets 4
Onesies 21 (there are more than this because I counted packages as one)
Shoes 35
Boots 3
Pants 3
Coats 17
Shorts 18
Sleepers 106
Girls Outfits 88
Sheet 1
Bottles 6
Boys Outfits 48
Sweaters 15
Gloves 3
Booties 6
Socks 35 (there are more because I counted packages as one)
Sun Hats 9
Bibs 17 (there are more because I counted packages as one)
Baby Hats 19
Hats 3
Shirts 58
T-Shirts 22
Sweats 16
She does need: infant liquid vitamins and teething tablets, along with the infant tylenol and motrin

If you want to send any of the above items, please email me and I'll give you the address.

HERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM AMANDA'S BLOG

"with 30 little mouths to feed.Starfish Foster HomeXian ChinaAt Starfish, we have taken care of 67children to date, arranged almost 50 surgeries and had a whopping 18 international adoptions, so our little alumni live all over the globe: the US (latest adoptions to Kentucky and New Jersey), Netherlands, Norway and Spain. Two children are matched at the moment waiting for their families. We currently have 30 babies under the age of 3 1/2 at the foster home".

So let's all pass the word  around and try to get these babies their surgeries!

Thank you all for taking the time to read this and reaching out to help.