More photos...passport in hand

Well sept is almost over. There have been some families that have rec'd their LOA's that have the same LID as mine, so we should be getting it soon..
Tevins passport has arrived... in only 3 WEEKS!! and the lady said it wouldn't be here til Dec... oh Ye of little faith.So now off to get our Chinese Visas.
I added the song "Flowers for Zoe" by Lenny Kravitz. If you listen to the lyrics it really says so much for my Zoe... things to call her own... something that an orphanage child does not have... things have to be shared among all children. So many things to explore.... the zoo, beach,movies endless things still waiting for her to discover.
I rec'd many more pictures from the Kelly family of Zoe at her care center. This smiling picture of Zoe was in the IAAP newsletter . Do you not love that face?? I certainly look forward to waking up in the morning and seeing her smiling face... I am sure even her not so happy face will be equally beautiful to me.
update for Sept:
XinHui came to our Changchun Center on September 9, 2006. She has a congenital heart problem. XinHui is a very smart little girl who will correct the others if they should sing the wrong word in a song! She has a family who should be traveling to adopt her in the coming months.
Oh oh... sounds like another Shari.. LOL

Please check out this link to IAAP newsletter and if you are in a position to and have it in your heart please consider sponsoring one of the children at their foster homes.
Thanks

She really does know her family

I rec'd this email from Rhonda( www.ourjourneytojade.com )who is still in China bringing home her beautiful new daughter Jade, They visited with Zoe at Her fostercare home and delivered gifts from me. Thanks so much Rhonda for the info and picture. It is so strange in a good way to see her holding something that i held 2 weeks ago.

"Yes. Zoe had already received her package that you had sent. She loves to look at the photos and she knows that you are her family. She wants you to come for her! When I gave her the package that you sent to me, she was so happy when I told her that it was from you! She would not join the other kids to open it. She sat by herself to open it and play with everything. She loved the stuffed animal. I asked the nannies why she was sitting all alone with her things, and she said that she knows they are from her mama and she does not want to share them!!! Very clever girl! So, Josh, our 12 year old went and sat by her and played with her for a very long time. Eventually Zoe joined the rest of the kids and even shared a few things! She is so beautiful. I got lots of pictures of her, but I haven't had time to download them onto the IAAP photo album. She looked wonderful and healthy. The nannies said they love her very much and it was very evident. They are taking great care of her! "

So you see I NEED to go to her SOON... ASAP ...as in SHOULD HAVE LEFT YESTERDAY. She wants her mama...But it is still in the CCAA's hands. Hoping to hear soon ...Here is the picture that Rhonda sent today. Zoe's hair is getting so long.. I hope that she does not get sent back to her SWI before we go get her. It would be traumatic for her and I don't think she would be happy if they shaved her head.. So enjoy.. I also discovered today that the chip in link has not been working since July so if you had tried to help I will have a working one up and running soon. you can still donate (tax deductable) thru http://www.kingdomkidsadoption.org/ go to donations family grants and please type in Pontillo under instructions/more info Thanks... getting closer everyday Bonnie and the bunch

why I am adopting Zoe

Some folks have asked for my reasons why I am adopting Zoe... I love kids, not just mine but all of them(well truthfully almost all.. some are bullys)my friends,my nephews my nieces... always have.I am very happy with my four kids and my 3 grandsons but I still have plenty of love and time to take care of one more. My sons stated that they wanted a little sister nothing against their older ones, they love them and despite their age differences they are all very close.They will be great big brothers , they are awesome uncles and their nephews just adore them, yup even grandma with gifts gets passed by for uncle dedi and uncle tev.I have a wonderful family that has made my life so rich in all the ways that truly matter. We love to laugh, have fun together are each others biggest fans and cheerleaders. I know that many people find the day to day life with kids a struggle, not me, most days the more chaotic the more together I am.... don't laugh... I said MOST days...not ALL!!
I think that Zoe will bring so much happiness and opportunities for new adventures and I really have missed going to the zoo with the kindergartners and reading bedtime stories,playing duck duck goose... . I know that it won't be all roses. every child is like a day of sunshine always a chance of some clouds and rain. I look forward to Zoe feeling the security of her family. Of knowing that we all love her and will always be here with her.So many things to experience with her, the movies,bowling,swimming,picking apples, feeding the gulls at the beach, building castles and then crashing them, pizza,icecream, she has yet to know a shari spurtle...WARNING.. don't make Shari laugh while she is eating or drinking...you may be wearing it... I think this might be the answer as to why I started wearing Tye dye... it hides so much.short story..coming home from church a few weeks ago, shari was driving and i started choking(i have a slight gag issue)and from way in the back,ever concern is Desi.."what is it this time Mom ? ... AIR" well shari lost it ,soda all over the place... then she had to call Kelli and she couldn't stop laughing long enough to... POOR kel, she is always to busy to come along but shari keeps her informed.. umm.. maybe thats why she's so busy... anyways as des say good times good times!!
I used to joke that i would have to adopt to get a child that looked like me , mine don't... but is there a slight resemblish between myself and zoe, the drs office thinks so....take care have fun and check out our fundraisers.. thanks peace, this mama

Slowly thru Sept-2 months LID

Not Much happening,still waiting for LOA,almost done with the house. 2 month LID- average wait for LOA seems to be 80-90 days and then TA with 2 weeks -5 weeks. I hope to travel in NOV or Dec. A family is traveling to Changchun to get their daughter Jade . She is at the foster center and was allowed to stay until they get her. I sent a small package with a fall outfit,a teddy bear that giggles when you touch his toes,a mini my little pony,a stacking bucket shape sorter toy and 6 pairs of socks. They are taken it to Zoe and will get pictures of her for me. I am so excited that within a few months she should be home.
2 new pics

here are some things we hope to visit while in China:
the Ba Da Ling section of wall

To the east of the Great Wall at Ba Da Ling and 70 kilometers from the city is this restored section of the Great Wall. This three- kilometer stretch has 25 beacon towers, watch towers and lodging houses. Historically, the construction here required the largest number of laborers to construct and produced work of extremely high quality. It requires a more rigorous climb than Ba Da Ling, but the views are more striking and there are cable cars to take you to the top and even the option of an exhilarating toboggan ride back down.

Beijing Aquarium http://www.blue-zoo.com/


This world-class aquarium of oceanic proportions features dolphin shows, a man-made rainforest, touch pools and junior-sized sharks. Fish tanks - lots of them - are everywhere. The aquarium used to have a bad reputation for not supervising children, who would bang on the glass and scare the fish, literally, to death. However, it is now a very well organized and enjoyable facility to visit. It is particularly convenient for visitors staying in western Beijing, especially those around the university area.

New China Store for Children
If you take the kids along to this store, you might be hard pushed getting them to leave. This six-storey building offers everything a child could dream of from toys to stationery and clothing.

This shop was the first state-owned department store for children following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Apart from stocking everything a child could possibly want or need they also offer dining and entertainment facilities. It is good thing that the shop does not provide lodging facilities.