Hello,
It has been a while since I posted last. Tony’s parents were out and we had a good time with them. I took them around the area and showed them the sites. They had never been here before (without seeing Emily) and so it was all new for them. I took them to the Lenox store where they just happen to be having a warehouse sale (they hold them about 4 times a year). There we were able to get some Dept. 56 Snow Village pieces. I guess Lenox bought them out. After that we went to the Hummel/Goebel store. I knew they were expensive but I didn’t realize how expensive till we went there. Lets just say that I think Tony is thankful I don’t pick up that hobby!! On Saturday we went out to eat. Lunch was Chick-Fil-A since they don’t have those where they are located, and dinner was a local pub. On Sunday they went with us on our usual (albeit early) Sunday services followed by bible study. My mother in law then went home while her husband went down to DC for a business meeting.
Today we went and picked up Emily’s remains. It was difficult, but it wasn’t going to get any easier the longer we waited. I know that I have been focusing on the future for the last few days. I know we are going to have more children and I need to focus on that.
I went the other day to see if my sewing machine could be fixed. I had worked it hard when I was in college. I used it to create the bumper that Emily had in the hospital as well as a flannel board that is about the same size as Emily’s crib when she was in the hospital. Both of those pieces (okay mostly the flannel board) took it’s toll on the machine. They told me that it would cost at least $170 to fix my machine or I could purchase one like mine for about $200. I decided to think about it for a while. They gave me a brochure on their machines (with no prices listed inside). So I went home and thought about it over the weekend. I decided that it would be cool to have a machine that also did embroidery.
So today, I had some free time so I went to a fabric store and looked around a bit. I looked at the pattern books and found a nice pattern for our next little girl. http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/patterns/sewingpatterns.pl?patternid=6892 Simplicity 9784. So I purchased that. Then I went to the sewing machine place and looked at the machine I saw in the brochure. To my surprise the machine that was in the brochure that I liked cost $1000! I don’t think I need those features that badly. I walked away from there realizing that I will need about $500 for a sewing machine. It isn’t a priority right now though so I don’t think I will be back for some time. Perhaps I will just focus on my crocheting.
In other news my father has found my sister. I should clarify. My sister isn’t missing, he is just adopting a child from China.
Her name will be Saphron Gui Jun (her Chinese name) then the last name of my current sister Jazmyn. She is 3 years old with a birth day of September 10, 2003. That is about all the information I have on her. As with anything in life there is a possibility that they will not get her for one reason or another but it is more or less a sure thing at this point. As I find out more about her I will let everyone know.
That is about all the news I have for now.
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Your little sister is beautiful!! Our middle son is 6 and we adopted him from Kazakhstan when he was 8.5 months old. He has been a blessing to our family and good company for his brother Sagan (the one in a million baby).
I think you should get the new sewing machine. The bummers on Emily’s crib were great, so I can see you are a great seamstress!
Anyway, just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you.
Hugs,
Susan
Hey Jenn
Sounds like you had a good day. I cannot think of anything better than to spend time at the fabric store. I know what you mean about the sewing machine. I wanted one for Christmas a few years back and went to look at them. The one I liked was $2500. I went home and told Don about them and told him to just skip it because they are way too expensive. Well my wonderful husband being who he is, got it for me anyway. And let me tell you, if you do buy a new machine, wait until you can afford an expensive one. It is so worth it in the long run. This has been my 4th machine and I will have this one for the rest of my life. Maybe I will put it in my will for you!!! LOL
Love ya
Julie
A couple of things struck me…
… I LOVE Chik-Fil-A. Miss it desperately as I don’t live near one now.
… Saphron looks like she’s scheming something already. What an adorable little girl.
… Can you buy a good used sewing machine? I had no idea they were that expensive, but I can see the merit in having a “nice” one with fancy features.
HI! I know there are many people who read your blog and would really like to do something to help your family. Could we maybe all pitch in so you can get that sewing machine you want? I just think it would be a nice, fresh start for you to have a new machine to play around with. Please let us all know!
Hi, Jennifer. It’s great when you post on here. I check in from time to time to see how you are doing. I can’t imagine what you’ve been though, and your look to the future attitude is admirable! I wish you the best and the blessing of more children when you are ready.
Katie
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Jen – glad you’re keeping busy and productive. Know that there are many of us out here keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
When I first got back into sewing about four years ago, I had an old clunker that I’d had in college, too….so I got a new one at Sears for $200. It was a great buy and a very respectable machine for what I was asking it to do. I’ve since added another machine to the stable, too, but I was really glad I got that Kenmore when I did. It was all the machine I needed at the time, and it made all the difference in the world to being able to enjoy sewing. Keep it up, and take care!!
Hi Jennifer,
Your new sister looks adorable. I have a granddaugther, Abby, who came home from China in May. She is a treasure and has adjusted so well to family life. She was 14 mo. old when we first met her. I hope Saphron makes her transistion easily.
I too took a sewing machine in to be repaired last year and found it would cost alot to fix. I did find a fairly decent new machine for just under $500. It has some extra goodies on it but not too many. Enough for what I do. I like the suggestion someone made about looking for a used one, wish I had thought of that!
I’m glad you had a nice visit with Tony’s parents. I went to my first Chick-Fil-A just recently as they are just coming to So. Calif. It was pretty good for fast food.
Take care, and as always, you and Tony are in my prayers. Rowena
Hi. Where in China is your father adopting your new sister? And how old is your other sister? I live in China and have been really interested in Chinese adpotions, and I go and work in the Shenzhen Orphanage as often as I can even though I have school.