Simply Adorable

Just wanted to share her adorableness....have a blessed day!

Wizard of Oz & Monsters, Inc. Top 2 fav movies of Miss Magic

She still loves the Wizard of Oz...and Monsters, Inc. (haha)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAY KAY!!! We love you!!!!!!!!

Same Event Different Perspectives

This evening we took a trip to the toy aisle so Halle-Grace could pick out her very own “grocery store” set. This set includes a grocery cart full of food, the coolest cash register and twin baby girls that she has named Jessie & Ruby. After being home for a couple of hours…HG just now came up for air from her shopping spree. She has been everything from stocker to shopper to cashier. I think she has the most fun as a combination shopper/cashier…oh the discounts you get when you shop that way! Jason finds it funny that the same event is seen very differently from each of our perspectives. Same register, same activity, just a little different interpretation depending on whose eyes are viewing it.

Halle-Grace's view: Wow, this is AWESOME! I am having a blast. Not exactly sure what this loud beeping sound means when I press this little wand and hold it down but I really like it. Not only is it fun for me but both Mom and Dad enjoy it as well as they both put their hands over their ears when I hold it down non-stop for several minutes at a time. I think that must cause this high pitch beeeeeeeeeeeeeep to echo in their ears. They really seem to like it. They also love picking up all of these tiny items and they’re so nice to put them back into my shopping cart over & over again…

Jason's view: I know this is a game for her but it is really helpful as she is already learning proper manners while she plays. When she is the cashier she is asking her customer how she is, and saying thank you while checking her out. I am sure this is developing her imagination skills and creating neurons in her brain as we speak. She is even counting out the dollars correctly thereby reinforcing her counting skills. When she is the stocker she is reinforcing good work ethic and pride in task. I can see how much passion she has in placing the items in just the right spot on the shelves. Good choice for a toy/game.

Shannon's view: I wonder how long before she can actually do our shopping at Wal-Mart for real?? Anyone who knows me well, knows I do not enjoy trips to Wal-Mart...but how cool, Miss Magic LOVES to shop and she obviously prefers a credit card over cash!!! Her daddy loves her so much, how will he ever be able to tell us NO when it comes to future shopping sprees!!! Go HALLE-GRACE!!! I love this game/toy as well. GREAT choice!

Saddle Ridge Ranch/Fashionista

I cannot believe how much Miss Magic is growing. It seems like just yesterday that we were in Vietnam with 6-9 month clothes (mostly 9 month) when our tiny miracle needed 3-6 month clothing! Now, she is talking in complete sentences and knows exactly what she wants in her everyday life! I think she's going to be a plastic surgeon because she loves to put bandaids all over her arms and legs (even though there are no boo boos in sight) and she LOVES makeup, painting nails/toes, and tells me she looks gorgeous! She also knows and expresses which shoes, clothes and bows are pretty and so on...she is a Fashionista at 2 1/2!!!

Purple is her favorite color!

She LOVES her Ruby Red Slippers

This week she attended Bible School. The theme was "Saddle Ridge Ranch" and she loved every minute of it. She was so excited to attend each night. Friday night all of the children put on their cowboy boots and hats and put on a show for their parents/grandparents.

More photos coming soon...

*We are busy planning our 2nd Annual Family Day Celebration and Lulu is coming!!! We are so excited we can hardly stand it!

CALL TO ACTION! Your help is appreciated!

The International Adoption Simplification Act (S1376) passed the Senate last week and is awaiting introduction and passage in the House of Representatives. The legislation provides two very important technical fixes to the intercountry adoption process that are a result of the implementation of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, namely allowing adoptive parents the option of obtaining immunizations for their children after they enter the U.S. (which is standard procedure in non-Hague adoptions) and also allowing adoptive siblings over the age of 16 to be adopted. It is this latter provision that is impacting so many children who have been prevented from joining their adoptive families and siblings because of their age.

Please contact Representative John Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and respectfully ask him to spearhead introduction and passage of the International Adoption Simplification Act. Contact information and a sample letter follow:
Telephone number: 202 - 225 - 3951
Email address: john.conyers@mail.house.gov
Fax number: 202 - 225 - 0072
SAMPLE LETTER.....
The Honorable John Conyers
United States House Judiciary Committee
2138 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Conyers:
I am writing you to express my support of Senator Klobuchar's International Adoption Simplification Act - legislation (S 1376) that was recently passed by the Senate and ask that similar legislation to be quickly passed by the House of Representatives. The legislation is needed to fix two unattended technical issues that resulted from the U.S implementing the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption in 2008.
The technical issues addressed in this legislation include:
- Allow adoptive parents the option to obtain their children’s immunizations after they enter the U.S., which is already standard international practice for children adopted from non-Hague compliant countries and a recommended procedure by most international adoption pediatricians.
- Restore the sibling age exemptions for children adopted by United States citizens in order that families remain together by allowing Americans to adopt siblings, even if one is over age 16.
The adoption community and many hundreds of adoptive parents have been working with Senator Klobuchar for more than two years to bring about this important fix to the intercountry adoption process. Your timely response is in the best interest of children and your efforts will be greatly appreciated.

My hope remains high!!!

http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2010/07/29/u-s-department-of-state-notice-july-28-2010/

Miss Magic is on the go...

Thank you Aunt Suzie...I love this photo of HG!

WOW! We have been so busy lately...well, really all summer long and Halle-Grace loves every minute of it. She is such a social bug! She is SO much fun! Her new thing is "lyrical dance". You truly have to see it to believe it!!! Her song of choice is "Faithfully" by Journey (haha) and she dances the entire song...each time she adds a little more choreography! I've always heard that the best lyrical dancers use their facial expressions to tell the "story"...well, she has that down pat as well! Jason & I are amazed each and every day!

Nanny's beach bum. Thanks Nanny for the FUN in the SUN!

Miss Magic @ the Mrs. International Pageant. Is she precious or WHAT?

Miss Magic's Mama & Daddy in Time Square

The crowning moment went across the PR wire and has appeared many times on the Reuters Board in Time Square and Las Vegas. My goal is to bring a much brighter spotlight to ADOPTION this year!!!

We knew it was time...

It's hard to believe 2 years have passed since Jason & I received this image of Halle-Grace. We had already received our RFE from the government but this image completely broke our hearts and we knew it was TIME to bring her home...

Our Forever Family!

NCFA...In the Spotlight...Mrs. International 2010

This is SO exciting! Thank you NCFA!!!
https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/
Also in the news http://www.daylife.com/photo/01Cv9Pe0eye0P?q=North+Carolina

International Voice for Adoption....Mrs. International 2010

PR Newswire...also appearing on the Reuters Boards in Time Square & Las Vegas.

Shannon Devine, crowned Mrs. International 2010

I am still in total shock!!! On Saturday evening, I was crowned the 2010 Mrs. International in Chicago, IL. I competed with 52 of the MOST amazing women across the US and Internationally.

Miss Magic & me....just before starting my media interviews on Sunday morning in Chicago

The platform I will continue to represent throughout my reign is "Building Families Through the Miracle of Adoption". As you know, we have experienced the absolute JOY of the Journey and it's my goal to continue motivating and educating others, so they can also build their families. As Mrs. International and through my partnership with the National Council For Adoption, I will continue to spread my message of HOPE, inspiring others to NEVER give up on their dreams of building a family!

The Top 10 Finalists

I represented the Southeast Region and made amazing friendships with 52 amazing women. Pictured with Mrs. Arkansas. Christina is an advocate for the March of Dimes.

Mrs. International 2010...adoption advocate

EXCITING NEWS concerning Vietnam...

http://www.sbpost.ie/news/vietnam-law-change-may-allow-adoptions-to-resume-50161.html
 I received this exciting/promising link from Mer on Sunday. I contacted my friends at the National Council For Adoption (NCFA) and now they have it posted on the National Website!https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/intercountry-adoption/country-updates.html#vietnam
This news gives me chills! HOW EXCITING! Fingers crossed!

ONE person can make a difference in the life of a child waiting to be adopted

300 children are still in need of sponsorship to attend the KIDS AT HEART at Nationals Park on July 10th!
Your sponsorship of just $50.00 gives one child in foster care: Fun-filled pre-game picnic, premier seating during the baseball game, Kids at Heart t-shirt, Washington Nationals memorabilia, game snacks.
Click here to sponsor a child for this great event.
https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/events/kids-at-heart.html

The Journey to Halle-Grace (please turn speakers up)

Thank you!

FROSTY for Father's Day

Wendy's is celebrating the fourth annual Father's Day Frosty Weekend by satisfying Dad's sweet tooth and giving the whole family the satisfaction of helping thousands of children in the U.S. who are waiting for the love of forever families. During Father's Day Weekend, Wendy's will donate 50¢ for every Frosty sold to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA).

What does Adoption look like?

To me...Adoption is family! Adoption is Love! Adoption made me a mom!
Thank God for the Miracle of Adoption!

Best Ever You...Adoption Expert

I am FAR from an expert, however, I am thrilled about this new opportunity that will enable me to continue my mission of "Building Families Through The Miracle Of Adoption". I have been invited to join Best Ever You as their "adoption expert".I am honored and incredibly excited to write monthly about "adoption related topics". If you have any specific topics you would like to see covered, please leave a comment or email me.

Dance Fever!

Two beautiful girls who love the stage...

Saturday was Halle-Grace's 1st dance recital (Hannah's first with Step-n-Out)! They both had a great time and performed beautifully! Jada is a great dance teacher who truly loves her students. Thank you Ms. Jada for a great year...

What a little show off....she was SO adorable!

Hannah above performing with her gymnastics class...below HIP HOP!

Too cute for words.

Happy Birthday Jason!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my best friend, the man I married almost a decade ago...and Little Miss Magic's daddy! We love you!
Shannon & Halle-Grace

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Daddy's Girl for sure!

Happy Birthday Aunt Suzie

"Have your people call my people...and let's do lunch". Halle-Grace says this to Aunt Suzie. And for those of you who know my sister, Suzanne, she has the best laugh and it is non-stop when HG is around her! Miss Magic is crazy over Aunt Suzie...it doesn't surprise me, she's the most incredible sister a girl could ever ask for...We love you Suzie we're so blessed you're in our lives!
*Sorry Miss HG ate most of your salad at your birthday dinner :)

Top 10 Articles... AdoptiveFamiies

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe6516737d6707787516&m=feef16767c6c03&ls=fde81d7474600d787c1c7073&l=fec11375776c027f&s=fe3016707d63027c761771&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe2c167776650779701579

Miss Magic & Me

My daughter, my tiny miracle!

Moments like this...

CONGRATULATIONS to Riley and Matt on the adoption of the most beautiful baby boy...baby Will! I remember the very beginning of their journey and to witness the miracle of adoption complete their family is such a blessing!

And here's a sneak peek of our little blessing in her 1st dance recital costume...and some of her moves!! The recital is 2 weeks away...she is so adorable!

"I'm 2 1/2 and I ran my first mile"

I cannot believe my baby girl is 2 1/2!!!
So, what is Miss Magic up to these days.....If you ask her how old she is, she replies, "2 and a half"...she no longer says two! Miss Magic continues to sprinkle her magic dust everywhere she goes. She is SO friendly and talks to everyone! Her preschool has ended for the summer and her very 1st dance recital is coming up in 2 weeks! I'm so excited to watch her "show out".

Halle-Grace is such a smart little girl! She knows her ABCs, she can count, knows all of her colors, shapes (to include hearts, stars) and she can draw a smiley face and a heart and writes some numbers! She still loves art! We play dress up a lot and she LOVES to have a fashion show followed by a tea party. Yes, my long legs sit at the tiny princess table (one day the chair is going to break).
She & her dad love to go outside. She's his assistant "pool keeper" and helps him check the levels in the pool...she loves to swim AND YES, she ran a mile! We decided to take a little walk around our neighborhood and she insisted on running the ENTIRE mile! She's quite impressive...quite Magical!

Stay tuned for details on "An Evening Of Magic"

Thank you Uncle Ned for making my rocking horse.

Please vote for "DADDY AND ME"... Father's Day is coming up soon

Determination...What it takes to be an Elephant Mom

Thanks to "Best Ever You" Magazine, I had the opportunity to team up with another "elephant mom" aka Katie Eastman who lives in Maine and write about our journeys to our beautiful daughters. Katie and I had so much fun getting to know one another and sharing our stories. I found out very quickly that it is STILL very therapeutic to share about the the "journey" with others who have traveled a similar one.

To experience "the wait" alone would be devastating! I am so blessed that I found my adoption support group! If you're a frequent reader of this blog, you probably remember "The Hot Hens". I thank God for my Hens! I miss them all (hey hens, are we going to Sesame Place anytime soon? Disney will work too.....)

So, here's a link to our story, I hope you enjoy! http://www.besteveryou.com/bey/cali-halle-grace/

Be the VOICE for a child

May is National Foster Care Month and there are so many children in foster care (DSS custody) who need you, they need your voice!  Please consider becoming a Guardian Ad Litem...I'm glad I did:)

NCFA Takes Legal Action for Adopted Child Returned to Russia

From the NCFA website.
UPDATED: May 11, 2010, 3:30 pm EST: The National Council For Adoption (NCFA) has confirmed that the petition requesting an investigation into the actions of adoptive mother Torry Hansen and her mother, Nancy Hansen has been filed in the Shelbyville, Tennessee Circuit Court, along with a request that a guardian ad litem be appointed to represent the interests of the child.
Click below to read the entire press release
https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/images/stories/documents/051110%20legal%20action%20in%20tennesseeupdated.pdf

Reflection...Mother's Day

I have tried unsuccessfully (at least to this point) to upload my Mother's Day card! It is the sweetest thing I have ever heard! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can get this task accomplished! I have listened to the card at least 100 times! I had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day! I was able to spend the day with my amazing mom and entire family. Halle-Grace told me what my gifts were before she was suppose to...HAHA! How cute is she??!!! Jason had to laugh about her "telling" as well. She's so much fun!
On Mother's Day again this year, I couldn't help but think about a very special lady...somewhere in the world...the woman who gave birth to Halle-Grace. As Halle-Grace gets older and begins to fully understand, I want her to know how much her birth mother loved her. There are times when people will say, "why, how could she, that's terrible" and I always reply, "thank God she did, otherwise I wouldn't be Halle-Grace's mother". Jason & I made the trip to Tuyen Quang, Vietnam on September 1, 2008 and spent hours that day in Halle-Grace's orphanage (her home for the first 9 months of her life). To be completely honest, before making the trip to Vietnam there were times that I also wondered......I can tell you that during the 4 hour drive from Hanoi to TQ (where there are no roads, seriously, the people have NOTHING)...it all made complete sense! I know that her birth mother/family wanted Halle-Grace to have the BEST life possible! If you ask me, placing HG up for adoption has to be the greatest act of love... unconditional love, unselfish love!

Blessed and thankful for the MIRACLE of adoption!

Shannon

Nanny with the grandchildren on Mother's Day 2010...Hunter, Hannah & Halle-Grace.

Two years of blogging...

It's hard to believe I started blogging here two years ago on Mother's Day! I wanted to be a mom for such a long time! You see my journey to motherhood was NOT easy but 99.9% of the time the things you want, love and cherish the most...don't come easy! God was preparing me for Halle-Grace and the moment she was placed in my arms in TQ, Vietnam...ALL of the pain, questions, doubt, fear, guilt was suddenly GONE!

God used "life" to fully prepare me for the journey to becoming Miss Magic's mother. Sometimes I sit and wonder, why did HE choose me? Halle-Grace is such an amazing little girl! She's simply the BEST! She is smart, beautiful, friendly, funny...and has a way of "lighting" up a room the moment she enters it! God knew the struggle for Halle-Grace and the other 44 TQ children...He knew he would place me on the other side of the world, in a 3rd world country, waiting on her visa and rallying for the other children who needed a voice! I look back now and I am thankful I had the time to spend in her birth country learning about her beautiful culture. WOW, thank you Lord! I am her mom and that just blows me away! What a blessing! She's my perfect miracle!

The photo I had of Halle-Grace on Mother's Day 2008.

One Blessed Mother, Shannon Devine

President proclaims May 2010 National Foster Care Month.

President Obama proclaims May 2010 National Foster Care Month

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamation-national-foster-care-month

NCFA celebrates National Foster Care Month.
https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/events/national-foster-care-month.html

Adopt Shoppe

I found the neatest little on-line shopping place. http://www.adoptshoppe.com/ If you know someone who's adopting and want to find a special gift for their special new one...you may want to shop around. One thing in particular that I especially love are the "adoption baby books". Speaking from experience, these are not easy to find and most stores where you purchase baby books do not have "adoption" baby books. There's tons of other "neat" finds on the site as well.

Enjoy!
Shannon

Our little miracle...sweet images captured by Terra

She IS the sweetest...

Sweeeeettttt!

Miss Magic

Our Devine Miracle!

Devine Story makes the National Website

Read our success story on the National Council For Adoption (NCFA) website!

https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/intercountry-adoption/success-stories.html

Below is a poem I received from an adopted child who is now married and is truly making a difference in life. A huge advocate herself, she is fighting for a cure for cancer. If anyone can find a cure, Cydney has the determination and is constantly at work!
She wrote to me, "I love visiting your page and reading about your journey and your daughter. I am adopted and it is so special to me to view the experience through a mother's eyes. So, although we haven't met in person, I feel like I already know you...I'm grateful for you and the voice you give to the little girls who treasure mom's like you."

God Bless,
Cydney                                        

The Journey Home
Stop my fellow wanderer

Stand still on your path

Look up…Do you see Him?

Look beside you…Do you see them?

You and I were chosen

Yes, I too felt lost sometimes.

Crossing a bridge of uncertainty

With the battle of doubt ahead

But we were not unarmed…

You and I were chosen

Stop my fellow warrior

Look at the bridge you are standing on…

And see that it is yourself

Held strong by their choice.

We were never lost

We were just on the journey home.

Thank you Cydney! I will keep this poem for Halle-Grace always...and I hope we get to meet you soon.

The 2 1/2 year old scene

What's Miss Magic up to at 2 1/2? Halle-Grace's favorite word is "mine"! Everything belongs to her...in her sweet mind anyway! She is a complete HAM these days...more so than ever before. She has something new to amaze us with daily! SHE LOVES FLIP FLOPS! Poor thing will wear them til her toes have blisters! She has not a care in the world as long as she has her flip flops on and is "on the move". She is a complete "social butterfly"! She loves her friends, loves to learn, and loves to sing (Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Itzy Bitzy Spider, Jesus Loves Me, Happy Birthday..and more). A chorus teacher recently told us (after Miss Magic sang Happy Birthday to her son about a dozen times in a restaurant) "she can sing, she holds the pitch, etc". Well, of course, I think she can sing...but you all know her dad...haha....he has told everyone! He is so wrapped, it's really precious to see the two of them together! She is for sure A DADDY'S GIRL!
She is going to the potty very well. She loves taking dance/gymnastics and is quite the performer! I'm getting really excited about her dance recital in June. I'm sure she'll add some of her own special choreography :) She LOVES to play outside! She is incredibly friendly and outgoing...and SMART! Her vocabulary really surprises me (especially when you consider she didn't hear English until she was 9 1/2 months old)! She talks all the time (where does she get that?!) She knows all of her colors, her ABCs, can identify letter and numbers...and more! Above all, she is truly magical and the most precious gift we have ever received.We are incredibly blessed! I thank God for bringing us together as a forever family!!!

Miss Magic has a winning personality!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE MICKEY!!!!
Shannon Devine

Almost there...can we reach 20,000 signatures? You can Support the Miracle of Adoption

Can we reach 20,000 signatures on the petition letters that will be sent to President Medvedev and President Obama.

To sign the petition, click on the link below.
http://www.gopetition.com/online/35485.html

Be a VOICE for the children...children just like Halle-Grace.

THANK YOU for supporting the miracle of adoption!

Shannon Devine

We Are the Truth Petition

Read the full story...and what you can do to help.

http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/we-are-the-truth-a-call-to-action/#more-779

The petition will be sent to President Medvedev and President Obama. To sign the petition, click on the link below.
http://www.gopetition.com/online/35485.html

Be a VOICE for the children...children just like Halle-Grace.

Have a blessed day!

Shannon Devine