The World Gone Mad

Graces is the game you see pictured.  Each player has two sticks and he uses them to fling the hoop.  the second player tries to catch the hoop on her sticks.  It is a simple and charming game.

This is the warning on the game of graces we recently bought.

Caution: Not a Toy

The Games of Graces is a sporting games played with sports equipment--it is not a child's  toy.  The game is intended to be played by adults or with adult supervision of children at least 8 years old.  Be aware of players around you to avoid collisions; leave adequate space among player, and among spectators, to avoid hitting anyone with a  grace wand or with the flying hoop; wear eye protection to avoid injury from wands or with the flying hoops; do not send a hoop flying toward an opponent if that opponent is unaware of you actions; do not sent the hoop toward any player's head; if a hoop is coming towards your head, move to avoid contact; play on a flat suface to avoid falls . . . etc., etc., etc.

Sheesh!

Prayer for Religious Liberty

Almighty God, Father of all nations,
For freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1).
We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty
the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good.
Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties;
By your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and
for all those who live in this blessed land.
We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness,
and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

How To Be a Village

I found a great blog post about how to support others who are adopting.  It has many truths in it that extended family and friends should know. 

I especially like that the author tells others that the transition for the whole family is very, very, very, very, VERY hard.  That doesn't mean anything is wrong or that things aren't working.  It just very hard.  Even after two years Little Bear struggles with emotional regulation and over stimulation.  By the way, it is never helpful to express the opinion the "You asked for it" or "Maybe you shouldn't have adopted him" which at least one person has said to me. 

The author also reminds others that parents may put up boundaries that seem unreasonable, but are important  to create a cohesive family.  Boundaries like not visiting often at first or not kissing the newly adopted child are very hard to understand.  There are good reasons and they help a new child bond to the rest of the family.  When you respect these limits you show a great deal of love and respect for the new child and his family.

Enjoy!

http://www.jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/02/how-to-be-the-village

An Orphan's Wish is one of my favorite charities.  They are a foster home in China that cares for children with various special needs.  This place is different.  It shine with an inner light that comes from doing great work with great love, and the children shine, too.

An Orphan's Wish offers monthly sponsorships to contribute to the care of their kids, but for some $35.00 a month is just too much.  you can now sponsor a child for $10.00 a month by joining "The Dragon Club." 

Go.  Check it out.  You WILL fall in love the kids.


http://www.anorphanswish.org/





Holly says "Thank You!"

One step further

I love it when the kids go one step beyond what I have planned for them.  The older boys have a space themed bedroom.  The wall are blue and their linens have rockets and planets on them.  The curtains are covered with stars.  For Christmas they received glow-in-the-dark stars.  Instead of just sticking the stars up evenly over the ceiling as I would have done, they consulted their H. A. Rey book of constellations and arranged their stars with their favorite constellations.  I love that "good enough" wasn't good enough for them.  It had to be extraordinary.