$5 Magazine Fundraiser!

                       

I love magazines. If I had endless free time, half of it would be spent in a hot bath with a good home decor magazine and a cup of coffee.

For a short time, we are offering $5 magazine subscriptions for those of you who share my affinity! To sweeten the deal, through July 31 if you buy two or more subscriptions, you automatically get entered into our quilt giveaway. All profits go toward adoption expenses!

*please note a few are $7, not $5.

To order, select your magazines from the list below, email me at kelseydgolden@hotmail.com with your choices, your address and payment method. You can pay through Pure Charity or through Paypal to kelseydgolden@hotmail.com. I can also invoice! Just let me know in your email. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

$5 magazine choices:

Afar
All You
Barron's
Cigar Aficionado

Details
Economist

ESPN The Magazine
Essence (12)

Florida Trend

Fortune

Glamour
Golf Digest
Golf Magazine

Golfweek
Health
InStyle/Entertainment Weekly
Men's Health
Money
Money/Golf Magazine

New York Magazine
Outside

People en Espanol

People StyleWatch

Self/Glamour
Sports Illustrated/Golf Magazine
Sports Illustrated/Sports Illustrated Kids
Sports Illustrated Kids
The Wall Street Journal
Time

Time/Fortune

Vogue

Western Horseman

Wine Spectator

$7 magazine choices: 

Better Homes and Gardens|
Ever Day with Rachael Ray
People
Travel + Leisure

Yoga Journal

Maxisms #2

       

Adoption Day Playlist

                       

If you're like me, and every other mom in the world, certain songs make you think of your kids. We used Michael Franti's Let It Go in the video we made when fundraising to adopt Mikey. Nearly two years after creating the video, I still cannot hear it without choking up. And whenever Ray LaMontagne's You Are The Best Thing pops up on Pandora, Max invariably says "This song makes you think of your babies!"

So last week, on the morning of Mikey's adoption finalization, I began compiling all the songs that make me think of my little people when I hear them. I also asked some adoptive mama friends which ones they love too. The result was a pretty amazing playlist for Mikey's adoption day party.

• Home -- Phillip Phillips
• You Are The Best Thing -- Ray Lamontagne 
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered -- Stevie Wonder
• Let It Go -- Michael Franti
• Say Hey (I Love You) -- Michael Franti 
• Keep You Safe -- JJ Heller 
• I Will Walk With You -- John Fogerty 
• Ho Hey -- The Lumineers 
• Home -- Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeroes
• That's What's Up -- Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeroes or Lennon & Maisy
• A Thousand Years -- Christina Perri 
• Where You Lead -- Carole King 
• This Year's Love -- David Gray 
• Be Mine (remix) -- David Gray 

Hit random and you're set! What songs make you think of your kiddos? Did you make an adoption day playlist too? Share in the comments below!

Maxisms #1

           

Why China? -- Letting go and allowing the dream evolve

I was 8 years old when I decided I'd adopt a little girl from China some day. I'd heard about the one child policy in China and how girls were routinely abandoned or selectively aborted because having a boy is so strongly preferred. My 8-year-old heart broke. How could they not see the value in these little girls?

                        

In January 2011, after years of infertility struggles, Dan and I went to our local Bethany Christian Services office to get more info about their adoption program in China. At 28 years old, we knew we were too young, but were wondering if we could begin the home study and dossier process and submit when I turned 30. We went into the meeting with this plan and came out with both of us feeling God very clearly call us in a different direction -- domestic infant adoption.

In June 2012, 18 months after that meeting, we got a call from our social worker saying we'd finally been chosen. Five hours after that call, our baby was in our arms. He was a beautiful, tiny one week old African American boy, our Max Rudy. It was one of the most gloriously surreal days of my life.

Dan and I decided early on after Max's adoption we wanted to adopt another child of African descent. We felt it was the best decision for Max, to grow up with a sibling that looks like him. Kiddos who are adopted already have so much to wrestle with in terms of feeling like they don't belong; why add to that unnecessarily?

Our feelings about adopting another black child were confirmed when we saw Michael's face. We knew he was the one. Our gorgeous Ugandan boy came home in August 2014 and became a big brother.

Throughout Michael's adoption, and especially while in Uganda, we talked a lot about adopting another Ugandan child some day. We hoped and prayed that Michael would grow up with a sibling from his birth culture, one who could relate to his life there, one who would share in his joy when we return for visits. We imagined spending time in Uganda with Max and Michael while going through the adoption process again, seeing friends, visiting places we love with them.

We've prayed. We've begged God. We've asked the powers that be repeatedly. And for reasons unknown to us, God's answer, at least so far, has been "no."

My heart was so heavily burdened by this I did the only thing I could think of to do, I let go. I said to God "I do not understand this, but I trust you" and I let go.

While exploring options and waiting to hear if we could adopt from Uganda again, our social worker messaged me and said that based on our criteria, a child under age 3 with special needs, she thought China would be a good fit. I was taken aback. I imagined suggestions of domestic infant or another African country. China wasn't even on my radar. I mean, we have two black sons. Put simply, I thought we'd only adopt black children.

But I began to pray. And I kept hearing God say to me "you've let go of your dream before and trusted me. Will you do it again?"

I began thinking about how I'd always imagined I'd adopt a little girl from China. I have imagined her so much I can practically see her face and the little dress she'd wear. The dream was so alive and so vivid.

But I knew when God was calling me to walk away from that dream. Had I not trusted Him, I wouldn't have said "yes" to Max, I wouldn't have said "yes" to Michael, these two precious boys who are my heart and soul.

So I let go. I let go of my dream and handed it over to Him, knowing His dream for me is far better than anything I could ever imagine.

Sensory Play -- Finger Paints!

                                     

Lately we've been working on some sensory play with Michael in occupational therapy. Previously, Michael's hands have been clenched in a fist unless he was sleeping. We began using some amazing little splints from Joe Cool and he now has open, relaxed hands most of the time. 

Because his hands have been clenched most of his life, he's hasn't been able to explore textures with his hands much, which has led to some sensory aversions. You should see his face when we put a Koosh ball in his hand! He's absolutely disgusted by them. 

Today we decided to do some finger paint play. To my surprise, he wasn't grossed out and actually seems to enjoy it!

Some other messy, fun sensory play ideas:

Shaving cream 
Kinetic sand 
Uncooked beans or rice 
Cool Whip -- yummy too!

We used washable finger paints from Crayola. A set of 8 is just a few dollars from Target. 

Whoops! This is why we chose washable paints! 

Michael takes his art very seriously. 

Max's finger paint masterpiece was finished in no time and he'd moved on before I had a chance to catch him in action! 

Messy hand of a happy little boy. 

Michael's finished masterpiece 

It is finished

I saw his face for the first time on November 10, 2013. I remember the date because it was my 31st birthday. I saw his face and instantly I knew he was going to be my son. 

Seven months later, I held him in my arms for the first time, choking back the tears so as to not scare him. 

Three weeks apart as our agency required us to return home while we waited for our ruling. Every day I sat in the tub, gripping my knees and sobbing uncontrollably, aching for him to be in my arms again. 

Five weeks in Uganda. Five weeks of him visibly sick and crying every night, soothing him as I sang Roger Miller's greatest hits from beginning to end to him countless times. Five weeks together, dozens of blown out diapers, vomit cleaned from the floor, impromptu baths. Dozens of nights snuggled up watching Gilmore Girls together and feeling like I should pinch myself and wake up. So exhausted, but so overjoyed to have this beautiful boy in my arms. 

Ten and a half months home growing to know each other, learning to make him laugh, learning what makes him cry. Countless appointments, but the change is extraordinary. This little one has gone from a happy, but frail, tiny baby to a healthy, ornery and joy-filled preschooler. 

606 days from the first time I saw this tiny little one and read those first few short sentences about him -- "Mason is a happy boy who thrives on attention from adults. He carries the diagnosis of cerebral palsy." 

606 days from the day I thought "he's going to be my son" the judge said to me "your son, Michael Isaiah Okiror Golden." 

An orphan no more. Loved, treasured, cherished. My son. 

Win A Handmade Quilt!

If you're here, chances are you've seen our news -- we are adopting again! 

Here's what we know so far: Our hope is to pursue another waiting child with special needs, this time from China. We are waiting to really dive into waiting child profiles until we have most of the funds raised, either through things like this or grants for kiddos with special needs. We are open to just about any need, with our two criteria being we'd like a child younger than Max and we hope for a child who can learn to be independent as an adult. 

So, to kick things off, we are giving away a quilt! For every $10 donation, you'll get one entry or you can get three entries for $25. I need sell a minimum of 10 entries to cover my expenses. If we don't meet that goal, I'll refund everyone's money. This quilt measure 48" x 62",  perfect size for snuggling up on the couch. I would typically sell this for about $100 + shipping! 

You can enter either by Paypal at kelseydgolden@hotmail.com or by clicking that "donate" button to the right! If you'd like to enter by check, please email me and I'll send you our mailing address! 

Entries will close at 11:59 PM on July 31. I will notify the winner on August 1!