The Playground is DONE!!!!

I am so emotional right now and started crying the minute I saw the email saying there were pictures of the new playground built at Alyssa's orphanage!!! I can't believe it's done and the children and nannies are enjoying it. How thrilling!!!

The playground arriving at the orphanage. WOW - looks like a lot of pieces!

Beginning to assemble the playground. The kids and nannies are watching in the background - they must have been so excited to see these brightly colorod playthings being built at their home!

Look at the little baby checking out the tunnel - too cute!!

And the little girl trying out the slide...

Some of the older children trying out the swingset!

The children and nannies checking out everything and testing the playground for the first time.

We also supplied some other items for the orphanage - for the inside - tables and chairs for mealtime and crafts, other toys and a few other things. I'll post pictures of those items as well if the Director sends any. WOW, our family is so excited about this!!!!

Tammy and the gang!

Helping local families

Two Homes One Heart has now expanded and has projects on the go that are helping local children as well as children in China and Ethiopia. We are working together with Snugglebugs, a local children's store, to help our local Island families. You can help by donating the following items:

BABY FORMULA

DIAPERS - especially sizes 3 & 5. We will accept opened packages. We know many times children are potty trained and there are diapers left over so we will gladly accept those!

BABY CEREAL

These items will be delivered to the Food Bank and distributed to many Island families who depend on the Food Bank and our community's generosity!

DROP OFF DONATIONS TO:

You can drop off donations to Snugglebugs at 85 Belvedere Avenue, Charlottetown. (Located beside Dow's Furniture and across the street from the big Superstore) We will make sure all items are delivered to the Food Bank!!!

Here is an excerpt from an earlier post I did about the local Food Bank and the needs of our Island families....please join us in sharing our love!

FYI: For the last 2 years a few friends and I have collected diapers and baby formula for our local food bank. We collected over 100 cans of formula and MANY packages of diapers both years. I talked with the coordinator of the Food Bank and these supplies only last for 3 months! There are many families with babies and toddlers who need our help in supplying them with food and diapers. Our mission for Two Homes One Heart is to help any and all children worldwide who need food, shelter, care and love. We cannot focus on international projects and forget the many children needing our care and love right here in our own communities. So, this year we are challenging our communties across PEI to collect 400 cans of formula to supply the food bank for the whole year! We would also like to collect this many packages of diapers and boxes of cereal! Can you help us? We can do this - together!!!

Thank you! We are looking forward to collecting many donations!

A huge success

We had our yard sale on Saturday! WOW, I'm really glad that's over. It was a lot of work but so worth it! We were able to raise $1173.60 for our new daughter's orphanage in Ethiopia. You can jump over to our adoption blog at www.themackinnons.blogspot.com to read more about it and to see pictures!

Still waiting to get pictures from Alyssa's orphanage in China! The playground should be finished now so the pictures should be coming shortly!

Our next big fundraiser is going to be held in November and we are having a dinner and art auction. Entertainment will be a Christmas cantata by a local choir (they are awesome). We are hoping to raise a lot of money at this event so we can help a few of the orphanges in the city where Alyssa was born. We are waiting to hear back from these orphanages to see what their biggest needs are right now.

Words of my heart

I have often tried to put into words why I am so compelled to advocate for children - especially orphans. I heard this song and it spoke the words in my heart. Especially the line "your pain changes me". It is so true, I will never be the same and I will continue to bring love and smiles to as many children as I can throughout my life. Listen carefully to the words of this song..."Your courage asks me what am I afraid of...". There is so much we can do and we have so much to give - our time, our love, our money, our compassion...so much to give...

YARD SALE!!!!

When: Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
(Raindate September 29th)
Where: Calvary Temple Parking Lot (Ch’town)
Time: 8:00am – 1:00pm

A great selection of furniture, bedding, boys & girls clothing (in great condition!),adult cothes, DVDs, games, lots of toys, books and many household items!!!

Enjoy lemonade, cookies and other great treats
at Caleb, Dylan and Alyssa’s “Lemonade for Hope” stand!

Mmmmm! Yummy

We are using all the funds to help the orphanage where our daughter is currently living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia..

Please join us in sharing our love!

THE PLAYGROUND ARRIVED!

I just received word that the all the playground equipment has arrived at Alyssa's orphanage!! They are beginning the assembly and the Director says she will send photos very soon! YAY!!!

We are waiting to hear from 2 other orphanages in Yongzhou City (same city as Alyssa's orphanage) to hear how we can assist them and the children who are living there!! Can't wait!!

Tammy

Waiting...

I haven't heard anything yet in regards to the playground arriving at the orphanage. I'm sure it must be there by now! We are also waiting to hear word about 2 other orphanages on the outskirts of Yongzhou City. We are hoping we can assist them with some of their needs as well as continuing with Alyssa's. Our contact in China, Susan, is getting some information for us on what the biggest needs are for the children.

I still haven't posted any info about our upcoming fundraisers becasue I'm still waiting for accurate dates for the events and locations. Please be patient and stay posted!!! Thank you!

The playground is on its way!

I received word today that the playground is being shipped as we speak from Beijing to Yongzhou City, Hunan. It should arrive at the orphange in a couple of days!!! WOW, I am so excited for them!

The Director of the orphange said she would take pictures of the playground being installed and the children and nannies enjoying it when it's completed. I will post them as soon as I get them.

Here are a few of the items we ordered for them...

We also ordered long tables and chairs for meal time and craft time, school desks/chairs, ride on cars, benches for the nannies and a few other things. I can't wait to see the pictures of the kids playing!

Are you beautiful?

Audrey Hepburn wrote the following when asked to share her beauty tips:

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands: one for helping yourself, and one for helping others!

Be beautiful today!