princess

it was carnival/fastnacht again last weekend... a kindergarten friend's mother made this beautiful dress for livia for christmas and she loves to put it on... in these pictures she's saying that she wants her brother to catch her after jumping at the bottom of the stairs... they are close pals.

then we went to a favorite park nearby... livia LOVES to swing, and is deeply inspired by how high her bro's can go

may we all fly high and feel loved in our lives

be a fan of respect

not sure why using the r-word hurts? go HERE to find out.

and thanks for making RESPECT the new r-word.

A DAY TO SAVE OLGA, my birthday wish for livia

in less than one month livia will be 5 years old... and i have a birthday wish to make from anybody reading this.

if you've been a regular visitor to livia-the-great then you'll remember sweet olga who just turned 5 yrs old and the invitation made (originally from reece's rainbow & patti @ a perfect lily) to help her find a forever family and to raise funds for her adoption fees...and this happened! the abell family stepped forward to adopt olga, and thanks to so many who gave so much, a grant of over $13,000 was raised for her adoption, a grant which is set aside for the final travel costs and fees that it will take to bring olga home. it will take every penny of that and then some... the abell family have done numerous fundraisers, and will continue to do so until they can bring olga home.


right now the they are in need of raising $7,000 that is required to submit their dossier for olga. they need to submit that dossier as soon as possible, for without that dossier it is not known if olga has been transferred yet to a mental institution... a mental institution where five year old girls are tied to cribs to keep them from climbing out.

the connection is clear: livia is turning 5 and it is an unfathomable thought that such a fate would await her.

it is also clear that there are so many children on this planet in need of being rescued from an unimaginably horrible life... or death.

i committed to helping at least ONE.

at the risk of dear olga losing her chance of being welcomed into the abell's family, i'm asking you to give in whatever way you can. $10, $20, $40 or $100 can go a long way to support this family to bring olga home.

this is my birthday wish for livia, for olga and for all children...

FREEDOM, LOVE & A FAMILY TO CALL THEIR OWN.

This is being called A Day to Save Olga, because there are about 17 of us blogging mamas who have set aside this day to blog, post on Facebook, pray, give and spread the word to SAVE OLGA.

Will you help us?

please go HERE to the abell's blogsite to donate... and THANK YOU for spreading the word...

liv & mama rollin'

swiss mountains, snow & sunshine

pure love giveaway

PLEASE GO HERE AND FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN FURTHER SUPPORT THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN TO GET HOME... PATTI at A PERFECT LILY IS DOING HER MAGIC AGAIN, & IT'S CALLED PURE LOVE GIVEAWAY... LET YOUR HEART BE TOUCHED! thank you...

papalove

guest post @ BLOOM

i was asked by louise kinross at BLOOM - Parenting Kids With Disabilities to write a guest post... she's a wonderful woman i am so grateful to have connected with, and the blog is filled with rich resources for parents. check it out if you're interested :-)

haircuts

help olga find a home

this is olga... a family stepped forward to adopt her through reece's rainbow- but the adoption process fell through last week. that means olga has been put back on the waiting children's page at reece's rainbow and is in great need of finding a home. due to patti's huge efforts to help fundraise for her before christmas, olga has a $12,709 grant for her forever family. becaue of her age, she faces being transferred this month to an institution, where the conditions are heart-breaking and inhuman.

no one deserves such a fate. many do not survive long there once transferred.

please spread the word about olga to help her find a family!

may magic prevail

happy new year...

the miracle of hope

lily's mom at A Perfect Lily is continuing to invite the miracle of hope into these little girls' lives this christmas... i want to help make this happen and invite you to be part of it too. please take it into your heart to give in whatever way possible... thank you!

Reece's Rainbow

Please be moved, inspired, disturbed and willing to take action.... please take part as so many are to bringing hope to where hope is needed. Reece's Rainbow helps families wanting to adopt a child with Down syndrome or other special needs.... Reece's Rainbow helps orphans who are desperately needing a family. Ultimately what's needed is funding.

So many others have said it better than I could, so read HERE or here or here to be informed and inspired and PLEASE make a choice of giving in whatever way is right for you.

And pass the word...

gratitude

we are grateful to life and to love

and for friends & family who circle their hearts

through our lives

and for small green elevators

on the way to speech therapy

in honor of mothers

this is livia with her booby-nana, my mother, who came to be with us while her other grandmother mük, was dying... and died last sunday. thank god for mothers. thank god for their love and patience and willingness to travel across the globe for us. thank god for their ability to let go and say goodbye, with endless gratitude in their hearts. thank god for little girls who blow kisses to grandma's who are leaving us either for good, or for a little while. thank god that we keep them all in our hearts, always.

friendship, nature & morning joy

big girl

lots happening in livi's world:

*kindergarten (full inclusion :-))

*great check-ups

*stubbornness, or loving to sit and NOT MOVE

(while signing 'eat', and saying 'stay mama'... as in: go and

get me lunch while i wait for you here on the sidewalk, mama)

*beloved papabikerides

*hangin' w bro...

we're having a great summer...

friday fun