Okay...my dear friend Titanium Woman tagged me to tell 10 of my husband's favorite things. Hmmmmm....seeing as Dixie (the PITA that she is) seems to be the reason he lives and breathes, maybe I can get away with using her for numbers 1-10?
No?
Okay...let's see....
(And, of course, in no particular order!)
1. Dixie. I tell you, I have never seen anyone more enamoured with a dog in my life. He carries this 67 pound beast around like a baby. She whines, he jumps. She bats her little doggy eyelashes, he's PUTTY. That dog is the reason that I know he will be a great dad--if he's this much of a sap over a DOG, I can only imagine the trouble I will be in for when Emma comes along...
2. Airplanes. Loves them, flies them, watches them, learns about them, spouts off useless information about them, was made for them. Enough said.
3. His parents. John truly does love his parents. He has the total love of a son for his mom that I hope to have one day with a son of my own. (No, I don't want Emma to be an only child!! With how much her daddy will spoil her, I will need someone to balance the power!!!) He has an admiration for his mother that is very touching in a man, and though he won't admit it, he is a total momma's boy. Which is not a bad thing. And his dad...his dad was a wonderful, brilliant man who John misses every day, even though he doesn't voice it. He doesn't have to. I know how much his dad meant to him every time he tells me something I know he wishes he could tell his dad, or every time he looks at a plane (see above) or hears Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be An American,"-- I know that John's world is what it is because of his dad and I know that for John, no greater man has ever lived.
4. Virginia Tech Football. This is a love we both share! In fact, let's just change that to Virginia Tech period--football one part of the many things we both love about Tech. We met there, fell in love there, and in a sense, grew up together there. Blacksburg is beautiful, we love our Hokies and know that little Emma will love it as much as we will. Period.
5. Camping. God love him, he's a camper. Bless his heart, I am not. He loves it. Loves the cold, brisk air so he can snuggle into a sleeping bag and hear the crickets chirp. Loves to cook a gourmet steak meal over an open fire with soaked oak chips. Lives for sitting around said fire with good friends and some Wild Turkey or Jack Daniels. In fact, is going camping this very weekend and is soooo excited, even I can't stand it for him!
7. Fishing. Much like camping, fishing is something John just loves. One with nature, thrill of the catch--all that mess. More than that, he loves to eat those babies up, so for the most part, I'm ok with him loving to fish. I'm not a big fish fan, though, so, it's just for the most part I'm ok with it...I hate those poor little fish eating the hook just for the sport. Then again, it does make my boy soooooo happy...
8. Cooking. I know, I know..I'm lucky. He may not readily admit that he loves cooking, but he does. He has a spice cabinet that is far more extensive than my shoe collection in its diversity, and you can just see him go to his happy place when he samples something marvelous he's made. It's just plain magic.
9. Carpentry. Again, I know I am lucky. He loves creating and building things and he is SOOOOOO darned good at it!! I mean, right now...the boy has--from scratch, mind you--designed, bought supplies for and nearly finished a shed. In just a couple of days. After work. AND BY HIMSELF! He's amazing in the things he can see in his mind, and even more amazing in how he can bring them to life. I TOTALLY tell him just to pay someone to do it, and he says no because he enjoys it!! Go figure. (But, keep building, honey, keep building!!)
10. Traveling. He LOVES to go on adventures...the more off the beaten path, the better. Drives me NUTS. He's all about the experience of the unknown--the adrenaline, the thrill of the something unique and individual. He's the one that wants to just drive through some small village in the middle of Italy and HOPE someone is willing to just take us in for dinner and a bed. More than that, he's the one that has DONE that...and is a better person for the whole affair. He's one brave fellow, that guy!
Wow...I thought this would be difficult--at least to be authentic about it, but it wasn't. John is the most intelligent, hard-working (under the right motivation) adventurous man I know. He is a sap with animals and I know he will be so with his little girl. He is trust-worthy and very well-respected among his peers for his ability to be diplomatic and open-minded.
Yep, I guess I did alright.
Now...TAG to: Monica, Nanci, Amber and Lisa
I'd love to TAG Maria, but seeing as she is bringing The Princess home, she may be a bit busy!!!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Don't let the flu bug hit ya on the way out....Part Deux
I totally think that is the same name as a post I had earlier in the year...and yet, it is applicable months later. I feel yucky! Sore throat, neck and shoulders achy, headache, tired--just yucky. I had three parents email me this morning to tell me that their little darlings would not be in school because they all had the flu--same symptoms. Hooray! Another reason I just love teaching!!
So, as I sit here with some whiskey tea and an achy body, I will document some things I ponder from time and maybe I can get some insight....
Why does Google Reader tell me that some of the blogs I follow don't have access to feed when I try to list them as blogs I follow? Does it have anything to do with those blogs being private? Don't know, but there are more blogs than the ones listed at the right that I follow and I tried to add them and get that "can't find the feed" line...hmmm...
Why can't I get my dog to listen to and obey me? She totally is capable, and does, when she wants...when John is gone in November, she'll be attending Mommy Boot Camp. One of us is going down. Safe money's on me. John says I have the resolve of lead. Hmph. He needs to watch out or he'll get to test that theory.
Why can I not remember to make the stupid appointments for my ta-tas until AFTER hours and I can't? I stress every day that I will die a short death of breast cancer, yet--still no appointment with Bethesda...and it's all my fault.
How do we have so much junk mail that I don't throw out because I might need to do something with it and so I put it in one of my famous piles? Why can't I just get rid of those piles?
What are school staff members supposed to do with 'school pictures' that they get? Seriously. The photographer last year, who retook my picture because I looked like a moose in the first take, told me that it wasn't that bad a picture and surely my mom would love it. Well, actually, it was a HORRID picture and seeing as my mom was dead, I doubted it. For real, I know Lifetouch needs to stay in business, but I don't NEED (nor necessarily want) pictures of me. So, Facebook profile it is...
Why can't I remember more things I have pondered when I actually sit down to ponder them? Maybe it's the temperature I am running.
So, as stated before, flu bug, be gone!
****ADDED**** As suspected, this exact title has been used by me--in April--hence Part Deux
So, as I sit here with some whiskey tea and an achy body, I will document some things I ponder from time and maybe I can get some insight....
Why does Google Reader tell me that some of the blogs I follow don't have access to feed when I try to list them as blogs I follow? Does it have anything to do with those blogs being private? Don't know, but there are more blogs than the ones listed at the right that I follow and I tried to add them and get that "can't find the feed" line...hmmm...
Why can't I get my dog to listen to and obey me? She totally is capable, and does, when she wants...when John is gone in November, she'll be attending Mommy Boot Camp. One of us is going down. Safe money's on me. John says I have the resolve of lead. Hmph. He needs to watch out or he'll get to test that theory.
Why can I not remember to make the stupid appointments for my ta-tas until AFTER hours and I can't? I stress every day that I will die a short death of breast cancer, yet--still no appointment with Bethesda...and it's all my fault.
How do we have so much junk mail that I don't throw out because I might need to do something with it and so I put it in one of my famous piles? Why can't I just get rid of those piles?
What are school staff members supposed to do with 'school pictures' that they get? Seriously. The photographer last year, who retook my picture because I looked like a moose in the first take, told me that it wasn't that bad a picture and surely my mom would love it. Well, actually, it was a HORRID picture and seeing as my mom was dead, I doubted it. For real, I know Lifetouch needs to stay in business, but I don't NEED (nor necessarily want) pictures of me. So, Facebook profile it is...
Why can't I remember more things I have pondered when I actually sit down to ponder them? Maybe it's the temperature I am running.
So, as stated before, flu bug, be gone!
****ADDED**** As suspected, this exact title has been used by me--in April--hence Part Deux
Monday, October 6, 2008
Still Hangin' Tough...
Oh, of course I still am! Today everyone was asking about how the concert went, and OF COURSE, I had to gush, gush and gush some more. I still just can't get over what great seats we had, how great they sounded, how much love Joe shared with me, you know...the usual! Ha ha...so, anyway, I just got to keep reliving the whole thing all day long. Which is good for John because man, oh man, is he tired of hearing about it!
SO, anyway..as I am walking down memory lane this weekend, on Facebook, I stumble along two TOTAL crushes I had growing up! One, since 3rd grade. The other, the one who took the place of the one from 3rd grade when we were in 9th grade. In fact, as I have told John before, this one was the one who started my trend with tall, blond, blue-eyed boys! Anyway, I didn't (STILL--which sort of irks me) have the guts to request friendship with the one from 3rd grade, but I TOTALLY sent a message to my friend from high school because though I had a massive crush on him, he was fairly oblivious (or just really polite) and we were friends regardless. So, it has been fun to see what has happened 20 years later! Bless his heart, I actually pulled out my scrapbook and found all sorts of momentos to him or from him that have still been saved (along with my NKOTB official corresopondence as a fan club member)and am actually a little (um, a LOT) embarrassed by my...stalking, for lack of a better word, I guess. Luckily, he is as good-natured now as he was back in high school, and has laughed along with me at my crazy teenage girl crush evidence! (Or, again, just being really polite!) The reason I put this all out there is because it turns out he has a website that I have visited before and never even known it. Apparently, KD, my ninth and tenth grade crush, is the owner of Yogi the Pug, a world-famous cutie that someone sent me the link to not too long ago. Isn't it a strange, small world? Seriously, not too long ago, a friend and I were laughing at some picture someone sent me that had SugarBush the Squirrel dressed up, and somehow, Yogi's picture got sent to me and I visited his website! Who would have thought in a million years that Yogi's dad was the same boy I was goo-goo eyed over in high school? Sure not me...
Sooooo...in answer to so many who have asked how I can not be totally embarrassed about my NKOTB craze...here's how:
In essence, the 35-year old woman I am says that it was a lot of money to spend, especially since we are pinching pennies for Emma and that catching up on all these people from high school via Facebook TOTALLY wastes time (that I complain I don't have in the first place) and energy.
BUT--and here's the BIG BUT--the 15-16 year old, short, gawky big-glasses wearing, big teethed, frizzy-haired, giddy, giggly and ridiculously girly girl in me is SCREAMING inside!!! Joey Joe blew ME a kiss!!! KD actually REMEMBERS ME!!! Let me reiterate--SCREAMING inside. Sometimes it takes TWENTY FREAKING YEARS, but even ugly ducklings get a swan moment once or twice in their life!!
SO, anyway..as I am walking down memory lane this weekend, on Facebook, I stumble along two TOTAL crushes I had growing up! One, since 3rd grade. The other, the one who took the place of the one from 3rd grade when we were in 9th grade. In fact, as I have told John before, this one was the one who started my trend with tall, blond, blue-eyed boys! Anyway, I didn't (STILL--which sort of irks me) have the guts to request friendship with the one from 3rd grade, but I TOTALLY sent a message to my friend from high school because though I had a massive crush on him, he was fairly oblivious (or just really polite) and we were friends regardless. So, it has been fun to see what has happened 20 years later! Bless his heart, I actually pulled out my scrapbook and found all sorts of momentos to him or from him that have still been saved (along with my NKOTB official corresopondence as a fan club member)and am actually a little (um, a LOT) embarrassed by my...stalking, for lack of a better word, I guess. Luckily, he is as good-natured now as he was back in high school, and has laughed along with me at my crazy teenage girl crush evidence! (Or, again, just being really polite!) The reason I put this all out there is because it turns out he has a website that I have visited before and never even known it. Apparently, KD, my ninth and tenth grade crush, is the owner of Yogi the Pug, a world-famous cutie that someone sent me the link to not too long ago. Isn't it a strange, small world? Seriously, not too long ago, a friend and I were laughing at some picture someone sent me that had SugarBush the Squirrel dressed up, and somehow, Yogi's picture got sent to me and I visited his website! Who would have thought in a million years that Yogi's dad was the same boy I was goo-goo eyed over in high school? Sure not me...
Sooooo...in answer to so many who have asked how I can not be totally embarrassed about my NKOTB craze...here's how:
In essence, the 35-year old woman I am says that it was a lot of money to spend, especially since we are pinching pennies for Emma and that catching up on all these people from high school via Facebook TOTALLY wastes time (that I complain I don't have in the first place) and energy.
BUT--and here's the BIG BUT--the 15-16 year old, short, gawky big-glasses wearing, big teethed, frizzy-haired, giddy, giggly and ridiculously girly girl in me is SCREAMING inside!!! Joey Joe blew ME a kiss!!! KD actually REMEMBERS ME!!! Let me reiterate--SCREAMING inside. Sometimes it takes TWENTY FREAKING YEARS, but even ugly ducklings get a swan moment once or twice in their life!!
Friday, October 3, 2008
I TOLD you I'll Be Loving You Forever...
Okay, okay...I will no longer call them OPOTB. (Though, some of the songs still validate that moniker!) I will just call them THE BEST CONCERT OF MY LIFE!!!
Yep--with much trepidation, I admit, Nanci and I drove over to the Verizon Center last night and had the time of our lives!! NOT only were the seats freaking FABULOUS, they got BETTER!!! Yep...our seats were 3rd (YES, THIRD) row...just a little left. They were incredible. We were just shocked (though that's what lots of money buys, I guess) at how flippin' close we were. Then we realized that the row we were in was not very full at all. I guess most know that you don't have to get there right on time because who you really want to see doesn't even come on until about an hour after the show starts. So...we figure we'll move down a few seats to be practically at the best place (minus the stage) in the whole arena. We were there for a bit and really couldn't believe how our great seats got even better. And THEN, they got better than that!! Apparently, the people who had tickets for the seats we moved to came, and that was no problem, we just slid on down back to our seats. The thing is, though, they wanted to have their group of four sit together and they only had two seats in our row--their other two seats were TWO ROWS UP!!! TWO ROWS UP!! FRONT ROW! So, they asked if we would mind trading. WHAT? Unfortunately, the two they needed for their group were two on the other side of us, but I told them that if I was them, I'd sit there and we would all move to our regular seats if the official ticket holders came back. They agreed, and sat down, while Nanci and I hopped right on up -- to literally where we could get no closer!! It was AMAZING! We made friends with the girls behind us (who, we learned, paid about the same we did and got to MEET the 'Kids'--but said it was sort of awkward, so Nanci and I are glad the myth hasn't been debunked!) while the two new girls on the other side of us basically told us that we should switch seats with them (as ours were better) because they paid good money to be where we were (which they didn't, or they WOULD have been where we were) and we didn't. Ummm...no. I heard this conversation going on with them and Nanci, and purposely stayed out of it because Nanci was handling it just fine and I would have been snappy. Better to not start an argument and mess up a good thing. In the end, they ended up moving to where they wanted anyway, and we still had great placements, so, whatever.
So...let me tell you, the concert was amazing. They TOTALLY played the good stuff...and the new stuff they played? Well, they played the more benign stuff and some of it you couldn't even make the words out the words to very well, so...we enjoyed the great beat, the dancing, and the fact that we could SMELL THEIR COLOGNE, we were that close!!!! Now...here's the best part. And, if you are a Facebook friend, you already know this. Joey loves me. He does. Ask Nanci, ask the girls behind me...ask that whole front section. NOT ONLY did he and I share eye contact and face time on at least SIX different and countable occasions, he blew a kiss AT ME. TOTALLY AT ME. And I am not making this up--ask Nanci! I wouldn't have believed it myself, if I wasn't there, but he DID! AND...as I nearly had a conniption fit that he did, he and Donnie (who totally dug Nanci and her button--winks were witnessed!) laughed about my reaction. FOR REAL, friends...FOR REAL. Does it get any better???
Seriously, I had such a great time last night and the concert was fabulous and I am so happy that my high school crushes still remain (keeps me young) and LOVE ME BACK! Ha ha...they put on a great show and the outrageous amount of money it took to get there was worth EVERY PENNY. According to the girls beside us, it was worth more, apparently!!
I was a little peeved because they distinctly said no cameras, recording devices, etc...and the place was FULL of them, so Nanci and I were stuck with our camera phones, but at least we have some proof.
Here's Nanci and me just giddy beyond belief!
Here's Joey Joe on his knees crooning!
Here's Nanic's man...Donnie--her first DW!
You tube is alive with some video already, so I will have to download those as well and create my NKOTB folder.
John? Yeah, well, not to worry. As Joey is happily married with a new baby and I am happily married (with a new baby hopefully very soon) I guess we will just remain the star-crossed lovers we have been for the last 20 years. Another time, another place? Who knows? In any event, the chaste kiss blown to me was enough to make my heart pitter patter with thanks to them--if for no other reason but the glorious walk down memory lane.
Now...back to real life!
Yep--with much trepidation, I admit, Nanci and I drove over to the Verizon Center last night and had the time of our lives!! NOT only were the seats freaking FABULOUS, they got BETTER!!! Yep...our seats were 3rd (YES, THIRD) row...just a little left. They were incredible. We were just shocked (though that's what lots of money buys, I guess) at how flippin' close we were. Then we realized that the row we were in was not very full at all. I guess most know that you don't have to get there right on time because who you really want to see doesn't even come on until about an hour after the show starts. So...we figure we'll move down a few seats to be practically at the best place (minus the stage) in the whole arena. We were there for a bit and really couldn't believe how our great seats got even better. And THEN, they got better than that!! Apparently, the people who had tickets for the seats we moved to came, and that was no problem, we just slid on down back to our seats. The thing is, though, they wanted to have their group of four sit together and they only had two seats in our row--their other two seats were TWO ROWS UP!!! TWO ROWS UP!! FRONT ROW! So, they asked if we would mind trading. WHAT? Unfortunately, the two they needed for their group were two on the other side of us, but I told them that if I was them, I'd sit there and we would all move to our regular seats if the official ticket holders came back. They agreed, and sat down, while Nanci and I hopped right on up -- to literally where we could get no closer!! It was AMAZING! We made friends with the girls behind us (who, we learned, paid about the same we did and got to MEET the 'Kids'--but said it was sort of awkward, so Nanci and I are glad the myth hasn't been debunked!) while the two new girls on the other side of us basically told us that we should switch seats with them (as ours were better) because they paid good money to be where we were (which they didn't, or they WOULD have been where we were) and we didn't. Ummm...no. I heard this conversation going on with them and Nanci, and purposely stayed out of it because Nanci was handling it just fine and I would have been snappy. Better to not start an argument and mess up a good thing. In the end, they ended up moving to where they wanted anyway, and we still had great placements, so, whatever.
So...let me tell you, the concert was amazing. They TOTALLY played the good stuff...and the new stuff they played? Well, they played the more benign stuff and some of it you couldn't even make the words out the words to very well, so...we enjoyed the great beat, the dancing, and the fact that we could SMELL THEIR COLOGNE, we were that close!!!! Now...here's the best part. And, if you are a Facebook friend, you already know this. Joey loves me. He does. Ask Nanci, ask the girls behind me...ask that whole front section. NOT ONLY did he and I share eye contact and face time on at least SIX different and countable occasions, he blew a kiss AT ME. TOTALLY AT ME. And I am not making this up--ask Nanci! I wouldn't have believed it myself, if I wasn't there, but he DID! AND...as I nearly had a conniption fit that he did, he and Donnie (who totally dug Nanci and her button--winks were witnessed!) laughed about my reaction. FOR REAL, friends...FOR REAL. Does it get any better???
Seriously, I had such a great time last night and the concert was fabulous and I am so happy that my high school crushes still remain (keeps me young) and LOVE ME BACK! Ha ha...they put on a great show and the outrageous amount of money it took to get there was worth EVERY PENNY. According to the girls beside us, it was worth more, apparently!!
I was a little peeved because they distinctly said no cameras, recording devices, etc...and the place was FULL of them, so Nanci and I were stuck with our camera phones, but at least we have some proof.
Here's Nanci and me just giddy beyond belief!
Here's Joey Joe on his knees crooning!
Here's Nanic's man...Donnie--her first DW!
You tube is alive with some video already, so I will have to download those as well and create my NKOTB folder.
John? Yeah, well, not to worry. As Joey is happily married with a new baby and I am happily married (with a new baby hopefully very soon) I guess we will just remain the star-crossed lovers we have been for the last 20 years. Another time, another place? Who knows? In any event, the chaste kiss blown to me was enough to make my heart pitter patter with thanks to them--if for no other reason but the glorious walk down memory lane.
Now...back to real life!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Busy bees burn out fast!
Well...I have the best of intentions and worst of applications sometimes with the things I plan to do with my time. One thing was to get pictures of the beautiful little blanket my co-worker made for Emma on here. So, here they are...
I just can't say how generous she was and how thoughtful her thinking of us is.
Also, Emma's bedding came in! We visited mom's this weekend to help fix up after some remodeling and I took it to show her. Turns out a framed cross stitch work that mom did long ago and was in John's room will go perfectly with her bedding colors, and therefore will have a spot in the nursery. Here are pictures of both...the cross stitch doesn't show the colors as vividly as they are, but they do match rather nicely!
We also got news that our dossier had been given to the Kyrgyz embassy last Thursday and we should expect to wait another 30 days or so for it to be released! I'm very excited about that, and content with the pace things are moving and the direction they are going! Love it when plans come together.
So..now, busy at school, busy at home, busy everywhere. I am going to see OPOTB (Old Perverts on the Block) Thursday and look forward to hanging out with Nanci and hopefully walking down memory lane (and not into the gates of hell)!
I know, I know...
I just can't say how generous she was and how thoughtful her thinking of us is.
Also, Emma's bedding came in! We visited mom's this weekend to help fix up after some remodeling and I took it to show her. Turns out a framed cross stitch work that mom did long ago and was in John's room will go perfectly with her bedding colors, and therefore will have a spot in the nursery. Here are pictures of both...the cross stitch doesn't show the colors as vividly as they are, but they do match rather nicely!
We also got news that our dossier had been given to the Kyrgyz embassy last Thursday and we should expect to wait another 30 days or so for it to be released! I'm very excited about that, and content with the pace things are moving and the direction they are going! Love it when plans come together.
So..now, busy at school, busy at home, busy everywhere. I am going to see OPOTB (Old Perverts on the Block) Thursday and look forward to hanging out with Nanci and hopefully walking down memory lane (and not into the gates of hell)!
I know, I know...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Can you say lockdown (without shaking)?
Well...first, go here...
Now...factor in that the bank is barely a mile, if that from my school. Add in that the place the robbers left the first car is at the end of the street from my school. Join that with the complete roadblocks of any road that leads to (or from) my school and put lock down words in quotes and you have my morning.
I will not lie. I was scared. When one hears words they know signify something of mal intent on the horizon, and realizes that it was not planned, one tends to worry about the sweet little 7-year olds in her care. Hypothetically speaking, of course. I have been part of a lock down before, in North Carolina, and that was scary, but somewhat removed. Hearing helicopters ON TOP OF YOU and knowing they are searching for someone (or someones)in your back yard, and you are not exactly sure of what is going on is very disconcerting. And let me tell you, anyone who underestimates the ability of kids to correctly assess the gravity of a situation is just plain wrong. My kids are SMART and asked SMART questions and had SMART responses. I was very proud of them, and once I found out (officially) that we were pretty much taking precautionary measures, I made sure to praise them! Observant little buggers, though! One parent, who very sweetly thanked me for taking care of her baby (my pleasure) told me that her son said he wasn't scared, but that he knew I was a little worried because my hand was shaking when I was trying to text John (to find out WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON!). A little worried. Bless his heart. The fact that once our doors were reopened and the kids acted as if they had not even been aware of a situation tells me that I did well, and so did my school, in a scary situation. Thank goodness that woman and her children are safe, and thank goodness those bad men decided to take their dough and GET AWAY! Leave the babies ALONE!
Now...factor in that the bank is barely a mile, if that from my school. Add in that the place the robbers left the first car is at the end of the street from my school. Join that with the complete roadblocks of any road that leads to (or from) my school and put lock down words in quotes and you have my morning.
I will not lie. I was scared. When one hears words they know signify something of mal intent on the horizon, and realizes that it was not planned, one tends to worry about the sweet little 7-year olds in her care. Hypothetically speaking, of course. I have been part of a lock down before, in North Carolina, and that was scary, but somewhat removed. Hearing helicopters ON TOP OF YOU and knowing they are searching for someone (or someones)in your back yard, and you are not exactly sure of what is going on is very disconcerting. And let me tell you, anyone who underestimates the ability of kids to correctly assess the gravity of a situation is just plain wrong. My kids are SMART and asked SMART questions and had SMART responses. I was very proud of them, and once I found out (officially) that we were pretty much taking precautionary measures, I made sure to praise them! Observant little buggers, though! One parent, who very sweetly thanked me for taking care of her baby (my pleasure) told me that her son said he wasn't scared, but that he knew I was a little worried because my hand was shaking when I was trying to text John (to find out WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON!). A little worried. Bless his heart. The fact that once our doors were reopened and the kids acted as if they had not even been aware of a situation tells me that I did well, and so did my school, in a scary situation. Thank goodness that woman and her children are safe, and thank goodness those bad men decided to take their dough and GET AWAY! Leave the babies ALONE!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
What am I in for?
Okay, friends...remember when I was SOOOOOO psyched to go see the New Kids On The Block concert with my dear friend Nanci???
Well...that psyched-ness has now given way to fear. Fear because I bought the CD, thinking it would be good to know some of the new songs and I am just so disappointed I can't even begin to tell you. (Okay, well, obviously that isn't true as I sit here and type about it, but I'm trying to express my state of mind!)
Songs like "Sexify My Love" and "Dirty Dancing"--which are pretty explicit in their innuendo, as well as "Lights, Camera, Action" (imagine making your own porno) and "Full Service" (where you don't even have to get out of your car) are truly terrifying me. NOT so much because I think they will play more of these new trash songs instead of the old, bubble-gum songs I want to hear, but more because this is the type of trash that girls all over this country (and now the world, as they have international concert dates) listen to and are swayed by and DON'T NEED TO HEAR. One song talks about how they are content with their girlfriend at home but there's this one "shorty" and, well...he can take a shower when he gets home so she won't know. WHAT THE HECK???? On what planet is it okay to propagate the idea that cheating on one's significant other is OK? Oh, wait, this one. More specifically, this country. And, sadly for Nanci (who loved Donnie) a majority of the songs (that one too) were written by him--or at least co-written. No wonder he's recently divorced. Maybe the plumbing wasn't working in his house the night he was dirty dancing.
I am so disheartened by all of this.
I hate to say it, but even if they DON'T play any of these songs at the concert, I will still probably have a hard time simply because I know what degrading and demeaning words they are standing behind. After listening to a lot of those songs, I feel like I need a shower myself.
So. Here's my plan. I am VERY excited to get to see Nanci again next week, and we will be sure to enjoy a nice dinner and wonderful conversation. THEN, at the concert, I know they will just take us down memory lane, probably play that Summertime song that is popular (and isn't THAT terrible, comparatively) and we will have a fun evening.
And then, I will have to pretty much leave the New Kids back on the block.
The chopping block, that is.
Well...that psyched-ness has now given way to fear. Fear because I bought the CD, thinking it would be good to know some of the new songs and I am just so disappointed I can't even begin to tell you. (Okay, well, obviously that isn't true as I sit here and type about it, but I'm trying to express my state of mind!)
Songs like "Sexify My Love" and "Dirty Dancing"--which are pretty explicit in their innuendo, as well as "Lights, Camera, Action" (imagine making your own porno) and "Full Service" (where you don't even have to get out of your car) are truly terrifying me. NOT so much because I think they will play more of these new trash songs instead of the old, bubble-gum songs I want to hear, but more because this is the type of trash that girls all over this country (and now the world, as they have international concert dates) listen to and are swayed by and DON'T NEED TO HEAR. One song talks about how they are content with their girlfriend at home but there's this one "shorty" and, well...he can take a shower when he gets home so she won't know. WHAT THE HECK???? On what planet is it okay to propagate the idea that cheating on one's significant other is OK? Oh, wait, this one. More specifically, this country. And, sadly for Nanci (who loved Donnie) a majority of the songs (that one too) were written by him--or at least co-written. No wonder he's recently divorced. Maybe the plumbing wasn't working in his house the night he was dirty dancing.
I am so disheartened by all of this.
I hate to say it, but even if they DON'T play any of these songs at the concert, I will still probably have a hard time simply because I know what degrading and demeaning words they are standing behind. After listening to a lot of those songs, I feel like I need a shower myself.
So. Here's my plan. I am VERY excited to get to see Nanci again next week, and we will be sure to enjoy a nice dinner and wonderful conversation. THEN, at the concert, I know they will just take us down memory lane, probably play that Summertime song that is popular (and isn't THAT terrible, comparatively) and we will have a fun evening.
And then, I will have to pretty much leave the New Kids back on the block.
The chopping block, that is.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Random Acts
Well, what a great way to start my day! (And I was right, my weekend was WAY too short!)
A sweet, thoughtful and generously spirited woman works at my school. The kids all affectionately call her Mrs. K (which is good because I SO can't spell her last name!) and she is the pre-school para-professional. She is kind and always interested in others, and I know that she has SOOO much going on in her own life, but makes time for everyone else.
This morning, as I was signing in, she had a big box with a card on it. The card said "Emma J. Ennis" and I just couldn't believe what she was doing...she was giving me a present for my sweet baby girl--and we don't even KNOW where or who she is!! Inside the box was a beautiful blanket, hand-knitted with Italian nylon (very soft and durable) and decorated with knitted roses. I just couldn't do anything but cry, and remember that there are SO many wonderful people by whom I am surrounded! This woman has so many things going on in her own life, trust me, but still took the time to make something for my little girl...amazing. I was very easily and wonderfully reminded that God's love shines in so many ways and I'm so blessed to see it.
Now, of course being me, I left the flipping box at school this afternoon because I was in a hurry to go get my allergy shot, so I will post a picture of it tomorrow. I just can't say how deeply I was touched.
And, I have to say this because it is driving me MAD. I HATE HATE HATE those stupid verification boxes when leaving comments for blogs. I have no idea what drunkard puts those things together, but I DON'T READ DRUNK SO WELL. PLEASE MAKE THEM A BIT EASIER TO READ!!
Ahh...I feel better.
A sweet, thoughtful and generously spirited woman works at my school. The kids all affectionately call her Mrs. K (which is good because I SO can't spell her last name!) and she is the pre-school para-professional. She is kind and always interested in others, and I know that she has SOOO much going on in her own life, but makes time for everyone else.
This morning, as I was signing in, she had a big box with a card on it. The card said "Emma J. Ennis" and I just couldn't believe what she was doing...she was giving me a present for my sweet baby girl--and we don't even KNOW where or who she is!! Inside the box was a beautiful blanket, hand-knitted with Italian nylon (very soft and durable) and decorated with knitted roses. I just couldn't do anything but cry, and remember that there are SO many wonderful people by whom I am surrounded! This woman has so many things going on in her own life, trust me, but still took the time to make something for my little girl...amazing. I was very easily and wonderfully reminded that God's love shines in so many ways and I'm so blessed to see it.
Now, of course being me, I left the flipping box at school this afternoon because I was in a hurry to go get my allergy shot, so I will post a picture of it tomorrow. I just can't say how deeply I was touched.
And, I have to say this because it is driving me MAD. I HATE HATE HATE those stupid verification boxes when leaving comments for blogs. I have no idea what drunkard puts those things together, but I DON'T READ DRUNK SO WELL. PLEASE MAKE THEM A BIT EASIER TO READ!!
Ahh...I feel better.
Friday, September 19, 2008
When I am president, weekends will be longer!!
Okay, maybe a few adventures in my life may not allow me to run for president, but if I DID and if I WON, you can believe that weekends would be longer. It's just Friday evening and it already feels like the weekend is over--and only because I am just thinking of all we have going on! Hail and Farewell tonight, moving friends tomorrow, church, errands and clean-up Sunday...and let me stress clean-up could take days just by itself! I'm tired already!
I ordered Emma's bedding on the 8th and still haven't gotten it yet, so I'm going to have to contact them this weekend as well. It seems like it was a smaller company from which I ordered, so they may not even be open this weekend. I have to say, when putting myself through college, I did so in retail jobs. I HATED retail hours, but as a consumer, I always understood them. So, here's hoping this company does as well.
Off to start the chain of events that are my weekend...
I ordered Emma's bedding on the 8th and still haven't gotten it yet, so I'm going to have to contact them this weekend as well. It seems like it was a smaller company from which I ordered, so they may not even be open this weekend. I have to say, when putting myself through college, I did so in retail jobs. I HATED retail hours, but as a consumer, I always understood them. So, here's hoping this company does as well.
Off to start the chain of events that are my weekend...
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
We've been translated!!!
Dear John and Lori,
Today I finished printing the translations, copying and legalizing your dossier.
The dossier, plus 2 copies and the check for Carol are all in a box to be delivered on Thursday.
Carol will take your dossier to the US Dept of State next week – it takes several days as only a 15 docs per day can be hand delivered.
Then when she has them all authenticated she will do the copies of the authentications – then she be ready to submit your dossier to the Embassy.
Carol anticipates sometime next week.
I will let you know!
Have a great day!
The above is from our caseworker and was received about an hour ago!! Hooray! We were told about 2-3 weeks, and according to the timeline above, we've been waiting for 3 weeks and 5 days...not too bad! I'm VERY excited about the process...Ally said that it shouldn't be at the Embassy for more than a month, before it heads to Kyrgyzstan, so...that means that our little Emma docs may be in her country at the beginning of November!!! Wouldn't that be lovely? Here's praying for everyone who ends up touching this dossier and getting it to where it needs to be and doing what needs to be done!!
Today I finished printing the translations, copying and legalizing your dossier.
The dossier, plus 2 copies and the check for Carol are all in a box to be delivered on Thursday.
Carol will take your dossier to the US Dept of State next week – it takes several days as only a 15 docs per day can be hand delivered.
Then when she has them all authenticated she will do the copies of the authentications – then she be ready to submit your dossier to the Embassy.
Carol anticipates sometime next week.
I will let you know!
Have a great day!
The above is from our caseworker and was received about an hour ago!! Hooray! We were told about 2-3 weeks, and according to the timeline above, we've been waiting for 3 weeks and 5 days...not too bad! I'm VERY excited about the process...Ally said that it shouldn't be at the Embassy for more than a month, before it heads to Kyrgyzstan, so...that means that our little Emma docs may be in her country at the beginning of November!!! Wouldn't that be lovely? Here's praying for everyone who ends up touching this dossier and getting it to where it needs to be and doing what needs to be done!!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Didn't even have to beg!
Well, this weekend, we had to go 'to town' as it basically is called here in good old Southern Maryland, and we went to Waldorf...which is not really a town at all, but a little closer than Annapolis (my pick ANY day) and as we had a football game to get back for (and thank goodness we were able to watch the near loss...hmmm...) we (rather, John) didn't want to be out all day. Sooo... since we were going, I had a few things to look for, and since they were at the mall, which is where John wanted to go anyway, that was ok. Then we needed to go to Petco so we could get some filtering apparatus--whatever. I knew that Babies 'R' Us was in the same shopping center, though, so I asked if we could go there, just to show John what kind of furniture I was thinking about (and secretly to look for Maria's little Ellie's valance for her room...no luck, though)and John said, "Yes." No eye roll. No *sigh* "Yes." No "Hon, I didn't....(this is how he always tries to start of his admonishment, condescension, disagreement, whatever---"Hon," like that makes it better)"
Simply, "Yes." Rather, "Okay."
And when in Babies 'R' Us, I didn't immediately go to cribs, but car seats and strollers, and he followed AND even commented...of course the comments were, "Pink and BROWN? Yuck." (this was the Britax Marathon he was looking at)"You want WHITE furniture? What about the dark wood?" Or, his all time go-to remark, "Of COURSE you like that one...it's the most expensive," which is not really fair because I am truthfully pretty cheap, I just like the thought of the best that I can have for my baby and if it is a little more money, well...so we don't eat out next weekend.
In any event, the point is that he didn't put up a fight, he looked at things, gave some comments, which I will heartily file away under the "He won't know the difference/care/bother to complain about it anyway" category, and was almost a little bit interested. Emma will be one spectacularly lucky little girl, because doing all this NOW is a HUGE step for her daddy...I can only imagine what it will be like for John when she's with us. I might as well start buying all the "Daddy's Girl" gear I can now. Although, our spoiled little Dixie Belle already has a ton of that stuff anyway because she is SOOOO her daddy's dog. Guess she'll have to learn what it feels like to be second fiddle (and I third!) soon enough...since she was 5 pounds, 9 ounces at 6 weeks old, that's how I have felt! I'll be glad to show her the ropes!!
Simply, "Yes." Rather, "Okay."
And when in Babies 'R' Us, I didn't immediately go to cribs, but car seats and strollers, and he followed AND even commented...of course the comments were, "Pink and BROWN? Yuck." (this was the Britax Marathon he was looking at)"You want WHITE furniture? What about the dark wood?" Or, his all time go-to remark, "Of COURSE you like that one...it's the most expensive," which is not really fair because I am truthfully pretty cheap, I just like the thought of the best that I can have for my baby and if it is a little more money, well...so we don't eat out next weekend.
In any event, the point is that he didn't put up a fight, he looked at things, gave some comments, which I will heartily file away under the "He won't know the difference/care/bother to complain about it anyway" category, and was almost a little bit interested. Emma will be one spectacularly lucky little girl, because doing all this NOW is a HUGE step for her daddy...I can only imagine what it will be like for John when she's with us. I might as well start buying all the "Daddy's Girl" gear I can now. Although, our spoiled little Dixie Belle already has a ton of that stuff anyway because she is SOOOO her daddy's dog. Guess she'll have to learn what it feels like to be second fiddle (and I third!) soon enough...since she was 5 pounds, 9 ounces at 6 weeks old, that's how I have felt! I'll be glad to show her the ropes!!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
WOOOSH....
...is what my dear friend Natalie said she could literally feel as she read my post the other day, and I guess she is right. It was a frustrated rant (like I said, the rants and raves of my life) and I think dug at something deeper than worries I have for Emma. By something deeper, I mean insecurities and feelings I have about myself. Which is more than I feel like writing (or thinking) about right now.
So...on that note, no news on the adoption (other than it is still in translation) and I don't really expect much news these days.
Started choir again last night and I found out I have to commit to a vocal evaluation. Now, I see both sides of the choir coin--the worship choir leads and inspires and should obviously be an inspiring and leading group. It is a ministry. BUT, I also feel like those who want to make joyful noises (and yes, I can make some noise) should be able to without being told that due to their voice, choir isn't the ministry for them. I can't sing. I sing along. I am not bad when I have someone to listen to and mimic...in fact, I'm even ok. But by myself...umm...well, anyway...I figure I'll go and see. If I feel intimidated (moreso than I already am) I'll just obviously not do it. And then never show my face again.
Ha ha. Just kidding.
Sort of.
So...on that note, no news on the adoption (other than it is still in translation) and I don't really expect much news these days.
Started choir again last night and I found out I have to commit to a vocal evaluation. Now, I see both sides of the choir coin--the worship choir leads and inspires and should obviously be an inspiring and leading group. It is a ministry. BUT, I also feel like those who want to make joyful noises (and yes, I can make some noise) should be able to without being told that due to their voice, choir isn't the ministry for them. I can't sing. I sing along. I am not bad when I have someone to listen to and mimic...in fact, I'm even ok. But by myself...umm...well, anyway...I figure I'll go and see. If I feel intimidated (moreso than I already am) I'll just obviously not do it. And then never show my face again.
Ha ha. Just kidding.
Sort of.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Why does blood have to be thicker?
Friends, let me preface this with telling you it is probably not of any interest to you, and definitely more laundry than I should air, but feel like just getting it off my chest. So, with that in mind, keep reading if you bother...
That being said, if anyone in my family reads this (though I doubt many family members do) take nothing personally. If you do, I am sorry.
I've said that my conception was not one of the best circumstances. My mom was in love with, and ditched by, the sperm donor. She met and married my dad when I was a baby, and the rest has been history.
My mom died five years ago. My dad met a very nice woman a little later and remarried. I am very happy that he's happy. I know he loves her and she makes him happy, and though my parents didn't always have the shining example of a loving marriage I hope to have for Emma (gotta keep working on that one J ) I know my mom would want him happy and I am glad he is. His new wife is a nice woman, and I have always liked her and been glad she makes my dad happy. She has two daughters, who were near adult when they married, and they are just that to me...my dad's wife's daughters. Perhaps if I had lost my mom when I was a child and he remarried and we became a blended family, they may be more. That was not the case, though, and as a 30 year old, losing her mom, I did not feel that my dad's marriage automatically meant I now had to be part of a new family. I was fine with what I had, and more, fine with the fact that my dad had a wife with kids and if he wanted to be a 'dad' to them, well, all the power to him, but that did not mean that I, at 32, needed to assume big sister role to his new wife's children. Nor did I want to. I don't think that makes me a bad person, it simply means that I had a childhood family, I was an adult, and though I would certainly consider his wife and kids familial, I did not all of a sudden gain a new family. Here's the problem...he, in his quest to be a good man (and he is) and to prove that loving his wife means loving everything about her (a quality that also endeared him greatly to my mom) basically told my siblings and me this: "This is your step-mother, these are your step-sisters, like it or not, we're family." Well, nothing creates an us vs. them mentality like that, let me tell you...well, actually, receiving the first Christmas card from "The Mullins Family"--a family I previously thought I was part of--sort of put a divided stance in there...though not intentional, I know.
So...after several conversations that in truth, I wish I was never a part of, the bottom line boiled down to me as this: My dad married my mom and I was part of the package. He loved her, so he learned to (and I know still does) love me. Same thing now for his wife and her daughters. He loves her, so he loves them...which, in his mind, puts the step-daughters he met a couple years ago and ME, the daughter he RAISED, on equal footing. Neither share his blood, came to him as a package deal, but he loves us and we are his daughters.
Now, this is the point where in my mind (and out loud sometimes) I scream, "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?" "YOU RAISED ME. You put bandaids on my cuts and taught me to ride a bike and swim and took me to the spelling bee and rubbed my legs when they hurt (though you lied about them being growing pains because I SO did not grow!) and WALKED ME DOWN THE FREAKING AISLE!!!!!) HOW ON EARTH CAN YOUR NEW WIFE'S DAUGHTERS BE PUT ON THE SAME PLATFORM AS ME? YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO LOVE ME MORE--PERIOD."
Please don't think me unfair in my yelling at my dad (because of course, I can't) but understand that this cuts through my heart like a knife. What makes me special to him? If new 'daughters' (GROWN, remember) come along and have the same place in his heart, well...
I share all this because earlier today we had a conversation in which he expressed his disappointment that I didn't send a graduation gift/card/acknowledgement to one of his 'step-daughters' earlier in the year and it hurt both him and his wife. For that, I am sorry, but in truth, this 'step-sister' is an adult, does not send ME cards or emails or express any interest in me (which is fine with me because again, I am an ADULT and have siblings and am content with and feel that just as she is my dad's wife's daughter, I am her mom's husband's daughter and that still just makes us familial, not necessarily family) and I don't really feel that terrible. So, his comparison? And I quote...
"Lori, and this is purely hypothetical, you are adopting a daughter, right?" (Why he needs to distinguish that I am adopting escapes me, basically, I am just preparing to have a baby, but whatever...)
"Yes."
"Well, what if something like that happened and I didn't send a card or acknowledge?"
"I'd cut you out of my (and her) life so fast your head would spin because there would be NO REASON to do that to your GRANDCHILD and BLOOD OR NO BLOOD, that is what she is."
"This step-daughter, on the other hand, is someone that until 3 years ago I didn't know existed and forgive me if I don't feel quite the same attachment."
And that was that.
Again, let me reiterate that my dad is a wonderful man and was a wonderful father and I lacked for nothing. But, I'm putting it out there now.
I will NEVER let Emma feel that she is anything but meant to be my child from the second she was conceived REGARDLESS of her blood, or how she came to me. If ANYONE I know feels the need to differentiate her in ANY way because she is adopted, they will NEVER see her, nor me again. It will be as if they never existed. And anyone who knows me knows that when I mean business, I MEAN business.
Of course she will know she is adopted, but she will know that mainly because I need to let her know that she was MEANT to be with me, and if it meant that I had to adopt her to get her, well, that's what happened. And anyone who has issues with any of that can...well...nice knowing you.
Forgive the bitterness. My goal in life will be that Emma never feels this pain. Ever.
That being said, if anyone in my family reads this (though I doubt many family members do) take nothing personally. If you do, I am sorry.
I've said that my conception was not one of the best circumstances. My mom was in love with, and ditched by, the sperm donor. She met and married my dad when I was a baby, and the rest has been history.
My mom died five years ago. My dad met a very nice woman a little later and remarried. I am very happy that he's happy. I know he loves her and she makes him happy, and though my parents didn't always have the shining example of a loving marriage I hope to have for Emma (gotta keep working on that one J ) I know my mom would want him happy and I am glad he is. His new wife is a nice woman, and I have always liked her and been glad she makes my dad happy. She has two daughters, who were near adult when they married, and they are just that to me...my dad's wife's daughters. Perhaps if I had lost my mom when I was a child and he remarried and we became a blended family, they may be more. That was not the case, though, and as a 30 year old, losing her mom, I did not feel that my dad's marriage automatically meant I now had to be part of a new family. I was fine with what I had, and more, fine with the fact that my dad had a wife with kids and if he wanted to be a 'dad' to them, well, all the power to him, but that did not mean that I, at 32, needed to assume big sister role to his new wife's children. Nor did I want to. I don't think that makes me a bad person, it simply means that I had a childhood family, I was an adult, and though I would certainly consider his wife and kids familial, I did not all of a sudden gain a new family. Here's the problem...he, in his quest to be a good man (and he is) and to prove that loving his wife means loving everything about her (a quality that also endeared him greatly to my mom) basically told my siblings and me this: "This is your step-mother, these are your step-sisters, like it or not, we're family." Well, nothing creates an us vs. them mentality like that, let me tell you...well, actually, receiving the first Christmas card from "The Mullins Family"--a family I previously thought I was part of--sort of put a divided stance in there...though not intentional, I know.
So...after several conversations that in truth, I wish I was never a part of, the bottom line boiled down to me as this: My dad married my mom and I was part of the package. He loved her, so he learned to (and I know still does) love me. Same thing now for his wife and her daughters. He loves her, so he loves them...which, in his mind, puts the step-daughters he met a couple years ago and ME, the daughter he RAISED, on equal footing. Neither share his blood, came to him as a package deal, but he loves us and we are his daughters.
Now, this is the point where in my mind (and out loud sometimes) I scream, "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?" "YOU RAISED ME. You put bandaids on my cuts and taught me to ride a bike and swim and took me to the spelling bee and rubbed my legs when they hurt (though you lied about them being growing pains because I SO did not grow!) and WALKED ME DOWN THE FREAKING AISLE!!!!!) HOW ON EARTH CAN YOUR NEW WIFE'S DAUGHTERS BE PUT ON THE SAME PLATFORM AS ME? YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO LOVE ME MORE--PERIOD."
Please don't think me unfair in my yelling at my dad (because of course, I can't) but understand that this cuts through my heart like a knife. What makes me special to him? If new 'daughters' (GROWN, remember) come along and have the same place in his heart, well...
I share all this because earlier today we had a conversation in which he expressed his disappointment that I didn't send a graduation gift/card/acknowledgement to one of his 'step-daughters' earlier in the year and it hurt both him and his wife. For that, I am sorry, but in truth, this 'step-sister' is an adult, does not send ME cards or emails or express any interest in me (which is fine with me because again, I am an ADULT and have siblings and am content with and feel that just as she is my dad's wife's daughter, I am her mom's husband's daughter and that still just makes us familial, not necessarily family) and I don't really feel that terrible. So, his comparison? And I quote...
"Lori, and this is purely hypothetical, you are adopting a daughter, right?" (Why he needs to distinguish that I am adopting escapes me, basically, I am just preparing to have a baby, but whatever...)
"Yes."
"Well, what if something like that happened and I didn't send a card or acknowledge?"
"I'd cut you out of my (and her) life so fast your head would spin because there would be NO REASON to do that to your GRANDCHILD and BLOOD OR NO BLOOD, that is what she is."
"This step-daughter, on the other hand, is someone that until 3 years ago I didn't know existed and forgive me if I don't feel quite the same attachment."
And that was that.
Again, let me reiterate that my dad is a wonderful man and was a wonderful father and I lacked for nothing. But, I'm putting it out there now.
I will NEVER let Emma feel that she is anything but meant to be my child from the second she was conceived REGARDLESS of her blood, or how she came to me. If ANYONE I know feels the need to differentiate her in ANY way because she is adopted, they will NEVER see her, nor me again. It will be as if they never existed. And anyone who knows me knows that when I mean business, I MEAN business.
Of course she will know she is adopted, but she will know that mainly because I need to let her know that she was MEANT to be with me, and if it meant that I had to adopt her to get her, well, that's what happened. And anyone who has issues with any of that can...well...nice knowing you.
Forgive the bitterness. My goal in life will be that Emma never feels this pain. Ever.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
How warm will they be this winter?
Friends, I am heartbroken.
John Wright's site had a guest post. David and Jane said that the Kyrgyz government was going to cut electricity down to 8 hours a day this winter. They want everyone to convert to coal. PROBLEM: Coal is expensive. And getting more expensive by the day. PROBLEM: Those who don't (or can't) convert to coal suffer. Simple. John said that the orphanage in Tokmok will probably get everyone together at night so they stay warmer. How much that hurts my heart! What if my little Emma is there this winter? What if she is born (or is already?) and has to spend her time waiting until mommy and daddy are allowed to bring her home in the freezing cold, huddled, hoping that her caretakers (themselves probably just as cold) can figure a way out to keep them all warm enough to SURVIVE, much less be comfortable?
I can't write anymore. Please pray for the hearts of the government officials making those decisions to realize what they are doing.
John Wright's site had a guest post. David and Jane said that the Kyrgyz government was going to cut electricity down to 8 hours a day this winter. They want everyone to convert to coal. PROBLEM: Coal is expensive. And getting more expensive by the day. PROBLEM: Those who don't (or can't) convert to coal suffer. Simple. John said that the orphanage in Tokmok will probably get everyone together at night so they stay warmer. How much that hurts my heart! What if my little Emma is there this winter? What if she is born (or is already?) and has to spend her time waiting until mommy and daddy are allowed to bring her home in the freezing cold, huddled, hoping that her caretakers (themselves probably just as cold) can figure a way out to keep them all warm enough to SURVIVE, much less be comfortable?
I can't write anymore. Please pray for the hearts of the government officials making those decisions to realize what they are doing.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Gustavitis
Okay, I realize that I in no way, shape or form have any justification to being annoyed by Hurricane Gustav, in light of the horrible things that storm is bringing to so many along the Gulf Coast, but....I am a little on the annoyed side. Of course that could be because I am SOOOOO tired, so I am going to claim that as my defense of the following. I'll call it Gustavitis.
I am annoyed that AirTran cancelled all flights out of Pensacola for today, leaving me with the option of getting out late last night on the "We're sorry, we won't be flying tomorrow, maybe this will help you out a bit?" flight, laying over in Atlanta and getting home today OR leaving on Tuesday. I got home earlier today, so you know what option I chose. I'll just let you imagine how much fun it was and how tired I am.
I am REALLY annoyed that people who TOTALLY know the rules for carry-on luggage, yet feel that the rule doesn't apply to THEM and that their 'little' bit extra doesn't make a difference. IT DOES! When we have to spend 18 hours trying to shove carry-ons that OBVIOUSLY won't fit in the overhead luggage (and then 18 more hours checking in the stuff that didn't fit--go figure) I really am perturbed at our (and I include me in this, so don't freak out) ideas as a culture that we are entitled to things simply because we ARE and rules be darned...
I am annoyed that I feel so tied to my job that I couldn't enjoy the extra day that Airtran originally tried to throw at me since they cancelled flights today and I missed more time with some of the most important people in my life. Why can't I follow my own mantra that I try to tell everyone I live by--"I work to live, not live to work." It's almost like God said,"Hey, Lori, hang out another day! You LOVE these people and they are good for your soul. I'll take care of the arrangements for you," and my response was, "Thanks, God, but since you are probably too busy to write the sub lesson plans, I'm going to have to take a raincheck on this one." How ungrateful I can be.
I am annoyed (but secretly love) that my husband thinks that I am like Kate on Jon and Kate Plus 8 just because I am particular and like order, clean clothes and things to work the way they should. As I always say, for a man who TOTALLY runs on a his own hidden agenda and gets a kick out of being "the rational one" when that is a TOTAL act, he doesn't have much room to talk. Ask John about his analgous theory of how marriages are like cars...then tell me that I don't have to do something to give my life some structure and assurance!
I am annoyed that though I love not checking email or blogs for a few days, I TOTALLY feel computer withdrawal. I do NOT want to live my life in front of a computer, yet I just checked email/blogs/groups and realize how much I missed in just 2 days. Ugghh...
BUT...I'm NOT annoyed at:
FIVE families got some much needed news and movement in their cases to bring their babies home.
I had a WONDERFUL time in Pensacola...I didn't remember how much I loved and missed it until I was there...much less how much I love and miss our gang. How blessed we are with friends we know couldn't be more family if we shared the same blood.
Prison Break starts tonight. I know that if Wentworth Miller met me, he might fall in love. Of course, John says the same for him and Jessica Alba, and who am I to shatter that dream? I think odds are more in my favor since she just had a baby and seems pretty attached.
Finding the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I have already devoured the first book and will start the 2nd after Prison Break (boy, my life stinks, doesn't it...)
And mostly, I am so NOT annoyed at how, despite all my Gustavitis rants, I am so blessed. I have a great husband, great house, great kids I get to work with every day, great dogs, great friends, great family members and a FABULOUSLY put together dossier (if I say so myself) that's being translated and will bring my little Emma home.
So, I guess Gustav inspired annoyances really have purpose.
I am annoyed that AirTran cancelled all flights out of Pensacola for today, leaving me with the option of getting out late last night on the "We're sorry, we won't be flying tomorrow, maybe this will help you out a bit?" flight, laying over in Atlanta and getting home today OR leaving on Tuesday. I got home earlier today, so you know what option I chose. I'll just let you imagine how much fun it was and how tired I am.
I am REALLY annoyed that people who TOTALLY know the rules for carry-on luggage, yet feel that the rule doesn't apply to THEM and that their 'little' bit extra doesn't make a difference. IT DOES! When we have to spend 18 hours trying to shove carry-ons that OBVIOUSLY won't fit in the overhead luggage (and then 18 more hours checking in the stuff that didn't fit--go figure) I really am perturbed at our (and I include me in this, so don't freak out) ideas as a culture that we are entitled to things simply because we ARE and rules be darned...
I am annoyed that I feel so tied to my job that I couldn't enjoy the extra day that Airtran originally tried to throw at me since they cancelled flights today and I missed more time with some of the most important people in my life. Why can't I follow my own mantra that I try to tell everyone I live by--"I work to live, not live to work." It's almost like God said,"Hey, Lori, hang out another day! You LOVE these people and they are good for your soul. I'll take care of the arrangements for you," and my response was, "Thanks, God, but since you are probably too busy to write the sub lesson plans, I'm going to have to take a raincheck on this one." How ungrateful I can be.
I am annoyed (but secretly love) that my husband thinks that I am like Kate on Jon and Kate Plus 8 just because I am particular and like order, clean clothes and things to work the way they should. As I always say, for a man who TOTALLY runs on a his own hidden agenda and gets a kick out of being "the rational one" when that is a TOTAL act, he doesn't have much room to talk. Ask John about his analgous theory of how marriages are like cars...then tell me that I don't have to do something to give my life some structure and assurance!
I am annoyed that though I love not checking email or blogs for a few days, I TOTALLY feel computer withdrawal. I do NOT want to live my life in front of a computer, yet I just checked email/blogs/groups and realize how much I missed in just 2 days. Ugghh...
BUT...I'm NOT annoyed at:
FIVE families got some much needed news and movement in their cases to bring their babies home.
I had a WONDERFUL time in Pensacola...I didn't remember how much I loved and missed it until I was there...much less how much I love and miss our gang. How blessed we are with friends we know couldn't be more family if we shared the same blood.
Prison Break starts tonight. I know that if Wentworth Miller met me, he might fall in love. Of course, John says the same for him and Jessica Alba, and who am I to shatter that dream? I think odds are more in my favor since she just had a baby and seems pretty attached.
Finding the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I have already devoured the first book and will start the 2nd after Prison Break (boy, my life stinks, doesn't it...)
And mostly, I am so NOT annoyed at how, despite all my Gustavitis rants, I am so blessed. I have a great husband, great house, great kids I get to work with every day, great dogs, great friends, great family members and a FABULOUSLY put together dossier (if I say so myself) that's being translated and will bring my little Emma home.
So, I guess Gustav inspired annoyances really have purpose.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Ducky Dots and Fingerprints
Well, I can't believe it, but John and I actually agreed on a nursery set. There are TOO many to choose from. Period. And I am the type of gal that will continue to look (and torture myself) for a better/cuter deal even though I have already bought something and can't do anything about it. So, I had decided that I was going to just find something and decide. And look no more. Last night, while perusing the TOO many sets out there, I came to a site that had lots of little thumbnails. Unbeknownst to me, John was paying attention to what I clicked on and sort of gave me opinions--a grunt here, a raised eyebrow there. When I finally just asked him what he liked, I got the expected response--"How about fish? Or aquarium stuff?" After reminding him we were having a GIRL (I knew he was uninvolved in lots of the paperwork, but still... :) he told me he didn't really like the paisley, the flowers, the taffeta...you know, all the stuff I LOVE! So...knowing I was going to pick what I wanted ANYWAY, I clicked on a couple more. When one came up, all of a sudden he says, "I like that one." WHAT???? DONE! Because what preceded, "I like that," was me saying (mostly to myself) "Oh, isn't that sweet?" and the two of us coming close to liking the same things? Well, call the president! (Or not, as he has a few other issues to attend to these days) So...here's what Emma's room will look like:
John will put chair rail under the border, and crown moulding and wainscoting as well. We (again, the royal 'we') decided to get a convertible crib in white anyway, so it works out perfectly! SOOOOOO loving Ducky Dots!
As far as fingerprints....I heard this song on the way to work this morning and thought of all the babies out there waiting for their mommies. I also thought of all the mommies waiting for their babies...and was reminded that God has been with Emma (and so many others) from her start...and when I finally get to see her, I will be honored and blessed to see the fingerprints of God...
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art and...
Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
Oh, and God's not through, no
In fact, He's just getting started...
John will put chair rail under the border, and crown moulding and wainscoting as well. We (again, the royal 'we') decided to get a convertible crib in white anyway, so it works out perfectly! SOOOOOO loving Ducky Dots!
As far as fingerprints....I heard this song on the way to work this morning and thought of all the babies out there waiting for their mommies. I also thought of all the mommies waiting for their babies...and was reminded that God has been with Emma (and so many others) from her start...and when I finally get to see her, I will be honored and blessed to see the fingerprints of God...
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art and...
Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
Oh, and God's not through, no
In fact, He's just getting started...
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Latest and Greatest...
From our caseworker on Friday:
Your dossier was received this week by Adoption ARK.
WOOHOO!
8/22 a copy of your dossier was sent to the translator. This process will take between 2-3 weeks.
Once your dossier has been translated I will process the translations and have them legalized.
Then I will organize them with the original documents and copies for submission to the Embassy.
This process can take 1-2 weeks.
Then I will send the dossier to Carol Fredericks in Washington DC . She will take your dossier to the US State Department for authentication.
I assume this is someone with a courier service...
Depending on how many documents she has that day – it can take between 3-5 business days to complete that process.
When she gets your documents back she will make the necessary copies of the authentications and attach them to the copies of your dossier.
God love her because making the copies was a big, fat PAIN!
Then Carol will take your dossier to the Kyrgyz Embassy and submit it.
The Embassy has not indicated how long they will take to process dossiers. In the past it has been between 1 week and a 1 month. If your dossier is not released after 1 month we will personally call the Embassy and inquire as to its status.
Here's hoping the Kyrgyz community candle vigil last night makes a difference! I was in!
I cannot tell you (okay, probably anyone interested in reading this totally knows!) how wonderful it feels to have that dossier OUT OF MY HANDS! I have an appointment with my new doctor tomorrow to introduce myself and my needs, as well as have a physical. Hopefully, this will help with the new medical certification I know I will need, as mine expires November 12. So, it just seems that I will now just be on updating document watch, which is a lot easier than the whole shabang! Unless you are John, and then it's all a breeze. (Ha ha, just kidding! Sorta.)
I had to go camping this weekend because I felt I owed him since I get to go to Pensacola on Friday for a long weekend with dear friends. It would be wonderful if we could go together, but my ticket is already an arm and a leg (or a nursery bedding set) so we feel pretty guilty about spending. The girls try to get together at least once a year, and this year, it was Pensacola! Maybe next year we'll have to think about a weekend that's NOT a holiday, though prices didn't seem to change much for other weekends either, so... Anyway--I am not a camper. I don't like it. I'm allergic to every flipping thing out there. I HATE porta-potties. I get such little sleep as it is, I hate a planned bad night of sleep (and really, how can sleeping in the woods in a tent be anything but?) I'm all about doing a wilderness-y thing during the day, but I don't see why a nice little trip to the local hotel (and shower, bed, food, tv, air conditioning, etc.) at the end of the day can't be part of the plan. In any event, John and I have been married for over 11 years, and this was the first time we camped, so...I guess I'm not doing too bad since I married Paul Bunyan, and he lives for that! When Emma comes, we'll camp. We'll just camp a little bit more girly. Like in an RV. Or in the living room. Coffee table tents, anyone?
Your dossier was received this week by Adoption ARK.
WOOHOO!
8/22 a copy of your dossier was sent to the translator. This process will take between 2-3 weeks.
Once your dossier has been translated I will process the translations and have them legalized.
Then I will organize them with the original documents and copies for submission to the Embassy.
This process can take 1-2 weeks.
Then I will send the dossier to Carol Fredericks in Washington DC . She will take your dossier to the US State Department for authentication.
I assume this is someone with a courier service...
Depending on how many documents she has that day – it can take between 3-5 business days to complete that process.
When she gets your documents back she will make the necessary copies of the authentications and attach them to the copies of your dossier.
God love her because making the copies was a big, fat PAIN!
Then Carol will take your dossier to the Kyrgyz Embassy and submit it.
The Embassy has not indicated how long they will take to process dossiers. In the past it has been between 1 week and a 1 month. If your dossier is not released after 1 month we will personally call the Embassy and inquire as to its status.
Here's hoping the Kyrgyz community candle vigil last night makes a difference! I was in!
I cannot tell you (okay, probably anyone interested in reading this totally knows!) how wonderful it feels to have that dossier OUT OF MY HANDS! I have an appointment with my new doctor tomorrow to introduce myself and my needs, as well as have a physical. Hopefully, this will help with the new medical certification I know I will need, as mine expires November 12. So, it just seems that I will now just be on updating document watch, which is a lot easier than the whole shabang! Unless you are John, and then it's all a breeze. (Ha ha, just kidding! Sorta.)
I had to go camping this weekend because I felt I owed him since I get to go to Pensacola on Friday for a long weekend with dear friends. It would be wonderful if we could go together, but my ticket is already an arm and a leg (or a nursery bedding set) so we feel pretty guilty about spending. The girls try to get together at least once a year, and this year, it was Pensacola! Maybe next year we'll have to think about a weekend that's NOT a holiday, though prices didn't seem to change much for other weekends either, so... Anyway--I am not a camper. I don't like it. I'm allergic to every flipping thing out there. I HATE porta-potties. I get such little sleep as it is, I hate a planned bad night of sleep (and really, how can sleeping in the woods in a tent be anything but?) I'm all about doing a wilderness-y thing during the day, but I don't see why a nice little trip to the local hotel (and shower, bed, food, tv, air conditioning, etc.) at the end of the day can't be part of the plan. In any event, John and I have been married for over 11 years, and this was the first time we camped, so...I guess I'm not doing too bad since I married Paul Bunyan, and he lives for that! When Emma comes, we'll camp. We'll just camp a little bit more girly. Like in an RV. Or in the living room. Coffee table tents, anyone?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Lifesong
Wow...as tired as I am, knowing that my dossier is on the way to CA and will be there by 10:30 tomorrow (Monica, I know you are laughing at the probable lack of necessity for that to be the case :) has put me in a great mood. It has even given me extra energy, because I must say, working like I have for the recent back-to-school and subsequent first-day-of-school (today)extravaganzas, I am tired. The dossier took so much time last night...matching certifications, collating, verifying, falling off desks (the bruises are AWFUL!) writing big checks and watching John stand clueless in it all...I didn't get to bed until very late and got up very early, but I was fine today! I seem to have (so far) a lovely class and as my motto for this school year is, "I like everyone, and everyone likes me, so this is going to be a SUPER fabulous year!" I have no worries about the next 179 days of school. Yes, we start counting to the last day on the first day...teacher sanity saver!
Yesterday, as I was driving to school, I was listening to a song on XM's The Message. I am a lover of pretty much ALL music, and my program buttons are very varied and full! The song was called LifeSong, and I loved the message--to let my life be something pleasing to God and an example to others. Church usually gives me messages that speak directly to me and very much so lately in the last few weeks. Hearing that song yesterday was a nice way to reinforce my desire to show not only how I have been blessed, but how thankful I am for all the blessings. Keep reminding me of this desire, as my propensity for ranting is quite strong and I need to continually keep myself in check!
I *met* another blogger friend who is putting together a cookbook as a fundraiser for their adoption. I love this idea and am submitting recipes. She is looking for more, as well as a little story/blurb to go with it and if you are interested, she'd love for you to click here! I know that there are things like this that have been done, and contributed to, but I can't see how there are ever enough fabulous recipes and people to go with them! In any event, Emma will be a little part of her book and I'd love to see others I've *met* be so as well. Jengish told me that a dish there is sheep's eye balls, and was described as the second grossest thing in the world, according to the Travel Channel. I TOTALLY want him to submit that recipe!!
Speaking of Jengish, he said I could post his story about a man he saw. It really touched my heart, and I really found his analogous observation as so insightful for a young man. I'll end with it, but talk about someone's lifesong being a glory to God...Jengish is walking the walk in his efforts to help and love all of God's children. From Jengish:
One time I was riding in a bus, and this gnarly looking man walked in.
He didn't look clean. His hat was made by someone that seemed like didn't really know how to make hats, and he was wearing a dirty tank top that bared his gross hairy shoulders. And oh by the way, he was huge. He was one of those guys you never want to mess with. He looked like a criminal that could ring somebody's neck and go drink a cup of tea afterwards.
But then I saw he had a cutest little girl sitting in his huge arm.
She was resting her head on his shoulders, and she didn't really care that his shoulders were gross and hairy. For her it was her daddy's shoulders. And she knew that even if the whole world was falling apart her daddy would protect her. And when you looked at her dad you could tell that he will easily give his life for her.
All of a sudden from looking like a criminal, he changed and now he looked like a... Father.
Our Father is the same way, He died for us and He loves us so much that it's hard to imagine.
I didn't have my camera with me and I still regret that I didn't take it with me. But I still do remember that guy and his daughter. A pure love. Amazing.
Amazing indeed.
Yesterday, as I was driving to school, I was listening to a song on XM's The Message. I am a lover of pretty much ALL music, and my program buttons are very varied and full! The song was called LifeSong, and I loved the message--to let my life be something pleasing to God and an example to others. Church usually gives me messages that speak directly to me and very much so lately in the last few weeks. Hearing that song yesterday was a nice way to reinforce my desire to show not only how I have been blessed, but how thankful I am for all the blessings. Keep reminding me of this desire, as my propensity for ranting is quite strong and I need to continually keep myself in check!
I *met* another blogger friend who is putting together a cookbook as a fundraiser for their adoption. I love this idea and am submitting recipes. She is looking for more, as well as a little story/blurb to go with it and if you are interested, she'd love for you to click here! I know that there are things like this that have been done, and contributed to, but I can't see how there are ever enough fabulous recipes and people to go with them! In any event, Emma will be a little part of her book and I'd love to see others I've *met* be so as well. Jengish told me that a dish there is sheep's eye balls, and was described as the second grossest thing in the world, according to the Travel Channel. I TOTALLY want him to submit that recipe!!
Speaking of Jengish, he said I could post his story about a man he saw. It really touched my heart, and I really found his analogous observation as so insightful for a young man. I'll end with it, but talk about someone's lifesong being a glory to God...Jengish is walking the walk in his efforts to help and love all of God's children. From Jengish:
One time I was riding in a bus, and this gnarly looking man walked in.
He didn't look clean. His hat was made by someone that seemed like didn't really know how to make hats, and he was wearing a dirty tank top that bared his gross hairy shoulders. And oh by the way, he was huge. He was one of those guys you never want to mess with. He looked like a criminal that could ring somebody's neck and go drink a cup of tea afterwards.
But then I saw he had a cutest little girl sitting in his huge arm.
She was resting her head on his shoulders, and she didn't really care that his shoulders were gross and hairy. For her it was her daddy's shoulders. And she knew that even if the whole world was falling apart her daddy would protect her. And when you looked at her dad you could tell that he will easily give his life for her.
All of a sudden from looking like a criminal, he changed and now he looked like a... Father.
Our Father is the same way, He died for us and He loves us so much that it's hard to imagine.
I didn't have my camera with me and I still regret that I didn't take it with me. But I still do remember that guy and his daughter. A pure love. Amazing.
Amazing indeed.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
I know you are out there, Emma!
DOSSIER DONE! DOSSIER DONE! DOSSIER DONE!
Yes, I know what I said about caps...these are caps of happiness!!
The marriage certificates were here when I got home and let me tell you, what a PAIN IN THE BUTT (caps of aggravation) to put all the copies together, after stapling all the little certifications on top of the notarizations and then putting the authentications on top of that! For my added fun and amusement, two different people certified the notarized copies, so I got to play "guess the certifier" when matching up the documents and the copy of the certification for our FOUR copies. That's Maryland for ya, though--gotta see what we can milk -- oh, wait, how about a step after the notary to say the notary is valid and before the authentication which will tell us the certification is valid? That'll be $36 bucks, please...and $110. And about $115 in copies. And don't forget the fun of falling off the desk!! (Okay, not Maryland's fault--purely mine--no, JOHN'S--because he has not finished the other bookshelf in our office and the printer is on top of the desk and not on a shelf. This poses big problems for me as the desk is a good foot taller than I am, so I have to climb in the rolling chair (YES, I KNOW that's not smart...) to climb on the desk to climb on the shelf that has the printer...that's easy. Getting down, not so much. I digress. And, no, nothing is broken, but thanks for caring...(that means you, John!)
Anyway, I am now exhausted but so happy to be sending that darned thing off! Even better, and more significant to me, when I woke up this morning (at 4:50 am, thank you very much) I was trying to rouse myself out of bed...and as I looked out the window, I got a feeling that I have not yet had--I felt like she was cooking somewhere! Up until this morning, I truthfully didn't think she was much more than a sparkle in someone's eye, but this morning, goosebumps and all, I just felt it. She is in somebody's tummy, growing and forming and I can't wait. So, Emma (still not decided on Emma Jane or Emma Grace something, but for sure Emma) know that mommy has finished the first big hurdle...it wasn't fun, I won't lie, but I don't mind. It is what I has to do to get you here, so...done!
Yes, I know what I said about caps...these are caps of happiness!!
The marriage certificates were here when I got home and let me tell you, what a PAIN IN THE BUTT (caps of aggravation) to put all the copies together, after stapling all the little certifications on top of the notarizations and then putting the authentications on top of that! For my added fun and amusement, two different people certified the notarized copies, so I got to play "guess the certifier" when matching up the documents and the copy of the certification for our FOUR copies. That's Maryland for ya, though--gotta see what we can milk -- oh, wait, how about a step after the notary to say the notary is valid and before the authentication which will tell us the certification is valid? That'll be $36 bucks, please...and $110. And about $115 in copies. And don't forget the fun of falling off the desk!! (Okay, not Maryland's fault--purely mine--no, JOHN'S--because he has not finished the other bookshelf in our office and the printer is on top of the desk and not on a shelf. This poses big problems for me as the desk is a good foot taller than I am, so I have to climb in the rolling chair (YES, I KNOW that's not smart...) to climb on the desk to climb on the shelf that has the printer...that's easy. Getting down, not so much. I digress. And, no, nothing is broken, but thanks for caring...(that means you, John!)
Anyway, I am now exhausted but so happy to be sending that darned thing off! Even better, and more significant to me, when I woke up this morning (at 4:50 am, thank you very much) I was trying to rouse myself out of bed...and as I looked out the window, I got a feeling that I have not yet had--I felt like she was cooking somewhere! Up until this morning, I truthfully didn't think she was much more than a sparkle in someone's eye, but this morning, goosebumps and all, I just felt it. She is in somebody's tummy, growing and forming and I can't wait. So, Emma (still not decided on Emma Jane or Emma Grace something, but for sure Emma) know that mommy has finished the first big hurdle...it wasn't fun, I won't lie, but I don't mind. It is what I has to do to get you here, so...done!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Notes to self:
1) DO NOT PREDICT TIMEFRAMES
2) DO NOT PLAN ON SENDING SOMETHING ON A CERTAIN DATE
3) SPEND THE 4 HOURS TO DRIVE YOURSELF OVER TO VIRGINIA AND GET YOUR CERTIFICATES AUTHENTICATED
4) STOP TYPING IN CAPS--PEOPLE MIGHT GET THE WRONG IDEA THAT YOU ARE SOME ANGRY, OUTRAGEOUS RAVER
5) Stop pretending you are not an angry, outrageous raver
Seriously...I am not angry, more emphatic. Every time I seem to set a time frame, it DOES NOT HAPPEN. Sooooo...if I make no more time frames, I will not be disappointed! I checked today--Virginia got my certificates on Monday. The Fed EX return package still must sit in Virginia, as it is not on the track site yet. In essence, when I called them two Thursdays ago and they told me that they were authenticating things that were received 2-3 days prior, I figured that since I had to have a few things done this last week here in Maryland, nothing would be ready until Wednesday/Thursday anyway, and by then, I should have the marriage certs. The sweet little girl in the authentication office said that sounded about right, and if she were me, she'd just send them overnight. Thanks for the tip. If authentication in Virginia is anything like it is in Maryland, it would have taken me four hours and 30 seconds to do--with four hours of that being drive time! I find it hard to believe that my beloved home state could be slower than Maryland, but then again...though Maryland is not necessarily a pro-adoptive state, it sure does get paperwork and fingerprints processed FAST! (Remember, I give credit where credit is due)
I am now not predicting, just hoping and praying that they will head out on Monday and I will get them on Tuesday and by Wednesday (which also happens to be the first day students come back) my dossier will be on its way to sunny CA...ah, the disappointments of a control freak! Don't think I don't realize that it is MY fault I feel disappointment--if I just waited for things to happen as they happen, I wouldn't be disappointed when they didn't happen when I want them to happen.
I will wait. Patiently. In the mean time, I have found www.blurb.com and can't wait to turn the blog into a book for the end of the year (thanks, Maria!) I have also decided to start something--whether it is another blog or not, I am not sure, but in any event and in whatever media, I will be writing letters to Emma every day. Starting tomorrow, as John is upstairs throwing shoes at the floor (his subtle way of telling me it is time to go to sleep!) I think of all the things I wish I knew about my mom--things you just don't even realize you want to know until she's gone and you can't ask--and want to make sure Emma knows them all. I would also like to let her know how very dearly she is loved, thought of and missed--all before she is probably even conceived. For the most part, though, I figured if I did daily letters to her, it would help ease the wait time--because it might be like I'm not waiting for her since I am actually talking to her--in a manner of speaking. Or typing. Whatever...
6) Be thankful I have brilliant ideas to keep me busy, ha ha
7) Be thankful God created me to be so darned humble
8) Be thankful God likes a sense of humor (for real--how else can I justify the rational behind the gas pump drive off? He obviously needed a good laugh that day!)
9) Be thankful that at the end of all this...your sweet little baby girl will be home, with her mommy, daddy and puppies
10) Be okay with ending your notes to self at number nine, and don't force number 10 just so you have a nice, well-rounded number with which to end. It is just superfluous.
2) DO NOT PLAN ON SENDING SOMETHING ON A CERTAIN DATE
3) SPEND THE 4 HOURS TO DRIVE YOURSELF OVER TO VIRGINIA AND GET YOUR CERTIFICATES AUTHENTICATED
4) STOP TYPING IN CAPS--PEOPLE MIGHT GET THE WRONG IDEA THAT YOU ARE SOME ANGRY, OUTRAGEOUS RAVER
5) Stop pretending you are not an angry, outrageous raver
Seriously...I am not angry, more emphatic. Every time I seem to set a time frame, it DOES NOT HAPPEN. Sooooo...if I make no more time frames, I will not be disappointed! I checked today--Virginia got my certificates on Monday. The Fed EX return package still must sit in Virginia, as it is not on the track site yet. In essence, when I called them two Thursdays ago and they told me that they were authenticating things that were received 2-3 days prior, I figured that since I had to have a few things done this last week here in Maryland, nothing would be ready until Wednesday/Thursday anyway, and by then, I should have the marriage certs. The sweet little girl in the authentication office said that sounded about right, and if she were me, she'd just send them overnight. Thanks for the tip. If authentication in Virginia is anything like it is in Maryland, it would have taken me four hours and 30 seconds to do--with four hours of that being drive time! I find it hard to believe that my beloved home state could be slower than Maryland, but then again...though Maryland is not necessarily a pro-adoptive state, it sure does get paperwork and fingerprints processed FAST! (Remember, I give credit where credit is due)
I am now not predicting, just hoping and praying that they will head out on Monday and I will get them on Tuesday and by Wednesday (which also happens to be the first day students come back) my dossier will be on its way to sunny CA...ah, the disappointments of a control freak! Don't think I don't realize that it is MY fault I feel disappointment--if I just waited for things to happen as they happen, I wouldn't be disappointed when they didn't happen when I want them to happen.
I will wait. Patiently. In the mean time, I have found www.blurb.com and can't wait to turn the blog into a book for the end of the year (thanks, Maria!) I have also decided to start something--whether it is another blog or not, I am not sure, but in any event and in whatever media, I will be writing letters to Emma every day. Starting tomorrow, as John is upstairs throwing shoes at the floor (his subtle way of telling me it is time to go to sleep!) I think of all the things I wish I knew about my mom--things you just don't even realize you want to know until she's gone and you can't ask--and want to make sure Emma knows them all. I would also like to let her know how very dearly she is loved, thought of and missed--all before she is probably even conceived. For the most part, though, I figured if I did daily letters to her, it would help ease the wait time--because it might be like I'm not waiting for her since I am actually talking to her--in a manner of speaking. Or typing. Whatever...
6) Be thankful I have brilliant ideas to keep me busy, ha ha
7) Be thankful God created me to be so darned humble
8) Be thankful God likes a sense of humor (for real--how else can I justify the rational behind the gas pump drive off? He obviously needed a good laugh that day!)
9) Be thankful that at the end of all this...your sweet little baby girl will be home, with her mommy, daddy and puppies
10) Be okay with ending your notes to self at number nine, and don't force number 10 just so you have a nice, well-rounded number with which to end. It is just superfluous.
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