I've Been tagged!

My cyber friend Hotflawed mama has tagged me! That means I get to have a little fun thinking about 8 things....so here goes!

8 Things....

I am passionate about
1. My family
2. My faith
3. Singing
4. My Shop
5. Living life with "no Regrets"
6. Chasing a dream
7. Baking
8. Reading

I will do before I die
1.. Raise really great kids
2. Be in another musical
3. Go to Africa, Rome, and Sweden
4. Swim with Dolphins
5. Record a CD
6. Have a cabin up north
7. Do something completely out of character (not sure what this would be yet!)
8. Have the shop actually pay for those trips abroad.

TV shows I watch
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Brothers and Sisters
3. ER
4. Law and Order SVU
5. House Hunters :)
6. Today show
7. The Bachelor
8. Hallmark movie re-runs!

Songs I love / Artists I love
1. John Denver (you can take the girl away from the mountain, but you can't take the mountians from the girl!)
2. James Taylor
3. Amy Grant's Christmas albums
4. Dixie Chicks
5. Broadway show tunes
6. George Winston Plains / Montana Love Song
7.Silent Night
8. Great Jazz

Things I often Say...
1. Fabulous!
2. Maybe...
3. I love you (said many time a day!)
4. Murphy, Sophie stop barking!
5. B**..what are you doing??
6. Thank you for calling Sweet Peas
7. Just a minute
8. What's Up?

Things I have learned in the past year
1. Prayer and tenacity can move mountains!
2. I really hate bats
3. My kids are really cool people
4. My hubby can fix almost anything
5. A house, deserted for 2 years offers many interesting surprises!
6. It is really important for me to have me space!
7. Friendship is a two way street
8. I am not good at accounting!

People I tag
I am not sure about this one as I have no idea who is reading this!!

Cindy, you are tagged (if you can squeeze it in before you leave!)
And if you are reading this....You are Tagged!!

Here's to almost 5 months waiting! Let's hope for a little spring flower! I am taking a poll on the date you think we will get a referral, weigh in with date of referral, and age of our baby!

My first baby turns 10 today!!

Wow, 10 years ago right now, I was thinking I would never give birth, and I would set records for being pregnant the longest of any human being. But low and behold, I did give birth to one of the sweetest, smartest, most talented kids I know. J is 10 today. He started the day with a chant..."It's my birthday....uh huh, it's my birthday" at 6 am as I was stumbling to the treadmill. So big and yet so small. As I was thinking about my first journey into parenthood, I thought how lucky I have been to be blessed with the children I have and the opportunity to add one more. It really doesn't get any better than this!

Four Months Down!!

Four months into the wait! We should be over 1/2 way. There have been a flurry of referrals in the last week or two which is very exciting. We continue to move up the list which is nice to see after a long dry spell of no movement. I would still guess a referral in April with travel in the summer. Eric and I have been talking about the trip and if we really do travel in the summer, we can go early and spend some time in Ethiopia getting to know the country before we pick up our girl. It would be a wonderful opportunity!

I think I am in the nesting stage. I am getting a little carried away with cleaning closets, bedrooms, cupboards and the like. It is slowly taking shape and you can almost hear the house sigh with relief when one more room gets done! Lets just say the men in my life are true pack rats! Yesterday was little B's room and I have never seen so many little bits of paper, rubberbands, half eaten pieces of candy, rocks etc. Yieks! Thankfully I found nothing that was alive!

Kids finally start back to school Monday. It is time for the return of the routine. It has been great hanging out together, but it is time for everyone to have their time apart!

Here's to a speedy next three months and maybe a referral that takes us by surprise!

:)

2008 is going to be Great!

Wow, last year at this time, I had just been given the book "The Complete Guide to International Adoption" by my wonderful husband. It was a sign to me that he was ready to look at adding to our family through adoption. I was giddy with the prospects and devoured the book in a few short days. My mind spun, my heart raced... and then I had to slow down and let him catch up! He did and now, here I am almost 4 months into the wait for my daughter and although I don't know how soon I will know her face, I already know her little soul...it is growing in my heart and I know this year, we will love her right into our family.

We set up her crib space yesterday. Yes, maybe a little premature, but necessary for my heart. ( I will post a pic as soon as I can get it downloaded on to the computer.) It made it all seem so very real. She will be in our bedroom in the little seating area. Now when I wake up in the morning, her crib is the first thing I see. It fills me with such joy.

As we gathered with friends on New Years Eve and talked about all the changes a new year can bring, I decided that 2008 could very well be one of the best years of my life. I get an amazing opportunity to travel, my kids are at such fun stages, my house is finally feeling settled , the shop has some interesting possibilities, my parents are just " up the road" instead of states away ...and I will finally hold my daughter. I thank God for the amazing blessings that surround me on a daily basis. I am blessed beyond measure...God is so very very good!


So buckle in blog-reading friends, it's going to be a fantastic ride through a great 2008!

A little R and R at the end of the Marathon!

Season's greetings my faithful blog readers! I meant to get out a Christmas Wish to you all, but have just now cracked open my computer after the chaos and joy of the last several days! Here are a few highlights....
Fri and Sat...mommy sick with the tummy flu she very cockily said she wouldn't get :( (hard to make magic when you can't get out of bed!)

Sunday...back on track and into overdrive to make the "magic" happen! Sunday night, dinner and wine by the fire with dear friends....a great way to ease into the season!

Monday...So much excitement the air just crackled! Made carmel corn, finished wrapping, toted presents to the tree, solo-ed at church and had tears running down my cheeks as I thought of my daughter as we sang silent night. Loved having Nana and Papa here for our manger meal. Finally got kids to sleep and wrapped the last few surprises!

Christmas Day....OH WHAT JOY ! Three little boys in complete Christmas magic Mode! Put up the air hockey table...put on the football outfit as it was unwrapped...many shouts of it's just what I wanted! Then loaded the sleigh to go to nana and papa's new house for more presents and fun...so glad they are just an hour away now. And as eyelids finally started to close..."mom this was the best Christmas ever!"

Wednesday...But wait there's more...across town to Gr and Gr's house for 5 dogs, 5 kids, and adults surviving on food and wine...more presents more fun! Then back home, 3 sleeping boys, full tummies, full hearts!

Thursday...WOW....a tornado of christmas magic has hit...but lets savor the magic just a little longer!

I will post some pictures after I find the camera! I know it's around here somewhere...

Paperwork is in Ethiopia!

It doesn't necessarily mean anything is imminent...but we can check another item off the list. Our Dossier is sitting on someone's desk in Ethiopia! That is pretty exciting! Just happened to notice that the Dossier to Country box was checked on our CHSFS checklist. So, that means it was certified, authenticated, etc here and is now there to be translated and prepared for that all exciting referral. In checking with my contact at the agency, we are still in the 5-7 month window. Last year at this time there was a huge flurry of referrals. For all my "journey" mates sitting at the top of the list...may this month bring your long awaited news and may you move off that list!!

baby steps continue, but it helps to know a little progress has been made!

Warning: Pity Party Ahead!

I want my daughter. I am tired of waiting. I don't want to wait any longer. I want to set up her nursery. I want cuddles, and diapers, and middle of the night feedings. (now..me laying on the floor banging hands and fists....children running in with chocolate to cure mom's tantrum...okay slightly better)

I feel incredibly selfish, wanting this child sooo much. In order for her to come to me, she will have to go through great loss and tragedy, her birth mother will have to make one of the hardest decisions....and yet, I have to acknowledge that I am impatient. I do want her home.

It is looking like the wait is increasing. My contact at the agency said to be ready for a 7 month wait. So long February referral. Maybe by April. Just seems like such a long way off. Then there is that wait to travel. Waiting, waiting waiting....soo not my best skill.

Okay, done with the pity party. I am going to go indulge in Chocolate....lots and lots of dark chocolate!